Jujutsushi Wa Yuusha Ni Narenai

Chapter 123.1 - Goma's Fortress-Capture Battle１

Well then, ready when you are, Goma.

As if to answer my calling the time had arrived.

For today’s lunch, after a long time, we're back to the modest diet consisting of the mixed walnut.

「KYO, KYO, KYOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

That loud, resounding cry came from Raptor Rem.

Aside from Reina, I also ordered Raptor Rem to scout the vicinities of the tower. And since she came back while letting out such loud cry――

「They came huh. Get ready everyone, it's time to abandon this tower.」

We departed after confirming the incoming Goma's raid force. Thanks to the drill training that we did beforehand, we could leave the tower with ease, bringing only the most important luggage in hand.

「???? ?????? ?????――『Aqua Mist』!」

Shimokawa invoked his aqua mist with full aria. In the blink of an eye, our surrounding was enveloped by a seemingly never-ending white mist. I'd noticed for quite a while now that the Gomas on the other side of the white mist were talking with their non-sensical voices. It seems the battle against Yokomichi had left quite a deep trauma in my mind.

「Yup, let's go. Remember, just advance slowly and steadily.」

Through this mist that blocked our vision, we were led by its user, Shimokawa who could see through it forming a line as we walked into the forest. Since it wouldl be a disaster if even one of us strayed off the course, our bodies were tied with my black hair like the mountain-climbers ascending the steep mountain.

「UOOOOOOOOOOOO!」

「NGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」

Shortly after that, a loud, piercing cry resounded from behind.

「It seems the battle has begun.」

Yamajun who was walking in front of me spoke with a nervous voice.

The one who detected the incoming Gomas raid troop was Ramudein whohad scouted the area from the sky and my Raptor Rem. Though no one amongst us literally saw the forces, we knew for sure that it would be too late to leave the tower if we were to wait until we could see them. In this situation, the others had no choice but to trust me.

As a result, we could only get the real feeling of the incoming Gomas raid troop when we heard their warcry coming from behind. As for me, I felt extremely relieved upon hearing their loud warcry.

「I wonder how's the situation over there.」

Yamajun whispered with a slightly anxious voice.

「Who knows, the battle might have just begun.」

Unfortunately, I had no way of knowing the situation over there since I couldn't share my vision with Rem. All I knew was whether Rem the 1st, 3rd, or 4th were okay or not. As their master, I could somehow feel that something tied to my curse was cut off when they're destroyed.

「Now, it's time to rush up.」

「You're right.」

We, who lost our paath of retreat had no choice but to continue onwards. Everyone vaguely understood that situation. We were walking forward in silence under the protection of the white mist.

Time passed by, it had been a whole day since the start of the nerve-wracking march. Though we're dead tired, not even that shi*ty bitch complained, or rather, like hell, she would complain when all she did was ride on the comfortable back of Engard. But of course, I was also in the same situation, comfortably riding on the Rem Raptor's back which had been equipped with a make-shift stirrup and saddle.

Anyhow, thanks to everyone’s understanding to proceeded carefully, we―― managed to reach our destination without a hitch.

「That's the Goma's Fortress huh.」

Currently, we're in a higher position, looking down on the Goma's tower without anything to obstruct our view.

With the tower as its centre, the forest around had already been felled in circular shape. The stone tower in the center of the circle was of the same height and shape as our tower base. The only difference was an altar resembling it was connected to the first floor of the tower in a circular shape.

Considering the trend I had encountered so far, the teleportation formation's location was either at the top of the tower or its basement.

The part we called the tower literally stood at the center of the formation. Though its construction was crude, they also made a wooden wall circling around the perimeter of the main tower [Gomas’ Fortress] with four watchtowers made from logs situated on the edge of that huge circle formation. Each tower was manned by Goma- nay, from their stature, it should be Govus armed with bow and arrow, and there's even two of those Govus in each watchtower.

In addition, muscular Govus stood in front of the only gate to enter this fortress, armed with axe and spear. They also had these guys who kept loitering around, weapon in hand like some sort of sentry.

As expected, they weren't neglecting the defense of their own fortress even after they’d sent their main force to our tower.

「Their community is more like a village rather than a fortress huh.」

Inside the wall were rows of tents made from something that looked like they’re made from piles of pelts, or dirty clothes. It seemed the Goma's architecture had yet to advance to the point in which they could create wooden houses but their tents were simple and compact as they used a single, vertical log as its fulcrum.

Upon a closer look, I could see the Gomas were going in and out of those tents in hurry. Though the ones I saw so far always had a weapon in hand, seeing them wandering around with earthenwares or bag full of ingredients, the dishes that were lined up around the kitchen that was set all over the place gave the actual feeling of them being an intelligent native of this world. Upon a closer look, there were small Gomas- clearly the Goma's children, and Gomas that looked very much like a female Goma.

It seemed that the female Gomas’ chest weren't the inflated ones, it was their belly. They had a barrel-like belly which made them look like a pregnant woman. Or else, all of them were actually pregnant right now. In addition, the color of their skins wasn’t black, it was dark reddish-brown. Their color was similar to the disgusting cockroach.

「What shall we do, Momokawa-kun? The situation doesn't seem to be that different compared to our previous visit.」

「Let's take a rest first. Everyone must be tired after walking non-stop.」

「Are you sure?」

「The sun is about to set. Since those Gomas aren't nocturnal creatures either, we can expect that their main force shouldn't be back until tomorrow.」

We should have a bit of leeway in postponing our operation. Sorry, but I want to be spared of fighting with an exhausted body.

In addition, I'd changed my mind after overlooking the entire fortress as a whole… our capture strategy needed to be revised.

I made a rough sketch of the fortress and its surrounding, in short, a rough map before the sun has set.

「Let's finish our dinner ASAP. You may take a nap if you feel like it. We'll start our operation at midnight.」

「I understand, I'll tell everyone about the change in our plan.」

Well, what should we do from now on? Even though I was acting like a boss and dragging everyone along to follow my plan until this point… I almost gave up on the plan after seeing how tightly guarded that fortress was.

The reaction from Rem the 1st, 3rd, and 4th who I left in the jungle tower as bait had vanished. I think their reactions were still there until we're halfway toward the Goma's fortress, they fought until the bitter end and bought a lot of time for us.

When I think about how they did their best defending the jungle tower, I would like to let them rest for a while but,

「――『Vile's Clay Doll』」

I remade Rem by using the surplus of Raptor's materials and basic materials that I prepared beforehand to resummon Rem.

「Thank you very much, you're doing your best to defend the tower until the bitter end. But, sorry, please help me again to capture the fortress.」

「GA, GAGA!」

Rem replied to me with her usual cheerful "Leave it to me!" pose. I gave her Nonomiya-san's spear and short sword as her main weapon, bow and arrow as her sub-weapon so that she would be ready anytime. I was really envious of Rem's cheerful nature.

I didn't create the 3rd and 4th. Or should I say I didn't have the leeway to recreate them? The risk of magical power aside, even if I, for example, managed to recreate them, they would be in their basic form without any notable addition to our combat power.

Now let's confirm our side war potential again.

The first was me, a 『Shaman』. There was a corpse doll's raptor as my stead and Rem that was remade with the surplus from raptor's materials.

In the vanguard, we'd Yamada, the 『Heavy Warrior』, Ueda, the 『Swordsman』, and Nakai, the 『Warrior』. In the rear guard, Shimokawa, the 『Aquamancer』, and Yamajun, the 『Healer』.

And lastly, a freeter that didn't fit in any position-cough- I mean, Reina, the 『Spiritualist』 who would lead our raid.

As I had expected, the key for this operation was in how to make full use of Reina's sacred beast. To be honest, I felt that we actually didn't have to use this roundabout strategy if she was going all out but… she most probably would choose to run if she had too much responsibility.

No, it could be the opposite, it might be okay to keep her away from the teleportation circle before she escaped. That's it, she should be fine even if we leave her by herself in this area.

「Yamajun, please gather everyone. I'll tell them my strategy.」

Yamajun then gathered everyone who was in the middle of taking a short break. Gathering personnel, even if it seemed like a trivial matter, there was a great difference between someone who could do and someone who couldn't. It would be more efficient to ask Yamajun to do this job rather than me.

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