[WN] Jitsuwa 3-Domedatta : Chapter 430

Chapter 430

(Kyle Calendar Year 515: Age 22)

Liberation of the Three Countries

Translator : PolterGlast

When Mizel was forbidden from participating in the battle lines by General Golpa and told to remain behind, he did not merely dedicate himself to his given duty and watch the fate of the battle from the rear. He too, upon his own judgment, moved into action to fulfill a new role. Immediately reassigning the mobile units from among the communication corps under his command to the west, he moved to guide the main force of Takuhir and the others, who would undoubtedly arrive. They raised sky lanterns with conspicuous colors at key points along the highway, striving to guide Takuhir and the others pursuing from behind. Thanks to that, Takuhir and the others slipped through the shortest distance via the guidance, and were able to arrive at the battlefield before Golpa and the others, who were dedicating themselves to holding the enemy back, were annihilated.

「Glad we made it in time! We owe thanks to Mizel's quick thinking. Glenn, continue the ultra-long-range penetrating attacks via 『Long Spear』 together with the Wind Mages! The other Longbow units, launch simultaneous volleys once they enter range! Commander, I ask you to charge into the opened holes and eliminate the enemy Longbow soldiers!」

「「Understood!」」

At Takuhir's instructions, taking advantage of the opening when the enemy army flinched from the Long Spear attacks, the Longbow cavalry unit deployed to the front and began suppressive fire receiving the support of Wind Mages.

※

The soldiers of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, who normally fought with out-range tactics, were flustered and panicked by the long-distance shooting of Longbows exceeding their own effective range.

「W-What is the meaning of this! Why are there new soldiers here, m-moreover, aren't those Longbow soldiers!」

Azel was astonished in three different meanings, and unconsciously screamed. To begin with, for a new enemy army of as many as ten thousand to rush to this place was an impossible story. The three countries of Lute, Vile, and Cain had lost their main fighting strength, and could not possibly possess a mobile fighting strength of ten thousand cavalry. Then where did this military force spring out from? His assumption that they stood at an overwhelming superiority in numbers had crumbled fragilely at this point. In addition to that, what astonished him was that the enemy raining down a storm of arrows, despite taking the guise of cavalry, were unmistakably Longbow soldiers. However... there was no country possessing Longbow soldiers other than them. With a single exception... And those enemy Longbow soldiers were continuing to loose effective fire from a distance exceeding three hundred meters, far longer than his own army's effective range... And the finishing blow was the fierce arrow attacks (Long Spear attacks) mowing down their iron-wall formation. The ultra-long-range penetrating attacks they themselves called 『Arrows of God』 could only be fired when highly skilled Longbow soldiers and Wind Mages, who were messengers of God, coordinated at a high level. There was only one other country capable of performing such a feat.

「S-Such an absurd story! Helping the enemy countries who invaded you? Impossible!」

This shout from Azel was perfectly reasonable. Normally it would be an impossible story, and if several coincidences had not overlapped, it would not have been realized even with Takuhir's good nature.

·         The Lute and Vile Kingdom armies surrendered while still possessing a surplus strength of fifteen thousand men capable of fighting.

·         The two generals who led the armies of these two countries were figures worthy of Takuhir's trust.

·         Tthe Empire Southern Dispatch Army led by Takuhir achieved a perfect victory and returned in triumph almost completely unharmed.

·         Through Reim's intelligence, it had been exposed that the ones leading the Orthodox TheocracyArmy were Lugner and Azel.

It was exactly because all these conditions were met that this expedition had been realized... While Azel, commanding the vanguard, could not understand the sudden change in the situation, Lugner, learning of the abnormality, also rushed from the rearguard to the vanguard.

「Azel! What is the meaning of this?」

「I don't know! But... that is undoubtedly the army led by the brat (Takuhir)!」

「W-What did you say! Such an absurdity...」

Lugner too was left speechless by a situation exceeding his own understanding. During that time, the unilateral long-distance attacks by Longbows snatching their specialty from them by the Demon Territory Dukedom Army, and the sweeping fire by Long Spears which they called 『Arrows of God』, were repeated, and the trend of the battle was already becoming a one-sided development.

「It seems I had misjudged the brat... To think he was a man so maddened by revenge that he would not hesitate to invade and make the three countries his own taking advantage of this opportunity...」

Here too, Lugner misunderstood. But given their caliber, and within the scope of the information they had learned, it was understandable for them to judge it so.

「No good! They will break through at this rate!」

Exactly as Azel's words, the unit led by Knight Commander Weiss charged into a corner of the crumbled defensive formation, and began to scatter the Longbow soldiers hiding behind the infantry. Seeing that, each unit led by General Golpa also regained their momentum and began charging in various places.

「Azel! First make them fall back!! We still have four thousand soldiers left in the Cain Kingdom, we will recall the Holy Knights and rebuild our formation.」

「R-Right... Entire army, immediately fall back into the forest! Longbow soldiers, deploy in the forest while falling back, and conversely intercept them at the defile!」

By this instruction, the soldiers of the Orthodox Theocracy began to fall back towards the forest and the defile highway again while half-routing. However, the situation did not proceed according to their speculations.

「Reporting! The enemy army's fierce attacks are concentrated at the entrance to the defile, turning it into a death zone!」

Sensing that the enemy army had fallen back, Glenn had shifted the aim of the Long Spear attacks to the entrance of the defile in the forest. When the cavalry unit positioned in the rearguard tried to flee into the defile ahead of the rest, they were mowed down one after another by a fierce storm of arrows, turning the area into an echoing hell of agonizing cries.

「Tch! Do they intend to sever our retreat path! If it comes to this, it cannot be helped; abandon both the horses and the baggage trains and flee into the forest!」

「Lugner! What will you do after that?」

「This inferiority can no longer be recovered. But... we still have a measure to revive from the brink of death left. A measure to take the head of the brat arrogant from victory, and for us to ultimately win, that is.」

Saying so, Lugner floated a chilling smile accompanied by fierce hatred.

※

The war situation changed dizzyingly on the battlefield in a short time, and was now becoming a one-sided development. The Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, which had possessed over ten thousand soldiers until a little while ago, had now lost nearly half its fighting strength, and the remaining soldiers had scattered fleeing deep into the forest. On the battlefield, the baggage trains fully loaded with the wealth they had plundered up until now were left behind, and the horses abandoned by the cavalry were merely running wildly around the area.

「Do not go deep into the forest! You'll receive a counterattack from an unexpected blind spot! For now, reliably annihilate only the enemies you can see!」

The Commander had already issued instructions to change the system to a sweeping battle, moving to gradually expand the suppressed area deep into the forest while securing the safety of the defile. At this point, the two thousand cavalry under General Golpa's banner who advanced backwards through the defile also joined up and entered under the Commander's command.

「Archduke-heika, this time... I thank you for your assistance. With this, our lives have been saved twice over.」

「Oh! You were safe! It is we who are sorry for being late. But... I'm truly glad we made it in time. General Golpa, first get your wounds treated!」

Seeing the figure of General Golpa who joined up and appeared before my eyes, I was relieved at first, but broken arrows were piercing his body everywhere, and he was in a state of being covered in wounds all over.

「No... I fought a pathetic battle... If you could prioritize treating the soldiers first...」

「Marianne! With utmost urgency!」

Rushing my horse over to support General Golpa, who looked about to fall off his horse due to deep wounds, I shouted at the same time. Then, requesting the soldiers to assist the General, I moved to the next action.

「Raphael, Sigur, Carla, from here we enter predetermined actions, but... I ask for your vigilance. Because we cannot let our guard down around those guys until the very end.」

This alone was sufficient for them. After that, I called Shior, Shannon, Leia, and Yoltia, and instructed them on the next action.

※

After the trend of the battle was decided, the 『Song Dedicated to God』 of the Istoria Holy Kingdom was sung on the battlefield by the Holy Mage Shior, and it echoed deep into the forest through Shannon's sound magic.

「!!! No way...」

「Oooooh, it's the Miko-sama!」

「G-God... have you come to save us?」

Astonished, some stopped in their tracks, and some knelt on the earth and began seeking salvation. To them, Aura's voice overlapped with the singing voice.

「Everyone of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, I am someone who was once called a Divine Messenger. Please, if this song reaches you, listen to what I have to say just a little. Your battle is over. The respective Royal Capitals of Lute, Vile, and Cain have already been suppressed, and you have no path of retreat.」

「S-Such a...」

「What... should we do?」

「God, why won't you save us?」

「Please, surrender without shedding any more useless blood. Together with us who were once called Divine Messengers, let us make amends for the sins up to now. I promise we will never do anything merciless.」

As this voice echoed, the sounds of combat that had been heard sporadically from within the forest eventually faded away. Because at this point, many of the soldiers, knowing that other regions had already been suppressed and they had no path of retreat, lost their will to fight, knelt on the earth, and crumbled. After that, the soldiers threw away their weapons one after another and began coming out of the forest with their hands raised, prostrating themselves.

「I witnessed it for the first time, but the effect of the Miko's song is tremendous...」

I spoke to the two beside me with surprise. Because Yoltia and Leia were standing there, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings without dropping their guard.

「Exactly as you say, however Takuhir-sama...」

「Yeah, Yoltia, thank you. I know, maybe after drawing them in a little more?」

Many enemy soldiers began moving with both hands raised as if to cling to Shior and Aura, but among them were some who were conspicuously edging closer towards our direction. In response, the subordinate soldiers were also beginning to form a human wall as if to surround us. And when they approached to a distance of about a hundred meters, I made my decision.

「Now, Leia!」

Simultaneously with my words, Leia activated Light magic with all her might, and a dazzling light enveloped them.

「Gugah!」 「Uwah!」 「L-Light!」

「Yoltia!」

Against the fifty or so surrendered soldiers agonizing in the light, this time Yoltia emitted Gravity magic and pinned them to the earth.

「Ah, aaaaahhhhh!」 「F-Fallingggg!」 「Gwaaaaaaaaahhhh!」

After short screams, they uniformly lost their sanity, and never returned again. And the only ones who were able to remain standing unchanged in the place that was a battlefield were those who won the battle and those who truly made the decision to surrender.

※

Takuhir and the others had established countermeasures against the 『Apostles of Darkness』 to a certain extent through the circumstances up to now. That began with the warning issued by the Academy Principal in the past, and was also the result based on the battle fought at the gateway on the Teigoon Demon Territory side now called Abyss, the capture of Viscount Hiyorimi, and the attempted assassination incident of Yuka in Kusanagi. Thereafter, similar measures were taken against surrendering enemy soldiers, and the 『Apostles of Darkness』 were sequentially annihilated by attacks using Light magic and Gravity magic, which were mutually conflicting to their darkness. The Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army that participated in the battle on this day was thirteen thousand five hundred men, but due to five thousand war dead, three thousand soldiers dropped out due to injuries, and four thousand soldiers threw away their weapons and surrendered as prisoners. Due to this, the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army that invaded the three countries was effectively destroyed, virtually wiped out. Also, the 『Apostles of Darkness』 who escaped past subjugations were also destroyed without being able to fulfill Lugner's orders, but the crucial ringleaders, Lugner and Azel, fell towards neighboring countries with a few defeated remnants.

「Did we fail to strike them down this time as well...」

「I apologize for our inadequacy.」

「No, it's not the Commander's responsibility. If we forced a pursuit into the forest, our sacrifices would have been greater too. However... with this, those guys should have lost the ones acting as their hands and feet. With this crushing defeat, they won't be able to return to the Orthodox Theocracy either.」

「Exactly as you say. Even though about a thousand men fell away, having lost their mounts and with no supplies, the majority of them will probably collapse along the way.」

「Then let's leave the post-war processing to General Golpa's unit, and return to the Royal Capital of the Lute Kingdom for now. Once the three countries are solidified, this time for sure we can return in triumph to Kusanagi and express our appreciation to everyone.」

※

Due to the active roles of Takuhir and his forces, and the death-defying struggles of General Golpa and his forces, the three countries of Lute, Vile, and Cain were liberated from the invaders, and would walk a new path from here on. On the other hand, the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy, which had been continuously expanding its power with the momentum to shoot down flying birds, lost all its home country army that it had dispatched reinforcing the expeditionary force with the whole country's effort, and went down the path of continuous decline. And ahead, an astonishing and unexpected news awaited Takuhir, who returned to the Lute Kingdom via the Royal Capital of the Vile Kingdom.

◇ Final Damages of the Istoria Orthodox Theocracy Army

Lute Kingdom Garrison ▼ 5,000 men (Including 1,300 prisoners)

Vile Kingdom Garrison ▼ 3,000 men (Including 500 prisoners)

Holy Knights (Main Force) ▼ 6,000 men (Including 500 prisoners)

Holy Knights (Rearguard) ▼ 1,000 men (Including 200 prisoners)

Cain Royal Capital Garrison ▼ 4,500 men (Including 1,200 prisoners)

Main Force ▼10,000 men (Including 6,000 prisoners)

Desertion (Unknown) Around 1,000 men

·         Turncoat Soldiers ▼ 2,000 men (Including 500 prisoners)

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Can a Mob Highschooler be a Normie: Chapter 161

Mob Kousei No Ore Demo Boukensha Ni Nareba Riajuu Ni Naremasuka: Chapter #161

Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 161: World Native (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

　The place we teleported to was the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station... or at least, where it used to be.

 

　Between the rampage of an A-rank and a swarm of B-rank monsters, the area around Ikebukuro had lost all trace of its former self.

 

　The station building and surrounding structures had been reduced to nothing but rubble, making it nearly impossible to tell where you were by sight alone.

 

　We had simply teleported to the coordinates where the Ikebukuro Station was supposed to exist.

 

『...Now then, what's the move? Should we start with the F-rank dungeons?』

 

　Renge’s voice came through our Link as I activated a magic item I’d acquired from the deal with the Hachioji Guild—a device that erected a Presence-Concealing Barrier. I used it mostly for my own peace of mind.

 

『No, there's something I want to check first.』

 

　I replied while scanning the surroundings, wary of being spotted by the A-rank monster.

 

　There were no B-rank or higher monsters in the immediate vicinity. The few lower-ranked monsters scattered about either hadn't noticed us or were simply watching from a distance, showing no sign of approaching.

 

　Once I confirmed that the coast was clear, I issued orders to my cards,

 

『Dress, equip Eliza. Eliza, use Doton no Jutsu¹ to find the entrance to the Ikebukuro Guild shelter beneath the rubble.』

 

　Executive Director Kurohara of Izayoi Shoji had mentioned that communication with the Ikebukuro Guild had been cut off, but that didn't necessarily mean they had been wiped out.

 

　It was possible they had simply lost their means of communication, or that they just flat-out ignoring Izayoi Shoji after seeing the state of the world outside.

 

『Found it.』

 

　At those words, I shared Eliza's vision.

 

　Through her eyes, I saw that the barrier of the Ikebukuro Shelter had been completely shattered and buried under the rubble.

 

...It seems the Ikebukuro Guild’s fall was real after all.

 

『...Eliza, head inside. Use the Hamelin's Flute to bring us in.』

 

『Yes, Master.』

 

　The faint sound of Eliza playing her flute drifted up from beneath the wreckage.

 

　As I waited for the transfer gate to open—

 

『—! An A-rank scent is closing in!』

 

　Yuki’s voice rang out, sharp and laced with tension.

 

Damn! We’ve been sniffed out! As expected, an A-rank's senses are terrifyingly sharp!

 

This isn't the time to fight yet...!

 

　Right before our eyes, a building that had miraculously kept its original shape was blown to smithereens.

 

　Dust flying off to the sides, the enemy came into view.

 

　It was a pitch-black bull, as massive as a two-story house, sporting magnificent golden wings and sharp bluish stone² horns.

 

　The imposing presence radiating from this creature and the aura that seemed touched upon divinity left me in no doubt that this was indeed an A-rank divine being.

 

　The gleaming gold eyes of Gugalanna locked onto me with a fierce glare.

 

　Like a bullfighter in a ring, he scraped his front hooves against the ground, assuming a charging stance.

 

『Kuh! I'm using Aegis!』

 

『Yeah!』

 

　At that moment, Athena activated Aegis almost entirely on her own initiative.

 

　Not just Absolute Defense, but a Pseudo-Safe Zone as well.

 

　Gugalanna, wreathed in crimson-black lightning, charged with a speed that bordered instantaneous movement, and Athena’s Pseudo-Safe Zone activated practically at the very same instant.

 

　The Pseudo-Safe Zone surged out from Athena at the speed of light, clashing with Gugalanna. A gargantuan shockwave ripped through our bodies.

 

　The Aegis’s Absolute Defense barrier was stripped away in its entirety, and after a brief standoff with the barrier of the Pseudo-Safe Zone, Gugalanna was hurled back as if repelled.

 

　Almost simultaneously, Eliza's transfer gate opened.

 

『Jump in!』

 

　As we leapt straight into the gate, I caught a final glimpse of Gugalanna watching us with what looked like pure, frustrated resentment.

 

 

"...Oi, what the hell was that monster?"

 

　After scrambling into the Ikebukuro shelter and taking a moment to breathe, I muttered the words in a daze.

 

"He stripped away every layer of Absolute Defense..."

 

"Seems he possesses either an Area-of-Effect type Absolute Attack³ or an Absolute Release⁴ skill,"

 

 　Athena replied, looking visibly drained.

 

"An AoE Absolute Attack...?"

 

If we hadn't had Absolute Defense active, won’t that be instant death for us?

 

"And the way the attack pierced the Pseudo-Safe Zone?"

 

“That was simply a matter of timing; the deployment didn't finish in time. The Pseudo-Safe Zone doesn’t take full effect until it’s thoroughly established."

 

So using it as a reactive shield during combat is difficult, huh?

 

Or maybe, that’s exactly why the area-type Absolute Defense exists—to bridge that gap.

 

“I see... Athena, thank you for using Aegis so quickly.”

 

“Hmph. Who do you think I am?”

 

　Athena gave a boastful smirk, but I could see the lingering tension in her face.

 

　The other party members also looked somewhat grim.

 

　Even through the barrier of the Pseudo-Safe Zone, we had felt it—that crushing pressure, that raw power.

 

　That pressure... it felt dangerously close to Urashima Taro in his Enraged Mode.

 

So that's an A-rank. So that's a World Native...

 

It seems that, without even realizing it, I had somehow underestimated A-ranks after defeating Huanglong so easily…

 

"It looks like choosing to scout the Guild before tackling the low-rank dungeons was definitely the right call after all."

 

　The mere thought of running into Gugalanna inside a low-rank dungeon made me break out in a cold sweat.

 

　Anyway. A Guild would have a vast hoard of cards and magic items sleeping within its vault.

 

　Among them, I might find Key Items for Renge and the others, or perhaps items effective against Gugalanna specifically.

 

　To reclaim Ikebukuro for humanity, I intended to put every bit of that Guild’s legacy to good use.

 

"...Still, there are a lot of bodies."

 

　Once the shock of the encountering Gugalanna faded and I looked around, I frowned at the devastation.

 

　The corridor was so packed with layers of corpses that there was nowhere to step.

 

　The trail of bodies stretched from the rubble behind us all the way into the depths of the facility.

 

　Though I'd grown pretty used to seeing dead bodies from my journeys, this scene still made my skin crawl.

 

　The only saving grace, if you could call it that, was that it was winter, so the decomposition was still relatively contained.

 

"...Eliza, this is near the shelter entrance, right?"

 

　Eliza gave a small nod in response to my question.

 

"Hmm..."

 

Something feels... wrong.

 

Why are there so many bodies right here at the entrance?　Normally, if enemies attack from outside, people flee in the opposite direction...

 

　Despite the grim speculation crossing my mind, I pressed onward, using the corpses as guides.

 

　After coming across a few C-rank or lower monsters here and there, we finally reached our destination.

 

　There stood a transfer gate, still perfectly intact—surrounded by even more bodies than we'd seen at the entrance.

 

Ah, just as I thought...

 

"So, this place was attacked from the inside..."

 

　This Guild hadn't been wiped out because the barrier was breached from the outside. …By the time the outer defenses failed, this place was already a tomb—overrun by monsters pouring out of the transfer gate.

 

　The corpses piled up near the entrance weren't people trying to get in; they were people trying to get out, only to be slaughtered against a sealed barrier they couldn't open.

 

　The image of their final moments flashed through my mind, so I shook my head to drive it away.

 

I have no time for sentimentality right now.

 

　I approached the transfer gate to check its status.

 

"...No response."

 

　It seemed every destination paired with this gate had been destroyed on the other end.

 

If it had still been linked to other Guilds, it would have been a golden opportunity to recover supplies from there too… but oh well, it can’t be helped.

 

If their gates were destroyed, that means those Guilds avoided being overrun. That’s something to be happy about.

 

Alright then, time for the treasure hunt.

 

　I summoned Kimaris.

 

"Kimaris, can you locate the supplies hidden within this Guild?"

 

"Hum, let's see~... Yes, I can~”

 

Good. It seems supplies and such count as 'treasure' too.

 

"Great. Lead the way―――― "

 

"Master, may I have a word?"

 

　I was ready to move, but a voice gave me pause. I looked over—it was Eliza.

 

"What is it?"

 

"...We are not inside a dungeon right now. Would it not be better to leave the search to us while you return to Tachikawa and issue commands via our Link?"

 

"Ah, that's a brilliant idea," Athena added.

 

"Yeah, you should wait somewhere safe," Renge voiced.

 

　Athena and Renge were the first to nod in agreement at Eliza's suggestion, followed by a chorus of approval from the other cards.

 

　...It seemed confronting Gugalanna, who possessed an Absolute Attack skill, had stirred up anxiety among my cards.

 

Hmm... I do need to accompany them for dungeon attack, but outside of that, wouldn’t it be better if I stayed away as much as possible so I don’t get in the way?

 

As for moving around on the surface... it would be harder for Gugalanna and other B-rank monsters to spot us if I had Eliza copy the [Hide and Seek] skill, have her go ahead to the entrance of each dungeon first, and then use teleportation to regroup and enter together.

 

Even for the eventual battle with Gugalanna, commanding them from Tachikawa is objectively the safest route.

 

"Alright. Then I’ll wait in Tachikawa."

 

　Relief washed over their faces.

 

　Eliza played her Hamelin’s Flute, opening the transfer gate. Taking only Audrey with me, I returned to Tachikawa.

 

　I deployed Fensalir in a suitable spot outside the Hesperides. As I settled in to watch their treasure hunt through our Link, I let my mind wander.

 

That Gugalanna is even more formidable than I anticipated…

 

I don’t think he’s impossible to defeat, but his AoE Absolute Attack carries a very real risk of causing card Lost.

 

Since that’s the case, maybe I should avoid using those who haven't been named yet?

 

Wait, it might still be too demanding for Kimaris, but maybe Morrigan and Macha are ready to accept a name by now?

 

It might be worth a try.

 

Besides, in preparation for the upcoming battle with Gugalanna, I need to consider holing up in the Tamatebako for another six months or so.

 

Honestly, this isn’t the time to be complaining about how mentally draining holing up in there is.

 

With a clear goal like Gugalanna in sight, we likely won’t hit that burnout phase like last time.

 

And then, there's also the matter of Suzuka and Prima.

 

 

 

 

【Race】Persephone (Prima)

【Combat Power】1900 (Initial Combat Power 900 + Growth 900 + Spiritual Recurrence 100)

 

【Inborn Skills】

　・Queen of the Underworld: As wife of Hades, King of the Underworld, she can wield a portion of his authority. Greatly increases the stats of allies possessing the Death attribute and removes the [Immortality] effect from enemies possessing the Death attribute.

　・Pomegranate of the Underworld⁵: Produces half a pomegranate from the realm of the dead. Granting those who consume it temporary Death attribute and Immortality.

　・Spring Breeze: she transforms the surroundings into a spring field. She can summon Sirens (said to be her former attendants) infinitely.

　・Intermediate-level Wizard

 

【Acquired Skills】

　・Songstress: Encompasses Singer, Chorus, Beautiful Voice, Perfect Pitch, Low-level Storage, Group Coordination, Teaching, Sexual Skill, Etiquette, Swimming, Fishing, Musical Performance (NEW!), and Warrior (NEW!).

　・Ambition to Rise in The World

　・Advanced-level Wizard

　・Absolute Obedience

　・The True One

　・Breakthrough of Limits

　・True Subordinate Summoning

　・Fountain of Magic Power

　・Magic Song (NEW!)

　・Zero Existence (NEW!) → Spiritual Recurrence (CHANGE!)

　・Sharp Eye (NEW!)

　・No Beat (NEW!): Allows the user to skip the process of martial arts skills. Effectiveness increases with proficiency.

 

 

 

 

【Race】Demeter (Prima)

【Combat Power】2800  (Initial Combat Power 1800 + Growth 900 + Spiritual Recurrence 100)

 

【Inborn Skills】

　・Bringer of Fertility and Law: Allows the use of the authority of Demeter, goddess of the Earth (a superior version of Fertility) and Law (Contract).

　・Bringer of Winter: Manifests Demeter’s sorrow and rage. Transforms the surrounding area into a field of extreme winter, inflicting powerful Starvation that ignores resistances and Regeneration Inhibition on all enemies.

(Starvation: A status ailment that forces the target into malnutrition, rapidly depleting their vitality)

　・Eleusinian Mysteries: Embodies the power of Persephone, her daughter and another aspect of herself, also allowing her to be summoned as a subordinate. Only one can exist at a time, but there is no limit on the times she can be summoned. Includes the Fountain of Life and the Knowledge of Survival.

　・High-level Wizard

　・Warrior

 

 

 

 

Prima underwent a Minor change from Siren to Persephone, gaining Demeter as her Spiritual Recurrence destination. But, having only recently acquiring it, she hasn't fully mastered her new form yet.

 

Suzuka is in the same boat. To extend the duration they can maintain those forms, another training camp is essential.

 

　As I was pondering such things, Eliza and the others located the Guild's supply storage. ...However.

 

"Empty...?"

 

　The vast storage room was lined with rows of orderly shelves, but they were completely bare. Not a single card-form supply remained.

 

This... what does this mean? Even if the owners had died and their registered cards vanished, a number of resources should have been managed using binders. Even if the contents were gone, the binders themselves should remain.

 

Moreover, given the nature of an organization like the Guild, it’s unlikely they registered ownership for every single item—the risk of embezzlement or losing everything upon a member's death would be too high.

 

For convenience, basic supplies were likely left unregistered, unlike the high-value cards and magic items…

 

So then, did the shelter staff take it after all? Meaning not all were wiped out? Did some manage to escape to another Guild? ...While letting the evacuees die?

 

　Frowning, I looked further inside and found a thick, bank vault-like door stood there.

 

　High-value cards and magic items would logically have been stored in there, but...

 

"This one's empty too, huh?"

 

　We entered after Eliza sliced through the door—which looked sturdy enough to withstand a B-rank—with her Absolute Attack. Inside, sure enough, it was empty as well.

 

If even the high-security vault was cleaned out, the likely culprit wasn’t a regular employee acting like a looter in the midst of a fire, but rather an executive.

 

...No, wait.

 

『Kimaris. There are no supplies here, so where's the treasure?』

 

　If the supplies were gone, then what exactly was the 'treasure' Kimaris had sensed?

 

　At my question, Kimaris looked around nervously before pointing a finger at a seemingly blank wall.

 

『Aa~, there. Right there. I sense the presence of treasure hidden there~』

 

　Following her lead, Eliza and Suzuka inspected the spot and discovered a small, hidden safe.

 

　It had been cleverly hidden using a magic item of camouflage.

 

　After slicing open the safe door with an Absolute Attack and looking inside, they found a binder stored within.

 

　Eliza opened the binder.

 

　Inside were dozens of magic items in card form and three B-rank cards.

 

"Sleipnir, Suzaku of the Four Divine Beasts, and... Ixtab, the Mayan goddess of death⁶, huh?"

 

Ixtab... I'll give her to Oribe.

 

　I took one look at the illustration of Ixtab—a goddess with a festering, rotting face—and immediately decide that.

 

Might as well give Sleipnir to Anna.

 

Still, only three B-ranks? ...Seems surprisingly few for a Guild. Did they distribute any usable cards to staff members like Shigeno-san, a former Self-Defense Forces officer? And did those vanish along with the Master’s death? Or is it that even the Guild doesn’t possess many B-rank cards to begin with?

 

But why were these even left behind? Did the person who took the supplies out front not know about this safe? If so, does that mean the culprit wasn’t an executive? Or was it simply because there was no time?

 

Or maybe...

 

"Well, whatever..."

 

　I shook off the nasty thoughts.

 

　Plenty of loose ends remained, but I did walk away with something.

 

　There were also the magic items hidden so meticulously, stored alongside the B-rank cards.

 

    At the very least, these should be B-rank rare drops, or possibly even A-rank drops.

 

    If fortune shone on me, the Key Items for my cards might be hiding here among them.

 

 I'll examine these items carefully inside the Tamatebako.

 

    With a beaming smile, I watched over my cards as they continued exploring the shelter.

 

***

 

Notes:

1  土遁の術. (doton no jutsu) translates to 'Earth Style Technique', a type of Ninjutsu.^↩

2  The raw use 青玉石 (seigyoku shi), which translates to ‘blue/green jewel stone’. It may refer to sapphire, lapis lazuli, or azurite. ^↩

3  Reminder: Absolute Attack (絶対攻撃): A skill that pierces through any defense, excluding pseudo-safe zones. It is nullified by Absolute Defense, and while it doesn't hit Absolute Evasion, the skill also doesn't count as having been used. ^↩

4  Reminder: Absolute Release (絶対解除): A skill that can dispel the effects of all other skills, excluding the pseudo-safe zone. Since it does not negate the effects of skills after they've been applied, it cannot nullify damage already taken or revert healed wounds. ^↩

5  In the myth, Hades tricked Persephone to eat a pomegranate to bound her to the Underworld ^↩

6  Her name was written as イシュタム in Japanese. Actually, she was the goddess of suicide in the Mayan mythology. The culture believed that suicide would lead people to heaven. ^↩

 

Translator(s) note: Here’s where you can buy the Author’s books:

https://www.amazon.co.jp/stores/author/B075TBZ2QF/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=e78c100a-ced9-4562-a21a-36e8a17339e5&ref_=ap_rdr

 

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