Ch.159Chapter 159 – Reorganization

An ominous purple light stained the surroundings.

A familiar light, a familiar form.

If a gem that attracts monsters had appeared, there was only one thing it could mean.

“So that’s how you lured all the monsters here.”

“Yep!”

Phobia answered with a smile.

It was an innocent, guileless smile.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Just because?”

Eve frowned at Phobia’s response.

Phobia, who had been laughing as if mocking them, soon stopped smiling and said quietly:

“Sorry, I was told to make an example of nobles who oppose the Emiris Order, one way or another.”

“What gives you the right to do that?”

Eve’s voice rang out coldly.

“You’re just a religious order that believes in a god. What right do you have to target the lives of nobles, let alone ordinary people, for such a reason?”

“Do I really need to have that right?”

Phobia answered indifferently.

“Besides, I don’t really care. To be honest, I don’t understand difficult things like qualifications or gods.”

Phobia laughed.

“I just need to make dolls.”

‘This crazy woman, seriously.’

I glared at Phobia, but nothing changed immediately.

I could see wyverns flying in the air beginning to roar and dive toward the city walls.

‘If it were just regular monsters, they might barely hold out…’

Being a gateway city, it had defense systems in place against external attacks.

‘But did they consider those wyverns flying in the sky?’

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem likely.

They might have accounted for one or two appearing, but not five wyverns.

‘Then, are there enough troops?’

This wasn’t the case either.

According to what I’d heard from Lute earlier, Lord Sestas had taken his army out.

There couldn’t be enough defensive forces.

‘It’s impossible.’

With enemies that ignore the function of walls and insufficient troops.

Without any variables, it was only a matter of time before Sestas’ walls fell to the monsters.

‘Should we just run away?’

Should I give up, thinking this city is already lost?

‘That won’t work.’

The conclusion came easily.

With monsters rushing in from all directions, the city was essentially surrounded.

And there were wyverns flying in the sky.

Even if we couldn’t fly, once the wyverns controlled the airspace, they would surely target small groups of people trying to escape.

Besides, there was an even more certain reason.

‘That woman probably won’t let us go.’

She’s strangely obsessed with turning our entire party into dolls.

She already had multiple dolls out, and even brought out what seemed to be her trump card, a spider.

She wouldn’t easily let us escape.

‘What should I do?’

I needed time to think.

I needed a variable.

Just as I thought we should retreat once to regroup and find another way, it happened.

[Close your eyes!]

A male voice suddenly rang in my head.

Even so, I couldn’t completely take my eyes off the opponent, so I quickly covered my eyes with my arm.

Then a powerful flash burst in the air.

“Ugh, what’s that?!”

I heard Phobia’s confused voice.

When I slightly moved my arm, I could see the elf dolls and Phobia shaking their heads while clutching their eyes.

And I saw my companions who had been fighting the elves seize the opportunity to pass by them and come to my side.

[Quickly, this way!]

‘Which way?!’

I quickly turned my head to look around.

Since the voice was in my head, I couldn’t tell the exact direction.

Fortunately, I soon spotted the person who sent the voice.

[This way!]

The mage Allen was gesturing vigorously, calling us over.

Just as I was about to move quickly toward him:

“Where do you think you’re running to!”

The spider’s legs began to swing toward us.

I quickly deflected the legs with my halberd, and Sera swiftly pulled something out of her pocket and threw it.

“What is this smoke?!”

It was the persistent smoke that had been used on the dragon before.

Phobia’s confused voice could be heard, perhaps not realizing she needed to clear it with magic.

“Now’s our chance.”

Sera spoke quietly to avoid being heard by the enemy, and quickly lowered her body to move next to Allen.

“This way.”

Allen immediately guided us.

As we ran, Sera began throwing something irregularly, and I could see Beatrice casting magic to scatter them everywhere.

“What are you throwing?”

“Traps!”

“She’s spreading them everywhere so they can’t chase us properly!”

I ran as I watched traps being set up in an instant.

Turning corners, going straight, then entering the next alley as we ran, Allen immediately opened his mouth to ask:

“Who was that woman just now?”

“The culprit behind the kidnappings.”

I answered briefly, having neither the time nor the inclination to explain at length.

We deliberately ran through the alleys in a complicated pattern before emerging onto a main road.

“Let’s regroup here for a moment.”

“I’ll heal you!”

As soon as Eve finished speaking, Christina began casting holy magic to heal the minor wounds on our bodies.

While we were regrouping, someone appeared from around the corner.

“Allen!”

“Miss Lute!”

The two grabbed each other’s hands with apparent joy.

But only for a moment; soon Allen cleared his throat and looked at us.

“I’m glad to see you don’t appear to be injured.”

Allen said with a smile.

Looking at him, who somehow seemed tired, I asked:

“Why did you appear there?”

“We were looking for all of you.”

Lute answered.

Now that I looked, her dress was a mess, and her escorts were nowhere to be seen.

“Looking for us?”

At my question, Lute and Allen exchanged glances.

After a moment, Allen bowed his head deeply and said:

“I was hoping to ask if you could fight the monsters outside the walls, but…”

But he must have seen our situation earlier.

A crazy woman chasing us.

Soon he spoke, as if shaking off his hesitation:

“Given the city’s current situation, we don’t have enough troops to support you. We can’t help you against the kidnapping culprit.”

“That’s obvious just by looking.”

There are even wyverns flying in the sky.

Just then, there was an explosion sound, as if Phobia had stepped on a trap.

‘What a mess.’

I clicked my tongue without realizing it, and Allen’s face turned pale, perhaps misunderstanding.

Feeling a bit sorry, I asked Allen:

“Shouldn’t you be evacuating now?”

At my question, Allen and Lute smiled and said:

“I’m a mage. I became one to help people with knowledge and magic. Unfortunately, I never learned how to run away in situations like this. In such circumstances, I must step forward.”

“I’ve taken responsibility for this city. I can’t run away without finishing what needs to be done.”

And soon Allen added, as if remembering:

“I’m sorry that we’ve only been a burden to you all…”

Allen’s voice, full of apology, rang out, and Eve immediately stepped forward to ask:

“How is the situation at the walls?”

“Under Miss Lute’s leadership, we’re building defense lines with adventurers staying in the city and volunteers.”

“…We can’t just abandon the city. We’re urgently contracting people at several times the usual pay.”

Lute answered, and Eve’s face grew serious.

Then Allen added, as if squeezing out the words:

“…The young lady has sent out all her escorts, saying she’s too short-handed.”

“It’s only natural.”

Lute answered, but she seemed scared as she moved closer to Allen.

Seeing this, Beatrice, whose expression had darkened slightly, quietly asked:

“Is the preparation complete?”

At Beatrice’s question, Allen shook his head slightly.

“…The catalyst will be complete in about an hour.”

Allen said, taking a pouch from his pocket.

Looking inside, I could see some kind of bone powder glowing.

Seeing this, Beatrice said quietly:

“The aging process is going well, but it’s difficult to make it any faster.”

Beatrice lamented, and Allen began apologizing again.

Just then, people’s screams could be heard as wyverns began attacking them.

At the same time, the sound of buildings being destroyed came from a distance.

‘We’re out of time.’

Realizing that Phobia was starting to head our way, I was about to prepare to fight when:

“…I’m truly sorry, but perhaps…”

Lute, who had somehow moved in front of Allen, was looking at us.

“…If you have the capacity, could you help us?”

We don’t have that capacity either.

I was about to refuse when:

-“Aaaaaaah, I’m falling!!”

-“Please save me, please!”

As if entranced, I looked toward the source of the sounds.

People were falling, perhaps having been caught by wyverns.

Other wyverns were setting fires, burning people.

‘…No.’

No matter how tragic the sacrifices of others might be.

I couldn’t put our party in danger…

‘Unavoidable sacrifices must be abandoned…’

Just as I thought this:

『You must learn to cut away and discard when necessary. Whether it’s human lives or your own emotions.』

Those words suddenly flashed through my mind.

It was what Somnus had said to us when we were with Kara at the Origin Festival.

I unconsciously gritted my teeth.

‘If I abandon and give up on those people.’

I quietly asked myself.

‘How am I any different from that madman?’

I asked myself.

I answered myself.

‘I can’t become like those Order bastards.’

It might be foolish pride.

It might be stupid self-sacrifice.

Even so.

I felt that I shouldn’t cross the line of treating others’ sacrifices as a matter of course.

“…I guess I’m really not destined to die peacefully.”

“Kei?”

“Kei?”

Seeing Eve and Sera looking slightly anxious, I smiled quietly.

I gently placed my hand on Eve’s head, who was closest to me.

Then I looked around at my companions and said quietly:

“…Beatrice, Christina.”

“What?”

“Go to the walls.”

I could see the two were surprised.

Beatrice immediately shouted:

“What are you talking about? We don’t have that luxury!”

“We don’t have any luxury. But still.”

I looked at them quietly and said:

“I just thought we can’t simply abandon those people to save ourselves.”

“Helmet.”

“I thought, if we did that, we’d be no different from Somnus and those bastards.”

At my words, Beatrice’s eyes wavered slightly.

Looking at her, I quietly added:

“After all, no matter what, I can’t become like them.”

After saying that, I bowed my head to everyone.

“I’m sorry. I’ve weighed everyone’s safety on my own.”

For a moment, I thought criticism might come.

Then I heard Eve’s voice.

“Normally I’d want to object, but…”

Eve sighed once and then said quietly:

“…We can’t escape outside the city anyway. Rather, even if it’s dangerous, it makes sense to send people to support the walls.”

“That’s one way to look at it.”

Sera stepped forward, agreeing with Eve’s opinion.

Christina had an anxious expression, while Beatrice was quietly smoking a cigarette.

“Let’s go with Kei’s opinion.”

At Eve’s words, everyone nodded, and I felt a wave of guilt.

I immediately bowed my head and said:

“…I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, make sure to repay us in another way?”

Eve said with a smile.

“You know we’re expensive, right?”

“…Yes. I’ll definitely repay you.”

At my words, everyone’s faces seemed to brighten slightly.

But still, they were accommodating my stubbornness in this situation.

“Thank you, everyone.”

It was a sincere statement.

“That’s what friends are for.”

Sera answered, and everyone nodded.

A gentle smile passed between us, and after a moment, Christina spoke:

“But why do Beatrice and I need to go to the walls?”

“Because you two are essential personnel for defending the city.”

With Beatrice’s magic, the tide of battle could be turned.

With Christina’s holy magic, the wounded could be healed.

These two were essential for defending the walls.

Especially in a situation like this, their help would be crucial.

“That’s true.”

Beatrice nodded in understanding and said:

“Helmet, what about you?”

“I need to stop that crazy doll fanatic.”

If left alone, she would stab us in the back and turn us into a terrible sight.

And as the culprit behind this situation, there was another problem:

“She’s the one who lured the monsters in the first place, and her goal seems to be to harm Metis County. If we leave her alone, she’ll definitely try to break through the defense line.”

Just sending those three elf sisters to disrupt the top of the wall would be enough.

Plus, with that spider, she absolutely couldn’t be left alone.

‘And she definitely has more dolls.’

I didn’t know how many dolls she had left.

Depending on how many and what kind remained, it was impossible to guess how much damage she could cause.

But Beatrice darkened her expression slightly and asked once more:

“Helmet, can you handle that woman and all the elf dolls?”

Honestly, this was something I didn’t know either.

Judging by how they fought against Eve and Beatrice, those three elf sisters were a significant threat even to me.

Add Phobia to that, and I would inevitably struggle.

“…I’ll need some support to look for an opportunity.”

I looked at Eve and Sera with a slightly apologetic expression.

At least the enemy swordswoman was similar in skill to Eve.

The two of them could probably handle one.

Sensing my gaze, Eve looked at me and said:

“Kei.”

“Kei.”

I could see firm resolve in the eyes of Eve and Seraphina.

Eve slowly opened her mouth:

“Seraphina and I will try to somehow tie up those three elves.”

“It’s dangerous…”

“It’s much better than you facing three or more opponents alone.”

After saying this, Eve looked at Seraphina.

“Seraphina and I will somehow neutralize those elves.”

“We have to do it. It would be suicide for Kei to fight those elves and that woman alone.”

The two said this.

I nodded quietly and began preparing my weapons.

‘She’s almost here.’

The sound was getting louder.

Phobia had almost reached us.

It was time to quickly organize.

“…Don’t push yourselves too hard, and if necessary, retreat immediately to the walls where Beatrice and Christina are.”

“Yes.”

As I said this, Eve gripped her sword and Sera her staff tightly.

Then Beatrice and Christina bowed their heads briefly and said:

“We’ll come help as soon as the situation allows.”

“Master, Guild Master, Sera, everyone must stay safe!”

Meanwhile, the sound was now really getting loud.

At that sound, Allen looked at me and said:

“Then I’ll go support the walls.”

“Please take care of the walls.”

Allen nodded.

Then he shouted:

“…Yes, you two come this way! Miss Lute, please go somewhere safe!”

“I want to come too…!”

As Allen and Lute shouted this, they began to move away.

Christina looked back at us, seemingly reluctant to leave us, but was eventually led away by Beatrice toward the walls.

Then Eve looked at me and asked:

“How do you plan to fight?”

“First, I need to draw their attention.”

I said, changing my weapon to a bow.

Given the situation, I needed to fight at range rather than head-on, drawing them away as much as possible.

“Kei.”

“Kei.”

“Eve, Sera.”

I nodded to them both as I nocked an arrow to my bow.

“Good luck.”

At that moment, the wall was smashed.

“Found-you!”

Phobia looked at me with gleaming eyes.

I shot an arrow toward her, and I could see Eve and Sera entering a nearby alley.

The three elf sisters, hanging from the spider like puppets on strings, began to chase after them.

“Where did the others go?”

“None of your business.”

I glared at Phobia as I nocked another arrow to my bow.

“Let’s go, you damned woman!”

I shouted as I fired an arrow at the charging Phobia.