kscans

Chapter 255 - The Siege of Miglutt and a War Council Under the Moonlight

Myra rushed over after Marmi.

"Mash, I knew you were alive! Quickly, healing magic!" She took my arm. The soft touch of her fingers made me instinctively squeeze back.

"Mash?" Myra's eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at me. It had only been half a day since we were separated, but it was during that half-day that I had needed them most. Her dark eyes reflected countless stars, just like that night. Among them, the light of the moon, still climbing toward its zenith even after midnight, shone through.

"Myra..."

"Yes, what is it?"

"I don't want you to leave me again."

"Of course!" When I let go of her hand, she gripped her mace. My eyes started to search behind her for Famu and Mizuki, but I quickly brought my gaze back to Irisalie, Kalpana, and Elisha in my arms.

"No, please take care of these three before me." Hearing that, Elisha moved away from me.

"I'm alright. I'll help too." I patted Marmi's head, and she loosened the tight grip she had on me and stepped back. I had wanted to lay Irisalie and Kalpana down, but the ground where Zeno's magic had scorched it was still hot.

"Mash, take the injured inside the mansion. I'll help." Maryanne ran over with a knight. The knights took Kalpana and Irisalie from my arms, and the women were carried inside the mansion. My body felt lighter, but my legs were unsteady. I had used up more energy than I thought. I shook my head, trying to deny the part of me that wanted to just give up and rest.

"What about the battle?" It wasn't that I'd forgotten, but I had been fighting inside an isolated vortex of fire, so I had no idea what was happening around me. No one was still fighting. I looked at the fallen soldiers. Most of them were from the Leafkraut Family. My gaze shifted to Zeno. The flames that had been directed at us had also burned his own body, leaving black, charred marks. There was no sign of his flesh regenerating. Was he really dead?

"You defeated Lord Zeno. As expected of you, Mash," Maryanne said, following my gaze.

"I couldn't have done it alone. Besides, he cast an immortality spell on himself. He might regenerate and get up again..."

"Understood. In that case, let's put him in the dungeon. If we cut off his mana, he won't be able to regenerate." If he still possessed the ability to revive even in this state, what would happen to that ability if he were put in a magic-sealing cell? I watched as Maryanne's soldiers surrounded Zeno and carried him into the mansion, lost in thought.

"We've driven off the Leafkraut forces. All that's left are the Air-Ally soldiers on the hill." As she spoke, Maryanne looked over the One-Land soldiers. They had formed a thick circle around us. The intensity of their gazes made me want to take a step back. Had the victory in battle erased their fatigue and become fuel for the next fight?

This battle was, in essence, a civil war for control of the city. There should have been a dark shadow of infighting among kin. But that shadow was being dispelled by the brightly burning torches illuminating the mansion and the heat of the soldiers' passion.

"Have the number of soldiers increased?"

"Citizen soldiers have joined us. About five hundred of them, and I expect that number to grow." I looked over the soldiers, thinking they had been cooperative from the start. Many of them seemed to be hastily equipped with mismatched gear. However, even those men were all armed with spears or swords. Had they opened the armory? Even though we had divided the enemy and defeated the Leafkraut forces, there were still over a thousand enemy soldiers left. Having more numbers was a blessing, but I was concerned that if this momentum was lost and the tide turned, their change of heart could become a new problem.

"So, what about the Air-Ally Family?"

"They were about to turn their army from the government hill to pursue us, but they have now returned to the hill." We walked a short distance to a place where we could see the government building. Bonfires were lit at the top of the hill, illuminating the stone structure.

"Are they planning to hole up? I can see people moving."

"You can? Isn't it just the way the firelight is hitting it, making it look like it's moving?" I tried squinting like Maryanne, but I couldn't tell.

"...They're there." Marmi seemed to see them too and pointed, but I couldn't tell where she was pointing. Were elves and the dog-eared race better at seeing than humans?

"Hmph, the eyes of us dog-eared folk are said to be superior to humans at spotting movement," Maryanne said, sensing my doubtful gaze, and pouted in a way that reminded me of Famu.

"With this many people, it's possible to storm the hill and force a decisive battle, but..." At some point, Marina had come out of the mansion with several elven knights and was now standing beside us. Wake was among them. Marmi immediately ran to her mother's side.

"Are you alright?" I asked. Marina gave a slight nod.

"Fighting soldiers who get back up after being defeated was quite a chore. If the One-Land Family's all-out attack had been a little later, the mansion might have been captured." Her words seemed tinged with a slight exhaustion.

"Attacking an army waiting for us on a hill will require considerable resolve and patience. With so many citizen soldiers now, that will be difficult. Instead, how about we gather our forces on the main street that extends from the bottom of the stairs?"

"A plan to show our numbers and provoke them into coming out? But will the Air-Ally Family, who hold the advantageous position, fall for such a provocation?" Maryanne questioned my proposal.

"No, we'll use the main force as a decoy and launch another diversion. We'll attack and liberate the two locations they're occupying: the church and the Crystal Garden."

"Will that work? From the battles so far, they must be wary of us splitting our forces for surprise attacks."

"It would be best if we can liberate them, but it doesn't matter if the attack fails. The goal is to show the enemy that we hold the initiative, that we're setting fires at their feet, and that they can't just sit comfortably on the hill. They're only in that position due to circumstances; they aren't occupying the hill with a long-term strategy in mind. They don't have food supplies there, do they?" Feints and attempts to win over the citizens would greatly unsettle the enemy. The key issue was which side the citizens would take. The Air-Ally and Leafkraut families had intended to seize power with a swift attack on the other Four Regent Families and then win public opinion. They must still be thinking that way, even now that the battle has dragged on into the night. And while the battle began without the support of the citizens, in the One-Land Family's district, citizen soldiers have begun to rally behind Maryanne. If that becomes a major movement, the Air-Ally Family will be in a tight spot. The keys to that are the church and the Crystal Garden. If public opinion shifts to Maryanne, the Air-Ally Family won't be able to just sit and watch the battle from the hill.

"I see. In that case, about the attack force..." Maryanne let out a small sigh and looked up at the night sky, her brow furrowed. The moon that had been in the eastern sky had now climbed high, illuminating the city.

"There is no need to hesitate. If Lady Maryanne commands it, we will obey." I realized that the Royal Guard Captain, Trusar, was kneeling before Maryanne.

"But the mobile unit must be exhausted..."

"It's not a problem. The enemy is just as tired." Maryanne and Trusar looked at each other.

"Very well. Then, to the liberation of the church."

"Leave it to me." Trusar beat his chest, bowed deeply, and then slowly stood up.

"Then we'll take the Crystal Garden." Just like Trusar, Hyakka had somehow joined the strategy meeting and was now hugging me around the waist.

"Wait, are you planning to go in with just adventurers?"

"It's fine. The nomads will help us." Hyakka gestured behind her with her thumb. The nomads were standing by.

"Kalpana is injured and can't fight anymore. That was due to my carelessness and is my responsibility. I can't let you all participate in any more combat."

"We are here to serve Lady Laciel. Please, give us your orders." The man at the front bowed his head.

"Are there any injured among you?"

"Our main job was long-range support with bows, so we have a few injuries, but it's not a problem." I was about to ask if there were any deaths, but I quickly swallowed the words. They called it rear support, but when I saw Kalpana, the battle had been so chaotic that the battle lines had blurred. And I felt reluctant to drag them into another fight after their leader had been injured.

But since I was the one who proposed the plan, I couldn't be the one to back down. This wasn't a situation where I could just walk away.

"Alright. But think of this attack as partly a reconnaissance in force to assess the situation at the Crystal Garden. We won't take any unnecessary risks. If we sense any danger, we pull back. The same goes for the attack on the church." As I watched Hyakka nod, I knew her resolve was firm and she wouldn't back down no matter what. Was it just me? My own thoughts were still wavering and unsettled. A moment ago, I had given in to anger, but now, looking at the defeated Zeno, I wondered if it was really the right thing to do. No matter how many times I steel my resolve, it turns to doubt. And I feel like I'm the only one left behind, powerless. I think I'm making my own choices, but in the end, I'm just being swept along by the situation, pulling the final trigger that's been prepared for me. What is Laciel thinking, making me do these things? Is this what she, with her title of God of Adventure, considers an adventure? I'll have to protest the next time I summon her.

I suddenly realized Hyakka was also looking at me.

"Mash... I..."

"What is it?" As I waited for her to continue, she pushed me hard in the chest with both hands.

"Never mind. I'm countin' on ya!" She said and ran off.

The soldiers around us began to prepare hastily based on the plan we had just made. The plan was as we had discussed: Maryanne's main force would take up a position on the main street extending south from the government building. Trusar's beastman mobile unit would circle around from the east side of the city, enter the northern Air-Ally-controlled district, and liberate the church. The nomads would blend in with the main force on the main street, circle around to the west side of the city, and liberate the Crystal Garden. We, the members of New World, Takamura and Komachi of Nekono Konekoneko, and Doris would join the nomads. Furthermore, Wake and a part of the elven magic knight order would join and lead the way. There was some debate about whether we should attack the north side as a single unit, but it was decided that would negate Trusar's mobility and that a smaller group would be better for moving under the cover of night. Marina would remain at the One-Land mansion to treat the wounded and defend this base. Elisha would also stay here. Kalpana and Irisalie would remain here as well.

I was on the street in front of the mansion with Myra and Marmi. I was sitting on a collapsed parapet. Myra was casting healing magic on me, and while the pain in my body faded, the fatigue remained. Come to think of it, I had fought at the Star Union mansion, spent time with Irisalie, jumped from there and been seriously injured, and then a series of events had followed one after another. It had all happened in a single day, but my sense of time was warped, and the first event felt like a distant memory.

"Myra." I said and stood up, spreading my arms.

"What is it?" Myra tilted her head.

"I haven't hugged you yet."

"H-hyawaah! Everyone's watching!" Her eyes widened, and she took a step back.

"...If Myra's not going to, then I'll take the hug." Marmi smoothly cut in.

"Mo, you just got a hug a little while ago!" Myra grabbed Marmi from behind to stop her from hugging me. Her ample chest was pressed against Marmi's back, getting squished. I wanted to hug her too and feel that sensation.

"...There were a lot of other people around then. If Myra doesn't want to, then one more time..." Marmi tried to shake Myra off and get closer.

"Wait a minute! I do, I do!"

"Then, both of you together." As I said that, they both hugged me at the same time. I was enveloped in a soft, large sensation and a soft, small sensation. As I buried myself in their warmth, I heard their sighs.

"So, how are Famu and Mizuki doing? Where have they been wandering off to?"

"Muu! How can you ask that in this situation?! There were plenty of other times to ask!" Myra pinched my side.