Ch.306Understanding NPCs. (3)

“Then, Ragni. I’ll be heading there right away, so let’s meet up at the Helgot territory.”

“…Are you really going to bring everyone?”

The day before, I learned why Ragni had turned to the dark side as a queen. After properly talking things through, we were able to discuss the strategies we’d each come up with. And under the pretext of telling her more about my past life, I held her in my arms until late into the night as we continued our conversation. Afterward, we really did just sleep holding hands, but honestly, it’s getting harder to hold back now. No matter how I think about it, next time I won’t be able to just hold hands.

“Yeah. Whatever you think, since you answered that it would be better for us to help, this is the right move. Of course, in Ira’s case, I’ll have her wait in the rear with Gore to keep her out of combat, but it’s undeniable that having them separated by several territories in the current Empire is actually a more precarious situation.”

“…I see.”

I already know her true feelings thanks to the collar of subjugation that forced her to speak only the truth, and even if Ragni objects, I feel this is the right thing to do. According to what the Dean told me, when Ragni disappeared, Ira threw a massive tantrum and dragged Rey and Gore along with her. Since I had taught Ira teleportation magic, albeit the installation-type, if she had truly made up her mind to escape, even Rey and Gore wouldn’t have been able to restrain her.

Haha, big brother is happy but a little sad. Could it be that she hit puberty during the year I was gone?

“Well then, I’ll head out first. Once you and everyone arrive at Helgot territory, I’ll make arrangements so we can contact each other immediately…”

“No. This is an order. Not just making contact—you will come to meet us.”

“Urgh… E-even if I just have you come to meet—”

“No, Ragni will absolutely come to meet us. As soon as we arrive at Helgot territory.”

“Eek…!”

Though Ragni puffed her cheeks in defiance of my order, I gently pressed her cheek with my finger to indicate I wouldn’t accept any objections. If I just let you arrange contact, I might only hear that you’ve already charged all the way to the imperial capital on your own. Or you might claim to have arranged for us to meet, only to make some ridiculous excuse like “Oh no! We missed each other!” Right?

“Y-you… You’ve really become quite clever, haven’t you…?”

“Ha! I have no intention of being outsmarted by a chrysalis. Understood? This is an order. Stay at Helgot territory until we arrive, and come to meet us immediately when we do. Absolutely, absolutely, got it?”

“Sigh. Fine.”

After repeatedly emphasizing my point, Ragni finally nodded and mounted the horse her subordinates had prepared. I heard that they were originally a covert operations unit that had come to assassinate Ragni or gather intelligence on her through stealth operations. All of them were above level 100. Hmm, the fact that they’re higher level than the assassination squad leaders I met in Aigram, including Kyaru… is it because the Empire’s monsters have also leveled up accordingly?

“Well then, I’m really going now. Don’t make me wait too long.”

“Right, be careful.”

*Smooch*

Ragni leaned down from her horse and lightly kissed my forehead, causing the faces of the covert ops guys around us to redden as they began whispering among themselves. Hmm.

“Hey, you guys.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t you dare betray Ragni, no matter what happens. Protect her with your lives. Got it?”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Tsk, what kind of weak response is that? If anything happens to Ragni, I’ll destroy the entire Empire! Understand?!”

“YES SIR!!”

“Hehe. Don’t worry. Even without them, I could handle 10 imperial knights—no, even 100 knights wouldn’t be a match for me now.”

That’s true since I’ll soon reach the mid-3000s in all stats, but I’m still worried. Since I couldn’t pull her face down from the horse, I returned her kiss by lightly pressing my lips to her small hand. I think hand kisses had some specific meaning, but I don’t really know what it is. Anyway. Be careful.

“Yes. I’ll be back. Let’s go!!”

“MOVE OUT!!”

At Ragni’s command, her subordinates immediately took the lead, with Ragni following behind as if being escorted. In the game, she never had people guarding her like this, so it’s nice to see. Or perhaps I should say how impressive she’s become now.

“…Well, both, I suppose.”

After firmly understanding that the blue-haired woman disappearing into the distance was now completely different from the queen in the game—she was my beloved woman—I remained in place until she was completely out of sight before finally turning away.

*

“Tch. Get out of my way!!!”

*WHOOSH!*

“Whoa…!!”

“If you have time to be amazed, hurry and move the injured people!!”

*WHOOSH!*

“Y-yes, ma’am!!”

“Sis! The enemies pushed back here are heading toward another gate!! I’ll pursue them!!”

“Ugh…!! Not by yourself!!”

[Why alone? I’ll go with you. Rize, it’s fine here, right? The battlefield is so saturated with Greed’s energy that even if I’m hiding like this, they can’t find the main body.]

“Yes, please. Luks… Sria. Please stay hidden and don’t let others see you.”

[I know, I know. A demon accompanying a saint—just that alone will crush the morale of those humans, right? Come on, let’s go, little sister!!]

“Who are you calling your little sister?!”

The morning after Jack arrived in the Empire and parted ways with Ragni, at the border region of Ponia.

Green Dol, Saint Rizelotte, and their companions Miho, Chikuyo, and Luksria, who had managed to arrive at dawn, were holding back the enemy at the foot of the border city’s walls, which had been on the verge of collapse, and were now pushing the frontline back.

“I thought we would truly have to abandon the city this time, as our oil, firewood, and even the mages’ mana weren’t infinite. But this…”

The general, who had been fighting bloodily beneath the outer wall, remembered the story told by the gray man who had literally torn through the frontline that day without even giving his name. He did recall the mention of a black-haired male elf, a blonde human woman, and a saint who would appear to defeat the demons, but honestly, he hadn’t had high expectations. Not because he thought they couldn’t defeat the enemy, but because he didn’t think they could arrive in time before this place fell. That’s what he had thought.

“Get out of my waaaay!!!”

*BOOM!!!*

“…Just where did such people come from?”

They might be slightly weaker than the gray man he had seen that day. But that was only because that man had been abnormally strong. The fist of the silver-furred beastwoman with what looked like black ink splattered on her coat was by no means something that could be called weak.

She was clearing away enemies that even multiple of their soldiers couldn’t push back, as easily as sweeping aside pebbles blocking a path, and running off. The general believed that she was rushing to defend another gate, and that her presence alone would ensure that position wouldn’t fall.

*Tap tap tap!*

“Hello! Are you the commander of this army?!”

“Ah, yes. You are…?”

“My name is Rizelotte. I’m just a passing nun. I have a favor to ask—I’d like to heal all the wounded at once, but they’re too scattered…”

The blonde woman who had saved the endangered Ponian forces was bowing her head respectfully without a trace of arrogance, making a request to gather all the wounded in one place. The general was certain she must be the saint. However…

“…I understand. We would also like to receive as much help as possible from a passing nun. Lieutenant!!”

“Yes sir!! I will relay to all forces to gather the wounded in one location, including those already evacuated to the rear!!”

“This should have everyone gathered within a few hours. It will take some time, but…”

“Yes!! Thank you! Please let me know once everyone is gathered!!”

Despite the situation, she doesn’t reveal herself as a saint. Thinking there must be a reason for this behavior, the general and his lieutenant hide the fact that they’ve figured it out and act accordingly. And then…

“They really are endless! No choice then. It’s a bit intense for rehabilitation therapy, but Wind Riding Form 6…!!!”

“I need to get to Miho right now!! Phantom Blade!! Full power strike!!”

*WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!*

*SLASH!*

Countless tangible blades rained down across the entire battlefield, followed by a hot wind that seemed like it could scorch even rain-soaked ground in the monsoon season, and the enemies that had been pouring in like a flood were all cut in half. Remarkably, not a single ally in the vicinity suffered any damage, which was almost frightening. And then…

“Ah! Jack told us not to get involved!! Wait, we’re the ones who jumped in, so maybe it doesn’t matter?! Argh!! Out of my way!! Beast transformation!!!”

“Demon bullet! Demon bullet!! DEMON BULLET!!! Where are you, you pig bastard?! Come out right now!!!”

“Luksria?! Your invisibility!! Your invisibility is gone!!!”

From the direction where the beastwoman had gone to defend another gate came attacks that seemed too explosive to be from human fists, and indeed, they weren’t—something was causing the empty air itself to explode and tear the enemies apart.

“…Haha, it seems the fall of the border city—no, the fall of Ponia—is still a distant future story.”

Thanks to these incredibly reliable allies who had appeared in their time of crisis, Ponia’s border region had not yet fallen. And…

[…Why is Lust here? *Sniff sniff, chomp* Strange? Pride (Superbia) clearly said that if I attack from outside, Lust would attack from inside?]

They, these women, didn’t know. They didn’t notice the gaze of one of the Seven Deadly Sins, who was devouring even the corpses of the undead they had defeated, not expending any energy at all.

[Hmm, is this betrayal? *Chomp chomp* Then, should I eat Lust first?]

*CRUNCH!!*

The demon of Greed was gradually increasing its power without any consumption, loss, or game-like restrictions. Neither the reincarnated ones nor even the other Deadly Sins noticed the growing threat of the enlarged Greed.