73. Niren's Defense and My Reluctant Hero
Walking westward through the city with the three of us, the sun was already starting to dip toward the horizon. The battle had dragged on for hours.
There weren't any Big Hoppers flying overhead anymore. Compared to this morning, the number of monsters inside the city seemed to have dropped dramatically. Maybe the wandering folk had fought hard to hold them back.
Momoka came chasing after us, her ponytail swinging.
"They said at the church that you're heading to the west wall."
So she chased us down. Chihiro and the rest of New World were all together.
"It's your fault we went through hell!"
I lodged my complaint with Momoka right away.
"Whaddya mean? Ain't my fault at all!"
Momoka shot back.
"Should've just pretended not to know and slipped out of the city."
"No way! You couldn't do that anyway, sayin' stuff like that."
Momoka was acting all high and mighty.
"Whatever. I'll take that kiss as promised."
"W-Wait a sec! That's my first kiss. No way!"
Momoka faltered.
"If you don't want it to be your first, go kiss Fam right now. Then kiss me after."
Momoka shot pleading glances at Fam and Cecily.
"You two are Mash's girls, right? You okay lettin' him do that with another woman?"
"Master, I only do that with my master." Fam replied.
"Of course not... but since it's Mash..."
Cecily answered.
"So, what about Mii and the others?"
"Tossed 'em in the jail."
"They're transferees. They'll use their Special Skills."
He'd yelled Pile Rain. That technique would make breaking out easy.
"No worries. It's a special jail."
Momoka said. Probably the power of the Crystal Core. I recalled what Mii and Myra had said. Right, they mentioned storage wouldn't work either.
"Men in Black get judged by this city's rules. Light or heavy, it's the death penalty anyway."
"I see..."
I nodded. Noticing Fam peering into my face, I averted my eyes.
I never wanted to see Mii and Kei's faces again. But they'd survived this far. Couldn't I at least try to save the slaves? Doris was a maybe, but Fang might slap away my helping hand.
"Izark might come rescue them, or the ones hiding them might spring them free."
I voiced a possibility that just occurred to me.
"No way you can bust 'em out solo. Guards are everywhere, even now. Even if the viceroy was their patron, letting loose guys who did all this? Riot city."
"Yeah, I wanna believe that."
I replied to Momoka. Should I track Izark? But too much time had passed. In this chaotic city, it'd be tough now.
"So, where ya headin'?"
"You know. The west wall. I wanna get a full view of the battle. Can you pull some strings to get me up the merlon tower?"
"Whatcha plannin'?"
Momoka asked.
"Myra's watching over me from the grass's shade. I'll become the hero she wants and save the city."
At my words, Fam and Cecily stopped in their tracks. They'd figured out what I was about to do.
"Master, Big Sis isn't dead. And don't you wanna stay low-key now?"
Does grass's shade get across? Maybe.
"...Mash. Rethink this. You could reduce casualties. But it won't help you. It'll draw other transferees. Leave the city to the city."
The usually bellicose pair were uncharacteristically negative.
"It's fine. We're seen as pushovers, so clowns like Men in Black start fights. Time to crush 'em thoroughly and make an example."
Not that I'd be doing the crushing.
The closer we got to the merlon tower, the higher the Big Hopper encounter rate.
But we didn't need to lift a finger. Not like the swarm in front of the church—the New World crew handled it.
The cowman Morse's swinging battle axe and the rhinoman Corne's barehanded destruction were monstrous. We just trailed behind them.
The area around the tower was littered with monster corpses. Not just corpses—some were twitching legs or antennae, still down but stirring. I kept my distance, ready if one suddenly lurched up.
We reached the city's western edge.
Multiple breaches in the wall. Big Hoppers' charges, no doubt. Their wall-shattering power was terrifying.
From atop the wall came roar-like shouts, clanging metal, sporadic stonebow cracks tearing the sky. The fight was outside the wall and city.
"Here we are. Now what?"
"Like I said. Can't see the whole field from here. Wanna climb the tower."
"Bossy much?"
Momoka grumbled, but Chihiro headed into the tower first.
"Hang on, Chihiro's sortin' it."
"Got connections with the knights?"
"Lived here a year. Cleared some big quests too."
I nodded at Momoka's answer, but I couldn't imagine cozying up to city bigwigs like them in a year. I'd probably end up on bad terms instead.
As I thought that, my eyes met Cecily's.
"What?"
She looked pissed already, and I hadn't said a word.
"You're the type who picks fights with power-holders too, huh."
"A commoner linking with nobles? Ridiculous. Even if you do, you're just a pawn."
True enough. Back in touch with reality after all these transferee run-ins.
This wasn't our old world. Strict class divides here.
Soon Chihiro poked his head out the tower entrance and beckoned us.
The tower reeked of blood and sweat. Soldiers lay motionless everywhere. Others hunched gasping, clutching wounds and groaning, or getting treated by priests—church-sent, probably.
A man who seemed in charge eyed Momoka; she nodded back.
We stepped around the downed soldiers, ascending the spiral stairs.
"They let us through easy."
"Said I brought the hero from Rishel sent by Lady Rakushel."
Chihiro explained.
"They buy that?"
"The Myra Mash called his wife. Dunno details, but she was called a saint in Rishel, right?"
Makes sense—church intel.
Finally, we reached the top.
The view was nothing like the last time.
Stonebow bolts flew sparsely. Many bows abandoned—ammo running low.
Catapults sat unmanned.
Soldiers fought on the merlons and wall. Some outside in melee.
Exhausted, maybe fifty total. Near annihilation. Still, they fought on—no retreat possible.
"I'd run." I muttered at the sight.
"Master, your words and actions don't match."
Fam gripped her sword, scanning warily.
Nearby, a soldier down in fancier armor—commander, likely.
"He's alive."
Momoka knelt, casting recovery magic. He coughed violently and sat up.
She could heal too? Chihiro started on another downed man. Morse and Corne guarded them.
Outside the wall, iron cages held pink Big Hoppers—battered beyond recognition. Normal ones swarmed them.
How many left? Over a hundred easy. They'd badly misjudged numbers.
Ladders hung outside the wall for descent—humans only, so fine, but weird.
To end this carnage. I raised my hand to the sky.
Goddess Summon
My shout wrapped the area in light.
From the glow emerged the goddess, lounging on a floating spear.
She surveyed the monster horde coolly, brushing back her golden waves. Even that was beautiful.
Soldiers froze.
Gazing at descended Rakushel, they gasped wordlessly—turning to cheers. The roar echoed through the city, spreading to the people. Voices boomed back from within.
"Th-This the rumored... for real?!"
Momoka gawked. Chihiro stood mouth agape beside her.
Ignoring the reactions, Rakushel floated to me.
"I'm a goddess, you know~ Using me too conveniently? Don't call me for puny foes~"
Classic Rakushel.
"I'll work those tits flat."
"That's sexual harassment~"
Rakushel puffed her cheeks.
"Shut it. You're badmouthed between me and Mizuki. Why not tell us what you want?"
"Calling your lover 'shut it' what?!"
Rakushel huffed.
"...Dodging again? Not what I asked. Whatever with me, but Mizuki wants home. I'll help grant your wish."
Her face clouded. She seemed resolved—then spoke. But no sound.
"Hear that?"
I asked Fam. She shook her head.
"Master, Lady Rakushel..."
As Fam started, a splitting headache hit. MP out? Too soon. Felt like my mana got yanked when she spoke.
Couldn't send her back yet in this mess.
"Whatever. No limits today. Go wild."
I told Rakushel.
"The buggies are furious~ Slaughtered their queen, caged her helpless for all to see. Felt their grief deep. Let's turn this city to dust~"
Momoka and the commander paled.
"Wrong way! Can't you hear the soldiers defending the city? Feel bad for the bugs, but this is your summoned transferees' doing. Your fault."
Her joke, probably—but I nailed it down.
"Fine. Mash, as you wish."
Rakushel soared skyward, raising her right arm.
Soldiers cheered again at the sight. Not just them—the city erupted.
She swung her arm down in response.
Instantly, like in Rishel's arena—thousands, tens of thousands of arrows danced.
They pierced monsters precisely, felling them. Rain on the wall, outside, even inside the city.
Watching, my vision narrowed. Body swayed.
Same as always. Intoxicated haze. Thoughts blurred—what mattered? Nothing did.
Cecily yelling something.
Rakushel looking down, saying something. Inaudible.
MP draining. Fam hugged to support me.
Fam, my beloved Fam. Saved her again. Stay together forever.
"Master, I'm always with you. Always will be."
Her voice cut clear. Had I voiced my thoughts?
Dunno. Consciousness fading.
Thank you for reading.
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