Reincarnated as a dragon’s egg ～Lets aim to be the strongest～ - Chapter 678

678 – A Certain Girl and the State of the Holy City (side: Miria)
Four days have passed since Jornes’ attack. Meltia-san and I have gathered survivors at Saint Lilixira’s residence, the Ridom Palace by working with the warrior priests who were stationed here.

Under normal circumstances, this palace would be considered too hallowed for ordinary people to tread, but hardly any of the clergy were of a mind to protest.

“…I was hoping help would have come by now.”

Meltia-san mumbles as we walk through a passage.

“They might not be able to get inside. The barrier didn’t budge at all when the people from the northern district cathedral tried to break out.”

Two days ago, a separate group tried to tear a hole in Jornes’ [Sanctuary]. But, neither blade nor magic scratched it, and the constant attacks from the monsters resulted in disaster. A messenger came to tell us last night.

“We might be at our limit… We’re steadily losing fighters, and the monsters have had their numbers replenished thanks to the second [Nirvana] yesterday. The cathedral group has got to be on the verge of breaking too, since they lost so many fighters. We’re not going to last much longer at this rate.”

As Meltia-san says, there’s no telling how many more days we can survive. We’re cooperating with the warrior priests to secure the perimeter, but we keep losing fighters, which then increases the burden on those still alive. We’ll need to return to the front soon too.

To make matters worse, there’s concern over the idea the monsters produced by the second [Nirvana] are significantly stronger than the first.

It’s generally thought that strength of the monsters produced by [Nirvana] depends on the level the dead had in life, since the monsters are clearly weak for something produced by Jornes.

Moreover, there’s a clear variation in strength with the monsters. All of them are stronger than an ordinary person, so it’s not as though the level is perfectly conserved, but it’s almost certain it has an influence.

The black rain that Jornes made fall at the start apparently wasn’t very deadly outside of the city centre. People felt sick the moment it touched them, so anyone with a degree of magic resistance was able to take refuge.

In other words, most of the dead bodies turned by the first [Nirvana] were ordinary low-level citizens. However, the second [Nirvana] yesterday was different. Those incapable of fighting have been hiding inside, so most of the dead bodies the second time belonged to the warrior priests who died fighting in the streets.

If the monsters’ strength depends on their level in life, then those made by the second [Nirvana] are far stronger. Most people are also saying the number of strong individuals has increased since yesterday.

“That reminds me, is Bishop Dogen okay? He’s not doing something unnecessary again, is he?”

“…Don’t worry. He’s still tied up and locked away where he won’t bother anyone”

I smile wryly at Meltia-san’s answer.

Bishop Dogen is a bishop with jurisdiction over one of the parishes of the Holy City. I had high hopes for him, since he was supposedly fairly high level, but then it turned out he was secretly thinking that ‘we should all submit to Jornes-sama, so our souls can be saved through reincarnation’. He was planing on taking action when he saw an opportunity, but some of his subordinates betrayed him and told his plan to Meltia-san and me.

We caught him by surprise and restrained his whole faction, but afterwards he would talk to the refugees and fan their anxiety to try and bring them to his way of thinking, so we had to hide him away out of sight.

“We should have just killed the bastard. We can’t afford to keep feeding him. We should kick him out so he can die like he wants.”

“He’s just confused. With all that’s happened, it can’t be helped…”

As I speak, a man comes running towards us from the end of the passage. He’s wearing a white robe, and has dark skin.

He’s Sirius, the leader of the warrior priests here. He was apparently the commanding officer of a particularly powerful group, and he’s the strongest person here.

“Meltia-dono, Miria-dono, I have bad news. The cathedral group were destroyed by a particularly dangerous big one. It probably came from the second [Nirvana]. It’s only a matter of time before this place falls too.”

“No…”

I was worried about the enemy getting stronger. But I didn’t think it would make this much difference.

“We can’t keep waiting for help to come. I’ve already talked it over with a few people, but I’m seriously thinking of trying to kill Jornes-sama.”

“No, you can’t! She’s able to wield such powerful magic…!”

“I understand. But, at the rate this is going, we’ll just be ripped apart by the monsters. Besides, Jornes-sama is hardly moving at all. There must be some reason she can’t. It could be a weakness we can exploit.”

I don’t agree with Sirius-san’s assessment. During these four days, the only time Jornes took action when she used [Nirvana] a second time. I’m convinced it’s not that she can’t fight, but that she’s choosing not to.

“At any rate, we have too little information on her. I’ll attack to see how she responds. I have a special bow skill, that’s good at piercing through defence. Even if it doesn’t kill her, it should get her to respond. I’d like you two to join in the strategy meeting.”

I suspect he wants us to join in on more than just the meeting.

“…Hmm. We’re only going to die at this rate, so I agree. Miria, what about you…?”

Meltia-san says gravely, then looks at me. If I give my approval here, it’s almost certain I’ll be pulled into joining the operation. That’s the meaning behind Meltia-san’s look.

“If Meltia-san agrees, then I agree too.”

I’m not going to send Meltia-san off to her death while I stay behind. In the first place she’s only here because I dragged her along.

“I thought you were against attacking Jornes…”

Meltia-san says with a troubled expression. I leave her behind and follow Sirius-san.

“Let’s go. The others are already gathered.”

I don’t like the idea of provoking an enemy who is content to watch from the sidelines, but it’s also true we have no hope otherwise.