This is the last wall I can build. I built four more walls after my first one. This is getting exhausting. My mana vessel is almost empty. It takes only twenty minutes for the salamanders to get over my walls.

But I believe I managed to stall for long enough. It’s been almost two hours since I started stalling them. Princess may not have sortied out, but village must be evacuated by now.

After finishing my last wall, I start to run back to the village. I come into the village and find it empty. Chief worked surprisingly efficient. That is something rare for chiefs of these kind of settlements.

Now there is only three more hours until the salamanders make it here.

Now the problem is: in case that the princess isn’t here by the time the salamanders invade the empty village, which direction do I run.

I can’t run toward the city. If I do, salamanders will surely follow me. And that would risk exposure of my actions.

So, for now let’s wait here until the salamanders make it here. And if the reinforcement doesn’t come, I will simply run to somewhere else.

Dust starts to rise above after two more hours. While waiting I manage to fill my mana vessel to the fullest.

I think they are here. But good news is that reinforcement made it too. At the front I see the princess leading here female knight’s order. Behind them is normal foot soldiers. Then comes the adventurers and at last walks under guild’s operatives.

I’m not sure if they can subjugate this wave with this few people. Only people giving me threatening feeling is the ones who are leading the adventurers and the operatives of the under guild.

I recognize the under-guild master, but I don’t know about the woman leading the adventurers. I think she may be the Guild master.

Those two are the only ones who can threaten me in any way. After seeing the under-guild master, I enter my camouflage and wear my cloak.

I come next to the guild master.

“What took you so long?”

“Gathering all this obviously would take time. Anyway, how many are there?”

“About four hundred. Are you sure you can subjugate this big of a wave with this few people?”

“Don’t worry. All the adventurers are at least bronze ranked. Operatives are at least three starred. I don’t know about the soldiers and the knights. But I know about the prowess of the adventurers and their guild master.”

“Is the woman leading the adventurers the guild master?”

“Yes, she is.”

There is definitely something between these two.

“What’s her name?”

“Her name is Orlin.”

Yep, there is definitely something happening between them. They are boinking each other. Hehe. Now that is something I didn’t expected.

“What is your relationship with her?”

“There is nothing between us.”

“Seriously? I take it you don’t want anyone knowing it. So, I will respect your privacy and shut my mouth. But, don’t think for a moment that you are fooling me, dude. Hehe.”

“……”

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

He looks at me menacingly.

“What. Are you trying to threaten me?”

“Well, I’m trying to.”

As I look around us, others are looking at the guild master with fear in their eyes.

“Well, I don’t think it is working. At least on me.”

“Apparently, it isn’t.”

“Don’t worry, my mouth is Fort Knox.”

“What hell is Fort Knox?”

“Oh yeah. You wouldn’t understand it. Let’s just say it’s a very secure vault.”

“…..”

“Dude stop staring at me. I don’t swing that way!”

“Piss off.”

“So, just tell me. What is your relationship with the guild master?”

“I said piss off.”

He raises his voice at me while looking cold.

“HA! Denial is the clincher baby. There is definitely something between you. But, let’s forget that for a minute and let’s focus on what in front of us. You need to ensure your princess’ safety. Those salamanders are enraged. They won’t stop at nothing. I’m sure many will die here.”

After I said that, he finally retracts his menacing look.

“All of us are here know the risk. And that’s why this quest and mission’s reward is higher than the norm. And the Guild master will ensure the princess’ safety. I will fight in the front line.”

“What is your class anyway?”

“I’m a berserker.”

“Then where is your weapon?”

“Who says that all the berserkers use weapon?”

While saying that he raises his arms and I see silver gauntlets on his arms. Ooh. I like his style.

“Point taken. So, good luck. Don’t die. If you die to these weaklings, I will laugh at you like there is no tomorrow.”

“Is that supposed to be a pepe talk?”

“No, just a reminder. And after this I will find out about your relationship with the guild master. Haha!”

“……”

As soon as I say that he starts to look at me menacingly again, believing that his threat might work on me. Sucker is way too naïve.

Princess’ army come before the village and starts to position themselves against the salamanders.

“Tanks in the front, mages in the middle and supports at the back. Mages use your area of effect at the behind the pack. Supports, heal and support only the tanks.”

Princess goes around assigning duties according to her army’s class. I can already see the salamanders. They are only five minutes away from the village.

But from the looks of it, they just might manage to subjugate those stampeding salamanders. As they get closer, I can feel the tension rising.

“Mages prepare your long-ranged area of effects. Fire at my command.”

And the salamanders get closer and closer.

Hundred meters, seventy meters, forty meters, twenty meters.

“FIRE!!!”