337 334. Standard-bearer.txt (1/2)

The Great Holy City.

The capital city that has become the largest ever in the thousand-year history of the Hoosiers.

I'm walking along its streets.

It's a dimly lit street.

The light from the 'Magical Stone Line' that had been lighting up the city for so long had all but disappeared.

At the same time, the glow of the Great Sacred City's prosperity had also disappeared.

In addition to the interruption of the lifeline, which is the foundation of life, that Fuzzyaz Castle has fallen. From time to time I would pass by people who had been delayed in evacuating the city, but all of them were pale with fear for the first time in their lives. It's not surprising, since we'd been away from the war for hundreds of years now. Even though they had been at war with the North, their influence had never reached the Great Sacred City (here).

We proceeded through the brick city streets, passing through several arched bridges, crossing in front of buildings such as the Government Office and the Clock Tower, and approaching our objective, Huzjaz Castle. On the way, I was stopped by a knight urging me to evacuate, but I told him my name and he let me through.

We walked up the large hill in front of the castle.

What awaited me beyond was a scene I can only call a war zone.

Without exception, the houses in front of Hoozeyers Castle had fallen down. Everywhere I looked, there were traces of fresh blood and the smell of blood was enough to make my nose turn.

The houses were not functioning, and countless tents for camping had been pitched on the streets. I could hear the moans of soldiers who must have been wounded among them. It seemed that the treatment had not caught up with them due to the incessant fighting.

In front of that group of tents, an emergency barrier had been built using the remnants of crumbling houses. Underneath it, trenches have been dug with magic.

Not a single civilian with a pale face was here anymore.

All the faces are lined up with a mixture of nervousness and killing intent.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them. In addition to the regular army, there are also many people hired by the Hoosiers as mercenaries.

Throughout the battlefield, I mortified and proceeded to check out the frontline battlefield from a distance.

The rivers, bridges, and streets surrounding Foozeyards Castle have all been engulfed in the blood of that one - the one who steals the reason for the blood.

Furthermore, even now, the sludgy blood was writhing like a living thing, trying to expand its range.

The knights could be seen forming up in formation and holding back the expansion by applying their magic power.

I'm not sure how many times I've seen that magic wall, that multi-layered defensive wall, it's a brilliant defensive network that I can't believe they formed in just one day.

Even though the head of the Senate is gone, the body of the army is still able to operate. Once again, we can see that today's Hoosier State is the best built in the last thousand years.

But unfortunately, the enemy we are invading is also the best ever.

If this enemy is not good enough, it is more than a collection of countries called 'Northern League' despite being just two people.

First of all, there are simply too many of them anyway.

There were countless 'blood puppets' that attacked us to interrupt our work to stop the expansion of blood.

However, it's still relatively easy to deal with the 'blood puppets'. Even though they have special properties, the soldiers of the Great Holy City are of higher quality. Even the knights out in front of the magic wall could defeat them one-on-one without any problems.

The problem is the horrible shaped 'something' as an example.

These monsters, for which I can no longer think of a word or name to describe, overwhelm ordinary people just by looking at them.

In response to this, the Fooziers' army is thoroughly engaged in long-distance combat, and they also fight back with more than one (party).

They kept their distance, surrounded by multiple people, and attacked using only long-range magic.

In order to keep the minds of the soldiers using that long range magic, their companions further behind them continue to release tranquilizing recovery magic. Further behind them, the commander rank (leader) continues to instruct them on their position so that they never get into close combat with 'something'.

It's a moderately good response for an impromptu one, but even so, you can't defeat the 'something'.

You have to cut it down, stall it, and that's it.

And the losses for that little bit of warfare are heavy. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on some of them.

You're not in a bad spot.

It's poor. With time, the line of defense would recede, and it was obvious that in a few days, the entire Great Sacred City would be swallowed up in blood. As far as the faces around them were concerned, most of the commanding officers were prepared for it.

In the first place, most of the soldiers didn't know what exactly they were fighting against.

They didn't know why the battle had started, how to make the battle a victory, or how long they should fight for.

The biggest problem with this battle is that it is also unclear if this (...) is a war.

It's not a revolution (coup d'état) by the pundits, nor are we fighting against an elite few (guerrillas) from another country. It's more of a different - unknown enemy.

The unknown (I don't know) is enough to frighten people and diminish their morale (heart), which is more important than magic and physical strength.

And it's a pity, but this first day was still lukewarm, and the real despair starts on the second day. From tomorrow, the comrades who died today will turn against us, and the gap in strength will be even wider. The third day is better than the second day, and the fourth day is better than the third day. Once the gap widens, it will never be bridged again.

--In the midst of a battle that had no hope of ever being resolved, I could see another soldier dying.

The magic wall in front of the first-aid barrier, a soldier fighting in front of it.

A man who was running on the blood-stained ground, shooting magic from a distance, has been captured by the rapidly approaching 'something'.

A tentacle resembling a gut extends from the enemy, and unbearably, the man nearly screams in fear.

''--!

I ran out.

Passing between the crumbling city and the cluster of tents, I jumped over the wall of trenches and rubble and threw myself into the front line, shouting my magic name in the air.

''-- 《Light Rod》!

I formed my best weapon.

He raised his glowing staff high, so that everyone fighting on the front line could see it, and swung it down with great vigor as soon as it landed in the pool of blood.

The target was the 'something' that was now trying to kill a single soldier.

''--[Light Arrow]!

The moment you smash that horrible flesh, you release a spell from the tip of your staff.

It was like an air bubble bursting and exploded into a pool of blood. It seems that no matter how vicious the member of the blood thief's family is, he was unable to withstand the light thief's all-out blow.

I've kept my face as a thief of logic, and now I call out to the man who was dying.

''It's all right now,''

”Why, saint... ......?

The man was trembling in his body at my appearance.

I can't decide whether he was relieved to have escaped death or dazzled by my light, but he is trembling as if he is about to collapse now.

And with my appearance, the faces of the soldiers who were fighting on the front lines change color.

''Saintess-sama......?　The saint. That saint is back: ......

How did you end up here at ......?

What ......?　As I recall, you were kidnapped: ......?

The battlefield, which had been in turmoil, was only a short time away, but it was indeed still.

Sensing the rush of my Light Arrow's magical power, the ”blood puppets” prepared themselves. The 'something' also paid attention to me and not to the enemy in front of me. Of course, all of the Hoozeyards' soldiers were also blinded by the particles of light that suddenly fell on them during this night battle.

As planned, as I was accustomed to doing, I would inspire those around me with my accustomed procedures.

''I'm here to deliver the light. I will guide you all from here: ......

First of all, slow down and let your voice go through, as if to calm it down.

This first word should be heard by those who can hear it.

'My saint!　Thank you for your help: ......!　Please let us all be cured again!　There are a lot of wounded, a lot of them in the rear. ......!

No, no!　We have to restore the city's 'magic stone line' (line) first!

'Oh!　Use your power to save us!　These sickening monsters, please!

Soldiers nearby begin to beg me for help.

Their voices will reach the soldiers further away and hope will propagate.

The entire battlefield will be guessing at the identity of the light that I have just shone on.

The hearts of these soldiers, who have been fighting without a break and are on the verge of reaching their limits, revere my light, which is not even bright, as if it were a holy light.

That's my primary goal.

''Saintess!　We've been waiting for you!　Your light!

'Ah!　If it's the light of Lady Nosfy!　I'm sure they'll do something about this filthy blood!

'There's Master Nosfi!　Master Nosfi has come to see you--

Some of the soldiers kept shouting my name and began to pray.

I started as one of the handful of saints to intercept your father, but here I am, showing my greatest strength. Although it was a short period of time, it seems that it was a big deal that she went around the Great Holy City curing incurable diseases. Come to think of it, I think I also used the 'Demon Stone Line (Line)' to charm the entire country.

While I did it myself, my brows wrinkled. In the past, the 'expectation' that Friend Titi hated but couldn't refuse, is heavy and weighs down on my whole body.

'Ladies and gentlemen, please calm down ....... Yes, it's all right now .......

But I laugh at it and accept it.

Unlike Titi, I'm an adult.

I've stopped being a good girl. I can do as many bad things as I want. I'm not going to meet these expectations stupidly and crush them. I've decided to take advantage of it like an adult.

”...magic [light]!　Lightfield!　The Banner of Light (Nosfy Flag)!

He constructs a big, big fabric of light with his magic power and makes it glow with all his might.

The flag that he had previously raised as he was told to, now flutters in the sky, at his own will.

At the same time, the wards of light spread out like bubbles swelling, blocking the movement of the enemies in the melee.

I use most of my remaining magical power to buy myself time for a few speeches.

Of course, I also put the Light Mind, which interferes with the spirit, and my own magic power of fascination on it. In order to use it with my ego, I also play around with the minds of my allies.

''--Eh!　I'm here!　I'm fighting with you now!　So please, please don't give up!　Just your heart, please don't let it get the better of you!

First and foremost, she scolded the soldiers who began to pray.

Without saying a word, he says, ”If you have time to pray, fight for me.

Okay?　There is absolutely no way in the world that you can be saved by simply praying!　There is no such thing as such a convenient existence that only saves those who only pray!　Myself!　Yourself!　With the strength of your body, go forward!　Only by moving forward!　It is the only salvation we have in this hell!

The soldiers who had clasped their hands together on the battlefield jumped with a jolt. Their faces contorted as they returned to the reality that it would never be easy to just pray.

'On the contrary to this world!　There are those who use, mock, toy with, devour, and laugh at that prayer!　If you want to survive, you must never pray!　It must clasp its hands, walk on its feet, and fight its fate with its soul!　Fighting is the only way to live!　It's a way of life for people!

It was a straightforward, overly ordinary pep talk.

Naturally, the soldiers on the battlefield who listened to my ordinary pep talk and were expecting a miracle began to show signs of disappointment.

That's right, the power of each one of us is the one that shapes our destiny ....... Therefore, the only thing I can do is to help ....... All I can do is shine a light on those of you who reach out to me. ...... Let a faint light shine on this too dark nighttime street ......--!

This encouragement would be a good one if it worked on a hundred people.

More often than not, words mean nothing on the battlefield.

I know that.

But instead.

My 'light' reaches everyone - all people.

Even if my voice and figure can't reach them, this 'light' - this 'light' alone - reaches the entire battlefield and makes 'miracles' happen.

That's right, 'Miracle Light'.

I knew better than anyone else that this was the first step in establishing myself as a saint, a secret technique to seize control of an army on the verge of collapse.

I'm going to put all of my magic power into the Light.

All the strengthening magic I can use is carried on the light, and it invades the bodies of all the soldiers on the front lines.

I'm going to go into the blood, not just the flesh, and beat the magic formula carved into the blood, pouring in the magic power needed to operate like lubricant. Of course, the sacred magic of recovery is also on board there. The world's best <> and <>, the power of <> by <>. Above all, the fictional hope of mental interference and enchantment will instantly change the color of the discouragement that has stained the battlefield.

'This, this is ......!

The wounds of all of us are healing ......!　This is really ......!

'Oh, I knew it: ......!　I knew it!　Saints are saints: ......!

After all this, some of them are still holding hands.

Well, they always do.

In a bit of nostalgia, I repeat the words exactly as they were a thousand years ago.

'Fear the darkness no more!　If there's light, I'm the light!　Oh no, the flame of Hoozeya's is lit in our hearts!　All those lights will intertwine and become a holy sun that will burn up that unholy blood!　How could the spirit of the Hoosiers' heroes be defeated by these monsters!　Never!

I proclaim an unlikely power, work a fraud, and accelerate the incitement.

I inflate these assumptions, knowing that on the battlefield, the slightest misunderstanding can lead to death.

Ah, ah!　The saint is right!　I will not do anything but retreat in fear on the pride of the Hoosiers!

Forward, forward, forward, forward!　Those filthy bloods are going to be erased by me, and I'm not going to leave any of them behind!

'Oh, Mr Nosfi!　Please, please watch!

In response to my proclamation, all the soldiers began to move.

They regrasped their swords, reweaved their magic, and headed towards the enemies who were normally unable to fight.

Oh, really .......

Everyone is an idiot. Big idiots.

They call me a saint, who once abandoned Hoosiers, and they look at this unholy, stained light and squint at it - and believe it like a fool.

In all ages, crowds are fragile and stupid and irredeemable.

But that's fine for now.

I'm going to use this stupid crowd to my advantage.

I will sacrifice them to make way for my father.

--So if any of you are about to fall, I will not allow you to retire.

”Yes, we must go forward!　This my 'flag' will light the way!

I moved to lead the way - but before I could do so, one of the bloodthirsty young men, who had fallen victim to my fraud, took a big leap out of the battle line.

I guess he was too much of a mental interference for my mental interference and his battle spirit was out of control. Without thinking, he unleashed all his magic in the face of the enemy forces.

Naturally, the young man emptied himself of all his energy, strength, and magic, and almost passed out in satisfaction.

Truly foolishly, he is about to end his life, proud of having served his country.

--I'm not going to let that happen (・・・・・・・・・・).

Immediately I pour my magic power into that young man via the light of the flag.

I also take over the blood inside his body and allow him to self-heal with his own divine magic.

The lack of energy and strength is paid for by me 'instead'.

I scream out as fatigue hits me, as if my back is being crushed.

'Not yet!　Don't give up yet!　Let's fight to the last second!　Your family is on its back!　You must have important people in your life!　Don't forget that!　Never, ever, fall down!

The young man felt his marginalized body fill with vitality and regained his stance.

Then, he turned around, looked at me, and nodded, with a thin tear in his eye.

''--Ha, yes!

The young man who had received the blessing of ”The One Who Steals the Reason of Light” resumed the battle. The soldiers around him who were watching the whole thing muttered again, ”It's a miracle”, and their morale was boosted.

And as if in response to their rising morale, all of the soldiers' magic was enhanced many times over.

''Well, the magic is ......!　I'm on a roll: ......!　Such awesome magic, I've never used it before: ......!

One soldier shook with emotion as his own best ever magic was released from the palm of his hand.

'It's empowering ......!　I feel lighter ......!

One soldier's smile deepened at his own best ever move, and he shivered with emotion.

It's natural.

Now I'm the 'replacement' for all the soldiers.

In other words, my magic and strength are unlimited. Furthermore, the 'experience value' that I gathered this morning to fight your father has been converted into 'power (level)' exactly.

''I can do it!　Let's go!　I'm going to get to the castle in one fell swoop--Ok!

However, some of them mismeasure their own strength and suffer fatal injuries. Similar to the young man from earlier, he seems to be a bloodthirsty man again. The man was severely injured when the tentacles of 'something' pierced his stomach.

-- his death is imminent.

The flame of illusion that lit up the young man's heart is about to be extinguished. Before that, I'm 'instead' seriously injured and call out to him from behind.

''--Kuch, ugh!　You're an idiot!　Didn't we learn not to mistake bravery for barbarism!　You do what you can!　Fulfill your maximum without dying!　It's good for everyone (all of us) in the meantime!

Yes, sir!

Immediately, the young man dropped backwards and returned to his own original role. In the middle of it all, he puts his hand on his own stomach and mutters, ”Now, my wound is ......”.

I scream again, shaking off the pain that my head can't handle.

'Now for the foozeyers!　This shiny 'flag' is standing!　It's raised, and it's looking out for everyone!　All the scars!　Magic and all!　Fear and all!　This flag will pay for it!

With every second of the battle, the number of wounded increases.

I will save every single one of them, every single one of them, every single one of them.

--all of them 'paid' by me in return.

Little by little the soldiers begin to realize how it works.

Even if they are wounded, they recover in an instant, their bodies are constantly strengthened, their MP does not run out, and their minds continue to be encouraged.

Naturally, this miraculous and convenient phenomenon would give the entire army a boost.

The unspeakable roar of joy.

” ” ” -------- ------tttt ！！！！”

It exploded in front of Hoosier's Castle.

And the defensive line, which had only been retreating, now begins to move forward.

'--Now, the counterattack!　The path will be clear for us!　Please continue!

I scream at that opportunity. When I get to this point, it's already my job to scream. And it's my job to wave the flag loudly.

Now I feel the soldiers' hearts coming together.

Yeah!　Sis!　Rustyala Hoosiers!　Snow Walker!

The arrangements are done.

I call out the names of my friends in full.

Then the three who had been waiting behind me would line up beside me. But among them, only Dear was unhappy and his mouth was agape.

'Nosfi, don't call me by that name ......!

He doesn't want to use the name Sith anymore, but I hope you'll bear with me there in terms of name value. Lastiara next to me convinces me to that effect on my behalf.

''Dia, it's to boost morale a little bit, so ......

'Ugh, but ......!　I'm not anymore. ......!

Then Snow, who was next to the opposite side of the room, approached her and touched her hand to hand.

'Dia, it's okay. ...... If you're scared, I'll hold your hand.

Dia swallowed her frustration with encouragement from Snow, who was probably the most scared person in the place.

'Thank you, ...... Snow, for that. I know. We can't just stand around here. We're not alone anymore. Our hearts aren't alone ......!

'Yeah!　Ehehe: ......

I'm not going to be defeated by a single name now, Dia-san regained her will and squeezed her hand back tightly.

Rastiara watched that with a happy look, and furthermore, the soldiers around them looked at the three of them.

Among the soldiers, one knight who seems to be of the captain's rank is sincerely surprised to see Snow-san's face and lets out a voice.

''So, you're the Deputy Commander-in-Chief ......!　I had heard that you had retreated to the front line ....... Why did you go to the Great Holy City ......?　Well, no way, I expected this: ......

There was no way he could have predicted it.

But Mr. Snow stood in front of the knight, as if to affirm it.

'...... Yeah, I'm here. So you don't have to worry about it anymore. As long as we're here, you're safe. You just need to watch this back. You just need to follow us.

And from his back, he spread his dragon's blue wings and heroically released 'Dragon Wind' and 'Dragon's Roar'.

''-- This I, Snow Walker, will defeat all enemies!

A heroic wind blows.

Mr. Snow knows the psychology of people who want to rely on him. He showed everyone around him a sense of security like a giant tree that never wavered, just like when he was the acting commander-in-chief.

The knight shakes his body at Snow-san's bravery, followed by Dia-san who held his hand next to him.

''And will Apostle-sama also ...... fight together with our Acting Commander-in-Chief Lord?

'Ah, ah. I'm ...... to Nosfy, no, I'm led here by a saint. The legendary apostle is always on the side of the hoozeyers--

Then, after taking a big deep breath, he raised his voice so that Snow-san would not be defeated.

''-- This Apostle Sith!　I'm here because I've heard of an important event in my hometown!　Tonight you will see the miracle of Levantineism!　I am a millennial legend, a beacon of heroes!　Let the world see the phosphorescence of this apostle and his majestic form!

Deer shouted a line of dialogue obviously taken from the play, while simultaneously spreading her glowing wings from her back and gushing particles of light from her lost limbs. Just as she entered a combat stance, her divinity covered the night sky.