CH 145

[Defensive Battle of Youg Hannotes]

At midnight two days after the area around Youg Hannotes was muddied, as I’m sleeping, the sound of a bell reaches my ears.

It’s the bell on the east side, I think…

The bell is battered unceasingly.

In case of enemy attack, it should be tolled for 10 times, and it shouldn’t be battered.

It’s battered only when a big footprint like that of a Genocider is sighted!

I immediately get up from the bed and wear Dayle, leaning by the bedside, in my waist belt.

And after hurriedly putting on my cloak, I open the door of the room.

“Frick-sama, the bell is——” (Noelia)

“Yeah, the bell on the east side is being battered.” (Frick)

“There’s a part of the eastern walls that have half-crumbled, right?” (Al)

Noelia and Al have already finished getting dressed and are waiting in the corridor.

“It’s as Al said, they’re probably going to attack the half-crumbled part of the walls, totally destroy it, and send in the Genocider.” (Frick)

“As the battering of the bell has not stopped, the knights who are on watch should have already responded to the enemy attack. We have to hurry there.” (Noelia)

“Yeah, you’re right. A Genocider’s fighting power is outstanding. Even if the knights were former veteran adventurers, they would have a tough time fighting it.” (Al)

The battering of the bell doesn’t stop even while I’m talking with the two, and the knights who have been stationed and lodging at the mansion rush out into the courtyard with their respective specialized weapon in one hand.

“The command of the defense has been entrusted to Meiss, so let us focus solely on subduing the Genocider. I am glad I have finished filling the magic for Al-sama’s swords before going to bed.” (Noelia)

I had offered to fill magic into the medals that’s going to be inserted into the swords Al used, but Gawain refused it adamantly.

Well, I have no confidence of being able to enclose magic into the medal with just enough power not to destroy it, but you know.

I have been handling magics for quite a while, and I’m sure I have grown to the point where I can make small adjustments when I cast them, though.

But in Gawain’s mind, I seem to be the kind of fellow who always fire off magics with all my might.

That’s why, so that his precious medals not destroyed, he only let Noelia, who is good at manipulating magic power, to enclose magic in them.

“In the royal capital, all I could do was holding back Frick-san, but with these swords, I should be able to give some help. There are medals which Noelia-sama has filled with magic, too.” (Al)

She has changed her belt, in which she wears her new short swords, huh.

The storing method of the medals has kinda changed, too.

“That belt is?” (Frick)

“After I talked about the medals, Meila hurriedly made it. She modified so that I can easily change the medals.” (Al)

The belt has small pockets made of metal for storing medals, and so that they can be inserted easily into the pommel, the medals’ protrusions are coming out from the top.

“After use, too; if I put in the medal like this——” (Al)

After Al put in the empty medal that was inserted in the pommel of her sword into the pocket, the pocket made of metal firmly sandwiches and hold the medal.

So, when reloading during a battle, she doesn’t need to grope for a loaded medal like when she put it in a pouch anymore, huh.

Al, who does super-close combat, must really like it.

“You can easily insert and take out the medals now, I see.” (Noelia)

“Once they’re all exhausted, I’d have to have them be refilled, though.” (Al)

15 shots max, that’s how many times Al can fire attack magic from her swords.

Considering the high durability of Genociders, Al’s Spell Sword will be very helpful.

“You three over there, the enemies are still attacking even while you guys are talking! Stop your chit-chat!” (Cinzia)

Cinzia usually said a lot of nonsense, but since we came to Youg Hannotes, I often saw her in a daze as if something was weighing her mind.

She had been depressed after losing her master and old friends, but I feel that she became somewhat strange since she was summoned by Lloyd back at the royal capital.

The times she acts and talks unlike the usual her is getting more frequent.

“We’re just about to head out! Noelia, Al, let’s go!” (Frick)

“Yes!” (Noelia)

“U-un.” (Al)

As if hurried by Cinzia, we leave the mansion and run to the eastern walls where the bell is being battered.

After we climbed to the top of the wall, the knights have already begin to shoot the advancing enemies with bows and crossbows while hiding behind the parapets.

“Frick-sama, Al-sama, I will cast Wind Barrier on you.” (Noelia)

“Thanks.” (Frick)

After Wind Barrier covered my body, I approach the parapets where the metal balls are flying about and look closely at the muddy ground below.

Where’s the discovered footprint?

There are too many enemies to see.

I search desperately, but as I’m doing so, more and more metal balls stick into the Wind Barrier.

I can’t fi——there!

It’s still quite far away!

Looks like it is the only one here for now!

When Al and Noelia come next to me, I point to the location of the footprints.

The footprints of the Genocider are heading straight in the direction of the half-crumbled part of the walls.

“Let’s leave the defense to the knights and we do our best to get rid of it. Al, the ground has become muddied, so watch your steps.” (Frick)

“Did you ever see me struggling at a place where the footing was bad?” (Al)

“Well, I never did.” (Frick)

“Al-sama, I’m going to fire a Fireball as a preemptive attack; it will blow the mud off the ground, so I think there will be no problem with the footing.” (Noelia)

“Thanks. That’d be a great help.” (Al)

“Then, let’s use Noelia’s Fireball as a signal to start the attack. Noelia, anytime you’re ready!” (Frick)

“Understood.” (Noelia)

Noelia holds up her staff and starts chanting. Then, she fires a fireball at the place where the Genocider seems to be, before Al and I jump from the crumbling wall and narrow the distance in an instant.