Wha? The royal capital has fallen!?
The evil god has been resurrected!? And moreover the succubus yet lives!? Give me the details!
The evil god was revived. And furthermore by the succubus, who should have turned to stone? The saint was just saying something about night service, but she too switches her expression and demands an explanation from the knight.
The details are unclear, but according to the testimony of the knights who came from the royal capital the evil god suddenly appeared at the royal capital, sealed off all entry and exit with barrier magic, then instantly left the royal capital and commenced an attack on this city of Merhatz!
He is heading towards this city!? And moreover he used large-scale stationary barrier magic!? Does that mean it is the genuine evil god!?
Large-scale barrier magic.
Within the Bible, I read about the evil god using that once. If I recall correctly, its magic where a huge pattern is inscribed on the ground, then everything within its range gets cuts off from the outside world. Though it takes time to set up, once its invoked the effect is tremendous.
Until the evil god releases it, nobody can undo it. It was supposedly an extraordinarily troublesome spell.
But that resurrected evil god blockaded the royal capital, and hes heading towards this labyrinth city?
What does that mean?
-The questions keep coming.
First, didnt the succubus get petrified? The distance from this labyrinth city to the royal capital is far enough that it takes a few days even by dragon.
Taking into account the advancement of the succubus petrification from what I previously saw, she shouldnt have managed to reach the royal capital by any stretch of the imagination. And the saint was also saying that there are no priests around here capable of using EX Heal other than me and her.
Besides, how did they end up allowing the evil god to be revived? The royal capital shouldve had strict security in place around the evil gods seal.
Even if the succubus brought along monsters and attacked, the royal capital wouldnt fall so easily, and if she went in alone she shouldnt have been able to somehow bypass the security easily either.
Hey, in the royal capital, werent there jewels not just for the evil god, but for the rest of his apostles too?
Yes, distributed in several places, but they were being kept under strict guard
Then why did he take such wishy-washy measures and leave the royal capital in limbo by blockading it with a barrier, to come march on this labyrinth city? If he had seized the royal capital, the country would no longer be able to fulfill its duties as a country.
Besides, if he had combed the capital to search for the other apostles sealing gems, he should have been able to find a few of them. I dont really understand the merit of leaving that place so far behind and going out of his way to march on this labyrinth city.
The evil god and the succubus are advancing towards this labyrinth city, gathering monsters along the way They are already approaching at two days distance.
And moreover, in exchange for guaranteeing the safety of the royal capital, the evil god is demanding that Sage-sama be brought before him, alone!
To hand over Shiki-sama!? I-Is that what it comes down to?
Now I get it so the royal capital is being held hostage?
The knights remark cancels out my one doubt. The reason the evil god expressly blockaded the royal capital was to use it in exchange for me?
Most likely, the evil god is aiming for certain victory. The Sage is the only one with the capability to oppose the evil god. In order to kill me quickly and without resistance, hes holding the royal capital hostage and advancing towards this labyrinth city.
In the case that we dont obey, Im sure hell have some device to blow up the interior of that barrier or something with large-scale magic.
The fact that knights came here from the royal capital is also probably because the evil god intentionally allowed them to escape in order to serve as his messenger.
I-I will I will protect you, Master!
Perhaps because she heard something like hand me over to the evil god, Yuel draws a knife. Then she forces her way in front of the knight and the saint in order to protect me.
Please calm down!
The saint gets flustered when Yuel points the blade at her. Before I notice, Astel wedges herself between the saint and Yuel as well. Yuel and Astel, pointing knives at each other. The atmosphere is touch-and-go.
I-I have no intention of handing over Shiki-sama in resignation! If we lose Shiki-sama as the Sage, humanity will lose its only means of opposing the evil god. And should we hand over Shiki-sama, we cannot be sure that the royal capital will truly be returned unharmed.
Moreover, the authenticity of this information has not yet been confirmed.
Yuel, Im fine. Relax.
I grab hold of Yuels knife hand and move her behind me. Incidentally, I also reach behind my back to pet her head.
The saint wouldnt actually present me to the evil god. At the very least, without me, its doubtful whether they could even win against the succubus monster troops alone. The royal capital has already been isolated and taken hostage.
Considering humanity as a whole, we should abandon it at this point. And I think that the saint is most likely the type whos capable of such thoughts, even from her standpoint as the archbishop of said royal capital.
As Im patting Yuels silky hair, a single thought comes to mind.
Ive been thinking about it ever since I heard that the succubus resurrected the evil god. How did she heal her petrification?
-And I land on a single person who might have been capable of healing it.
Hey by some chance, what if the one who healed the succubus was that baldy bishop? If that guy could use EX Heal, couldnt he have healed the succubus and intentionally let her get away to make Philine lose her position or something?
The saint was saying that she and I are the only people in this area who can use EX Heal. But what about that bishop, who came by this city afterwards? If it was that bishop, he might have been able to cure the succubus.
What if, after that raid with the Light Eaters, the succubus didnt escape right away, but stayed close and waited for an opportunity? Its possible that she was observing the conversation between the saint and the bishop.
The succubus true strength is perceiving peoples desires and taking advantage of them.
At that time, when the bishop was fuming at the saint, she might have targeted him.
Certainly, he might have had a motive to heal the succubus but that bishop could only use High Heal at best. Healing her petrification would be extremely
The saint states in bewilderment. Looks like I guessed wrong. I figured that the bishop might have intentionally healed the succubus and let her get away in order to ensnare the saint. As Im mulling it over, theres a voice from my side.
Master, I think that petrification could be cured even with High Heal.
Its Yuel. Even High Heal can cure petrification? Does she mean that by using High Heal, the spread of the petrification can be suppressed? I havent heard anything like that, though.
Thinking of myself as the succubus and Master as the evil god if it was in order to revive Master, I think I would do it.
Yuel says with a tragic expression. That harsh expression makes me realize.
But theres no mention of magic being used within it.
I might have figured out one of the evil gods weak points. The weakness of the evil god who uses large-scale magic is being forced to fight at close range. If the enemy gets right up in his face, he wont be able to use magic that could possibly swallow himself up along with it.
Now I get it. That means we can make a surprise attack, creep up close to our opponent so he cant use magic, and win in close-quarters combat? Well, thats how it is with things like wizards. Get close to them and theyre finished, no big deal.
However, when I turn the page.
-The Hero was cut down by the evil god.
And apparently its not like the evil god used some sort of magic to give himself an advantage. It seems that the Hero, the one known as the strongest swordsman of that era, was defeated simply via pure sword technique.
You gotta be kidding me
Hes the strongest class even in melee combat? Oh man, no wonder hes called the evil god.
Whether its at long range or short, it seems like we have no shot at winning against the evil god. As far as why the Sage was able to seal the evil god, apparently he capitalized on the momentary opening when that Hero was cut down to set off the sealing magic.
-Lets consider the contents of what I just read.
If we gather allies and fight the evil god head-on, we will no doubt suffer enormous damage from his large-scale attack magic. And the win percentage is most likely not high.
Even going with a surprise attack, he possesses sword technique that surpassed even the strongest swordsman of the era. Success wont be very easy.
Isnt this hopeless?
The former Sages fighting method isnt one that we can reproduce now. I dont have something like sealing magic where one direct hit is an instant win.
Besides, fighting by throwing away an army of over 10,000 as a diversion would be too severe, both from a material perspective and a psychological one.
Like the time with the succubus, the saint most likely intends to gather knights, make use of my healing magic, and pull through somehow with that method.
But that will most likely prove to be difficult. Against the large-scale magic of the evil god, my healing magic is powerless. Their fragile human bodies will end up evaporating before I even get a chance to use healing magic.
If large-scale magic is used, I likely wont be able to save the knights caught within its range.
Even before we get close enough to be in range of his large-scale magic, the succubus is there. The swarm of monsters shes bringing should slow the knights advance. Against the evil gods massive firepower, heals wont possibly make it in time.
And even if by some minuscule chance we do manage to get close, the evil god himself is a peerless swordsman. Theres no chance of victory in the first place.
And that evil god is already close enough that hell arrive in two days.
Master
My face must be looking rather pale; Yuel calls out to me.
Yeah, its alright. This city has me backing it up. You dont need to worry, Yuel.
I deceive her for now, but in the end its not alright. At least if the succubus and the evil god were coming separately, we could manage somehow. With the succubus monster forces at the evil gods side, we cant possibly pull off a surprise attack.
I dont think theres any method to defeat the evil god other than a sudden strike, though. I get the feeling theres nothing I can do to break this stalemate.
But its not like I can give up trying to think. Being unable to win against the evil god means that Eris and Ruruka, and also Yuel, will continue to be exposed to danger. Somehow, some way, I have to do something.
As Im racking my brain, my throat becomes dry before I notice. I stuff my hand into my item box for some water to drink. And my hand touches a certain something. I suddenly realize.
-I might have found a method to defeat the evil god.
If I head over to the evil god by myself, maybe I can use this. With this method, none of the knights will be sacrificed in vain, either. Ill settle everything on my own.
A shot at victory. As that thought lifts my spirits, I feel like a little weight is lifted off my hips. But then theres a sensation tightly tugging on those lightened hips.
Master I will, I will absolutely protect you. No matter what happens, I will protect you without fail.
So please, dont go by yourself, ok?
Yuel pleads, as if she was reading my mind. Shes clinging to me from behind, trembling a little.
Yuel?
I was surprised over why she would say something like that but most likely, its that.
Back during that magic practice, when my mana was going out of control, Yuel was there. And the saint was also saying that when all that mana runs amok, it has a dreadful power to it that could vaporize an entire mountain.
It might have looked like I was going to try and force a draw with the evil god using that haywire mana.
But Im not one to do something like blow myself up. And I have no desire to die. I havent done anything with Eris or Ruruka yet. And besides, if Yuel ends up being left alone, shell definitely cry.
I wont die, and neither will the knights. Im only taking the very best approach I can think of to defeat the evil god.
Of course not. What could I possibly do if I go alone? Besides, Im a total coward. I wouldnt so readily go to face the evil god by myself.
Master, you have exposed yourself to danger countless times in order to save someone. You are an incredibly respectable, very very brave person.
When I retort, Yuel clutches my clothes tightly and says that. I can sense her will to never let go.
Its alright. Im right here beside you, Yuel.
Well, Im gonna go though.
This strategy most likely has a high win rate. Furthermore, precisely because of this timing, its extremely likely to work. If I let this chance go, we may not be able to win against the evil god anymore. And if that happens, Ill be killed by the evil god anyway.
Do you mean it?
I mean it. Yuels master wouldnt lie, right?
Master doesnt tell lies. Thus far, in front of Yuel anyway, Ive been a perfectly honest, kind, and respectable master. Knowing Yuel, if I say so, she should believe me.
Yuel, until the saint calls on us, lets take a nap. Who knows when something will come up.
And, as I tell Yuel that, I decide to get into the futon along with her.