Chapter 33 - New Blood
I was looking forward to an exciting battle, but thanks to a foolish plan, it’s all for nothing.
Just as I was wondering what to do with this awkward pause, the reinforcements showed up right on cue.
"Oh, you're early," I said.
"Onee-sama, I'm sorry for being late," Valeria replied.
Not late at all, actually—perfect timing, if I do say so myself. It seems some kind-hearted soul had alerted everyone to the commotion, and they all rushed over.
"What's the situation, Yukari-dono? Why is there a wall blocking the street?"
From my vantage point, the situation wasn't clear. But after explaining to Siegrune and the others, they shared my exasperation.
"In a way, it's an interesting approach," Siegrune mused.
"Interesting, you say? More like a fool's move. We can't see what's going on over there, and if that wall does something to us, what then?" Roberta added.
We've gathered our numbers, and I’ve managed to thin out some of their ranks. Despite the still significant difference in numbers, it's time to wrap this up. Waiting any longer is just ridiculous.
"Hmm, yeah. First, let's take down that painstakingly built wall. Then maybe they'll give up and charge at us," I suggested.
"Sounds good. Since they attacked first, we'll be the polite ones and wait. Yukari, it's up to you," Siegrune agreed.
"By the way, Onee-sama, who are these girls?"
Valeria was looking curiously at Roberta and Violante, who were with me.
"That's the girl from yesterday. She came to return the favor and help me out."
Since we had some downtime, I explained the situation. Apparently, they were impressed by the girls' dedication.
"Wow, what nice girls! I like them!" Yukari exclaimed.
"Me too, they seem like good kids," Siegrune added.
"Helping out is fine, but be careful," Valeria cautioned.
"We'll do our best not to hold you back!" Roberta and Violante chimed in.
The girls were quickly accepted. Now, it was time to take down that wall.
"Anyway, let's destroy that wall. Then we'll see who’s behind it. There should be a few strong opponents, so let's be hopeful."
As I used my mineral magic to interfere with the wall, it crumbled effortlessly. The man creating the wall with magic tried to rebuild it, but I kept breaking it down. Eventually, he gave up, and the enemy formation was exposed.
"Whew! That bald guy with the huge shield looks pretty tough," Siegrune observed.
"Agreed. He's the strongest I've seen around here. There are a few others who look like they'll be fun to fight. Plus, they have a numerical advantage. Let's give it our all!"
"Looks like it'll be a good battle," Roberta said.
That guy with the shield is probably a tough opponent. He might be a match for me, but not for anyone else.
"Don't touch the guy with the shield. I haven't had a good challenge in a while, so I'll take him," I declared.
Honestly, I want to take on the strongest one.
"Hehe! Then I'll leave him to you, Yukari-dono. The rest is a free-for-all. If you hesitate, he'll be gone!"
Indeed, stealing someone else's prey is no good. I'll focus on the shield guy while the others handle the rest.
Seeing the wall destroyed, the enemy seemed to steel themselves. The bald guy, who had been ignored by the scam merchant, led the charge. Despite his heavy armor, he was surprisingly fast.
If we let them charge, we'll be hit by a shield bash, relying on speed and momentum. That's not my style.
I put on my black glove, a custom-made weapon. It would cut through their momentum and crush them.
We were being watched by dozens, maybe more, from windows, doorways, and the sidelines. We couldn't afford to look weak.
"Take a good look!"
I shouted as I charged. The enemy was closing in, but the Kikyo Society members held their ground, a testament to their courage.
The massive shield bore down like an unstoppable wall. Most would have been overwhelmed by the pressure. This shield-wielding bald guy had likely intimidated many opponents before. His confidence was evident.
I would shatter that confidence!
"Haahaaa!"
I took a small run-up and punched the shield head-on. The shield was a masterpiece, made of mithril, capable of deflecting most physical and magical attacks. But the man's strength wouldn't save him. Not against me.
My glove, crafted from a superior black metal thread and reinforced with custom mineral magic plates, was far superior to mithril. It cut through the shield, tearing a hole through the mithril.
One punch wasn't enough. I followed up with a rapid barrage, reducing the shield to scrap metal. It could be recycled, maybe.
The battle around us had already begun. I trusted my teammates to handle it. If anyone tried to interfere, I wouldn't hesitate.
The bald guy glared at me, still clutching his ruined shield. I admired his silence.
But this was a fight he started. I wouldn't let him off easy.
"That shield looked impressive, but it was surprisingly fragile. Maybe you got a cheap knockoff?"
He remained silent, drawing a massive sword from his back. Another mithril weapon, I see.
The sword was a work of art, with intricate designs, both functional and beautiful. He was a well-equipped man, from his mithril armor and boots to his shield and sword. But mithril was nothing against me.
"...Your abilities are formidable. I have no chance of winning. But I cannot run; I have a contract with my employer. If possible, I would ask you to spare my men."
"Interesting. Who's this employer? Not that scam merchant, right?"
"I cannot say."
"Fair enough. Then this is the end."
No matter how expensive his gear, it meant little against me. What mattered was skill. And this bald guy had it. That's why I was looking forward to this fight.
He seemed to resign himself, raising his sword overhead. I was already within striking range and focused on his attack.
With mineral magic, I could easily block the sword, but I wanted a fair fight.
The massive, gravity-enhanced strike came down. It was a powerful blow, on par with Siegrune's. Impressive, but not enough to faze me.
I dodged the strike and attacked the bald guy, who was still in the follow-through. Despite the intensity of his first strike, his eyes remained calm, tracking my movements. Fascinating.
I took a step forward, only to be surprised by an unexpected attack.
He kicked the scrap metal of the shield at me. The metal chunk flew straight toward me!
I kept my composure, keeping the bald guy in my sights. This guy was good.
"Not so easy, is it?"
I punched the metal chunk back. The bald guy, caught off guard, took the hit and fell to his knees.
"Ugh! Damn, you're a monster."
"Excuse me, insulting a beautiful lady like me? Maybe you need to train harder."
"...You're a bizarre woman."
He probably couldn't continue fighting, but he seemed to have lost his will.
The battle around us was still raging. The enemy outnumbered us three to one, and some were quite strong. The Kikyo Society members were holding their ground, but it was tough.
Our defensive capabilities were high thanks to our cloaks, but our weapons were mostly ordinary metal. Breaking through enemies' armor and shields was difficult. We had to focus on defense, fighting multiple foes at once.
"You seem to have lost your spirit," I noted.
"I don't want to die. I'll order my men to withdraw if you let us go."
"Wait a moment. This is a good training opportunity. Let's keep going."
"Training?"
He looked at me suspiciously.
"Look around. They have more numbers, but the battle is evenly matched. It's exciting, isn't it? If anyone gets seriously injured, I'll help them. But for now, let's see how it plays out."
If I joined in, I could turn the tide, but it wouldn't be fair to the others. Roberta and Violante were doing surprisingly well, providing support. This was a good test for them.
The bald guy seemed to be assessing the damage, but he didn't respond, lying down to rest. He had probably given up.
The battle leaders had been defeated, but no one was stopping. The tide slowly turned as Siegrune and Gradena took down the strongest opponents. No one had dropped out from the Kikyo Society, a testament to their mental fortitude.
Mary and Shelby maintained their defensive positions, while Angelina took on as many enemies as possible to ease the burden on the others. Valeria moved through the fray, disrupting the enemy. Siegrune and the others steadily reduced the enemy numbers.
Despite the impromptu teamwork, they were doing well. Adding my support to the rear would make it even more effective. Bonnie and Paula were also on standby, ready to jump in.
The battle gradually turned in our favor. We finished off the last opponent without much trouble. Everyone was tired but satisfied.
The enemy had taken some injuries, but none looked life-threatening. No need to waste healing potions.
"That's it, it's over."
"Phew, I'm exhausted."
"Me too, I don't think I can go on," Roberta said.
The battle enthusiasts were satisfied. No one had collapsed or suffered major injuries.
Our Kikyo Society members had only minor injuries. We should rest at a sweet shop before heading home.
"Is it over?"
The bald guy had apparently recovered.
"None of your men are dead. That's good. If you want to fight, I'll take you on any time, but stop causing trouble in the city."
"I'll pass that on to my employer."
"Also, get out of here. Lying around is disruptive."
He nodded bitterly and walked over to his men. The crowd emerged, and the street vendors resumed their business.
These people were resilient. The quick return to normal was intriguing.
No one approached us, recognizing that this was a conflict between rival factions. But I could hear the excited chatter about the battle.
Feel free to spread the word. It would be good for the Kikyo Society's reputation.
"Hey, you! What did you do to the men I borrowed from the count?"
Oh, right. The fat scam merchant was making a fuss. His connection to the count explained the private army.
Whatever. The bald guy wasn't fighting to the death for a scam merchant. He surrendered as soon as he realized he couldn't win.
The scam merchant would have been a problem if he kept shouting, but the bald guy calmed him down and led his men away.
I turned to Roberta and Violante. They had helped a lot, and without their aid, the outcome might have been different.
"Roberta, Violante, thank you."
"Yes, I'm glad we could help."
"We were able to contribute thanks to your support."
They were humble, but their assistance was invaluable.
"That shadow magic was impressive."
"The wind magic saved us in a few tight spots."
"Your physical enhancement magic was also pretty good."
"You're promising new members."
"I won't be outdone."
"Great, looking forward to working with you!"
Hold on, why are we suddenly talking about joining the Kikyo Society?
After all they've been through, why would they want to join us? This isn't something to decide on a whim.
Young as they were, it was important to make a thoughtful decision. Alright.
"Wait a moment! We're the Kikyo Society. We're not exactly law-abiding citizens. Do you understand what that means? Battles like this are a daily occurrence."
Roberta and Violante nodded and faced me with determination.
"We noticed from the moment you saved us. We talked about it, and we decided we wanted to join, even with the risks."
"Right. After fighting with you, we gained confidence. We can do this. When the opportunity came to join, we jumped at it."
"I'm sorry, but it's true. Fighting with you only made us more determined."
"Please, let us join!"
Their earnest plea was hard to resist.
"Onee-sama."
Valeria also seemed welcoming. These girls were close to her age, and they might have a positive influence on her.
"If you're this determined, I can't say no."
They needed more training, but I was willing to help them grow.
"Alright then!"
"We'll be strict, though."
The Kikyo Society members cheered, forgetting their fatigue.
We'll rest at a sweet shop and head home. Later, we'll celebrate at the usual restaurant on Lightning Street.