No, What on Earth Are You Thinking?
No, what the hell are you thinking? I hurriedly averted my gaze. Transferring mana through the lips? It wasn't even CPR.
My face flushed red at the embarrassingly indecent thought that popped into my head unbidden.
"Ahem."
To directly transfer mana, all you needed was skin contact. There was no need to shove it into someone's mouth. Of course, lips connected to the body's interior were supposedly better for absorption. But that sort of thing belonged in the realm of sleazy romance novels, even in this world—an utterly improper act.
"Ahem, ahem."
I cleared my throat awkwardly and reached out toward Ren, who lay with his head in my lap. First, I needed to give him some of my overflowing mana.
But someone grabbed my hand firmly.
"Ian?"
"I will do it, my liege."
"Huh?"
Ian's stern face stared at me with his usual grave intensity.
"You're going to give Ren your mana?"
"Yes."
"……."
Well, it didn't really matter who did it. I nodded dazedly at Ian, who exuded an odd air of resolve.
"A-alright."
"……."
Ian glared at Ren as if he were some filthy impurity he didn't even want to touch, then slowly extended his hand. With a sharp slap, he pressed his palm to Ren's cheek like he was striking him and focused his mind.
Vmmm.
Ian's black mana slowly flowed into Ren. I watched tensely. Their mana affinities might clash, potentially making things worse for Ren.
"Mm."
Fortunately, Ren only furrowed his brow slightly and didn't reject Ian's mana. What a relief.
I let out a sigh I hadn't realized I was holding. "Phew, good."
"…Is this enough?"
"Yeah, thanks for your help."
The moment I spoke, Ian yanked his hand back like lightning.
"Ugh."
"Ren, are you coming to?"
"…A-Abigail."
Ren seemed a bit more lucid, but he drifted off again. At least he wasn't burning up with fever like before. I exhaled in relief and looked up.
Now it was time for a proper reorganization.
* * *
A cold wind swept across the barren land. The parched earth, chilled with frost, was desolate, not a single blade of grass in sight.
"Gruk, grrrk…."
"Kieek…."
Monstrous beasts of horrific shapes lay exhausted on the ground. Unlike when they'd charged across this land, they now heaved weak, ragged breaths.
Someone gazed down at them with icy eyes.
"These are all failures."
The man spoke in a frigid tone and flicked his hand.
"Dispose of them."
[Yes.]
A response echoed from the darkness, and something surged upward. Its pitch-black body was semi-transparent, like a shadow. But covered in scales resembling those of a reptile, it was clearly a monster with substance.
The massive serpent-like entity scanned the limp monsters with glowing yellow eyes.
"Kieek, kek?"
"Gruk."
The horde of low-grade monsters on the plain cowered, unable to move. Raw terror filled their eyes. They couldn't dare defy the pyramid's apex predator.
The serpent slowly advanced, yawning its jaws wide.
Crunch.
Crack.
Crunch, crunch.
A gruesome spectacle unfolded. The serpent leisurely devoured the monsters one by one. Swallowed whole without resistance, they became its prey.
Someone whispered to the man watching impassively.
"My, what a shame."
"…Get lost."
The masked man shoved the intruder away with evident disgust. A figure in pristine white robes burst into clear laughter.
"Haha, so prickly."
"Stay away, you temple hack."
"……."
He pouted at the man's gruff words. Vincent Wall—former Magic Tower heir and current high priest of the Lumine Church. Dressed in the temple's symbolic white robes, he grumbled playfully.
"That's too much. Do you know how hard it was to open this gate?"
But the man scoffed at Vincent's words.
"Ha, all that boasting, and you failed. What now?"
His sharp gaze pierced Vincent, who remained unfazed.
"Summoning high-grade monsters that breathe fire is no easy feat. Even for me."
Of course, they'd prioritized size over intelligence, and the breath attacks were pathetically weak—mere inferior variants. Vincent chuckled softly.
He was half-curious, half-coerced into cooperating with this nameless man due to a mortal threat. He knew the man led the Demonic, as Benjamin had once mentioned. But years had passed since the seal was etched upon him, binding him inescapably.
It bruised his pride as high priest a bit, but it didn't really matter. He was used to following his whims. And he secretly anticipated how far this shadowy figure would disrupt the world.
"The Carpoem heir seems more prepared than expected."
"…Hm."
Another stalemate. They'd cursed Duke Adrian Carpoem to weaken him, planning to dismantle House Carpoem bit by bit—but it failed. And somehow, Abigail, now the acting duchess, had built an outpost at the northern edge and fortified against monsters.
They'd been sure victory was theirs, yet last night's assault had failed too.
"Shall we continue?"
"Obviously."
Vincent shrugged at the man's resolute voice.
"The imperial forces will arrive soon."
"The crown prince, eh…."
The man's eyes narrowed. The powerless southerners would have been easier prey than the north. Displeasure was evident beneath his mask.
"Our task remains unchanged."
"As you command."
Vincent bowed with exaggerated flair, grinning.
"We'll try harder next time."
"……."
"Well, then."
As high priest, he'd been a Magic Tower mage before returning to the temple. He was confident he wouldn't be detected, but lingering too long made him uneasy. For some reason, he sensed the newly adult saintess causing a fuss.
Vincent vanished in an instant, face beaming.
"……."
The man glanced at the spot Vincent had occupied, then turned away. His eyes fixed on the impregnable walls that wouldn't yield to monster incursions. He needed a surefire way to topple those damned fortifications.
"…Abigail Carpoem."
Gritting his teeth, he muttered lowly.
"Next time, without fail."
A cold, merciless glint flashed in his eyes.
* * *
After that, we were swamped with cleanup. Anxious about the next monster wave, we recovered the dead for burial, treated the wounded, repaired the breached walls, and fixed the magic cannons. My body was in tatters from it all.
"Haven't the healers arrived yet?"
"They should be here soon."
"Uselessly slow. You, more bandages."
The soldiers were horrified when I, the acting duchess, insisted on tending the wounded myself. At first, others tried to stop me, but seeing the blood-soaked patients softened their resolve.
"Too much blood loss. We need to staunch it."
"Ugh."
"Hang in there just a bit."
"Sniff, yes."
I wasn't unscathed from fighting the monsters either. I'd treated my own cuts and scrapes many times, so as long as it wasn't critical, I could manage. The base sorely lacked healers right now.
Temple aid would be ideal, but unlikely. In the original story, they'd only dispatched priests and holy knights when the crown prince was cornered—and after Saintess Yurina stormed out without the pope's permission.
We'd have to fend for ourselves until then. I sighed and finally straightened up.
"Abigail."
"Ah, Professor. You're safe."
Non-combatants had suffered greatly from the high-grade monsters' rampage, but thankfully, Xavier Rector looked unharmed. I approached him, knowing he must have been terrified. His face was ashen—he'd once fled monsters after coveting a northern artifact, after all. Fundamentally, he was a frail scholar.
"I'm so glad you're alright. This place will be a battlefield for a while, so Professor, you should…."
"More importantly, I have something to tell you, Abigail."
"Pardon?"
I'd assumed he'd say he was leaving the Volta Base temporarily. That's why I'd spoken first, but Xavier said something else.
"What is it?"
"Not here—the office…."
"Your Grace! The imperial knights and Bellio Knights have arrived."
"Oh, really?"
The reinforcements arrived sooner than expected. I turned to Xavier with a troubled look.
"Can it wait?"
"O-of course."
"I'll come to your room soon."
"Yes, I'll wait."
I needed his input on the high-grade monsters anyway. First, deal with the Bellio Knights and the crown prince, then visit him.
I headed to the gates with sulky Pel and stoic Ian.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"…Ah, Acting Duchess."
The crown prince at the gates seemed momentarily speechless, scanning the walls before looking at me in surprise.
"Impressive. To think the north was this well-prepared."
"I suppose. Still feels insufficient."
I reflected calmly, gave a nod to Agni Asper whom I hadn't seen in ages, and spoke.
"Come in."
"Yes."
The imperial knights he'd brought were already clashing egos with the ducal Bellio Knights. Fitting for northern knights. I smirked and welcomed the crown prince and his men inside.
And shortly after, I heard something shocking from him.
"Pardon? You're telling me not to fight from now on?"
"Yes."
Unlike the crown prince's nonchalant face, as if stating the obvious, the knights around me turned icy—nay, glaring at him like they might shoot lasers from their eyes.
"…May I ask why?"
I was utterly flustered but managed a smile.
"You're a lady, aren't you? How could I let you fight when I'm here?"
He even smiled smugly, as if he were the world's finest gentleman.
"Leave the rest to me."