kscans

Chapter 253 - The Siege of Miglutt and Zeno Leafkraut

By the time Maryanne's main force reached the One-Land estate, the battle for the mansion had become a ferocious struggle.

It seemed the Leafkraut Family had brought in a battering ram to destroy the mansion. However, the soldiers who had been operating it lay dead, and the ram itself was abandoned with a broken axle. Soldiers, friend and foe alike, scrambled over it, while arrows and spells of fire and stone flew over their heads.

The walls had crumbled in several places, showing signs of enemy intrusion. The smell of scorched earth from fire magic hung in the air, a fire that was spreading inside the building, flames licking at the structure. Windows shattered from the heat, their fragments raining down onto the street.

Trusar's advance mobile unit and the nomads had struck the rear of the besieging Leafkraut army, nearly turning the tide of the battle, but the counterattack from the Leafkraut soldiers, who were under the effects of an immortality spell, had brought the battle to a stalemate.

Maryanne surveyed the situation and immediately committed her army.

"First, deal with the soldiers surrounding the mansion. After that, we'll hunt down and crush the soldiers who have broken in!" In response to her command, a chorus of voices tore through the night's darkness as the army surged forward.

We stood with Maryanne, observing the situation without joining the fight. I spotted the figures of the nomads among the chaos.

"So far, it's unfolding just as you predicted, Mash."

"Maryanne..." When Maryanne looked at me, she gave a faint, weary smile. She looked a little lonely.

"I understand. You merely suggested a plan, Mash. This was my decision." I had never intended to get involved in the combat or strategy. It's just that I was the one who had grasped the situation at the government building and in the northern part of the city. I only meant to convey that information, but then Wake asked if I had a plan. The impression from the battle with the pirate ship must have lingered.

I didn't know what my own expression looked like. Was I frozen in fear, stunned by the situation? I clenched my teeth to steel myself.

"Maryanne. No matter what happens, I support you."

"I know." She took my hand, hiding the gesture from the others. It felt like her hand was trembling slightly. She, too, had been kept on the sidelines until now. And just as she officially became the head of the One-Land Family and began to engage in politics, this war broke out. If she showed even a hint of tension or anxiety, it would affect the morale of her troops. She was undoubtedly suppressing her emotions and putting on a brave face. I, too, had resolved to get through this situation. With that thought, I squeezed her hand back tightly.

"The Leafkraut army will likely collapse after this. But the decisive battle with the Air-Ally Family still remains. It would be better to have Trusar and the nomads pull back for now." Maryanne nodded. A soldier standing by her side immediately ran off to relay the information.

"I'm worried about Kalpana and the others. I'm going to head over to the nomads."

"Mash, please be careful." I nodded at her words and broke into a run, with Elisha and Irisalie following. Hyakka and the New World party, along with Komachi and the Nekono Konekoneko party, would remain with Maryanne in case of a battle with Transferees. We had already parted ways with the captured adventurers. And I had entrusted Riley with the task of getting the injured Fang and Beers out of the city. Thinking back now, her absence made me feel a little vulnerable, but it couldn't be helped.

As I drew my katana, Irisalie drew her rapier as well. I watched her intently.

"What, is something strange?"

"How far do you plan on following me?"

"Mash, you're the one who said I was needed as a negotiator."

"I don't need a negotiator who wields a weapon."

"If you sheathe your weapon, I will sheathe mine." As always, she was a woman whose intentions were impossible to read. She had the distinct beauty of an elf, but her smile seemed artificial, almost eerie.

"I should tell you, it's far safer for me to protect you than for you to protect yourself, Mash." Her words reminded me of the time she had thrown me.

The area in front of the mansion had become a fierce battleground, a wide square where troops could be held in check. With Maryanne's main force joining the battle, the Leafkraut army was on the verge of total collapse. However, the resistance from inside the mansion was weak. Those holding out were the Star Union knights and the remnants of the Sky-Lot Family. I worried for Marina's safety, but Wake was protecting her. I doubted she had been killed.

We made our way around the battlefield and saw a group of nomads. They were lightly armored but were confounding the Leafkraut soldiers with their coordinated formations. I spotted a girl with wavy hair at the rear of the nomad group.

"Kalpana!" I called out and started to approach her. Just then, a group breaking away from the melee crossed our path. I caught my breath at the sight of a man among them. Long, flowing black hair, from which long ears extended. In a hand emerging from a black robe, he held a rapier stained with red blood.

"Zeno Leafkraut...!" As if he had heard my words, Zeno also noticed me and stopped. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, but his gaze held no warmth.

"Zeno, what is this situation? I asked you to mediate with Clovis, to break off the engagement with Mo, to hand over the dog-eared girl, and to let me get along with the Leafkraut Family!"

"I told you the only things I could do were mediate and break off the engagement, did I not?"

"So this is your answer?" Sensing the anger in my voice, the soldiers accompanying Zeno moved between us, leveling their spearheads at me. There were ten of them. I gripped my katana, raising the tip, ready to move at a moment's notice.

"Enemy of the gods..." Elisha muttered, then her mouth hardened into a firm line as she gripped her crosier. Then, as if to stand beside me, Irisalie stepped forward, raising her rapier. Zeno's eyes widened slightly at the sight.

"Irisalie... you were there? Your enemy is the otherworld hero beside you. Why do you turn your blade on us?" At his words, Irisalie's mouth twisted as if in hesitation. She turned only her eyes toward me.

"For now, and only for now, Mash, I am on your side. Can you believe me?" Her words seemed to hold a kind of plea. I nodded, not understanding why.

Irisalie and Zeno stared at each other.

"It was all meaningless to me. The words of the gods, the future of the elven race..."

"We are a race descended from the blood of the gods, and my family, the Leafkrouts, is in a position to receive the words of the gods and guide the world. We cannot escape that position." A particularly loud cheer erupted. Maryanne's army had begun to pour into the mansion. The battle here was decided.

"Only Clovis can hear the words of the Fifty Gods, Lord Elf. You should have been able to remain free." If Clovis was the one who could hear the voice of the gods, like Kalpana's grandmother, did that mean he was the one who instigated this battle? Zeno tilted his head as if considering Irisalie's words. The air around the two of them felt as if time had stopped, as if they were in a world separate from the battle raging around them. I couldn't see where their conversation was going. I glanced at Elisha, but she too remained motionless, her crosier at the ready. Zeno's soldiers were the same, their weapons raised but unmoving.

"Remain free, you say? Is that the will of the Great Forest?"

"No. When you and I were together, we swore to each other that we would stay outside the circle." Her words made me freeze.

"Wait. Irisalie, you were Zeno's lover?" At my words, Irisalie smiled.

"Lover... For the past few hundred years, until the talk of a Star Union daughter marrying Zeno came up, Zeno and I were in what could be called a common-law marriage. I don't know how Zeno viewed our relationship, though." I could only stare at her, my mouth agape. It was her usual artificial-looking smile. But now, it seemed strangely raw, and her lips looked vibrant and alluring, as if they had come to life.

"Then why did you sleep with me? Why are you with me? Is it to spite Zeno and Mo?!"

"Even after the marital arrangement with the Star Union daughter was dissolved, Zeno never returned to me."

"What? Damn it, you played with my pure heart! I was agonizing over this, thinking you might actually like me a little!" Irisalie didn't answer me, instead returning her gaze to Zeno.

"It doesn't matter how many times you and I are together. It's just empty."

"What? Look at this woman. She's a beauty, even for an elf. What's not to like about a woman like this showing you affection?" I had intended to stay out of it, but I couldn't help but retort to Zeno's words.

"Eh? Mash... you and Lady Irisalie...?" Elisha had been murmuring in surprise for a while now, her eyes wide, but talking to her would only complicate things, so I stayed quiet and waited for Zeno's reaction. But Zeno also remained silent, staring at Irisalie. In that time, the Leafkraut soldiers were breaking away from the battlefield one by one and disappearing into the darkness. A scream came from that direction. The residents must be attacking the soldiers who were fleeing without discipline. To minimize the damage, someone needed to take command and lead the soldiers in an orderly retreat.

"Zeno, the battle is over. Surrender."

"Fool... The Air-Ally soldiers will be back soon. Then it will be your turn to be surrounded and routed."

"Were you planning to abandon the soldiers here and escape with a small contingent? I don't know where you plan to run back to, but I've already burned your house down, you know?"

"Once a battle has begun, achieving victory takes precedence over all else."

"Even if you win, if your men are gone, Istvan will just become the ruler of this city. You gain nothing. Which means the ones who die here gain no benefit at all. If you seriously intend to win this battle in this situation, aren't you just being manipulated by Clovis?" Kalpana and the other nomads rushed over to support us. Their numbers now surpassed those of the soldiers protecting Zeno, and it became nearly impossible for them to escape behind us. An arrow fired by a nomad struck the chest of a soldier who had shown clear signs of wavering and started to back away. The soldier collapsed silently.

"Kalpana, wait. Give them a chance to surrender..." As I started to say that, Zeno began to chuckle.

"What's so funny...?" As if he couldn't hear me, he continued to laugh.

"I'll slaughter you all." Zeno held out the hand that wasn't holding his sword. In his palm were countless Mana Seeds. They emitted a dark red glow that enveloped his body.

"Mash, stop him!" Irisalie shouted and ran forward. She tried to strike at Zeno, but was blocked by the soldiers protecting him. The nomads loosed a volley of arrows. I dodged past the enemy soldiers who were falling one after another and rushed toward Zeno. And I thrust my katana into his chest. I felt a solid impact. However, he didn't even waver, let alone fall. I tightened my grip on the hilt and twisted the blade buried in his chest. Blood dripped to the ground, but Zeno didn't fall. He looked down at me, his eyes red and glowing with an eerie light.

"...!" A cold chill, like a premonition of dread, ran down my spine. I pulled my sword out and jumped back at the same time Zeno swung his rapier down. Zeno's sword cut through the air and struck the stone pavement. The blade broke, the tip spinning off in an odd direction and ringing with a high-pitched metallic sound. He threw the broken sword aside and snatched a sword from one of his own soldiers. It looked heavy, a two-handed sword with a long hilt, but he brandished it lightly and closed in on me.

"Die!" I deflected the blow with my blade, but I couldn't completely evade it. My arm was shallowly cut, and my movements were momentarily halted. Zeno didn't miss the opening and raised the two-handed sword, but Irisalie lunged in and thrust her sword into his side.

"Gnh!" Zeno shifted his target from me to Irisalie and swung his sword down, but she reacted quickly and retreated. I matched her movement and retreated as well. As soont as there was distance between us, a shower of arrows from the nomads rained down. Several arrows pierced the soldiers surrounding Zeno, and several rained down on Zeno himself. The soldiers who were hit fell. But Zeno did not fall. Zeno raised his arm to the night sky as if nothing had happened. A whirlwind erupted around him. It swelled in an instant, expanding to engulf us.

"Get the soldiers back!" Irisalie shouted. Hearing her words, Kalpana raised her hand and signaled for the nomads to retreat. The whirlwind, centered on Zeno, his soldiers, me, Irisalie, and Kalpana, grew into a gale, a wall of dark red flame.

"Mash, everyone else, get close to me!" Kalpana shouted. The flaming whirlwind converged on Zeno's outstretched hand, covering the sky above us.

"Take this!" As Zeno swung his arm down, the vortex of flames rained down upon us.