The end of the Labyrinth Canyo leads directly to the Gray Barrier Outpost.
The outpost was a tactical stronghold, but it was also a prison for the exiles and a cage for monsters.
Because access control was necessary, a huge gate was installed at the border between the labyrinth and the outpost.
“Your Highness, I see a gate ahead.”
Sylvestian, who was pulling his horse close to the carriage, announced through the window.
I and Rosenite, who had been blankly staring, came to our senses at the same time.
We stuck our heads out the window and looked straight ahead.
"Ah..."
At the end of a straight road with a cool, open view, a dark gray iron gate stood there.
The door boasted a size and height so large that it would not be insufficient even if it were hung on the dragon's lair.
Rosenite was annoyed, wanting to share her excitement, and spoke to me.
“If we open the gate, it’s an outpost, right?”
"Yes."
“What are you going to do first when you arrive?”
“I guess I should take a look around the base.”
“Can’t I take a bath first? I haven’t showered in three days.”
“You do that.”
Even though I only gave vague and insincere responses, the conversation continued. I wondered again whether Rosenite was such a talkative person.
At that moment, the movement of the expedition stopped. We had finally reached the very door.
The door was a sealed artifact that could not be opened by physical force. The key was held by the guide, Baron Erka.
“I will open the door!”
A glowing cube of cubic shape fits perfectly into the negative space of the door gap.
Clank clank clank.
The lock is a complex clockwork.
It seemed as if dozens of them were stacked on top of each other. They took turns in a chain and the seals were released.
Dddd...
The door opened wide on both sides. Everyone in the delegation's eyes lit up at the thought that they would soon be able to rest. A distant echo rang out.
Kkieeeek...!
It was a grotesque scream, the kind of scream a living thing might make when it's about to die.
“Huh? What, what is it?”
A black aura slowly crawled out through the gap in the door. Then the ground shook and all sorts of things began to fly out.
“Hey, it’s a monster!”
Blackened insects, tentacle plants, flying animals, four-legged animals, etc.
It poured out without stopping. It was like the door to a fortune-telling shop had been opened.
'Oh my God.'
Given the circumstances, I immediately opened the carriage door and came out. Brigitte also popped out and gave instructions.
“Build a front line in place and block ground monsters with your entire body! Shoot the monsters in the air from the rear. Don’t miss a single one!”
Brigitte ordered a defensive battle. It was a measure to prevent any monsters from escaping the Labyrinth and flowing into the Empire.
Punishment and White Night slaughter insects and four-legged beasts, while Wall Blood and Illusion magically destroy winged things.
I turned on the watch.
Since it was a monster that only attacked based on instinct, only the elite were gathered.
It was no match for the higher-level homunculus. In addition, it was narrow.
Because it was long, it also had the advantage of being easy to defend. The knights were able to defeat the monsters without hesitation.
It was a situation close to the massacre. But it lasted about 30 minutes.
As the expedition passed, they realized that they were by no means in control of the fight.
The battle showed no sign of ending. The battle was at a standstill due to the endless stream of monsters pouring out of the gate.
My expression hardened.
'There is no way to win against a barrage of weapons. If things continue this way, it will not be a defensive war, but a war of attrition.'
Even as the corpses of the monsters piled up, movement became difficult and the battle formation became disorganized.
The biggest problem was when allies had to fight together to avoid falling corpses from the air.
'It won't work.'
I quickly sought out my half-sister. Brigitte had joined the battle herself. As it happened, the sword and this one were falling under her spell.
The outpost was a tactical stronghold, but it was also a prison for the exiles and a cage for monsters.
Because access control was necessary, a huge gate was installed at the border between the labyrinth and the outpost.
“Your Highness, I see a gate ahead.”
Sylvestian, who was pulling his horse close to the carriage, announced through the window.
I and Rosenite, who had been blankly staring, came to our senses at the same time.
We stuck our heads out the window and looked straight ahead.
"Ah..."
At the end of a straight road with a cool, open view, a dark gray iron gate stood there.
The door boasted a size and height so large that it would not be insufficient even if it were hung on the dragon's lair.
Rosenite was annoyed, wanting to share her excitement, and spoke to me.
“If we open the gate, it’s an outpost, right?”
"Yes."
“What are you going to do first when you arrive?”
“I guess I should take a look around the base.”
“Can’t I take a bath first? I haven’t showered in three days.”
“You do that.”
Even though I only gave vague and insincere responses, the conversation continued. I wondered again whether Rosenite was such a talkative person.
At that moment, the movement of the expedition stopped. We had finally reached the very door.
The door was a sealed artifact that could not be opened by physical force. The key was held by the guide, Baron Erka.
“I will open the door!”
A glowing cube of cubic shape fits perfectly into the negative space of the door gap.
Clank clank clank.
The lock is a complex clockwork.
It seemed as if dozens of them were stacked on top of each other. They took turns in a chain and the seals were released.
Dddd...
The door opened wide on both sides. Everyone in the delegation's eyes lit up at the thought that they would soon be able to rest. A distant echo rang out.
Kkieeeek...!
It was a grotesque scream, the kind of scream a living thing might make when it's about to die.
“Huh? What, what is it?”
A black aura slowly crawled out through the gap in the door. Then the ground shook and all sorts of things began to fly out.
“Hey, it’s a monster!”
Blackened insects, tentacle plants, flying animals, four-legged animals, etc.
It poured out without stopping. It was like the door to a fortune-telling shop had been opened.
'Oh my God.'
Given the circumstances, I immediately opened the carriage door and came out. Brigitte also popped out and gave instructions.
“Build a front line in place and block ground monsters with your entire body! Shoot the monsters in the air from the rear. Don’t miss a single one!”
Brigitte ordered a defensive battle. It was a measure to prevent any monsters from escaping the Labyrinth and flowing into the Empire.
Punishment and White Night slaughter insects and four-legged beasts, while Wall Blood and Illusion magically destroy winged things.
I turned on the watch.
Since it was a monster that only attacked based on instinct, only the elite were gathered.
It was no match for the higher-level homunculus. In addition, it was narrow.
Because it was long, it also had the advantage of being easy to defend. The knights were able to defeat the monsters without hesitation.
It was a situation close to the massacre. But it lasted about 30 minutes.
As the expedition passed, they realized that they were by no means in control of the fight.
The battle showed no sign of ending. The battle was at a standstill due to the endless stream of monsters pouring out of the gate.
My expression hardened.
'There is no way to win against a barrage of weapons. If things continue this way, it will not be a defensive war, but a war of attrition.'
Even as the corpses of the monsters piled up, movement became difficult and the battle formation became disorganized.
The biggest problem was when allies had to fight together to avoid falling corpses from the air.
Homunculus was a selfish being, unconcerned with the welfare of others.
I quickly sought out my half-sister. Brigitte had joined the battle herself. As it happened, the sword and this one were falling under her spell.
“Sister Betty.”
Bridgette reacted nervously to my soft call.
“What? Instead of bothering me, you should help me out! Oh, well, that’s your specialty.
“Life magic doesn’t help in this situation.”
“I see that you have the time to provoke me, so I guess you have the time to listen to me. If this continues, it will only become a war of attrition. We need to take action.”
Brigitte made a face that said she didn't like it but had to admit it.
“Sir Erka!”
Baron Erka, who had been hiding in fear, came out upon hearing Brigitte's shout.
“Your Highness, did you call me, I... Ugh!”
Erka Junbaron barely managed to avoid the wyvern's claws.
He couldn't raise his head while crouching down. Looking down at that ugly sight, Brigitte asked.
“What is this, Sir Erka? Wasn’t there a base beyond the gate?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But why are there monsters instead of a welcoming procession? Explain.”
“That, that seems to be..."
Baron Erka closed his eyes tightly and continued speaking.
“It looks like the outpost has fallen!”
"What?"
Not only Brigitte but everyone around her who was listening looked shocked.
I also took a deep breath. It was a situation I had vaguely expected, but I was confused.
'Why?'
In the last life, the Gray Wall outpost stood firm until the Great War. This was clearly unplanned.
The land beyond the barrier is a place greatly influenced by Ambroxa. If it is a being of the level of a dragon, I had a feeling that maybe I wasn't completely caught up in the regression ritual.
For example, on the Galapagon Islands, the ideology of Galamut was a homunculus that had not yet awakened Michael.
He even recognized him as the 'King of Ruth'.
A heavy sense of responsibility weighed on my heart as I thought that the anomaly was caused by my regression consciousness.
At that moment, Brigitte, who had been silent until then, raised her head. Her eyes, looking into the vast sky, were extremely bleak.
Immediately afterward, a command was given in a low, cold voice.
“Abandon the outpost. Close the gate.”
I turned my head with a jerk and looked at Brigitte. When our eyes met, Brigitte said irritably.
“If we keep the door open, there is a possibility that many of these monsters will escape the Labyrinth and threaten the Empire.”
“So we mean close the door to stop the leak?”
“Yes. The safety of the empire comes first. Besides, it is right after the rainy season, so the monsters are at their most aggressive. If the outpost has already been taken, why risk losing your strength and risking bloodshed? There’s no need to deploy right away. It’s better to close the door and wait for the monsters to quiet down.”
I was silent for a moment at the cool opinion and then answered.
"All right."
“...Do you understand?”
The outpost is inhabited by exiles and intermediate homunculus. Therefore, it is recommended to abandon the outpost.
This is no different from giving up on the survivors inside.
I knew that I was saying cruel things indirectly, but Brigitte was surprised at my compliant reply.
Of course, my words were not over.
“Instead, the Punisher and I will enter the gate. Then, please close the gate.”
The stunned eyes around me focused on me.
“You’re going to go into a place like that? Are you serious about that?”
“Of course I’m serious. We’re not in a position to joke around, are we?”
“That’s true.”
I expressed my intentions calmly.
“Let me and the punishment sort things out. I will do it.”
“Tsk, what a reckless thing to do.”
“That way, I will have the face to meet Father. You won’t object, right?”
Closing the gate is a choice for the safety of the empire, as well as a self-preserving choice for the royal family.
If the expedition team were to return after abandoning the military stronghold and the mid-level Homunculus troops, it would be difficult for them to avoid criticism.
'If someone takes the risk and steps forward, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the entire expedition.'
That was the thought that occurred to me and Brigitte simultaneously.
So instead of answering, Brigitte moved on to another topic.
“...The door can’t be opened from the inside. Once you go in, you can’t come out even if you want to.”
“I know. So, open the door at this time three days later. I would appreciate it if you could give it to me.”
Brigitte let out a chuckle and asked testingly.
“What if I don’t open it? Isn’t this a great opportunity to bury you with honor?”
The words of the woman contained a bloody content. The political relationship between us was tense and taut as the conflict was brought to light.
I looked away, lost in thought.
“Sister, you are definitely a person who can do that and more.”
“But still, will you go in?”
As expected, there was no trust between me and Brigitte. But trust could be built in an instant.
“We’ll need strong collateral.”
“You’re smart. With what?”
“People must be nice.”
After a brief moment of deliberation, I decided.
“Please give me brother Derek.”
Derek, whose name was called, caused the game to start.
“No, why! Why me!”
“Because you two are on the same side. I think Brother Derek would be the right person to take the hostage, or rather, collateral.”
“Absolutely not?!”
“Things are not looking good, so please don't swarm.”
“Why?”
“You still don’t know Sister Betty?!”
Derek spat passionately.
“She is a cold-blooded person who has no blood or tears! She would abandon her own people a hundred or a thousand times and still have more left over. That's it!"
“...Ah, yes.”
Bridgette, who was subjected to a blatant insult to her character, fiercely attacked Derek.
I glared at him. But Derek, who was at the crossroads of life and death, was not in his right mind.
He seemed to have no idea what he was talking about.
Meanwhile, I chewed on Derek's words.
'Hey, does that make sense?'
The life crisis also gave Derek a sense of political ingenuity. He was desperately racking his brain to come up with a survival strategy.
“If you're going to take her, take Rosie! She is father's favorite daughter, and even Betty will not let her die!”
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