Long Business Trip (7)
—But Sisilia looks so exhausted. If I hadn't stopped her back then, maybe there was another way.
—...When my Wind Shear ends, concentrate all firepower there. A way where Sisilia doesn't have to risk her life.
Why was I only afraid of Sisilia all this time? She couldn't bear her own foolishness. Sisilia was a righteous knight who would unhesitatingly lay down her life to protect people.
Get it together, Betty. Sisilia's still alive.
Beatrice gritted her teeth. She wouldn't let it end like that. No matter what, they'd find the Deception and inflict maximum damage. Enough for Sisilia to finish it off with her Extreme Art.
"Your Excellency!"
Beatrice's brilliant flash pierced the massive ogre's heart in a single strike. She went to Count Aldred's side and said,
"This is Sisilia's message. The moment Wind Shear ends, concentrate all firepower on the designated spot."
"...!"
Aldred, with his wealth of battlefield experience, instantly grasped the meaning. His eyes widened as he looked back. On the ramparts stood the silver-haired girl, proud and unyielding.
"...So that's what she meant by 'I'll definitely take it down.'"
"Yes. Sisilia has already... stopped thinking about her own survival odds."
The two forgot they were in the midst of battle, falling silent in solemnity. But Aldred burned with even greater resolve.
"All troops, listen up! Knights and mages who can use sword auras—conserve your mana as much as possible! We're finding that Deception fast!"
"Yes, sir—!"
Knights unable to use sword auras roared and accelerated their cleanup of the monsters. The border count's knights were strong. The monsters densely filling the plains were being cleared at a rapid pace.
But there were just too many.
I have to find the Deception before I tire out more. Where is it?
Beatrice deflected an oncoming orc's axe to the side. As the axe embedded in the ground, she leaped onto it in an instant, stomped the orc's head, and launched into the sky.
There—a demon in a red suit, arms casually crossed, surveying the battlefield leisurely. Not mimicking a human, but in its own true form.
Landing while cleaving the orc in two, Beatrice shouted toward Aldred.
"About 30 meters ahead from my position—demon sighted!"
"Form up in 12-formation! Injured, yield your positions quickly!"
The knights moved in perfect unison, forming a spearhead. Beatrice sliced through monsters at unbelievable speed, pushing to the vanguard.
"Sir Ultan! You carve the path! The other two Sword Demons, build power at the wingtips!"
"Yes, sir!"
"No! Have all three Sword Demons carve the path! I'll support you!"
Beatrice crossed her sword and one arm behind the front three, forming an X.
"Luminous Ascend."
Holy light struck the three knights. They felt their power surge exponentially, eyes widening.
"Duration is only 40 seconds! Carve through before Luminous ends!"
"Follow Windsor! Path-clearing is priority—leave cleanup to the rear guard!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Upper String, extend the wing!"
At Aldred's command, the right flank of the spearhead unfurled. Monsters naturally shifted left. The right-wing soldiers suffered casualties from the reckless charge, smoothly falling back as reserves filled the gaps.
The left wing opted for defense rather than charge. But the monster waves pressed them to their limit. As the wing buckled—
Count Aldred raised his sword high.
"Lower String, retract the wing! Upper String, keep pushing!"
Monsters clustered on the left surged forward as soldiers yielded. The sudden gap tangled them up, cracking the battlefield.
Aldred didn't miss it.
"Mages—! Hit the Lower String cluster all at once!"
Mages' auras erupted in unison. A rainbow of lights from their staves delivered a fatal blow to the packed demons on the left.
"Vanguard, accelerate! Upper and Lower Strings, retract wings and focus breakthrough!"
"Yes, sir—!"
"Upper String wounded, withdraw from the field immediately! Lower String fills the gaps!"
The formation reformed into a tight spearhead, Upper and Lower close together. Wounded at the tip retreated as reserves seamlessly filled in.
"Demon in sight!"
"Drop anchor! Upper and Lower, extend wings and hold! Vanguard, break formation and support them!"
Beatrice panted heavily, staring ahead. The demon watched them with arms crossed, intrigued. Its minions lurked behind.
Demonstrating superiority over the monsters, it kept a deliberate distance.
"Protect me."
"...Your Excellency's knights are stronger than I."
"Don't you have a plan?"
"...!"
"Our greetings are already known to the Deception. But not you. Whatever the plan, it'll likely work. The foe is Deception—arrogant by nature."
Aldred eyed the demon coldly and strode forward boldly. The demon, stroking its chin and staring, straightened its red tie and spoke.
"Withdraw."
The voice rang not in ears, but minds. Monsters halted combat and retreated en masse. The demon advanced.
Midway, it met Aldred—and Beatrice.
I've got about 70% strength left. Time to decide. Buff Sisilia, or strike myself?
Tense stares. The demon spread arms, shrugging.
"Don't you people know how to talk?"
"All troops, don't let retreating foes escape."
Soldiers gripped weapons, slashing monster backs. Already ordered to withdraw, they died without resistance.
The demon sighed.
"Killing a peace envoy? How inhumane!"
"What peace envoy ignores human speech?"
"Oh dear, such discrimination. Monsters are living beings too. Kill them just for different language?"
The demon shook its head, seemingly genuine regret.
Too early for Deception. Somehow take out the minions first. But how?
As Aldred's face hardened, the demon clapped.
"Let's do this. Misunderstanding arose—reopen harmony talks."
"...Harmony?"
"Yes. We respect you, killed none—but—"
The demon appeared before Aldred instantly. Breath-close.
"You've slaughtered ours. Unfair, no?"
Beatrice swung without hesitation. Blade sliced air. Demon already back.
"Eh, I'll overlook it. Unlike humans, I'm a very magnanimous demon."
Shrug.
"Our proposal is simple. Very, very straightforward—and magnanimous."
Aldred glanced away briefly, gritting teeth.
"That? Where's the—"
Four fingers behind his back.
Execute.
Knights readied simultaneous assault.
"Magnanimous, you say—!"
But no attacks came, time dragging.
Aldred panicked, scanning. Knights frozen mid-motion, as if time stopped.
Fear. Mere presence paralyzed them.
Aldred visibly faltered.
...An upper demon suppressing three Sword Demons with Fear alone?
"Urk."
Beatrice bit her tongue to overcome Fear. Trembling hands struggled to raise her sword skyward.
Somehow, Roar of Light...
Her limit. Couldn't lift it. Tried to beg Aldred to command her hand upward—
"Ha."
Demon smirked at her straining, unable to hold back.
"Hahaha!"
Laughter erupted uncontrollably. Wiping tears,
"Ah, you humans are hilarious. But..."
Demon's eyes chilled. Minions stirred behind.
"That pathetic display—wasn't Deception toward me?"
It's over.
Beatrice closed eyes.
Run, Sisilia.
Dark shadows encroached on light. Humanoid forms painted black as ink evoked primal terror. Beatrice accepted death.
Only one wish: Sisilia sense this anomaly, judge coldly. Survive, lead reinforcements, eradicate this demon.
"...How, human?"
Beatrice opened eyes. Demon stared in disbelief. Before it—impassive Sisilia, sword buried in a monster's heart that targeted Beatrice.
"Good work."
"What are you!"
Raging Deception's shout unleashed shadows. Innumerable, far beyond before, lunged at Sisilia.
Slash—!
Swift, precise. Flawless.
Beatrice, Aldred, knights watched Sisilia's sword dance, dumbfounded. No thought to intervene—it would only hinder that realm.
When senses returned, Sisilia stood pristine atop countless demon corpses. Untouched.
"Brace for impact. Recommend wrapping in auras."
Sisilia shook blood from her blade calmly. Beatrice snapped to, blurting,
"Si-Sisilia! No. That demon is way beyond our—"
Sisilia smiled brightly.
"Well done. But now—it's my domain."
Beatrice's pupils quivered. Resolute, she gazed at Sisilia and cast.
"Luminous Ascend."
Golden halo enveloped Sisilia. To her puzzled look,
"My... all-mana blessing. Tuned for 2 minutes. You must win."
Sisilia nearly fainted. Truly...
So... adorable.
"What are you doing? Daring to ignore me!"
Moved warmly, Sisilia glared at the rude demon shattering it, fury rising.
"That's blatant Deception...!"
Demon couldn't finish. Sisilia now behind it. It whirled, teeth gritted, hand outstretched—
Touching.
Everyone fought hard. No trolls—especially Beatrice, dazzling talent. Such sides too. So commendable. Time to repay.
Sisilia smiled faintly. Casually, but enunciated clearly.
"Wind Shear."
Irresistible storm raged.