『”Was it stuck in such a place? It’s true what they say—it’s darkest beneath the lamp…”』
Toon ground his teeth.
His anger was evident to the point that even Chiyou, who sat on his shoulder, flinched.
“At least we found it now, which is fortunate.”
『Hmm. Thanks to you.』
Toon’s voice softened.
『You discovered the location quickly and got the information right. … Well done.』
“Don’t mention it.”
Chiyou replied in a nonchalant tone.
“After all, we’re in the same boat. Working together under the Count, it was only natural.”
Chiyou looked Toon in the eyes and smiled brightly.
Even though one of his eyes was larger than her entire body, she showed no fear.
As Toon had mentioned, it was she who had inquired about the information regarding the “Divine Staff” and precisely pinpointed this location.
‘Thanks to overhearing Bluebeard’s chatter. Nevertheless, I’ve scored a point, haven’t I?’
The reason she was able to specify this location was entirely due to her keen insights.
Using the members of Shinobigumi and all the information networks on the Old Continent, it would have been almost impossible for anyone else to know of this operation.
It was carried out in utter secrecy, and even Leeha had not disclosed the location initially.
Yet, the reason she could pinpoint the location of the “Divine Staff” was because of something Bluebeard had said at Ghibrid’s resting place.
―The Manticore is dead?
‘How could a well-flying Manticore suddenly die? Didn’t they say there was no human presence where the Manticore was?’
Manticores not only created chimeras but also acted as Ghibrid’s eyes and ears!
So, just before its death, it had conveyed information to Ghibrid, which Bluebeard had heard from him.
‘I don’t know how they communicate… but that’s not important. The key point is an ambush in a place with no signs of life, resulting in a death with a single strike. Only one person in Middle Earth can manage that.’
Ha Leeha.
Chiyou was certain that Leeha was the one who killed the Manticore.
From that point, she unfolded the map and traced the source of demonic energy close to the Manticore’s death location, and with the help of Bluebeard and Ghibrid, she and Toon finally arrived here.
What should have taken even the keenest users more than a day, Chiyou had accomplished in just a few hours with tremendous drive, so it was natural for Toon and Bluebeard to raise their opinion of her.
“Excuse me, Chiyou-ssi! What should I do now?”
A voice interrupted Chiyou’s thoughts as she was wondering what more she could extract from them in the future.
Seated on Toon’s shoulder, she looked down towards her feet.
The White-Eyed Spiritualist, Prea, was clinging tightly to Toon’s ankle, looking up at Chiyou.
‘Tch, I didn’t want to include her… But given that Ha Leeha is around, her power is essential.’
Since Prea had revealed her true intentions, Chiyou had distanced herself from her. Consequently, Prea tried even harder to approach Chiyou amicably.
‘I’ve heard about the existence of a dark-attribute spirit. I don’t know its name, but considering its existence has been revealed, there’s no better place than a demonic territory to increase its affinity.’
Chiyou had a rough idea of Prea’s intentions.
Although she disliked the thought of Prea gaining more power, there was no choice.
At the very least, to neutralize one of Leeha’s major forces, the ‘Burning Bear,’ Prea’s power was indispensable.
“Can you prevent humans from approaching the ‘Divine Staff’?”
Chiyou asked, concealing her emotions.
“Prevent them from approaching?”
Prea continued staring at Chiyou with a slightly innocent expression.
“Hmmm… Prevent them from approaching? It’s not particularly difficult, right?”
The White-Eyed Spiritualist rubbed Toon’s thick ankle with her fingers as she spoke.
Although it seemed like she was talking to herself, Chiyou well knew she wasn’t.
Prea’s words were directed at the spirits listening.
“Nouenan, can you surround that area?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the ground near the “Divine Staff” began to tremble.
『An earthquake? Is this an earthquake?』
“Prea?”
“Yes?”
“Did you do this?”
“Yes, I did as you asked. I prevented anyone from approaching.”
Prea looked at Chiyou and formed a V with her fingers.
Chiyou was utterly flabbergasted. How did she manage that?
“Is it possible to use such a powerful skill with just one spirit?”
“Earth Mage… He couldn’t use an earthquake spell like this either!”
Chiyou quickly regained her calm expression, but Prea was already smiling.
Chiyou then lifted her head again to watch the front.
“It’s nice with Noeanen, but still, at times like these, I miss the guys from Noes Leeha~.”
Prea also playfully tapped the shoulder of the spirit beside her with a mischievous voice.
“If you wish, I can call them immediately.”
“No, no. It’s fine. This should keep rising all the way, right?”
“As you wish.”
As the supreme earth spirit Noeanen bowed her head, the ground near the Divine Staff warped in a circular pattern and rose up.
She already knew why she had been summoned.
To checkmate Leeha’s polar bear.
Although Chiyou hadn’t said much, she had taken care of more than what Chiyou had hoped for her.
“Hehehe, first, let’s set it up like this—”
As Prea smiled with satisfaction, something flashed on the other side.
“Huh? What’s that—”
Just when it seemed an explosion was happening in the air, Prea couldn’t confirm anything with her eyes.
“Powerful energy projectiles. Even one hit can be dangerous.”
Noeanen, the supreme earth spirit, enveloped Prea protectively.
BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM────!
By the time the loud noise was heard, a significant number of flying-type monsters in the air were already plummeting to the ground.
“It’s not a single shot attack… but a multi-shot attack that can do this? No, noeanen! Protect yourself first!”
“Don’t worry.”
Stones and pebbles around where Toon’s feet touched the ground gathered and perfectly shielded Noeanen and Prea.
Prea clearly remembered the time when the supreme fire spirit had to return to the spirit realm after a single hit.
That incident was nothing short of a nightmare for her.
Since she had believed it to be “Ha Leeha’s strongest attack skill,” she was naturally startled by the current attack.
“Amazing! A summoner who has contracted with a fire spirit… and even has items related to both dragons and water spirits?”
Suppressing her pounding heart, Prea furtively lifted her head only to realize that Chiyou had already vanished from sight.
It wasn’t only Prea who had shrunk back due to Leeha’s attack.
Chiyou, who had been on Toon’s shoulder, had also hidden behind Toon’s neck along with the loud noise.
Confirming Chiyou’s absence, Prea imagined Leeha beyond the Divine Staff in the front.
* * *
“Phew, I guess I’ve paid my respects! Now if it’s urgent—”
Leeha, who had fired the Multi-Warhead Shot, immediately began whispering.
The unfamiliar loud noise had shocked the entire order of knights, but once they confirmed the falling monsters, their astonishment quickly turned into excitement and admiration.
A skill capable of boosting morale with just one hit!
It was the Black Bass’s Multi-Warhead Shot.
“Ooooohhhhh——!”
“Secure the ‘Divine Staff!’
Don’t be late!”
“Ha Leeha’s got our back! Don’t be afraid and charge!”
The allied knights mostly engaged the monsters on the ground. As knights, most of them fell into the melee job.
The guilds comprised of users were tasked with handling the airborne monsters.
“Bobae! Above—”
SHHUUU—!
Before Kijung even finished shouting, Bobae had already drawn her bowstring.
Leeha’s Multi-Warhead Shot seemed nothing special as one arrow split into several mana arrows spreading around.
“The entire Sacred Knight Orders, take flight! Engage the flying monsters in formation!”
Advanced users skilled in magic directed their gaze upwards too.
The monsters on the ground mostly resembled those they encountered during the wave! Therefore, the priority was naturally to check the flying ones.
“Priority target is the Manticore! Deal with the monsters that create Chimeras first! Be careful not to get stabbed by the tail—”
KA-BOOOOM—!
“―Argh!?”
Even Shin Nara, who was giving orders, stopped in surprise at the tremendous noise.
At the same time, one of the manticores flying from beyond the Divine Staff began to plummet to the ground.
She glanced in the direction where Leeha was and gave a faint smile.
Confident that Leeha was watching her.
“We cannot let ourselves die. But we must not let the Divine Staff fall into their hands. We have one mission to complete.”
Shin Nara swung her sword in the air.
“To secure the Divine Staff, complete the mission safely, and return to the capital! Understood?”
“Yes, dame!”
As soon as the command to obey the Dame was given, the Sacred Knights moved swiftly towards the Divine Staff like they were flying.
In reality, it was not a good strategy.
Without coordinating with other knight orders, they would become easier targets for monsters.
But now was not the time to pick and choose.
With towering giants and massive beasts approaching from afar, those who could still move had to reach the Divine Staff, by any means necessary.
Leeha, observing the Sacred Knights fly past, immediately turned his head and asked.
“Cardinal! How do we secure that? Can just anyone go to it?”
“Of course not. I must reach that place myself.”
“Damn it! So, their effort to get there is all in vain—!”
Rough words spilled from Leeha’s mouth.
Of course, the initial plan was to have the knights clear the monsters, and then the Cardinal would go with them.
But how could they clear the monsters in this situation?
Moreover, right at this moment, ton appeared.
From the perspective of the occupation team needing to secure the Divine Staff, this couldn’t be worse.
‘Dammit, this is when all the top rankers should come together! Why aren’t they here on such an important day!’
If only Alexander or Lee Jiwon were here, it would be enough to draw their attention and time!
Leeha had to make a decision.
Normally, he would step back, but now he couldn’t afford to.
He didn’t know what kind of divine power the Divine Staff possessed, but if Toon tore it apart, everything would be in vain.
“Argh, can’t be helped!”
―Blaugrunn! Bring Koma! The Cardinal and I will teleport to the Divine Staff! Quickly!
―Yes! I remember the coordinates from before!
Leeha immediately whispered.
With only about ten minutes left, Koma wouldn’t be very effective at close range.
So, the next plan?
Where was the force capable of protecting the Divine Staff apart from the flying Sacred Knights?
Fortunately, Leeha knew.
The strongest spatial mage in Middle Earth’s history.
―Hyein! Bring as many star archers as possible to the Divine Staff! I’ll talk to Kijung!
―Uh, what? The coordinates are a bit hard to specify though—
―Doesn’t matter! Just come! If you don’t bring the star archers, we’re all dead!
Schwaaah!
Though Hyein muttered something in a whisper, Leeha didn’t hear it.
Blaugrunn had already returned with Koma by Leeha’s side.
Seeing the suddenly appearing dragon startled the Bishop NPC, but Cardinal Romero had an expression as if he had already expected it and nodded.
“Let’s go.”
“Ha Leeha?”
“Yeah, let’s go! First, it’s five paladins here, me, Blaugrunn, and Koma. Eight people to secure the Divine Staff!”
“Understood! Coordinates confirmed, mana synchronized—”
Blaugrunn stared at the distant Divine Staff.
Within moments, a turquoise mana engulfed his body.
“―〈Mass Teleport〉!”
As purplish light flickered at the far end of the Divine Staff’s occupation team, eight people, a dragon, and a bear arrived in front of the Divine Staff.
“Cardinal! How much time!?”
“Ten minutes should suffice. May our Lord Ahlo once again take an interest in his creations on this earth through the staff…”