-- It was death, pouring down from the sky.

　Each raindrop is powerful enough to kill a person.
　Each country immediately set up a ward in the sky to protect itself from the magic pouring down.
　However, none of the countries were able to completely prevent it from happening.
　Many of the warriors were struck by the rain and lost their lives in the blink of an eye.

　And the Four Heavenly Kings did not miss the opportunity created by Lefise.
　They issued an order to assault and launched a vicious attack towards the allied forces that had been greatly disrupted by the formation.
　It was the kingdom that suffered particularly heavy damage.

　Although they were able to survive the magic with their warding, they were unable to withstand the attack of the Four Heavenly Kings that came soon after.
　The sub-human army tried to cover them, but they were blocked by a large number of demons and were no match for them.
　Before long, even the innermost part of the kingdom's army was attacked by demons that could fly.

''Ridiculous!　What are the selectors doing!　What happened to the sub-humans!

　The king, who was on the battlefield by a prophecy from Melt, shouted at his men.
　However, it was impossible to change this situation.
　Originally, the kingdom was one step inferior to other nations in battle.
　It had made up for it by powerful individuals like Liuzas, selectors and brave men.
　As soon as it lost its main strength, the kingdom's defeat was decided.

''This is ridiculous!　I summoned a brave man as Melt-sama told me to do, so why is this happening?

　Soon after, a powerful demon attacked the main camp of the kingdom and destroyed it.　
　The king, who had tried to flee, was caught in the attack and died.

◆

　The Royal Army was in the midst of suffering fatal damage.
　Staring at a single battlefield, Lefise muttered bitterly.

''After all, isn't it going to be easy?''

　From her vantage point, she could see that the cathedral knights had survived the rain almost unscathed.
　The "God Has Not Abandoned Me (Play Aegis)" chanting magic deployed in the sky above repelled most of the rain.
　In addition to that, the knights did not panic, but each of them responded to the rain individually and withstood the attack of Lefise.

　The one who invoked the chanting magic was Maria, the captain of the first squadron.
　However, no matter how strong Maria is, it is impossible to set up a ward that covers the entire battlefield.
　It was the effect of the second squadron leader Leo's psychic magic that made it possible.
　Immediately, he would have transferred the knights' magic power to Maria and exploded her power.

　A major blow to the kingdom.
　The sub-human army, the imperial army, and the allied forces could also inflict a certain amount of damage.
　However, only the strength of the Church State was unique here.

　Either way, they were unable to inflict as much damage as they had anticipated in advance.
　It's as if they knew about the existence of the rain in advance.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''Huh.''

　Immediately after, as such thoughts slashed through, a sword was thrown from far away.
　Lefise moves to the side and avoids the sword in the nick of time.
　I looked at the direction the sword flew in with my enhanced vision and saw an ash-haired woman staring at me.

''Maria Theresia Stragen. After all, she was aware of my presence. If that's the case, then why on earth?

　Faster than Lefise could find the answer to that question, the Cathedral Knights moved in.
　The sorcerer's troops swept in again, clearing out the approaching demons.
　Then, without a moment's pause, a cavalry unit led by Maria and Rosario charged in.

　Many demons stood in their way to block their advance, but their momentum was unstoppable.
　A strange scene of a small number of cavalrymen slaughtering the dragon species with ease was spreading.

　This was also an effect of Leo's mind-image magic.
　The power of the retreating troops was being transferred to the cavalrymen.
　With this, the cavalry troops were exerting a terrifying assault force.

''We won't let them do whatever they want any longer.

　Leading a troop of demons, "Shattering" Galba stood in front of the cavalry unit.
　Galba uses a broadly defined form of fire magic that is classified as vibrational magic.
　He is called "Shattering" because of his ability to vibrate all objects at high speed and destroy them.

"Shatter, you d*mned knights!

　Raising his sword, Galba swung his arm down at the charging horsemen.
　Immediately after, the horsemen turned into a lump of meat with the entire horse they were riding.
　I invoked the magic of defense, but Galba's vibration easily shattered it.
　The cavalrymen couldn't even get close to the invisible attack that couldn't even be prevented, but--

It's very, very sad.

　With such a high-pitched voice sound, the attack of vibration was cut off in both directions.

'If you can't see it, then feel it. If you can't prevent it, then cut it. Dealing with an unknown attack, for example, should be possible with the training you've accumulated along with your faith in God. The immaturity of those who were unable to do so and were dispersed is inexplicably sad to me.

　A neutral-looking beauty with long, silky, light blue hair like a woman's, stood there.

'I am pleased to meet you for the first time. I am Rosario Slay Favnir. I am a servant of God.''
The infamous "Madman". I've heard it all before.
'It is superimposed. The fact that you have a bad name reaching you means that my name has reached my God. Moreover, I must also hunt you all down and encourage you.

　Jumping down from his horse as he danced, Rosario slashed at Galba with a smile on his face.
　Galba evades the blade while peeling his eyes at the approach without the slightest hint of killing intent.
　In the midst of the evasion, the inevitable vibrations are released, but Rosario ducks with amazing intuition.

　An unconventional, battle-hardened body language.
　Frightening instincts and the ability to respond to those instincts.
　Combined with Leo's psychic magic, Rosario's blade was even closing in on the Four Heavenly Kings.

　And while Rosario was stalling Garba.
　Maria was thrusting straight at Lefise.
　Kicking off everything that stood in the way, the first team led by Maria ran.

''It's confirmed. The Alliance ...... at least, the Church State knows of my presence. On top of that, they're working to crush me in favor of me.

　Watching it from a distance, Lefise was sure.
　At the same time, she was beginning to feel a strange unease that she couldn't describe.

''If it's as reported, the heroes and Elfiszak will definitely attack the Demon King's castle. The Demon King's army and the Alliance are clashing, there's no way they could miss this timing.

　Hence, we need to get serious about it.
　Aside from the other countries, we must take action against the Teaching State as soon as possible.
　The only way to crush the Church Kingdom, where each and every captain has the ability to approach the Four Heavenly Kings, is for Lefise, who is more powerful than the Four Heavenly Kings, to make a move.

''We must promptly finish off Maria Theresia Stragen and return to Ortegia-sama's side.


You're not going to be able to do that.

'-like, Lefise would think, but she should be fine for a while. Maria Theresa Stragen is strong. Right now, she'd probably be the second strongest person after Iori-kun. "Regardless of whether or not you can kill 'Ame' or not, if you take on Maria, Lefise should be stuck in the middle of it."

　Nodding at the idler's words, I stare at the architecture ahead.
　The Demon King's army and the Alliance army began to fight in earnest, and soon after the "rain" went out on the battlefield.
　We've come to a position where we can see the demon king's castle, blocking out any sign of life.

'But be careful just in case. If Ortegia and Lefeezee's two opponents, you will not have a moment to lose,
Of course. "I know the power of the rain best. All we have to do is kill Ortegia faster than Lefise can come back.

　Either way, if we take too long to defeat Ortegia, we have no chance.　
　As long as we're sneaking into the Demon King's Castle, which has a large number of demons waiting in reserve, it's going to depend on how quickly we can kill Ortegia.

　However.

'Are you really going to follow me to the Demon King's Castle, Idler?

　I turned to Idler, who was arriving behind me and Elfi, and asked him what he was wondering about.

　Me and Elfie are going to the Demon King's Castle, of course.
　Berdia has been asked to stand by in case of escape or unforeseen circumstances.
　I thought it would be good for Idler to stand by with Berdia as well.

Yeah. I'll come with you.
You're not a fighter, are you?　It's not safe to come to the Demon King's Castle. Are you okay?
No, I'm not okay. A stray bullet would kill you instantly.
Then why are you following me? You'd be safer with Verdia.

　The idler answers our question.

The idler replies, "Sure, it's safe to say. But I've made up my mind. If you don't win, I'll be killed anyway. That's why I want to stay close to you and do what I can to help.

　Idler said that with an unusual and serious expression.
　Even after hearing that, Elfie seemed to disagree with Idler's move.
　He looked straight into my peach-colored twin eyes and I exhaled.

'Do what you want ....... However, if I decide that I'm going to be a liability, I'll leave you behind. You too, go back to Berdia at once.
Yes, of course.
...... If that's what Iori decides to do, so be it.

　Elfi wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say anything.

'Let's go,'

　Then we headed to the Demon King's Castle.