72. The Defense of Niren and Levante VS Men in Black
How should we fight? The enemies seemed to be watching our moves, holding still.
In the end, it would come down to an exchange of Special Skills. It had to be a quick finish.
"Mizuki, Fam, and I will take the front. Myra, Ira, cover us."
The two nodded.
"What about me?"
Cecily asked.
"Do your usual thing. And drink a mana recovery potion."
I handed some to Cecily—enough for her, Ira, and Myra too.
"Fam and I will handle Fang."
"I'll fight Task."
I nodded to Mizuki.
"Fam, if you spot an opening, go for the priestess in the back."
Fam nodded.
The moment I drew my knife, Cecily launched a fireball straight at the Men in Black.
Chasing after it, Mizuki, Fam, and I charged forward.
Almost simultaneously, a faint glow enveloped our bodies from the blessing magic cast by Myra and Ira.
A glass-like wall appeared in front of Fang and Task—probably a magical barrier conjured by the priestess woman, Doris.
The fireball slammed into the barrier and erupted in flames. Fam and I veered left to dodge it, while Mizuki went right.
No sign of the werewolf in front of us. Instead, the tall black-suited Kei stood waiting.
Fam and I slashed at him.
"Fools!" Kei raised one hand. "My Special Skill isn't that powerful, but I can fire it rapidly. Eat this—Pile Rain!"
Three massive stakes materialized in the air. Each about ten centimeters thick and over two meters long. "Not that powerful," my ass. A direct hit would be game over. As Kei swung his hand down, they rocketed toward us.
Point-blank range—no dodging that.
"Special Skill: Yata no Kagami!"
Fam shouted. A shining circular plate appeared before us.
The stakes seemed to get sucked into the plate for an instant—then ricocheted back at Kei.
"Gyaaah!"
Two stakes missed and embedded in the wall behind them, but one pierced Kei's right shoulder.
The impact sent him flying, crashing to the ground.
The mirror that deflected the attack vanished. Fam, who'd unleashed her Special Skill, collapsed. Like my Goddess Summon, had she burned through all her mana? My vision narrowed, darkness clouding my sight.
"Mash, the mage is hitting you with a mental attack. Keep your focus!"
This must be the mage Izark's magic. And that voice—Ira? Even so, an overwhelming drowsiness dragged at my consciousness.
I nearly collapsed like Fam but snapped back and held my ground.
"I've applied a mental defense blessing."
Myra's voice came through clear.
I regripped my knife.
But Fam stayed down. Doris swung her staff down to strike her. I barely parried with my knife.
I tried to counterattack, but she sensed she was outmatched and retreated.
In that gap, I tried dragging Fam back, but she barely budged.
"She's heavy..."
"I'll cover you!"
Myra rushed over.
Leaving Fam and Doris to Myra, I checked the situation. Kei was still down, no signs of stirring.
The clash of metal had been ringing out for a while now. Mizuki was holding her own against the two werewolves.
She endured their merciless, ferocious assaults.
Pure defense on her part. But she was definitely blocking their strikes.
"That woman's eyes are glowing. Watch out—she's using a Special Skill too!"
The chubby guy in the back, Mii, yelled. Gone was his earlier polite tone. With Kei down, they'd lost their composure.
His shout made the two werewolves hesitate. Seizing the opening, Mizuki lunged at Task. He tried parrying her sword with his axe, but her blade curved around his guard and stabbed into his chest. Her Super Kill—the probabilistic instant-kill—had triggered.
"This is bad!"
The words slipped out.
The worst-case scenario I'd feared had come so easily.
Mizuki had killed Task.
I rushed to Task, slashing at his neck from behind with my knife to finish him. Caught in our pincer, he fell.
"You bastards!"
Fang roared.
"Mii, listen! This happened because you wouldn't back down!"
I shouted.
Fang swung his axe at me. Mizuki wedged between us, deflecting it with her shield. She and Fang clashed blades. But her movements had clearly dulled. She fell back on the defensive.
"No need to get worked up. He served his purpose as a wall."
Mii replied. Just like Lead from Wind's Blade.
"I'll cut you down!"
I turned on Mii. He pulled out his Crystal Core.
"Like hell!"
I fired an earth magic stone orb at him. He blocked it with his body.
"Damn it!"
A cry echoed.
I couldn't let Mii use his Special Skill. Leaving Fang to Mizuki—shaky as that was—I charged at him.
Izark cut between us. A fireball formed at the tip of his raised staff.
No time to block—flames engulfed me. Hot. I'd burn alive like this.
"Mash! The blessing's boosting your endurance—hang in there!"
Ira's shout rang out. Easy for her to say. I wildly swung my knife to bat away the flames.
"Die!"
Izark fired another fireball. But a water orb from behind canceled it out—Cecily's water magic.
I shook off the flames and slashed at Izark. Shallow cut—just tore his robe. He backed off, out of range.
"Special Skill: Crystal Control!"
Mii's Crystal Core glowed brighter.
Before the skill activated, I'd take him out. I closed in.
"Destroy it!"
A double-layered magical barrier from Myra and Ira sprang up between us. But countless beams from the Crystal Core shattered it effortlessly—one piercing my gut.
A deafening impact roared. The beam demolished a church pillar and punched a hole in the wall.
"Guh..."
I clutched my stomach, dropping to one knee. Blood poured from the wound.
Glancing around: Myra collapsed over Fam. Mizuki and the Fang she'd been fighting both down. Behind, Ira supporting Cecily on her shoulder. The sight drained the blood from my face.
"You bastard!"
Rage fueled my swing, but it lacked speed and bite. Mii easily dodged.
"The tide's turned." Mii grinned uglily. "One more hit!"
Cecily's fireball nailed the yelling Mii.
"Gya!"
He screamed, face scorched.
"Mash, get up!"
Ira must've cast recovery magic on me. The pain eased, my body lightening a bit.
I forced myself up. Mii recovered too, raising the Crystal Core for another beam.
Doris's magical barrier appeared between us.
No matter. Cecily and Ira had made the opening. One good slash—through the barrier and him. I raised my knife overhead, stepping in and bringing it down in a single stroke. The blade shattered the barrier and reached Mii.
The Crystal Core slipped from his hand. Then he crumpled.
My body swayed—the wound wasn't fully healed. Blood still dripped. Mustering my strength, I steadied my knife and pointed it at Izark.
Izark dropped his staff, raising both hands.
"Two transferrees down. And you haven't even used your Special Skill. No chance for us. We surrender."
I scanned around. Fam, Myra, Mizuki down. Cecily leaning on Ira, bleeding from her left arm and right leg. I fought the urge to cut Izark down.
I turned my blade on Doris. She dropped her weapon, hands up.
Pain surged again. My legs gave out, and I collapsed.
When I came to, Fam was peering down at me.
"Shu-sama... Shu-sama!"
She gripped my hand tighter.
I was on a bed—looks like a guest room. I sat up, stroking her cheek.
"Glad you're okay."
"Yes. After unleashing my Special Skill, Izark's magic put me to sleep."
Not mana exhaustion from the skill, then.
"Fam, really glad."
I pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around my neck. After savoring her warmth, I looked around. Three beds in the room—Myra and Mizuki asleep on the others.
A tightness gripped my chest.
"They're both fine. The priestesses healed them."
"What about Ira and Cecily? Cecily was hurt too."
"Cecily's wounds were lighter than yours, so she's recovered. The church is flooded with injured from the Big Hopper fight. Ira's helping with healing, Cecily assisting."
"Got it."
I nodded.
"Is the battle outside still going?"
"Seems so. The Big Hoppers in the city are thinning out, but..."
The situation hadn't changed much since before the Men in Black fight. Not much time had passed since I blacked out.
No choice but total annihilation, so the fighting stayed brutal. In a way, the Big Hoppers were victims too.
"The Men in Black. What about them?"
"After that, Momoka's group arrived, patched them up minimally, and took them away. Probably to jail. Sorry—I was still asleep, so that's what I heard."
Fam handed me the Crystal Core—Mii's.
Wonder what it'd fetch if sold. Nothing I could do now, so into Storage it went.
"They get everyone?"
"No. Izark slipped away while you were down. And Task wasn't captured... the werewolf."
Izark, the surrendering mage. Task, the one Mizuki's Special Skill downed.
"Dead?"
"...Yes."
Fam nodded. Everyone but Task alive, then. I'd thought Kei was toast. My slash on Mii was shallow, blocked by the barrier. Fang probably survived since Mizuki was okay.
I figured I'd feel deep guilt over killing Task, but nothing stirred. Same as slaying monsters. Was I tainted by this world? But I worried for Mizuki's sake.
"So the others are alive."
Confirming, Fam nodded again.
"Shu-sama. Do you want to help them?"
I pondered her words.
"Fang and Doris are slaves. If they were forced, yeah. But the rest..."
I couldn't let them live—but I trailed off. Knowing my comrades were safe had quelled the impulse to strike Izark. Casualties among Mateo Company, the wanderers, or Momoka's group might change that.
"Shu-sama. You tried to avoid fighting and save them again."
"I'll be honest with you, Fam. Wasn't trying to save them. Thought we'd lose, or win but pay dearly. Hurting people sucks, and I hate you hurting them too."
Not just Fam—all of them.
"Guess I'm too soft."
"I can't forgive those who point blades at Shu-sama. But I get your feeling that you shouldn't kill. It's not a feel-good outcome..."
"...Yeah."
I nodded.
"And... sorry. Can't put it into words."
Having slept through it, she'd processed the Men in Black fight objectively, forming her own thoughts.
"But knowing this... I think I'll weaken."
I placed a hand on her head.
"It's fine. Neither of us will weaken further."
"Muuum."
Fam puffed her cheeks. I got off the bed.
Gazing at Myra and Mizuki's sleeping faces. So glad they were safe. But I'd put Mizuki through hell. Regret welled up. We should've avoided combat at all costs. If I claimed I finished Task, would she believe me?
I touched Mizuki's cheek.
Then Cecily and Ira entered.
"Looks like you're okay."
Cecily said with relief. I nodded.
"Thinking of checking the west wall."
"Now?"
Fam asked.
"Yeah. Promised I'd be their hero."
I nodded to Fam, looking again at Mizuki and Myra.
"Cecily, Ira—watch them."
"I'll come too."
Cecily said.
"Got it. Ira, they're yours."
I wanted this battle over. With Fam and Cecily, I left the church.
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