Part 4

The air of the battlefield had a unique smell to it. It was a muddled mess of all kinds of odors, and simply put, it was a revolting stench. Still, it was a stench that one could get used to.

战场的空气是一种独特的味道，各式各样的东西纠缠不清混合在一起，直截了当的说就是让人恶心的味道。但、那是闻习惯的味道。

The sole person behind the closed portcullis -- Remedios -- took several deep breaths of that stinking air.

在被关闭的吊门栅栏铁格子的内侧，蕾梅迪奥斯一个人反复深呼吸，将那沾染味道的空气吸入。

Her eyes were fixed on the advancing force before her, which numbered over 10’000.

严厉的瞪着视线的前方，约超过万人的军势开始动作。

The leaders of the assault on this location were Ogres and horse-like demihumans. Remedios gripped her holy sword tightly.

朝向这里进行突击的敌军先锋是食人魔和像马一般的亚人，蕾梅迪奥斯紧紧握着圣剑。

She liked using the sword to settle matters. She loved it. It clearly defined winners and losers. After all, there would be no more trouble after you killed the opposition. Life would have been so much easier if things were all so simple. Her sister--Kelart--and her master--Calca--would no longer knit their brows.

非常喜好以剑分胜负这种非常容易理解的方式，超喜欢。能明确的区分胜者和败者、毕竟杀了对方以后也不会再有麻烦事了。所有事情都像这样简单的话，生活将会变得多容易呢。妹妹（葵拉特）或是自己的主人（卡儿可)的眉间也不会再紧皱了吧。

“Haaaah.”

「哈啊」

She sighed.

一个叹息。

After that, Remedios thought about what she had to do.

然后蕾梅迪奥斯思考自己应该做的事。

Gustav had said a lot of hard-to-understand things just now, but the gist of it was that they could not let a single demihuman past this gate.

古斯塔沃虽然说着各种难懂的话，但简约来说只要不让任何一只亚人通过这扇门的后方便是。

The demihumans numbered in the tens of thousands. Around 10’000 of them were bearing down on the gate.

亚人的数量有数万，逼近这道门的是那之中的一万左右吧。

Not letting a single one past would be impossible if we were fighting on the plains, but here I can use the gate to limit the numbers who can attack me. So as long as I can keep fighting, it’ll be easy enough to keep them from getting past! I just need to keep drinking fatigue recovery potions and keep fighting them one-on-one!

（在广阔平原作战的情况下，不让任何一只通过是不可能的，但是在用门限制住范围的场所中作战的话，一次向我袭来的敌人数量有限，那么只要我无拘无束地动作的话不让他们通到门后也很容易！只要一面喝着疲劳回复药水、一对一重复个一万次不就好了吗！）

If Gustav were here and he heard this, the look on his face would probably say “Are you fucking serious”, and as she calmly considered that mental image, Remedios laughed. Still, the idea was quite ridiculous, and it was no wonder he would often grab his head in frustration.

古斯塔沃在附近听到的话，可能会做出「这家伙认真的吗」的表情，一面如此冷静想着的蕾梅迪奥斯笑了。但这件事也不是过于荒唐无稽，因此才成了古斯塔沃会抱头苦恼的理由。

See how perfect my plan is! Calca-sama said I could delegate command to someone else, and Caspond-sama seems like an excellent person.

（我的作战是多么完美！虽然之前卡儿可大人就曾说过、大能够将指挥权移交给我的卡斯邦登也是相当了得的人物啊）

Umu, Remedios nodded.

唔姆的、蕾梅迪奥斯点了点头。

After that, Remedios thought about the only flaw in her plan to “fight one-on-one ten thousand times”

然后蕾梅迪奥斯遥想到所思考的完美作战「一对一重复一万次」的唯一问题点。

That was the existence of Jaldabaoth.

那就是亚达巴沃的存在。

Remedios’ plan broke down when it encountered someone stronger than her.

蕾梅迪奥斯的作战之中如果有比自己更强的存在的话就会产生破绽。

She was retarded for the most part, but she was surprisingly intelligent when it came to warfare.

蕾梅迪奥斯虽然不擅长动脑，但关于战斗方面的话脑筋很灵活。

That was why she understood that it would be very difficult for her to defeat Jaldabaoth. Of course, she could not admit that in front of her subordinates. She was the strongest paladin in the Holy Kingdom, and if she admitted her defeat to him, morale would probably plunge to rock bottom.

因此理解到自己要战胜亚达巴沃这件事是很困难的。当然，不能在部下面前承认这件事，因为自己是圣王国最强的战士，那个自己如果承认败北的话，部下们的士气恐怕会跌倒谷底吧。

That was why they should have brought the Sorcerer King over.

正因如此才会将魔导王带过来。

The Sorcerer King, huh...

（魔导王吗......）

The fact that they had to entrust one of the undead with the fate of the nation upset her so much that she wanted to throw up. However, they had no other option.

不得不将国家托付给不死者这件事，让她产生了呕吐般的不快感。但是，即使如此也别无他法。

Tch. If only that undead creature had fought in a sneaky way, like using those goats or sheep which killed all those Kingdom troops. That way, no innocents would have to be sacrificed. Don’t the undead understand that people with strength have to protect the weak? Still… he’s really strong, isn’t he?

（啧。那个不死者如果不引人注目偷偷地从暗地中参加战斗、使用大量杀害王国士兵的山羊还是绵羊的魔法的话不就好了，那么一来也不会有任何一名无辜百姓会受到牺牲。拥有力量的人要保护弱者——这道理不死者无法理解吗。但是......那个不死者真的很强吗）

Taking a city by oneself was an impressive feat. Buser was a famous demihuman -- according to Gustav -- and defeating him was also quite outstanding. However, Jaldabaoth was a different matter altogether. She had her doubts as to whether even a magic caster who could conquer a city without assistance could actually defeat him.

独自一人攻陷都市令人佩服。巴塞是相当有名的亚人——古斯塔沃如此说道——将之打倒也是非常出色。但是、与亚达巴沃相比的话差距悬殊。独自一人攻陷都市这般程度的魔法吟唱者是否能够取胜，关于这点还是有所疑问。

Perhaps she would have learned the truth if she could have crossed blades with him just once, but Gustav had desperately pleaded with her not to. Therefore, she did not know exactly how strong the Sorcerer King was.

如果能够进行一次交手的话就能够明白也说不定，但古斯塔沃拼命地阻止了。为此完全弄不清魔导王的真正实力究竟是何种程度的东西。

Remedios remained dubious of the Sorcerer King’s strength.

蕾梅迪奥斯对魔导王的强度保持着怀疑的态度。

She had personally experienced Jaldabaoth’s might when he had revealed his true nature, but she could not sense anything like that from the Sorcerer King. If he was truly able to crush the Kingdom’s army, then he ought to be surrounded in an aura of power that could not be hidden.

亚达巴沃露出本性的那个时候所见到的强悍已亲身体会，但从魔导王那里完全感受不到那样的气息。如果能够使得王国军队溃灭的实力是真的话，应该在身上缠有怎样也隐藏不了的强者气息才对。

Was that because he was a magic caster? However, if he was on Jaldabaoth’s level, she ought to be able to sense something from him.

是因为他身为魔法吟唱者的关系吗，但是，即使如此若是亚达巴沃般的程度的话，应该能够少许察觉到才对。

It would be good if he was really as strong as he claimed. Well, we won’t lose much if he dies. That undead creature will be a thorn in the Holy Kingdom’s side in the future. Ideally, the two of them would kill each other.

（若是真有夸下海口那般实力的话就好了，嘛、就算死了损失也很小，将来那个不死者对圣王国来说是个麻烦，如果可能的话那两人就两败俱伤而死就再好不过）

Remedios’ opinion had not changed even after her subordinates protested it. No, it had only grown more deeply rooted after the Sorcerer King killed the boy who had been taken hostage. As a paladin, she could not tolerate anyone who could calmly commit such inhuman acts.

就算被部下所否定，蕾梅迪奥斯的想法也依然没有改变。不、在魔导王杀害作为人质的少年之后更加强固了这个想法。能坦然自如地实行那样残暴行为的存在，身为圣骑士是绝对无法容忍的。

The people of that country were actually ruled by fear, right?

（那个国家的人民事实上是受着恐怖所支配不是吗）

When she thought about it, she found a lot of points which pointed to that conclusion. Perhaps having him and Jaldabaoth kill each other would be for their good too.

回想起来、会发现可能是如此的地方有非常多，或许为了那些人们也让两人就这么两败俱伤而**较好吧。

The problem is the people of our nation. Gustav was right when he said that this was a chance for us. We paladins can show our strength and abandon the foolish words of the Sorcerer King… Still, if Jaldabaoth shows up, we have to let him handle it.

（问题是我国的国民，古斯塔沃所言属实的话这次是个机会，展示我方的强悍而舍弃掉依赖于魔导王的愚蠢想法。......但是，若亚达巴沃出现的话也只能让他撞上了）

Remedios took off her helmet. She wanted to scratch her head.

蕾梅迪奥斯将头盔取下，很想强烈地抓头。

It was hard to imagine that the citizens of a country run by an amazing individual such as Calca would tolerate one of the undead like that. Just thinking about the matter should have revolted them.

有卡儿可这般杰出的人物统治之下的国家的人民，难以相信他们会容忍那样的不死者。就连思考那样的问题之时，都觉得感觉变得很糟。

Squire Baraja also -- hm? Could it be that she’s been charmed by a spell or something? Yes! He might be using some spell with a wide area of effect that forces people to like him!

（从者巴拉哈也是——唔？该不会是受到了魅惑之类的魔法影响吧？是吗！或许是施展了大范围强制抱持好感度的魔法也说不定！）

Dammit! Remedios thought. She had not considered that possibility.

完蛋了！蕾梅迪奥斯思索着，从未考虑那个可能性。

I should tell Gustav about this. That said, it’ll have to wait until we win this battle!

（将这个想法告诉古斯塔沃比较好吗，话虽如此，也要在这场战斗中取胜之后！）

Remedios looked behind her.

蕾梅迪奥斯瞪向后方。

There stood neat ranks of civilians holding spears and shields.

那里整齐排列着持盾和枪的民众。

“Brave gentlemen! Regretfully, the Holy Kingdom is currently being trampled by demihumans, but you must accept it! Defeat the demihumans and save the innocent civilians -- your friends and family -- from their suffering! This is the first step towards our goal, which is to drive out these bastards here and take the Holy Kingdom back with our own hands!”

「勇敢的各位！很遗憾圣王国现在正被亚人们所蹂躏，承认吧！将亚人们击退、将正在受苦的无辜民众——同伴们拯救出来吧！这个是为了那个目的的第一步，在这里将那些家伙击退、让我们亲手夺回圣王国！」

As Remedios shouted imposingly, anxious looks filled the faces of the militiamen.

蕾梅迪奥斯喊出富有霸气的咆哮之时，民兵们的脸上浮现出紧张的神情。

“The filthy demihumans are attacking this place. Gentlemen, raise your shields and thrust your spears! Become a wall that will not let the enemy past you! There’s no need to be afraid. Other than their first strike, the only demihumans you will have to deal with are the demihumans fleeing from me! All you need to do is hold them for a while so that the paladins and I can take them down!”

「肮脏的亚人们往这进击，诸位在这架好盾、刺出长枪，在这成为敌人一步也过不了的墙壁！不用害怕！除了最初的第一击，诸位的对手只有从我这里逃离的亚人！一点点的时间、只要让他们停下脚步的话，本人以及优秀的圣骑士们会将他们击倒！」

That eased their tension a little. While being too relaxed was not a good thing, being too tense was even worse. Remedios mused that all the militiamen she could see were in an ideal frame of mind.

些许缓和了紧张感，虽然过于缓和也不好，但太僵硬则是更加糟糕。依蕾梅迪奥斯所见，民兵们的士气处于理想的状态。

“You lot were trained all day yesterday! All you need to do now is show the fruits of that training. No need to be so tense!” Remedios paused for a moment, and then shouted louder than before.

「各位昨天一整天、接受了训练！那个训练的成果、只要在今天发挥出来就行！不需要那么紧张！」蕾梅迪奥斯慢一拍后、以至今为止未有的大声音量喊出。

“First rank! Shields up!”

「第一列！架盾姿势！」

The first row of the militiamen -- who looked like they were encircling the gate -- braced their shields.

如包围门一般的民兵们的第一列摆好架盾的姿势。

These were greatshields which could completely conceal a human body, and their bottoms were lined with spikes that were the length of a finger.

那是能完全隐藏住全身般的巨大盾牌，手指长度般的钉刺附着在盾的下部。

“Shields! Dig in!”

「盾！往下架」

The shield-wielding civilians slammed the spiked portions down with all their might. Thus, they produced a wall of steel in moments.

持盾的平民们将盾的钉刺部分使劲全身力气扎在地面上。这样就完成了速成的金属墙壁。

Yesterday, these shieldbearers had vigorously practiced three drills. The first was to raise their greatshields into the air and slam them back down, in order to drive the spikes deep into the ground. The second was not to falter, regardless of the pressure they were under.

昨天、这个盾牌队伍只严格地进行三项训练。第一是将巨大盾牌全力举起后用力摔下、使得盾牌的钉刺深深地插入地面的训练。第二项是不论是受到什么样的压力、也绝对不顶输对方。

“Second rank! Shields up!”

「第二列！架盾姿势！」

While the shields they carried were roughly the same size as those of the first rank, theirs did not have spikes. Those shields would go over the heads of the first and the second ranks, like a lid on top of them. This way, they could defend against attacks which made it past the first rank.

虽然这里的盾与第一列持有的盾牌大小相同，但没有钉刺。这样在第一列和第二列的两人头上，宛如盖子一般以盾牌覆盖住，如此一来就能够防住越过第一列盾牌而来的攻击。

There were also paladins who could cast 「Under Divine Flag」spaced evenly through the second rank, to protect them from the fear of being pushed by the enemy.

这个第二列的盾牌队伍以一定间隔加入了发动<在神的旗帜下>的圣骑士们，藉此能够从因敌人压力而感受到的恐怖中保护自己。

“Third rank spearmen, advance! Fourth rank spearmen, advance!”

「第三列长枪队前进！接着第四列长枪队前进！」

The third and fourth ranks were composed of longspear users.

然后第三列和第四列是长枪队。

Their longspears would protrude from between the shield teams, their butts firmly planted in the ground to stop the enemy’s advance. The third rank and the fourth rank’s spears were slightly different from each other in that the fourth rank’s were slightly longer. Normally they ought to have had several more ranks of spearmen to form a spear wall, but since they were lacking in numbers, their aim was to overlap killing zones to prevent the enemy from breaking through.

他们从盾牌队的缝隙中挺出长枪，将金属箍固定在地面上用于防止敌人的突进。第三列和第四列的长枪长度有着微妙不同、第四列比较长，这是因为本来的话应该再多几列的长枪队所挺出的长枪形成枪林，但因为没有这么多人数的关系，采用重迭杀伤圈的方式达到阻止突破的目的。

It was a perfect formation.

完美的阵型。

However, it had a flaw.

但是有着弱点。

While this formation did very well against warriors, it was very weak against demihumans with special abilities or magic casters.

这个是对抗战士很有利的阵型，但是对于持有特殊能力的亚人或是魔法吟唱者来说很不利。

It was true that the shield wall could block spells like 「Fireball」 and greatly minimize the damage done. However, spells like 「Lightning」would pierce straight through them, and one could not say the demihumans did not have similar special abilities.

确实火球[Fireball]之类的魔法能够被墙壁所阻挡、能够大幅度降低伤害。但像是电击[Lighting]的攻击魔法是雷击贯通过一条直线直到后方，而亚人不见得没有这种特殊能力。

They knew this, but they had taught those drills anyway because there was no other effective formation they could take under these circumstances.