Five days have passed since the meeting, and its around noon. A report arrives from the knights that a large-scale swarm of monsters is approaching the city.
So she has finally come.
Putting down the fork in her hand, the saint mutters. Were in the dining hall of the lords mansion. Everyone whos staying at the lords mansion had just sat down to have a meal.
Looks like it.
It took her a long time. In these five days, Ive just been killing time at the lords mansion. Id already done everything I could do in advance by sending requests to the nearby cities for reinforcements.
Since we didnt know when the succubus might attack, I havent left the lords mansion, which seems to have become our strategic headquarters. Its not like I can recklessly take peeks at Eris breasts with all this attention on me either.
And Ruruka has already left to call for reinforcements from the royal capital.
Ive just been waiting for the succubus to come, with nothing at all to do.
Since that meeting, with nothing but time on my hands, Ive just been earnestly petting Yuels head.
Master, this time for sure, I will protect you!
I pat Yuels eager head lightly.
Yuel has been bothered by the fact that I was severely injured at the church while she was sleeping. To the extent that she has already begun guarding me throughout the night without sleep. She blames herself for not being able to do anything when her master was in trouble.
Thats why Im petting her.
Even when the saint looked at me with a profound smile, I petted Yuel.
Even when Eris chest button popped off, I petted Yuel.
Even when the lord proposed a marriage to Fran, I petted Yuel while politely declining.
Perhaps because of that, Yuel, who was feeling down, is now giving off the feeling that shes trying to face forward and make up for her failure.
Well then, Shiki-sama, let us make haste toward the ramparts.
Yeah.
From the knights report, the surroundings are in an uproar. Theyve been sending out scouts, so the succubus forces shouldnt reach the city right away, but its not like we have time to waste either.
We leave the lords mansion in a hurry, aiming for the citys ramparts.
In the meantime, I havent just been petting Yuels head; weve also been discussing our assumptions for the battle with the succubus.
The succubus forces, and how she fights. Weve had countless meetings with the saint as the core, since shes the one with the deepest knowledge concerning that apostle of the evil god.
The crux of the battle is me. In order to make the best use of my healing magic, Ill be stationed in this stronghold on top of the citys ramparts to get a clear view, with the knight brigade arrayed right in front of the gates below. Thats apparently the formation were going with.
I wondered if the knight brigade might not be too far away for me to cast healing magic on them, but the saint said she had just the magic tool to cover that. And when the monster forces collide with the knight brigade head-on, Ill heal them from atop the walls using that magic tool.
In the case that the succubus brings more monsters with her than anticipated, the knight brigade will immediately return to the city for a siege. While we engage in a defensive battle from the ramparts, well wait for reinforcements from the royal capital.
Thats the strategy. Fortifying a completely defensive position, the saint will presumably issue suitable orders for everyone.
Oh yeah, what about that magic tool you mentioned earlier that lets your magic fly further?
On the way over, I try asking the saint. Fundamentally, healing magic cant be invoked if the target isnt close. From atop the walls, it generally wouldnt be possible for healing magic to reach the knight brigade dozens of meters away.
Many healers would be watering at the mouth for a magic tool that can extend the reach of magic. Im a little interested in what type of item it is.
I have brought it with me. However, it is quite conspicuous, so I shall hand it over after we finish moving
Giving me a smile, the saint puts on airs. Well, if it happened to break while we were en route, the strategy would fail right then and there. I guess it cant be helped.
-In that manner, I climb the ramparts along with the saint, Yuel, and the other assorted escort knights.
Down below, I can see a large number of monsters approaching along the plains that spread out in front of the city. In the skies above that swarm of monsters, theres a single black silhouette. Its the succubus.
The succubus is guiding the swarm of monsters from above, almost like the light from a bug zapper.
Theres still a fair amount of distance between us. Although theyve come within eyesight of the city, at that rate it should still take them some time.
She appears to be pointing at us and laughing her head off, does she not?
The saint peers at the succubus through the telescope-like object shes holding in one hand. I borrow it to take a look, and yeah, it does feel like that. Shes holding her waist with both hands and laughing idiotically with her head tilted back.
She seems to be confident in her victory. Well, I did hear that the succubus has formerly destroyed countless cities. Most likely, she has a general understanding of the war potential of this city as well as how much war potential it would take to win.
Their numbers are around 3000, or thereabouts? Kobolds, Goblins, Forest Wolves she really did bring anything in this area that she could get her hands on. That number is fewer than anticipated, though.
3000, huh? Im sure that at the church, they were saying 6000 in 4 days. 3000 in 5 days is lower than half of our estimate. Certainly, thats considerably fewer than we anticipated.
Maybe because her revival was incomplete, it takes her more time to manipulate monsters?
That may be.
From what I heard at the lords mansion, the number of knights that the city can mobilize in its present condition is approximately 500. The enemy has roughly 6 times that number.
Whether well win or lose is complicated, but at the very least if we fight head-on, the knight brigade is bound to incur heavy losses. I get the feeling Ive figured out the reason why the succubus is laughing so hard.
If the number of knight brigade members is reduced, they cant be immediately replaced, but for the succubus itd be just fine to go bring more monsters from some other place. With two or three attacks of this scale, it wouldnt be unusual for this city to fall.
And the knight brigade was on standby inside the city so they havent completely finished deploying yet either. The succubus its inevitable that shed make a mistake in her reading of the situation.
Such an incredible number
Seeing the monster forces, Eris mumbles anxiously. I told her she didnt have to come this far, but she said she didnt want to wait for me and came along. As I thought, Eris seems to be against waiting for someone to return.
Well, monsters shouldnt make it as far as this stronghold, though, so I dont really mind.
Worry not, Eris. With these numbers, we can win.
Shiki-sama, by all means, please use this equipment.
At the same time the succubus presses onwards, the saint hands something over to me.
This is, a cane?
Yes. It is a venerable item handed down through the church. Not only does it allow one to cast magic from a distance, it also enables one to use higher degrees of magic.
Kinda sounds like an amazing cane. The extravagant decorations do make it look expensive, yet it also appears to have seen many years of use. But it seems to have been carefully maintained; even though its full of scratches, it doesnt look worn-out.
Its as if it was brought out from a museum exhibit or something, thats the kind of atmosphere it has.
I try using Appraisal.
Magic Tool
Properties: Mana Capacity Up, Mana Amplification, Casting Range Expansion, Effect Range Expansion, Magic Effect Up, Mana Absorption - User - Persistent
Somehow, there are various effects attached to it that Ive never seen before. If I recall correctly, even a ring that only raises mana capacity costs around 10 million Zeni, though. This cane, how many millions of Zeni would an item like this be worth?
Something like this, is it really okay for me to use it?
Yes, this cane cannot be handled without an enormous amount of mana, after all. With your aptitude, Shiki-sama, I would like for you to use it by all means.
The saint says with a radiant smile. Apparently its okay for me to use it. Well, that was the plan from the beginning, though.
But man, this cane, I get the feeling Ive seen it before somewhere. Although I have no interest in canes, so I shouldnt have had that many opportunities to see it.
Well, whatever. I hold the cane lent by the saint in my hand. Then, gazing at the succubus army, I hold it aloft.
Master Master is amazing, amazing!
When I do, Yuel who was waiting by my side stares at me with a look of reverence for some reason and begins to shower me with praise. Whats going on? I havent even used any healing magic yet.
Hold on, something tells me that this look of reverence from Yuel is different from normal. Usually shes sending me a look of respect because she feels happy about my actions, that kind of feeling, but this time the look feels somehow distant.
Like shes realized something incredible, surprise mixed with admiration.
! So thats what it was
Seeing Yuels reaction, Eris seems to realize something too. Shes looking at me with a face like shes somehow become convinced.
But well, I have no time to worry about that right now. Very soon, the knights and the monsters will collide. I mustnt misjudge my timing to cast healing magic.
However, right before the monsters clash with the knights. The succubus comes out in front of the monster army, at a distance where our attack magic may or may not reach, and shouts.
You may have the numbers, but your victory isnt decided yet!
Attack magic just barely wont reach. Maybe the dragon could attack her, but Ruruka and the dragon havent returned yet. Just to be sure, they went to the royal capital to call for reinforcements.
If Ruruka and the dragon are going ahead of the reinforcements, in terms of days they should be coming back around today, though.
Foolish humans, who sealed Evil God-sama! You bastards, how many of your corpses will rot on this soil? Watch and see!
The succubus is stubborn but she doesnt declare I will win, most likely because she realizes herself that she cant win.
Even so, she doesnt make a temporary retreat to assemble more monsters, probably due to the weakness of her ability to manipulate desire. From the fact that she couldnt manipulate the dragon, its not a perfect brainwashing type of ability.
Besides, while their sexual desires still exceed their other desires theyll remain focused on the succubus and she can influence them, but no matter how much she fans up their sexual desires, when they get hungry enough they should switch their target to the meat in front of them instead of her.
Most likely, after the monsters are gathered for a while, theyll no doubt start to cannibalize each other.
And the saint was also saying something like if shes manipulating them for too long, theyll break free from her control.
Moreover, there arent any airborne monsters either. This too is most likely because the succubus is using herself as bait to lead the monsters. If she tempts monsters that can fly, shell likely end up being caught by them.
-As Im speculating, I see the wide formation of knights intercept the monsters attacks. The battle has begun. Time to get to work.
Raising the cane, I recite the incantation.
Area Heal.
I sense the gathered mana become amplified. From the cane, I feel more than my full power being drawn out. When I invoke the magic, in a single shot its light envelops every last knight.
The knights maintain their ranks, advancing over the monsters corpses. Each time the knights thrust their spears, a large number of monsters simultaneously fall the ground. However, no matter how much the monsters attack, no knight corpses are produced.
In cooperation, the knights cover each other, and they steadily reduce the monsters numbers. Then for the second time, I set off healing magic there. In the distance, I can see the wounded knights promptly return to the front lines.
This is an incredible cane.
After using it, I understood this cane is incredible.
It doesnt just let me cast magic at a distance. Just as I expected, it also lets me precisely specify the maximum extent of my Area Heal. Moreover, that maximum extent itself is expanded.
Furthermore, even though the light of my healing magic was that of a mere Heal, it shined as bright as the average High Heal. Most likely, it had the corresponding effect. Just holding the cane gives me the sensation that my mana is being sucked away, but for me the impact is negligible.
Yes. Among the magic tools possessed by the church, this is the highest-class item, after all.
As I listen to the saints voice, I continuously fire off healing magic.
This is already a total victory. The monsters the succubus brought with her are all small fry. Mostly low-grade monsters that the knights can cut down in a single stroke. I wonder if this is a result of the succubus incomplete resurrection as well?
In a small amount of time, the twinkling of an eye, the monsters numbers are diminishing. Furthermore, even when a knight occasionally gets injured from a monsters attack, they make an instant recovery within seconds.
I knew this from before the start of the battle, but we have an overwhelming superiority.
I take a quick look, and the succubus is gazing out over the battlefield with a dumbfounded face. The monsters corpses are piling up, but not a single knight corpse has appeared.
The succubus didnt know about my existence. That was the biggest reason for her defeat.
I hold the cane aloft. And once again, on the knights who are fighting below, I cast healing magic.