Chapter 65: The Paladins Move

(Mel POV)

While Idmon and the other commanders are away, Mel's group and Souta's group are in charge of the army.

They are guarding a fort just a few miles from the Paladin's Fort.

Though it may not be much, the dwarven army will be a great help since the Paladin's light magic cannot hurt them.

Unfortunately, only 1/4 of the dwarven army is here. King Wargh said that if he pulled out more troops from his kingdom, the public might revolt.

The dwarves are not so grateful for our help after all.

Nevertheless, Lord Dolf is still here, and he alone can kill as much as half the dwarven army can.

Dolf: "Is Lord Idmon going to come back soon?"

Mel: "They said it was going to be a short trip. They should be back in a couple of hours."

I was still depressed that I lost the group, which was supposed to harass the Paladins.

They would have taken much more time before they settled in, but it was because of my failure that that did not happen.

Damn!

I hit a tree with my fists, and it fell.

A nearby treeman saw it, though.

Treeman: "Hey! Don't hurt the trees!"

Mel: "S-sorry!"

Argh! I'm so stupid.

Mag approached me now, with a mocking laugh.

Mag: "Hahaha! Still stupid as you were before. Fantastic!"

Mel: "Cut me some slack, Mag. Of course, I have to dish out my anger."

Mag was back to normal now. We got beat down severely by the Paladin Lord Harb, and we only got back to work after Lord Bon healed us.

Mag: "Don't be upset about it. That's not like you. Be more like; I WOULD BEAT THEM ALL UP!"

More laughter came from Mag and some from the soldiers nearby.

Mel: "Shut up, Mag. I'm already planning on how to beat the shit out of that Paladin Lord."

Mag departed with a chuckle and returned to keep an eye out for adversaries.

It must be his way of lifting my spirits. I want to thank him, but I still feel angry about the loss. All I think about now is how to get revenge.

I sat down on one of the chairs in the camp and looked at my fists.

Mel: "If only I were stronger then, Lord Idmon wouldn't have to come to save a pathetic captain."

Ran: "..."

Ran was still there, besides Mel. She was even more silent than before.

In the previous mission, they had failed, and Ran was the only one who got out of it without damage.

Dolf: "There is an opportunity to regain your honor."

Dolf spotted a group of Paladins approaching from afar.

Mag: "It must be an advanced scouting party. It's not that large, and the main army should still be resting by now."

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Mel: "Rarrgh! Let's get them!"

Dolf: "Let's go!"

Mag: "Wait a minute, you two muscle heads."

Mag stopped us from rushing straight to the enemy scouting party.

Mag: "Remember what Lord Idmon said? We should stay defensive and hold out for as long as we can. For all we know, it might be a trap."

Mel: "Damn these humans. Why not fight fair and square? Always use tricks and traps to win."

Mag: "That's why they always win, Mel. And that is what Lord Idmon is trying to teach us. We should think more like humans if we are to beat them.

Mel: "I guess you're right."

Mel sheathes his sword and rests his shield. Dolf did the same with his weapons.

Mag: "Isn't Lord Idmon wonderful!? Ah! The greatest gift an undead person could receive would be his praise! Amazing!"

Now he's back to his annoying self. The loss we experienced must have depressed him as well. I'm ashamed that I only noticed now.

Mel: "Thanks, Mag, and Ran."

Mag: "What are you thanking me for, idiot?"

Mag went away to move to another spot in the fort.

Ran: "Thank you, too. I'm really sorry."

Mag: "Don't worry about it. I was the one who told you to stay back."

Back when we were fighting the Paladin Lord, Ran was also nearby and wanted to fight.

I signaled for her not to. If she showed herself back then, the Paladin Lord would go after her first.

I am not so sure her body would survive a strike from the Paladin Lord.

She was just a Skeleton Marksman Captain, after all.

Ran: "Next time, I will fight."

Mel: "No, you should stay behind and support us."

Ran: "..."

Ran looked down again and was depressed; she still didn't understand.

Dolf: "Isn't it fine?"

Mel: "What is?"

Dolf: "You should let her fight. It's her duty to your Lord and your kingdom."

He's right. I know that.

I just don't want her to get hurt. Not again.

Ran: "..."

That's right. Back when we were still alive. I was not able to protect Ran.

I won't make the same mistake again.

Mel: "Stay out of it, Dolf. I am in command, and that's my order."

I walked away and went to the center of the fort to train the soldiers.

Dolf: "Don't worry about him, girl. Show him what you have, and he will change his mind.

Ran: "(nods)."

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(Paladins POV)

Multiple groups of Paladins were lying in wait just outside the Undead Fort.

They are hidden from plain sight. The Paladins are using their scouting party as bait since they could last long enough for the ambush force to wipe out the undead.

Paladin Captain: "Why are they not coming out? Is the scouting party visible from the fort?"

Paladin: "Yes, sir."

Paladin Captain: "Is the information we got wrong?"

Two hours have passed since they arrived at this position.

Paladin Captain: "This was the plan Lord Harb made, and the undead should not have the wits to anticipate it."

Paladin: "Maybe they're catching on to us?"

Paladin Captain: "I highly doubt those mindless beasts can do it by themselves. Someone is helping them."

Paladin: "Got it, sir. Should we relay this information to the Paladin Lord?"

Paladin Captain: "No, not yet. Let's take the fort by force, and we'll come back as heroes. By that time, the Paladin Lord will surely listen to my suspicions."

The Paladin Captain has always been suspicious of the Holy Knight Captain and has always looked for opportunities to bring him down.

He just couldn't accept that the Paladin Lord needed to hire those newbies for this expedition.

Paladin: "But, sir, it's the Paladin Lord's strict orders that we are not to act by ourselves. He warned that the enemy leader is intelligent and we-"

Paladin Captain: "Yeah, right. That's all going to be irrelevant once we take over the fort. Now relay the orders, Paladin."

Paladin: "Y-yes, sir!"

There were around 600 Paladins. They can take down the undead army.

But they did not know that the enemies were not entirely undead.

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(2 hours later)

Paladin Captain: "Fall, back!"

Paladin: "Arghhh!"

Boom!

A dwarven cannon hit a group of Paladins, shattering their formation.

Paladin Captain: "It's the dwarves! Those annoying little bastards!"

The defenders repelled the Paladin group, which was unsuccessful in taking the fort.

Many more fell victim to living trees while they were running through the forest.

They were being watched all this time, and the Ents were just waiting for the right time to strike.

Souta's group was with the Ents and killed a lot of Paladins, too.

Paladin Captain: "Damn it. The Lord will have my head for this!"

They ran back to their base. Only 200 of the Paladins were able to make it out.

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(Mel POV)

The Undead Army and their allies defeated the invaders and sent them on the run.

Mel: "Yargh! Look at the fools running!"

Dolf: "Hah! Those armored humans are not so tough, after all."

Dolf's axes were stained with Paladin blood, and many corpses littered the battlefield.

Mag: "I told you, Mel. Now, do you believe in how miraculous our Lord Idmon is?"

Mel: "Definitely. I wouldn't have thought about the ambush if you hadn't told me."

The treemen and the ents confirmed it was a huge help too.

Also-

Mel: "Good work, Ran."

Ran: "..."

I was surprised at how many Paladins she was able to strike down.

She even bested a Paladin in single combat using her wits and agility.

I guess I was wrong, after all. Ran could protect herself now.

Dolf: "What did I tell you?"

Mel: "Yeah, yeah. You got me."

Dolf: "She might be even better than you at taking out these humans."

Mel: "What!?"

Dolf: "Hahaha!"

Mag: "Indeed, hahaha!"

Mel: "What the hell?"

The group was laughing, and the morale was high. We had scored a victory because of the Paladins' idiotic charge.

And most importantly, I think I saw Ran smile again.

Ran: "(smiles) (chuckle)"

After hundreds of years, I finally saw it again.

It might not be as beautiful as before, but it still bears the same warmth it had when we were still humans.