Hey! This Is the Difference in Support! (8)
Under the black fox flag that symbolizes the [Diablo 3rd Legion], a woman clad in armor that protected only the vital parts of her upper and lower body—my second sister, the brawn-over-brains idiot, Evnie—approached slowly.
"Sister, you're here?"
"Yeah. Like we talked about yesterday, we’re going to go ahead and clear the path, so you just hang back and rest."
"...Are you really going to go out there yourself?"
"...Well, obviously? When else am I supposed to let loose if not now?"
"...Still, you're a Legion Commander... you have a reputation to uphold... Fine. I'll wait here, so go have your fun."
"Mm-hmm."
"You look so excited your mouth is practically touching your ears, sister. You can't fool me~"
"...Tch. You caught me. I really wanted to rest a bit more, so don't give me a hard time for coming early."
After finishing her sentence, my sister turned around, waved, and headed back to her own legion.
Evnie and I were notorious for our constant bickering, a clash between the "intellectual" and the "physical" types that supposedly made us a bad match. But in reality, we were the driving force that kept our legion’s development from stalling, as we walked a path of symbiosis, filling in each other's gaps and covering each other's weaknesses.
My second sister always loved to show things through action, often acting on her own... I suppose our eldest sister, Vernel, was worried about that, which is why she sent me along... *Sigh*...
Back at the 3rd Legion Commander's tent, I gathered demonic energy in both hands and activated Opdrone, a surveillance magic I’d developed myself to help my sister at a moment's notice in case of an emergency.
It was a useful spell I often favored because once you locked onto a target with the cube-shaped drone, you could follow and observe them from afar.
Whirrrrrrr—
With a small noise, the cube-shaped Opdrone left my hands and flew high up outside the tent.
Thinking it had reached a sufficient altitude, I focused my consciousness and linked it to the drone.
"Link."
A circular screen formed before my eyes, showing the vast, open plains through the Opdrone.
Looking slightly downward, I saw the 2nd Legion, led by my sister, beginning to move.
The adjutant Evnie trusted most, aside from family, took the lead in her stead, and together with the 2nd Legion troops, they began to strike down the celestial soldiers.
My sister, looking as if something didn't please her, moved toward the camp the 2nd Legion had occupied with a bored expression the entire time.
While moving, she briefly toyed with a celestial soldier who appeared to be a commander, but soon feeling bored, she tried to enter the tent with her adjutant.
I was watching that scene through the Opdrone and was just about to cut the link and end the spell since nothing was happening, when—
A sound I had never heard before, a warning-like noise that made my discomfort level rise just by listening to it, began to echo from afar.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—
?
What is that?
What is this grating sound?
The strange warning sound, which had been ringing for dozens of seconds, suddenly cut off.
And then...
Vwooooooooom—!
From far away, something that looked like a red wave started to move, suddenly surging upward and spreading out wide like a wall while maintaining a high altitude, rushing toward the direction of my sister and the 2nd Legion.
That red wave moving at high speed didn't look normal.
What kind of woman cast such an insane spell?
She completely threw mana efficiency out the window.
Her talent as a mage is zero.
But... if it's a spell that changes the tide of battle... it's top-tier.
My sister shouted something in an excited voice and immediately dashed toward the red wave.
!!!
That idiot sister of mine!
She's in danger!
The adjutant! What is the adjutant doing?
The 2nd Legion's adjutant was immediately chasing after my sister.
I fixed the cube in the sky, maintained the spell, and rushed out of the tent.
Outside the tent, I saw soldiers huddled together, having a discussion.
What is it?
What's going on?
"Anyone know about that weird sound from a moment ago?"
"No idea? Want to research it together?"
"Sure! Let's ask the Legion Commander to join in too!"
"Oh... we could get a budget? And pad our performance records..."
Look at these girls... pursuing the romance of academia even in the middle of a war... You cute things... This is why I can't hate my kids. More importantly, I don't know what that wave is, so let's sound the alarm first.
"All troops! Prepare for combat standby! The 2nd Legion might be in danger! We’ve detected a surprise attack by the celestials! Hurry! Move quickly!"
The 3rd Legion camp, which had become bustling in an instant due to my urging, finished reorganizing in no time and was ready to support the 2nd Legion at any moment.
Hmm~ I like it. As I thought, you have to push them for them to be sharp...
I returned to the tent and focused my consciousness again to link to the Opdrone.
The scene that greeted me upon linking was the massive red wave swallowing the 2nd Legion.
!
W-what...!
As the wave passed through the 2nd Legion, I saw the troops, who hadn't been affected at all, milling about in confusion.
???
What is this?
Ah... I'm dying of curiosity...
Should I... sneak over and take a look?
Ugh~~~ Ugh!
For the first time in a while, it stirred the mage's desire for exploration, and I almost ran out immediately, but my position as a Legion Commander barely held my reason in check.
The red wave showed no signs of slowing down.
If things go well, it might even reach here.
While I was hesitating, the red wave passed the 2nd Legion and was already heading toward the base the 2nd Legion had occupied.
Soon, the red wave arrived at the base and swallowed the fallen celestial soldiers.
As I watched the red wave just brush past the celestial soldiers, a strange scene was captured by my eyes.
Strangely... it felt strongly as if the celestial soldiers knew the identity of the red wave, waiting for it to arrive and then leaping into it.
What is this?
Why do they look like they're leaping into that red wave that has no effect on them...
Kwooooooooom!!!!
The roar of the red wave reached my ears, as if it had already arrived right in front of our legion.
Without my instructions, the legion automatically chanted shield spells, layering transparent shield shapes to form a massive wall as if to block the red wave.
Good, good~ They do well~ They do well even on their own~
My kids, who do everything right without the Legion Commander's orders... I really taught them well.
It was when I stepped out of the tent to praise the legion's response after ending the link from the Opdrone.
Kwooooooooom... Sssssssss....
Before the red wave could even touch the massive wall the legion had erected, it suddenly began to emit smoke and disappear.
"W-what! Where did the red wave go!?"
Whoosh—
My adjutant appeared in front of me via a quick teleport, looking flustered.
And she delivered shocking news to me in rapid succession.
"Legion Commander Livia! The celestial soldiers in the front are forming a formation in a recovered state! It looks like they intend to surround the 2nd Legion from the rear!"
"What are you talking about? Just a moment ago, my sister... Wait!"
That's bullshit!
The celestial bastards who were all about to collapse have already recovered?
I rushed back into the tent and quickly linked, turning the Opdrone's gaze toward the base.
And surprisingly, at the base...
It was noticeable that the celestial soldiers, recovered to a certain extent, were gathering one by one under the command of a being that appeared to be a commander, forming a formation.
"Th-that... does that make sense? Don't tell me... that red wave from earlier... was a healing ability? Does that... make sense?"
There was no one else there, but I was muttering to myself in the tent because it was so absurd.
To a mage, it was that much of a culture shock.
The human hero who claimed to be a saintess, whom I fought before, showed an incredible ability to save anyone as long as they weren't dead... but that was an ability that could only be used on a single target, so it wasn't that big of a threat unless it was a surprise attack... but if that red wave I just saw was really a wide-area healing potion ability as I suspected... it was definitely an insane ability that would change the flow of the battlefield.
?
Defeated by a change in the flow of the battlefield...?
Where have I heard that...
Ah!
So that’s why eldest sister Vernel was defeated!
...Could it be the ability of a human male...?
A man... using magic like this...?
He didn't look like that kind of existence at all...?
While I was having various thoughts in shock, the celestial soldiers, who looked like they had formed a formation in an instant, were captured by the Opdrone heading to strike the rear of Evnie and her legion under the command of their commander, with expressions full of vengeance.
My sister is really in danger...
I think I have to go help her.
Having finished my thoughts, I cut the link and ran out of the tent.
"Adjutaaaaaaant!"
Whoosh—
The adjutant appeared in front of me in an instant using teleport.
"Yes. Did you call?"
"Hey, there's no time. I'm leaving the legion command to you. I'm planning a mass teleport, so get ready to support the teleport!"
"...Pardon? The 2nd Legion... Um, understood."
Listening to the adjutant's answer, I quickly cast a detection spell and began to search for my sister's demonic energy signature.
Owaong—
Waong—
___________0__________________0__________________________
Found it!
Having found my sister's demonic energy signature, I couldn't help but curse.
Damn it... she's right in the middle of enemy lines!
She's even completely surrounded by enemies!
My sister is in danger!
Based on the demonic energy signature I found, I cast a channeling teleport, designating a specific target and teleporting continuously in short bursts.
It was a technique I didn't use often unless it was a special situation because it consumed a lot of mana, but it was a decent spell for finding a target in crisis like this and going to support them directly. And when returning, a mass teleport would certainly be possible if I received demonic energy support from the legion.
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!
After the scenery around me changed several times, I was able to arrive by teleporting above Evnie, who was facing a crisis.
Arriving at the scene, I could see an angel wielding a silver spear at Evnie.
That woman is... Remiel?
"Uaaaaaaah!"
My sister was struggling, defending against the enemies' offensive and protecting her allied soldiers while even straining her mana heart due to the joint attack of Remiel and the human heroes.
"Let's go like this one more time!"
"Of course!"
"...Ugh—!"
My sister's complexion was quite exhausted, perhaps because she had consumed a significant amount of demonic energy a moment ago.
Grind—
You dog-like bitches!
"Dark Cloud."
I cast darkness over the sky to enhance my abilities.
"Dark Ball."
I shouted as I dropped a blue sphere with black currents toward the ground rapidly.
"Wouldn't you like to fight with a bit more balance?"
Kwooooooooom! Vwooooooooom!
As soon as the sphere touched the ground, it spread out as if unfolding a black curtain, pushing back all the celestial soldiers.
I landed softly at the spot where the sphere had fallen.
My sister waved her hand at me, looking very happy.
"You came at a good time, Livia!"
...You idiot sister.
This is a great time to give you a real scolding.
"Sister... I told you earlier, didn't I? Not to overdo it. Why don't you listen to me? Eldest sister clearly organized it and sent me to face them together... I told you to be careful... Tsk..."
"...So, sorry..."
"This is why... the physical type doesn't work."
"..."
At my reprimand, my sister couldn't even reply and hung her head low.
"Kuhk.... Grind..."
Behind me, someone did something that grated on my nerves.
I turned around and saw my sister's adjutant.
My sister's adjutant was trembling, perhaps because her pride was hurt.
?
Look at this girl?
She's crazy.
"Why. Are you annoyed?"
"N-no... I'm not..."
"Then stay quiet. Shouldn't you have stopped her or done better yourself?"
"..."
My sister's adjutant hung her head low.
I turned my head and looked for the human male I was sure had sent the red wave earlier.
The human male my sister talked about... is here...? He's here! He's really here! ...His whole body is covered in blood... The surroundings are stained with blood... It's certain... That red wave was sent by that human male...
Anyway... to teleport this many people... I need some time...
While I was worrying for a moment about how to stall for time since I needed time to teleport a large number of people, I saw human women standing huddled around the human male as if to protect him.
Look at these girls?
Hmm~ I think I can aim for this...?
"You.... The human male who sucked up to our mother, Diablo, and gained her interest.... I saw your ability well. It was quite an interesting ability, wasn't it...? It makes me want to kidnap you."
"I-I... when did I...!! Huk!"
At my words, all the human women around the human male were visibly agitated and glared at him.
Bingo-
"Today doesn't seem to be the day, so... I'll withdraw for now... but if you want to fight more, come to the base we occupied. We'll fight you with all our might. And... human male, later, just the two of us...♥ You know? I'll look forward to it~♥ Hehehe...!"
"N-no! It's not like that! That's... a frame-up!"
The man spat blood and desperately denied it, shouting, but... since I added a wink, it was obvious that the human women, who had already lost their minds, would hear the man's words as excuses.
The human women began to surround the man in an instant.
Seeing that, I quickly chanted a spell, created magic circles in both hands, and sent a signal to the adjutant waiting at the 3rd Legion.
And I waited for the large-scale teleport magic circle to activate.
"Ah! They're trying to run away!"
That damn Remiel noticed like a ghost and shouted.
But... there was no way the humans, who had already lost their minds at my words, would listen.
"Be quiet! That's not the problem right now!"
"That's right! That's not the problem right now!"
"You, are you some kind of succubus, no... incubus? What? Just the two of you? You'll look forward to it?"
"You, are you a sex maniac? Why do demons keep giving you attention! What have you been doing!"
"Again... again... that monster was mentioned... from the Legion Commander's mouth... All the Legion Commanders I meet know you! How can I believe that you're nothing? What? A frame-up? It's not a frame-up, it's probably what you did!"
"...Ugh!"
Despite Remiel's urgency as she saw us trying to teleport, the human women ignored Remiel's words, surrounded the human male, grabbed his clothes, shook him, and reprimanded him.
Whoosh—
I could hear the sound of the magic circle operating, as if it were complete.
My sister Evnie, her army, and I began to be sucked into the magic circle.
My sister was looking at me with a sullen expression while moving into the magic circle.
"..."
"...? Sister, do you have something on your mind?"
"Ah... no, it's just... you seemed to know the human male's ability earlier... I was curious... that you said you wanted to kidnap him just by seeing his ability... it bothers me..."
"Ah... I was watching. That red wave... it's a cheat ability."
"? What? Why...? Wasn't it a huge waste of efficiency no matter who looked at it? It didn't have any ability..."
"That red wave... was a healing potion."
"...Eh?"
"Do you remember the celestial commander you were stomping on?"
"Uh... yeah."
"The celestial soldiers who were all about to collapse recovered after coming into contact with that red wave, formed a formation, and tried to strike your rear."
"..."
"That's why I wanted it. With an ability like that... I should have... stolen it then... Phew, it's a tricky ability... I don't think the war will be easy from now on. I mean, how can such a support method exist..."
"...True... This is the first time I've seen an ability that supports a legion-level force with such a wide range... The difference is too big... I think we need to talk about what to do from now on. Anyway... thanks for coming to help today."
"...It's nothing, sister."
The harmonious conversation between sisters ended...
Whoooooooooosh—
As soon as we arrived, as if the movement was over, the adjutant was approaching as if to report.