Evening, after the battle.
Outside the city walls stood several military tents. Inside the largest tent sat Yuki, Tiyara, and Duke Jalrai around a table covered with food.
Tiyara crossed her arms and spoke casually.
"This war isn't even that difficult."
Jalrai paused while eating and looked at her.
"Ms. Tiyara, today's battle may have seemed easy, but the war is far from over."
Yuki frowned in confusion.
"I was about to ask the same thing. If all the Crocas were defeated, then why are these tents still here?"
Jalrai turned toward him.
"Hero Yuki, as I said before, the war has not ended."
Both Yuki and Tiyara looked puzzled.
"My informants reported that nearly ten thousand Crocas would attack this city. However, judging from today's battle, there were only around one or two thousand."
Yuki nodded.
Jalrai's expression became serious.
"That means they're attacking in waves. Just because today's battle was easy doesn't mean tomorrow's will be the same. The Crocas we fought today were weak, but they were fast. Tomorrow, or the day after, we may face stronger and faster Crocas."
Yuki thought about it for a moment.
Tiyara immediately agreed.
"You're right. Looking at today's battle, it felt like the war was too easy. Like we weren't even needed."
She paused before continuing.
"Crocas are monsters capable of surviving in both muddy lands and areas filled with fire."
She glanced at Jalrai.
"The ones that attacked today were only weaklings. They're called Young Crocas. Tomorrow or the following day, much stronger Adult Crocas may appear."
Jalrai nodded.
After a moment of thought, Yuki spoke.
"Well, whatever happens, I don't think those Crocas can destroy your city."
Jalrai laughed.
"Hahaha! I like that attitude, Sir Hero."
Yuki silently thought to himself.
And besides, the sooner I leave this place, the sooner I can complete more missions.
A system window floated before his eyes.
More than twenty missions had already been completed.
The next morning.
Everyone stood in the same positions as before.
Jalrai stared toward the horizon.
Suddenly, dust began rising into the air far in the distance. The cloud of dust grew larger and closer.
The second wave had arrived.
Crocas.
Jalrai and the soldiers immediately prepared for battle.
As the monsters approached, Jalrai raised his sword and shouted,
"ATTACK!"
The entire army charged forward.
Just like the previous day, the battle wasn't particularly difficult. The fighting continued relentlessly.
An hour later, the war was still ongoing.
Jalrai, mounted on horseback, was personally hunting Crocas that slipped past the front lines and headed toward the city walls.
Then—
A giant Croca emerged from the crowd.
One of its eyes bore a deep scar.
While Jalrai was occupied fighting other monsters, the giant Croca suddenly opened its mouth and launched a blast of fire at him.
Jalrai's eyes widened.
"?!"
He tried to dodge.
Too late.
The flames struck him directly.
However, when the fire vanished, a transparent magical barrier was revealed around him.
The attack had been blocked.
A second later—
Crack.
The barrier shattered like glass.
Jalrai sighed internally.
Thank goodness for that barrier.
It's a special protection spell that can block any magic attack once after activation. Only powerful magicians can cast it on themselves or others.
Looks like I'll need another one after this battle.
Pushing the thought aside, Jalrai quickly looked around.
"Forget that—where did the giant Croca go?!"
His eyes immediately found it.
The monster was sprinting toward the city wall.
"Damn it!"
Jalrai kicked his horse forward and gave chase.
He grabbed a spear from the rack attached to his saddle and hurled it.
The giant Croca swung its tail.
Clang!
The spear was deflected.
Jalrai instantly threw another spear.
Then a third.
The Croca parried the second spear with its tail as well, but the third came from a different angle.
The monster hesitated for a split second.
That was enough.
The spear pierced one of its legs.
"KRYAAAH!!"
The giant Croca stumbled and collapsed.
Jalrai arrived beside it on horseback.
Looking down with pity in his eyes, he said,
"Bad day for you, huh? I wonder what made you choose this path."
The wounded Croca glared back with pain and hatred.
Jalrai simply drew his sword.
A single strike.
The blade sank into the monster's skull.
Blood sprayed across the ground.
The giant Croca fell silent.
Dead.
Jalrai looked back toward the battlefield with the same calm expression.
We're winning today too.
Meanwhile, Yuki and Tiyara stood atop the city wall, watching the battle from afar.
Yuki clicked his tongue.
"Damn. I thought a Croca was finally going to reach the wall."
His voice sounded disappointed.
Tiyara responded in a cold yet playful tone.
"What difference would that make? Even if it had reached us, you wouldn't have been able to kill it."
Yuki blinked.
"Why?"
Tiyara turned toward him with a mischievous grin.
"Because I'm faster than you. Hehehe~"
"You..."
Yuki began to reply.
But before he could finish—
A loud chorus of screams and cries echoed through the air.
Both of them froze.
Tiyara's eyes widened.
"W-What was that?"
Yuki remained calm.
"Huh? It's probably nothing. Screams are normal on a battlefield."
Tiyara looked left and right.
Then she slowly turned toward the city behind them.
The moment she did, her face went pale.
In a trembling voice, she said,
"Yuki... turn around."
Confused, Yuki turned around as well.
His calm expression instantly vanished.
Shock filled his eyes.
Both of them stared at the same horrifying sight.
Near the inner side of the city wall, entire rows of houses and buildings were engulfed in flames.
The screams were coming from there.
The fire was enormous.
The flames rose so high that they surpassed even the height of the Duke's mansion, climbing toward the sky like a burning pillar.
And the city behind them was already burning.