"My name is Garabedram. I am Garabedram, Lady Kanaza's personal tutor.
No way...!　I can't believe you're already possessed by your father...!
"I don't want to take over your body, but I'm slowly running out of time because Kanaza-sama has ordered me to...　So that I can kill you in a heartbeat.

　Spectre replies as he laughs at the surprised Lefia. This dead spirit is also a summoned beast of Kanaza.
　In order to control a number of summoned beasts, one must make a contract with the one who should be called their leader.
　Every evil spirit has a spirit that is the core of its collective spirit. Kanaza makes a contract with that spirit and controls the spirits under his command.

Come out of it for now. [Come light, banish the radiance, vanish]
"Nuguuuuuuuuuuuck!

　Galabellaum is stripped from His Majesty the King after receiving the light magic released from Lean. The fuzzy, smoky main body leaves the king.

''Xama........Light magic user Ka!　A little girl with talent!
Who's a little girl? I'm probably older than you, you know.

　Lean began chanting magic while staring at the spectre floating near the ceiling. From each of the five fingertips that Lean held out, five arrows of light were released simultaneously.

''O light, come, shining barrage, light arrow.''
"Ugghhhhh!

　All of the shining arrows hit the Spectre, and its gaseous, wind-pierced body dissipated in a cloud of shreds. The lowly Spectre was not Lean's enemy.

''Hmph. You can only do so much as hide among people, don't act so high and mighty.''

　Seeing Garabellaum completely gone, Leffia and the Paphia sisters, who came to their senses in a huff, rushed to their father, who was sleeping on the bed.

'Father!　Do you hear me!　Father!
'Oh, you shouldn't move him. The Spectre is sapping your strength, and you shouldn't push him.

　Tokie stopped them from clinging to their father. Tokie touched King Nokia's forehead as he continued to sleep.

'Your strength is low, but your body seems to be fine. I'm sure you'll regain consciousness in a few days.
Thank God....father...!

　Contrary to the tearful sisters who were patting their chests, Yumina and the others' expressions were grim. Sakura, who already had good hearing, sensed that the noise inside the royal palace was becoming noisy. 【Mute】 magic blocks the inner sounds from leaking out, but it doesn't stop the outside sounds from being heard.

''If that Spectre is also Kanaza's summoning beast.......''
I suppose they know we're here, don't they?
He's probably on his way with a whole bunch of his boys right now, don't you think?

　We could have intercepted them here, but we were in a room. Besides, His Majesty the King, Leffia, the Paphia sisters, and even his maid of honor, Lysia, are there. It's a bit tougher to fight to keep them from getting involved.

''It can't be helped. I'll keep an eye on this place and you can do as you please. I won't let any of these girls touch you.''

　As if she read everyone's minds, Tokie spoke up. Tokie controls time and space. She can easily manipulate the warding techniques that are closely related to space. If she wanted to, she could even create a stronger ward than Fuyu's [Prison].

''You'll feel safer if your grandmother is here, right?
Then I'm not worried. Let's go and fight the demons.
Lots of footsteps coming. Be careful.

　Sakura was right, she could hear many running footsteps coming from behind the door.
　Yae and Hilda took the lead and drew their swords and swords. Else also attached the gauntlets at her waist to both hands.
　When Tokie mutters something behind her, the area around the bed is surrounded by a pale blue-white, just like the [Prison] of the winter night. It's probably a ward that protects you from attacks.

''And while we're at it, shall I make it invisible?

　 Seeing that the King of Nokia, who was supposed to be in the bed, has disappeared and the bedding has been flattened out, it's not the magic of invisibility, but the magic of illusionary vision.

'That's as good as it gets,'
Hmm. Praise doesn't get you anywhere, does it?

　Tokie's voice comes back out of nowhere to an impressed Linze.
　Then, bam!　And the door was roughly opened and several soldiers with weapons came avalanching into the room.

'First, let's move to a better place to fight!　Yae-san, Hilda-san, Else-san, we're going to have to go through the front here!
I understand.
Yes, sir!
I got it!

　Following Yumina's instructions, Yae and the others made their way to the avalanche of soldiers.
　Yae's sword and Hilda's sword are made of crystal wood, and originally have a sharpness that can easily cut through even iron. Furthermore, since they have been granted [Modelling] of Fuyu Yoru, they can be made to have their blades pulled at the will of their owners. In other words, it can choose to slash or not to slash according to the owner's wishes.
　As expected, if you slay a soldier from another country so easily, King Nokia might be in trouble later on. Having decided that, Yae and Hilda dropped their blades in order to only take away the opponent's fighting power. Of course, a bone or two might be broken.

''Guhaha!''
Ugh!
Buhehee?

　They beat down soldier after soldier that rushed into the room and the three of them danced into the hallway.
　The hallway in front of King Nokia's bedroom was secluded and there was nowhere to run. From the front of the door, to the right, soldiers were coming in from the front. To the left was the wall, and beyond that was the courtyard.
　Yae and Hilda returned fire to the soldiers coming towards them, and Else is back to back with them to face the wall behind them.

''Else-dono!''
I'm on it!　[Boost]!

　A legitimate fist thrust with a hip exploded, smashing the blocking wall with a single blow.
　The wide courtyard could be seen below through the rattling wall. A cold night breeze blew into the third floor high corridor.

''Come on, ice, icewall, icewall!

　Without a moment's pause, Linse burst out of King Nokia's bedroom and unleashed her magic to the end of the wall her sister had opened.
　A thick wall of ice appeared like a slide from the hole Else had opened, towards the courtyard. In the hands of an outstanding wizard, it is possible to transform the [Ice Wall] to some extent.
　Else slid down the slide that her sister had built while she was still standing and landed lightly in the courtyard.
　Next, Linse, Yumina, Sakura, Sue, Lean, Paula, and Lou slid down, and Hilda and Yae, who were holding the soldiers down, were the last to slide down.
　Naturally, the soldiers who had been rushing in also started running to the ice slide.
　At that moment, Yumina, who was in the courtyard, activated a single magic.

''O earth, come, earthen wall, earthen wall.''

　After destroying the ice slide that Linze had built, a wall of dirt that now jutted out of the ground covered the entire hole that Else had opened. The earth wall that stretched from the ground to the third floor tightly sealed the hole in the wall.
　Realizing that the wall could not be destroyed, the soldiers hurriedly turned back and began to run the route to the courtyard.

''There's no problem with a little rampage here.

　Lou murmured as he pulled his twin swords from his waist. From the window of the third floor corridor where he was earlier, he could see soldiers running in a hurry.
　They could see another team of soldiers running towards the courtyard. Seeing this, Yumina was suddenly struck with a strange feeling.
　Nokia's soldiers were mainly dressed in light armor, with leather armor and hand armor over light clothing. It's not just a matter of time before they are ready to go.
　Moreover, the design of the armor is something I've never seen before, and it's all black. The visor of their helmets was raised so that the wearer's face could be seen, but it was obvious that their emotions had been drained from their faces.

'The possessed ones, that is.　Lord Linse, [Vanish].
Copy that. [Light, come, banish the brilliance, vanish]

　The black knights were enveloped by the shining magic circle that appeared on the ground. However, the black armor flicked off the light particles and instantly obliterated the magic circle.

''It doesn't work!
That's no ordinary armor. A grimoire [artifact] that's also from the time of the ancient magical kingdom...
It's a magical artifact from the ancient magical kingdom. It's a magical artifact from the time of the ancient magical kingdom, the Armor of Demon Resistance. It's a magical defence mechanism. Your light magic is of no use to me.

　The one who answered Lean's analysis appeared from behind the black knight. A tall, red-haired man wearing a black-robed long robe, Choho, and several jade ornaments around his neck. He was Kanaza Notrith, the military officer of the Nokia Kingdom.

Where are the females from Brunhild? Where's the Pafia?　Answer me.

　Kanaza looked down on the girls and questioned them in an arrogant and irreverent manner. To him, a woman is an entity that kneels to him and is a tool that can be changed in any way he wants. His twisted nature manifests itself in this attitude.

"Han. You're Kanaza?　Linse, what did I tell you?　You still look like a blotchy, soggy mess that doesn't seem to be popular with women.
''Sis......... I think so too, but I don't know if I should say it that clearly........ I don't think it's a human face, you know?　That's right, I think he's got a terrible personality, but...

　The younger sister, who is wary of the older sister who belittles the person she has just met, is also quite stubborn. They were twins with similar senses.
　On the other hand, Kanaza, who was ridiculed, glared at Else and the others with a twitch in her nose muscles.

''You guys...!　Are you mocking me...?
"'Me!'　Puh-lease, it's "I am," that I am, Master Hilda!　Well, big deal!
''Yae, you're being rude. Phew, it's definitely painful, but........

　Yae tapped Hilda's shoulder with a bash. Contrary to the two people who were holding back their laughter as if they were in a jar, several blue streaks appeared on Kanaza's temples.

''Of...........!　Well done. I'm going to take you all in and I'm going to make you tell me where the Pafia is. I will give you pain and humiliation that makes you wish you were dead...!
"........You saved your life, Kanaza. If Fuyao-sama was here, I'm sure his fist would have been thrust into your face.
''Ahhh..... I'm sure you'll do it, Fuyao-san. I'd rather be pouted at for making fun of us than myself........
But I'm kind of happy about it.

　Yumina and Sakura nodded at Lou's words, and Yumina and Sakura spun the words. Noroke?
　Hearing that, the blue streaks on Kanaza's forehead increase more and more. As a military officer, he had never been mocked to this extent before.
　He has always had a low boiling point. Moreover, he had never been insulted by a woman who looked down on him on a regular basis like this. His anger was on the verge of exploding. It was like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
　The only reason he hadn't expressed his anger yet was because of his dickish pride, trying to show the margin of strength. In short, he thinks it's unbecoming of a strong man to yell at a woman who is looking down on him. It's already useless when it's in your face.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

"You look a little bald, my dear.

　.........mumbling.

"Arrest these guys!

　With Kanaza's angry command, the black knights all attacked Yumina and the others with their weapons at once.

''They're here. Well then, let's get rid of the vermin.''

　Else, who licked her dry lips with a periwinkle, closed the distance at once with a low trajectory and caught one of the black knights in the jaw with an uppercut like an inazuma.
　The blasted black knight flew through the air and fell to the ground, motionless.
　Even though the Spectre is possessed and controlled by the Spectre, its body is still human. If it takes damage, it will slow down, and if it suffers a concussion, it will be difficult for even the Spectre to move its body. For example, a rider who controls a horse would be helpless if the horse were to fall down.
　It is not that the spectre itself is moving its body, but it is commanding its owner to move its body.

".........
Are you nuts?　I wonder if summonses are like contractors.

　Else unleashes a regular fist thrust to Specter, who crawls out of the fallen knight's mouth like an ectoplasm. Of course, this is while clothed in the magic power of the light attribute.

''Ugyao!
Once you're out of your armor, it's a lot easier to take you down than it is to slime.

　Specter, pierced by Else's fist, scattered with a scream of desperation. Another black knight swung his sword from behind Else and tried to attack him. However, the foot that you were about to step out of the way did not move. Before you know it, you realize that both of your feet have been sewn to the ground with ice. It's the 【Ice Bind】 that Linse released. Unfortunately, the girls know too much about how to deal with opponents whose magic doesn't work directly on them.

''Now, sis!
Nice, Linse!

　Else's kick, which was half-turned in the air to the motionless black knight, was decided upon. It mimics the technique of the tiger-masked warrior that Fuyuya had shown me before.
　The black knight with his chest armor heavily flattened falls to the spot. Perhaps he had seen the end of Spectre earlier, but no ectoplasm came out of his armor. He is a cowardly summoned beast.

''I just can't do magic, that I'm no different from a mere soldier in this, that I am.
It's just easier not to shoot weird stuff at me like Frayes did.
It's not even playing.

　Yae, Lou, and Hilda reappear on the black knights, losing to Else.

''Earth, pierce [Uga], abyss of fools, pitfall.''
"[Come water, come clean water, waterfall]
''Come, thunder, white lotus thunder spear, thunderspear.''

　Yumina used earth magic to make the ground under the Black Knights' feet cave in and drop them into a hole. Then the cherry blossom water magic poured a large amount of water into it, and as a thud, the spear of lightning released by Leen pierced the water's surface, not the black knight.
　Attacking the main body directly might erase the damage, but if it was indirect, there was no problem. The black knights who were electrocuted in the hole stopped moving with a kutta.
　Some of them went into an ectoplasmic state and jumped out of their bodies, but they were all shot out by Su's [Shining Javelin] that was waiting for them.
　Kanaza's anger grew more and more heated as the black knights were being hit one after another.

''Zebeta!''
Ha. Here.

　As Kanaza raised his voice, a small man in a hunched blue robe appeared behind him.

''What's going on!　Isn't that armor supposed to make a soldier stronger!
The only difference is that the armor is designed to nullify light magic, which is our weakness, so our basic fighting power remains the same. To begin with, a person possessed by a Spectre has twice the muscle strength of a normal person...''
"Yea, enough with the crap!　Do something!
Ha. So, let's take number eight from The Elks' Legacy.

　At the sound of Zebeta's voice, Kanaza took out a small box-like object from his pocket. He opened the lid and picked up a sphere about four centimeters in diameter with the number '8' struck on it.

'This is it.'

　Kanaza slammed it to the ground with all his strength, smashing it to pieces. It wasn't a tantrum. This sphere was a magic tool that had been granted storage magic and needed to be shattered to remove its contents.
　As soon as the shattered pieces disappeared, a huge dragon instantly appeared there.

''Hey, this is...!
"The humanoid dragon.

　A dragon is no ordinary flesh and blood dragon. It's a dragon that has been fused with a full-body steel machine. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm not sure if it's a good idea.
　It is about 15 meters long. They have no wings, and are one of the land dragons in terms of type. It has four clawed limbs and a long tail. There were sharp spines extending from the back of its head to the tip of its tail. The large mouth is lined with rows of sharp fangs, and both eyes 《Camera Eye》 have a dull glow to them.

''Then, please excuse me.''

　An ectoplasmic substance was spat out of the hunchbacked little man's mouth. After spitting it out, the little man flopped down on the spot with his eyes white. A cloudy blur-like substance entered the body through the mouth of the mechanical dragon.
　A fan-like object attached to its back began to slowly rotate and eventually shifted to high speed rotation. It absorbs the magic element in the atmosphere and the dragon begins to move.
　The air-armored dragon raises its head and emits a vicious red light from both of its eyes and lets out a thunderous cry to the heavens.
　From its mouth, it spat out smoke like steam. Being both a living thing and a machine might have something in common with Sheska and the other Babylon Numbers.

''Which, ladies. Well then, I'll let this Zebeta take care of you.''

　The voice that came out of the mouth of the Mobile Armored Dragon along with the steam was the voice that the little man from earlier was emitting.


　''Armored Dragon.'' This is the legacy of the ancient magical kingdom that shot the 'controlling needle' that controlled the magical beasts into the brain of the land dragon and fused it with the magical machine to imbue its body with even more powerful power.
　It was the 'Anti-Flaze Fighter Dragon' created by Dr. Deborah Elks, a magician.