Winter's End. (1)
The Altar's forces, retreating from the barrier without any gains, were surprisingly calm. Al Ross, staying in their sanctuary, found it peculiar.
No, the entire ecosystem of this sanctuary was bizarre.
"This sanctuary is divided into quite a few facilities, isn't it?"
Walking down a dark corridor, Al Ross asked one of the low-ranking priests he'd grown close to lately. The priest glanced at him and replied.
"Dormitories, a school, a cafeteria, and a training ground for battle priests. We've lived here for decades."
"In this darkness?"
"Yes. But soon, we won't need to. When the god manifests, He will punish the continent's godslayers and live with us in a new, pure world."
They harbored a very strange faith.
Their view of history and the world was utterly different from the continent's.
"Godslayers."
"That's right. In the distant past, the people of this continent murdered God and built their nation. An unforgivable sin."
Continentals—more precisely, their ancestors—had killed God. Thus, all their descendants were godslayers.
In contrast, the "Altar" were the apostles of justice who worshipped a god already dead, the only religion permitted on this continent.
Their mission on earth was to resurrect the god, who, upon manifesting, would bring punishment to the continent...
Or so they claimed.
"The barrier held firm, so what now?"
Their plan had been to shatter the barrier with the vanguard, then block escape routes as the southern hordes arrived, annihilating all of Recor Dak.
But Deculein had displayed might befitting his confidence, forcing the vanguard to retreat just ten minutes after deployment—a laughably pathetic outcome.
"......"
The priest didn't respond. Clearly more tight-lipped than the grunts.
Creak—
The priest opened a door in the corridor.
"This is your workshop. Go in."
Al Ross scanned the interior.
Top-grade mana stones, chisels, thread and needles, awls, saws—everything needed for doll-making was stocked.
"Doesn't seem like anything's missing."
"Of course not. But first."
The priest gathered demonic energy in his palm, then scanned Al Ross up and down with a humming whirr like an inspection.
"......No extra mana stones or devices on you. Enter."
Al Ross nodded and stepped inside. Once the door closed, he pulled a tiny electronic device from his pocket.
"Will the work be smooth?"
"I can make several fine dolls."
"Knew it. Good luck, savage. Your cooperation will be rewarded with survival later."
"......Survival?"
"Yes. I'll be off. The elder will bring detailed specs."
Creak—
The door shut again, and the priest left.
Al Ross tapped the device: tap—tap—tap— sending a message.
Morse code.
Here, his actions, words, and behavior would all be monitored, so he used this other encryption method he'd developed...
I received Al Ross's code.
Not great intel. All stuff I already knew.
"......Guess I have to hope he digs deeper."
Muttering, I looked ahead.
The barrier loomed before me—the right side, battered by countless beasts, on the verge of collapse.
It looked like it didn't have much time left, already dented...
I placed my hand on the wall and closed my eyes.
Activating Understanding to commune with it.
My talents: fire and earth. Combined, they forge metal.
Of course, my Metal Reinforcement wasn't complete yet, but this understanding was the prerequisite.
Even if completed, mana shortage could be an issue.
─......I won!
A voice rang out. I turned. Julie and Rafel.
─We finally won!
Julie shouted triumphantly, as if victorious in sparring.
I hadn't watched closely, but beating Rafel meant serious growth. She used to lose every time.
—Finally! Finally!
"......That good, huh."
I chuckled softly.
Listening to her chant finally—finally—, I finished Understanding and climbed the barrier.
Over half my mana spent on Understanding. Satisfactory.
"Boss, you're here."
Ruina, on night watch in my stead, smiled brightly. I nodded and sat.
Today's end was near.
"......It's been peaceful lately. Chomp chomp—"
On the barrier, Ifrin muttered while eating.
Not much on the menu: a few meat chunks and a bowl of porridge on her tray.
"Chomp chomp—chomp chomp—"
She chewed like gum. How many minutes on one piece?
"A storm's coming. Prepare."
The peace was simple: lesser beasts fled the area, cowed by the impending hordes' aura.
"Understood."
Vice Director Premien replied. Still in Recor Dak, portable heater strapped on.
─......Hah! Hiyaaah!
A kiai echoed from below.
I peered down.
Clang—clang clang—!
Syrio and Julie sparred.
Swords clashed, sparks flying; Julie's movements between blades more fluid than ever.
Boom—!
Julie's swing. But a mace-like burst.
─Whoa!
Syrio blocked the sudden strike, yelped, and leaped back.
─Oh? Julie. You've improved a ton! What was that?
─......
Julie straightened her sword silently. Syrio grinned.
—What was it, I said?
—"Transformation. You've exploited my patterns till now, but no more."
—"Ooh......"
Julie's skill had sharpened markedly. Thanks to my advice, naturally.
The other knights thought so too.
Evidence: Rafel and Gwen hovering nearby, pretending nonchalance.
"You lost to Julie."
Rafel and Gwen flinched. Lips twitching, they coughed ahem in unison.
"Not lost, exactly......a momentary lapse. Right, Rafel? Julie's sword got a bit messy suddenly?"
"Indeed."
I turned a page silently.
The book: still History of the Imperial Family. Might look like filler reading, but this enchanted tome held 500,000 pages.
The empire as kingdom, kingdom as tribes—all history's essence, the book of books.
"......Could you analyze us too?"
Gwen finally got to the point. I glanced up sideways.
"No......we might've misjudged. It helps. You have an eye for it......"
"Agreed."
Rafel chimed in.
"I'll consider it."
Gwen's eyes widened.
"Consider? Why?"
"Depends on this mission's results. Survive first, kill as many as you can."
That was all. Rafel and Gwen seemed to accept it.
"Fair......winning comes first."
Whoosh—
Cool breeze. Rafel descended; Gwen approached Drent, sketching a magic circle on paper.
"......"
I set the book aside, surveying Recor Dak.
—Here, firewood chopped.
Residents' cart of forest-felled logs. Polymer mages fused wood and steel into arrows.
—And snacks. Eat while you work. Heh heh.
Somehow procured candy for mages, who accepted eagerly—sweets were rare.
—Sending up arrows.
Finished arrows rose to the barrier, alongside oil buckets, metal grenades—siege gear stocked.
"Professor. We'll need lots of oil. Tested it: fire-element magic triples potency."
"You always state the obvious like a revelation."
"......Pardon?"
As Ifrin chattered.
Thud—!
A massive quake.
Everyone atop and behind the barrier froze.
Thud—!
I rose. Signaled Delik.
He nodded, addressed those below.
"All except knights and mages, return."
Signal of impending battle. Residents hurried to shelters.
"......What is it, Professor?"
Ifrin approached.
Beyond the horizon, fog-shrouded legions. One standout.
"A gunship."
"......Pardon?"
Gunship.
A ship with cannons—literally.
Turtle-like beast, 4m tall. Organic cannons on its shell fired demonic energy shells.
One of Altar's chimeras.
Thud—!
Thud—!
Earth-shaking approach. In range, it turned, aiming.
Whoooosh......
Staring at the gathering demonic energy and gale, I murmured.
"Battle stations."
Battle stations—!
My voice echoed via knights, amplifying across the barrier, rousing all.
Kwaaaang—!
Demonic shell incoming.
Target: barrier's right flank.
The weakest, already dented spot.
Kwaaaaang—!
Demonic bomb direct hit.
One blast scarred the sturdy barrier.
"......Ah."
Delik gaped at the crack.
Small for now, but...
Thud—!
Second barrage spiderwebbed it. Crack, crack— echoing in his ears.
Delik feared the barrier's fall.
Thud—!
Third shell.
Barrage assault.
Delik and knights briefly considered flight, but dismissed it.
More than collapse or beast-mauling, Deculein atop the wall terrified them twice over.
Die fighting, family lives; flee, you live but they die.
......No.
Deculein would hunt and kill deserters too.
"......What are you doing! Sir Delik!"
Julie snapped them alert. Delik turned, startled.
Deculein stood beside her.
Delik and knights bowed, forgetting the crisis.
"Y-You've arrived."
"Quite relaxed."
"No. This barrier—"
Deculein approached, eyeing it. With support mage Ihelm.
Thud—!
Fourth blast. Debris hissed down—collapse imminent.
Tsk— Ihelm clicked his tongue.
"Can't save this. Unless Roserio shows."
Delik piled on.
"......Y-Yes. It's crumbling, Professor. We need a plan—"
"Plan's in place."
Untested, but.
Deculein omitted that.
Thud—!
Fifth. Ihelm's face grew grave.
"Where's it firing from?"
"Sent Ganesha."
No one outdid Ganesha in scouts or mobility. With Lia and Leo, success certain.
"I'll go too!"
Blocked Julie mid-step.
She froze.
"Don't overreach. A sickly wretch like you is useless. Turns cripple in demonic energy. Planning to be baggage?"
"......"
Demonic beast firing shells. Gut it, massive explosion.
"Know your place. Scram."
Harsh words startled Delik and Ihelm. Spreading fog-mist demonic energy enraged Deculein.
"......Yes."
Julie stepped aside, climbed wall. Deculein touched barrier.
Eyes closed, Ihelm asked.
"......That do anything?"
"......"
Silent.
Kwaaaang—!
Sixth. Barrier crumbling; top nearly gone.
Yet Deculein remained.
Calm, leisurely, eyes shut, communing with the wall.
—!
Seventh.
Section breached. Delik and knights retreated—then.
Deculein's murmur.
"......Verification."
Prove in reality.
Wood-steel met barrier.
He enacted a protocol on adhered steel.
Metal Reinforcement.
Reinforce entire barrier, restore dents—archmage-level.
99% proficiency, uncompleted but potent.
Whoooosh......
Road dust swirled in his mana.
—!
Eighth amid chaos.
Hordes advanced. Endless waves beyond.
"......"
Deculein opened eyes. Prepped body viewing wood-steel.
Circulated mana wildly, activating inscribed magic circuits.
Resonant metallic glow.
Mana's aura form.
400,000 mana expended for the spell's completion...
Metal Reinforcement Complete
Satisfactory for Deculein.
Shiiiine......
Dazzling light from barrier and wood-steel.