Chapter 117 - A Great Victory and the Counter-Offensive
The last stronghold stands before us, the only remaining spot where the enemy still lingers.
Well, Ophelia and the others were holding their ground when Gradena and her team came to their aid. I think everything is under control now.
But then, I sensed an ominous presence.
"This... This is bad."
"President? What's wrong?"
From outside the fortress, I can feel a powerful magical surge. Given the timing, it’s almost certain this is related to the current attack.
Normally, it would be beyond the range of my magical perception, but this level of refined magic is impossible to miss.
"You should join up with Gradena and the others. I still have something to take care of."
"Eh, what are you going to do, President?"
"We don’t have time to waste."
There really isn’t any time to spare. I need to hurry.
My goal is a high vantage point. I need to get somewhere I can see the enemy clearly.
The top of the outer wall might work, but a higher spot would be even better.
I ran with all my might and reached the top of the spire, a lookout point someone had thoughtfully built.
"...Is that it?"
They’re quite far away, a cluster of figures gathered on the roof of a distant warehouse.
A group of elite mages, about a dozen of them, are gathering intense magical energy, ready to unleash a large-scale spell.
Their target is clearly this fortress. They’re preparing to cast a long-range, large-scale spell to damage the interior, ignoring the fact that their allies are still inside. It’s a typical Snake Head Society move.
The overwhelming magical presence indicates that each of these mages is highly skilled. Their combined force is formidable.
But I’m here.
"The moment you were detected, your victory was already lost."
I made it just in time. The enemy’s magical surge is still ongoing, focused on increasing the destructive power. They’re overconfident, completely absorbed in their task.
Of course, these are top-tier mages. They probably believe they can detect any interference in advance. They might even have some magical defenses in place.
But they’re feeling victorious right now. I’ll show them something they won’t forget.
Defending against their large-scale spell won’t be a problem, given their current state of overconfidence.
But mere defense won’t be enough for victory. I need to go beyond that.
I’ll use a shield spell, but the way I use it will be different.
"Here we go!"
I channeled the intense magical energy surging within me, controlling it with precision. The refined magic flows through my body like a clear stream.
The release of magic can be focused on a single point at the moment it’s needed. Wasting energy on flashy displays is pointless.
My efficient use of power is a testament to my skill, a stark contrast to their wasteful methods.
I didn’t manifest the shield around the fortress but around the enemy.
The farther the distance, the more drastically the magical consumption increases. But this is the critical moment.
I’m already prepared. Come at me, anytime!
The final surge of magical energy was the signal I needed. Large-scale spells are easy to detect at the moment of release.
I timed my spell to coincide with the enemy’s attack.
A sphere of Anti-Magic Specialized Composite Armor enveloped the enemy, trapping them in a confined space.
No matter how powerful their attack, they’re now surrounded by an unbreakable barrier. I wonder what will happen in there.
That group probably represents the best magical combat force the Snake Head Society has in the Royal Capital.
Crushing them completely will give us a significant advantage in the future.
"...Phew. That was exhausting."
The distance was too great, and the magical consumption was intense. I’ll rest for a bit before returning.
When I got back, everything was over. As expected, I could see it from the spire.
"Hey, Yukari. What happened?"
"I’ll explain later. Looks like things are wrapping up here too."
Gradena and her team launched a surprise attack from behind, combining their efforts with the defenders. The area in front of the stronghold is now littered with countless defeated enemies. It’s a daunting task to clean this up.
"Well, that’s over. Thanks for the help."
"If only I had my bow, it would have been easier."
Even Ophelia and Albert were exhausted. Albert, in particular, had to fight without his usual weapon, using a hammer he only kept for fun. Despite not being at full strength, he and his young warriors held the line in the most intense battle.
Mia and Josephine were also fighting in different areas, while Colette-san stayed at the stronghold, guarding Rosmerta.
Most of the isolated personnel were overwhelmed when the Snake Head Society attacked, but they managed to resist collectively.
The Crimson Knights in front of the stronghold were taken down by the enemy’s gas attack. I thought the gas attack was exclusive to House Gerdodus, but it seems they were working with the Snake Head Society. It’s all very unclear.
"I’ve scattered some recovery potions. They’re Yukari-special, so even if they were affected, they won’t die anytime soon."
From what I could see, the poison wasn’t that potent, but it’s still poison. It wasn’t a sleep gas; they used a lethal gas to kill everyone, not just capture them.
Shirley’s Purifying Engraving really came in handy.
"We have plenty of recovery potions in the warehouse. Heal everyone, including the knights. Then, work with the recovered knights to clean up. Flannel and the others should be back soon, so I’ll leave it to you."
"Ugh... Well, we don’t have a choice. Alright, everyone, let’s get this done!"
There were some grumbles about the tedious task, but everyone got to work. I’ll leave it to them. I need to talk to Rosmerta.
Yes, because the battle for the Royal Capital is far from over.
When I entered the stronghold, Colette-san and the Kikyo Society’s healing team, along with some apprentices, welcomed me.
The fighting had stopped, and it was clear the battle was over. Rosmerta was just arriving at the entrance, flanked by a few Crimson Knights, including the deputy, and non-combatants. Valeria was also there, having successfully guarded Rosmerta.
"Yukarinowe! How are the knights outside?"
"I can’t give you the full details yet. From what I saw, there aren’t many severe injuries, and no fatalities that I noticed. Colette-san, can you help with the healing outside?"
"Sure. Come on, apprentice, let’s go."
Colette-san’s calm demeanor is always impressive. Her leadership will be far more efficient than randomly throwing potions around. I’ll leave it to her.
There shouldn’t be any casualties among the Kikyo Society or the knights outside the stronghold. I’ve already made a thorough sweep, and anyone in critical condition has already been healed.
"Still, it was a tough fight. According to you, this place was supposed to be safe."
"We may have underestimated the enemy. We didn’t expect such a decisive attack. You and the others were a great help."
The enemy is formidable, and things don’t always go as planned.
In fact, it was extremely dangerous. If I hadn’t stayed with Ophelia and the others, Rosmerta might not have made it. And then there was the enemy’s large-scale spell.
It was indeed a close call, but overcoming it was a significant victory. The enemy must have seen this as the perfect opportunity to eliminate Rosmerta. Crushing their plans will have a lasting impact.
We’ve practically decimated the Snake Head Society, though I don’t think we’ve wiped out all their forces in the Royal Capital. But we’ve certainly crippled a significant portion of their strength. It was an unexpected but welcome victory.
With the main threat eliminated, our subsequent plans will be easier to execute. We need to keep pushing forward.
"Help out wherever you can. The knights will handle the healing and clearing up."
"Yes, the knights can handle it now. By the way, where are Flannel and the others?"
"They should be back soon. We returned ahead of them..."
Just as I said that, Flannel and the others rushed into the stronghold, only to find everything was over. They were quite late.
Since they were late, they’ll have to work extra hard on the cleanup. Rosmerta and I need to discuss the next strategy. The plan is already set, but we need to finalize the details.
The recent attack has highlighted our weaknesses. Our camp is severely understaffed, and shifting personnel to offense weakens our defense, as we just experienced. If we can use the Crimson Knights for defense and the Kikyo Society for offense, we might be able to capture the Royal Capital with the current setup.
However, that’s not enough. The House Oversta must lead the effort to stabilize the Royal Capital. The Crimson Knights must be at the forefront, not the Kikyo Society. We need to act quickly to prevent the enemy from reinforcing their numbers.
In future battles, the Kikyo Society can’t be solely focused on defense. Speed is crucial to disperse and overwhelm the enemy, and we need a reliable, calculable force to do so. A half-hearted effort could undermine morale.
Therefore, our next urgent task is to expand our forces. We need to send ultimatums to the neutral lords and merchants, as suggested by Rosmerta’s deputy secretary.
—Join us, or be considered an enemy.
Expelling the Snake Head Society and Retnark’s underworld is a common interest for the former Brenark forces.
Rosmerta demonstrated her resolve to become the ruler of the Royal Capital by attacking the Novara and Giuliano gangs. She also proved her strength.
Those who don’t join us in eliminating the remaining enemy forces will be of no use to the former Brenark. They’ll be left behind.
While the enemy is in chaos and fighting among themselves, we’ll prepare our expanded forces.
It will take some time to integrate the new forces, but not enough for the enemy to recover or receive reinforcements. We must act quickly.
With our combined strength, we will crush all our enemies.
Under the banner of House Oversta, we will fight the common enemy and shed blood together.
Through this, we will strengthen our unity and cohesion.
This will enable us to continuously resist any future Retnark forces.
As the Royal Capital’s security and economy recover, our forces will grow. We might even regain our independence.
House Oversta, and by extension, Rosmerta, aims for this. The Kikyo Society’s involvement ends there.
While the Crimson Knights are busy with fortification and city patrols, the Kikyo Society will handle the behind-the-scenes work. We can help with fortification if needed.
"Yes, Yukari, you and the others should rest. We’ll handle the preparations."
"Oh, by the way, you promised to provide information on our enemies. I want to talk to them, so can you send the info later?"
"Yes, I’ll have Cantrad take care of that. I want to hear Flannel’s report first, so later is fine."
"Sure, that works. And as you predicted, the Ghosts from House Gerdodus attacked. Their handling is up to you."
"...I see. Thank you. We’ll talk later."
Her expression darkened slightly, but she must have a lot on her mind.
And so, the Kikyo Society gained a brief respite.
A few days of rest, during which we’ll be—
"Hey, Yukari. I’ve extorted the merchant."
"I did too. He didn’t have much money, but I found some weaknesses of the merchants who control Exembra."
Continuing our compensation claims.
"Onee-sama, I beat Mia again."
"That’s unfair, Valeria. Yukari-san, if it weren’t for Valeria’s interference, I would have caught a great monster."
Hunting for food and gathering materials.
"I’m retiring from the mercenary business. I need to learn your ways."
"Zenobia-san, you’ll do fine. Let’s start with the basics."
Bringing in new members to strengthen our position.
The Kikyo Society’s battle in the Royal Capital is entering its final phase.
Even though it’s the final phase, it’s more like a mopping-up operation. We’ve already overcome the major challenges, and there’s no need to overexert ourselves.
We’ve eliminated the leaders of the two major Retnark factions and the Ghosts from House Gerdodus.
The Snake Head Society is almost completely wiped out.
At this point, the outcome is almost certain. The remaining enemies are just a large, disorganized mob, and they’re already weakened by their internal conflicts.
The revitalized Kikyo Society and the Crimson Knights, who have been training even in their downtime, are in high spirits.
The various small groups that have joined us through the ultimatums will soon unite into a powerful force.
Under Rosmerta’s banner, we will systematically crush the enemy’s forces.
The Crimson Knights will tackle the larger targets, while the Kikyo Society will support them.
With meticulous planning, the distribution of forces has been carefully arranged, minimizing the risk of defeat for any unit.
Let’s wrap up the remaining tasks quickly. I’m starting to miss Exembra.