Chapter 22: 22
In the chaos of the year-end Royal Capital that's like pandemonium hell .
"Dammit, my steel sword got chipped . "
"Tsk, my spear too . "
The unfortunate soldiers who've encountered one of the monsters in the Royal Capital are having a hard fight .
They're the first people who got in contact with the elephant-sized cricket monster that broke through the stone pavements .
Even though they're more heavily armed than usual, the burden is too heavy for soldiers who usually fight against criminals, the tide of battle is in favor of the monster .
However, their saviors come when they've been cornered .
A group of around 30 people from the other end of the street engage the monster .
"We've come to assist you! Leave the monster to us . "
"Oh! Knight-sama, thank you very much . "
The knight captain is holding a mithril alloy lance on one hand which he thrusts to the monster's face .
Red membrane that appeared from the monster's body stopped that attack, but it didn't chip the lance like it did to the soldiers' swords .
After a brief clash, the red membrane cracks like a glass .
However the lance that's been resisted by the red membrane glides through the monster's head, missing its target .
"So this is red rope . "
The knight rides the force and runs past through the monster .
The remaining knights began to charge following their captain .
However, the monster isn't simply waiting around to be defeated .
The monster who was fighting with its forelegs and antennas before, began to ram the knights with its body .
Like an arrow shot from its bow, the monster sends the knights flying .
Half of the knights were sent flying, and several fell from their horses, but protected by their bulky armors and tempered muscles, no one dies .
In the bloodied views of the fallen knights, a town girl stands before the monster .
"Nuoo, you monster! Your opponent is me, you damn toilet insect!"
A knight mustered his strength to stand up, and threw provoking words toward the monster at the limit of his soul .
The monster turns its attention from the town girl who's right in front of it toward the knight .
"Good kid, you really are a boy . I'll lend a hand so rest for a bit now . "
The town girl tells so as if she's explaining things to a kid, and spins the broom on her hand .
Apparently the town girl intends to fight the monster .
The monster's antennas are attacking like whips, but the town girl skillfully parry to the right and left .
The monster attacks again with its forelegs but the town girl nimbly jumps, avoiding them .
"R-run . It's not an opponent that can be fought with a broom . "
"It's al~right, leave it to~ me . "
There's a recognition inhibition veil like a traveling noble would wear on the face of the town girl who's sending a v sign toward the knight .
The town girl hits the monster's head from below with the tip of the broom on her hand .
As if stroke by a hammer swung by a giant, the monster's head bends backward vigorously .
"Wha, impossible . "
Words to escape from reality leaked from the mouth of the knight who saw an unreal scene like it was from a comedy show such as hero stories .
The town girl strikes continuously for three times more to the monster's chin .
The monster crashes to a house on the side of the road, the building turns into debris and dust cloud .
"Achaa, wonder if someone will demand compensation for this . "
While the town girl is worrying such an out-of-place thing, the knights have begun to raise their bodies one after another, setting up their weapons toward the monster .
They have wounds all over their bodies, but their knights' honor won't allow them to let women and children fight .
"The knights of Shiga Kingdom are in good health even when the era has changed huh . "
The town girl crosses her arms and nods proudly .
Even while being buried under the debris, the monster's antennas attack the knights skilfully . Sparks come flying every time the knights block the antennas with their swords and shields .
"Yo~sh, here's a present from Onee-san! I rarely do this kind of service okay . "
When the town girl waves her hand with the broom, the knights' swords are wrapped in light .
If there were someone with Appraisal skill, they would see that it was the advanced force magic spell, [Divine Blade] .
The knight captain receives the attacking antennas of the monster that's under the debris .
The antenna was flicked and sparks would fly just before, but now, the antenna is cut the moment the sword touches it .
"I can't believe it!"
After seeing that, another knight stabs the monster's body with a lance .
The lance easily pierces through the monster's body like a tofu .
"Mito, what are you playing at . Our enemy has appeared y'know . "
"Ah, Ten-chan . If it's enemy, it's skewered over there see?"
<TLN: 'Ten' can mean heaven . >
A woman with long silver hair and wise gaze gets down from the roof to beside the town girl .
Her face is hidden with recognition inhibition veil like the town girl, but all the knights in this place are convinced that the face hidden behind the veil is beautiful .
" . . . Look at that . "
The silver haired points at the sky with her shirauo-like finger . <TLN: google 白魚>
Lured by that, people who look at the sky see the magic circle that's spread in the sky of the Royal Capital .
"Uwah, that's dangerous . "
"The floating violet hair over there is probably the mastermind behind this disturbance . Let's get rid of it quickly . "
The silver-haired woman points at the center of the magic circle, but the knights aren't seeing anyone there .
However, it seems the town girl called Mito is able to see it .
"Floating in the air huh . I guess it's really a demon lord candidate?"
"Dunno, we'll know if it's a friend or foe if we just fight . If it's a demon or a demon lord, simply destroy it . "
The silver haired woman who said some dangerous words holds a brusque great sword with one hand, and then jumped to the roof from the road, going away .
"W-wait a minute~"
The town girl puts her broom on her armpit, holds the hem of her long skirts with both hands and chases after the woman .
◇
"Your Majesty, tonight the monsters are reported to appear on more than seven locations . "
The Prime Minister tells the report from the messenger .
Considering the most was two monsters up until now, it's probably okay to deem this abnormal .
"Is that so . . . . "
After a rock-like silent elapses for a moment, the king declares his decision .
"Generals, notify every knight order to prepare for sortie . Put them in stand by without exception, do not let them sortie in a hurry because of their desire for meritorious deeds . "
"""At your will . """
The generals send messengers to the transmission towers .
The transmission towers are used to contact the knight garrison outside the outer wall by using light magic .
"Leader of Royal Court Magicians, let Shiga 33 Wands to search for enemies in the whole Royal Capital . See that they know it comes from me, and to every transmission towers, without exception . "
"At your will . . . . However, as I understand, our duty as Shiga 33 Wands is to be the greatest weapon of the kingdom . His Majesty--"
In a serious tone, the king interrupts the royal court magician leader who's protesting .
"Leader of Royal Court Magicians, this is a royal order . "
" . . . . We will undertake the royal order . "
The royal court magician falls prostrate with an unpleasant face, he looks to be the very picture of someone who's going to disobey .
The prime minister who has sharply seen through it, follows up .
"Leader of Royal Court Magicians, the enemy befitting of your role as the weapon has yet to appear . The one that lurks behind this matter is most likely--"
The prime minister is leading Royal Court Magician Leader who's holding his breath, and then he continues with a clear face .
"A greater demon, or perhaps . . . . "
Royal Court Magician Leader lifts his head and mutters as if he's delirious .
"I will carry out Your Majesty's order with utmost importance!"
Royal Court Magician Leader raises the national treasure handed down by the Ancient King [Holy Wand Ophalian] overhead and then leaves gallantly .
He never notices the cold gazes from the surrounding .
When the messenger reports the 10th appearance of the monster, the king stands up from his throne .
"Prime Minister, I'm going to use 『Communique Space』 to order the citizens to evacuate . "
"At your will . "
The prime minister orders the chamberlains and the maids to start activating the [Communique Space] made by Ancient King Yamato, and the preparation for the king's ritual .
◇
『My dear people--』
The figure of the king is projected in the royal capital's air, overlapping the eerie magic circle . His voice comes from every transmission towers in the royal capital .
As far as the royal capital's people can remember, this function has never been used except for new year congratulatory and coronation ceremonies .
『Demons, to our Royal Capital--』
However, there are only a few people who look up at the figure of the king projected in the sky .
The people of the royal capital are desperately running away from the monsters that appeared on every place in the royal capital right before this broadcast .
It seems the king's broadcast for evacuating is slightly too late . . . .
◇
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