38-38 Shield of Light




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 Now, the [Demon Dragon of Disaster] has been given [concealment] by the [Hidden Saint] Dr. Kalu using the [Concealment Enhancement] magic tool.
 I've passed through three towns and a barrier so far, but no one on the ground seems to have noticed.
 Thanks to this, I was able to proceed through the territory of the Magic Empire without being blamed by anyone.

 But...

"If we're going to escape, this is the only direction we can go... what do you think? Have you found anything?

"No, there's no sign of him. What about you, Mr. Linneburg?

No, ...... I've been looking for him too, but I can't find him.

 I've been looking for him for a while now, but I can't find him. "Dr. Kalu and I have been searching the area using our skills in detection, eagle eye, farsight, and clairvoyance, respectively.
 But we couldn't find the Emperor at all.
 It seems like we've come a long way since we left.

If the two of them can't find anything, then it looks like he's already gone a long way.
 Worst of all... he may have already reached the imperial capital.

 As the dragon we are riding approaches a large valley, we can see a long bridge spanning both banks.
 That's the Iron Bridge, said to have once been the boundary line separating the kingdom from the empire.
 Once you cross that bridge, it will be even more difficult to catch up with the emperor.

 There are many fortresses beyond that bridge.
 The emperor's home base, the Imperial City, is beyond that.
 If they escape that far, it will be difficult to catch them.

 Everyone is aware of that.
 First, Dr. Kalu opened his mouth.

Then, after coming this far, we should consider turning back to .......
 From here on out, this is a full-fledged imperial territory.
 There are countless fortresses and an inordinate amount of military equipment.
 We can't just barge in there... what do we do?

"Well...

"What do you think, Dr. Noor? ............ Dr. ......?

 I approached Dr. Noll to ask his opinion.
 I tried to ask him for his opinion, but he didn't look at the ground, he just looked up at the sky and remained silent.
 He seemed to be meditating and thinking about something.
 He did not respond to any of my questions from earlier.

 I wonder what he's thinking about.

 As I was looking at his back, wondering what he was thinking.
 Suddenly, I saw something shining in the back of my vision.

"Over there... there's something. It's moving at a great speed.

 When I checked with my distant vision, I saw a horse clad in golden armor running across the ground at an unbelievable speed.

That's it.
 You've finally found him, he's the emperor.


 But we're almost at the Imperial City's defense grid.
 We need to decide right now whether to pursue them or turn back.

"If we go after them, it means we need to deal with them, right?

 The emperor drove his horse and was sucked into a huge steel gate that closed.
 In front of him, there was a huge wall made of stone and steel, and on top of the wall, there were a number of magical weapons in the shape of "black tubes" that he had seen on the battlefield.

 And beyond that, there are a number of fortresses standing in a row - the absolute defense line that the Empire is proud of, the "Armor of the Empire", an area lined with majestic weapons built of steel.
 In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at a few of the best ways to get the most out of your time.

 If we continue to pursue him, we'll be plunging into that dead zone with this small group.

Oh.
 But I can't imagine going over it and coming back in one piece.
 The way is still good.
 But on the way back, [concealment] will inevitably be less effective.
 I think it's best to give up on the idea of getting home in one piece.

 Dr. Kalu seemed to have the same concerns as I did.

I understand what Kallu is saying.
 I understand what Karou is saying, but if we let him get away here it will be a big blow.

 As my brother said with a bitter look on his face, if we let the emperor go now, he will surely build up his army to retaliate next time.
 The soldiers who invaded the kingdom this time were mostly poor people, farmers, and refugees from neighboring countries.
 The Imperial Kingdom is able to quickly assemble a powerful army by equipping people who are no more than amateurs with superior weapons and armor.
 The strength of the Magic Empire lies in its ability to "continue to build" such powerful magic tools.
 Excellent weapons and armor can be mass-produced as much as you want as long as you have the resources.
 In addition, as the Imperial Kingdom continues to expand its territory, it has an abundance of resources.

 What is most frightening is that they see even humans as a "resource" that can be consumed.
 Now, that country has plenty of those resources...
 The emperor himself said that he would give "wealth and honor" to the poor and refugees who had increased due to the war he had caused, and sent them out as soldiers.
 In this way, we can easily gather the numbers.

 The war has already begun.
 All they need is a little time to build up their forces.
 Having suffered a crushing defeat with their armaments this time, they will come at us with even more powerful armaments next time.

 We mustn't give them any more time now.

 If that happens...

"Master Raine, Master Linneburg... then I would like your permission to attack.

 Suddenly, Inez stepped in front of us.
 Suddenly, Inez stepped in front of us and said that she wanted permission to attack.

 "Attack"?

 What the hell are you...?

 No... Well...

 I forgot until just now.
 I'm sure you'll be able to figure out why she's been given the title of "Saint" by the "Six Saints", and what she's capable of as a "legend".

 [Divine Shield] Ines...



 Her realm is not to protect (・・・・・・・・).

 It's not that she's better at it.
 Rather, it is the opposite - that the sword is too powerful (・・・・・) to be used properly (・・・・).

"If we must go on, then...
 If we need to go on... this could be the way back.
 If that's the case, I think it would be wise to eradicate them while we can.

 Eradicate those fortresses.

 She said that without a second thought.
 Yes, she's right.
 It's better to eliminate the threat if it's also a way home.
 If that's even possible.

 And she can do it.
 She can do it.

 I forgot about her.
 I've been with her for so long.
 I've been with her so long.

 I'd overlooked it.
 Dr. Noor isn't the only outlier here.

 There's another one right in front of us who's out of this world.

"Brother, Inez has a suggestion for you: ......, if you don't mind.
"Yes. Go ahead, Ines... as much as you want.

Yes, sir.

 Inez doesn't usually say things like this.
 She doesn't usually say things like, "I want you to let me attack him.
 She doesn't like to hurt people unnecessarily.
 I'm a little surprised.

 But...
 But when I think about it, it's natural.

 It's not just the dragon that's upset now.
 Me, my brother.
 And she's angry, too.
 She was angry, too, that the city she grew up in, the country she swore to protect with her life, had been trampled on like that.

 She had been quietly angry for a long time.

 Inez quietly walks out on the dragon's back.  

"...... Rollo.
 Inez walks quietly on the dragon's back: "I'm sorry, but you have to tell the dragon.
 Tell it to fly as low as it can (・・・・・・・) from now on.
 Also, one of them is going to be on my head for a little while so please don't be offended.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell him...!

 She walked down the long neck and stopped at the head of the demon dragon.



"Then... please.

 Instantly, the dragon swooped down.
 I clung desperately to the dragon's back so as not to be knocked off.

 The ground was closing in...
 The next thing I know, I'm standing in front of a towering steel fortress.

 At the same time, Inez's slender arm swung wide...

"[Divine Shield]

 Inez has created a huge "shield of light" that can cover the huge body of the [Demon Dragon of Disaster].
 I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

 The shield was then expanded horizontally (・・・・・), and all at once, it was cleaved horizontally (・・・・・).

 Instantly, a ray of light ran horizontally... and all the black cannons in the fortress exploded.

 At the same time, the majestic steel fortress split horizontally, splitting in two.

 Inez continued to swing the giant shield of light two or three times, each time splitting the massive structure in front of her two or three times...
 As the dragon flies through the ground, she slices up everything in her path.

 We quickly broke through one of the defenses.
 Then we see the next fortress approaching.
 But...

 Once again, countless blinding flashes of light sweep across the area.

 In no time at all, the sturdy fortress was chopped up like a dice, and crumbled to rubble at our sides.

 One after another, the structures that seemed to intimidate the viewer became mere lumps of metal... and crumbled to the earth.

 In front of your eyes, such a scene is repeated incessantly.

"...... awesome ......

 This is the [Divine Sword] Ines.

This is the most powerful shield and the most powerful sword in the kingdom of Crais, which has made all six saints say, "I never want to be an enemy.

I think we've got a way home now.

 I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
 I could only watch, my heart beating wildly.

 But both my brother and Dr. Kalu were completely unfazed by the scene, brushing away the debris so that it wouldn't hit Rollo.
 They were calm and collected.
 Dr. Noor had been meditating and looking up at the sky for a while now, and he hadn't moved a muscle.
 It's as if they knew this was coming.

 What an amazing people they are.

 The emperor must have noticed our presence from the roar earlier.
 The speed of the horse is even faster, and it runs on the ground with the momentum of flight.
 The [concealment] has already been lifted.
 That horse, strengthened with magic tools, is much faster than our dragon's flight speed.
 At this rate, he will reach the Imperial City first.

 Perhaps he will make his preparations and intercept us.
 We're headed for his home base.
 We don't know what awaits us.

 But...



Leanne. Prepare yourself. Our work here will determine the outcome of the war. We're going in.

"Yes, of course.
 Let's show them who they've been messing with.

 Even though we're heading straight for the enemy's stronghold, the Imperial City...
 Strangely enough, there was no uneasiness in my heart at all.

 I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's a good idea.
 I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a little concerned about this.
 The master of the Thief, who is said to cut off all signs of life, and by the time you notice his presence, everything is over, the [Hidden Saint] Karou.
 It is said that even the dead can be brought back to life, and even the giant body of the legendary [Demon Dragon of Misfortune] can be healed in an instant [Healing Saint] Sein.
 I'm not sure if you've heard of it, but I'm sure you've heard of it.

 I'm surrounded by them.

 And...

 I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to find out more about this.

 He is still quietly folding his arms and looking up at the sky as if nothing is wrong.
 I'm sure he could hear our conversation.
 Does this mean that he doesn't care about that?

 No, no.
 The doctor was listening quietly.
 Our resolve.

 If you are as strong as you are, even if you were to go into the Imperial Kingdom alone, you should easily be able to come back alive.
 In fact, to you, the most advanced weapons of the Empire were nothing more than toys.
 The question of whether or not to board the empire is a matter for people other than you and me.

 Come to think of it, it was Sensei who suggested that we use the Demon Dragon to get into the Imperial Kingdom.
 Yet, for a moment, I think he was hesitant to go with us.
 Looking back on it now, I think he was implicitly asking us to be ready at that point.

 I wondered if we, who were mere humans compared to him, would be able to follow him in such a fierce battle.
 The teacher was silently asking us to be prepared.

 When I think about it, I feel ashamed.
 I'm ashamed that I couldn't read that much meaning into his first words.

 Sometimes I think...
 I think that he has not yet shown even a glimpse of his ability.
 In fact, he has never even shown any sign of attacking himself.
 He may think that what he has done so far is just a matter of sweeping away the dew that has fallen on him.

 Truly, this man has no bottom...
 His strength in battle, his thoughtfulness...

 We have someone like that on our side.
 I don't think we're going to lose just because of that.

 So we don't have to worry about anything.



 I'm surrounded by the strongest people I can think of.