The enemies were taken aback by our sudden attack, but as you would expect from someone entrusted to guard the entrance to the tower where madam is, they were magicians.
They reflexively constructed defense barriers. From the level of their skills I figured they were magicians of at least rank B.
But without minding that, I selected full-automatic fire and pressed the trigger. Bracing for the muzzle flash, sound of gunfire, and recoil, I aimed at the enemys leg. The man on the right had prepared a defense barrier but it was easily pierced.
Gyaa!!
Fresh blood spurted out from the enemys leg.
In my vision that had gone slow-motion thanks to visual strengthening, I noticed that Snow had hit the man on the left she was in charge of with the S&W revolver, but it was repelled by his defense barrier. Looks like he released quite some magic and built a strong one in an instant.
Sheesh, this guy is well-prepared.
Still pressing my AK-47s trigger, I slid to the side. With the bullets being shot in full automatic, they found their way inside the enemy.
Gugaah!!!
Though the barrier was effective against 9mm bullets, it stood no chance against the 7.62mmR. The barrier was easily pierced, and the man was shot through the leg.
Yo, you bastards! How did you get in hereBaah!?
The man I shot down earlier started raising his voice, but Snow immediately kicked him unconscious. She also likewise kicked the other man unconscious.
Of course, I noticed her move and already stopped my firing. As childhood friends who were left in the orphanage on the same day and lived together, harmony is our specialty.
While popping the empty bullets out of the cylinder and reloading it from the magazine, Snow called out to me.
Lute-kun! The lock please! Leave it to me!
[What was that sound!?] [An intruder!? Oi, what are the guys outside doing!] [Its the tower! The tower is under attack!]
We heard mens voices from throughout the castle. They noticed the presence of intruders from the strange sound (gunfire) and the magic power from body strengthening. They knew all too well that the tower where madam is would be the target. For a castle this well defended, not even an idiot would invade for the money and goods.
It wouldve been best if we immediately opened the door and went into the tower but the problem lies with the door. The door was bulky and made of metal, and it had a lock attached to an iron bar as thick as a childs arm. The wall around the door was of course made of anti-magic bricks.
Normally the gatekeepers would be holding the keys, but as a precaution against intruders they would often hold identical dummy keys. There was no time to try each and every one in turn.
In other words, to break this door open without a key within a short time, youll need magic powerful enough to either destroy the metal door or the anti-magic bricks. But there was no time to chant the spell for that. In the first place, if you use magic poorly, even if you could break the door open, the magic power released would be high enough to destroy the area surrounding the door, burying the passage. In the end, you wouldnt be able to get in.
Other than magic, another way to break the lock open is by cutting it using a sword, but you need sufficient skill and power for that. The door was made of heavy metal, and the lock was also well made.
It was at the level where only a famous master could do something about it. There was nobody around us with that kind of skill. There was the possibility of using body strengthening and a heavy axe to forcibly cut the door apart. If we go back a bit we could take the axe from the metal armor. but while we did that the guards would have gathered here.
However, in my hands I hold an AK-47. It had the power to pierce through an NIJ (National Institute of Justice) [Level III A++]-ranked bulletproof vest.
It would be impossible for normal bullets to pierce through the heavy metal door, but the lock isnt so much of a problem.
I aimed at the lock and fired in semi-auto mode.
*BANG!*
The lock easily flew apart.
Snow and I went inside the doorway as if diving in. Snow pushed the open door closed, put her beloved gun away, and turned both her hands toward the door.
Hark my call o dragon of ice and snow. Let forth a world of glaciers before me! Permafrost!
Ice, it was melded magic of Ice. At elementary level you can use 1 kind. At intermediate level you can meld 2 kinds. At the advanced level you can meld over 3 kinds of magic.
The door was jammed with ice from the inside. Now even if the lock was broken, they wont be able to get inside so easily. It was plenty enough to buy time with.
I heard Snow call from behind me and destroyed the lock on the next door. Right then, my magazine ran out of bullets so I replaced it. I packed fresh bullets into the magazine.
I opened the door, let Snow inside, and ran up the stairs in one stroke with body-strengthening-enhanced strides.
In less than a minute I reached the top floor of the tower where madam was imprisoned. The door looked sturdy but unlike the two at the bottom of the tower it was made with careful workmanship. It wasnt hard to break through for being an ordinary door.
Madam, are you alright? Its Lute! [Lute!? You came to save me on your own?] Lets save the details for later! Please step away from the door for a moment. Its dangerous to be in front of the door so please move aside. [All right.]
I broke through the door using my body-strengthened shoulder. The door was blown into the room, hinge and all. Inside the room there was Lady Seras Gate Vlad who I hadnt seen for several months, since Karens surprise party.
She was wearing an undecorated one-piece dress that looked like pajamas. She looked a little lean, maybe from lack of exercise. Furthermore, her breasts seemed to have grown bigger.
However, as far as I can see there were no traces of her having been hurt or tortured. I stroked my chest in relief.
Snows warning. Flame swords, water spears, and lightning axes danced, blocking our way. Still holding on to madam, Snow hid me behind her back and opened a barrier. It blocked all the magic attacks.
Ten-odd men appeared out of the shadows where the magic was fired from.
*tch*!? I see, so the ringleader was Lute. I thought it was too cunning for Merry.
It was the first time I saw him in months. Gigi-sans figure almost hadnt changed. He looked just like the time when he was happy about ojousama going outside in order to get over her trauma.
That Gigi-san who shouldnt have changed pointed out my mistakes like he usually did.
But youre too nave. You overdid the acting you used as diversion. Intelligence is best when you make them think and consider and find out about it. Thats because intelligence they happen upon by themselves is one that they would believe in the most.
The men, mainly of the beast race, fanned out behind our back, encircling us. They were probably the men in Gigi-sans direct command. Their eyes shined with a hired professionals light, absolutely not willing to let madam escape.
Under the lead of Gigi-san, they set about to block our way. Despite supposedly standing in front of me as enemies, I still considered that it might be a lie, that he might be a fake.
Why are you over on that side, Gigi-san? For what reason did you betray master, madam, Merry-san and the servants, and Ojousama?
The first words out of my mouth after several months were not ones of denigration, but questioning as to his motives. I was sure that he was forced into betrayal because there was someone he know or a friend being held hostage.
Though he was taciturn and looked frightening, Gigi-san treasured the Vlad house more than anyone. He crafted so many plans and chaperoned ojousama out of worry for her. No way that kind of person would truly turn traitor.
But his reply was as usual, unrestrained and indifferent.
I dont mind talking now, but are you sure? Were not your only enemies you know.
Gigi-san pointed behind me. The smokescreen had cleared, and vampires who werent swallowed by the fumes were closing in on us. Wolf in the front gate, Vampire in the back.
Lute-kun . thats right isnt it. Theres lots to do before asking your reasons. First I have to safely get out of here and lead madam to safety. If you can, that is.
Gigi-san and his men took a solid stance. Behind us there were the vampires who escaped the smokescreen bearing down on us.
Normally, one would think we had no way to escape.
However, I unhurriedly raised my left hand, waving it round and round, sending a signal.
The others besides Snow and I made dubious expressions, not knowing my intention.
Whats this, signalling surrender? Then rather than that you should unhand the hostage andgaaaah!
There was a popping sound. At the same time, the beastman standing beside Gigi-san collapsed on the spot. There was a hole in his left thigh and blood splattering everywhere.
BANG.
Gaaah!?
Another man beside him collapsed in the same way, holding his leg. This time it was the thigh on his right leg.
Snow! Got it!
Only Snow and I was not bewildered and escaped the siege net through the hole created by the collapsed men.
After them! Dont let them escape!
Only one, Gigi-san reacted to the sudden situation, and made the order to chase after us
BANG.
A man who reflexively reacted to the order collapsed, holding his leg.
Another invisible attack.
Gigi concentrated magic power in his eyes, trying to firstly figure where the attack was coming from.
!? Is that Ojousama!
Then he noticed her a long way away, about 500 meterson the boundary between the forest and plain grounds.
At that distance he couldnt see her if it werent for the magical eyesight strengthening. Ojousama was standing on one knee, holding a long, cylindrical weapon.
It was the kneeling shot position. Every time she shoots, a [7.62mm51 NATO round] came flying out at about 838 meters per second.
They didnt know that. They were not aware what kind of terrible monster they were now standing before.
It was the moment for the trump card on our sideof Chrisse Gate Vlad to bloom!
(^)