Eyoooo!
Sorry for the delay(again). I just got a new place to work, but the schedule is kinda messy for now, so... yeah. It will take time but I'll do my best to upload more. I already estimated, and this fanfic will reach over million words. Look forward to it.
On the other news. The new season already come out, and it was better than I expected. Maybe, that was because my expectations for season 2 wasn't that high because of the season 1, but, it can't be help right? Also I want to see more of Kouki suffering.
Anyway, that's all.
Enjoy...
In the middle of the cold night near the forest area, a group of Adventurers were camping out.
It's Yuka's party.
A whole day already passed since they accepted the quest, and after leaving the Adventurer's Guild, Yuka's group went around to resupply. After that, they seek a carriage to hitch a ride, which takes their entire time, and ended up unsuccessfully.
Leaving no choice, the group takes Jenny's advice and went back to Palace to grab horses to ride into cause no carriage were willing to head there.
As a Ranger, Noboru was assigned as the party's scout to gather intel.
And according to the only survivor from previous caravan, nobody was able to sense the "enemy" even with their high ranks escorts, until it attacked. And even after it attacked, that managed to take down a life instantly, "that thing" will vanished again like it doesn't exist. At the end, they failed to noticed, and one after the other, everyone was taken out without them noticing. The survivor, which was the coachman only got lucky when his horses gets out of control and ran like its depends on it, which, it was.
At the bitter end, the coachman's lost 1 of his horses along with his sanity. What's more, he wasn't able to describe what kind of enemy they had faced, which loses the point of him being a witness.
Yuka informed Aiko before leaving early in the morning, about their quest that might take a while, so she don't have to worry when they didn't come back.
The group departed and they arrived at the outskirts of the forest before sunset.
Even Yuka was inexperienced on a long journey on her own, so they had taken more stops than necessary. Between those breaks, Yuka pounded everything had to be learn on her whole party. From teaching unorthodox way to fight until the little stuffs like; how to camp, which makes almost everyone wanted to cry, was taught by Yuka. It seems the stay home group was too behind compared to the front liners in different sense.
They repeated such cycle until they reach the entrance of the forest. And since it will be dark soon, Yuka decided to camped out for now and wait for the sun to rise. Which bring us here...
The party comes up with look out routine, but for some reason, nobody was resting.
Tamai had asked, or rather begged for Yuka to train him even further. He was delighted with the her training regimen, that it managed to force him to learn Supersonic Step, and since he had become more efficient with magic thanks to Nana and Kaori, he was now more than ready to fight on the front line.
(TN: I just noticed that on anime and even on wiki, cutlassier is supposed to have a sickle and not sword as a weapon. I'm following the LN as reference in case some of you were confused, and also twin shamshirs is much cooler, right? The author even called Tamai, "Arabian Kirito".)
On the other side, Taeko and Noboru was practicing with their precision. By using two whips, Taeko was trying to intercept with Noboru's arrows while he was trying to break through her defences. The gap between them was obvious if someone saw Noboru's expression. He didn't know if it's about the level, equipment or simply fighting spirit that he can't surpassed her, but regardless he was still determined to get stronger.
Noboru failed to notice this, but Taeko was frustrated too. She was only managing to intercept his attacks, by manipulating the tip of her whip to rotate at high speed to form a shield to where she saw the arrows were heading. Her speed and reaction time was amazing, but, it wasn't enough, she wanted to improve her accuracy to the point that she could stop fast attacks by destroying it, instead of blocking it.
Near the campfire, Akito and Nana was practicing on their own. The two were too busy, reciting, shortening and strengthening their spells. While they're on it, they were also filling up the mana tank gifted by Yuka, and since they had plenty of mana potions, spending mana wasn't an issue. But the burden of cramming everything need to be learn in short amount of time makes Nana teary eyed, while Akito wants to vomit already.
Their suffering... or rather training continues for a few minutes, until someone voice out their complains.
[ Neh, Yukacchi... Can we take a break a little? ] Nana looked at Yuka with pleading gaze.
Yuka looked at her, sighed and says [ I didn't force any of you to train at the time like this though. If you're exhausted, you're allowed to sleep or take a break. ]
[ B-but, if I did that, what would happen if monsters suddenly showed up? ]
[ We'll take care of it. ]
[ THAT WHY I DON'T WANT TO REST YET! I want to fight too, you know!? I want to test my skills too! That's why if I take a break, everyone should too, you know? ]
[ Are you a kid?... *sigh* wakata, wakata... Atsushi that's enough for now. Hey Aikawa, Taeko-chan! Let's take a short break! ]
Tamai perked up after hearing that. He was too high spirited that he managed to ignore his fatigue, but after hearing Nana's complain, he too starts to feel that exhaustion from their long journey and non-stop training.
From the distance not far away from the group, Taeko alone approached them, which confused Nana and Akito for a second, but not long after, Noboru's figure suddenly materialized.
Noboru was training his Presence Manipulation too while trying to hit Taeko's blind spot using sneak attacks. And that too was a good for her to train her reaction time, but judging from the few scratches and arrow on Taeko right shoulder, explains the results.
The reason why Yuka and Tamai wasn't suprised on Noboru was because the two of them along with Taeko were using wind magic to amplify the sound around them, which creates the pseudo Sense Presence.
Since Taeko and Tamai's highest affinity was wind and it was only basic spell, both of them, and Yuka could use it without problem.
The party gathered around the campfire. and Akito starts healing everyone's wounds and recovering their fatigue, while others grabs their own food on each of their rucksacks.
Since Akito can't use Mimic without copying Kaori entirely, he asked her to taught him atleast intermediate healing spells, that also includes buff spells. Even though his highest affinity was dark, his efficiency on support spells, was half of level compared to Kaori.
The preparation of their food will take a while, so for the time being, the group starts discussing about their progress.
They talked livelier than ever than they had imagined. As a stay home group, they were the very first to gave up, so they haven't thought they would be making this far.
It didn't take long for the food to be ready. Once it's done, they all start eating to replenish their energy. The place became quiet and only the sound of chewing, rustling of leaves, and the cold wind could be heard. It should be a peaceful midnight snack, but...
[ Neh, Yukacchi.*gulp*...What do you like about Nagumocchi? ] Nana swallowed her food and asked something nonchalantly.
[ [ [ [ [ pfft- ] ] ] ] ] Yuka and the others almost spits out their food from the sudden question. They all looked at Nana thinking "What are you doing, asking straight like that!".
The gazes of the group turned next to the person in question.
Yuka wipes her mouth with her sleeve and glared in Nana before replying.
[ W-what are saying all of sudden!? ] Yuka protested. She's blushing upto the tip of her ears though, and everyone finds it cute.
[ Oh... Sorry, sorry. That wasn't what I mean... ]
Hearing that, Yuka's expression returns to normal, until...
[ What I was saying was, when did you fall in love with Nagumocchi? ]
Everyone chokes again.
[ Dakara! What are saying all of sudden!? ] Yuka blushed again, but this time she starts trembling from too much embarrassment.
[ Well, it's obvious why you like him. He had done favors for you afterall, so what remains was, when did that happened? ]
The boys don't have any clue about this, but Taeko could somehow guess Yuka's true feelings already after this long, so she too was curious when did that happen.
[ I will deny the part that I like him, rather, I trust him. And it all started when he saved us from that behemoth. ] Yuka replied calmly as possible. She's still blushing though, so that also denied her declaration.
[ I already told you what happened at that day so I won't go to details. I owe him my life, that's all there's is to it. ] Yuka end the conversation and returns on her meal.
Nana seems disappointed from that answer, but she accepts it regardless. She concluded she won't get answer about that anyway so she decides to change the topic instead.
[ Oh, by the way. I heard from Lilycchi about them placing a new pope. I don't know why, but she seems reluctant about it. ]
Everyone looked at Nana in confusion. And not long after, Tamai suddenly perked up from remembered something too.
[ I also heard from the templar knights something about multiple uproar happens at different part of the capital. ]
[ I heard that too. If I'm right, it's about Ishtar-san not showing up for a week now. The rumours of him dying spreads too even among the Adventurers. ] Noboru added.
[ Then, that explains why they have to place a new pope, but why Lily-chan would be reluctant about it. ]
Everyone fell silent after hearing Taeko's remark. After a few moments, someone spoke...
[ It's starting huh? ] Yuka said with grim expression, and starts biting her thumbnail in frustration.
[ Huh?... What do you mean by that, Sonobe? ] Akito asked.
[ ...The truth was, Shizuku already expected this to happen... ]
That was the case. Multiple problems starts showing up because of Ishtar's absence.
Outside everyone's knowing, Liliana already suggested that she could call out one of her acquaintance and be placed as the new pope before those problems showed up. But the high priests currently on the capital denied her suggestion after hearing who it was. And it was anonymously suggested that the one should be placed was one among under Ishtar when he was still alive.
The church has higher standing even against the Royals, so Liliana can't do anything about it. Probably because of greed, the church takes time from choosing who should be assigned as the new pope. And since the problem was increasing day after day, the high priests gets heated up, and in the end, they then decided that Aiko, the Goddess of Harvest, should choose.
This was still outside Yuka's knowledge, but one thing was certain for her. The enemy they've been preparing for, was starting to move.
[ I need to hurry. ] Yuka said with a grim expression.
Everyone looked at Yuka in confusion.
Sensing everyone's gazes on her, Yuka returns to her senses and smiles reassuringly.
[ We can't do anything about it, so let's just wait for the end result for now. ]
Everyone smiles too from seeing Yuka like that.
[ Well if Yukacchi said that, maybe their's nothing to worry about. ] Nana added and the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
Seeing them like that makes Yuka thankful for having such trustworthy allies. And she suddenly remembered what Shizuku said before she leaves. "they won't lose their trust on you."
Yuka pondered for a few minutes while eating, until she reached to a conclusion. Afterwards, she took a deep breath and looked everyone with a blank expression.
Seeing that makes everyone nervous. That face was what Yuka usually showed when she was about to talk something serious.
[ Anosa, everyone... What are your thoughts about the God of this world? ]
At first, everyone was surprised then after, they all had fallen into a deep thought.
Yuka felt kinda nervous suddenly. This will be the moment of truth, whether they would believe her or not would change on how she should face the approaching danger.
But contrary to what Yuka feels, everyone's answer was, [ [ [ [ [ Nothing, I guess... ] ] ] ] ].
Yuka was dumbfounded on their unconcerned tone. After a few seconds of processing their answer, a warm smile forms naturally on her face.
[ Well other than Ishtar-san's story, we don't really had any connections with that God... Why did you ask that anyway, Yukacchi? ] Nana asked in confusion, as everyone's representative.
[ It's not a big deal. It's just... I don't have to worry when I tell you, that the God of this world is the worst... ] Yuka said absentmindedly while looking at the sky.
It's Tamai and the others' turn now to be dumbfounded. They all looked at Yuka, who for some reason was happy, in confusion.
After a few seconds of recollecting themselves, everyone's reaction was Yuka had expected.
[ "Not a big deal"? What are you saying Yuka-chan? And what do you mean by "the worst"?! ] Taeko asked, bewildered.
[ I know we're the only ones here, but be careful when you say that Yukacchi! ] Nana said in concern.
[ Yeah, they'll brand you heretic, you know! ] Tamai added.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Against everyone's word, Yuka only let out a sigh in sympathy. When she first heard this story from Hajime, she too had the same questions and concerns. It's only natural for them to be confused, and it's her duty to clear that confusion.
[ I know what are the consequences. But, I don't want you guys to be fooled anymore... The true enemy of this world, is Ehito himself. ]
Yuka's hand clenched tightly when she said that, which indicates how serious she was. Nana and Taeko knows Yuka pretty well, and they knew she was telling this out of concern for them, and it's their job as her best friends to remove her burdens, so they decided to hear her out for now.
[ Is that true, Yuka-chan? ]
Yuka didn't said anything and only nodded in confirmation.
Seeing her eyes that was dead serious, Taeko shifted her expression to become. blank too.
[ Does anybody else knows about this? ]
[ ...Shizuku-chan, and maybe Kaori-chan too. ]
"Kaori-chan might know it already though." Yuka thought.
[ Then... why didn't you tell us earlier?... ] Taeko asked with a hint of anger. She knows Yuka has reasons for that too, but she can't help but get angry when her best friend has something hiding to them.
Yuka paused and pondered for an answer. The answer for Taeko's question was simple, but she was anxious that they probably won't accept such reason. But before she could come up with an answer or excuses...
[ ...Where did you heard this anyway, Yukacchi? ] Nana asked her with a serious expression, which rarely shows up that even Yuka was taken aback.
[ ... It's from Nagumo. ] Yuka took a little time to reply from too much tension.
Hearing her source, others starts protesting.
[ Then, when you said you trusted that guy, you'll just believe everything he'll say!? ] Tamai shouted.
[ I don't have the right to say this, cause it might be a true that he saves us... but there's still a reason for him to lie to us, you know! ] Akito protested.
[ Yeah! What if we got branded too as heretic, because of his story! Like he said, he doesn't care about us, so of course he won't protect us against the church! ] Noboru added.
Taeko, who was looking at Yuka with a hint of anger a few moments ago, finally understands. She berated herself for doubting her best friend, when she was only doing her best in concern for everyone.
[ That's why I, we didn't tell any of you. Shizuku-chan knows you'll doubt his story, and we can't blame you for that. And If by any chance, that you all believes to this story, that will put everyone in danger. We're still too weak for whatever it is that we will face if that God decided to stop us. ]
Everyone went silent after Yuka's statement.
After looking at everyone's reaction, Yuka decided to continue.
[ I'm not saying you'll have to believe me. Even me doubt this story when I first heard it... but after considering Lily's words about the reason of this war, or Ishta-san's action at that day, and even our situation right now, explains this story's credibility. We're part of his game, you know? And I don't want that. That's why I'm telling you this, so you all will be excluded from this, but in exchange, it will be far more dangerous from here on out. But if we didn't do anything about it, we might lose our chance to get back home, or worst, die in this world... I know Shizuku-chan knows it too, afterall, she already attempted to open this story to everyone, remember? ]
Everyone's expressions transformed like they had bitten a bitter bug. Hearing this might be more shocking than Hajime's survival. After everything the church said to them, it's only natural to be shocked, cause If the church, or rather, the God was their enemy in the first place, they already lost their only way home.
[ Then. Does Yukacchi, Shizukucchi, Kaoricchi, and Nagumocchi planning to kill this God. ] Nana asked with teary gaze. Her best friend was planning to fight a powerful deity was beyond her imagination.
Seeing that, Yuka shook her head and smiled to reassure her.
[ Nah, we might be opposing that bastard, but we had one goal in mind... And that is to find our way home. ]
Yuka didn't know it, but her face resembles Hajime when he declared the same words at that night. And it was so overwhelming, that it managed to calmed everyone's anger.
[ Then, it's fine. I'm glad to hear you weren't planning something absurd, Yukacchi. ] Nana said with a warm smile.
[ I'm sorry for doubting you there, Yuka-chan... ] Taeko said with apologetic expression.
[ That's fine... It can't be help, right? This shitty God was our only hope to get back home, so I understand what you guys feeling right now. ]
The girls smiles with each other. Such bond were in front of them right now, and it helps to warms up the atmosphere a little.
[ Leaving aside if you're story is true or not. But, did you guys already found a way home? ] Tamai asked. That hopeful expression of his filled everyone with expectations.
To that, Yuka only smiled and answered [ I don't know. ]
Yuka wants to mention the 7 Great Labyrinths, but it might cause desperation to rise up. Hajime too wasn't sure yet, so she can't bet on that.
Everyone froze in shocked from hearing that, but before they could speak whatever it was on their mind, Yuka continues.
[ But that is why we're training right now. That guy is doing his best right now to find a way home. And in order to help him, we too need to get stronger. ]
Hearing that, everyone gets dumbfounded that they all failed to reply. But after a few seconds, smiles starts to form on everyone faces.
[ Sodayo neh. We need to get stronger too somehow, to find our own way home... ]
[ I know right... If we're talking about that guy, he might left us behind once he find his own way home. ]
[ But if we found our own way first, maybe we could get that guy's cooperation. ]
Tamai, Akito, and Noboru talks with a happy tone, but the hint of frustration from being powerless oozes out from their expression.
Seeing them like that, the girls smiles too and Nana's cherful expressions returns and delivers words of encouragement.
[ Yosh, everyone! We have lots of things to catch up if we want to reach our goal! That's why... let's get back to training! ]
[ [ [ [ [ YEAH! ] ] ] ] ]
Everyone finishes their meal and train like a mad man. Later in the morning, they'll looked like corpses lying on the ground from too much exhaustion.
Inside the peaceful forest, Yuka's party were walking cautiously.
Far far more vigilant.
Then why were they walking in full caution, in such peaceful forest? That was because...
[ I-it's too quiet isn't? ] Noboru asked nervously.
His highest affinity was earth, and he's currently spending mana continuously to create a pseudo Sense Presence, by detecting any kind of movements through vibrations. He had watch too much action movies, that he managed to come up with a man powered radar.
The sweat on his face express how nervous he was. He was using this spell since they started at noon and it's almost sundown already. The burden from mana expenditure was weighing his mind and the number of mana potions and pills they had, depleted to limited amount, and still, he found nothing. He didn't know if the monsters or normal animals here were hiding themselves too much that he failed to detect any entity, or was it just, he was still too weak to deal with this. No matter what it was, he removed it to his thought and decided to focus even more.
[ Yeah... There's already 4 of us searching but there's no signs of living creatures anywhere. ] Tamai replied. He was standing and using the tree branches to get a better view of their surrounding.
[ Does monsters have somekind of ecosystem too? If that's the case then, they weren't supposed to hunt each others to extinction. Plus, Meld-san said that, as long as there's mana, monsters spawns naturally. ] Taeko added. Like Tamai, she was using the branches to get a better view of their area. She was using her whip like a grappling hook.
At first, Tamai, Taeko, and Yuka take turns to use wind magic to amplify the sound on their surrounding to save mana. But since nobody finds any and it will be sundown soon the three of them decided to go full throttle.
Akito learned buff spells too, so he has been amplifying everyone's magic to the limit, while using Transferance to Noboru occasionally. Since he's the only one skilled enough to detect the ground movements, nobody was able to lightened that duty from him. Despite the fact that the spell he's using was only basic spell, only those who had earth as their main affinity was able to use it efficiently.
[ ...That just proves that the monster that was reported here doesn't really belong here. ]
[ Then... there's no doubt, that those Demons had something to do with this, right? ]
[ Yeah... If anything, it seems this moster is much more dangerous that we had face so far, if it managed to hide from us. ]
[ ...Shizuku-chan said that, monsters created by Demons sometimes could think on their own. Maybe this thing here too is smart enough to avoid us. ]
[ Then, does that mean... ]
[ Yeah, it's definitely waiting for something. ]
The aspect of a intellectual monster brought shivers to everyone's spine.
[ W-what kind of monster do you think we'll face, Yukacchi? ] Nana asked nervously.
[ Hmm... If it managed to hide from anyone before it attacks, maybe it's flying type? ]
[ But, we didn't see nor detect anything even with three of us combine. ]
[ ...Maybe it's not here anymore. ]
Yuka, Tamai, and Taeko's tone sounds grim. This mysterious monster sounds really dangerous the more they talk about it.
The group continues from searching for a few more minutes.
There, Yuka suddenly let out a sigh, which scared everyone.
[ Y-you suprised me there Yuka-chan. ]
[ What's wrong Yukacchi!? ]
Both Taeko and Nana asked Yuka in concern.
Yuka looks around for a few moments, and her gaze returns to her party members, and came up with a decision.
[ Maybe, that's enough for today. Let's go to the town and rest there for now before it gets darker. ]
Everyone seems dejected from hearing that. But they knew, Yuka was right. Taeko and the others nodded in agreement and they all let out sigh in exhaustion.
The group turns direction and head to the nearby town. It will be a pain if they cross the forest, so they decided to use the carriages path as a walkway.
There, they found multiple carriages partly destroyed. Everyone's faces pales from seeing the blood stains and carnages around them. The fact that it only happened recently weigh everyone's mind even more.
Ahead of there gazes, they saw 4 carriages and tons of escorts around. The crest on the escorts chest plates explains what organization they belong. It's Heiligh Kingdom's crest.
Because of Aiko, the farms here already shows results, even though it wasn't that long since her visit. As expected from someone with a vocation of Farmer. Judging from how many carriages there was, Aiko's efforts really payed off.
Yuka was about to call out for them, but suddenly...
[ It's coming! ] Noboru's voice suddenly rang out.
The rest immediately takes action and ran towards the carriages and takes their position.
At first, the caravans escorts was confused. At first they were warry at Yuka's group, but after recognizing who they was, they unconsciously let their guard down, and now they were confused from their sudden action. Suddenly, the cold feeling on their spines from danger, returns them to their senses, and they too immediately taked action and gets to their postion around the carriages.
The coachmen was confused too, but the feeling of being in danger makes them shiver in fear.
[ Yuka-sama, what's going on? ] One of the soldier near Yuka asked in small voice.
The place was too quiet so everyone hears him without problem.
[ Shh-... Aikawa, can you feel where it is? ]
Yuka silent the soldier and talks Noboru in dreaded tone.
[ I-I don't know, it feels like it's everywhere. At first, I could feel its presence there, but it's gone now, and the same presence suddenly pop up over there, and it's gone now too. ] Noboru talks while pointing at different locations. Juding from his shaking hand, he's definitely scared.
Yuka's gaze turns next Tamai and Taeko. They should have a better view of their surrounding up on the trees so they should had spotted it. But the two only shakes their head left and right slowly, indicating they didn't spotted anything particular.
Yuka grits her teeth in frustration. She takes out multiple disposable knives and starts throwing it at seems like a random places. Her speed was amazing that the caravans escorts found themselves captivated by it.
After throwing everything she takes out, Yuka took a sigh in exhaustion, and pulled something with both hands.
A wire cage suddenly pops up around everyone. It seems Yuka wasn't throwing at random directions, but rather setting this by using the knives she threw on trees.
The soldiers finds themselves honoured, cause they were about to fight alongside a God's Apostles. But despite such unbelievable scenery, Yuka's grim expression didn't vanish.
There's only one thing Yuka had to worry about. She didn't expect that carriages will still use this route, and now she and her party had to protect a large quantity of people, and they had no idea yet what kind of monster they were about to face.
The tension increased every moment. The place was so silent that only the rustling of the leaves could be heard.
And suddenly...
[ From behind! ] Noboru shouted, and without a second thought, fired wind arrows behind him.
The arrows travels as fast as wind, and the fact that he shoots despite the obstacles in front of him tells how much he improved already.
His maximum range was 15 meters, and he could fire 3 arrows per second. Yuka and others had seen this skills already during their team sparring, but it still suprised them how amazing it was.
Everyone's gazes followed where the arrows was heading but... they found nothing except the soldier there, that was too confused to react.
Everyone was confused too for a second, but Yuka alone sense the danger and sends multiple knives at every direction. While she was on it, she draw out her main dagger at her waist in reverse grip, and stabs behind her without hesitation.
[ Ahhg! ] Few of the soldiers on the way back groaned in pain, which brings everyone to their senses.
Everyone looks around and found few black snakes on the ground. It has razor sharp teeth, and the blackness of its skin was like, it could blend in on the shadows.
Looks like while they're distracted, they attacked at their blind spot. Good thing Yuka managed to kill some of them, but she alone wasn't enough to save everyone.
[ Nimura, deploy a barrier on the carriages and heal those who are still alive! ] Yuka shouted, while calling out for all the daggers she sent out.
Akito nodded and deployed multiple shields to form a barrier. Hollowed Ground was still beyond him, but he could atleast deploy decent level shields to protect everyone.
The soldiers was surrounded with yellow coloured shields, and Akito immediately ran at every soldiers that was groaning in pain that managed to survive somehow, and he began handing out healing potions while healing them.
[ Yukacchi what is that!? ] Nana asked in panic.
She was pointing at the snake on Yuka's dagger.
[ This is what we're facing. I can't believe something this small could be this trouble some... Shoganai nah. ] Yuka replied with grim expression and starts throwing her daggers at different location. She knows her wires will be useless here, and it will only obstruct Taeko, Tamai, and Noboru's movements, so she decided to get rid of it.
[ Everyone be ready! They're everywhere! ] Noboru shouted in panic.
Everyone raised their guard immediately. Taeko and Tamai went up to the trees to survey their surrounding. Their complexion pales when they saw how many already died in a span of few seconds. Regardless, they heightened their senses and waits for the enemy to come out.
Yuka and Shizuku already told them, that they should always expect the worst. Regardless of their situation, they must not lose their focus anytime.
But that doesn't mean it didn't weigh their mind. Seeing the amount of casualty, crushed their hearts in guilt. But, they had to focus for now, or else, more will die if they lose focus for even a split second.
Both Tamai and Taeko heightened their senses to the limit, and suddenly, they noticed some movements from the shadows and immediately launched themselves to that direction.
Some of the trees were destroyed from Tamai's Supersonic Step, and Taeko's grapple. But thanks to that, they managed to save the soldiers from multiple snake monsters that suddenly pop up on the shadows.
Tamai covered his twin shamshirs with multiple wind blades and attacks with combination of slashes at high speed. By utilizing his artifacts, he instead covered it with wind blades to sharpened his swords, instead of sending them out like he always do. With this, not only he could save mana, he could also use his speed to land more blows and damage he could.
Judging from how he missed his targets, or on how he makes unnecessary movements, his sword style was still incomplete.
Yuka hadn't taught him Yaegashi Style, but instead taught him basic techniques to use sword efficiently. That explains his seems hysterical fighting style cause he created it himself.
Because of that, some manages to cross through his barrage, and landed attacks on him. If it wasn't for his hand guard, he should had received lethal damages already. Regardless, he still manages to kill 10 black snakes from it and saves everyone behind him.
Tamai endured the pain from his wounds and took out a health potion on his rucksack. While drinking the potion, he caught sight of Taeko on his side.
Taeko also just got finished on her side.
She had became more efficient at fighting with her other whip, while swinging between every trees using her other whip to grapple.
Her training with Noboru paid off here. Because of her reaction time, she manages to kill those that suddenly pop out of nowhere. Adding her fighting style saves her from getting hurt, and those facts makes Tamai frustrated, cause it's obvious how inferior he was compared to her.
[ Sonobe! I guess this monsters' unique magic is that they can hide through shadows. ] Tamai shouted.
[ Yeah! That explains why only Aikawa was the only one able to detect them. Still, don't let your guard down everyone! They can still slip through Aikawa's detection, so he can't protect everyone alone! Hold on by yourselves and wait for my signal!... ] Yuka talks not only to her party, but to everyone else.
With that, everyone that has been healed to a certain degree stands up and starts fighting too. They were fighting behind the sheilds so they can react somehow before the monster gets close, but that doesn't mean, they can do it by themselves.
A part of the sheild broke and dozens of monsters swarmed in, but before they could harm someone...
[ Ahhhhhh! ] Tamai leaps in with a battle cry and chops everything in a beat. He's getting a hang of it now, slowly but surely... but at that moment.
[ Hyaahh! ] One of the soldiers behind Tamai screams in panic.
He immediately turns around and found a soldier swinging his sword like a madman.
Tamai didn't dare to let his guard down. The sheild was already repaired by Akito, but that doesn't mean, there's no more lingering around.
Although he only turns his gaze for a split second, death immediately hops in behind his back...
Feeling the cold feeling on his spine, Tamai turns around, and found 3 snakes in front of his face. They were so close that if he just leans a little forward, he could have his first kiss with them. Kiss of death though.
But at that timing.
psew* *psew*
The three snakes was takes away from his face, with two arrows that suddenly flies in.
Tamai looks around , and found no one. After that, a smile formed at his face and leaps back to the trees with a determined expression. He's getting more and more left behind, but instead of frustration like earlier, that gave him a push to catch up on them. If he don't want to remain weak, he can't lament by himself on being weak.
Noboru has been moving around guiding and eliminating monsters continuesly. He had already killed countless of them, but that doesn't mean his shot always finds his target.
[ AGHHH! ] One of soldier groaned after getting his throat bitten off.
[ Tch. ] Noboru clicks his tongue in frustration. Multiple casualty already happened cause he sometimes missed or failed to detect the enemies.
Taeko and Tamai was assisting either sides of carriages, while on the front was defended by Yuka.
Noboru wasn't sure what Yuka's planning, but he could heard Nana chanting for a while now.
He can't ask Yuka's plan, cause like him she had her hands occupied defending Nana and everyone else on the front, alone. Asking her to explain everything would be troublesome.
But the fact that she can defend the front alone while giving brief instructions, even though, Tamai, Taeko, Akito and himself were already having a hard time defending, makes him amazed and inspired to push himself through the limits.
Noboru covers himself with wind magic and starts moving much faster than before.
He began killing, detecting, and giving directions more efficiently.
He's spending too much mana from sensing his enemies, while hiding his own. Adding the fact that his artifact consumes mana and the wind magic he just casted, depletes his mana in tremendous rate. But that won't be a problem since he still has mana pills in reserve with him.
But that method won't keep up forever...
[ Shit!! ]
The snake that leaps out of nowhere behind Noboru was blocked with his own arm. He was thankful he avoided receiving lethal damage, but it was still painful...
[ Aghh! Get away from me! I call for thee, Rock Wall! ]
Noboru lifted himself high with Rock Wall to avoid any follow up, and immediately removes the snake before it gouged out his arm. The wound from that was so painful that it makes him wanna cry already.
[ Ahh, shit! If only I could see them much clearer! ] Noboru shouted while drinking health potions while applying bandages on his arm.
He already escaped multiple times from instant death since the beginning. His Presence Manipulation wasn't perfect yet, if they managed to detect him. Adding the fact that he can't use Foresight, since he can't predict what he can't see, makes him frustrated. And that led him to...
[ Don't you dare mess with me, you shityy GOD!! ] Noboru shouted to the heavens in frustration.
He didn't mean to say it out loud. Good thing, the soldiers was too destructed to hear his words.
At that moment, his pupils turns white, and a calm sensation starts flowing through his entire body.
(TN: Yeah, the reference is Byakugan... sorry about that.)
Noboru's pupils becomes white with black outline around it. His rough breathing earlier became stable, and he can sense and see everyone and everything from his current position.
He was shocked for a few seconds on what he's seeing right now, but multiple battle cry suddenly resounded, which brings him to his senses.
He took a deep breath, and leap to the air while drawing his bow with calm expression. The pain and exhausted feeling had vanished from his mind, and all he desires now... was to hunt.
On the ground, Akito had just finished healing everyone. And now he was focusing on assisting them. He can't be at any use here, cause he was more or less a support type.
That's why he can't see nor detect countless of enemies under their nose right now. But an opportunity landed on his front right away.
Countless arrows rain down, and stabs on the ground. After a few seconds, the shadow distorts and countless snake monsters' figure suddenly pops out.
Akito was too confused to ask what happen, until Noboru suddenly landed in front of him.
Akito knows it was him who shoots those arrows, but that fact that he shots through those bundles of leaves, which blocks their vision, and what's more, he just killed these monsters before it pops out at its hiding place, makes him too dumbfounded.
[ ...Hey, are you listening Akito!? ]
[ Huh?! ]
Noboru shouted in anger, which brings Akito to his senses.
It seems Noboru was talking to him and he was too confused to listen.
[ I said, cast Mirror Trance to me! ]
[ O-oh, right. Mirror Trance... ]
Akito lifted his orb artifact and casted his spell he reserves absentmindedly. He knows he can't use Noboru's spell since his affinity for earth magic was too low, but he casted the spell in panic and failed to ask for the details.
[ ...Follow my lead, okay!? ] Noboru shouted
[ W-wait! What did you just say just now?! I didn't hear it at all! ]
It seems Noboru was telling him the components of his spell, and he still fails to hear it.
Noboru face palms and sighed in annoyance. He was still shooting non-stop so he can't remove his gaze in front of him, but he knows Akito was confused.
Noboru understands that, because if he was in Akito's position, and saw what he just did, he too will be confused.
He will question that man's sanity and ask him "How did you it?" or "Why didn't you use it earlier!?". Afterall, dozens of lives already wasted and he just brings out this skill.
They're friends for who knows how long already, but the bond between them wasn't so deep to understand each other in just a heart beat.
[ I understand how you feel, but you have to focus, you know? ] Noboru said with sad tone.
Hearing the grief behind his voice, Akito's eyes widens in suprised. After a few seconds of recollecting his thoughts and emotions, *slap* he slapped both his cheeks, and then a serious expression formed up.
[ I'm fine now! Tell me your plans, Noboru! ] Akito shouted in high spirits.
[ Dewa... ]
Noboru smiles and starts discussing his plan to Akito.
The content was about their next actions and the spell called Predator, which allows the user to see through everything to find their prey wherever they hide.
Akito nodded in understanding and holds up her orb artifact in front him. The trust between them deepens and he can't afford to have a second thought.
[ Don't fall behind okay! Predator! ] Noboru shouted. He then starts covering his body with wind spell while sending mana through his legs and starts moving around in high speed.
Since he wasn't desperately casting his pseudo Sense Presence, he can focus more his magic on other spells and body strengthening.
Seeing that, Akito smiles and shouted [ Mimic-Predator! ]
Since Predator was technically a body strengthening, Akito could use it himself, along with the illusions of Noboru. And for the first time in ever, he can see through around him.
His surroundings lost its color and everything turns black. The only way for him and Noboru to designate everything was the white outline of every objects around them.
He starts looking around, and he could see every entity around them. It reminds him of heat vision, but what's better was, he could track everyone's path.
After looking around, familiarising himself with it, he pales on what he saw.
The number of enemies around them looming around, reaches thousands.
At first, he was about to call out for Yuka to tell about this, but after weighing what will it cause if he just suddenly said such despairing fact, he decided not to.
Maybe, Noboru realised that too. Since the escorts were now fighting with all their might, notifying them that their's no end to this, would cause their morale to plummet.
Akito wipes out the beads of sweat from his forehead, and starts going with Noboru's suggestion, and that was to support Tamai, Taeko and everyone else around him with Noboru's illusions.
Out of everyone else, only Noboru's bow was the only Artifact, Akito could use. Using it, and giving it a physical form only requires mana, so it wasn't an issue even though the one that was using it was only illusions. He was really thankful from discovering it on their team sparring.
The fight proceed much smoother. The escorts smiles, from slowly adopting to the situation. That was also thanks to the support from the God's Apostles. But for some reason, Yuka's party was wearing a grim expression.
Without the escorts noticing, Noboru informed Yuka and the others about the wave of monsters around them.
They had been keeping this from the escorts to avoid them from panicking, which may lead to more casualty. If they continue at this pace, the number of snake monsters around them would be gone in no time, and there will be no more death among the escorts.
But as expected from the monsters created by those Demons, it seems they noticed their numbers slowly getting chipped away. And there's only one way to avoid a stalemate at this situation. (TN:Monsters' don't know chess, but I can't think of any words cooler than this.)
[ Sonobe! They all coming here! ] Noboru's voice resounded inside the forest.
Countless footsteps resounded and everyone was now standing around Yuka and Nana.
The soldiers seems confused, but Taeko, Tamai, and Akito were wearing a grim expression. Other than the 2, Akito tells everyone to gather around Yuka and abandoned the harvest to get in the safety.
Since they're the God's Apostles, the soldiers obeys without question. But judging from their expression, the horror hiding around them, that they didn't notice until now, makes them yield unconsciously. Their expression that was in high spirits a few seconds ago, loses its complexion, their hand that was holding on their swords and sheilds limply lay low and everyone resigned to their fate.
[ Don't worry, I was only waiting for them to do that. Am I right Nana-chan? ] Yuka turns around and found Nana looking at her with a big smile.
[ You got it Yukacchi! ] Nana replied excitedly.
Yuka smiles fearlessly, and gave her order...
[ Everyone, be ready!... When I gave the signal, attack everything with all you got, okay?! ]
The soldiers looked at Yuka in confusion. But the rest of the God's Apostles gathered around them and starts taking their own position.
The determination on their expression, somewhat brings fire to their dying spirits, and they all starts spreading out and readied their weapons with the intent to die.
The ground rumbles so hard that even without Noboru's spell, they could feel the presence of countless enemies around them. They all push down the fear they felt, and brace themselves for the incoming danger.
[ Everyone, bear with it, okay? ] Yuka said with a warm smile.
Which confused everyone.
[ Nana-chan, NOW! ] Yuka's voice echoed through the entire forest.
[ Absolute Zero! ] Nana raised her wand while shouting with everything she got.
Starting from Nana's position, everything around them, at the range of 10 meters in diameter, was covered in ice instantly.
Absolute Zero was a spell Nana invented during rear guard study session. It was still a prototype, so chanting it takes time.
It will freeze everything instantly with the caster as the only exception. That also includes her own ally, but before they froze to death...
[ Release! ] Nana shouted and claps her hands once loudly.
The ice that was covering everyone crumbles instantly. And Yuka immediately casted basic fire magic to warm everyone.
[ [ SONOBE, LOTS OF THEM SURVIVES! ] ] Noboru and Akito shouted in unison. They don't have any time to question what Nana just did.
Nana's spell wasn't perfect yet, that only a quarter of her range was its maximum AoE. What's left could be countered by someone with enough magic defense and avoided getting frozen to death.
Hearing that, Yuka gave his final order with a fearless smile.
[ I know... EVERYONE, ATTACK! ]
After that, the soldiers around Yuka starts rushing with no particular direction. They had no idea where the enemy was, regardless, that shout makes them move unconsciously.
But that won't be a problem...
Yuka kneels and holds the ice below her, and her earrings starts glowing brilliantly.
[ I call for thee, Light! ]
Yuka casted a basic light spell with all her mana, and by using the crystal clear ice around them... the forest shines like a new moon was born. It was already night time, so on outside perspective, a moon really materialize on the ground.
The soldiers was blinded for a few seconds, but they managed to adopt to it immediately. Everyone could see now how many enemies were surrounding them, that it could form a wall of flesh by themselves if it wanted to. Regardless, the light from the ice stunned them for a few seconds, which was all everyone needed to land the finishing blow by themselves.
[ ... To my enemy in from of me, I call for thee, Blizzard! ] Nana casted intermediate spell, which was the signal for everyone to start eliminating every monsters around them.
Countless ice need materialize around Nana and launched on every direction.
Taeko and Tamai joins in and starts shredding the pile of monsters spasming on the ground.
For some reason though, Taeko's sadistic smile came back. Seeing that it's their win already, brings her mind at ease and she can now freely do whatever she likes.
Akito joins in by casting Mirror Trance on Nana and starts raining down ice needles to every direction.
Him and Nana mana pours out their entire mana in stock, even the reserves on their mana tank, for raining down spells. They were pouring out their anger for all the people who lost their lives, by massacring what causes them to die.
Noboru alone was killing those that was trying to escape or those that was still trying to attack anyone by utilizing Predator. But because of the countless ice needles raining down, he was desperately getting outside of its range while moving around with a pale complexion.
On the center, Yuka let out a sigh of relief and exhaustion, and continue pouring out more mana to her spell.
After a minute of slaughtering, the soldiers sits down and laughed weakly in amazement.
These soldiers were left by Meld when they exterminate those bandits few weeks ago. They were also tasked to escort the caravan containing the harvest from that town, once its ready. But while they were staying on that town, they of course heard about the multiple incidents that happened inside the forest. Having no clue what it was that was attacking those carriages, they all decided to leave the town as soon as the harvest was loaded. The unknown attacker might attack anytime anyways, so they all depart regardless of the time. All of them already resigned to their fate afterall. Nobody knows if it's fortune or something else, that they managed to encounter the God's Apostles half way through the forest, but one thing was certain, life really was full of surprises.
Yuka's party gathered around the carriages and starts healing everyone with apologetic expression.
The soldiers took that as opportunity and thanked them all wholeheartedly. But Yuka and the others can't even meet their eyes, not when there's numerous lives that was wasted. But the soldiers reassured them, by telling them that "It's their duty." or "It's an honor to die fighting.", which somehow helps to light up their guilt.
Yuka sighed in exhaustion and starts talking to the everyone.
[ For now, let's head back to the Capital and gets some help. Leave the harvest in ice for now. ]
Everyone looked at Yuka in confusion.
[ W-why is that Yukacchi? ] Nana asked in confusion. She stuttered for a second there, cause for some reason, Yuka was looking at her with a warm smile.
[ Well, you forgot to unfreeze the horses, and now they're dead. So let's head back for now and leave everything on ice so they won't rot. ]
[ Ah... ] Nana was about to protest, but she knows Yuka was right.
Nobody can blame her, because they too forgotten, cause of everything that was happening at that moment. They all looked at Nana with a warm gaze, which makes her pretty embarrassed from everyone's gazes.
Nana starts skating through the ice and got in distance ahead of everyone else, cause of too much embarrassment. She seems talented on this, which makes Noboru, Akito, and Tamai surprised, while Yuka and Taeko looked at her in nostalgia.
The students and the soldiers starts copying her, but without a proper equipment for it, Yuka and the others can't skate properly.
Not long after, they all reached the outside skirt of the forest. It's still dark, so everyone took a rest and relieved themselves from wholeday exhaustion.
Early in the morning, Yuka's party departed with their personal horses, to request for some help from Liliana.
At first, Taeko suggested to use their horses as substitute, but the soldiers denied that. They needed an extra carriage to carry all of their dead comrades back to the capital. Of course the soldiers didn't tell her that, cause it might bring back the guilt to everyone.
Yuka alone understands that, and she too creates an excuse to head back to Capital by themselves without opening that topic.
Everyone was still too naive at that part, and Yuka wants to keep her friends away from it as much as possible. They'll learn it eventually though, so that was futile considerations.
With that in mind, Yuka and the others returns to the Capital and reported their findings on Liliana and Aiko.
The two somewhat relieved for the same reasons. That was, that Yuka's party survives, and the dilemma on that forest has been solved.
With Liliana's approval of the quest, and recommendations, the Adventurer's Guild earns more Blank Ranker in no time.
