Lunar Eclipse (4)
Lunar Eclipse (4)
"This time, I plan to move separately from the two of you."
"Separately...? Do you mean you intend to act alone?"
"That's right. To be more precise, we'll be taking on different roles."
The boy's finger points to the earthen floor.
There, a rough sketch of the village drawn with a finger exists.
"First... this side, the pass located directly opposite the Cathedral. I'd like the two of you to cause a commotion here."
"Cause a commotion? Y-you mean deliberately draw attention...?"
"Exactly. Please divert the eyes of as many Ghouls and vampires as possible."
"T-then, Viktor-nim will, in the meantime...?"
"I'm thinking of moving on the Cathedral side."
This stage's field boss, Jersian.
He was still an opponent too much for the three of them to handle.
After all, he was a mid-boss that appeared in the latter half of the original work.
Ranking him would be A+.
He was stronger than most of the Grandia faculty.
For that very reason, Viktor couldn't help but be cautious.
'Even if I gather all the bugs, honestly, it's going to be touch and go...'
He needed to buy time.
Until he could grasp a future, a possibility, where certain victory was possible.
And, the only ones who could buy him that time were the two of them.
"Exactly one hour."
"......"
"If the two of you can hold out for exactly one hour, I will take care of the rest."
A simple and clear plan.
Though the explanation was somewhat lacking, the two girls didn't mind.
Because they believed he would succeed in the end, even if it seemed unreasonable.
Because Viktor was that kind of person.
"Then... shall we go?"
The night wouldn't wait for them.
Without the luxury to hesitate, the three immediately plunged into the operation.
Exactly 30 minutes later.
The plaza located exactly opposite the Cathedral.
Alice and Carmilla, the two girls, revealed their figures there.
"W-we've arrived..."
"Right."
Each wearing a black and a red mask, the two individuals.
They intentionally let out their presence.
-Grrr...
-Kiiiiik!
-Woof woof!
As if reacting to it, Ghouls loitered around the area.
Alice wore her black crown, and Carmilla had a blood field deployed using Blood Manipulation Art.
"I shall begin first. Support me."
"Yes! Al, alright...!"
Shwaaaak-!
A blood spray extending in all directions.
The Blood Manipulation Art deployed like an awl slaughtered the horde of Ghouls that came rushing.
Following that, Trump Soldiers sprang out in droves alongside a crimson mist.
"Defense! Please, buy us time with this plaza as our base...!"
Thwack thwack thwack-!
Heeding the Queen's command, cards crisscrossed the plaza.
The weapons wielded by the soldiers sliced through the Ghouls one by one.
Puh-wuck! Koo-woong, Seo-gek-!
"We must move more spectacularly! So as to draw more attention!"
"Yes! A bit more, in a direction that gathers Ghouls...!"
Kggruk, Chwak! Puh-suk-!
The flow of the battlefield seemed to continue smoothly.
However, anomalies always occur suddenly.
It was when Carmilla was deploying her Blood Manipulation Art once again.
"Good. If we continue like this..."
Kwaaaaang-!
A blood-red spear, flying in without warning and impaling itself.
Carmilla reflexively spread blood, barely blocking that strike.
"......!"
If she had been even slightly slower, it would have been a force that would have taken her head clean off.
Due to its aftermath, her mask was half-torn off.
Carmilla's eyes widened.
"This is...!"
Just from receiving a single blow, her entire arm throbbed painfully.
It was Blood Manipulation Art on a different level from what the rabble used.
Carmilla felt a chill run down her spine.
It was unmistakable.
This... is the power of a Pureblood.
'A Pureblood? Why is a Pureblood in a place like this...!'
Carmilla, flustered, warily scanned her surroundings.
She had no time to even fix her disheveled mask.
If the opponent was a Pureblood, and an adult one at that, she was in a position where she could be killed with a single gesture.
As she strained her senses to the utmost, what reached her ears was a somewhat familiar voice.
"Well, if it isn't you."
"......"
At that sound, Carmilla's mind went blank.
Without even managing to breathe, her crimson eyes turned to look behind.
Their gazes met.
"Your Highness the Princess."
Red eyes.
There stood a man with a splendid mustache.
Dressed in neat attire, he gave off a strong aristocratic vibe.
"I heard you survived the assassins, but I never imagined we'd meet in a place like this."
Tap, tap-.
Even the unique sound of his shoes stepping evoked nostalgia.
However, both his hands were drenched in blood, and by his side, he commanded Ghouls.
Carmilla muttered blankly.
"......Jersian."
"Have you been well?"
Jersian.
An uncle who had often looked after her since childhood.
One of her father's most cherished close aides.
A person Carmilla herself had often followed.
The middle-aged man was gazing at the girl with a cruel glint in his eyes.
-Carmilla.
The girl's body stiffened completely.
Meanwhile.
Viktor had infiltrated inside the Cathedral.
'They must have met by now.'
Viktor glanced briefly towards where Alice and Carmilla would be.
By now, the two must have encountered Jersian.
'So that the plan doesn't go awry... Jersian would have personally moved to deal with the intruders, after all.'
A bad connection for Carmilla.
An enemy, and the target of her vengeance.
A trial she would have to face someday as well.
In that case, it was better for her to face it in a situation he could control.
"Phew... I should start on my side too, slowly."
Viktor walked down the long corridor.
Acting alone, he had managed to infiltrate without being detected by anyone.
Ding-!
[Very Secret Tie]
- Category: Accessory
- Grade: B
- Condition: Neat
- Description: A tie said to have been treasured by a legendary thief of the past. Can be worn at all times, and when worn, allows the use of the skill 'Stealthily Great'. This skill has a 72-hour cooldown.
[Skill Name: Stealthily Great]
- While the skill is active, the user's presence disappears.
- The effect lasts for 1 hour, and the concealed presence cannot be detected by anyone.
- All noise originating from the user (pulse, footsteps, breathing, etc.) is muted.
'Not bad performance.'
One of the rewards obtained last time during the practical session for exceeding quest objectives.
Since it killed the user's presence, he could move much more comfortably.
Viktor crossed the corridor and arrived in the deep basement.
'Bingo.'
Inside, kidnapped villagers were crammed and imprisoned.
All of them were bound, having lost consciousness.
He wanted to free them immediately, but the time wasn't right yet.
Freeing this many people would only cause chaos.
'I need to move quietly.'
He went down one more level into the basement.
At the bottom of the stairs was an underground prison.
Originally meant for criminals, now non-human things were imprisoned here.
"Ghouls..."
Human-based Ghouls were imprisoned here.
Likely Ghouls that were unavoidably created during the process of suppressing this village.
They couldn't be used for the Offering Ritual, but it seemed they were gathered here because it was a waste to just discard them.
They could be used later in the war.
'Number is roughly... about 50, it seems.'
Just right.
Viktor reached out and pulled the connected lever without hesitation.
Simultaneously, he deactivated the effect of the item enveloping his entire body.
Ggiik, ggigigik-!
Urrr, the lined-up iron bars all opened at once.
The imprisoned Ghouls crawled out awkwardly towards the outside.
Having already sensed the boy's presence, their eyeballs had turned bright red.
-Grrr...!
-Kyaaaak!
The blood-red pupils all simultaneously targeted him.
As if by agreement, they bared their fangs and began charging.
"Phew..."
Viktor drew his sword with a deep breath.
The Balloon Sword, emitting a faint light even in the pitch-dark darkness.
Ding-!
[Balloon Sword+]
- Category: Growth-type Weapon
- Grade: E+
- Growth Limit Grade: None
- Condition: Colorful, Soft, Sparkly
- Description: A special balloon sword. Emits a weak purifying light from the blade surface. It is a weapon that can grow.
The swung blade grazed the Ghoul that had gotten closest.
Pik-.
Immediately after, as if bounced off by a strange force, it was thrown behind the boy.
It had shed its bright red Ghoul form and, now with the face of a perfectly fine human, lay unconscious.
Viktor smiled at that.
-Ding!
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Remaining Good Deeds Points: 80p]
The blue screen floating before his eyes.
The boy raised his sword tip and dashed towards the horde of Ghouls charging at him.
"Then... Let's quickly farm points and join the other two!"
Pik-.
Pik-.
Pik-.
The unique friction sound of Parrying rang out continuously.
In his ears, the Status Window notifications jingled pleasantly.
Ding-!
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
.
.
.
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
[Acquired 20 points of Good Deeds.]
Innumerable points piling up.
It was leveling-up time.