Still, that raised a question. Where had the Sorcerer King learned such tactics from?

只是，那样就有了一个疑问。魔导王是从哪里学来的这种战术呢。

A being with a demihuman’s tough skin would not wear armor on top of it. With sharp claws, one would not need swords. Humans wore armor and carried swords because of their fragile bodies.

像亚人一样拥有坚硬皮肤的存在就不会再穿着铠甲了。拥有锐利的尖爪的话，就不需要剑了吧。人类之所以穿着铠甲拿着剑，是因为只有脆弱的肉体吧。

If there was no need to rely on one’s wits, then tactics would naturally be unnecessary too. Why did the overwhelmingly powerful Sorcerer King know of siege tactics?

没必要去依靠小聪明的话，这样战略自然也就不需要了吧。那么，拥有压倒性力量的魔导王，是出于怎样的理由、才会知道攻城之类的战术呢。

“Your Majesty, where did you acquire such knowledge from?”

「陛下、如此程度的知识，您是从哪里学来的呢？」

“Hm? By knowledge you mean-- ah! My predictions just now? Umu.Those tactics came from long influence by one of the friends I mentioned before. After that, I tested them out in live combat. Well, there’s a lot of them, but I didn’t expect them to be put to practical use here.”

「嗯？所谓的知识是指——啊啊！是刚才的预测么？唔嗯。那样的战术是从之前提到的、我的朋友哪里受到了很多熏陶呢。之后就是在实战中去确认了，嘛、总之有很多啦。可我是没想到在这里也能适用啦」

“...Since he was Your Majesty’s friend, surely he must have been very strong too?”

「……毕竟是陛下的朋友、果然那位大人也很强吗？」

“Oh yes. Well, his strength was not in melee or magic, but in another field. In that sense, I have not yet attained his level of strength yet.”

「也是啊。嘛、虽然他的强大并非表现在对殴或者魔法对轰、而是在除此以外的方面上。就这种意义上来说，我现在也还达不到他的那份强大吧」

Huhu, the Sorcerer King laughed mirthfully. It was the kind of laugh one had when reminiscing about the past.

呼呼，魔导王开心地笑着。那是沉醉在回忆之中的人所特有的笑法。

Right now, he seemed just like a human being.

在这里的简直就像是一个人类。

Could it be that the Sorcerer King was once human...?

（难道说，魔导王过去也曾是人类……）

Perhaps he had transformed himself into one of the undead, but that would be a perplexing matter. That should not have been possible. To Neia’s knowledge, the undead were not naturally-occurring things. However--

因为魔法的力量而变成不死者什么的，不过是让人皱眉的故事。这本应该是不可能的。在涅娅的知识里，不死者并不是自发产生的东西。但是——

The world is large, after all.

（毕竟世界很大啊……）

Neia’s journey with the ambassadorial delegation had let her realise how tiny the world she once knew had been.

在这次使节团的旅行，让涅娅认识到了、自己曾经知道的世界是多么的狭小。

Across the ocean, beyond the mountain, and in the depths of the forests -- there ought to be something out there. The sages who could scoff at Neia’s problems and tell her the answers ought to be out there too.

海的对面，山的那一边，森林的深处。在那里应该存在着些什么吧。能对涅婭的困惑嗤之以鼻、并告诉她答案的贤者也应该是存在的吧。

“What are you thinking about?”

「你在想些什么？」

“Ah, my, my apologies.”

「啊，失、失礼了」

“No, I am not blaming you. I was a little worried when I saw you spacing out on horseback… the battle is about to begin, and I understand if you’re uneasy.”

「不，我并不是在责怪你。看你在马背上一副发呆的样子，稍微有点担心……接下来马上就要开始战斗了。我很明白你的不安」

“Th-thank you very much, Your Majesty.”

「非、非常感谢您，陛下」

Just then, Remedios planted her banner in the ground and drew her holy sword.

就在这时候——将旗帜插到地上的蕾梅蒂欧丝拔出了圣剑。

“Everyone! The first battle to save this land from Jaldabaoth is about to begin! Justice shall triumph!”

「各位！为了从亚达巴沃手上拯救这片土地的初战就要开始了！正义必胜！」

There was a heated response of “Justice shall triumph!” to Remedios’ shout. Once they gathered, they began their charge.

随着蕾梅蒂欧丝的口号，周围出现了「正义必胜！」这样热烈的回应。随即聚到一起开始了突袭。

“So it’s begun. Baraja-san, would it not be better to move up if you wish to fight?”

「已经开始了么。巴拉哈小姐如果要参加战斗的话，稍微再往前一点比较好吧？」

“No, I have a duty to squire for Your Majesty. Abandoning Your Majesty to fight--”

「不，我有着作为陛下侍从的义务。丢下陛下去参加战斗什么的——」

Is something I cannot do, Neia shook her head.

做不到，涅婭这样摇着头。

“Hm, mm, is that so. Then, then let’s talk about something else… You haven’t lent that weapon to anyone else, have you?”

「唔、姆，这样啊。那、那么改变下话题吧……你有没有把那个武器借给其他人呢？」

“Not even once! This is a weapon I borrowed from Your Majesty! I would not dare allow anyone other than myself to touch it!”

「那样的事一次也没有！这是从陛下那里借来的武器。我怎么敢随意将其借给我以外的人!」

“Ah… really now. Umu, I suppose. I thank you.”

「啊，……是么。唔姆，也是”呢。对你表示感谢」

His voice sounded a little depressed, but there was no way to divine his intentions from it.

感觉音调有些下沉的样子，但还是没办法读出其中的意图。

Have I done something to offend His Majesty? ...I’m not too sure what’s going on, but perhaps I should apologize?

（是我做了什么对魔导王陛下失礼的举动么？……虽然不是很明白，但还是应该道歉？）

While Neia was waffling, the Sorcerer King changed the topic.

在涅婭迷惘的时候，魔导王改变了话题。

“Ah -- this is a rare opportunity. I looked around our surroundings, but I did not discover any demihumans hiding with invisibility magic. Perhaps we should move forward a little to observe the battlefield conditions. I doubt there’ll be any problems with leaving the priests here… What do you think?”

「啊——难得的机会。仔细观察了周围一圈，也没发现有用透明化魔法来隐藏的亚人。不再稍微往前一点，到能看清战场情况的地方么。把神官们留在这里过去也没什么问题吧。……怎么样？」

“Understood.”

「遵命」

It would be very disrespectful to tell the Sorcerer King -- who possessed matchless might which far exceeded her own -- that moving to the front would be dangerous.

对远比自己远拥有无比强大力量的魔导王，说出到前面会很危险这样的话，会显得很失礼吧。

While the sound of bells rang through the prison camp, she stayed close to the Sorcerer King as he moved up. And so, the battle began in these conditions.

随着收容所想起咚咚的钟声，紧跟着魔导王向那边靠近。而就在这样的情况下，战斗开始了。

The angels attacked the watchtowers on top of the gate, and the Bafolk there met them with their spears.

天使们袭击了门上的瞭望塔，在那里的山羊人们拿着枪开始迎击。

The archer towers launched arrows. They were not aiming at the angels, but at Remedios as she led the charge. It was only natural to aim for her, given that she was not carrying a shield and there was no chance of hitting friendlies.

箭塔开始放箭了。瞄准的并不是天使们，而是在先头冲锋的蕾梅蒂欧丝。会瞄准没有射中友军的可能性、而且也没拿着盾的她，可谓是理所当然的。

However, her strength was far removed from the others.

不过她与其他人相比，却有着实力上的差距。

She easily cut down all the arrows coming at her while maintaining her speed as she ran.

轻易的用剑将射来的箭矢全部就斩落。并维持着原来的速度奔跑着。

As if to counterattack, several angels rushed the archer tower. Shortly after that, three Bafolk corpses fell from the tower.

就像是对此作出反击的一样，数只攻击瞭望塔的天使一齐向箭塔冲了过去。随即箭塔上便落下了三具山羊人的尸体。

This was when the paladins reached the gate and began pounding on it with the battering ram.

这个时候，圣骑士们达到了大门，开始用破城锤进行撞击。

The log doors began to shake, and there was a faint sound of cracking from inside, along with the cries of the paladins going, “One more time!”

用圆木做成的大门开始摇晃，稍微能听到些滋啦滋啦的声音了。以及圣骑士们「再来一次！」的喊声。

The gate shook again, more violently than before.

大门再次开始摇晃。这次晃动变得更大了。

And then the battering ram struck again.

紧接着又是一击。

One of the logs making up the gate was heavily bent, and they could hear the paladins’ cries of triumph even from here. While it was not big enough to let people in, they ought to be able to break the gate down completely after several more tries.

构成大门的圆木中其中一根已经大大的弯曲了。圣骑士们的欢呼声在这里都可以听到。虽然还没到能让人通过的程度，但再来几次应该就能把大门完全破坏了吧。

Several angels flew past the gate. Neia could not see what they were doing from here, but they were probably trying to hold off the Bafolk defenders.

数只天使进入到了大门内侧。从涅婭的视角虽然看不到，但恐怕是在阻止想要来守门的山羊人吧。

“--Get back, all of you!”

「——都退后！」

All eyes went to the source of the great cry.

视线被这响起的巨大声音所吸引。

It came from a watchtower above the gate. The angels should have taken that place. Yet, a single Bafolk appeared there. However, the problem lay in what the Bafolk was carrying.

那是大门上方的瞭望塔。天使们明明应该已经占据了那里才对。可在那里却出现了一只山羊人。

然而问题却出在那个山羊人手上的东西。

“Get back!” the Bafolk shouted again.

「都退后！！」

山羊人又重复了一遍。

The Bafolk was holding a girl, aged around six or seven, and he had a sharp blade to her throat.

那个山羊人的右手上有着少女——年龄在六、七岁左右的孩子，并将一把利刃抵在她的喉咙上。

“If you don’t back off, I’ll kill this human!”

「要是你们不退后，我就杀了这个人类！」

The girl was dressed in somewhat filthy clothing -- her face looked dirty too -- and her body shook from side to side. Was she still alive? They could not detect any signs of life from her. It seemed to speak of the state of everyone inside the camp.

穿着有点脏的衣服的少女——好像脸上也是脏的——她的身体左右摇晃着。还是活着吗，感觉不到生气。就像是在向诉说着这个收容所里的人们被怎样对待着一样。

“You’re despicable!” one of the paladins shouted.

「太卑鄙了！」

圣骑士中有一个人发出了怒吼。

“Hurry up and back off! Look!”

「快点退后！看啊！」

There was a commotion among the paladins. What had happened? Even Neia could not see what was happening at this range and at night. However, it was different for the Sorcerer King.

圣骑士们发出了吵嚷声。到底发生了什么呢。就算是涅婭离得这么远，再加上又是在夜晚，不可能看得那么清楚。但是，魔导王可不一样。

“...The child’s throat seems to be bleeding.”

「……孩子的喉咙好像出血了」

“Could it be!”

「难道说！」

“It was just a nick; she is not dead yet. Otherwise her value as a hostage would--”

「仅仅是受伤而不是被杀了吧。不然作为人质的价值会下——」

“--All of you, fall back!”

「——全员后退！」

The paladins obeyed Remedios’ command and moved back.

听从蕾梅蒂欧丝命令的圣骑士们开始后退了。

Although the priests in the rear had a hard time grasping the situation, they still understood what was going on, and they pulled the angels back. At the same time, the priests ran up to Neia and the Sorcerer King. They had probably come closer to see what was going on.

虽然在后方的神官很难把握到状况，但还是能明白发生了某种异常事态，也让天使们后退了。与此同时，神官们也跑到涅婭这边来了。缩短距离是想要确认到底发生了什么吧。

“Not good enough! Further back!”

「还不行！再往后退！」

After the Bafolk said so, the paladins began retreating slowly.

随着山羊人的声音，圣骑士们开始一点点往后退。

They could see the Bafolk hurriedly swapping positions atop the watchtower. They swapped the people who had been wounded in the earlier battle with the angels for fresh fighters.

能看到瞭望塔上的山羊人们慌慌张张地交换了位置。把之前和天使战斗的伤员替换成了状态良好的成员。

“This is bad.”

「不妙啊」

“Yes, very bad.”

「是的。很不妙」

Neia slowly drew the bow she had been lent. The Bafolk seemed to be using the girl as a shield. Therefore she had a very small space in which to aim for. Killing it in one hit would be very difficult.

涅婭慢慢地把借来的弓拿了出来。山羊人好像是把少女当做了盾牌。因此，能狙击的范围相当的小，想要一击必杀的话，还是相当的困难。

Even so, if she did not do it, who would?

即使如此，自己不去做的话，又有谁来做。

I wish I’d practiced my bow skills more, Neia thought as she drew an arrow from her quiver.

如果再多训练下弓术就好了，涅婭这么想着从箭筒中取出了箭。

Just then, the Sorcerer King swiftly held out a hand, as if to block her shot.

这个时候，魔导王就像是要阻碍射击路线一样，迅速地出手了。

“I don’t mean to say this, but you’d better stop. There’s no longer any point to it.”

「虽然不是这种意思。但还是先住手吧。已经没有意义了」

Just as she was about to ask what he meant, the Sorcerer King headed over to where the paladins were gathered.

到底是怎样的意义，刚想要这么问的时候，魔导王向圣骑士们聚集的地方走了过去。

There was an argument raging there about how to save the girl.

那里正为怎样才能救助少女而争执不休。

Priestly magic could freeze the enemy in their tracks. Many people approved of that, but spells had an effective range. Although many ideas were proposed and blended together, nobody had the inkling of a solution which would let them get close enough that the hostage would be killed even if there was resistance.

神官的魔法可以封住对方的行动，虽然很多人赞成使用这个方案，但魔法有着有效距离。能够接近到那种距离么，如果抵抗的话，人质会不会被杀呢，各种各样的意见混在一起，完全没有得出答案的迹象。

Just then, the Sorcerer King and Neia arrived.

而就在此时魔导王和涅婭也到达了。

“How long are you going to twiddle your thumbs about this? The situation looks bad.”

「想为了那种事情磨蹭到什么时候。很不妙哟」

After he spoke, the others turned to look at the Sorcerer King as one.

随着魔导王的声音，其他人的视线一齐转向这边。

“Of course we know that--”

「这种事情，我们当然知道——」

“--Captain… please calm down. The enemy is over there.”

「——团长……请冷静下来。敌人在那边」

“No, Captain Remedios. You know nothing. Since the enemy knows that hostages are effective, they’ll show that this is not a threat, and they’ll use her as an ex--”

「不，蕾梅蒂欧丝团长阁下。你什么都不明白。既然对方知道了人质的有效性，就会让我们明白这并不是在威胁、而杀鸡敬——」

As though waiting for those words, the girl hostage’s head was hacked off. They could see her bright red blood spurting even from here. The Bafolk tossed the girl’s body aside, and the lifeless body fell to the ground like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

就像是等着这句话一样，人质少女的头被砍了下来。就算在这里也能看到那鲜红的血液喷发出来的景象。山羊人把少女的身体放开、毫无力气的身体就那么倒了下来去。

Everyone was silent.

周围鸦雀无声。

Their minds refused to accept what had just happened.

突然发生了什么事，大脑在拒绝接受这些。

Remedios’ was the first to regain her senses, and as she shouted, Neia recovered as well.

随着最先取回意识的蕾梅蒂欧丝的怒号，涅婭也取回了理性。

“You bastard! You actually did it! Even after we obeyed your demands!”

「你这家伙！！竟敢把人质！！明明已经听从了你的要求不是吗！」

“Hmph!” The Bafolk dragged a boy in front of him this time. “That’s why I’ve got another one, see? Now back off!”

「哼！」山羊人这次又把一名少年挡在了前面。「所以才又带过来了一个人哟？来，赶紧往后退！」

“You shameless scumbag!”

「卑鄙小人！！」

“Hmph. You really are a Narberal, aren’t you? Perhaps you’ll understand after I bring another over?”

「哼。你还真是愚蠢啊！不再带过来一个，你是不会明白吗！？」

Remedios’ clenched fist trembled mightily. Then, as though to vent her feelings, she ordered:

蕾梅蒂欧丝紧握着的拳头在不住地颤抖着。然后就像是要发泄一样，下达了命令。

“Everyone, fall back!”

「全员，退后！」

“Also, gather up the people on horses around the sides! Move it!”

「还要下令把周围那些骑着马的人也聚集过去！动作快！」

She could hear the sound of grinding teeth from Remedios. It was loud enough that one might think she was crushing her teeth.

能从蕾梅蒂欧丝那里听到牙齿咯吱咯吱的声音。声音大到让人觉得她要把牙齿咬碎了一般。

“Vice-Captain. Order them to gather here.”

「副团长。命令他们到这边来集合……」

“B-but--”

「可、可是」

“If you don’t do it, the child will die. Move!”

「不这样做的话，孩子会被杀啊。快去!」

“Everyone fall back!”

「全员，退后！」

“What a poor move to make. You’ve shown the enemy that hostages are effective and given them so much time to prepare. If the enemy demoralizes you again, won’t that cause even more damage?”

「真是一步坏棋啊。已经让他们知道了人质的有效性，在这之上又给了敌人这么多时间，敌人再使用让我们丧失战意的手段，会产生更大的损伤哟？」

A red-faced Remedios glared at the Sorcerer King like she was looking at the enemy.

满脸通红的蕾梅蒂欧丝以一副看敌人似得的目光瞪向魔导王。

“If this goes on, your surprise attack will be pointless. Also, I can hear the sounds of something moving over there. If they set up roadblocks, breaking them down will take more time, and things will be more troublesome--”

「再这样下去的话奇袭就变得毫无意义了。而且那边好像能听到在搬运什么的声音。如果做成了路障，想要破坏就需要花更多的时间，事情就会变得麻烦——」

“--Shut up!” Remedios interrupted the Sorcerer King.

「——闭嘴！」

蕾梅蒂欧丝的怒吼着打断了魔导王的话。

“Who’s got an idea? A way to solve this without anyone dying!?”

「谁有好主意吗！？不用死一个人就能解决的办法！」

Nobody said anything.

没有谁说得出什么。

Of course nobody had such a convenient solution. If there were someone was good at infiltration, for instance, this situation might not have arisen. However, there was nobody like that around.

不可能有那么方便的方法。如果这里有、比如说擅长潜入的人在的话，状况说不定会发生改变，

然而并没有那样的人。

Even Remedios should have understood this. If her animal-like instincts analyzed the battle situation and told her there was no way, then such a method did not exist.

这即使是蕾梅蒂欧丝也应该明白的吧。根据战斗时的情况判断，拥有野兽般直觉的她没有办法的话，那就不存在那样的方法了。

Even so, why did she refuse to admit it?

即使这样，为什么，仍不愿意承认呢。

Why was she hung up on not letting a single person die?

为什么，要拘泥于一个人都不死呢。

The Sorcerer King’s words flashed through her mind -- was this not one of those necessary sacrifices which he mentioned? There was no way to come out of this without losing a single person without an overwhelming advantage in strength or a great deal of luck.

魔导王的话语从脑海中闪过——这难道不正是所谓的必要牺牲吗？如果没有相当的实力差距或是运气，是不可能会有一个人都不会死的方法的。

“Captain Remedios,”

Neia’s voice sounded abnormally loud.

“Right now, can we not finish the fight with only a few casualties?”

「卡斯特迪奥团长」涅婭的声音显得异常的大。「现在的话，不是能以少数的牺牲就结束战斗吗？」

Remedios’ intense gaze shifted to Neia.

蕾梅蒂欧丝那酷烈的视线转向了涅婭。

The powerful emotions boiling off that mighty warrior’s body made her tremble, but Neia was sure that she was right.

从强大的战士身上发出的激烈的感情，让身体像是要颤抖一样。但是，我应该没有错。

“There’s no justice in that!” Remedios shouted.

「那样做没有正义可言！」

蕾梅蒂欧丝大喝一声。

Justice? That justice--

（正义？所谓正义——）

The surrounding paladins remained silent. It would seem nobody was prepared to say anything. Neia felt like she was surrounded by enemies and she unconsciously backed off, and then she felt someone’s hand supporting her from behind.

周围的圣骑士们都闭口不言，好像没有人准备说些什么。涅婭感觉周围就像在包围敌人一样，不禁向后退去，后背不知被什么人的手支撑住了。

Looking back, she saw the Sorcerer King, as she had expected.

向后面看去，在那里的——果然是魔导王。

“--I support Baraja-san’s opinion.”

「——我支持巴拉哈小姐的意见」

He had affirmed her in a quiet voice. But to Neia, it was like a hundred-million strong ovation.

用平静的声音表示赞同。但是，这对于涅婭来说，却宛如能够匹敌亿万人的支持。

“Shut up!”

「闭嘴！」

Remedios barked again. However, this was not something she should be saying to a king from another country who had come all this way to save her. There were actions which were acceptable, and actions which were unacceptable.

蕾梅蒂欧丝又喝一声。然而，这不是该对特地从远方为了救援而来的、他国的王说的话。有能被允许的行动和不能被允许的行动。

Anger welled up in Neia’s heart.

涅婭的内心涌现出愤怒的感情。

“What you need right now is to change the situation, not sit around and butt heads in frustration… Ah, what will I do with you. I shall turn things around, then.”

「此时此刻所需要的是改变局面，而不是让焦躁相互碰撞的时候……真没办法。就让我来改变状况吧」

After muttering to himself, the Sorcerer King turned away from them -- towards the gate -- and began walking. Due to his sudden movement, nobody managed to call out to him before the Bafolk shouted a warning.

魔导王这么嘟囔着，向着一行人的反方向——大门那边走了过去。由于突然的行动，在被谁叫住之前，就先听到了山羊人愤怒的警告声。

“You there, in the mask! I told you to back off, didn’t I?”

「那边那个戴着面具的家伙！不是叫你们后退了吗！」

“I will not back down! What do you think a single human life means to me!?”

「我不会后退！你觉得一个人类的性命有怎样的价值！」

“W-what!?”

「什、什么！」

“Our aim is to kill every single one of the Bafolk here! It doesn’t matter what happens to the humans! 「Widen Magic Fireball」!”

「我们的目的是将这里面所有的山羊人屠杀殆尽！人类什么的怎么样都好！——<魔法效果范围扩大化火球（Widen Magic·Fire Ball）>」

The Sorcerer King extended his hand with a shout, and the fireball that flew forth blew away the Bafolk and the boy he was holding.

大声呵斥着的魔导王伸出了手，手掌上出现的火焰球把大门上的山羊人和少年一齐轰飞了。

After that, the enormous burst of flame also consumed the watchtower.

然后，巨大的火焰爆发把瞭望塔也卷了进去。

Everyone on top had been slain by that attack. The Bafolk and his hostage fell onto the Sorcerer King’s side of the wall.

在那上面的人全都被这一击给击落。抓着少年的山羊人和少年一起栽到了大门这边。

“「Maximize Magic Shockwave」”

「<魔法最强化冲击波（Maximize Magic·Shock·Wave）>」

The next spell blasted away the half-ruined gates. In addition, it scattered the Bafolk who were erecting barricades behind it, blowing a huge hole into their defenses.

接下来的魔法攻击把半毁的大门整个吹飞了。不仅如此，山羊人在大门后布置的路障也一同吹散了，就像是开了一个大洞一样。

“Come, you paladins! Attack! Kill the Bafolk inside to the very last man!”

「来吧！圣骑士们哟！开始突击！把里面的山羊人一个不剩的杀光！」

As though awakened by his voice, Remedios came to and replied:

像是被这个声音弄醒，回过神的蕾梅蒂欧丝做出了反应。

“You son of a bitch--!”

「你这混账——！」

“--Captain!”

「——团长！」

“Grrrrgh! --Charge!”

「咕咕姆！——突袭！」

The paladins moved forward in response to Remedios’ words. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say that they had abandoned all attempts at thinking and fully subordinated themselves to her orders.

随着蕾梅蒂欧丝的话语，圣骑士们开始了行动。比起这个、说不定是放弃了思考，全部委身于命令这样才更接近正确答案。

“Thank you, Your Majesty!”

「魔导王陛下。感谢您！」

Gustav left those words behind and moved on. After that, there the paladins and priests -- the more sensible ones, at least -- directed grateful looks at him. Remedios was the only one who was staring at the Sorcerer King with open displeasure.

古斯塔博仅仅说了这些就走了。接下来从圣骑士和神官里面——从稍微懂点道理的人那里都传来了感谢的目光。明目张胆地用不快目光看着魔导王的，就只有蕾梅蒂欧丝一个人。

The Sorcerer King addressed Neia in a quiet voice.

魔导王用平静的声音向涅婭搭了话。

“--Baraja-san. Did you think I would save the boy with a spell beyond your imagination?”

「——巴拉哈小姐。你是觉得我会用你们无法想象的魔法救下少年么？」

Indeed, the thought had crossed her mind. However, the Sorcerer King must have had some reason for his actions.

确实有这么稍微想过。但是，魔导王这么做应该是有着某种理由的。

“Ah, yes, I did. It is as you say.”

「啊，是、是的。就像您所说」

“Hm, perhaps that might be so.”

「呼姆，或许是这样吧」

The Sorcerer King nodded, and Neia listened in silence.

魔导王点了点头。涅婭就这样沉默着保持倾听。

“Indeed, I could have done so. By using the various spells I have learned, saving a single boy would be a trivial task. However, I could not do that. That was because I could not allow the Bafolk to see me rescue a boy.”

「确实，这样的事是可以办到的吧。如果使用我所习得的各种各样的魔法的话，救下一名少年这样的事还是很容易的。但是，那办不到啊。因为决不能让山羊人看到救下少年的这一幕」

Doubt crossed Neia’s face for the first time, and the Sorcerer King gently explained to her.

对初次表露出疑惑的涅婭，魔导王温柔地进行了说明。

“If I allowed them to know that hostages were that effective against us, the prisoners inside would be used as meat-shields to block our attacks in battle.The paladins would be at a loss, and they might end up as casualties. Due to our dire lack of manpower, even one fewer paladin would constitute a great disadvantage… at least, according to Lanchester’s laws.

(TL Note: Lanchester’s laws are mathematical formulae designed to calculate the relative strength over time of a predator and prey pair. They’re usually used for military modelling. In this case, even one loss can lead to more losses over time.)

「如果让他们知道人质有着这种程度的效果的话，里面的俘虏就会被当做肉盾，在战斗中会被当成挡箭牌吧。那样的话，迷茫的圣骑士里面也有出现被害的可能。在这边兵力很少的状态下，即使缺少一名圣骑士也是巨大劣势……名为兰彻斯特的法则上是这么写的」

【译注：兰彻斯特定律描述敌对双方交战过程中兵力变化关系的微分方程组。该定律主要有三种形式，包括第一线性律、第二线性律与平方律。用以揭示在特定的初始兵力兵器条件下，敌对双方战斗结果变化的数量关系。主要用于作战指挥、军事训练、武器装备论证等方面的运筹分析。】

The Sorcerer King walked to the gate, and Neia hurried after him.

魔导王向大门走去，涅婭也追了上去。

“On the other hand, once they know the hostages are useless, they will become useless to the Bafolk. Now, when they are being attacked and the enemy is about to come through the walls, do you think they have the time to leisurely kill off their prisoners? Murdering people who can’t resist ought to be a very low priority then.”

「相反，如果知道了人质没有效，对山羊人来说俘虏就变成了碍事的存在。然而，在遭受到攻击、敌人快越过城墙的时候，又真的有那么多的时间去悠哉的杀害俘虏吗？杀害无法抵抗的人的优先度应该就会变得很低」

“It is as you say.”

「正如您所说」

“Indeed. Rather than waste time killing people, they would prepare to stop the enemy incursion instead. Therefore, it was necessary to use a method that would clearly illustrate the pointlessness of taking hostages.”

「就是这样。比起去做杀人这样浪费时间的事情，更会去做阻止敌人进攻的准备吧。所以说，才有必要使用、能让他们清楚的意识到人质是无效的方法」

He was right,

正是如此。

If Remedios had her way, she might end up being unable to save anyone in the end.

蕾梅蒂欧丝的行动，到头来很可能一个人都无法拯救。

The Sorcerer King slowly lifted up the body of the boy by his feet.

魔导王把脚边的少年的尸体慢慢抱了起来。

“Your Majesty, let me--”

「陛下，让我——」

“--This is a job for me.”

「——这是，我的工作吧」

Neia accompanied the Sorcerer King as he carried the boy to the place where Remedios had planted her banner.

和抱着少年的魔导王一起，涅婭回到了蕾梅蒂欧丝插着旗帜的地方。

The Sorcerer King laid the boy on the ground. Neia wetted a cloth with water from a waterskin, and wiped away the grime on the boy’s face.

魔导王把少年放到了地上。涅婭用布袋里的水把布打湿，清理掉了少年脸上的污秽。

His cheeks, his wrists and his thighs were all shockingly thin.

脸颊，手腕还有大腿都消瘦得惊人。

It clearly illustrated the harsh conditions under which they lived.

让人明白了这个孩子是在怎样恶劣的环境下生活着。

“Those Bafolk bastards…”

「可恶的山羊人……」

“Perhaps this should not be said, but do allow me to say it anyway. I am the king of the Sorcerous Kingdom, and not the king of the people who reside in this country. Thus, I can calmly make this decision. I would choose to save a thousand people’s lives over a single life. But if this boy alone were a citizen of my nation, I would prioritize saving him instead. If you cannot accept that---”

「或许这是不应该说的话，但姑且还是让我说吧。我是魔导国的王，并不是生活在这个国家里人民的王。所以才能做出冷静的判断。比起一个人的性命更会选择去救上千人民的性命，这样。可如果只有这个少年是我国的国民的话，我会优先救助这个孩子吧。如果你没法接受的话——」

“--No, thank you very much. I can understand how you feel… Your Majesty is just.”

「——不，非常感谢您，陛下。我能够理解、您的感受。……陛下才是正义呢」

“...Hm? What do you mean?”

「……嗯？你在说什么？」

“My apologies. Ah, maybe it should be, Your Majesty is performing righteous deeds?”

「非常抱歉。啊，那个、陛下是在做正义的事吧？」

What on earth am I saying, she could not help but wonder.

到底在说些什么啊，自己也不禁这么想。

While she felt that this left him with nothing to reply with, the merciful and compassionate Sorcerer King still answered her.

虽然觉得让对方无语了，但慈悲的魔导王还是回答了她。

“...Eh? Ah, no, I do not feel that I am just. And frankly speaking, justice ought to be determined by others. The motives for everything I do are very simple. Well, I have thought of spreading my reputation too…”

「……诶？啊、不是，我觉得我并不是正义哟。而且说到底，所谓的正义不是该由他人来判断的东西吧。我所做的事情非常的单纯。嘛、也有想让名声传播的更广这一层感情在……」

Neia recalled the matter of the statues.

涅婭的脑海里回忆起雕像的事情。

Does wanting to spread his reputation mean the Sorcerer King is an egomaniac after all?

（想要把名声传播的更广，果然是魔导王的自我展示欲很强么？）

“That said, I now feel there’s no need to try so hard with that… I ended up talking about pointless things. All I desire is to live in happiness with my children. That is all there is to it, but at the same time, it is also everything to me.”

「话是这么说，现在觉得已经不用那么勉强也行……说了些无聊的事情啊。我的愿望就只有能和我的孩子们一起幸福的生活下去。仅仅如此、但同时这也是我的一切」

She did not think the undead Sorcerer King could have children. Therefore, it was probably not a child in the sense of carrying on his bloodline, but in a broader sense. It felt like he regarded the citizens of his nation as his children.

不觉得身为不死者的魔导王会有孩子。不是继承了自己血液这种意义上孩子，应该是更广义上的孩子吧。还是觉得自己的国民就像是孩子一样呢。

He is a kind man in every sense of the word… indeed, what a wonderful world it would be if even the frailest child could live in happiness. What had he thought when he took this boy’s life...

（不管是哪种意义，都是一位温柔的人……确实，如果是身为最弱者的孩子都能幸福生活的世界的话，那该是多么美好的世界啊。这样的人究竟是以怎样的心情夺走了少年的生命呢……）

As she looked at the profile of his face, she saw something like the grief one would feel after killing a child.

看着眺望着大门的骸骨的侧脸，侧脸上就像是露出了杀害了孩子之后而感到的悲伤一般。

“Well, that was pointless. In that case, let’s drop the topic here. Baraja-san, while I am not qualified to speak pretty words, I hope you find the justice that belongs to you.”

「说了些无聊的话。那么、这个话题就到此为止吧。巴拉哈小姐，我虽然没有说漂亮话的资格，但希望你能找到属于你的正义」

“...May I ask one more question? If your own subordinates had been taken hostage like that, would you have done the same thing?”

「……最后能再让我问一个问题么？陛下自己的部下如果像之前那样被当成了人质，您会采取之前那样的行动吗？」

“...Well, this might be grumbling on my part, but my subordinates are very troublesome in more ways than one.”

「……虽然是发牢骚，但我的部下在别的意义上也让人非常困扰啊」

“What exactly do you mean?”

「这究竟是、怎样的意义呢？」

“In the past, I asked them out of curiosity, ‘what would you do if you were taken hostage to force me to negotiate’. At that time, every single one of them promptly said they would rather kill themselves than inconvenience me in any way. ‘No,’ I told them. ‘Can’t you say you’d wait for me to rescue you’ and things like that… While it pleases me to see their staunch devotion, this is still, how shall I put it. My subordinates are all a little too fanatical.”

「过去我曾经出于好奇问过他们，如果被抓作人质用于和我交涉的话会怎么做。那时，所有人都立刻断言，为了避免对我造成妨碍、会採取自杀的手段。不，我说你们就不能做出多等一下、好让我派出救援之类的判断吗……虽然我很高兴他们忠肝义胆，但是这也稍微，怎么说呢。我的部下有点过激了啊」

As he rotated his wrist, the Sorcerer King continued in a tired voice.

边转动着手，魔导王陛下一边显得相当疲劳似地说道。

Just as Neia began to think, weren’t these unnecessary worries for someone in his position, Remedios appeared at the gate, carrying a bloodstained longsword, her armor similarly splattered in blood. Though she had removed her helmet, her hair was stuck to her forehead by sweat. She looked utterly exhausted.

正当涅娅想着、那种事对位于高位者而言，这不是种奢侈的烦恼吗的时候，带着沾满血糊的长剑，穿着同样满是血渍铠甲的蕾梅蒂欧丝出现在门口。虽然脱下了头盔，不过额髮因为汗而粘在额头，一副精疲力竭的样子。

After saying something to Gustav, Neia sensed that for a moment, Remedios’ eyes had met hers. No, it was less that she had locked gazes with Neia, but rather, she had been looking at the Sorcerer King and Neia was in the way.

在向身后的古斯塔博交代了什麽事情之后，涅娅感到有那麽一瞬间，蕾梅蒂欧丝的视线和自己对上了。不，与其说是和涅娅目光交汇，正确地说应该是蕾梅蒂欧丝望向魔导王的视线上刚好站着涅娅吧。

Remedios said nothing, simply went back inside with a blank look on her face.

蕾梅蒂欧丝什么都没说，面无表情地再次走回门内。

Gustav, on the other hand, approached the two of them.

倒是古斯塔博却向着两人走来。

“Your Majesty, I wish to express my thanks. While there were some slight losses, we were able to minimize them thanks to Your Majesty’s power. While the Captain ought to be thanking you in person, the Captain is somewhat distraught at the moment due to the tragic condition in which we found the people, so I pray you will forgive me for taking her place.”

「魔导王陛下，我向你表示感谢。虽然稍微出现了损害，但是我确信多亏了陛下的力量才把它抑制到了最小程度。虽然原本的话必须得由团长向您亲自道谢才行，不过团长因为人民们的悲惨状况而心情激动，所以还请原谅由我代为提及」

Gustav sneaked a peek at the boy, and then he looked back at the ground.

古斯塔博偷偷向少年看去，然后又望向了地面。

“It is fine. Go tend to the Captain.”

「无妨。就请去劝慰团长」好了

“Thank you very much.”

「非常感谢」

“Come to think of it, what were those tragic conditions?”

「说起来所谓的悲惨状况是怎么回事？」

“Yes. We questioned several of the people we rescued, and they said that ‘they were skinning the prisoners’. It would seem ‘they’ were not demihumans but demons sent by Jaldabaoth…”

「是的。我们询问了救出的几人，他们说那些家伙正在剥取俘虏的皮肤。看起来不是亚人们，而是亚达巴沃派来的恶魔干的……」

While she felt that the Captain being distraught was an excuse for her rudeness, that did not seem to be the case.

虽然觉得那是为了帮「因为悲惨状况而情绪激动的团长」的无礼行为善后而编造出来的借口，不过看来并不是那样。

Just as Neia was starting to feel surprised, the Sorcerer King beside her tilted his head in bafflement.

就在涅娅感到惊讶之时，一旁的魔导王却像是感到不可思议般地歪过头去。

“Why the skin? Why that? Are they going to eat it? Like chicken skin?”

「为什么是皮肤？为了什么？是要拿来吃吗？鸡皮？」

“No, we have no idea either… although, the demihumans did not seem to have taken part in those activities… Does Your Majesty know anything about this? Could this be for some kind of demonic ritual?”

「不，我们也完全不明白……虽然亚人们好像并没有参与那样的事……魔导王陛下有什么头绪吗？比如恶魔的仪式之类？」

“No, I apologize. I have no clue either. Why would Jaldabaoth do such a thing?”

「不，抱歉。我也完全不明白。完全无法推测。亚达巴沃为什么要做出那种事呢？」

The Sorcerer King’s puzzlement seemed to stem from the bottom of his heart, and after that everyone looked at each other, but they still could not unravel the mystery. Even so, since it was the work of demons, they might have done so just to make the humans suffer.

魔导王好像从心底感到不可思议的如此回答后，众人你看我我看你，但依旧弄不明白。尽管那么说，毕竟是恶魔的所作所为，很有可能只是单纯地想让人类痛苦吧。

“...I’ll ask the priests later. Then, Your Majesty, we are now trying to figure out the demihumans’ hiding places in order to clear them out, so I would like to monopolize a bit of your precious time afterwards.”

「……等下去问问神官们吧。那么魔导王陛下，因为要扫荡亚人，正在搜索它们会不会躲在什么地方，所以想再稍微占用一下您宝贵的时间」

After saying so, Gustav went back inside the gate.

古斯塔博那样说完之后就回到了门后。

About ten minutes after that, scattered human forms began appearing at the gate.

在那之后过了十分钟左右，门边开始零零星星地看到人影。

They were the captives.Just like the boy who had been taken hostage, they were dressed in tattered, threadbare clothing that did not look like it could resist the winter chill. The paladins who should have escorted them to the door simply went back past them and vanished behind the gate. Had they done this because they had too few people to handle the prisoners, or was it because the suppression work was still ongoing, or both of them?

是被囚禁的人们。他们跟被作为人质的少年一样，穿着不觉得能抗拒冬天寒冷的破破烂烂的衣服。应该是把他们护卫到门边的圣骑士的身影只是一闪而过，然后再次消失在门后。是因为人数少所以采取往返连续运送呢，还是因为镇压尚未完全结束呢。抑或两者皆是呢。

The prisoners had looks of delight on their faces as they rushed toward Neia.

被囚禁的人们一边从全身表现出欢喜，一边朝涅娅的方向走来。

However, they suddenly stopped in their tracks.

但是他们的步伐在一定距离时突然停下了。

That was probably because they had seen the form of the Sorcerer King. And then, some people continued to approach them. Perhaps they felt that the Sorcerer King was just wearing a mask or something.

恐怕是因为看到了魔导王的身影吧。然后又渐渐有人开始向这边走来。说不定是觉得魔导王是戴着面具还是什么东西。

A man ran over from amidst the walking crowds.

从步行的人群中，一个男子快步跑来。

Panting heavily, the man knelt down beside the boy which Ainz had laid at Neia’s feet. No, it would be more accurate to say he collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

上气不接下气跑过来的男子跪倒于被安放在涅娅她们脚边的少年。不，应该说是瘫坐才对。

The man caressed the boy’s cheek, and after seeing for himself that the boy was dead, he burst into mournful tears.

男子抚摸着少年的脸颊，确认到他已经失去性命后，开始发出了犹如悲鸣一般的哭声。

Clearly, he was the boy’s father.

显然他就是少年的父亲。

Neia bit her lip.

涅娅咬住了下唇。

As the father cried his son’s name while he wept, the Sorcerer King calmly said:

向一边喊着儿子名字一边哭泣的父亲，魔导王沉稳地说道。

“I was the one who killed that boy.”

「杀死了那孩子的是我」

Neia looked at the Sorcerer King in surprise. Was now the time to say this sort of thing?

涅娅大吃一惊地看着魔导王。现在是应该说那种话的时候吗。

However, surely the wise Sorcerer King would not have suddenly said so for no reason.

但是，聪明到那种程度的魔导王不可能没有任何目的就突然说出那种话。

“Why, why did you kill him!?”

「为、为什么杀了他？！」

The fires of hatred burned in the father’s eyes. Faced with that--

抬头向上望的父亲双眼发出憎恶的火光。与此相对——

The Sorcerer King replied with a mocking laugh.

魔导王发出了嘲笑声。

“To save you, of course.”

「当然是为了救你们的命了」

“What, what did you say!?”

「你、你说什么？！」

For just a moment, the father’s eyes filled with fear. That was because he realized that the Sorcerer King’s face was not artificial. Then, his eyes roved to the sides in search of help, and they settled on Neia.

仅仅一瞬间，父亲的双眼出现了恐惧的色彩。那是因为他理解到魔导王的脸绝对不是人造物了吧。然后，左右移动视线寻求帮助的父亲的双眼望向了涅娅。

However, before Neia could say something, the Sorcerer King spoke first.

不过，在涅娅要说出什么之前，魔导王发出了质问。

“Then may I ask you something? Why did you not protect your son? Your son was brought before me as a hostage.”

「那么让我问下你吧？你为什么没有保护好自己的孩子？这孩子可是被当成人质带到了我们面前哦？」

“I protected him! But he was snatched away! Those bastards were stronger than me, so I couldn’t do anything!”

「我保护过！不过被抢走了！那些家伙们比我厉害所以什么都做不到！」

The Sorcerer King laughed again.

魔导王再次发出嘲笑声。

“Then let me ask you -- why are you still alive?”

「那么我继续问你，你为什么还活着？」

The father did not know how to answer, and froze in place.

父亲不知该怎麽回答，愣在原地。

“I am asking you why you did not die to protect your child. Not all lives are equally important. You should have been the one who valued that child’s life the most of all. So why did you not struggle wildly to protect him to your last breath?”

「我问你为什么没有因为保护儿子而死。生命的价值并不相等，为那个孩子的生命附上最高价值的，从刚才的态度看应该是你。那么你为何、没有疯狂地以死相护？」

The people looked at the Sorcerer King from afar as they eavesdropped on the situation here.

民众们远远地围绕着魔导王等人，窥探这边的情况。

They must have felt unease, fear, and anger at the Sorcerer King who had taken the boy’s life.

他们感到的是不安与恐惧，以及对夺走了孩子性命的魔导王的愤怒吧。

“What, what are you saying…”

「你、你在说什么……」

“You are the one who failed to protect him. Do not push the blame onto others. You, who were weak, are at fault. Also, you seem to be mistaken about something… you do realize that I am much more powerful than the Bafolk you claim to be stronger than you, no? ...Although I can forgive some insults because I pity you for the loss of your child, I will slay you if they get out of hand.”

「没能保护他的是你，别把错推到别人头上。是弱小的你不好。然后你应该误会了一点……我可是比你口中所说的、那些比你强得多的山羊人更厉害哦？……虽然看在你失去自己孩子的可怜份上，多少的恶言相向还在可原谅的范围，但是超过限度的话就杀了你」

The Sorcerer King reached out a bony index finger and rested it on the father’s face.

魔导王伸出了白骨的食指，扎在父亲的脸上。

“That, that’s because you’re strong -- that’s why you can say that! Not everyone can be as powerful as you!”

「因、因为你强——才能那么说！又不是每个人都像你那么强！」

“Well said. I can say so precisely because I am powerful. Then, it is precisely because you are weak that being taken from is your lot in life, no? The strong preying on the weak is a very natural sequence of events.”

「说得没错。因为我是强者所以才能这么说。那么，正因为你们是弱者——被掠夺就是理所当然的吧？弱肉强食是非常自然的事」

The Sorcerer King turned his eyes to the people around him.

魔导王的视线转向了在周围的那些人民。

“Have you not also experienced suffering because the Bafolk are strong?”

「你们不也是因为名为山羊人的强者，而在那儿亲身经历过那种事吗？」

“Are you saying the strong can do what they want!?”

「强就可以为所欲为了吗！」

“Exactly. The strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must. This is the way of the world. The same rule applies to me. In the face of a more powerful opponent, I would have no recourse but to suffer. That is why I seek strength.”

「正是。只要足够强大就能为所欲为。那就是这个世界的真理。同样的事对我也适用，在比更我厉害的对手面前我也只有被掠夺的份吧。正因如此我才会寻求力量」

Neia understood why the Sorcerer King sought Jaldabaoth’s maids.

涅娅明白了魔导王想要亚达巴沃的女仆的理由。

His Majesty must be seeking strength because he wants to protect his nation, to protect the children of his country. So strength is the most important thing after all...

（这位大人是为了守护自国、为了守护自国的孩子们才想要力量。果然……最重要的是力量……）

“Originally, the weak like yourselves should have been defended by the Holy Kingdom, those who should have been strong… I really do pity you. If you were under my protection -- under the protection of my country, the Sorcerous Kingdom, something like this could not possibly happen. That is because I would have used all my strength to protect the people and strike down the Bafolk.”

「本来、作为弱者的你们该置身于，本应是强者的这名为圣王国的国家的庇护下才对……我真是为你们感到悲哀啊。如果是处于我的——名为魔导国的国家的庇护下的话，就不可能会发生这样悲伤的事。因为我会倾尽全力保护人民，击退山羊人们」

Everyone around them was silent.

身处周围的人都没有发出声音。

The Sorcerer King’s arguments were calm, cold and cruel, but at the same time they expressed the truth of the world.

虽然魔导王的意见冷静透彻且残忍，但它是在叙述着的是这个世界的真理。

If they could not oppose his words with reason, would they choose to protest with their emotions? However, their fear of the Sorcerer King stopped them from doing so.

想要对抗这个意见的话不能靠理性，而是该靠感情来控诉吧？但是，出于对魔导王的恐惧却阻止了那种行为。

“You, isn’t he one of the undead? What are the undead doing in a place like this?”

「这、这家伙不是不死者吗！为什么不死者这种东西会在这种地方啊！？」

The father could not say anything to the Sorcerer King because he feared the latter, and so he directed his wrath at Neia instead.

因为惧怕魔导王而什么都说不出的父亲把矛头指向了涅娅。

However, before Neia could answer, the Sorcerer King stole a march on her, as expected.

但是，在涅娅想回答什么之前，果然还是魔导王要更快一步。

“To help your country, of course. And the fact is, you were all rescued by the undead of which you speak. If you are unhappy with that, why not save this nation by yourselves?”

「那当然是因为要帮助你们的国家啊。而且事实上，你们也是被你口中的不死者所救的。要是你们不高兴的话，不如靠你们自己拯救这个国家如何？」

As he heard that, the father questioned Neia with his eyes. However, she could say nothing.

听到那个宣言的男人以双眼询问着涅娅。不过，她什么都说不出来。

That was because it was the truth.

因为那也是事实。

If the people of this country were enough to defeat Jaldabaoth, the Sorcerer King would not be here.

如果只靠这个国家的人类就能打倒亚达巴沃，魔导王也不会出现在这里。

The man hugged the boy’s corpse, like he was afraid, then turned and ran. The people to which the man ran had frightened looks on their faces as well.

男人就像是好像害怕着一样紧抱着少年的尸体，转身跑去。处于男子奔跑方向的人们脸上出现了害怕的脸色。

Neia heard the Sorcerer King say something, but she did not know if he was addressing the fleeing man or himself.

涅娅听到了魔导王不知道是对那个男人的背影所说、还是自言自语的话语。

“Even I would be oppressed if I were weak. Therefore one cannot forget to seek strength. I need to engrave into my heart the fact that beings of comparable power to myself most definitely do exist.”

「就算是我，只要弱小的话也会处于被掠夺的立场。正因如此才不能忘记寻求强大。必须要铭记在心，拥有与自己同等程度力量的存在是绝对存在的这件事」

Part 3

After attacking the first prison camp and freeing the liberation army troops imprisoned within, they wasted no time in going after the next prison camp.

袭击了第一座俘虏收容所，解救了被囚禁人们的解放军，第二天就马不停蹄地赶向了下一座俘虏收容所。

This was not a sweeping advance, but rather, because of several reasons which meant they had no choice but to do so. The most pressing one was because the food stocks in the prison camps were less than they had estimated.

这不是乘胜追击，而是因为更加走投无路的几个理由。其中最为切实的一个，就是俘虏收容所储备的食物比当初预估的还要少。

This, in turn, was the result of the twin policies of the demihumans had not fed their captives enough, and regularly shipping food in from a small city nearby.

这结果是由于、亚人们并未给予俘虏足够的食物，以及他们采取着每经过规定日数、就会从近郊小都市运来食物的系统这双重原因导致的。

In addition, the demihumans who accompanied the food shipments were also responsible for inspecting the prison camps for any abnormalities.

而从那座小都市过来运输食物的亚人们，同时也担任着确认俘虏收容所是否发生异常状况的监察团的职责。

Even if they killed all these demihumans and took all their food, the opposition would definitely conclude that something had gone wrong at the prison camps.

即使把这些亚人全都杀光抢走食物，只要他们并未回到那座小都市，对方毫无疑问就会做出俘虏收容所出现事故的判断。

Of course, Jaldabaoth would learn of that as well. That being the case, it was very likely that he would dispatch a huge force which Neia and the others would have trouble dealing with.

当然亚达巴沃也就会得知那个事实吧。这样的话，就有很高的可能性会将涅娅他们难以招架的大军派遣过来。

After standing behind the Sorcerer King and participating -- but obviously not speaking -- in meetings, after a long argument that made her legs hurt to stand on, Neia had finally arrived at two possible courses of action.

站在魔导王身后，参加了会议——虽然一言未发——的涅娅，经过了让她的脚都站得痛起来的漫长纠纷后，最初拿出了两种方案。

The first was to flee to the south with the fruits of the liberated prison camps, throwing in their lot with the armies that ought to be stationed there.

其一、捧着解放了一座收容所的战果，前往南方避难，投靠应该驻扎在那里的军队。

The second was to strike first and conquer that city.

其二、就是先发制人、前去小都市将其攻陷。

While both of these completely antithetical opinions had their own merits and flaws, they eventually went with the latter, after the captain of the paladin order, Remedios Custodio, shouted for it.

虽然这两种完全相反的意见无论哪种都有着各自的问题，但在圣骑士团团长蕾梅蒂欧丝的一声咆哮下、最终还是决定为后者。

Remedios had a top secret reason for choosing to assault the city.

蕾梅蒂欧丝选择强袭小都市背后有着极为秘密的理由。

After questioning the demihumans -- and naturally, killing them afterwards -- the town which was their target apparently contained a nobleman with royal blood in their veins.

根据从亚人们口中得来的情报考虑——当然在那之后已经将其杀掉了——现在作为目标的都市里似乎囚禁着流有王族血脉的贵人。

If they were truly of the royal bloodline, it was very likely that the situation would improve. Even if they were not royalty, it would be a godsend if they were a great noble with a certain degree of status and connections. They could bank on the fact that they had saved his life to ask the southern armies to apply pressure, and possibly ask for reinforcements.

如果真的是王族的话，事态会好转的可能性很高。即使并非王族，只是个有着一定地位和人脉的大贵族那也是谢天谢地。以救命之恩为盾，就可以向南方的军队施加压力，也能要求支援了。

However, Neia had her doubts.

然而涅娅仍是满心疑惑。

“Your Majesty, do you really think there will be a member of the royal family or a powerful noble there?”

「陛下，您觉得真的会有王族、或者说是有力贵族存在吗？」

Neia had been allowed to ride a horse out of deference to the Sorcerer King’s status. Otherwise, the sort of horse which a low-ranking squire like Neia would have been allowed to ride would have been taken for use as a pack animal long ago.

涅娅会被允许骑马是为了符合魔导王侍的身份。否则像是涅娅这种地位低下的侍从的马，最开始就会被抢过去当成驮马吧。

“It’s probably a trap. Even if it isn’t, the city will be garrisoned with many troops, and depending on the situation there might be demons present. Captain Custodio ought to be very aware of that. Even so, she has decided to fight an uphill battle like this. Sometimes, you need to wager everything on one bet.”

「怕是陷阱吧。就算不是，也会驻扎着防御牢固的兵力，根据情况说不定还会有恶魔存在。关于这些卡斯特迪奥团长等人应该也是很清楚的。是即便如此也决定背水一战吧。有时也需要像这样孤注一掷」

If they did not seek the aid of the south, people would begin to starve soon. If that happened, Neia knew that the Liberation Army would not be able to carry on.

不向南方求援的话，不久的将来肯定会出现饿死者。如果变成那样的话解放军是不可能还维持得下去的，这点涅娅也明白。

Soon, they saw their objective, the small city, in the distance.

不久后就在前方看见了目的地的小都市。

From her horse at the tail end of the column, Neia looked at the citizen soldiers marching ahead of herself.

在最末尾骑着马的涅娅看向了走在自己前方的民兵们。

They were citizens of the Holy Kingdom who had been rescued from the prison camps. The reason why they had pressed them into military service when they should have been resting was because they discovered that there were far more demihumans in the town than in the earlier prison camps.

他们是从在之前的俘虏收容中救出的圣王国平民。让本有休息必要的他们拿起武器行军，是因为发现小都市里亚人的数量比之前的俘虏收容所要多得多。

There were many more weakened people than expected, so they were not expected to make foot soldiers. Even so, it was better than nothing, and so they were mobilized.

身体衰弱的人比预想中多，作为士兵没什么可期待的。即便如此也还是有胜于无，便将他们动员了起来。

Neia’s level of skill would be hard-pressed to hide such a large force from the eyes of the demihuman scouts, so they needed to move as quickly as possible.

只靠涅娅程度的技术、难以让这种规模的军队逃过亚人侦察部队的眼睛，因此要抓紧时间尽快行动。

And the result of doing so was that the people only became more and more exhausted, and the number of adults sitting on cargo wagons only grew. The fact that they could actually sleep on the bumpy, uncomfortable wagon beds, only served to show how tired they were. In turn, the children were running energetically. The priests were probably not used to long journeys on foot either, given how they would look enviously at the cargo wagons from time to time.

而这样做的结果，使得民众们的疲倦愈加严重，随着时间流逝坐上敞篷载货马车的成年人数量也逐渐增加。在那咣当咣当晃得让人难受的载货马车上也能睡得着，说明他们积攒了相当多的疲劳吧。相对的孩子们都很精神地走着。神官们也不习惯这样的长途跋涉吧，有时会羡慕地看向载货马车。

Even in this state, they’re going to be thrown straight into a battle once they arrive. Is it really alright?

（即使是状态也不得不在到达后立刻投入战斗啊，真的不要紧吗）

During their strategy meetings en route, they had decided to immediately attack the city upon reaching it. That was because they lacked both provisions and time.

在途中的作战会议上，已经决定了到达后立刻开始都市攻略战。因为时间和食物都已经没有余裕了。

Attacking a city with enemies lying in wait during daytime was extremely dangerous.

在天还亮时就攻进有敌人等候着的城墙内部非常危险。

It would be easier to approach at night, but it would be very disadvantageous to humans, who did not have nightvision abilities. In particular, night battles were very dangerous for the citizens, who only had what combat training they had received as conscripts.

夜间接近敌人会好些，但对没有夜视能力的人类来说又很不利。特别是对于只在征兵的时候受过战斗训练的平民们来讲，夜晚的战斗危机重重。

With that in mind, they had decided to attack at dawn.

考虑到这些因素，最后决定在昼间发起进攻。

The battle lines had already been formed up ahead of them. At the head were the paladins. Behind them were militiamen holding wooden walls they had made after wrecking the prison camps, and at the back were the priests.

前方的战斗队列已经整备好了。最前线是圣骑士，他们后方是拿着通过破坏收容所而弄出来的木墙的平民。最后排的是神官们。

The plan was the same as last time, using the angels to suppress the enemies on the walls while the paladins broke down the gates, a tactic which relied on brute strength for everything. The citizen-soldiers’ job was largely limited to frightening the enemy through weight of numbers. Therefore, they had ordered the civilians to avoid fighting, and if they had to fight, to gang up on their opponents, among other things.

作战和上一回相同，在天使们压制住城墙卫兵的期间，圣骑士们将门破坏，用这种靠蛮力解决的战术。至于平民们的任务，则更多的是滥竽充数以人数来威慑敌人。为此，对平民们下达了尽可能避免战斗，如果战斗也尽可能以多数来应对一个敌人，这样的指示。

“...Now then, show me how you will do this.”

「……那，就让我见识一下你们的手段吧」

The Sorcerer King muttered to himself.

魔导王低声喃喃道。

As an observer, the Sorcerer King would not be involved with the battle.

作为观察者的魔导王和战斗无关。

While they wanted to draw on his strength for a siege like this, nobody opened their mouth to ask him during their meetings. The Sorcerer King paid no heed to the pleading gazes directed at him, and he was now positioned in the rear echelon.

虽然正是这种攻城战才想要借助他的力量，但会议中没有人开口提出来。无视了那些含着乞求的视线，魔导王现在正待在最后方。

The battle began like it had the last time.

战斗和上次一样地开始了。

It might be a small city, but it was very large for the region. Its wooden gates were reinforced with bands of iron, and there were murder holes above it, while the walls were not built of wood, but stone. The walls and gates were also much better made than those of the prison camps, which had largely been scavenged from materials taken from the villagers. However, because this city had less than ten thousand residents, it was still not impregnable.

虽说是小都市但在这一带也算是很大的都市了，木制闸门被用铁加固，上面还有落石口，城墙的材质也并非木头而是岩石，城墙与城门和用村子里的材料制作出的收容所相比都要完善许多。不过因为这个都市的人口也未过万，还达不到称得上固若金汤的高度和厚度。

The attackers found it troublesome, while it left the defenders uneasy. That was probably a more appropriate evaluation of the situation.

让进攻者觉得麻烦，让防御者有些不安，这样的评价比较妥当吧。

Remedios led the paladins in a charge, while the angels attacked the demihumans on the walls.

蕾梅蒂欧丝在先头带领着圣骑士们开始突击，天使们也袭向了城墙上的亚人。

However -- the angels occasionally winked out of existence after being hit by enemy attacks.

只是——在天使中间不时能看到有的天使受到亚人攻击后化作光点消失。

It would seem the demihumans were the same Bafolk they had encountered previously in the camps, but as expected, the ones defending this city were extraordinarily skilled troops.

亚人们看上去是和之前的俘虏收容所一样的山羊人，但果然守护着都市的都是些非同一般的强兵健将。

The most obvious of them was a Bafolk on the walls -- hiding behind a battlement -- and holding a very long spear. He had already impaled many angels.

其中最为显眼的是一只在城墙上——躲在墙垛后面——手拿卓越长枪的山羊人。他已经屠戮了许多的天使。

That Bafolk emitted a roar.

那只山羊人发出了一声咆哮。

Perhaps it was some kind of skill, but it did not affect the angels or the paladins breaking down the gates beneath him. Was it because of a narrow area of effect, or was it only effective on allies? The details were unclear. However, it would be good to remember that he possessed some sort of skill.

恐怕是某种特殊能力吧，但却没有影响到天使和在下面破坏城门的圣骑士们。是范围狭窄么，还是说仅对友方生效呢，具体还不清楚。不过还是记住他持有着某种特殊能力这一点比较好。

Looking down, both sides were fighting fiercely outside the gates

将视线下移，两方在大门处激烈地战斗着。

The Bafolk thrust their longspears from the other side of the gate -- from inside the city -- at the paladins, who blocked them with spiked shields, prevented the enemy from attacking the paladins with the battering rams. Remedios, on the other hand, directly cut apart the longspears they stabbed at her.

山羊人们从闸门的对面——都市内部——刺出长枪，而上前一步的圣骑士则用手中那下部带有长刺的盾将其挡下，防止敌人攻击到拿着破城锤的圣骑士。至于蕾梅蒂欧丝则是直接就把刺过来的长枪整个砍飞了。

The demihumans dumped boiling water on them through the murder holes. However, the paladins already had 「Protection Energy Fire」 cast on them in anticipation of this, and so no matter how much water got on them, the paladins were unscathed.

亚人们从落石口倒下开水使得下方蒸汽四溢。不过因为已经料到这种攻击而施加好<火属性防御>，无非是被水淋湿的程度，对圣骑士们来说无关痛痒。

Of course, since this was winter, things would be troublesome if they were drenched and then the temperature fell, but it was fine for the moment.

当然，因为现在是冬季，要是把开水的温度降低就会变得非常棘手，但当下还不成问题。

If they had used boiling oil instead of water, their swords would have slipped easily from their hands. Perhaps oil was precious to the demihumans but they did not make such preparations.

要是用热油来代替开水的话，剑会很容易从手里滑脱吧。是对于亚人来说油很贵重么，似乎没有那样的准备。

The slowly-advancing civilians carried the wooden walls which they had brought along to use as shields. While it would have been better if they had been made out of metal, it could not be helped given their lack of proper arms. It might not have been terribly sturdy, but it was better than nothing, and the citizen-soldiers hidden behind them began winding up their slings. They were aiming at the demihumans fighting with the angels. Of course since they were not used to combat, the stones they threw struck the angels more often that not.

慢慢前进着的平民们手里举着从收容所运来的当做盾牌的木墙。虽然事实上用金属制品会更好，但这是在没有足够武装的状况下的无奈之举。在这也许不可靠，但又聊胜于无的墙壁后方隐藏着的民兵们开始摇起了投石索。目标是在和天使们战斗着的亚人。当然了，因为他们并不习惯战斗，投出的石头打中天使的情况要更多。

Even though they were taking friendly fire, the angels were resistant to unenchanted attacks, so it was not a problem for them. Of course, it was merely resistance, not immunity, but still, the citizen-soldiers did not do that much damage to the angels. They were used simply because they would hurt the demihumans more if they hit them.

虽然算是友军伤害了，但因为天使们对未附着魔法的攻击持有耐性，所以不成问题。当然了，只是减轻伤害，并非完全无效化，不过民兵的投石也造成不了多大的伤害。这样做的原因只不过是亚人被击中会有更大的损伤罢了。

Every time an angel fell, the priests would summon a new angel and throw it into the fray. While there were very few of them, this inexhaustible and untiring supply of fresh troops kept pouring on, and the demihuman resistance began to falter,

每当天使倒下，神官们就会召唤出新的天使，再让他们投身前线。虽然数量很少，但因为这不会疲劳也不会损失的生力军源源不断地追加着，亚人的抵抗看起来也似乎衰弱了些。

“...Mm. After considering the opposition might use defensive magic, they ought to have splashed cold water on them. Combined with the cold of winter, it would make their opponent’s body temperature plunge… after all, most people would cast spells to protect against fire.”

「……嗯。以对方会使用防御魔法为前提考虑的话，应该泼些冷水才会比较有效吧。配合着冬天的冷空气可以一口气降低敌人的体温……因为正常来说都是会施加对火焰的守护魔法啊」

As the Sorcerer King looked at the battlefield, he muttered to himself like he was analyzing it.

看向战场的魔导王像是在分析般淡淡低语着。

It was hard to respond to those words. While nobody had died yet, there were those who were already wounded, so she could not bring herself to speak.

多么难以回应的台词啊。虽说还没出现死者，但在出现了负伤者的战斗之中，确实如此，这种话真是说不出来啊。

“Speaking of which, is it really alright if you don’t participate in the battle, Baraja-san? You ought to be able to make a good accounting of yourself with the bow I gave you.”

「话说，巴拉哈小姐不参加战斗没问题吗？有我给你的那张弓的话，一定可以收获相当的战果哦？」

Neia was assigned to stand watch by the Sorcerer King’s side. Using her own body as a shield for him was her duty. Therefore, she had not been ordered to fight. However, just like before, the Sorcerer King seemed very eager for her to use that bow of hers.

涅娅护卫在魔导王身旁，用自己的身体充当护盾就是她的职责。所以没有收到参加战斗的命令。

不过，之前也是，魔导王似乎很想让自己使用这张弓的样子。

Does he want me to use the weapon he lent me? I could try taking a shot from here, but missing the first shot with a borrowed weapon would be a little too--

（是想让人使用他借出的武器吗？在这里射击看看倒是也可以，不过借来武器如果第一下就打空了未免也太……）

Just as Neia was hesitating over how to answer, a mighty noise came from the vicinity of the city gate. Looking over, it would seem the gate had been broken down. The noise was a combination of the paladins’ rejoicings and the demihumans’ anxious cries.

犹豫的涅娅正打算回答时，城门处传来了巨大的响声。看过去的话闸门好像被破坏掉了。响声的正体是圣骑士们的欢呼，和亚人们焦虑的悲鸣。

Once the city gate went down, the paladins flooded into the city like an avalanche.

城门一坏，圣骑士们就像雪崩般涌入了城内。

After seeing Remedios’ skills, the shaken beastmen grew more and more frantic.

见识到了蕾梅蒂欧丝的妙技，动摇的山羊人们的焦躁感愈加强烈了。

After that -- the paladins retreated amidst great clamour.

接着——圣骑士在喧闹声中一齐后退了。

Neia’s keen vision saw within what was inside the narrow aperture of the gates before the paladins made it there.

涅娅那敏锐的视力在杀至门前的圣骑士间的狭窄缝隙里捕捉到了那里的状况。

It was the same as before.

是和当时同样的状况。

A Bafolk was clutching a child, even younger than before, and issuing orders to the paladins on the other side of the city gate. While his voice did not carry over to them, one could imagine the orders which had been given.

抓着比当时那位更加年幼的小孩子，一只山羊人正在对着城门另一侧的圣骑士们命令些什么。

虽然声音传不到这里，但能想象出命令的内容。

The paladins began falling back and leading the retreat were Remedios and Gustav. After that, they told the priests to “have the angels fall back, otherwise they’ll kill the child.”

圣骑士们开始向后撤，在这之中带头撤回的还是蕾梅蒂欧丝和古斯塔博。接着对神官们下达了

「让天使们后退。不然的话他们就会把孩子杀掉」这样的命令。

“Here we go again. I can’t listen in from over here, I want to go over there and take part in their conversation. How about it?”

「又来了么。这里不方便听取情况。我想过去那边加入谈话、怎么样？」

“You have no need to seek my opinion, Your Majesty.”

「您没有征求我意见的必要，魔导王陛下」

Neia and the Sorcerer King walked towards Remedios, who was stationed some distance -- between the Sorcerer King and the city gates -- and discussing something under the eyes of the uneasy citizen-soldiers.

涅娅和魔导王一起，朝着稍远处——城门和魔导王中间的位置——在民兵们不安的视线中讨论着的蕾梅蒂欧丝的方位走去。

“We should negotiate with them, after all,” Remedios said, but the one who was frowning after taking off their helmet was someone else. Perhaps it was because they knew what had happened at the first prison camp, but all of them had “How can we approve of this” written on their faces.

「果然还是应该和那群家伙交涉」

这么说的是蕾梅蒂欧丝，摘下头盔皱起眉头的的是其他人。因为知道在最初的俘虏收容所发生了什么，他们满脸都写着，怎么可能赞同呢，这几个字。

Even after the Sorcerer King came, they still had not found an answer.

即使魔导王已经过来，也还是没得出任何答案。

No, everyone was trying to think of how to talk Remedios down from her position of “in any case, we need to save that child”, but that seemed unlikely.

不，对于蕾梅蒂欧丝总而言之应该把孩子救下的言论，剩下的人则是在想法设法地说服她、那不可能吧。

After proposing a few vague compromise plans that were ultimately a waste of time, several people exchanged looks, and soon Gustav raised his voice to shout, “Captain!” as he poured strength into his eyes.

应酬着提不出具体方案的白费功夫意见，几人交换起视线，不久古斯塔博就双眼有力地「团长！」这么提高了声音叫道。

“We’ve gone over this countless times already! Even back then, no matter how we discussed things, it didn’t work out! We can’t save that child!”

「不都已经那样反复讨论过了么！就算有时间，就算再怎么讨论，也没有办法的。那个孩子我们救不下来啊！」

After hearing Gustav’s lines, Neia knew that the Captain had continued the strategy meeting even after the Sorcerer King had left the command tent. At the same time, she knew that the paladins would not be able to solve this problem without spilling blood.

听到了古斯塔博的台词，涅娅这下知道了当时魔导王从作战会议的帐篷离开后团长们还是反复地进行着会议。同时也知道了圣骑士们绝对没办法不沾鲜血地解决这个问题。

Remedios bit her lip and remained silent. However --

蕾梅蒂欧丝咬紧了嘴唇，一言不发。但是——

“Captain! We can’t win this battle without sacrifice! Right now, we ought to sacrifice the few to save the many!”

「团长！已经没办法不出牺牲地赢得战斗的胜利了！现在应该牺牲少数，以拯救更多人才是啊！」

Neia saw Remedios’ eyes flare with crimson flame at those words.

涅娅看到蕾梅蒂欧丝的眼中因这句话而燃起了红莲之火。

“--That is not the kind of war Her Majesty would wage! We are Her Majesty’s swords! We serve the Holy Queen, she who wants the people of this nation to live and work in peace!”

「——那不是圣王女陛下的战斗！我们是圣王女陛下的剑！那位希望这个国家全部人民都能安居乐业的圣王女大人！」

“But the Holy Queen-sama is…”

「可是圣王女大人她……」

Is dead, but before Gustav could say that, Remedios shouted to interrupt him.

已经去世了，在古斯塔博这么说下去之前蕾梅蒂欧丝发出了怒吼。

“The next Holy King hasn’t been appointed yet! Shouldn’t we protect the ideals of the Holy Queen-sama to whom we pledged our swords until then? What does a vow of loyalty we made mean when we break it ourselves!?”

「下任圣王还没有上任！那么不就应该去守护我们为之献上手中之剑的圣王女大人的理念么！以忠义起誓又要自己去将其打破算些什么啊！」

Ah, I see. Neia understood.

啊，这样啊，涅娅理解了。

Remedios had been bound, bound by the wishes of the person to whom she had pledged her loyalty.

蕾梅蒂欧丝被束缚着。被献上忠义的对象的愿望所束缚着。

A knight of the Holy Queen who loved the people could not do anything which could harm the people. That was what bound her.

侍奉着爱护民众的圣王女的骑士团，决不允许做出割舍民众的行为，这样的束缚。

The only one who could break her bonds was the next person to whom she offered her loyalty.

能将此打破的，就只有下一位她献上忠义的人物吧。

“What’s wrong with that? Who did you pledge your swords to? You all went through the ceremony to be ordained as paladins! Who do you think the paladin order serves!?”

「有错么！你们是把剑献给了谁！经过了什么仪式，才作为圣骑士被认可的！你们以为这个骑士团是在侍奉着谁啊！」

When a squire became a paladin, they would meet with the Holy King and ritually offer the sword they held to him. Similarly, when there was a change of Holy King, the paladins would meet with him and offer their swords to the reigning Holy King while swearing their loyalty. Therefore, everyone in this band of paladins had pledged their swords to the Holy Queen.

在成为侍从这个阶级时，会去谒见圣王，举行将手中之剑为其献上的仪式。同样的圣骑士在圣王更替的时候也会去谒见，为当代圣王献上手中之剑，发誓自己的忠诚。为此所属于这个骑士团的所有人，都将自己的剑献给了圣王女。

“Or did you not?” Her tone changed in an instant. After heating up, she cooled down right away, and her voice was filled with freezing chill. “Was the Holy Queen-sama wrong to want to give the smallfolk happiness and build a nation where nobody would need to cry?”

「还是说并非如此？」语气一下子变了。变成了热度瞬间冷却，寄宿着要冻结般寒冷的声音。「给予弱小民众们幸福，建立谁也不会哭泣的国家，难道是圣王女大人的这种愿望错了吗？」

“She wasn’t wrong! But.. depending on the situation… things might need to change.”

「并没有错！只不过，根据情况……有着改变的必要」

“Who? Who needs to change? Tell me, then. Is there a higher form of justice than ‘not having to sacrifice anyone’!?”

「谁？谁要改变？那就让我听听吧。难道还有比“谁都不用牺牲”更为崇高的正义吗！？」

Gustav shut his mouth.

古斯塔博闭上了嘴。

Neia realised that she had made a mistake just now.

涅娅注意到了刚才的考虑是错误的。

She was not ruled by her obedience to her loyalty to the Holy Queen, to whom she had pledged her loyalty.

并不是被献上忠义的圣王女的意志所支配着。

Remedios said that one ought to carry out justice. However thorny the path, however difficult it was to walk, one ought to trudge through all the difficulties in one’s way and continue forward without heed for what was around oneself.

蕾梅蒂欧丝说应该要执行正义。即使那是怎样的荆棘之路，想要踏破是如何的困难，也应该心无旁骛地只是一往无前。

Sacrificing the few to save the many, and saving everyone no matter how great or small; which of these was truly just?

做出牺牲舍小求大的考虑和无论大小全部拯救的想法，到底哪一方才是正义呢。

That much was obvious.

无需多言。

Clearly, it was the latter. However, it was far too idealistic, and a normal person would immediately give up on it. However, even after knowing this, Remedios still insisted on saving everyone.

可以断言、是后者。然而，那太过理想，一般的人会立刻放弃吧。而理解了这一点的蕾梅蒂欧丝还是如此诉说着，要将所有人拯救。

She held firmly to an ideal that a normal person would abandon immediately.

她坚持着一般人马上就会放弃的理想。

That was why she was the captain of the paladins, the highest-ranked paladin of them all.

正因如此，她才会是圣骑士团的团长，最高位的圣骑士吧。

Remedios was the only one seeking her lofty definition of justice; those who could not understand this were the pitiful ones.

仅有蕾梅蒂欧丝一个人在追求着孤高的正义，没能理解这点的自己才是可怜的存在吧。

Perhaps they understood her, but several paladins lowered their heads in shame.

是有着相同的感受吗，圣骑士中的几人也羞愧地低下了头。

If one considered the Sorcerer King’s justice of “killing one to save a thousand” to be a king’s justice, then Remedios justice of “one or a thousand, they are all the same” was an ideal -- a shining form of justice.

把“一”割舍来拯救“千”的魔导王的正义是作为王者的正义，“一”也好“千”也好都想拯救的蕾梅蒂欧丝的

正义是理想的——闪耀着光辉的正义吧。

Both sides were just. Neither was wrong. Even so--

无论那边都是正义。谁都没有错。即便如此——

Is there no justice without strength?

（没有力量就不算是正义吗？）

For instance, if Remedios were stronger -- if she possessed godlike power which Neia could not imagine, she could save the child, and save the inhabitants of the city. In that case, there would not have been any problems.

假如蕾梅蒂欧丝更加强大——有着涅娅无法想象的神一般的力量，就能救下被当作人质的孩子，也能拯救都市的居民了吧。那样的话应该就不会有任何的问题了。

However, that was not the case.

然而，现实并非那样。

She was stalled here because there was no way to carry on without sacrifice.

正是因为没有不牺牲任何人的办法，才会在像现在这样停滞不前。

Carrying out justice requires strength. Ahhh, I want to become strong… that way, I can wipe away Jaldabaoth’s taint from this country...

（执行正义需要力量。啊啊，好想得到力量……那样的话亚达巴沃对这个国家的玷污也就……）

“...Forgive me for interjecting while you are at a deadlock, but you will not reach a conclusion this way.”

「……抱歉在这意见不一致的时候插嘴，但这样下去是得不出结论的」

That exceptionally cold voice blew away the building heat in the air.”

这格外冷静的声音，使得现场的热气烟消云散了。

“Your Majesty…”

「魔导王陛下……」

“Captain Custodio. If this goes on, you will only serve to make the enemies know about the effectiveness of hostages. In my view, you will not be able to conquer this city without sacrificing anyone.”

「卡斯特迪奥团长。就这么下去只会像之前那样，让更多敌人意识到人质的有效性。就我看来不牺牲任何人是无法攻陷这座都市的」

“Certainly not. There ought to be a better way to do this. A way where nobody needs to be sacrificed and where nobody needs to be hurt!”

「没有那样的事。应该有着更完美的方法才对。谁都不用牺牲，谁也不会悲伤的方法！」

In response to that voice, which sounded like it was being bled out of her, the Sorcerer King gave a flat reply.

对这仿佛在滴血般的声音，魔导王平淡地做出了回应。

“I doubt it… we’ve wasted too much time. If this goes on, we will only make the same mistakes again.

「不觉得会有啊……花费太多时间了。这样下去只会重蹈覆辙」

Remedios bit her lip tightly. A tiny rill of blood flowed down it.

蕾梅蒂欧丝紧紧咬住了嘴唇。看得到那嘴唇上溢出了一丝鲜血。

“...Then… Captain. Just sacrifice that child.”

「……那么……团长。就牺牲那个孩子吧」

“That--!!”

「那——！！」

“Mm. Leave the rest to me. Since so much time has passed, I doubt you will be able to resolve this with a tiny sacrifice.”

「嗯。接下来交给我吧。既然已经过了这么久，即使你们抱着必死的觉悟进攻，恐怕也难以用微小的牺牲解决吧」

“Is that really alright!?” It was Neia who could not help crying out. “Your Majesty has been conserving his mana to fight Jaldabaoth; won’t using that mana make the fight against Jaldabaoth unfavorable?”

「这样没问题么！」不由得叫出声的是涅娅。「陛下的魔力是为了与亚达巴沃战斗而温存着的，使用这份魔力不会在与亚达巴沃战斗时变得不利吗！？」

“It is as you say, Baraja-san. However, there is no other way in order to save more people… while I cannot possibly guarantee that there will be no losses, at the very least, there will be far fewer than if you try. How about it? Will you leave it to me?”

「正如你所说，巴拉哈小姐。然而为了救助更多的人民我别无他法……虽然不可能全无牺牲，但和让你们上比起来牺牲会少很多吧。怎样？要交给我吗？」

“So there will still… be sacrifices…”

「还是会出现……牺牲啊……」

“Unfortunately so, Captain Custodio.”

「很遗憾，卡斯特迪奥团长」

Remedios bowed her head and left without a word. She walked toward the city -- where the citizen-soldiers were looking with uneasy eyes.

低着头的蕾梅蒂欧丝一言不发地走了出去。向着都市——不安地观望着的民兵的方向。

“My apologies, Your Majesty. In the Captain’s place, please allow me, Gustav, to beseech you to aid us.”

「失礼了，魔导王陛下。代替团长，请由我、古斯塔博拜托您助我们一臂之力」

“Mm… Well, it’s a pointless question, but you will thank me for it, right?”

「嗯。……虽是无聊的问题，你们会感谢我的吧？」

Everyone present was puzzled by the Sorcerer King’s question, but they immediately responded in agreement. Neia did not miss the uneasiness in their hearts over why he had asked such a reasonable question.

在场的人都对魔导王的问题感到不可思议，但都立刻做出了同意的回答。为什么会问这么理所当然的事情呢，涅娅没有看漏他们身上的这一丝不安。

“Really now. Then I will pacify the city by myself. You gentlemen should keep an eye out for any fish that slip the net and kill the or take them prisoner. Personally, I would rather take them captive in order to question them for information. Also, I will be using the undead, so don’t get too excited.”

「是么。那就由我一人对都市进行镇压吧。你们就负责在发现漏网之鱼后将他们杀死或是俘虏起来吧。就我而言因为想要获取些详细的情报，还是俘虏起来更好些。还有就是我会使役不死者，别太兴奋了哦」

Saying so, the Sorcerer King set out for the city gates without waiting for an answer.

说完这些的魔导王不等回答就走向了大门。

“「Greater Magic Seal」, 「Mass Hold Species」.”

「<上位魔法封印>，<集团全种族束缚>」

The Sorcerer King did not stop walking as he cast his spells.

脚下不停的魔导王开始使用魔法。

After incanting those two spells, he waced a hand and conjured several flickering shadows.

咏唱完两种魔法以后，挥了挥手，就唤出了几道摇曳的影子。

There were ten of them in total.

数量是十道。

They radiated an aura unique to the undead, one which the living could not abide. Their translucent forms displayed expressions of misery.

它们释放着不死者特有的，生者难以接受的气息。半透明的它们露出了苦闷的表情。

They were Wraiths. Neia had once heard that they would take the shape of the species who saw them from her monster lore lectures. However, their bizarre appearances looked like three people’s shadows stuck together.

是死灵[wraith]。它们会变成和目击者的种族相同的模样，涅娅曾在魔物讲习中听到过。但这像是三个人的影子混合在一起的怪异模样，却和讲义的内容不同。

“You High Wraiths,”

「上位死灵[High Wraith]们啊」

The monstrous-looking shadows followed the Sorcerer King as he walked. The grass by their feet wilted rapidly. Already brown from winter, they shrivelled up rapidly as they lost their water content.

追随着步履不停的魔导王的几道异形之影。它们脚边的杂草迅速的枯萎着。在冬天本就变成褐色的草叶急剧地失去水分干瘪了下来。

“Go over there and wait for my instructions.”

「过去等待我的指示」

The undead moved in perfect unison, unconstrained by gravity, and they floated swiftly into the air. In seconds, the undead melted into the azure sky overhead, and the fact that she could not see them with her eyes of which she was so proud of only intensified her shock.

不死者们用看上去像是不受重力般的动作整齐划一地迅速升到了空中。仅过数秒不死者们就融入了天空的蔚蓝之中，涅娅因自豪的双眼也无法捕捉到它们的身影而倍感惊讶。

While she wondered if it was really alright not to explain in detail to those summoned undead, the Sorcerer King who could make such perfect battle plans would surely not have overlooked that point.

虽然想着不对召唤出的不死者们进行详细说明真的好吗，但能建立那样完美作战的魔导王肯定是不会疏忽的没有错。

“Those, those were…”

「那、那是……」

“High Wraiths. Since they are incorporeal beings, they can pass through walls and other obstacles… of course, they can’t pass through things without limit… you probably don’t want to know the specifics, do you? Well, they’re part of my preparations for taking the city. Now then, please wait here, Baraja-san…”

「上位死灵。因为是没有实体的存在，可以穿过墙壁等障碍行动……当然，也不是能无止境地穿越下去……具体的也不怎么想知道的吧？嘛、这是为了攻陷都市而做的部署的其中之一。那么巴拉哈小姐就在此……」

“---Please allow me to accompany you.”

「——请允许我随您同行」

“Mm… in that case, please wear this item around your neck.”

「嗯……那么就把这个道具戴在脖子上吧」

“This, this is?”

「这、这是？」

The Sorcerer King produced a necklace with a five-pointed star pendant, set with a large ruby in the center.

魔导王从怀中取出了一条以大块红宝石为中心，四周围了一圈五芒星的项链。

“This item grants immunity to fear. High Wraiths have the ability to spread terror… let me get this out of the way first. Afterwards, you will be walking into complete chaos. People driven by fear can sometimes show terrifying strength. Even I might not be able to protect you, so if you still wish to follow…”

「这道具能附加对恐惧的完全耐性。上位死灵有着散步恐惧的能力……有一句话我先说好，接下来要进去这完全的混乱之中。被恐怖支配而袭击过来的家伙们有时会发挥出可怕的力量。说不定连我也无法保护你，即使这样也要跟过来……」

“---Please allow me to accompany you.”

「——请允许我随您同行」

“Mm, mm. Is, is that so. I understand.”

「嗯，嗯。这、这样啊，我知道了」

Neia fastened the necklace around her neck.

涅娅把项链戴到了脖子上。

“Even so… good grief, they are at war, you know. How could there be a war without casualties?”

「即便如此……哎呀哎呀，他们可是在战争啊。没有人牺牲的战争怎么会存在呢」

Neia smiled bitterly in response to the Sorcerer King’s slightly jovial tones.

听到魔导王带些玩笑的话语，涅娅露出了苦笑。

Of course, Remedios was not talking about that. The Sorcerer King could not possibly have understood the meaning of her words. This was probably the Sorcerer King’s way of cracking a joke, but even so...

当然，蕾梅蒂欧丝说的不是那么一回事。魔导王不可能没有读懂那番话的意图，恐怕这是个魔导王风格的玩笑吧——话虽如此——

His Majesty does not seem particularly talented at cracking jokes.

（魔导王陛下好像、不怎么有开玩笑的天赋啊）

Perhaps this might be the Sorcerer King’s sole weakness. Just as that thought came to Neia’s mind, they had reached the vicinity of the gate.

说不定这是魔导王陛下唯一的弱点呢，正当涅娅这么想着的时候，已经来到了大门附近。

“Fall back, paladins. I am going to conquer this city now. Move to the rear… I believe you ought to get at least that far back, no”

「后退，圣骑士们哟。现在开始我要攻占这座都市了。你们向后撤吧。……我看看、要后退到那附近哦？」

The Sorcerer King indicated the rearmost paladins and then, he walked into the city gates, like he was strolling into no man’s land.

魔导王转身向着最后方的圣骑士发出指示，接着就像是迈入无人之境般走向了城门。

“Get back! If you don’t move quickly, this brat will--”

「快点后退！再不快点，这个小鬼就——」

Soon, the Sorcerer King ran into the Bafolk who was holding the child hostage.

很快魔导王就和把孩子当做人质的山羊人碰面了。

It was hard to tell what kind of expression the demihuman was making. It was probably shock. The other demihumans around the Bafolk probably had the same looks on their faces. Well, even Neia would be shocked if she suddenly saw the Sorcerer King.

亚人的表情很难分辨，好像是在惊讶吧。挟持着人质的山羊人周围的其他亚人也是同样的表情。嘛，即使涅娅突然看到魔导王的身姿也会惊讶吧。

“...The, the undead!?”

「……不、不死者？」

With that, the word “undead” rippled through the demihumans.

话音一落，「不死者」一词就在亚人中间像是涟漪般地传开了。

“Indeed. Ah, I believe they are called ‘The Living?’ I heard that once, but I do not quite trust my recollection.”

「正是如此。啊，是叫做The·Living吗？曾经听说过一次，没什么自信啊」

“Wha-what? Why are you? What on earth… wait, a human?” The Bafolk’s eyes turned to Neia. “You! You control that undead creature, right? What a creepy guy he is!”

「什、，什么？为什么、你会？到底是……等等，人类？」视线移到了涅娅身上。「你！是你使役着不死者吗？真是让人毛骨悚然的家伙！」

Thoughts like, “I’m not a necromancer” or “You’re being rude to the Sorcerer King’ ran through Neia’s mind, but she remained silent.

虽然心中涌出了“我不是死灵法师[Necromancer]啊”又或者“这对魔导王也太失礼了”之类事，但涅娅还是贯彻了沉默的态度。

“Sorry to intrude while you’re in chaos, but--”

「抱歉在你们混乱的时候，不过——」

“--Get back, undead! Or else this kid gets it!”

「——退后，不死者！这个小鬼会死掉哦！」

The Bafolk gripped the boy’s throat.

山羊人用力握住了少年的喉咙。

The boy’s face lost all signs of life. His cloudy eyes reflected the Sorcerer King’s visage, but he did not react. Even so, he still gasped after his captor grabbed his throat.

少年那死人般的脸上失去了生机。浑浊的瞳孔里映出了魔导王的身姿，却没有做出一点反应。即便如此喉咙被捏住后还是微弱地喘息了一下。

“Fuhaha! You’re actually trying to use the living as a hostage against the undead? Honestly, honestly.”

「呼哈哈！竟在身为不死者的我面前把生者当做人质吗！？这真是、这真是」

The Bafolk’s eyes went wide. His expression’s kind of disgusting, and Neia mused that the reason she had the room to calmly think like this because she was backed by the mountain that was the Sorcerer King.

山羊人瞪大了眼睛。有点恶心的表情呢，涅娅能产生这样冷静思考的余裕，是多亏了有魔导王这位巨大的后盾吧、

“Human! Call this undead off!”

「人类！让这个不死者后退！」

It’s not like I’m controlling him...

（又不是我在使役……）

“Umu. Now then, shall we begin?”

「哼嗯。那就开始吧？」

“What? Stay back! Get back right now!”

「什么？后退！赶紧后退！」

Perhaps it had sensed something, but the Bafolk took a step to the rear while still holding its hostage.

是察觉到了什么吗，山羊人就那么抓着人质后退了一步。

When she looked around closely, she could see the forms of other children; had they been brought here as hostages as well? Even so, they did not seem to want to kill their hostages to teach them a lesson. They probably thought, would living hostages really work on the undead, who were the enemy of the living?

注意看的话周围还有其他小孩的身姿，是被当作人质带过来的吗。即便如此他们也没有杀死人质来做教训的打算。对于生者之敌的不死者来说，拿有生命的家伙做人质真的会有效吗，他们是产生了这样的疑问吧。

Neia sensed something like a black wind curling past her. In that moment, all the Bafolk froze in place. Ever since the Sorcerer King had shown up, everyone present had remained still, studying him so as not to miss a single move he made, but this change was far too extreme. Their eyes and mouths gaped open, their faces twisted in an ugly manner. Also -- it was not just the Bafolk. Even the near-lifeless children showed a dramatic response to this. While she could not read the demihumans’ faces, Neia understood human expressions. Fear was written on the children’s faces. And it was an unimaginable, fragile, crumbling fear.

涅娅感到空气中像是有漆黑之风席卷而过。那一瞬间，山羊人们的动作停止了。本来从魔导王出现开始，所有人的视线都为了不看漏丝毫动作而死死盯在了他的身上，可这变化也太极端了。眼睛和嘴巴大大张开，表情丑陋地扭曲。还有——不仅是山羊人们。毫无生气的孩子们也做出了剧烈的反应。

虽然亚人的表情看不懂，但人类的表情涅娅能明白。孩子们的脸上露出的是恐怖。而且是超越了想象的摧枯拉朽的恐怖。

“Aiiiieeeee!”

「咿咿呀呀呀！」

The Bafolk screamed in a strange way--

山羊人们发出了奇怪的叫声——

“--Hmph. Release, 「Mass Hold Species」.”

「——哼。解放、<集团全种族束缚>」

A magic circle appeared, and some kind of spell flew forth from the Sorcerer King. In the next moment, the numerous demihumans and their child hostages froze in place like hideous statues, their faces still twisted. However, they did not look like they were dead. She could hear the faint sounds of breathing -- quite ragged, it would seem.

随着魔法阵的浮现，某种魔法从魔导王这边飞了出去。接着一瞬间，那为数众多的亚人和被当做人质的孩子们，就保持着扭曲的表情，像是令人毛骨悚然的雕像般静止了。不过，似乎还没有死。能听到微弱的呼吸声——而且相当凌乱。

And then, above them -- countless cries rang out from near the wall. After that, the thump, thump sounds of meat being bludgeoned rained down on Neia.

然后上方——城墙的附近传来了众多的悲鸣声。接着咚、咚的肉被砸扁的声音一起落到了涅娅的身后。

“Alright, let’s go.”

「好了，走吧」

She was briefly distracted by that sound, so when she looked forward again, at the gate--

一时间被那声音吸引了注意力，而向前看去的话闸门——

“「Greater Break Item」.”

「<上位道具破坏（Great·Break·Item）>」

--A shrill noise rang out. It was the sound of the pieces of pulverized gate falling like rain.

——尖锐的声音响起了。那是碎得七零八落的闸门像雨一样洒下来的声音。

“As I thought, destroying buildings with this drains a lot of mana… although I didn’t use it like that over there… I guess all I can do is accept the fact that I need to pick my targets for best effect. You can’t look down on small things, after all.”

「果然用这个破坏建筑的话魔力消耗会很大啊……虽然在那边还不至于这么用……只能用小可作大用来说服自己了。毕竟大不能兼小啊」

The Sorcerer King muttered to himself as he walked over the hill of the gate’s debris and passed through the city gate, with nobody to block his path.

一个人嘟嘟囔囔着的魔导王越过了堆成小山的闸门碎片，通过了无人阻拦的大门。

The rapidly changing situation left Neia confused and unable to move. Once she regain her calm, she smiled to herself.

接连变化的状况让涅娅混乱得无法动作。恢复冷静后脸上露出了小小的笑容。

The Sorcerer King had destroyed in seconds the gate which had given the paladins so much trouble.

让我们那样耗尽心思的大门，在魔导王的手下仅需数秒就解决了。

The strong really are unfair...

（强者还真不公平啊）

Neia jogged after the Sorcerer King, and he turned around in front of the immobile Bafolk and went, “So, how about them?” while indicating the motionless demihumans and the children they were holding.

“It’s only temporary, you know. Go tie up everyone here.”

涅娅小跑着追上了魔导王。他在硬直着的山羊人们面前转身看向涅娅「那么，这些家伙呢」魔导王回过身指向了静止着的亚人和被囚禁的孩子「说到底不过是暂时的静止了。就把在这里的家伙一个个绑起来吧」

“Then I’ll call the paladins over.”

「那就把圣骑士叫来好了」

“An excellent idea. Unfortunately, I am still radiating a fear aura. Everyone who steps into it will be filled with fear. Therefore, please ask them to take the appropriate measures. I believe priests ought to have 「Lion’s Heart 」 while paladins have… hm, ask them to use 「Under Divine Flag」, how about that?”

「那就太好了，不过我现在，正释放着播撒恐惧的灵气。进入范围内的人都会被恐惧所支配。为此请他们准备好应对手段。神官的话有着<雄狮之心(lions·heart)>，圣骑士的话……就用<在神之御旗下（Under·DaveAin·Flag）>吧？」

“You actually knew about that…”

「您知道的真是清楚……」

The Sorcerer King chuckled, and then walked through the Bafolk, as if to fill the gaps between them.

魔导王留下小小的笑声后，像是要填补山羊人间的空隙般走了出去。这时——

“Gooooohhh!!”

「嘎哦哦哦！」

A strong-looking Bafolk fell from above with a growl, holding a spear. He had probably jumped down from the castle wall.

随着低吼声，持枪的山羊人强者从上方降落了。是从城墙上飞跃而下的吧。

His eyes were red and he was foaming at the mouth. He was clearly not in a normal state of mind. He looked like he had fallen into madness.

眼睛变得通红，嘴边浮起泡沫。不是正常的状态。简直就像是陷入了疯狂。

“I see. Savagery… no, berserking? Certainly, that would negate fear and other mental effects -- oho.”

「原来如此。凶战士化……不，狂乱么。那样确实恐惧等精神效果就——哦吼」

The Sorcerer King dodged the stabbing spear with practiced movements. It was a crisp, efficient movement, one unique to trained individuals. However, the Sorcerer King’s evasion meant that a Bafolk who had become a statue ended up being stabbed by his compatriot’s spear instead, It pierced straight through him, and he collapsed to the ground, spraying blood everywhere.

刺过来的枪被魔导王用洗练的动作闪过了。是受过训练的人所特有的干脆利落。然而因为魔导王的回避，一只化作雕像的山羊人被友军的长枪命中，贯通，鲜红的血液播撒向四周的同时，山羊人倒下了。

The berserk Bafolk no longer seemed to hold the concept of allies in his head.

狂乱的山羊人脑子里似乎已经没有友军这种概念了。

“Give me a break.”

「这可真是」

The Bafolk raised his spear. Was it a sweep? However, Neia could not launch an arrow.

山羊人挥起了枪。是横扫吧。然而涅娅无法射出箭矢。

The Sorcerer King approached the Bafolk, like he wanted to block her shot.

魔导王就像是要挡住射线般上前接近了山羊人。

Certainly, it was wise to close the distance given the spear’s length. However, the Sorcerer King’s next move deviated from common sense.

确实考虑到枪的长度缩短距离是正确的。然而，接下来魔导王的行动却偏离了常识。

With a swift motion, he pressed down on the Bafolk’s head from left and right.

他以迅速的动作左右按住了山羊人的头。

Perhaps it was because the Sorcerer King was surprisingly strong, but the Bafolk could not escape the Sorcerer King’s grasp no matter how it thrashed. Having given up on that, the Bafolk thought of something else; it gripped the front portion of the spear and drove it through the Sorcerer King. No, to be precise, it looked to Neia like he had driven it through him.

是魔导王的力量格外强大吗，不管再怎么闹腾山羊人也无法从魔导王手中挣脱。死心的山羊人另寻他法，握住了枪的前半部，贯穿了魔导王。不，准确的说是在涅娅看来贯穿了。

However, the Sorcerer King remained unmoved. Perhaps a defensive spell had stopped it.

然而魔导王纹丝未动。是用防御魔法挡住了吧。

“You’re not like that Troll, after all.”

「毕竟你和那个食人妖（Troll）不一样啊」

With a sickening crunch, the Bafolk’s eyes flew out of its skull; a clearly lethal injury. No, one could say that this was even worse than a fatal wound.

随着啪叽这讨厌的声音一起，山羊人的两个眼球飞了出去，一目了然的致命伤。不，或者说这副模样要不是致命伤还更可怜。

The Sorcerer King let go, and the Bafolk collapsed on the ground. Its limbs twitched around on the ground, but it was hard to say that those movements were consciously driven.

魔导王松开手，山羊人就那么倒在了地上。它的四肢啪嗒啪嗒地乱动着，但很难从中感受到意志的存在。

“May, may I know what you did?”

「您、您做了什么？」

Neia nervously asked from behind, and the Sorcerer King waggled his hand as he nonchalantly replied:

涅娅战战兢兢地在后面询问，而将双手抖来抖去的魔导王若无其事地回答了。

“I crushed its skull, of course. Sometimes, berserk individuals don’t die when they are killed. Still, if you destroy the brain, it should be fine… Still, it really was weak. Barely harder than an eggshell… are you kidding me?”

「捏碎了它的头盖骨。对狂乱的家伙即使加以致命伤，有时也不会倒下。不过只要破坏了大脑就不会出什么问题了吧……可是还真是脆弱啊。也就比蛋壳硬那么一点——开玩笑的哦？」

Neia’s face twitched.

涅娅表情抽搐着了起来。

His Majesty really doesn’t have any gift for making jokes...

（果然这位大人没什么开玩笑的天赋啊……）

“Alright, Baraja-san, call the paladins. Tell them to secure this area so I -- we can continue forward together.

「好了，巴拉哈小姐。去把圣骑士们叫来吧。让他们把这里确保下来，我——我们就可以继续前进了」

“Yes!”

「是！」

Neia ran back outside at top speed, to where the paladins were. When she looked there she saw several Bafolk fallen at their feet.

涅娅全速冲回了外面圣骑士所在的位置，到那里一看，几只山羊人倒在了圣骑士们脚边。

Since they could not have run out from the gate, they had probably been Bafolk who, in their attempt to flee the font of fear that was the Sorcerer King, had chosen to jump off the walls, and this was the result.

因为不可能是从城门跑出来的，恐怕是城墙上的山羊人为了逃离魔导王这位恐怖之源，直接跳了下来的结果吧。

After reaching the paladins, Neia hurriedly relayed the Sorcerer King’s instructions. After that, she rushed back at top speed to the Sorcerer King’s side . After Neia returned, the Sorcerer King said, “Then let’s go,” and entered the city streets.

在到达了圣骑士们身边以后，涅娅急忙地传达了魔导王的指示。接着再次全力冲向了魔导王的身边。

涅娅返回以后，魔导王「那么就走吧」的走进了都市的街道。

The question of why no new Bafolk had come after the city gates had been breached immediately faded away.

为什么，明明已经突破了城门却没有新的山羊人过来呢，这种疑问立刻就消解了。

Neia heard groan after groan. It made her think that this unliving city was moaning.

涅娅的耳边传来了一声又一声的悲鸣。让人觉得简直就像是都市这一无机物，在发出悲鸣一样。

“This, this is…”

「这、这究竟是……」

“I ordered the undead I released to spread fear. This is the result. Some hostages might have been trampled in the confusion… well, all you can do is treat it as a sad story. Give up on them.”

「我对放出的不死者们下过播撒恐怖的指示吧，这就是结果。在混乱中也有可能会有人质被踩踏到的可能性……也只能当成令人心痛的事故了、放弃吧」

She cast her eyes outward, and a Bafolk was running towards them with all its might (probably). It looked just like a harried prey animal, and Neia even found it a little pitiful.

放眼望去，有只山羊人正满脸拼命的——大概——表情向着这边跑来。就如同被追赶的小动物般，那模样甚至让人觉得可怜。

It must have been exposed to extraordinary fear. Otherwise, why would it run towards a being who was even more powerful than the undead creature it was fleeing from?

是被暴露在了非同一般的恐惧中吧。不然的话，又怎么会跑向比那不死者还强的存在身边呢。

“Hm… no signs of humans,then? In that case -- 「Maximize Widen Magic Fireball」”

「嗯……没有人类的身影、吧？这样的话——<魔法最强效果范围扩大化火球（Maximize Widen Magic·Fire Ball）>」

The Sorcerer King discharged a fireball into the Bafolk’s midsection, and it erupted into a massive blaze. After that vanished, demihuman body parts rained down everywhere.

魔导王手中放出的火球落到了山羊人中间，瞬间产生了巨大的爆炎。在那消失以后，亚人们的尸体倒得遍地都是。

“While waiting here might be the best thing to do… the enemy seems to have a leader. He’s waiting in a plaza near the center of the city, and he’s resisted the fear of the High Wraiths, so let’s move on… what do you think?”

「虽说在这里等着也许是最好的做法……不过敌人似乎有着首领。正守在都市中央附近的广场，抵抗着上位死灵的恐惧啊，那就继续前进……怎么样？」

“I believe all will go well if we do as Your Majesty wishes.”

「只要按魔导王陛下所想的去做就好」

“Really now. Then let’s go.”

「是嘛。那么走吧」

Every time they took a step forward, soul-chilling cries seemed to echo from everywhere, as though a great slaughter was taking place. Also, due to the demihumans’ lack of hygiene, their rubbish and wastes were everywhere, which made Neia wrinkle her nose.

每前进一步，就有像是灵魂发颤的悲鸣从各处传来，如同在发生一场大屠杀。而且因为亚人们在卫生上不怎么讲究，到处都是垃圾和排泄物，涅娅不由得皱起了脸。

“...Speaking of which, Baraja-san, what should be done about those?”

「……话说巴拉哈小姐，那些要怎么办？」

She looked in the direction where the Sorcerer King was pointing at. There were a group of stark naked people there.

看向魔导王指示的方向，那里有一群赤（）身（）裸（）（）体的人。

Regardless of gender, their hands had been nailed to wooden stakes that had been driven into the ground. In their efforts to flee their fear, they had struggled violently, and their arms were coated with fresh blood.

不分男女，他们的手被钉到了木桩上面。这些人为了远离恐惧而拼命地扭动着身体，两臂被鲜血染得通红。

In all likelihood, those were probably fences made out of human beings

大概、是用人类制作的护栏吧。

They were exhausted, bone thin, but their lives did not seem to be in danger.

他们疲惫不堪，瘦骨伶仃，但应该没有危及生命的危险。

She had attacked this city in order to free the people. Even if she continued following the Sorcerer King, Neia would not be of any use. In that case, helping them now and taking them to a safe place was the right thing to do. However, there was one thing which made her uneasy.

我们是为了救助民众才来进攻这座都市的。即使继续跟着魔导王，涅娅也派不上任何的用场。那么现在选择帮助他们，带他们去安全的场所避难才是正确的行动吧。然而，还有着一个不安的因素。

What should she do if the people were attacked by demihumans while they were evacuating?

如果避难中途被亚人袭击了该怎么办啊。

What a joke. What am I hesitating for? The Captain would have chosen to help them without any hesitation. And the reason why I can’t is… is it because of strength… after all?

（可笑。在犹豫些什么啊。要是团长就会毫不犹豫地救助他们吧。而我做不到的原因……果然……是力量吗……）

“You’re hesitating, hm. Then, just leave them here for now. There shouldn’t be any demihumans nearby. Leaving them here should be safer. Let’s go.”

「犹豫了啊。那么，就这么放着为好。这附近应该已经没有亚人了。放置在这里会比较安全吧。走了」

“Yes!”

「是！」

While she still had her doubts, Neia continued following the Sorcerer King to the city’s plaza. Why was it that the Sorcerer King could advance without the slightest delay? Though she had her doubts, she convinced herself by saying, “he must have cast a spell.”

虽然还有些犹豫，但涅娅还是跟着魔导王走向了这座都市的广场。为什么，魔导王能毫不迟疑地前进呢，这样感到了疑惑，随后又拿“是用了什么魔法吧”这种理由说服了自己。

Soon, the two of them came to a plaza which looked like a market with streets everywhere.

不久后两人到达了道路四通八达的市场一样的广场。

“Mm… as I thought, there was no way this could have been resolved without loss of life.”

「嗯……果然没有牺牲就解决是没可能的吗」

She followed the Sorcerer King’s eyes, and there were human corpses mixed with demihuman corpses. They were probably people who had been trampled to death in the fear-induced chaos.

看向魔导王目光所指的方向，在亚人的尸体中混杂着人类的尸体。大概是在因恐惧产生混乱的时候，被踩踏致死的人吧。

“...It can’t be helped.”

「……这是没办法的事情」

While the Sorcerer King was joking, attacking this city by brute force would probably have caused a matching number of casualties. Going by that, letting the Sorcerer King use his overwhelming might to conquer the city minimized the number of lives that were lost.

虽然魔导王是在开玩笑，但想靠蛮力攻陷这座都市肯定会出现相应的牺牲吧。这么考虑的话，以魔导王的压倒性的力量来攻占都市已经将牺牲者减至最少了。

The Sorcerer King shrugged silently, and then he indicated the center of the plaza with his chin.

魔导王沉默地微微耸起肩，用下巴指向了广场中央。

There was a demihuman there who was larger than all his peers.

那里有一个比正常大一圈的亚人。

His curled horns resembled those of a mountain goat, and he was covered in silver fur. His excellent physique clearly showed that he was not an average demihuman.

卷曲的角像是山羊，浑身银色的体毛。优越的体格看上去就营造出不是一般亚人的氛围。

The tips of his horns were encased in a shell of gold which was socketed with jewels, and he wore a breastplate that had turtle-shell patterns on it. He wore a reddish-brown cape made from worked animal hide. His left hand held a large shield with a topaz socketed into it, while his right hand held a heavy sword whose blade was light yellow. His panoply vividly illustrated the courage and ferocity of a striking warrior.

角的尖端镶嵌着装饰有黄金和宝石的外壳，身上穿着绘有龟甲般纹路的护胸甲。背后披着用动物毛皮加工而成的红褐色披风，左手持着中央嵌有大颗黄宝石的大盾，右手握着拥有浅黄色剑身的重剑，这一身装备，很好地体现了威风堂堂的战士的勇猛。

He was the most fearsome and well-trained of the demihumans. He was probably a Lord or some kind of similarly-ranked special being.

这是在亚人中最为可怕，最为训练有素的亚人了。而且大概是王之类的地位的特殊存在吧。

If Neia were alone, she would have fled this opponent with all her might.

只有涅娅一个人的话，在这对手面前毫无疑问会全力逃开。

“Wonderful. I wonder which of your items stopped the fear.”

「那么好了，真好奇是哪个道具压制住了恐惧感呢」

The Sorcerer King’s words referred to the magic items adorning the demihuman. He had rings on both hands and jewelry hanging from his neck that covered his entire chest. There were things dangling from both sides of its waist, things which might have been a set of three baby skulls strung together.

魔导王这句话，指的是亚人装备的道具，加上两边手指上的戒指和从脖子上垂下的能把胸口完全盖住的项链等物吧。在腰部左右垂下的，像是把人类婴儿的头盖骨三个串在一起的东西说不定也包括在内。

The green-eyed demihuman studied the Sorcerer King as he approached, and then his gaze shifted to Neia.

用绿色的眼睛观察般窥视着魔导王的亚人见到两人接近，一下子瞪向了涅娅。

“Newly-appeared undead… and is that a necromancer in the back?”

「新出现的不死者……后面的是死灵法师吗？」

The demihuman obscured itself behind its large shield, as though wary of a gaze attack like the kind a Medusa would launch.

亚人把身体的一半隐藏着大盾后面，警惕着类似蛇发人[Medusa]的凝视攻击。

“Not bad. You managed to push this city, my tribe to this point… You, who controls the enemy of all life, the user of fearsome magic. State your name.”

「挺能干的啊。能把这座都市，我的部族逼到这种地步……操纵着生者的公敌，骇人魔法的使用者啊。告诉我你的名字」

The Bafolk pointed his sword at Neia.

山羊人用剑指向的是涅娅。

“--No, wait, hang on. You’ve gotten it wrong. It’s not me!”

「——不，不对等一下。你搞错了。并不是我！」

“...What?”

「……什么？」

She looked to the Sorcerer King for help, and he folded his arms and looked to Neia.

看向魔导王求助的话，他正把手放在胸前，看着涅娅这边。

“You do get it. That’s right, it’s her. She’s my master.”

「很明白啊。没错是她、这就是我的主人」

“No, no! Wait, wait!! Your Majesty!!!”

「不、不！等、等一等！魔导王陛下！！」

What on earth was he saying? Truly, he had no talent for making jokes at all.

这个人在说些什么啊。这个人真的是一点开玩笑的天赋都没有。

As he saw how Neia flapped her hands around in panic, the Sorcerer King chuckled.

对着焦虑到啪嗒啪嗒地晃起手来的涅娅，魔导王笑了。

“Mm. Feeling relaxed now?”

「嗯。稍稍放松点了吗？」

“Eh?”

「诶？」

“Ah -- it was a dumb joke.”

Flaring his cape with the regal motions of a king, the Sorcerer King turned to regard the demihuman before him.

“I am the entity who sent the undead to your side. I am the the undying king who rules a country to the northeast, the Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown of the Sorcerous Kingdom. And what is your name?”

「那么——说了个无聊的笑话」用那与王者之身相应的动作掀起披风，魔导王转身面向了亚人「我就是将不死者派遣到你们身边的存在。我乃不死者之王，统治着自此以东北方向的国家、魔导国的安兹·乌尔·恭魔导王。你的名字又是什么？」

“My name is Buser -- the Grand King Buser… O Sorcerer King, how about the woman by your side?”

「我的名字是巴扎——“豪王”巴扎。……魔导王哟，那么你身边的女人是谁？」

“She is my follower. Well then, what do you want to do? Would you rather be killed by me? Or kneel in servitude? Choose as you wish.”

「她是我的侍从。那么、想怎样？想被杀掉吗？还是跪地臣服呢。选你自己喜欢的吧」

“With my name as Lord at stake, kneeling once in subservience will be enough!”

「赌上我的王之名号，跪地臣服一次足以」

Buser raised his shield and advanced, raising his sword into a horizontal position. He looked like a goat about to charge.

巴扎把盾前举，将剑横架。身体缓缓放低，摆出像是要用头突击的山羊的姿势。

“Mm… Then I shall play with you for a while. --Baraja-san, you just sit back and watch. Speaking of which, goat. You’re equipped with all kinds of magic items, but I detect no magic from the item at your waist. Is that some kind of special item?”

「嗯……那就陪你玩玩吧。——巴拉哈小姐看着就好。话说山羊哟。你好像装备着各种各样的魔法道具啊，但在挂在腰上的东西里我没感受到魔力。是什么特别的物品吗？」

“Fuhahaha. They call it fashion. They’re bones.”

「呼哈哈哈。这就是所谓的时尚，骨头哟」

“Mm… that does remind me of my subordinates.”

「嗯……让我想起了我的部下啊」

Neia shuddered from behind as she heard that. So he had such subordinates...

在后面听着的涅娅愣了一下，还有这样的部下啊。

“They’re well-shaped, no? I carefully selected them from this city, you know.”

「相当不错的形状吧。这可是在这都市几经挑选才选出来的逸品哦？」

“...I see. I understand. I sympathize with your feelings. It seems this fashion thing is quite important. The maids have taught me that very well… alright, let’s begin. 「Create Greater Item」.”

「……原来如此。我理解了。你的心情我很能体会。所谓时尚好像是相当重要的东西。女仆们把这一点很好地教给了我……好了，那么开始吧。<上位道具创造（Create·Great·Item）>」

After casting his spell, a jet-black sword appeared in the Sorcerer King’s hand.

使用了魔法后魔导王的手中出现了一把漆黑之剑。

Why is His Majesty using a weapon?

（为什么魔导王陛下要用武器？）

The Sorcerer King should have been an arcane magic caster. And a top-rate one to boot.

魔导王应该是魔力系的魔法咏唱者才对。而且还是一流的。

In that case, weapons were to be used only after he ran out of mana and options. Arcane magic casters knew that well, which was why they did not touch any weapons.

那么武器之类，应该只会在魔力缺乏后，别无他法时使用吧。会因为很重这种理由而不碰任何武器的正是所谓魔力系魔法咏唱者。

The Sorcerer King must have chosen to fight with a sword for some reason.

魔导王是因为某种理由才选择用剑战斗的吧。

--Could it be that he’s expended a great deal of mana? That would be bad… His Majesty came here to do battle with Jaldabaoth...

（——是因为至今为止已经耗费了大量魔力吗？那就不妙了……明明陛下是为了与亚达巴沃战斗才来到这里的……）

After the repeated casts of 「Fireball」, the spell which had immobilized a large group of the enemy, and then -- his mass summonings of the undead -- she could understand if his mana had been heavily depleted.

数发<火球>，还有封住大群敌人动作的魔法，再就是——召唤众多不死者的魔法，魔力减少了许多也可以理解。

The spell to summon those undead must have been of quite a high tier...

（召唤那些不死者的魔法，应该也是相当高位的吧……）

While she did not know how powerful High Wraiths were, they were most definitely stronger than Wraiths. Therefore, summoning so many High Wraiths would have required a great deal of power.

虽然不知道上位死灵到底有多强，但比死灵强是肯定的。那样的话召唤这么多上位死灵应该会使用非常多的力量。

Under normal circumstances, every time a priest cast a spell to summon angels, he would only be able to summon one at once. If they were willing to summon weaker angels, they could call forth multiple entities. By that logic, he must have used a very high-tier spell -- possibly a unimaginably potent spell of the sixth tier.

通常来讲，神官们召唤的天使之类每用一次魔法基本只能召唤一只。要是弱小的天使就可以复数召唤。按这道理可能是用了相当高位的——说不定是第六位阶魔法这种难以置信的力量。

...The sixth tier...

（……第六位阶……）

Neia gulped.

涅娅咽下一口口水。

The sixth tier was a realm where none had explored before. According to legend, the Holy Queen could use spells of the fourth tier. This was two tiers above her.

第六位阶魔法是前无古人的领域。传说圣王女能使用的是第四位阶。比那还要高两位。

It might have been a realm beyond common knowledge, but the Sorcerer King might have been able to make it a reality.

虽是超出常识的领域，但魔导王的话也许就能将其变为可能。

Maybe, if he used a sixth-tier spell for his summons, that huge expenditure of mana would be understandable. But in that case, wouldn’t it be better for me to help the Sorcerer King?

（如果，是用了第六位阶魔法进行的召唤，魔力的大量消耗就可以理解。但那样的话由我来帮助魔导王陛下才更好吧？）

Neia looked at the Sorcerer King’s back as he squared off against the demihuman. The demihuman she could see over the Sorcerer King’s shoulder was very strong, and even several Neias would not be useful. However, the Sorcerer King carried himself with a forthright and open attitude, with no sign that he was picking a fight he could not win.

涅娅看向与亚人对峙着的魔导王的后背。越过魔导王肩头看见的亚人似乎非常的强，有几个涅娅都很难派上用场。然而魔导王摆出了一副与王者相称的堂堂正正的态度，完全没有在挑战毫无胜算的战斗的感觉。

Could it be that His Majesty is a mystic knight of some sort?

（难道说魔导王陛下是魔法剑士型的魔力系魔法咏唱者吗？）

There were benefits and drawbacks to improving one’s swordsmanship and spellcasting. The benefits included being able to use many fighting methods, but the drawbacks were that it was hard to achieve true excellence in both.

同时提高剑与魔法两方面本领既有优点又有缺点。优点是能使用多样的战斗方式，缺点是两方面都难以做到专精。

Then what was the Sorcerer King like?

那么魔导王又是如何呢。

The two of them studied each other, and then they slowly began.

两者互相观察着慢慢开始行动。

They closed the gap between them, until they were in sword range. Buser was the first to make a move.

两者间的距离随之变窄，用剑交手已经足够。先动起来的是巴扎这边

“「Shield Bash」.”

「<盾突击>」

A sudden charge, made with a shield held in front of himself. And the Sorcerer King took it head on with his sword.

将盾架在正前方然后就那么突进。而魔导王用剑将其正面接下了了。

As expected, there was no way to take the force of that massive body suddenly charging forward. The Sorcerer King sent flying. No, his feet were still firmly planted on the ground when he landed, so that did not quite fit. Rather, he had been knocked back.

果然好像没办法将那巨大身躯的全力突进完全承受住，魔导王向后方远远飞了出去。不，因为两脚还完美地着地了所以很难懂，应该是被吹飞了吧。

While the fact that the Sorcerer King -- who could crush a Bafolk’s skull with his bare hands -- had been knocked back was quite surprising, surely a body of bones would not be able to completely defend against that attack. From what Neia knew, there was an advanced martial art called 「Fortress」 that could completely nullify the force of an impact, but that was a technique only a veteran warrior could use.

虽然能空手捏碎山羊人头盖骨的魔导王被吹飞让涅娅很吃惊，但骨头的身躯到底是无法完全地防御下来吧。就涅娅所知，有种名为<要塞>的上位武技能将冲击力完全抵消，但那是只有相当老练的战士才能使用的。

The two of them stepped forward, and both swords collided.

二人同时踏步上前，两把剑互相碰撞起来。

Their back and forth was too fast for Neia’s eyes to follow. The only thing she could see was the brief moment when their blades hit each other and froze in place.

因为两者的攻防太过于迅速，涅娅的眼睛无法完全捕捉。能确认的就只有两把剑碰撞时那一瞬的硬直。

If Neia joined this battle, she would surely be hacked to death.

如果，涅娅参加了这场战斗，那毫无疑问会被一刀砍死吧。

Steel clashed with steel at high speeds, and the ear-piercing sound of metal echoed all around.

钢铁与钢铁高速碰撞，刺耳的金属声响彻四周。

Both of them had equivalent arm-strength, so when they crossed blades, their attacks and defenses took place simultaneously.

两者的臂力不相上下，所以两者在用剑交锋时，攻击和防御是同时进行的。

Should she be impressed by how Buser could swing such a heavy blade with one hand, or show respect to the Sorcerer King for wielding a two-handed sword while being a magic caster?

是该为单手挥动重剑的巴扎感到惊愕呢，还是该为身为魔法咏唱者却挥舞着双手大剑的魔导王致以敬意呢。

This was a high-level battle of the sort she had never seen before, and Neia was certain that she could not possibly interfere.

至今从未见过的，超高等级的战斗，涅娅确信了自己毫无插手的余地。

In order not to get in the way of their fight, Neia slowly shifted behind a piece of cover and hid herself.

为了不妨碍两人的战斗，涅娅慢慢移动到障碍物后面躲了起来。

They’re swinging at each other like that, but neither of them is hurt… speaking of which, the Sorcerer King seems a little too strong...

（剑都已经挥舞成那个样子了，两方却谁都没有受伤……话说魔导王陛下、有点强过头了吧……）

Neia’s brain could no longer react to a magic caster who could fight with a sword to this extent.

面对一个能用剑战斗到如此地步的魔法咏唱者，涅娅的脑袋已经反应不过来了。

Did he use some kind of amazing spell?

（是用了什么厉害的魔法吗？）

All Neia could do was attribute it to some super-powered spell she had never heard of before.

只能当做是用了什么涅娅不知道的超强魔法了。

Even so--

即便如此——

If this keeps up, there’s no doubt that the Sorcerer King will win. No, was he planning to draw out the battle for that aim?

（这样下去无疑会是魔导王陛下的胜利。不，是瞄准了这点打算拖入长期战吗？）

The undead did not feel fatigue and they would not be shaken in combat. All of these were unfavorable to Buser. Buser seemed to realise this, because his face started to contort.

不死者不会感到疲劳。在战斗中也不会有什么动摇之类的东西吧。全都是对巴扎不利的因素。而巴扎似乎也明白了这一点，表情慢慢扭曲了。

If he had some sort of trump card--

（要是有杀手锏的话差——）

Neia was shocked. The Sorcerer King had suddenly thrown his huge sword at Buser.

涅娅震惊了。突然，魔导王把手中大剑投向了巴扎。

After that, a hemisphere of light appeared around Buser and blocked the thrown sword.

接着以巴扎为中心出现了半球状的光罩，挡下了投来的大剑。

The bubble of light vanished, and the thrown sword had only slightly scratched Buser.

光罩立刻就消失了，而投出的大剑也只伤到了巴扎一点点。

This is bad!

（不好了！）

Neia prepared herself to rush out from behind her cover. The Sorcerer King was empty-handed now--

涅娅准备从障碍物后面冲出去。现在的魔导王是空手——

“--Eh?”

「——咦？」

At some point, a jet-black halberd had ended up in the Sorcerer King’s hands.

不知何时，一把漆黑的斧枪被握在了魔导王手中。

Buser must have felt the same way as Neia. His eyes were as wide as saucers.

巴扎也是和涅娅相同的感想吧。他的眼睛瞪得溜圆。

“You didn’t incant a spell, how did you do it… And where did that sword you threw go to…”

「魔法也没有咏唱，是如何做到的……。还有你扔过来的大剑又去了哪里……」

“I simply cast a silent spell. Don’t worry about it… Alright, my subordinate taught me this, but I’m not very confident in my skills. I apologize in advance if I end up fumbling around.

「只是无咏唱化罢了。别介意。……好了，虽然我的部下有指导过我、但不是很有自信啊。大概会很蹩脚，就事先表示下歉意了」

The Sorcerer King readied his halberd. He radiated a strange sense of oppression.

魔导王架起了斧枪。散发出一股莫名的压迫感。

Warriors often favored weapons within the same broad classes. Swords, axes, maces, that sort of thing.

战士们大多会将自己的得意武器统一到同一系统里。剑、斧、锤之类的这种情况。

The Sorcerer King used momentum to swing his halberd. He attacked Buser’s feet -- which were hard to defend -- with a sweeping motion. This was a technique one could only perform with a hafted weapon.

魔导王利用离心力挥舞起斧枪。滑动握持的手，攻击向巴扎难以防御的脚部。这是只有握柄很长的长柄武器才有的技术。

Just as Buser brought his sword low to try and block the attack, the halberd suddenly jumped up.

在巴扎将剑放低打算挡下攻击的瞬间，斧枪又突然向上挑起。

It was a feint.

是假动作。

This was a move that would require considerable arm-strength to perform, but Buser raised his sword to block it in an instant.

这是有着相当臂力才能做到的技术，但巴扎瞬间用举起的剑挡了下来。

As expected, the Sorcerer King favored the sword, and he did not seem very skilled with the halberd. While he elegantly replicated textbook attacks, there seemed to be something strangely off about his attacks, and even Neia could spot it with her eyes.

果然魔导王擅长的武器是剑，斧枪并不是那么熟练的样子。虽然是漂亮地沿着武术门路的攻击，但动作里微妙的有些别扭，即使是涅娅也能用眼睛捕捉到其动作。

After blocking the halberd’s momentum, Buser leapt back.

接下了带着离心力的斧枪后，巴扎跃向后方

“「Sandstorm」!”

「沙尘岚！」

The sand particles from within the sword spread out like a wall, rushing towards the Sorcerer King. it had probably obscured the Sorcerer King’s vision completely.

从剑中掀起的沙子就像墙壁般扩散开来，袭向了魔导王。魔导王的视野恐怕被完全遮住了吧。

While she doubted if the Sorcerer King had eyeballs, having one’s vision blocked was a tremendous disadvantage.

虽然关于魔导王是否有眼球这点还有些疑问，但视野被完全遮住是压倒性的不利。

“「Brief Seal」!「Grand Power Strike」!”

「<素气捆封>！<刚腕豪击>！」

One was a martial art Neia did not understand, while the other was an advanced technique, a power strike that would inflict additional damage. After using both of them, Buser charged out, faster than before.

涅娅不了解的武技，再加上增加伤害量的豪击的上位武技，发动了两者的巴扎用比刚才快一倍的速度冲了出去。

Buser’s horn decorations glowed with a bizarre light, and he looked like a shooting star.

巴扎角上的装饰渗出了奇妙的光芒，看起来就像是流星一般。

“Yeeeeeeaaart!”

「嘎啊啊啊啊啊！」

“Hmph!”

「哼！」

The Sorcerer King caught the blow on his halberd--

魔导王将这挥下的一击用斧枪接下——

“Haha!”

「哈哈！」

--And Buser laughed.

——巴扎发出了嘲笑。

The sound of metal being shredded rang forth.

金属被切削般的声音响起了。

Neia’s eyes went wide.

涅娅瞪大了眼睛。

“Could it be! A sunder attack!”

「难道说！武器破坏！」

Sunder attacks directly damaged a foe’s weapons, but the amount of damage done was greatly affected by the composition of both weapon and its damage potential. Buser’s martial arts were probably intended to strengthen these two attributes.

武器破坏会直接对武器造成伤害，但它的伤害会受到材质差别和武器持有的伤害量两个因素巨大影响。巴扎的两个武技就是为了强化这两个因素吧。

Neia began to feel anxious, but in the next moment, she froze as she saw Buser staring with wide eyes.

涅娅感到了焦躁，但下一瞬间，就因为察觉到巴扎那睁大双眼的表情而停下了动作。

“It’s unharmed!”

「居然毫无破损！」

Buser cried out in shock.

巴扎也发出了惊愕的叫声。

“What the hell is that weapon!?”

「什么啊、那个武器！」

As Buser scrambled back, his expression completely changed and with no intention of pressing the attack, the Sorcerer King spun his halberd, tracing a beautiful arc in the air.

面对没有追击神色大变地后退了的巴扎，魔导王转动起斧枪，在空中划出一道优美的弧线。

“... You do know I made this weapon with my magic, no? How could it be so easily broken?”

「……不是，这可是用我的魔法做出的武器哦？怎么可能那么简单就被破坏啊」

“But weapons made by magic are fragile, right?”

「魔法做出的武器都很脆弱的吧！」

“Oh, it seems you’ve had experience fighting opponents with summoned weapons, but it’s dangerous to be bound by such a fixed worldview, no? In other words, there might be opponents who can make weapons which you can’t break.”

「哦。似乎有过和召唤武器的对手战斗的经验，不过被固定观念禁锢可是很危险的哦？也就是说有时会有能创造出你无法破坏的武器的对手啊」

The Sorcerer King let go of his halberd. The halberd then vanished, like it was melting into the air. The same thing must have happened with the sword from just now. After that, the Sorcerer King made to grab something from the air, and this time he had a black sword in each of his hands.

魔导王将手从斧枪上放开。然后斧枪就像融入空气般消失了。大概和刚才的大剑是同样的原理吧。

接着魔导王做出像是在空气中抓住什么的动作，这回他的双手中各自出现了一把黑色的长剑。

“...Now then, what will you do? Don’t tell me that attack was your ace in the hole? Can y