Before the Battle
This chapter starts from Hero's POV
The fourth continent's Royal Capital, 'Avalon'.
At the perimeter to the east, a masked man is flying around while periodically landing every now and then.
"This will do... This will do..."
<<...What have you been up to all this time?>>
<<Setting up interceptions. What about you Neora-kun, not gonna put some traps?>>
<<No, I got nothing on me that'll work as one...>>
He grinned while muttering something whenever he placed something on the ground, looking real suspicious. I don't get the reference. I dunno how to respond.
Gotta remember not to get close to those things he put there. Heck, what are those anyway? Land mines?
I mean, the two of us really got told to go fight 15000 magic beasts for real. How dumb is that.
It'd be super tiring even if they were all Lv1, and those beasts are all supposed to be over Lv40, really how dumb is that. They telling us to die?
I'm just gonna get revived but what about Kajikawa-san.
<<Um, mere Lv40s magic beasts are going to have a hard time even putting a dent on to this person. You want four digit ATK value at least otherwise he's only going to suffer minimal damage, if any.>>
...Yup. I'm a fool for worrying.
This man is a monster with nearly 2000 high Attribute values and he doesn't get physically hurt until he's out of HP. I almost feel sorry for his opponents.
I'm more worried about other groups.
"Alright, got most of them set up. Just gotta think up what to drop down now. Guess I'll pick one depending on the enemy's composition? Uumu."
Is it just me or is this man having fun.
He's brooding over what traps to install like he's playing a tower defense game.
This is my first time fighting a swarm of magic beasts but Kajikawa-san has had experience in a Stampede already it seems.
I'm told the scale was very small he could take them on solo now, but thanks to that experience, he'd been cooking up plans to deal with similar situations.
Must be why he finished his preps in just ten minutes.
...It's weird how I'm more nervous about fighting alongside Kajikawa-san than against herds of magic beasts...
Heck, am I even needed here?
I felt a hopeless gap between our strength after watching him fighting on par against those monstrous instructors the other day, so much so I regretted peeping.
Seeing that Sword King gradually getting wounded by Kajikawa-san's attacks made me feel terrified as well as a tinge of envy deep in my chest.
<<Your chest is flat as a board though.>>
As it should! I'd riot if it was bulging!
~~~~~~~~~Radia's POV~~~~~~~~~
Ah, I'm stuck fighting herds of magic beasts again... Scary.
I still remember that time a Werewolf made me into a shield during Daijel's Stampede.
I could easily win against the thing bare handed now but the fear and sense of helplessness I felt at that time is still coiling in the depths of my heart.
A trauma that won't disappear no matter how many magic beasts I fought, how many levels I gained.
That sense of helplessness gets beaten over my head whenever those instructors beat me to a pulp every four days though.
Not to mention, the fear of death. Can't believe I survived... Perhaps that's why I feel like my phobia towards Werewolves is gradually thinning. I'll probably get a new trauma before long though.
But I can't help feeling nervous still.
Not from having to fight magic beasts.
I couldn't even touch those instructors' fingertips no matter how hard I trained.
It doesn't matter how many levels I got, even my best life-risking effort was easily brushed off. The gap in our power forever remains.
It's gotten to a point that I doubt if I've actually gotten stronger.
...Kajikawa-san handed over some weird gear and tools as if he saw through my worries.
I declined at first since I needed to be strong on my own but he insisted.
He said, "Use anything you can use, that's legit strength in itself. I rely a lot on tools, weapons and allies too. Sometimes enemies even.'
That man is strong enough alone yet he won't hesitate to rely on other huh.
Don't just focus on yourself, lean on other's shoulders too. I think that's what he's trying to tell me. But what does he mean by relying on enemy...?
Dunno if I can use Kajikawa-san as a frame of reference, but well, no harm trying. If I can't believe in myself, might as well put my trust in others.
So uh about the gear he gave me. What's the weird mechanism inside this gauntlet-like thing anyway?
I also got the thing Reina used, shuriken or something? Several of them, all of which have something installed in the center.
...Are these safe to use? It's kinda worrying in a different direction...
For now, I should read the manual. He mentioned how they're powerful double edged swords that could put their user in danger if you're not careful.
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~Aizawa-kun's POV~~~~~~~~~
I'm from continent five. I got nothing to do with this continent or its capital.
Going off to another country while leaving your own country defenseless is just ain't it.
But I got debts to pay for these folk.
Our kingdom's army been rotting due to continued peace. They're unreliable, slow, powerless and defenseless, dull and weak like a rusted sword made evidence in the last large scale raid we suffered.
They're so useless the prime minister old man said he's gonna do a reorganization. I bet he's gonna replace all the useless garbage and keep the more worthwhile guys.
The extent of damage wouldn't have been so small had they were left alone to fend off against those beasts and demons invading our capital, Pendragon.
Those people from other continents stood up to aid our populace without question.
This ain't me paying debts from that time.
Me alone ain't anywhere enough, the army's gotta move too but I got no authority to command 'em.
So I'm just gonna do it my way.
...Anyway, where'd have Alma and that Reina brat gone off to?
Those two instructors are off dealing with similar incidents on other continents. You tellin' me they're helping them?
Here I thought I coulda pair up with her when that flying masked fella asked for my aid. Darnit.
"What's the matter, o young 'Sword Saint'. What puts that frown on your face."
"...Ain't got nuthin' to do with ya. Mind yer damn business, next generation Sword King."
Gazanginando, Ganan made fun of me.
Guy's even brawnier-looking than the current Sword King and sure enough, every swing of his sword carried tremendous weight behind them when we sparred.
And the current Sword King casually parried those swings with one hand, using a wooden sword. Dang monster.
"Even if I advanced and got 'Sword King' Job, I ain't gonna call myself one. Not after the shameful display whenever I sparred with the current Sword King."
"That instructor's just ain't normal. The previous Sword King, gramps ain't... Nah, guess they ain't that far apart."
"Are you referring to Spadia-sama? Heard he went missing a while ago. You got no clue on his whereabouts either?"
"Hell if I know... Heck, you tell me."
...I'm getting furious just remembering.
That damned geezer went off somewhere without even leaving a notice.
I'll damn snatch a victory over him before he kicked the bucket... You gotta get back quick, geezer.
~~~~~~~~Flying Masked Fella's POV~~~~~~~~
This and that go here, and then another one on top to make for a delightful topping of dread.
Alright, I'm done prepping for the raid. Now I just gotta wait, come at me anytime.
Welp, I've got time to kill, might as well nibble on a turkey leg with a vial of mana potion for the drink.
"Man, you're really just there snacking and sipping without a care in the world when we're about to go to war."
"I'm converting my mana to my stamina while restoring my MP with mana potion. I mean it's a 15000 magic beast strong. Gotta stay on tip top shape."
"...Sorry, didn't know it was part of the preps."
"Yup, I'm prepping things up. Ah, these orphanage potato chips are the best."
"You're really just acting carefree! Your MP and SP are already full anyway!"
"Want some, Neora-kun? Those kids made some killer chips."
"They won't go down my throat..."
The nervous-looking Hero-kun responded in disbelief.
Sheesh, don't get so stiff now. You gotta relax more.
"You're way too relaxed. What's up with that hammock-style flying anyway."
"I'm simply floating on a cushioned mana so soft it'll ruin a person. It's oh so comfy~."
"I'm begging you, just don't fall asleep... Ah, wonder how many people in the capital would fall victim if we failed to stop those magic beasts..."
"What will be, will be. You can blame the folk at the guildmaster office for pitting just two people against such a huge swarm. Oh yeah, stopping those beasts are important yeah but--"
"I mean you're free to kill them too, wait no this is a death flag! ...It's such a relief having someone around who gets Japanese references."
"Tell me about it."
"...Were you guys friends in your world? You're quite tight together."
"Not at all."
"Neither of us even knew each other's name."
Lolimast who had been listening to our chatter asked with an inquiring mind. I brushed her off.
Lolimast spoke to us through her spirits... Looks like it's time.
"They're getting close, get ready to intercept!"
"Got it. Neora-kun, stick to the plan okay."
"...Yeah, leave it to me."
"Want some potato chips?"
"Told you, not until we're over this!"
Oh okay. Too bad.
...I saw waves of magic beasts coming closer, scattering dust clouds and causing tremors in their wake.
Now then, let's see how well it goes.
I'm kinda curious to see how effective the stuff Julian made is gonna be... Kinda scared to test them out though.
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