Volume 6 Chapter 42 One-Night Fort
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The moment Ms. Claudel gave the order, the dimensional space invasion operation began.
First, Yohaku-sama would jump us—Yasura-sama, Big Sister Puruun, and me—into the other dimension, and while we held the Griffons that appeared, Ms. Catherine and Bear would join in, shuttling personnel and supplies through via piston transport. If we could hold the Griffons off until our formation was ready, victory was ours. If not, we’d have to regroup.
”Now then, Karin. Ms. Puruun. Yasura-sama—we are departing, so do hold on tightly.” Yohaku-sama spoke, and in the next instant our bodies drifted through pitch-black space. A moment later—whoosh!—our vision opened up.
”I shall now create an Emergency Escape Gate and a magical beacon for Ms. Catherine and the others. If you three could keep watch.” Yohaku-sama immediately set to work.
”Marvellous, Yohaku-sama. As expected of the highest-ranking Pope in the Demon Clan.”
Big Sister Puruun watched, thoroughly impressed.
”No time to be impressed, Big Sister Puruun.”
”Oh! They’ve come already, have they? Faster than last time. The enemy learns, it seems.”
Yasura-sama looked perfectly at ease. Was she really okay?
GYYAAAAAA—! A deafening roar, and a Griffon poked its head from behind the rocks. Wow. Bigger than I’d imagined. It spotted us and charged straight in.
”Hmph. I’m not just standing around.”
Big Sister Puruun shot out like the wind and planted herself in front of it.
”Oh, Minister. Like the wind itself… Very well, then I shall also—Fireball!!”
Yasura-sama transformed into a great ball of fire and barreled straight into the Griffon before me.
Incredible power. The thing was truly grilled… but.
”Aah—Yasura-sama. You’re stark naked again!”
Just like last time. Yasura-sama’s full-power magic attack had burned away even her clothes. I hurried over and threw a towel I’d had wrapped at my waist over her. She herself had a Shield on her skin, so she wasn’t burned, but honestly, it was no exaggeration to say my accompanying them from the start was for exactly this role.
But then—a cry that might have been another Griffon came from the opposite direction.
Seriously. How many of them are there!?
”Minister Puruun. Yasura-sama. Sorry for the delay!”
Several Beastfolk soldiers approached. The first wave of reinforcements had arrived.
”Good work. Now then—Minister Puruun and I will handle the Griffons, so you lot put everything into setting up the fort!” Big Sister Puruun issued crisp orders.
”But, um… wouldn’t it be better if we all fought together until there’s more of us?”
”Aye, it’ll be fine. One of them critters, I can deal with even if it costs me my clothes. Y’all best hurry and secure that base.”
The soldiers, bewildered by this half-naked young Queen who wore only a towel slung from her neck, set to work on the base despite themselves. Yohaku-sama, too, had finished setting up the Emergency Escape Gate and magical beacon and joined the piston transport.
At this rate, as time passed, we’d have the advantage.
But even after taking one Griffon down, another appeared. Where were they all hiding? Even Yasura-sama was getting worn out. The base—oh. The outer fence was nearly done. Once that was up, we could take turns resting. It felt just like building a one-night fort.
”Karin. Can you still move?”
”Yes, Big Sister. I’m managing. But Yasura-sama is really struggling.”
”Once the outer fence is up, I’ll have the soldiers join in. Just hold out a little longer!”
Yasura-sama said through ragged breaths.
”Karin. Minister. Looks like they’re comin’ from behind them rocks…”
”Ugh! There’s no end to this!”
A Griffon emerged from behind the rocks—
No way. Why were there three of them…?
***
”Karin, forget the towel! You join the fight too!”
Yasura-sama turned into a fireball and charged at the Griffon.
She was right. I had to get through this now. Yasura-sama might look young, but she was quite old, and there was nothing shameful about being naked. I told myself that and raised my greatsword.
Big Sister Puruun cut in front of the charging Griffon, killing its momentum. While it staggered, she feinted at its feet to draw its attention toward me—and in that opening, Yasura-sama as a fireball would charge from behind—
Wait. Where was Yasura-sama? Ah—!? She was on the ground!
”Yasura-sama—!”
I rushed over. Big Sister Puruun blocked the Griffon’s pursuit.
”…Ah, Karin. Think I’ve hit my limit… Can’t knead Mana no more.”
”Karin! Take Yasura-sama inside the fence to rest immediately. If need be, an Emergency Escape is fine. Then get the backup soldiers out there!”
”Got it!”
I scooped Yasura-sama into a princess carry and headed for the base.
But—
Right. Three Griffons, remember? There was still one left. It blocked my path, and I froze. Big Sister Puruun was locked down against another one—couldn’t move.
What now? More to the point, that thing was charging fast. Could I dodge it carrying Yasura-sama? No choice—I had to. I steeled myself, eyes wide, trying to read its movements. The Griffon closed in… God!
The next instant—BOOM! A tremendous tremor shook the earth, and the Griffon that had been charging at us pitched forward like someone had swept its legs, crashing into the ground.
”Huh? What happened?”
Behind the fallen Griffon—Bear!?
He drove his greatsword through the downed Griffon for good measure, then ambled over.
”Yo, shorty. You good?”
”Bear—that was you?”
”Yeah. Transport’s manageable enough for Lady Catherine, so she sent me to check on things. And there you were, in deep shit. I wouldn’t’ve minded if you’d been squashed flat, but… you were carryin’ a mage. Saving a mage from Zerlant’s worth serious points, innit? Might even get a reward.”
”Ugh. That’s so irritating to hear. But… thanks. You saved me.”
”Hearing you say that makes my back itch. Just get the mage somewhere to rest, yeah? Chicken-brained bastards like these, I can handle solo.”
The base was nearly complete now—outer fence done, decent number of soldiers gathered.
”Yohaku-sama. How’s it going? Big Sister Puruun wants to know if you can send reinforcements. Also—Yasura-sama has collapsed.”
”Oh my. She’s completely spent. For her age, running about stark naked was rather reckless.”
Yohaku-sama instructed nearby soldiers to split into groups for fortification and Griffon countermeasures, then checked on Yasura-sama.
”Hmph… A beautiful young queen, bare as the day she was born… oughta boost the soldiers’ morale right up. But… might’ve overdone it a tad.”
”Indeed—it’s dangerous for you to remain here. I really must insist you return for now.”
”I s’pose. But even once this here fort’s done, we still gotta break through them Griffons and take out the Gargoyles up above. What’ll y’all do without me?”
”We’ll deal with that once the base is complete. In any case—please, you really must stop pushing yourself!”
”Don’t go talkin’ age. You ain’t much younger yourself!”
Just then, Ms. Catherine teleported in with additional soldiers, and she took Yasura-sama straight back with her.
Notes:
• Claudel – The Grand Chancellor is a strategic Prime Minister who initiates the invasion operation while managing technical logistics for magical operations, including finding ways to penetrate the glacier. Despite overseeing the offensive, they maintain a protective relationship with Karin, expressing deep concern for her safety.
• Catherine – Debuting in Volume 3, Chapter 12, this highly skilled ninja and expert in simplified Gates is a loyal shinobi borrowed from Emperor Balmstra for the operation. Strategic and combat-savvy, she runs an underworld informant network, providing crucial intel to rescue Duke Suicelma and foil the spirit clan’s schemes, making her indispensable to the protagonists.
• Puruun – A high-ranking figure who acts as a supreme commander for the operation, known as Big Sister.
• Yasura – The Eldest of the Elf Clan and a member of the Three Elders, they appear as a young girl but speak with an elderly, rural speech pattern, blending aristocratic, superior air with curmudgeonly banter. Armed with ancient knowledge of Elven legends and the World Tree, they analyze ambient Mana flows for geographic navigation and direct exploration near the glacier, providing magical projectile cover.
• Yohaku – An elegant yet whimsical member of the Demon Clan and one of the Three Elders, she desires to travel the world. Gifted with high magical capability, she is tasked with transporting personnel and supplies. She utilizes a provisional gate to teleport her group while tracking coordinates, using specialized spatial warp magic restricted to a four-target limit.
• Bear – A Beastfolk simplified Gate user who was once an enemy of the Spirit Clan and involved in a past Gate-hijacking incident.
• Karin – A vocal young human woman of the Spirit Clan with a once-crushed arm and an uncanny immunity to dense mana. Serving as an assistant caring for the Three Elders, she is deeply committed to their long-cherished wish. Though brave in peril, she worries intensely for her mother and Syu, and always lands at the bottom of the pile during warp teleportation.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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