Chapter 15：Your Support is Here

"Good morning, Princess."

I teased Reinys when she opened her eyes. Well, she's the last one. Caila and Noelle woke up earlier than her. This princess was having her sweet dream with her brother. She's calling him out in her dream.

"Y-you. Why are you here?"

"We were rescued by them, Princess."

Caila answered her. Only her always calmly talks with the princess. Even if she's fuming in anger, she will not disrespect her. Noelle is part of the Church, it doesn't matter if she respects her but since they're both members of the Hero's Party, they both respect each other.

"Them?"

"Zerina Westcolt, your highness."

Zerina appeared from the side and bowed to Reinys. It was common courtesy for them since Reinys' Family is their liege. Though it's a bit unclear now because of that 3rd Lady, she didn't forget what was taught to her .

"Don't call me your highness if I am currently acting as a member of the Hero's Party."

Reinys pouted, she's probably aggrieved because they got caught and were rescued by me and an Adept-class.

"Come here, Zerina, she's not the princess right now. And I still have a pledge to you so stay with me."

I pulled Zerina's hand and placed her behind me. The potion immediately took effect so when Zerina opened the room where they were detained, I'm already back at my feet.

"Huh? What pledge? Are you cheating on Yuko already? Well that's good, my brother still has a chance."

She raised her voice and it suddenly brightened after realizing that. This brocon. How is this called cheating? If need be I'll fight that prince. And seeing Yuko's reaction towards him, sheclearly didn't like the guy.

"Can you be thankful for once? I pledged to help her escape here and in exchange she gave me the means to rescue you. Well, she mostly did the fighting, I still couldn't defeat an Adept-class after all."

I explained but yeah I somehow feel sorry for myself, I made myself something big by pledging to help Zerina but when the time to fight came, I could only buy her a few seconds.

"Thank you Miss Zerina, we're grateful for it."

It's Caila who voiced their gratitude and Noelle behind her also bowed. This princess really won't change. I guess I'm getting used to her by now.

"Yuko is waiting for us. We should go now."

I reminded them and they hurriedly prepared themselves.

Looks like the 3rd Lady was currently busy so she still hadn't reacted even after we rescued the Hero's Party Members.

Well, that's good too. The real enemy was that Priest who went after Yuko.

I looked behind me and Zerina's face was red.

"What happened? Do you feel sick?"

"You are shameless. Your hand!"

Eh? Ah. I'm still holding her hand. This noble girl is this pure. Well, because of my ability I didn't see this as wrong right now. Holding a girl's hand, isn't that normal?

We waited for a bit for the cooldown of the Orb. According to Zerina, the Orb is ideally used alone, adding another individual to envelop with its aura doubles the amount of World Energy needed. But yeah, with me, that was nulled and I'm not restricted to add three more. This is some kind of cheat, right?

However, there's still a limitation, just that I haven't reached that yet, maybe I'll test it later but for now we have to go to Yuko's side as soon as possible.

If there's danger, I want to be there to support her. Her Foresight isn't omnipotent and her Psyche Energy even with the boost from this world isn't inexhaustible. I still have 3 charges, she'll need this.

When the cooldown ended, I immediately used the Orb of Concealment to envelop the five of us. The three found it unbelievable but the most surprised was Zerina. She knew the Orb better than anyone so when I used it like there's no limitation and without seeing me exhausting my World Energy, her look towards me changed to something like seeing a monster disguising as a weak monkey.

It's a bother to explain it to her so I keep using the excuse of it's a perk of being a Support Character. It's not wrong though, my Adaptability plus World Energy made it possible.

Since we were concealed, leaving the manor became as easy as pie. It only ran out when we reached the vicinity of the inn.

"There's an ongoing battle."

Caila commented and stopped us.

"It's the soldiers. Those Dark Soldiers sent a squad to capture those at the inn. Luckily Yuko ordered them to be prepared."

I clarified to Caila.

"I'll go and assist them. Noelle, cast your Blessings to us then come with me."

Noelle nodded and used the 2 Blessings to all of us. Reinys didn't say anything and just nodded at Caila and Noelle before they changed their direction towards the inn.

I supported Caila's decision. There's probably a Great-class among the squad sent there so if they leave them be, everyone at the inn, even the mercenaries will be annihilated.

"Now I'm stuck with you two. Let's go to Yuko."

"Reinys, when will you warm up to me?"

"Never."

"That's cold. And here I thought you already accepted me."

Reinys didn't answer me and just hasten her footsteps towards the City Square.

I couldn't help but shake my head. That girl is probably a tsundere and a brocon. Well. At least, her threat towards Yuko was now low. I need to be wary against her father, that king, and her brother that I haven't seen yet.

With Reinys in front and Zerina at the back, I became sandwiched with these two aristocratic ladies. Once Yuko settled this strange city, didn't that mean Zerina has no need to leave anymore? What about my pledge? Will it be completed?

"Are you worrying about your pledge?"

Zerina asked. She's behind me. How could she guess what I'm thinking?

"You only pledged that you'll help me. I guess you got yourself in some unlimited pledge. Unless I acknowledged that you're done helping, it won't end."

Eh? That's true. What the hell did I do?

"And I pledged that I will give you that Orb and assistance if you can promise to help me leave that place. I'm in a similar situation. I will continue providing you assistance unless you acknowledge that you already don't need it."

Ah. Right. We're both idiots. I should study on proper wording for pledges later!

"You're both idiots."

Reinys commented. She heard what Zerina said. Well I already admitted to that in my mind.

"Yes. Then after this Zerina. I'll acknowledge it. I still need your help in supporting the Hero."

"Alright. I will too after this. The Hero is lucky, she got you."

No. I'm probably luckier that out of all the guys out there, her affection was directed at me. With her beauty, she can choose anyone but in the end she picked someone she met during childhood and someone who couldn't remember her.

Along the way, we will be met by a patrolling guard but like the guy I killed before, they're weak. There's only a few Adept-classes that Reinys or Zerina easily took care of.

Sometimes there will also be a Dark Soldier doing the patrol but they all met with the same fate. Reinys isn't a normal Great Wizard, with all the boosts she got, she might be closer to High Wizard now. That's the next stage if her system upgraded and she'll be a Master-class. I don't know how many there are in this world who reached that stage. But the Hero's Party grew faster than anyone. They're still young but already a Great-class. Especially the Hero who's seemingly invincible.

They don't know that she was just supported by her ability. Now that I'm here, I'll make her look more invincible. It's to add another layer for her safety.

When we arrived at the City Square, like my previous hunch, the citizens of this city were all there albeit unconscious. Yuko probably put them in that state, at the center of the City Square, there's something like a Cauldron on it. It's big enough that there's a ladder on its side. There's also a water tank-like container behind it and a tube connecting it to that cauldron.

I can guess what's the purpose of that. That's where they convert these influenced citizens into a ball of World Energy, to what purpose will they use those, I don't know.

But maybe not everyone will become like that and will turn into something special but there might be conditions. At least for now it stopped because of Yuko.

We looked over and saw signs of fighting that's slowly getting pushed far away from this place. Rather than pushed, it was purposely pulled to that direction so that the citizens won't get implicated leaving us a trail we can follow.

Reinys in the lead, we followed the trail and arrived at a clearing.

There were flashes of sparks made from metal hitting each other in a distance and numerous Dark Soldiers surrounding it.

"It's Yuko. She's fighting alone in there. Let's hurry up Reinys!"

"I know! You go after her, I'll make you a path. You have that blob of energy that can help her right?"

Ah. She's probably talking about Psyche Boost. It's just a stable ball of Psyche Energy.

"Yes. Leave it to me."

"You girl, help protect that weak guy so he can reach Yuko."

Reinys then pointed at Zerina. Well, I also plan to bring her there. I don't know how long until she upgrades her system. She's stronger than an ordinary Adept-class so she's probably near it. If she can be Great-class in this battle then that's better. I'll recommend her to be taken in by Yuko as part of her party.

"Understood."

Zerina pulled out her two short swords and positioned herself in front of me.

Reinys then casted a Level 3 Spell towards the clump of Dark Soldiers ahead. 

"Pyro Surge!"

From the tip of her staff, a huge ball of fire grew and flew towards them. With a blast, a good number of Dark Soldiers were reduced to ashes.

Because of that the attention of those Dark Soldiers turned to Reinys.

Zerina then started running to that gap Reinys made, slashing those trying to block us. I followed right behind her. Flicking Air Bullets to anyone near us. 

From a distance I could already see Yuko being ganged upon by at least 10 Great-class, all she could do was defend and dodge. The limitation of her Foresight only made her anticipate 5 attacks so the other 5, she's relying on her skills and experience to dodge it.

There's someone watching what's happening not far from it. He stuck out because of how he looks. Zerina calling him a priest wasn't wrong in the slightest but this guy, he's starting to resemble those Dark Soldiers.

Before he noticed us, the cooldown of the orb ended. Using it again, we suddenly vanished from the enemies' sight which made them confused.

Zerina looked at me and nodded. She understood why I used the Orb again. I needed to be at a certain range to shoot that Psyche Boost to Yuko.

We circled around them and arrived behind Yuko. She's still struggling but it doesn't look like she'll lose any minute now. Unless that priest-guy attacked alongside these 10, Yuko wouldn't be defeated.

"What's wrong Hero? Aren't you invincible? Looks like someone arrived but they needed to get past those soldiers first before aiding you."

That was the crazed voice of that Priest.

"You who let yourself be corrupted. There's no more future for you."

Yuko calmly answered. It irked the guy but he still continued to laugh hysterically.

"Foolish Hero. You wouldn't know true power unless you join them. Look, even 'The World' couldn't take back what He granted me! This is the power of that world."

Hearing their exchanges I could see a more clearer picture now. So the denizens of this world can be corrupted and be granted power by that invading world. And they could even retain their system and use of World Energy. But there must be a downside. That explains why they're trying to turn those citizens into blobs of World Energy.

"Ah. Continue laughing. My Support is finally here."

Yuko said mysteriously towards that Priest but he hadn't noticed the glance she sent at our direction.

Right. Yuko's Foresight saw my arrival. Even with this Orb of Concealment, she probably saw that as well.

I shouldn't let her wait anymore. Channeling the stored energy inside me, I threw a ball of Psyche Energy towards Yuko.

At the same time that happened, the Aura of Concealment Surrounding me vanished and that made the Priest's eyes turn towards my direction.

"What?!"