< 297. Schlieffen >
#297
“Miss Iril.”
Schlieffen said. No answer came back. Iril was sleeping soundly, buried in the middle of a huge chair. Marya looked at her and muttered without realizing it.
“···Like a princess.”
“Huh, this is really dazzling.”
Braum next to him also nodded. He couldn’t take his eyes off it. She was beautiful even when she was dressed in rags, but today it was a different class.
A gorgeous and elegant dress, like something you would see at an imperial ball, was draped over her body. The dress, as white as her first snow, seemed like something made just for her.
“Is this a crown? pretty···.”
A beautiful tiara was placed on top of her well-combed hair. She said she brought her here to make her a saint, and it seemed like she really treated her accordingly.
Schlieffen’s brain froze for a moment at the truly fatal beauty, but he soon regained his senses and began to examine Iril’s condition. Before long, Schlieffen breathed a sigh of relief.
“…Thank goodness.”
Even after looking closely, I couldn’t find any wounds. His breathing was steady and he didn’t seem to be suffering from a serious illness.
However, I was concerned that no matter how many times I called him, he wouldn’t wake up. It seemed like he had been put to sleep using a sleep spell or something. I felt like I should hurry and take him to the military doctor. Then, Marya, who found Schlieffen standing there doing nothing, tilted her head.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? “Aren’t you going to move it?”
“···Listen.”
“I? Wouldn’t it be better to lift it yourself? “I think Iril will like it better too.”
“I… No, just stay silent and listen.”
Schlieffen, avoiding eye contact, shook his head. For the first time, a blush appeared on his face, which had not changed even after cutting down three enemies. It wasn’t that difficult to figure out why. Marja whined.
“Hahang. “It’s incongruously cute.”
“···Shut up.”
“How are you going to propose to me when you can’t even hug me? Anyway, get out of the way. “This sister will do it for you.”
“Hug it delicately. “Like handling glass beads.”
Schlieffen said: Marya did as he asked. To Marja, who wielded a great sword larger than her body with one hand, Iril’s body was as light as her feather. Iril, who had suddenly fallen asleep, burst into laughter.
“Ehehe…”
“Oh, my sister is smiling. “I guess I’m having a good dream.”
Marya smiled. It was a baby-like, peaceful smile that warmed my heart just by looking at it.
But I couldn’t relax yet. Rescue refers to the act of escaping from enemy territory with a hostage. Moreover, they still had the task of preventing the ritual of the advent of giants. Marya said.
“What now? Consciousness?”
“If you haven’t found it by now, it’s probably going on up here. “I will kill them, so you can take Miss Iril and escape somehow.”
Schlieffen stretched out his index finger and pointed upward. Marya’s eyes widened.
“Taking on the archbishops alone?”
“They become defenseless when they perform the ritual. And I’ve already caught two archbishops. “I think it’s a reasonable decision.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Schlieffen answered calmly. In fact, he had observed a ritual to summon a giant in Adren. Since it was an act that consumed a lot of energy, it would be easy to find a loophole.
Moreover, the archbishops that Schlieffen captured were Pantasion and Allon, who were said to be the strongest forces. I thought that if I approached carefully and succeeded in the surprise attack, it could be ended surprisingly easily. Braum slowly remembered.
“Definitely… I think that’s best.”
“···okay. “Don’t get hurt.”
Marya followed suit and sighed. She hugged Iril, who was fast asleep, a little stronger.
Now that I had a plan, it was time to execute it. They were just about to take a step. Schlieffen, feeling a strange aura, urgently shouted.
“Everyone is in danger!”
“what?”
The group stopped. At that moment, the ceiling right in front collapsed with a strong explosion sound. Quaaaaang-! The dust that poured down covered the interior.
“Ugh!”
“W-what?!”
Marya and Braum expressed confusion. Thanks to everyone reflexively covering their bodies with mana shields, they suffered no damage. Meanwhile, Iril was sleeping soundly.
【Stop.】
Suddenly, a creepy voice rang out. Five figures emerged from the dust. The three instinctively realized that they were the archbishop. A woman walked forward with the sound of her shoes clicking.
“you···!”
Marya, who made eye contact with her, sucked in a breath. Her gorgeous robes and her beautiful appearance were impressive. She was a face in memory.
【Enough of that. All you rats.】
Archbishop Le Tancier said: Her three friends had met her in the early days of her war. She was the archbishop who brought despair to the Allies with her taunts from the walls of the castle.
However, the atmosphere was quite different from then. The energy blooming from my body had become incomparably more powerful than before. Even the gesture of elegantly brushing one’s hair behind one’s ear felt threatening.
“Ugh…!”
“W-what trick did you use?”
Braum shrugged his shoulders. It felt like he was facing a giant, not a human. He was completely different from the archbishops he met during the sweep operation.
I had no idea how I gained this strength. At that time, another man walked forward.
【Put down the saint immediately. I will kill you without pain.】
Like the others, he was Verminion, holding the office of archbishop. Letansie shook his head.
【Please go with others, Verminion. I will kill these mice. Originally, it was my duty to take care of the saint.】
【Don’t do that, just share some. There’s no need to be conscious anymore anyway.】
Verminion said angrily. Marya gritted her teeth. These bastards didn’t even see us as opponents in a fight. The other three archbishops were the same, only they were not speaking. Schlieffen, who had been silent, spoke for the first time.
“What do you mean, there’s no need to do the ritual?”
【Eavesdropping like a rat… Well, that’s literally what it sounds like. The connection with the sky was suddenly lost.】
“Connection with the sky…?”
【okay. But it’s never a bad thing. Because the power of starlight has become stronger.】
Verminion nodded. He told me about the current situation as if it was no big deal. As Schlieffen had guessed, the archbishops were carrying out a ritual to summon giants.
The ceremony, which was proceeding smoothly, came to a halt at some point. He said that suddenly all the magic circles began to collapse and merge into one. The reason was unknown. However, the release of the power of the star that traveled between heaven and earth served as a great fortune for the archbishops.
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Only then did Schlieffen realize why the archbishops had suddenly become so powerful. Just like the Dragon King seen in Adren, they too must have absorbed the power of the overflowing starlight. Verminion chuckled.
【We plan to find out more details from now on. Of course, before that…】
Suddenly Verminion’s hand went up. The faces of the group hardened. The moment he swung his arm, a half-moon shaped sword energy was shot towards the three people.
“Everyone, everyone is dangerous!”
Braum hurriedly blocked the way and raised his great shield. The sword was about to collide with the shield. Marja instinctively stretched out her arm and grabbed Braum’s back.
“You idiot, avoid!”
“Oops!”
bang! As Braum fell backwards, an explosion sounded. The shield fell one step too late and landed on his stomach.
“Hey!”
Braum’s face turned pale when he saw the shield. The part that had been hit directly by the sword had disappeared as if it had been cut with scissors. His body was almost cut in half. Verminion continued.
【I will have to kill you all.】
Gooooo… A curtain of bizarre colors came up, fluttering at his feet. The star’s protection, which they had seen so many times, seemed to be on a different level of strength than what the party had faced so far. Letancier, who was watching the scene from behind, sighed.
【Hehe…then let’s put it away quickly.】
She seemed like a mother with a mischievous child. The three remaining archbishops stepped forward. They also seemed stronger than Verminion, but they did not seem weak.
“···Is this the end?”
Marja laughed. There seemed absolutely no chance of victory. He doubted whether he would be able to win even if Zaifa, who was probably wandering somewhere in the castle, came to help. Suddenly, Schlieffen turned to look at her.
[hey. Was there any blood left?]
“huh?”
Marja raised her eyes. Suddenly Schlieffen’s voice rang in her head. When there was no answer, the sound rang again.
[Ronan asked if there was any blood left.]
[Well, that’s it… there’s a little bit left.]
Marja nodded. She was quick-witted and realized that Schlieffen was planning something. Is there some secret plan? Marja, with some hope, touched the vial of her blood hanging from her belt.
sudden! Suddenly Schlieffen reached out and grabbed the vial of blood hanging from her waist. She then poured it all onto her own sword. Marya’s eyes widened.
[W-what are you doing?!]
[You take the sheep and run away. I’ll do my best here.]
[You’re not the kind of person who will succeed even if you try hard!]
Marja screamed internally. Unless you were an idiot, you would have known. The archbishops in front of me right now were not opponents that could do anything on their own. Schlieffen, who was silent for a moment, continued.
[We came to help Ms. Iril escape.]
After saying that, Schlieffen winked at the wall. Marya, realizing the meaning, chewed her lower lip. The archbishops had to make a quick decision because they were approaching at this very moment.
Is this correct? Is this really true?
The head and the heart were making different claims. Even though she already knew the answer, it wasn’t easy to make a decision. Marja bowed her head as she soon came to a conclusion.
“···okay. “Don’t die until I come back.”
Marya said in a voice. Schlieffen did not answer. Her Braum raised an eyebrow as her strategy was relayed to her.
“Wait a minute, what is that…”
“Shut up, I’m coming!”
bang! Suddenly, Marya grabbed Braum’s back and leapt off the ground. It was towards the wall, not the gate. Letancier noticed what she was trying to do and quickly stretched out her hand.
【Wait, stop!】
Seven invisible spears were fired at the two people. However, they did not pierce Marya’s back. Kagagak! With a series of bursting sounds, all seven windows were cut out. It was Schlieffen’s sword shot from a distance.
“thank you!”
Marya shouted. At the same time, she and her wall collided, causing her to roar. Quaaaang! The scenery outside unfolded beyond the exploded wall. Marya hugged Iril even more tightly and jumped out of the hole.
【Alas!】
Le Tanxie’s face hardened. I never expected to miss this. The moment she hurriedly tried to throw her body away, a whirlwind sprang up in front of her. Quaaaa-! The whirlwind of sharp winds completely blocked the hole in the wall.
【you···!】
Letansie glared at Schlieffen. Not only her, but all of her archbishops’ eyes were focused on him. A tremendous force of life that would have broken a normal person’s spirit without being able to bear it began to weigh on his whole body.
【It would be better not to think about dying gracefully.】
【This is completely crazy. Are you not able to understand the topic?】
Schlieffen said nothing. He suddenly remembered the day he first met Iril. The moment I turned the corner and encountered her at the same time was probably something I would never forget. He stood in front of the front door and muttered quietly.
“I thought I met an angel.”
【what?】
Verminion tilted his head at the sudden muttering. Schlieffen gently swung her sword. Suddenly! At the same time, blood spurted out from the neck of Verminion, who was standing at the front.
“Gagging…”
【Verminion!】
Verminion fell to one knee. His blood was gushing from the severed artery. Of course, a wound of that magnitude would recover quickly, but Schlieffen’s goal was to buy time.
Schlieffen held the sword upside down and sunk the tip into the ground. Kwasik! A curtain of wind accompanied by a faint crashing sound enveloped the room. It was a storm barrier that would not disappear until he died or was lifted.
【How dare you!】
【Stupid. You lock yourself up.】
A variety of reactions came back. Some people were outraged, others laughed. However, despite being imprisoned, no one was afraid. What Schlieffen did was such a reckless act.
Schlieffen said nothing. He knew that too. He had no chance of winning. In my mind, which was heated with fear, certain questions were constantly being asked.
Do you really think you can do it?
Do you think someone like you can protect Star’s Daughter?
It was probably an auditory hallucination. If you don’t do that, there’s no way your voice will be the same as yours. The archbishops each took out their weapons and were preparing to tear themselves to death. After being silent for a while, he grabbed the hilt of the sword.
“···yes.”
The trembling stopped. A storm was swirling around the bluish sword body. Schlieffen, who pointed his sword at the archbishops, continued.
“I can protect you.”
