Chapter 296 - 296. The Battle for the Fortress, and Mizuki’s Resolve
The ground trembled, and dust billowed, obscuring our vision. Trees swayed violently as countless birds took flight, speckling the churning brown sky. We stood and rushed toward the spot where we’d observed the fortress earlier. Peering through the trees, we watched the fortress.
The first thing that filled our sight was a towering giant shrouded in black soot. Each speck of soot seemed alive, writhing across its body like an evil aura. Though its size dwarfed the mountains, it was impossible to gauge its true dimensions. Compared to it, we were nothing more than ants. Slowly, its arm rose.
Trees near the summit of the mountain were uprooted as the fortress, perched on the exposed earth, came into view. The fortress was enveloped in a magical barrier. Only that one corner seemed protected. Still, the castle walls surrounding the fortress had crumbled, revealing the buildings inside. The dust kicked up by the giant obscured the details.
"There seem to be people inside, sir..."
Fam murmured uncertainly.
"Can you see them?"
She nodded hesitantly. "I might be mistaken... It could be monsters."
She sounded composed but also like she was suppressing her emotions.
"That's fine, but..."
Fam glanced at me as I muttered lamely. "That's grilled corn you're gripping, isn't it?"
Fam gasped, stared at the grilled corn, then shifted her gaze to mine. "Sir, it's you too!"
"This is that time... I haven't finished eating it yet."
We both took bites of the grilled corn. Mizuki, who had been watching us, sighed. "What are you doing, relaxing in a time like this..."
While she spoke, the giant's arm had risen high into the sky. It eclipsed the sun, casting a shadow over us before coming down. Another impact, as if a meteor had struck, slammed into the fortress. The intense shockwave reached our mountain, making the earth heave violently.
The giant raised its fist for a third strike. The only way to stop it was to summon Racshell. But that would only be a temporary measure. Even if we could repel it, the giant would reappear after a while. Perhaps we could unseal the fortress in that time, but it would alert the Crimson Brigade to our presence. If we fought them, we couldn’t use the Hero Summoning as a trump card, and there would be a chance that Levante couldn’t be fully protected. Besides, the possibility of unknown monsters inside the fortress remained.
Maybe the best course of action was to remain here, hidden, and see how things unfolded. Yet, a sense of urgency gnawed at me. I couldn’t accept what was happening before my eyes.
"Mash, use Hero Summoning to defeat it."
Mizuki glared at the giant. "Help the Crimson Brigade? Besides, Racshell’s power won't be enough to defeat that giant, and we won’t be able to use Hero Summoning for two days."
She turned to face me, but the giant struck again as she spoke. A roar and violent tremors shook us. She stumbled, and I caught her. She looked up at me in my arms.
"Could there be people who are pleading for help? Are you just going to leave them to die?"
"But even if we help, those guys are the ones who..."
They were the ones who attacked Fam's village. Why should I help them? The tremors subsided, and she placed her hand over mine. I thought she wanted to stand and tried to help her, but she gripped my hand tightly.
"Mash, I'm not like Mash or Fam. Leaving them to die leaves a bad aftertaste. You feel the same, right? Besides, there's a way to defeat that giant..."
She fixed me with an unwavering gaze.
"You're sure?"
"Racshell's power and my own might be enough... but."
Her voice was uncertain, but Mizuki released my hand and took out the sword Racshell had given her from storage. She gripped the hilt, staring at the dull blade.
"Let me do it."
Hearing her words, I glanced toward Maira, Marmi, and Nephie. They looked like they wanted to say something but were watching the exchange between Mizuki and me. I shifted my gaze to Fam. "Sir..."
She muttered, then went silent, also appearing lost in thought. She, too, was struggling with the decision. But before she could answer, the giant continued destroying the fortress. Its fist slowly rose. Beneath it lay the fortress, turning into rubble. At this rate, it might be too late. Fam looked at the scene, gulping. "Mash..."
Mizuki released the sword and gripped my and Fam’s hands tightly. "Mash and Fam are both swayed by the word 'justice.' It's something that lives in everyone's hearts, but I think it’s not universal, but unique for each. There are countless forms of it, and everyone fights with slightly different versions of it. Mash and Fam think you’re wielding the same kind of justice, but even between you, there’s a discrepancy. Justice raised to solve something ends up twisting and destroying the situation."
Mizuki stared at me, and I couldn't help but avert my gaze. "That doesn't sound like the words of someone who tried to turn me into a station attendant for being a molester."
"Mm. I guess I always thought justice was everyone’s justice. But after going through a terrible situation, no one helped me."
"Hey, a terrible situation? You mean when you attacked me?"
"What else would I mean? I'd never been treated that way before."
"If I hadn’t been transferred by Racshell, my life would've been over!"
"Is that supposed to be your form of justice? If you’d just told me you liked me normally, I would’ve..."
Mizuki became flustered. At that time, I thought the magical condom Racshell gave her was a sign. I didn't assault her out of a sense of justice, but since the situation was becoming complicated, I remained silent. At that moment, I noticed Fam was staring intently at me. She looked like she was about to reveal what I was thinking, to dispel Mizuki's misunderstanding. I held my breath, hoping she would remain silent. Whether my wish was granted or not, she remained silent. Relieved, my hand was suddenly squeezed tightly.
"We’re getting sidetracked! Anyway, we have to save the people in the fortress!"
Mizuki's strong gaze met mine. I shifted my gaze to Fam. She nodded silently. Maira, Marmi, and Nephie also nodded.
"Alright. I don’t know the situation in the fortress, but I won’t let the giant destroy it any further. Mizuki..."
"It's alright. Trust me."
Hearing her reply, I raised my hands.
"Hero Summoning!"
An arm extended, a distortion appeared in that space, and a torrent of rainbow light exploded forth. The light spread as if to envelop the world. From within, the spearhead materialized. Then the goddess, seated on the spear's shaft, appeared. Clothed in rainbow garments with golden hair flowing. She lifted her long lashes, gazing up at the giant. Her lips pressed together tightly. Her gaze slowly dropped and settled on me.
"Mash..."
Her cherry lips parted. "What?"
"Didn't I say I couldn't defeat that one?"
"I can't defeat it either. I'll summon you as many times as it takes to beat it."
"Mu. I'm not bored either. It's a waste of time!"
"Liar. You've just been watching us and Mizuki!"
I glared at Racshell, pouting. But she turned her cheek away.
"That's not true. I'm busy editing a montage of the highlights of your lives."
"Huh? Like the video when I cleared my name after being falsely accused of being a pervert?"
"Yes. That's why it's so hard!"
"Can I see that video?"
"Eh? Yes, if you wish, I'll send it to Mash's phone."
"Really! In that case, don't make me look back on my life. There's nothing there. Send a collection of my masturbation from the time when Mizuki was born until now!"
When I shouted that, I was hit on the head from behind. I turned around to see Mizuki. "Are you stupid?!"
Racshell nodded emphatically in agreement with her words.
"That's right. If you made that, it would exceed your storage capacity."
"You're an idiot too!"
Mizuki glared at Racshell, her face completely red.
"Mash, the time we can keep Racshell here is limited, so get to the point!"
She gripped the sword tightly.
"Alright. What do you plan to do?"
Having decided to go along with her plan, I would entrust the execution to her. I looked up at the giant. It still stood before the fortress. It had no face. I didn’t know if it was even aware of us.
"Answer me, Racshell. Is that giant the God of the End?"
Just as Racshell opened her lips to speak, the scene before my eyes warped. A massive amount of magical power was stolen. Mizuki had asked Racshell a question she couldn’t answer. Mizuki looked at Racshell, then nodded as if she had understood something.
"Racshell said you couldn't defeat it. But it could be damaged with the sword of Akizuki Uta, which is the same as this sword. The sword you gave me isn't something you created, is it? This is a sword made by a transferee you summoned in the past, like Uta or Okita Soji, from a special skill of the Three Sacred Treasures, right?"
Racshell didn’t answer Mizuki's question. Mizuki held the sword born from the special skill of the Three Sacred Treasures created by a past transferee. Mizuki's words made sense. Mizuki pointed the tip of the sword at the giant. Black and shadowy, yet lacking substance. The words inscribed on the blade, 'The God of the Husband, One and Formless, Empty and Spiritual,' seemed to describe the nature of the giant.
"That is like a bubble. It has many existences. Even if you destroy one core, it'll create another bubble."
Racshell’s words seemed to confirm Mizuki's theory.
"In that case, all we need to do is destroy all the cores."
I stared at her, realization dawning.
"Wait, Mizuki. You're going to destroy all those black particles?"
She shook her head. "When Racshell used the sword on the giant last time, she pierced one of the cores. That was one bubble. The giant disappeared. The giant has many cores like bubbles. When it loses them, it disappears, but it reappears by regenerating them. So, while the giant is visible now, we'll destroy all of its cores."
She looked up at Racshell, floating in the air. Racshell didn't answer, simply watching us. Finally, I realized. By remaining silent, she was affirming Mizuki's words.
"The enemy is that giant. How do you plan to destroy its cores?"
"That's why I need Racshell. I will ride on the spear and fight the giant. And I will destroy all the cores."
"N-No, I'll do it!"
Mizuki shook her head at my reply. "I'm more suited to being a swordsman. So, I'll do it."
Her resolve was unwavering.
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