Chapter 312 - Vol. 5 -

Kasumi

A commotion outside caused Kasumi's eyes to open, and her nap was cut short. 

Ugh, again?  Kasumi thought to herself as she sat up in her tent and stretched her arms. For a moment, she considered closing her eyes and returning to her attempted slumber, but the yelling outside soon made it clear that wouldn't happen. Reluctantly, and of course, mumbling some bitter words under her breath, she got up. 

Mm... 'm hungry.

On that note, with a yawn, Kasumi walked outside. The sun was so bright she quickly had to shield her eyes as she looked around. Many of the soldiers, most of which had arrived a day ago, were moving from one area of the camp to another like they owned the place. In the middle of it all, they'd set up a table where one of them had some meat and bread laid out. Kasumi walked over to it. 

"Greetings!" A bubbly girl wearing a suit of armor said. 

"... Hello," Kasumi forced out as the girl then ripped out a bit of bread and some of the meat, before handing it over to her. 

"Here's your breakfast ma'am. May Lumina's grace guide you." 

"Uh... Thanks." 

Upon receiving those scraps of food, she turned away and walked over to a nearby spot where she felt like she could eat in peace. However, that notion was challenged quickly as everywhere she went it felt like there were dozens of soldiers going from one place to another, all chatting loudly with each other as Kasumi maneuvered between them. 

She nearly ran into some people a few times, and on each occasion, they'd give her a glare, but then turn away the moment that, presumably, they looked at her level. 

Good. If power-leveling is what I have to do for some peace and quiet, I'll gladly go out and fight. Or not, but still. I'd consider it. 

Eventually, she went right back to the tent she'd slept at and began to eat her breakfast there. It was mostly a fine start to her day, though some questions did come up in her mind. 

Haven't seen Ash, or anyone else in her group for that matter, she thought as she bit down on her bread.  They must be busy planning stuff. 

Unfortunately, as soon as she had that realization a little voice called "responsibility" told her that she, as a Savior, or at least a part-time one until after this is done, should probably be there as well. 

Hmm...  She sighed then, as she finished up her food and stood up.  Okay. Fine. Let's see if we can find them. 

She walked over to the first tent she saw. 

This was a mistake, as, as soon as she walked in, she found two soldiers on top of each other, in the middle of a passionate make-out session. 

Uh...  She grimaced, as she turned away.  Wrong one. 

The sight did manage to sprout a small thought in her mind, however. 

When was the last time I...? Never mind. I am way, way past that stuff. 

Trying her hardest to remove her thoughts from what she'd just come across, she went into a different tent. One that was bigger and generally looked more like some Saviors and soldiers would be discussing war plans in it. She entered, her hands pushing the opening apart as she peeked inside. 

Indeed, everyone else was there, along with some people she hadn't met yet. Ash and Keiko were standing next to each other, near a table with a map laid out on it. Behind them, Yumi and Sinneah stood and listened as Satsuhiro, an unknown woman, and the general spoke ahead. 

"We are certain then that there are no other nearby portals?" The general asked. 

"Closest one is a couple of hours' walk away. I can't imagine Niven relying on it for reinforcements," Satsuhiro replied. 

"In that case, then we can treat the forces inside the city as the entirety of the opposition," the general nodded. "Even if Niven can feed them orders, as you say he can, these are animals at heart and will react like animals should they be tackled as such. With that in mind, I believe some simple mind games could serve us well here." 

"What do you have in mind?" 

"We could cause some form of a distraction. Take the eyes of the demons off of the main force for a moment, so that the rest of us can attack them unawares." 

As they noticed Kasumi's arrival, Satsuhiro gestured towards her. 

"We have an illusionist with us. That wouldn't be too hard." 

"Indeed," the general said, as Kasumi put her hands on her hips and the man spoke directly to her. "Greetings, Savior. We were just discussing the initial stages of the siege." 

"I could guess as much," Kasumi replied. "So, what do you want me to do?" 

"That depends," he shrugged. "What is the extent of your magical abilities? If you could form multiple illusions at once, that would be precisely what we need." 

"... I could try," she answered. "I haven't done that in a while, but maybe. I don't know." 

"Hm. Then, in that case, I would suggest we conjure up the image of an army ahead, and then sneak our actual forces in from the palace. You verified that the route is still open, right?" He asked,, looking over at Ash. The half-demon nodded. "Then, yes, I believe this to be the best way to engage them." 

"It wouldn't hurt to leave a formation of archers outside, however, from where the illusory forces would be," Satsuhiro pitched. "If we do that, we can attack them from both sides once the trap is sprung." 

"Take the ladders we brought, have the archers climb up the walls once the fight starts, and quickly, pincer the demon forces before they have a chance to react," the general nodded. 

"All of this would go horribly if Niven spots us at any point, by the way," Ash reminded them. "He can dish out orders to all of them through their thoughts in an instant." 

"We will have to be careful, in that case."

Kasumi gradually went into her own head then, as they spoke. This side of combat had never been something she was too interested in, even when she was an active Savior. Besides, her role had already been given to her. So, now, she figured she could let her mind wander for a bit. 

And, strangely enough, her thoughts went back to the sight she'd come across earlier. But, more specifically, to the times in her own life when she was engaging in those kinds of acts. When she was a happily married woman, with a loving family, and a promising career ahead of her. 

Now, though, she felt like a walking husk of a human. However, the thought did bring some people to her mind. 

...  My brother,  she thought.  How is he? I haven't talked to him in so long. 

After Nozomi's tragic passing, he had tried the hardest out of anyone to get Kasumi out of her house. Now, though, that she was actually trying to recover, he wasn't there to watch her. 

And, it was with that in mind that an idea came naturally to her. 

I should write him a letter.  She thought.  I wonder where he went after everything happened. Hm... I could probably reach out to Jonoko too, make sure he's alright as well. 

"... formations," the general said. "Your soldiers, what are their skills?" 

"Good archers and swordsmen," the unknown woman replied. "Not much in the form of magical prowess, however." 

"Understood. Of course, Ash will be leading the main force," he added. "The battle shouldn't take more than a day to be decided. All we should decide is when we want to have it." 

That question lingered in the air until Ash eventually spoke up. 

"We have six days," she said. "I have something I need to do at that point, and I need levels for it. So, we need to do this before then." 

"Some quicker preparation would be needed to pull that off," the general said. "I'm not sure we have the time for it." 

"Why wouldn't we?" Satsuhiro asked. "We'll be fighting demons, after all. The way forward is simpler than it would be otherwise. All we need to do, really, is act on it." 

"... I suppose," the general replied. "You Saviors know more about these demon-related matters than I do. Whenever you decide we are ready, that is when we will be ready."

"Are we done, then?" Ash asked. 

"Yes. Satsuhiro, sir," the general addressed him. "I would like to iron out the details of this assault with you. Whenever you are available, of course." 

"Sure." 

As that was said, everyone left the tent and went about their own way. Kasumi, however, stopped Satsuhiro for a moment, walking up to him. 

Again, her brother passed through her mind, and with that image in front of her, she asked:

"Hey, do you have any spare paper? I want to send a letter." 

"Yes," he replied. 

"Thank you."