kscans

Chapter 111 - The Sortie

Inside the carriage, Hayato began creating various items.

They were only makeshift, but it was better than nothing. Besides, he already had some items prepared. He had planned to give them to Ash's group and Ney's group today. He handed those to Lunaria.

"Lunaria-san, I'm giving you some potions and food, so use them as you see fit. Also, I have a full set of Dullahan Armor. What do you want to do? You said you'd be fine in your dress, but wouldn't it be better to equip it?"

Lunaria took the medicines and food from Hayato, her face thoughtful.

"Which is cooler, appearing in a dress or in Dullahan Armor?"

"...The Dullahan Armor, I guess."

"Then I'll equip it."

"Please do."

He handed the full set of Dullahan Armor to Lunaria, and her equipment changed from the dress.

It wasn't her usual red armor, known as the Inferno Series, but black armor. In terms of performance, it wasn't bad. While it had a weakness to Holy Magic, it was equipment that could significantly reduce damage from Necromancy and Dark attribute attacks, making it a powerful choice for this Stampede.

Next, Hayato took out two rings and two bracelets, four items in total. He gave them to Lunaria and Noat.

"These are a ring and a bracelet that prevent Knockback and Stun. Ash and the others said having these makes Stampedes much easier, so please equip them."

For Lunaria, who fought in close combat, this equipment was essential.

The same was true for Noat. Hayato didn't know the effective range of her songs, including Requiem. It probably wouldn't be effective until they reached the plaza, but that was also within the Underworld Dragon's attack range. While she could likely dodge physical attacks, she would be caught in area-of-effect attacks like Dragon Roar. He decided to give them to her in anticipation of that.

Lunaria and Noat nodded and immediately equipped the items.

"I'm starting to feel invincible. Now, if only Noat-chan gets rid of the ghosts, I'll be completely invincible."

"That's good. But please, don't get defeated. The Underworld Dragon has a skill called Undead Festival that turns fallen opponents into zombies. If you get zombified, Lunaria-san, no one will be able to defeat you."

No countermeasure had been found for Undead Festival. The only strategy was not to get defeated. In Lunaria's case, she could resurrect at the Demon Lord's Castle, but that was far from the Demon Capital's plaza. If she had to resurrect, it would be a significant loss of time.

"If the Demon Lord gets zombified, it'll be a disgrace for generations to come. I absolutely will not be defeated, so don't worry."

"I don't know about it being a disgrace, but it would be best if you worked towards not becoming one."

With the equipment sorted for now, Hayato contacted Ash's group.

Defeating the Underworld Dragon was important, but so was obtaining the Dragon Soul Fragment. If even one facility was destroyed, they wouldn't be able to get the fragment, even if they defeated the dragon.

Many players had gathered in the Demon Capital for this Stampede. And it was night. The Stampede should have been triggered later, when fewer players were online, but this time it seemed to have been timed to coincide with the soiree. It was prime time for working adult players.

This was just Hayato's speculation, but the other bases were probably safe, as they were being defended by players.

Right now, the most dangerous facility was Mist's mansion, where the dragons had gathered. Though Pat had been drawn away, the dragons Agres and Randa were still at the mansion, fighting Ash's group.

"Ash, sorry to bother you during a fight. Lunaria-san is about to take down the Underworld Dragon. Do your best to make sure Mist-san's mansion isn't destroyed."

Since he was in the middle of a battle, Hayato had expected he might not get a reply, but a few seconds later, he heard a voice.

"Now that's some motivating news! Understood! I don't know how you're getting Lunaria to fight, but I'll leave that to you, so you can leave this to us!"

He must still be fighting. Ash's voice was full of excitement as he replied. Ren, who was listening in on the same chat, replied that she would "curse them!" indicating her resolve.

"Hayato-san! We'll reach the plaza in about five minutes! Just as the Underworld Dragon is appearing!"

At Maris's voice, Hayato stuck his head out the window opposite the one Esha was leaning out of and looked in their direction of travel.

It was hard to see in the night, but a pitch-black, circular something appeared in the sky, completely obscuring a part of the starry sky. It flashed for a moment, and a black liquid dripped down. The liquid moved as if it had a will of its own, twisting and turning before forming the shape of a dragon.

The Underworld Dragon Onyx Rod, just like the Fire Dragon, first unleashed a Dragon Roar.

After that, it attacked its surroundings with a Dark attribute Dragon Breath and Necromancy. It also periodically used the Necromancy spell ‘Create Undead’ to create zombies and ghosts.

(So it mostly uses ranged, area-of-effect attacks? Maybe its goal is to zombify the mid-guard and rear guard with Undead Festival.)

Hayato figured its strategy was to defeat as many players and NPCs as possible and then use Undead Festival. If it could reduce the enemy's forces and add them to its own, it was a strategy that made perfect sense.

As he was thinking this, he heard Lunaria muttering to herself.

"Yes, right. I'm deploying this time, so get ready. I'll be arriving by carriage. The eastern road."

"Lunaria-san, is something wrong?"

"I just contacted the Black Rose. I told them I'm heading to the plaza now."

"Black Rose? Oh, you mean Rosalie-san... no, that's not right? Huh? Everyone?"

"The Ten Black Rose Saints, as the name implies, are ten people. The leader, Rosalie-chan, is at Mist-san's mansion, so the remaining nine are fighting in the plaza. I just sent them a voice chat to let them know I'm on my way."

"Oh, I see."

"Well then, I'm going to get ready, so let me know when the ghosts are gone. Noat-chan, I'm counting on you."

"Got it. I'll use Requiem to purify the surrounding undead. While I'm singing, no undead will appear, so you can go wild, Lunaria-chan."

Noat activated Requiem and began to sing. The surrounding undead crumbled and disappeared.

(Amazing. It's not just dealing damage, it's definitely purifying them. To defeat even a Dragon Zombie in one hit, or rather, in an instant… What is Lunaria-san doing?)

Immediately after Noat started singing, Lunaria, having confirmed there were no ghosts around, was trying to climb out of the carriage window for some reason.

"Hey, Lunaria-san, what are you doing?"

"Getting ready. I'm the Demon Lord, so I have to make a cool entrance. I'm going to stand defiantly on the roof of the carriage as we enter the plaza. I already told everyone that's what I'd do."

"There's a gunfight going on right over there. It'll be bad if you get hit, so let's not."

"The Demon Lord doesn't care about such things. Besides, the Demon Lord has to be cool. The Demon Lord everyone looks up to. It wouldn't be right to shatter that image."

"Your usual self shatters that image the most."

Hayato tried to stop her, but due to their difference in STR, it was impossible.

Lunaria climbed out the window and onto the roof of the carriage. She stood there defiantly, facing the direction of travel. Her long silver hair billowed in the wind, but since this was a virtual reality, there was no wind resistance, and Lunaria stood there normally. It was a gallant sight, to be sure.

Pat, who was chasing them on horseback, tilted his head at the sight but took aim at Lunaria. However, between Esha's attacks and being on horseback, he couldn't aim well, and his shots didn't seem to connect.

The target of his shots, Lunaria, paid him no mind, her back turned as she looked ahead. Her face was that of someone convinced she could not be hit.

(Just looking at her now, she does seem like a Demon Lord.)

Hayato decided it would be better to give up trying to stop her and focus on providing support.

"Esha. Interfere with Pat as much as possible. Lunaria-san is standing on the roof of the carriage."

"What is she doing? In that case, I'm about to run out of juice, so please make some more. And a chocolate parfait, too."

Hayato began making juice to meet Esha's demands.

"I shall become Lunaria-sama's shield. While I cannot catch a projectile with my bare hands, I believe I can withstand a few hits."

Relic said this and, like Lunaria, climbed onto the roof. He moved to the roof with one hand, as if his age was no object.

Immediately after, a "Whoa," came from Maris.

"What's wrong?"

"I can see figures on the roofs. What are they?"

"Figures?"

The center of the Demon Capital was a plaza, but it was surrounded by many houses and other buildings. Most of them were made of brick. On the roofs of those buildings were several figures. The streetlights were quite bright, so even at night, you could see that someone was there.

When Hayato looked out the window, he saw they were women dressed in Gothic Lolita attire. The women were lined up on the roofs at regular intervals.

One of them raised the sword she was holding diagonally.

"Her Majesty, Demon Lord Lunaria, to the sortie!"

Her powerful voice echoed throughout the area. Then, the other women in Gothic Lolita dresses raised their weapons diagonally and chanted in unison. The women were on top of the buildings on both sides of the road, so it was like they were passing between them. Normally, you'd say that when leaving a castle, but they were probably just going with the flow.

The players and NPCs in the area froze for a moment, their eyes darting to the roofs before immediately turning to the carriage. Even the Underworld Dragon Onyx Rod looked at the carriage with a surprised expression.

Immediately after, cheers erupted from the NPCs. It was a massive roar. Any NPC who could fight in this Stampede would have their affiliation as the Demon Country. The arrival of the Demon Lord, who had never participated in a Stampede before, would undoubtedly raise their spirits.

The players joined in, cheering along with them. Most players loved irregular events like this.

(Everyone's really into this.)

Hayato thought this to himself, watching the scene with a slightly detached gaze.