kscans

Chapter 479 - Clan Encouragement

The three clans with great influence as tamer clans, "Cats are God," "Cretaceous," and "Highway Star," formed an alliance. Parfait’s clan, "Mont Blanc," also joined as an allied clan.

With clan battles no longer a concern, the allied clans decided to fight the raid boss that inhabited the island. This proposal was made during Parfait’s battle with Rhadia, the leader of Highway Star, and she was informed of it when she regrouped.

They had asked for her opinion in the end, but Parfait was not one to misread the room. She agreed to the large-scale raid battle, and they were currently in preparation.

There were two raid bosses on the island, but they had decided to fight the giant beetle, Chariot, first.

Since no one had ever fought it before, there was almost no information, but according to the captain of the ship they had taken to the island, it boasted an incredibly tough defense, and physical attacks were unlikely to deal any damage. Therefore, a strategy that took this into account was necessary, and Parfait was now being briefed.

"So Orion-san’s group will be the attackers?"

"Yep. Cretaceous only has dinosaur pets, so they can only do physical attacks, and Highway Star is mostly physical too."

As Orion said that, Deeger, who was nearby, nodded.

"Unfortunately, our dinosaurs won’t be able to do much damage. So we’ll act as tanks and draw Chariot’s attacks."

Dinosaurs had high physical attack, but their HP was also unusually high, making them ideal pets for tanking. Orion said that having them protect them was reassuring.

"We’ll act as a diversion and ferry recovery items. We’ll also take care of any other nearby monsters, so leave that to us."

Rhadia said that and smiled brightly.

Highway Star had a lineup of high-speed pets and was strong in PvP, but they were not as strong in normal combat. They were good at hit-and-away attacks, but due to their pets, their attacks were mostly physical, so they had volunteered for a support role in the Chariot battle.

She understood the general situation, but there was a problem.

To be blunt, Parfait and her friends were a burden. Or rather, since they had just started, there was little they could do to be useful.

"So we’re… observing?"

"You guys just have to look at the overall situation and do what you can. You can be support like Rhadia-chan’s group, or you can charge in!"

"We’d be killed instantly…"

Parfait and her friends had inherited good equipment from their parents and acquaintances, so they were not that weak. However, they were not strong enough to be active in a large-scale raid battle. That was a conclusion she had reached from their contribution level in the Hyakki Yakou event in the eastern country of Azuma.

"But, I feel like you guys will do something interesting, you know?"

"Something interesting?"

"Yeah, honestly, I was a little surprised when you defeated the Elder Griffon, Lancelot."

"I thought we could do it, but apparently that’s not how you’re supposed to fight…"

Parfait was a little down after that. Although she didn't know the conventional way of fighting, she had pulled off the feat of jumping and slashing in mid-air, which had resulted in another "not normal" situation.

"Including that, I have high hopes for you guys. Besides, no one has ever fought Chariot before, so there’s no established strategy. So I’m really counting on you, Parfait-chan. Of course, it’s fine if you just play support. Just enjoy the raid battle!"

"Yes. Just as Orion-kun says. This is a festival. Besides, everyone thinks it’s okay if we can’t win. Think of it as a celebration and have fun. Of course, I’ll be having fun too."

"I want to win if we’re going to do it, but I hear it’s hard to beat a boss on the first try, so I think this is just for fun. We should just be happy if we get some information. Personally, I’d rather talk about schools in the colonies than the raid…!"

The three of them had various things to say, but the gist was that it was just for fun, and it was okay if they couldn’t win. They should just enjoy the raid battle. That being the case, Parfait felt more relaxed.

"Hardcore progression clans and major clans are much stricter, but we’re just a clan of pet lovers, so we prioritize fun!"

Deeger and Rhadia nodded in agreement with Orion’s words.

Thankful that they were being so considerate, Parfait smiled and said, "I understand."

Just then, several scouts who had gone to check on Chariot returned.

According to them, several people were provoking Chariot and luring it to a more advantageous location for the battle. It was decided that they would head out immediately.

Everyone nodded, and the people who had been talking all returned to their respective clans. Parfait also returned to where Natsu, Chris, and the others were and relayed the situation.

"I see. But my friend, what of the other clans? Should we not head out immediately?"

"They have a lot of members, so it probably takes time to relay the information."

As Parfait said that, Orion’s voice could be heard from where the members of Cats are God were.

"Everyone, close your eyes."

Orion seemed to be standing on something, and his upper body was visible even from a distance.

Wondering what he was doing, Parfait turned her attention in that direction.

"Listen closely."

After Orion said that, there was a silence of about ten seconds.

"—You heard the voice of God, didn’t you?"

(Huh? A religion?)

"God has told us to win this battle and offer up Nekomanma Deluxe with a side of tuna!"

As Orion said that, the clan members started shouting, "Nekko! Nekko!" It sounded like some of them were also saying, "Nukko!"

(Oh, the voice of God was a cat’s ‘nya’… and they’re using that to rally the members…?")

Parfait had heard that it was a routine to do something before a battle, and that many clans had such acts to raise morale. She had even seen some of them in videos of the game that were publicly available.

And now, voices could be heard from the Cretaceous side as well.

Deeger, who was now wearing a Tyrannosaurus costume, seemed to be standing on something just like Orion was.

"Everyone, what are dinosaurs?"

"""The strongest creatures!"""

"That’s right. Then what are we, who stand with the dinosaurs?"

"""The strongest clan!"""

"Exactly. And for us to lose means the dinosaurs have lost. Can you all permit that?"

The members of Cretaceous fell silent at those words and shook their heads.

"No, we cannot permit it. Then what must we do? The answer is simple—only victory!"

The clan members roared at Deeger’s words. The dinosaurs also let out loud cries, making it quite noisy.

And then, a small voice could be heard from Highway Star.

Rhadia, looking extremely weary, raised her right hand listlessly.

"...Hyahha-."

Her voice was faint, but it seemed that wasn't enough. For some reason, boos erupted from the members of the Highway Star clan.

"This is some kind of harassment, isn’t it… I just want a normal youth…"

In response to Rhadia’s grumbling, the vice-leader opened his mouth.

"But, Ojou. As the successor to Ane-san, we have high expectations of you, so you must do it properly."

"Ojou is one thing, but stop calling Lee-neesan ‘Ane-san’. What kind of outlaws are you pretending to be… Ah, fine! When I’m in charge, I’m getting rid of all this! Let’s go, you lot! We’re gonna blow away every last enemy! HYAHHA-!"

This time, her voice could be heard quite loudly, and the clan members also shouted "HYAHHA-!" in great joy.

The members of Mont Blanc watched this silently, but then Natsu opened her mouth.

"My friend Parfait. They said this raid was for fun, but are they not all quite serious?"

"Yeah, they seem more fired up than I expected."

"Should we do something as well? If so, then words from the Dark Side—"

"No, that’s okay. Let’s just do our best, our own way!"

Compared to the others, it felt rather anticlimactic, but the members of Mont Blanc seemed to prefer that level of looseness, and they each raised their hands lightly to show their determination.

"However, Parfait. You seem to be enjoying yourself. What’s wrong?"

Chris’s words made Parfait beam.

"Yeah. I was worried recently that I might be weird, but I’ve come to understand some things. There’s always someone weirder out there…!"

Their direction was different, but she felt that Orion and the others were not exactly normal either. She had come to think that after seeing their rallying cries just now. And her parents were weird in various ways. It had come to seem that it was not a problem if she was a little different from normal herself.

It was just that, but for Parfait, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest.

"My friend was troubled? But rest assured. Even if my friend is strange, our friendship is eternal. For it is bound by a dark contract!"

"We didn’t make a contract like that, but thanks. You’re weird too, Nacchan, but my friendship with you won’t change!"

"So my strangeness is a given…?"

"M-me too! Even if Parfait-san is a monster, we are friends!"

"Um, Wilnel-chan, I appreciate what you’re saying, but could you do something about the ‘monster’ part?"

Chris and Ginny said similar things, Rick laughed with exasperation, and Abel held his stomach laughing.

Orion and the others watched them from a distance, exchanged glances, and nodded.

"Looks like Parfait-chan’s group is ready too. Well then, shall we go hunting?"

"Yes, let’s go!"

The other members responded to Orion and Parfait’s words. And all the clan members began to move toward the battlefield where Chariot had been lured.