Vol 6 Chapter 5 (2/2)

She realized her hands resting on her thighs were grabbing a handkerchief tightly and relaxed

She even wanted to rely on this thin piece of cloth

A warm hand rested on Raynesia's shoulders It was Henrietta, one of the talented ladies that was the pride of Akiba The touch that eased Raynesia ive her thanks, but her will stopped her

Her priority was to converse with theon the couch opposite her Kinjo

The leader of the Kunie earing a barely visible smile with a relaxed attitude It htforward manner in the Water Maple Consulate was a complete fantasy

He was not fearless, nor was he taunting

Raynesia believed this was Kinjo's true expression Maybe his attitude the previous time they met was all an act Elissa also criticized Raynesia this way all the time Raynesia didn't want to point this out at this place, but her feelings remained tense

”Are you sure you want to stop the ic circle and the Moveable Armor?”

”I am certain”

Raynesia answered

She had been repeating this request since she set foot in the underground residence of the Kunie clan Kinjo had already agreed The Kunie clan serfs wearing black tops were definitely starting the process

The query this time was probably the final confirmation

”Stopping the supply ofthe city will be lost, and restarting the system will take 10 years”

Raynesia nodded her head in response to Kinjo's questioning eyes

”Yes, I understand”

”The guard syste Akiba will be down”

”Yes”

”This city will be defenseless”

”That's right”

Raynesia answered smoothly

If anyone asked if she had reservations there certainly were

This was expected Even at thisto be cale of tears

(Why ht

(Why is this happening?) She wondered

If she could escape, she would run no ize

This was only natural

But she steeled her heart and made this request

Thinking back, she realized why Kinjo visited her that day

The reason behind the youngthis decision to Raynesia He left with the s the responsibility on Raynesia This was the best course of action for him

Raynesia thought that was despicable, and hoped he didn't resort to that This was the mistake of the Kunie clan this time, shouldn't they ht the Kunie clan should resolve the matter immediately and compensate the city

Even though the matter was not so siic supply as the person in charge If the people were not satisfied with this incident, he should let the citizens stone hiht about that before

But thinking carefully, this was the same course of action Raynesia wanted to take

When Raynesia found out about this, she wanted to contact her grandfather Duke Sergead, or co the responsibility on the, Raynesia had always been doing that

Kinjo was very similar to Raynesia

But after that, the girl in black charged into the city

Here hat Raynesia thought back then

'Ah, that worked out in my favor'

If the masses knew about this incident, there would be a standoff between the Adventurers and People of the Land Raynesia, as the daughter of the Corwen fa But on the other hand, when she was at a loss, the Adventurer girl ca to the resolution of the crisis By overhearing the news, this girl had pushed the development of the events before she could make any decision

For a ht this way

That's why Raynesia noticed The way Kinjo pushed the responsibility to Raynesia was just like Raynesia who had been pushi+ng her responsibility away since birth The frustration Raynesia was feeling against this young man was actually directed at herself

Raynesia had discussed this incident with Rieze and Henrietta, who in turn reported it to the Round Table Council But the onethe decision was Raynesia She couldn't push the responsibility from Kinjo to the Round Table Council Not just because she was unhappy to be put in such a position

Kinjo was a Person of the Land, Raynesia was also a Person of the Land That's why she couldn't dump this responsibility onto the Adventurers

Adventurers were a different kind of existence from People of the Land

To be honest, the People of the Land were a weak existence compared to the Adventurers But that hy there was a line they would not back away from If they pushed away their duties because of weakness, thatfrail That way, there would be no way they could work together and become friends

Elissa's words rang in Raynesia's ears

Raynesia let go of all pretense and stared at Kinjo

”This incident is not just the fault of the Kunie clan, but the mistake of the People of the Land as a whole We overlooked this due to our lack of vigilance We have to face this fact I conclude that the best course of action we can take right now is to stop the ic supply”

””

”In order to apologize to all the Adventurers, we have to do our part What we can do right now is to stop the ic circle”

”It ht cause even more trouble”

Raynesia had no reply to this criticism

This was expected The impact this incident caused could not be shouldered by Raynesia alone Wrong, this decision would gamble the irreplaceable lives of many people, so who could shoulder this burden? Raynesia wanted to say 'God can do it' But those were just useless words

But being a nobleup this heavy responsibility

The aristocrats had to show their courage even when facing the risk of death

Her grandfather had always shown Raynesia through his example

Just like the belief in God, this teaching was intangible, but was a truth that Raynesia could touch in her heart Raynesia nodded her head stiffly Her ly

”Please do not worry”

But Henrietta standing behind Raynesia spoke encouragingly Wearing the official unifor cape, Henrietta said in a clear voice:

”The Round Table Council already knows about this incident, please take note that we also agree to stopping the ic circle”

”So you have the backing of the Round Table”

”Not a backing Just fellow residents of Akiba working together to resolve the issue I also consider the Kunie clan to be residents of Akiba A?”

”Is that what shi+roe-dono told you to say?”

”No”

At those last words, Raynesia could tell that Henrietta had tensed up

Raynesia didn't understand the lared at Kinjo with unrelenting resolve

” I understand No matter how this incident caent in our security This will leave a stain in our proud history of using the ic barrier to protect the city for several hundred years We were distracted fro from the other continents, and underestimated the threat from the west, it is all my fault”

” Kinjo-sama?”

Raynesia couldn't understand the words of the young ave her sorasp

(Because this man the Kunie clan are different in some ways from the People of the Land)

”Like you said, we have to do the things we can do Not to reject, but to take a step forward I a you this time Allow me to owe you a favor for this incident”

Kinjo raised his head with a sincere expression This was an expression Raynesia saw for the first timatic smile and announced: ”But, I want to let someone else return the favor”

It see her

Raynesia finally understood Their lastwas a test for Raynesia Raynesia understood this without knowing the objective and the result This troubled her Even if Raynesia was not suitable, Kinjo in front of her, the lasses demon, all of them attempted to force Raynesia to shoulder this heavy burden

”The preparations are done”

Kinjo announced after his clansman whispered in his ear

In response, Raynesia turned around and looked at Henrietta for the first tilasses had a far away look and muttered a feords

”10 more 5 understood, in one minute”

Henrietta ended the telepathy and nodded After the confirmation, Raynesia said in a clear voice:

”Alright, I will request foric circuit supply to the defenses of Akiba city”

One h of a titan spread across Akiba

The renowned invincible guard system ceased operation5

”10 e!”

A cute voice rang out on the street

A giant stone body appeared which was avoided easily by Akatsuki who seeolem raised its arms as thick as a car and smashed doards

The Murderer was uncertain whether he could take the blow and dodge The attack of the golenored defenses, but the speed was horrible so it could be avoided easily

But this ithin Akatsuki's calculations

After the Murderer avoided the golem's attack, Akatsuki aimed for his flank and used Fatal A casting time, and would take soolem's attack as a cover, she cast this skill from the Murderer's blind spot

She was rewarded with dah difficulty attack

Akatsuki twisted her body to avoid the raging attacks and snowstorh to avoid the area attack of the snowstorain Akatsuki hid behind the giant and waited for the storm to disperse

But the price was the gole sounds

The goleh HP similar to its appearance, but that was relative to the other familiars that could be called forth by the Summoner This type of familiar level summon only had a third of the power of Adventurers of sioleh and sturdy, its HP was less than that of Akatsuki's

But it still endured the Murderer's attack for 5 seconds, and 5 seconds was enough for Akatsuki and the others to make their next move

”Heartbeat Healing Hoi~”

Mikakage raised her staff that rese spell of the Druids froht protected Akatsuki's heart with a pulsing sound, and Akatsuki's strength returned gradually with each beat of the rhythm

The tiny girl Allie with the sa her e's feet Plant fairy Alraune could assist in battles just like otherthe recovery effects of the Summoner's spell The introverted Allie shut her eyes as she waved her spoon She was not scared, she was just giving her all to aid her master

Healing over time spells ide area recovery spell and instant recovery spell Mikakage cast all herspells was the unique style of the druids, Mikakage healed Akatsuki's wounds without reservation Without regards to her MP, Mikakage healed Akatsuki's HP to 80

Akatsuki didn't thank her She didn't have the effort to spare

Akatsuki's duty right noas to attract the Murderer's attention and run down theher task perfectly was the only way to show her gratitude Akatsuki, in her most focused mental state ever, understood this point

Akatsuki's range of awareness spread out, beco the situation in her surroundings

Maryele, as running right behind her, continued to cast Auto Heal to keep its effect frouerrilla Monk and her Cleric partner ere participants froade joined them

Akatsuki leaped away fro sensation on her skin

The Suoleic circle A fairy wearing pure white feht that split into 7 Akatsuki recalled it was a variation of the 'Coest attack ic of the Summoner, but it didn't inflict fatal wounds on the Murderer This was expected Even though the attack was powerful, a raid boss would not go down fro enough to pierce through a boulder

Akatsuki's tea spells the zone where Mikakage and Byakko were stationed She couldn't stop because Akatsuki's teanated point The duo would run out of MP in 2

”Good luck!”

A cheerful encourage out Behind the Murderer as pressing in with a loo her hands so hard that they ht fall off Akatsuki felt a warmth in her heart This was definitely not because of Heartbeat Healing

”Update! 10 more meters!”

The voice of Maryele cah the sky as if she were flying to the e and Byakko Area', there were 10several attraction sites of a winter parade Lugrius' abilities would increase with the number of Adventurers within 50 meters, which hy they could only station lie

If the battle dragged on, the lie output of the li on, so they couldn't increase the MP usage rate It was a vicious cycle

In order to break this stale several 50 meter spherical zones that didn't overlap in Akiba A teah the zones, while the members stationed in each area would provide support with covering fire and healing spells

Akatsuki thought about the zones that were left and continued running

She swore to keep running until day broke

Akatsuki noticed that the support fro Akatsuki, as a weapon specialist class, adjusted the way she fought depending on her ree output and the battle dragging longer But it was not the same for the healer class Maryele If Maryele held back on her healing support, it would directly result in Akatsuki's demise

Because of this huge responsibility, Akatsuki wanted to protect everyone, she didn't want to lose Akatsuki's equip her, all these didn't belong to Akatsuki

In order to pay back these borrowed treasures, she kept on dashi+ng ahead

Seeking quicker steps and faster strikes

A gear inside Akatsuki fell into place

Lowering her center of gravity and holding her breath The i this pose becaer for a skill This was the unique skill of Trackers, Hide Shadow It usually required the use of the game menu to activate it, but Akatsuki could call forth the technique with her body h practice

Her presence dissipated froone The 'presence' of Akatsuki right noas very vague

Akatsuki didn't know her location, but she could see the attack from the demon blade clearly from her fixed field of vision Akatsuki was exposed in front of the dangerous attack, but there was another Akatsuki watching from another position Her Hide Shadoas at the level of Shadow Lurk, her separated life force advanced in a straight line on the battlefield

Akatsuki dodged past the ice storm like attack of the Murderer

The body that looked like Akatsuki and Akatsuki's consciousness were in different places

The evidence was the shi+ning body of Akatsuki swaying in the ice stor all attacks like illusions

Akatsuki reached the back of the Murderer enduring the overwhel sense of accelerationShe couldn't keep this up er

She could only activate this special skill by holding her breath and cal her heart The skill used for infiltrationfrom monsters was forcibly applied on the battlefield This was the 'Over level' Akatsuki learnedBoring

Akatsuki wielded her blade like a sparrow

The sudden attack frohtly Even attacking with the illusion just now, he still ed to evade a fatal hit, the demon blade was formidable indeedBoring

Akatsuki did not feel the joy of achieving her wish She stopped her breath and activated Shadow Lurk again The shadow copies that appeared immediately confused the Murderer and helped Akatsuki evade the triple strike and leap backwards

Large icicles for ice attack and continued to accelerate, dancing on the blade of the Murderer

This 'Over level' was similar to the demon blade

Its usage was against the common sense of Elder Tales

The strength Akatsuki desired was similar to the crazy demon that created snow stor such powers

With a pulsing green light in her breast and a golden shi+ne around her body

The gauntlets on her hands were full of pohile the black garb on her body shi+elded her from harm

Most i at Akatsuki so hard as if they were going to fall off the cheers, the gentle nods of encouragement warmed Akatsuki's heart and body

'Over level' was understanding the Elder Tales gaes of the Catastrophe, a state you reached after working hard on it It was part ingenuity and part hard work In the end, Akatsuki didn't learn any of the 8 'Over levels' DDD discovered and was taught to her by Rieze Just like Nyanta's cooking was the co skills, all the 'Over levels' were the observation and research of the subject in question

It was not so its explanation

It was not soame

'Over level' was not so for it, it was soh hard work and thinking

Nazuna said 'daring to say that Over level is boring is the real Over level' Akatsuki carved these words into her heart 'Over levels' were not used by high level Adventurers to flaunt their strength, it was so she touched that day

Akatsuki ran in order to express this, cutting off her naive thinking of wanting power No h, she had to destroy that demon blade

The secret behind Akatsuki's 'Over level' Shadow Lurk was the skill of the Tracker subclass Hide Shadow This skill that couldn't be used in combat was forcibly utilized by Akatsuki after the Catastrophe Coe and Trick Step, she could create clones of herself

This was soed to Akatsuki

Even with all the buff ic and support, Akatsuki still couldn't match up to the Murderer The Murderer breathed out an air of insanity triggered by the s Akatsuki in this duel with brute strength

( Have to pull away by using a skill)

After detery, Akatsuki used Stealth Blade that increased attack penetration in her atteet away from the tall and lanky man The Murderer who had seen this attack several ti Akatsuki the chance to back away But

”Is that it? Is that it?”

The Murderer allowed the blade to cut into his flank and slee The Murderer, who drew closer at the expense of losing HP, let out a hellish chill The snow stor with Akatsuki's beloved blade

Akatsuki lost her only weapon and fell to the ground from a blow from her opponent's arm6

”I'm okay”

Akatsuki stood up

Her momentary lapse left her on the brink of death, with less than 5 of her HP left But she was still alive

Maryele rushed over and used healing spells without

”I'm sorry I'm really sorry”

The sad voice of Maryele pained Akatsuki's heart Maryele did nothing wrong This was her first raid battle but she had to bear the burden of being the primary healer because she was partnered with Akatsuki Akatsuki wanted to console Maryele, but she couldn't find the words to say So Akatsuki put all her heart into the same reply

”I'm okay”

These ords of bravado, but not bravado at the sa the person she cared about not to worry Akatsuki was not sure whether her e was conveyed and prepared to dash ahead At this moment, a short stick-like object spun in the air towards her

”Just in time, take this”

The 25th girl who stuck her head out of the workshop said as she lifted her goggles

The sheath of the sword she received was still war in the snow storm, it radiated a warmth of a fresh birth

” Meito-Haganemushi+”

”Wrong it's 'Haganeed version”

With a closer look, Akatsuki found that the length and the hilt were different, it was made to accommodate Akatsuki Most importantly, the status screen that reflected the iteround the flavor text was different

”Soreat, I can't afford it” ”Win with this”

Akatsuki was on the verge of tears, but Amenona's sword smith Tatara interrupted her It was not her usual lazy voice, but a determined tone

”Defeat him with my sword”

In the battle field she was pointing at, the guerilla fro

She was covered in wounds and blood all over, but she was still fighting with a fierce roar The Murderer's pri at her But the young girl was using the skills of a Monk to defend Akatsuki, as knocked down by the Murderer

”Akatsuki-yan, the preparations are complete”

Akatsuki nodded at Maryele as using healing spells It was time

There was no need for words

Akatsuki dashed like an arrow in a straight line She sent her Shadow Lurk clone out to attack with Accel Fang, using her brand new Kodachi The Murderer's Sentou-Byakurinding metal, Akatsuki's clone deformed and faded

Akatsuki appeared behind the Murderer and struck at his head with Venom Strike The man deflected the poisonous bloith a flick of his head, twisting his body forcibly to strike at Akatsuki, as in midair

This bloould definitely be fatal if it landed, but Akatsuki did a double jump in the air to avoid it Reinforcements were here

”Getting careless towards the end, just like shi+roe!”

Nazuna dashed in like a bullet

Wearing thick sole wooden sandals, she elegantly so beside Akatsuki away fro at her and softened her expression, but her eyes were still focused

”Alright then, since you are shi+roe's junior, that , allow me to assist!”

Akatsuki nodded

The Murderer charged at the the corner of the s Akatsuki and the fox-ear beauty dashed in The snow stor into the alley was stopped by Nazuna's barrier ic

”Are you alright?”

The gentle voice showing no signs of being chased by a ?” Nazuna teased with a gentle smile Akatsuki wiped her tears, but she couldn't say the words 'I'm fine' She was so happy

She was at the brink of death and being chased by a fearso so a raid For the first tiether

Right now, the streets of Akiba at night were a battle field

The stage for Akatsuki, Raynesia, and the girls of the Water Maple Consulate

These feelings eclipsed the longing Akatsuki had for shi+roe Akatsuki really liked the excellent and intelligent young man she revered as her lord, but she was now confident of liking hi a place for others to smile was very difficult Her lord who understood the difficulty and value of this orthy of Akatsuki's love

”Engage!”

This shoutarrows fleards the Murderer through the narrow passage Coe and attacks fro with assassinate dealt e

Nazuna and Akatsuki ran in the air, leaving behind the ene them There were several translucent watery footholds 5cm in diameter under their feet This is Nazuna's 'Over level', Skywalker

This was using the basic Kannagi spell Purification Barrier and setting it up freely soe was cast at a space of Nazuna's choosing This snificant daic fora foothold in midair

The place they arrived at after the frantic run was the central square of Akiba The Akiba s surrounded this place, which was known as the heart of Akiba After reaching this place, Akatsuki turned around in the pitch-black building and prepared for battle, waiting for the Murderer to come

The deep breaths of the chilly winter air hurt Akatsuki's chest Her lungs hurt from the cold, but cooled Akatsuki's head

The Murderer noticed that Akatsuki had stopped and moved slowly into the square with loud steps Akatsuki was left with 20 HP, it was about the sah their actual value differed by a hundred fold, Akatsuki still lifted her sword and awaited the Murderer

This was the Straight Eyes stance Akatsuki had used thousands, tens of thousands of time since the Catastrophe

”Not running?”

Akatsuki nodded to acknowledge the question the Murderer asked with a cra smile

”Then, it's about tied in as he shouted ”to die!” He lifted Sentou-Byakuer with its ice coating, ready to strike The 2 swords that were about the same size when displayed in Ane a branch to a tree trunk

But from the skies far above, water akin to a waterfall fell, splashi+ng the lifted Sentou-Byakumaru

Akatsuki could see in herthe central square Her wide area enemy detection ability provided her with this intel If the others wandered within 50 meters of the Murderer, all their efforts would be in vain 50and attack spells This meant her comrades could not take part in the battle

But there was a blind spot

A place higher than 15 stories, a place slightly above 50 meters

With Kyouko acting as a safety harness, Rieze was barely within Akatsuki's detection range The sorcerer's wide area attack, Freezing Rain, used a flood of water with ice particles in it to wash away the enee was only 20 ravity towards the eneht now

This attack absorbed the freezing chill of the Murderer, feeding off the cold and solidifying the moment it touched him

”What!”

The Murderer tried to turn and escape, but his lower li his sere encased in a pillar of ice His plan to split Akatsuki backfired, leaving Byaku out at the top of the ice pillar

The danificant, less than 1 of his total health But he was trapped in a stupendous a it hard for hi to coled in vain He was really stunned by this turn of events now

He didn't knohy, but even Raynesia, who exited fro at him

It had nothing to do with his re HP

Luring the Murderer here was to sap hih all the tactics so he would let down his guard The tactician with curly hair used the powers of the Murderer against hi him in place Akatsuki approached him deftly

Her first attack was a siravity and slashed upwards This was a melee attack skill, not powerful, but had a short cool down of 1 second And its dae increased with each consecutive successful strike

Akatsuki hit the exposed Byaku a blade

Meitou Hagane the durability of your opponent's weapon, a tradable weapon acquired from a major raid It was best used for player versus player battles, an outstan