Chapter 98

“What’s with that relaxed smile, Riana?”

“Huhu, I told you, right? I’ll help too. And don’t be disappointed in me. I know exactly how dangerous those demons are.”

“Oh, how dangerous are they?”

“Not at all,” Riana smiled leisurely.

“Not dangerous at all, right? As long as you don’t touch them, you won’t catch any skin disease. Just keep your distance and fight without letting their fluids splash on you.”

“You know all that so precisely. How do you know things even the soldiers don’t…?”

“Demons are a fascinating research subject for magicians. Even though I can’t study them directly, I always pay attention to the news from the Vanguard. Especially since I wanted to help the Vanguard later. So, follow me!”

Riana ran up to the gate first, and I followed behind.

Other magicians on the wall were already busy attacking the Demon Toads with ice spikes or shooting flames.

“Looks like you’re planning to shoot flames too, Riana.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Attacking from the wall with magic means no fluids will get on me. Plus, using my specialty, magic, means no explosions either. No worries. It’s the first time I’m showing you my power, right? Don’t be surprised. Huh…!”

I was excited to see her power, but worry crept in first.

Riana’s power was ultimately no different from the demonic power I used.

Sure enough, Riana’s face suddenly darkened, and she frowned deeply.

“As you know, I can’t use ordinary magic. Instead, I have to recall all sorts of negative emotions…!”

Riana’s eyes snapped open.

At the same time, she pointed her hands toward the gate where the Demon Toads were swarming and shouted.

“My dad’s an idiot!!”

As she shouted, a massive wave of purple flames surged from her hands, incinerating every Demon Toad in its path, leaving no trace.

That’s the wrath of a grown daughter.

Directed at her lousy father, Commander Balthazar.

“Haah, haah… See? This is the power of a High Magician candidate.”

“Wow. If you get just a little stronger, we can just sit back and relax.”

“No! I want to help, not do everything myself! If you’re in the Vanguard, you should work hard too!”

“Of course. But Riana…”

I cautiously asked Riana, who was breathing heavily.

“Be careful when you use that power. Like you said, it’s painful every time you use it, right?”

“You’re the same. Why make it sound like it’s just me?”

Riana smiled brightly despite her heavy breathing.

“I won’t hesitate to atone for what my father did. And I’ll keep myself from being consumed by this power. You’ll do the same, right?”

“Of course.”

“Hehe, I’m happy. We have something in common now. Let’s work well together from now on!”

“Thank you. I’m just grateful. And…”

Even though Riana had swept the area in front of the gate with flames, the remaining demons were still pushing forward mindlessly.

The Defense Force was encouraging each other.

“They’re pushing in! Hold on!”

“Don’t let them through! Use all that energy you’ve been saving by slacking off during training!”

They might have been pathetic usually, but in the face of crisis, they were encouraging each other to pull through.

Maybe Commander Balthazar was right.

The sight of humans uniting and shedding laziness in the face of crisis was heartwarming and admirable.

But only for a moment.

“Ugh, ah! It’s suddenly so itchy!”

“Hold your spear long! Don’t let their fluids touch you!”

“I’m holding it long! But the fluid got on my hand holding the shield! It’s so itchy! My hand, my hand…!”

One soldier couldn’t stand the itch and dropped his shield.

“No! They’re pushing through!!”

In that gap, the Demon Toads tried to break through.

Swoosh—

I was a bit late watching Riana’s flames, but I jumped in and sliced through the Demon Toads in front of the Defense Force with my Great Sword.

“Are you okay?”

“Vanguard bro! That was so refreshing!”

“Reform the formation. I’ll cut them down whenever they gather in numbers.”

“Got it! Then we’ll hold on, trusting you! By the way, aren’t you itchy? You jumped right into the middle of them…”

“I’m protected by Mana, so their fluids can’t touch me. Don’t worry about me.”

“Oh, the Vanguard is really something! Everyone, let’s do our best!”

“Ugh… I’ll scratch a bit and join you.”

“No, come here.”

“Huh…?”

When the soldier with fluid on his hand reached out, a magician waiting behind him cast a softly glowing spell on his hand.

“Oh, it’s not itchy anymore! Thanks!”

“You’re welcome. I’ve healed you, so give it your all. Let’s protect this city together!”

It was truly an ideal scene.

Even though the soldiers’ quality was far below the Vanguard’s, the sight of magicians fighting together.

“Die already!!”

While I prepared to jump in again, Riana was also shouting nervously, sending another wave of flames.

In my past life, it took a long time for magicians to join the front lines against demons.

Riana initially dismissed us as insignificant and didn’t join us.

Even though unpredictable, crazy events kept happening compared to my past life…

‘Still, it’s better. Just a little.’

Thinking that, I leaped into action again.

The west and southeast were concerning, but as Riana said.

Fighting demons isn’t something I have to do alone. The other gates will surely overcome this crisis too.

***

“Ugh, ahhh!”

“Fall back, we have to fall back! There are too many of them!”

“Run!!”

Compared to the north, where Kairon and Riana were helping to hold the line, the Western Gate was collapsing helplessly.

Some soldiers, terrified, had fled, creating gaps, and soon others followed, running further into the city.

In this situation, one woman was walking straight toward the Demon Toads.

“Huh? You, where are you going? There are all sorts of weird things coming from over there… Ugh!”

A fleeing soldier tried to stop her, but she shot him a sharp glare.

“Aren’t you ashamed? Taking the city’s money and not even trying to protect it properly, running away without even fighting the enemy!”

“W-well, but…”

“Do you plan to live with the shame of running away for the rest of your life? Follow me, I’ll help!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

Encouraged by her sharp rebuke, the fleeing soldiers turned back.

“I’ll clear a path. After I pass, seal the path tightly. Understood?”

“B-but there are too many of them…”

“Understood?!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

Once she got their confirmation, the woman started running lightly, closing her eyes.

“…Wind.”

Then, her chest glowed brightly, and a gentle wind flowed from her body, forming a whirlwind around her.

“Haaa…!”

With a shout, she stepped forward forcefully, and her body shot like an arrow toward the Demon Toads.

As she flew, every Demon Toad touched by her sword shattered into pieces.

“What the…?”

While the soldiers were frozen in shock at the scene before them, the woman had already returned to their side at incredible speed.

“W-what’s your name? If it’s not too rude, may I know your name, ma’am?”

“…Abelin.”

Seemingly in a good mood from the wind she rode, the woman smiled brightly.

“Abelin of the Silver Guards. Vanguard. By the way, what are you doing now? I told you to seal the path!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!!”

The soldiers, who had been stunned, snapped back to attention at Abelin’s sharp rebuke.

And even though she had just swept through, the Demon Toads had already filled the gate again with their terrifying numbers.

The soldiers tensed, swallowing hard and clenching their teeth, but Abelin’s eyes held a faint smile.

“Good, just like before. Then once more. Wind…!”

Once again, Abelin’s necklace glowed, and a gentle wind flowed from her body, enveloping her.

“Open the center. I’m going through again!”

With that shout, Abelin stepped forward with vigor, in high spirits.