Hey! That’s a Support Gap! (2)
Ever since I met "Vernel," the older sister who serves as the 1st Legion Commander for Diablo, I, "Ivenie"—the 2nd Legion Commander—had been in a foul mood. Just replaying the events from a moment ago made my blood boil even more.
Five minutes ago.
I was waiting for Vernel in the briefing tent where the commanders gather before rotating shifts, when a noisy commotion began to reach my ears. It seemed the 1st Legion’s return was causing quite a stir.
Sigh... Should I go give her a warm welcome?
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
As I stepped out of the tent, my eyes were met with the sight of the 1st Legion troops. Many were sporting various injuries, their faces painted with the unmistakable look of defeat as they swapped positions with my 2nd Legion.
???
What on earth happened?
Why do the 1st Legion kids look like that?
What... what is this?
And more importantly... where is... where is my sister?
As I scanned the crowd, looking everywhere, I finally spotted her. She was returning in the middle of the shifting troops, her expression somber, cold sweat beading on her forehead, her shoulders slumped low.
Usually, our routine would go like this:
"Sister! I heard you barely managed to hold the front line today~?"
"...Are you teasing me?"
"Hehe, maybe~ Sister, you're the best!"
"Ha... it’s not going as well as I thought..."
"You'll do better next time. You're the best, Sister!"
"Yeah... thanks."
It was supposed to be a scene of a happy, bickering family... but no matter how I looked at it, that wasn't the picture today.
"U-um, Sister? A-are you okay?"
"..."
The face of the sister who approached the tent... she looked so exhausted, as if she’d been fighting the Heavenly race for an entire day without rest. It was a sight so pathetic it made me feel drained just looking at her.
"Sister... what on earth happened? Why do you look like this...? Huh? Where did the always confident and dignified sister I know go! Tell me!"
"...Ivenie..."
Her voice sounded as weary as her appearance.
"Yes, Sister."
"Do you remember... the human male we saw yesterday?"
The words that tumbled out of her mouth were completely unexpected.
?
What?
Why is that insignificant human male coming out of my sister's mouth?
"...It’s only been a day. I’m not such a fool that I’d forget him, Sister."
How could I forget him?
He landed from the sky with those... bizarre movements... and dared... dared!!!
He buttered up Mother right in front of our eyes!!!
We’re daughters who are still agonizing over how to get Mother’s attention and love... and he just did it naturally, even leaving a lasting impression on her! That damn, unlucky, incubus-like human male...!!!
How could I forget him!
Wait... is that man the culprit who left my sister in such a mess?
His first impression was that of a useless human male...
Does he actually have some hidden talent for causing trouble?
...
No.
A man couldn't possibly do something like that.
Is it those arrogant, unlucky human women again?
Which one is it!?
I won't let them get away with this.
Grind...
As I gnashed my teeth, my sister approached me. Just as I was contemplating how to "cook" those human women the next time I saw them, Vernel sighed and gave me an answer I found hard to accept.
"...Haa... Ivenie. Don't just send your 2nd Legion to the front. This time, take the 3rd Legion with you. Two legions are going up to secure the position."
"WHAT??????? What are you talking about, Sister?"
Sister!?
I am the commander of Diablo’s 2nd Legion.
Sure, we might be slightly(?) behind your 1st Legion, but still!!! We are a legion made up of only the best, hand-picked elite troops! Even if we’re weak as a group because we’re a small elite force, each individual is overwhelmingly strong! And I am the supreme commander who leads and is recognized by those very soldiers, who have the most immense pride in the entire Diablo army... and you’re making such an absurd judgment call!?
Even if you are my sister... this isn't right!
I was so flustered that I questioned her decision.
"You want two legions to form the line at once? Why? Please understand my position in asking this, as it’s hard to accept, Sister."
"Yeah..."
She nodded, as if she understood my frustration, and continued.
"Before the rotation, the Heavenly race attacked us alongside the human heroes. I don't care if those Heavenly runts attack, but when the humans joined in, the front line started to buckle."
"...Were the humans really that powerful, enough to change the atmosphere of the battlefield?"
"Yes."
Hearing her say that, I gathered that the Heavenly-Human alliance was a formidable opponent. We had only faced the human heroes before... but I realized that in a large-scale battle, the atmosphere would be completely different.
"Ivenie, you lead the most elite small-unit legion among the commanders... your legion needs support. Even we, who are called the best at large-scale battles, were pushed back. All because of one human male. Well... I’m not entirely sure. It’s still just a guess..."
".... We need to reconsider the combat power of those human women... Wait!? Sister, what did you just say?"
Did I hear that right?
Pushed back because of a single human male?
Is my sister saying something so ridiculous...?
"I said it’s still just a guess... so it’s not certain."
"Ah... right? That can't be it. Hehe..."
That’s what I thought. It makes no sense.
"Anyway... the attack was so sudden that... we lost the occupied territory to the Heavenly scum. The troops that were supposed to advance are now retreating because they can't even hold the line... I’m sorry... I have no face to show you."
"...It’s okay..."
"Haa... I need to go brief Mother first... I don't think I’ll get off with just a reprimand this time..."
"...Sister..."
Vernel walked past me toward the tent where Mother was, her shoulders still slumped, leaving me with a look of apology.
Watching my sister walk toward Mother with her shoulders slumped, my heart ached.
Why.
Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why!!!!!!!!!!!
Because of those human women...
My sister, who is always full of confidence!
My sister, who strives for perfection based on that confidence!
I was planning to... tease her just a little bit! Just to make her feel slightly annoyed... and then have a nice, cozy chat with her...!
It’s one of the few rare opportunities I have to tease her about not being able to advance lately, seeing her look so deflated after getting scolded by Mother...!
You wretches stole the joy I’ve been waiting for?
I won't let any of you get away with this.
Grind...
...
"Huuu."
Suppressing my anger, I began to walk toward the camp where the third sister, "Livia," was, to implement the "Two-Legion Simultaneous Strike" strategy that Vernel had suggested.
A strategy where two legions move at once, huh...
I look forward to giving those women a massive blow.
After hearing about our sister's condition and the advice she gave, Livia, the third sister, gladly agreed to move her magic legion alongside mine to attack the Heavenly scum. She began to encourage her troops and prepare.
As I returned to my legion, Livia’s voice echoed in my ears as she rallied the 3rd Legion.
"All troops! We are moving to the front with the 2nd Legion! We must arrive and secure our positions before the 2nd Legion! I will be the one to draw Mother’s attention! Pass the word quickly and assemble! Use teleportation and move fast! The intellectual magic-users cannot lose to those physical-brawler women!"
Wait, did she just...?
That, that, that...! That greedy woman is saying that for me to hear, right?
Honestly, those magic-user types who hide behind cloaks and act all gloomy are just the worst, aren't they? They’re the type to tremble with excitement at the thought of stabbing you in the back the moment you turn around. Hmph—girl... she’s definitely saying that for my benefit. Fine... let’s have a competition. Let’s see who can draw Mother’s attention first!
Unlike when I arrived with a fast walk, I used my demonic energy to circulate it through my body in an instant, then exploded it to fly toward my legion, where my elite troops were waiting.
BOOM!
I made sure to create a thunderous performance, just to let her know I heard every word.
Two days ago.
Having been helped by the abilities of the human heroes who flipped the tense battlefield in an instant, the Heavenly veteran soldiers and new recruits were busy reorganizing the occupied territory—the one acquired by defeating the [Diablo 1st Legion], known as the most powerful legion of the wicked Great Demon Diablo. They were letting their guard down, their hearts relaxed after their hard-won victory.
Even the Heavenly soldiers tasked with reconnaissance, who should have been watching the movements of the wicked demon-kind to warn of approaching enemies, had become so lax that they didn't notice the demons until they were right at the edge of the occupied zone.
Pa-pa-ba-ba-bam! Pa-ba-bam!
Poo-wooooong! Poo-boo-poo-boom!
The trumpet calls of the [Diablo 2nd Legion] and [Diablo 3rd Legion] rang out across the occupied territory simultaneously.
Startled by the trumpet sounds, the Heavenly veteran commander climbed the wooden watchtower and looked straight ahead, toward the source of the noise.
The scene before them was etched into their mind like this:
Heavenly Race
∨
∧ ∧
[2nd Legion] [3rd Legion]
"...Oh... oh no... EMERGENCY! Inform the Archangels of this fact immediately!"
In an instant, the Heavenly camp was plunged into a crucible of chaos. The veteran commander had never seen a two-legion scale force in their life, and they had no idea what to do. They could only wait for the high-ranking Archangels and their legions to arrive.
A banner that looked like a piece of luxurious cloth stretched between two long spears was spread out, and next to it, a snake flag symbolizing the [Diablo 2nd Legion], painted in black and green, was fluttering in the wind.
Flap, flap...
On the fluttering banner, these words were visible:
'Warrior! The stronger you think you are! Strip it off!'