◇ ◇ ◇ Aricht's point of view.

　After the 'Messenger of the Makishin' grinned, a sound resounded in the area - an indescribable discomfort, as if the sound was sinking into your head.

''What, this ... sound ... sweet ... unpleasant ...''
..........

　Me, Elitia, and Theresia, when we heard the sound emitted by the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God', it was nothing if not a little uncomfortable - but.

　I check the license display and experience another shiver.

(This ability........I see, the one that didn't show up until now......!

　-- I realized now that this sound was the reason why Ryoko-san had been drawn to it. This sound was already being used just to lure Ryoko-san. When she was staring vaguely in the direction of the fountain.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Messenger of the Inviting God of Pleasure activates the Horn of Pleasure, giving the woman a charmed state.
　Melissa, Ryoko, Maple, and Anna fascinate

.........

　With a jolt, Ryoko-san's body near me jumps unnaturally - and then she turns to me, and with a lifeless expression on her face, she tries to activate some kind of skill towards me.

''Ryoko-san........!
'Aricht, let Theresa take care of it!　Stop Ryoko's movements first!

(As for stopping them I don't have any kind of distraction potion on me. "Stun" your fellow man no, you only attack your own people if you have no other way. Then what are you going to do, think about ... think about ...

-Whoa!

　Current Situation

　Arihito activates Backstand → Target: Ryoko
　Canceled "Aqua Dolphin" in "Ryoko".

　I walked behind Ryoko-san and teamed up with her - I did the same thing earlier, but I didn't know I'd have to resort to this method twice.

''Huh........''
I'm sorry........now I have to do this.......

　I could clearly feel the drain on my magic power with a series of 'backstands'. However, I couldn't think of any other possibility right now as a means of alerting myself.

''--Ryoko-san, I'm going to 'get fired up'!

　Current Situation
　Aricht activates 'Other Assist'.
　Arihito activates 'Support Elevation 1' → Ryoko's morale increases by 12.

Ugh....!

　Ryoko-san tries to escape from my restraints with a force unimaginable from her usual ladylike behavior - I'm sure that the other members who were subjected to the 'fascination' have also attacked their friends.

(None of them........I'm not going to let them do it.......!

　For a moment, Ryoko's movements loosened up - no matter how much she trained on a regular basis, she couldn't keep going on a rampage all the time. Without missing that opportunity, I called out to her with all my might.

''--Please hold your temper!　You're not that weak!

　Current Situation
　Ryoko uses her morale to activate the "Morale Skill: Emergency Recovery" → Ryoko's mesmerized state is released.

　There is a state abnormality that can be recovered by consuming morale - it was a gamble whether 'enchantment' was included in it, but it seems to have gone as expected.




　I didn't even have time to explain to Ryoko about "Enchantment". When I checked my license, I found out that I could safely break the 'mesmerizing' state with Suzuna's 'purification' without consuming my morale.

''--Oh........ooh.......!
'Aricht, watch out for stray bullets!　He's going to shoot something at you!

　After activating the 'Horn of Pleasure', the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God' didn't show his next move for a while, but perhaps the number of people who were mesmerized by it was less than they thought, but there was no more smile on his face.

''What........was that.......''
''Stray Sheep'' was hit by a large demon lightning... no, no... that's the demon's attack...''

　The black lightning that covered the surface of the "Messenger of the Pastoral God's" body coated some of the "Stray Sheep" that were attached to it, and a number of black lightning spheres were generated - and.

''--Oooh...!

　Current Situation
　The Messenger of the Inviting Herdsman transforms four Stray Sheep into Darkness Blitzes.

You're using it as a weapon... a level 1 Stray Sheep...!

　Before you can think, your spinal cord understands that these four black thunderbolts are being released to sweep all four of us away.

　The Stray Sheep, which used to leap across the grasslands, is now clothed in black lightning, aiming at us according to the will of the Messenger of the Pasture God. It's difficult to evade - even if it changes into a Darkness Blitz, if it has a will as a living being.

(Can we take it with "Supportive Defense 1" - no, we can't bet on it. Our party doesn't have an absolute defense like Seraphina-san's right now.......but......!

(-- Ariadne, please!

"My name is Ariadne, and I give my blessing to the faithful and their allies. I give my blessing to the faithful and their allies.

　Current Situation　

　Ariadne activates Guard Arm.
　Darkness Blitz A" hits "Guard Arm".
　Darkness Blitz B hits the guard arm.
　Darkness Blitz C hits the guard arm.
　Darkness Blitz D hits the guard arm.
　The "guard arm" is shorted.

What...?

　Just as I had imagined, the Messenger of the Makishin shot out "Darkness Blitz" as if it were a guided missile - the "Guard Arm" that caught every single thing before it hit us shorted out with sparks.

45 seconds until it can be used again after automatic repair.''

'No, thank God we'll take care of the rest, although I may have to ask for help again after I let him have 45 seconds...'

....in response to a contractor...

　Ariadne's voice grew distant - until the 'Guard Arm' that she had relied on as a trump card could be used again, it had to be surpassed at all costs.

''Elitia, Theresia, please. Buy me a little time.''
Done........................
Huh...!

　Theresia activates the 'Mirage' with the power of the 'Shimmering Stone' and draws the attack of the 'Pastor's Messenger' - and when she avoids it, Elitia tries to slash at the head of the empty 'Pastor's Messenger'.

''--Oooh!
I'm going to whittle it down...!

　Current Situation

　Elitia activates Blade Rondo and hits 13 Stray Sheep.
　Elitia's additional attack has been activated and nine Stray Sheep have been hit.

Did you do it...?

　The effect of the 'Gauntlet of Quick Work' in increasing the number of attacks was immense - the Stray Sheep that covered the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God''s head like fur was blown away as if it was being cut off just like that.

''Oooh........oooh.......!

　Current Situation

　The Messenger of the Inviting Shepherd activates the Shepherd's Horn → Summons the Stray Sheep flock.

　The Messenger of the Pastoral God emits a different sound than before - that sound distorts the space around it, and countless stray sheep appear and cover the surface of the Messenger of the Pastoral God again.

''.............unharmed......?''

(This is unreasonable........no, it's been unreasonable enough in the past. There will always be a way.........!

If you're in the mood, I'll just keep whittling it down...
.....

　Elitia and Theresia work together again and challenge the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God' - but.

　At a distance that should still be beyond the reach of its arms, the sheep-headed demon raises its hands. It's as if it's calling out to something that comes from the heavens - and it's not.

　Suddenly, a different scene unfolds in front of my eyes.

　The friends who have fallen to the ground - and the demons who are leisurely approaching. Without any warning, such a scene is thrust into my consciousness.

(What.........die......us........?)

　A moment's delay in understanding the enemy's actions, and what they mean, is enough to cause death. The only thing I chose to do was--shout, and one more thing.

"Demi-harpy, come on!

　Current Situation

　Aricht summons three demi-harpy demigods.

Aricht, what are you...
Harpy and the others, get those three in the air!　Quickly!
Mr. Atobe, no!　No, no, no!
--!

　Elitia, Theresa, and Ryoko-san are held by Harpy and soar high. As high as possible, hoping so, I face the 'Messenger of the Makigami' alone.

　I can't escape - Demi-harpy doesn't have the strength to withstand the load of two people. Even if I escaped to the sky, there is a possibility that they will switch their attacks to the 'Darkness Blitz' that can aim at the air at that time.



　The two 'Thunderheads' in the west and east cried out in response to the voice of the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God', which grew in strength like a roar. Why they had two heads in tow - that is a given.

　There is a reason why there must be three of them. In order to follow the demon's instincts and eat the searchers.

"--Rearly-kun........!
Arihito-sensei...

　You knew that. You knew that if you didn't 'completely' cut off the coordination of the three bodies, they would eventually come together to attack.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The two "Thunderhead" and "Messenger of the Inviting God" are linked.
　The Inviting Pastor's Messengers invoke the Siluanus Hammer of the Angry Pastor.
　Arithito is going to take out "Brace 1

"Ughhhhhh...!


　The Messenger of the Inviting Pastor wears black lightning on both arms, catches the discharge from the two Thunderheads and increases its power, then slams the thunderbolt into the ground with a fist. The black lightning travels across the ground and causes damage to all the enemies in the vicinity - but the lightning aimed at Elitia and the other three can't reach the girls in the air.

(Just to be sure, I used my support defense.......but this doesn't tell me anything about its effectiveness or anything else.......)

　The intense pain brought by the black lightning was unimaginable. It instantly traveled from my feet to my entire body, destroying it from the inside out - a sensation that felt as if my blood was being boiled.

　And yet, I was still alive. Because I was the 'rear guard', I was far away from the enemy - I don't know if that was a blessing.

　But I had no choice but to go to my knees. Before I fell, I looked at the other two parties - they were stopping the 'Thunderheads' who were aiming to put the finishing touches on me.

''No........Brother Arihito, you can't die!　Absolutely no...!
The sheep I'll never forgive you..................eat it!
'I'm going to attack my people until Aricht goes down... too much, too unworthy...!

　Current Situation

　The mesmerized state of "Maple" and "Anna" is released.
　・Ibuki activates the Ten Eagle Legs
　Thunderhead B" has been hit twice.
　Anna" activates "Spinsmash".
　Thunderhead B" is hit.
　Maple activates Gyakusoku Ichimonji.
　Thunderhead B" is hit.

How come.........how come I'm not falling down at all.......
Maples, please don't give up!　Again.........
Anna, look out..........

　'Thunderhead' flails and swings its horns - Ibuki can't avoid it and screams in pain.

''Arihit........Arihit, hold on.......stand up, stand up and run......!
.........

　Elitia is screaming, and Theresa is screaming voicelessly.

　--run, we should shout. We should not continue to fight at the risk of being wiped out now.

But the one who hasn't given up is my master. I think it's you.

　I hear voices. Murakumo - the sword I carry is calling to me.