Sione's Crushing Might
The sight of another highest erosion beast crumbling away caught Ludenberg and Ashytara's eyes once more.
"As expected of big sis."
"Yeah."
The massive hammer smashing the upper body of the highest erosion beast in a single, exhilarating swing was beyond mere description as "exhilarating." Just watching it sent a refreshing thrill surging from their toes upward.
"Even I'm feeling refreshed watching that. Those damn things."
Ashytara especially stared intently, determined not to miss a single moment of the highest erosion beast getting pulverized in Sione's hands—as if merely seeing it brought her satisfaction. It stemmed from the rage she still harbored over the injuries and deaths among Solemnute's people during the recent festival. On top of that, she'd just reconciled with Ludenberg and was enjoying the festivities in high spirits when those memories were shattered. Naturally, she felt like thanking Sione profusely for smashing that highest erosion beast to pieces right now.
"Whoa, that's insane. I absolutely can't doze off in Professor Sione's class anymore..."
Students processing erosion beasts here and there while witnessing Sione's refreshing hammer strikes began to wear expressions of both relief and unease. Only now did it dawn on them: beyond her status as crown princess, her martial prowess was terrifying. A few students who had grown lax under Sione's gentle demeanor as a professor suddenly snapped to attention.
"I-I... dozed off in Solem theology recently. I'm okay, right...?"
"You might not be."
Ludenberg and Ashytara exchanged subtle smiles upon overhearing the ominous mutterings from nearby students. They knew better—Sione wasn't the type to get angry over something so trivial.
And from another direction came fervent reactions.
"Come to think of it, that incredible crown princess of Solemnute is His Majesty's granddaughter from Ortara, right? No wonder. It makes sense she'd be strong—Ortara blood can't be weak."
"Princess Itara truly raised an amazing daughter."
It was the Ortara students, unable to hide their awe at Sione's overwhelming display of power, sending gazes filled with reverence.
Ludenberg couldn't quite grasp why they were so enthralled by Sione's appearance, but Ashytara explained.
"My mother was highly respected in Ortara too, from what I've heard. They say no one could match her benevolence, and she valued every person so deeply that no one dared treat her lightly."
So, the Ortara students, raised on tales of her, must have felt an innate closeness to Sione—and seeing such a figure unleash this magnificent prowess naturally filled their eyes with awe, or so Ashytara figured.
"I see."
Hearing that, Ludenberg suddenly understood why Ashytara had faced such treatment from maids and servants in her childhood. It was because Empress Itara commanded respect even across generations, down to these students. Of course, that didn't make the neglect Ashytara endured any more acceptable.
The thought nagged at him, so Ludenberg grabbed Ashytara's arm.
"Huh?"
"Area's secure now, so rest up a bit. You must be tired. Especially after applying Flowing Water."
"You don't have to worry that much."
"Those weren't shallow scratches. Pushing yourself more could reopen them, and Flowing Water isn't a miracle cure."
"...Yeah. Thanks."
Ashytara beamed at Ludenberg's concern.
Meanwhile, Delaban's lord, Gould, who had just wrapped up the fierce battle, surveyed the surroundings.
"Ha... "
A mix of surging relief and sheer disbelief crossed his face. He'd been convinced today was Delaban's last, only to be stunned by this massive reinforcements' arrival.
"I heard reinforcements were coming, but... not like this."
"Truly, truly fortunate. If this weren't a friendly exchange, it would've been disastrous."
Gould's wife, Jenia, let out a sigh of relief.
"Indeed. The city's destruction is regrettable, but to escape with just this... We must express our deepest gratitude to Solemnute's people."
"First things first—we should host them as best we can."
"Naturally. Not just them, but Ortara's warriors and students too. Without them, who knows what fate would've befallen Delaban..."
As Gould and Jenia spoke, Ortara's warriors successfully dispatched the last remaining highest erosion beast. At last, the Salvation Cult remnants and erosion beasts that had assaulted Delaban were utterly crushed.
The executives who had swiftly fled using Karema's saint law right after unleashing the erosion beasts rejoiced at the sight of the barren wasteland before them. Karema, his face visibly drained from maniacally channeling saint law, glanced at the others.
"Now... we're good, right?"
"Any pursuit?"
"Doesn't seem like it. Good call releasing those highest erosion beasts. Without them, we wouldn't have bought enough time to escape."
As Jepita said, the allied forces appeared to have abandoned the chase.
"...It's too quiet. Why aren't they pursuing?"
"They probably saw no need to risk it. We've suffered massive losses all around, but we gathered enough vessels, so maybe we can call the objective achieved..."
"If you want to nitpick, it's a failure. We didn't even collect enough vessels. Considering the original goal, we got exposed too soon. Impatience led to this."
"Tch. I did my part."
Daneb shot back at Karema's grumbling, insisting she bore no fault. And she wasn't entirely wrong—she'd given her all to her role. Karema knew it too, so he held his tongue.
"Can't deny that. It was our shortfall."
Hector nodded in agreement.
"Good, you get it. Hey, Karema—you holding up?"
"Damn it. I'm dying here. Divine power's leaking out like crazy. This is hell. Curse Solemnute. Curse Ortara. Damn them all."
"Hang in there a bit longer. We're nearing the erosion zone's edge—soon we can drop the saint law."
Karema nodded at Hector's words. Sweat poured from him nonstop; only he could manage an subspace holding over 200 people.
"Still, lucky break. We finished the brainwashing before they swarmed us. Tch, too bad we sacrificed those Ortara cultists."
"Cultists aside, we lost a ton of erosion beasts too."
"...Well, erosion beasts can be remade. Maybe craft some decent ones from the failed vessels."
"That's assuming candidates are set."
"Anyway, let's move. Ha, I never want to come back to this country. Gonna rest up at the cult for a while."
"There'll be penalties for mission failure. Your wish might not come true."
"Ah, damn. But... half-success, right?"
"We call that a failure."
"Screw it."
Hector's retort made Daneb's face sour as she dreamed of easy rest.
"I don't even know how to thank you."
"Ortara is like a second home to me. It's my mother's homeland, after all."
The people of Solemnute and Ortara's allied forces brushed off Lord Gould's words with easy smiles. Ortara's folk especially couldn't help smiling at Sione's response. Who wouldn't like someone so powerful treating them with such respect?
"Our thanks for Solemnute's kindness. Surely we must host you properly for coming all this way."
Gould expressed gratitude while making his desire to reciprocate clear. But Sione and the Solemnute group shook their heads.
"No. The city's just been devastated—focus on recovery. We'll manage. With the friendly exchange approaching, we need to head back soon anyway. We can't burden you further."
"...Thank you for your consideration."
"What about the children...?"
"Too late, it seems. We raided every suspected Salvation Cult hideout, but not a trace."
Ortara's intelligence chief, Elan, spoke up after briefing the situation. At his words that the children couldn't be found, the faint smiles around faded.
Delaban's crisis was averted, but the kidnapped children remained unrescued.
"Shall we form a pursuit team?"
Sione shook her head at Professor Rohan's quiet question.
"No. Chasing them risks the team. It's regrettable, but unavoidable. If they took the children, we should've abandoned Delaban. With three highest erosion beasts unleashed, it was the only choice. And... this is Ortara territory. We can't overstep further."
"...Understood."
Sione bit her lip as she spoke, while Rohan couldn't hide his bitterness. Ortara's warriors mirrored their darkened expressions. Intelligence chief Elan especially couldn't lift his head. His department had tracked them, only to get distracted by the massive erosion beasts—losing them meant he had no defense if demoted.
He wanted desperately to rescue the children, but had no means. Elan told Sione their aid was grace enough.
"You've done more than enough. Please don't trouble yourself. The fault lies with us. My apologies."
"I know it's unavoidable. Just... regrettable."
"..."
Sione's low words brought silence. The warm atmosphere soured in an instant.
"...Let's head back."
Sione broke the uncomfortable quiet first. Lingering here served no purpose. Ortara's warriors and students nodded. What remained was for higher-ups to decide.
"Agreed."
"Professor Rohan."
Sione confirmed their consensus, then called out.
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Do you have enough left for Wind Path?"
"This, you mean."
"Proceed."
In the end, chewing on that unresolved bitterness, they had no choice but to return to Ortara National School.
En route, Sione murmured as she surrendered to the Wind Path.
"Why kidnap children, of all things? They targeted sturdy warriors and knights for humanoid erosion beasts before. Why...?"
The cult had some purpose. But with no way to know it, Sione shuddered at the chill creeping up her spine.