For chat & news, join Kirara's Discord.
Buy more points to read ahead!
Become a lifetime reader to read all current and upcoming series, forever.
Chapter 39
After returning to the Black-winged knights’ barracks, we each prepared for the rescue operation under Gazelle’s orders. Once the preparations for the Knights and myself were complete, I returned to my room inside the barracks. Although we all shared the same room, my roommate had yet to return. Normally, I would need to get some rest to depart before dawn tomorrow. However, I simply couldn’t fall asleep at the moment.
“Why is this happening? This kind of development never occurred in the game…!”
Both cities of Wazlow and Menonu appeared in the game “Change the World”. They were also the stage for the “Black-winged Knights Destruction Event”.
“Why…? It’s too early for the Annihilation Event. Why are the monster hordes attacking at this timing?” muttering to myself, I paced restlessly around the room. If my roommate saw me like this, they would surely worry. Nevertheless, I couldn’t stay still. Various thoughts raced around in my head.
During the destruction event, Menonu City was the first city attacked by a massive horde of monsters, causing the Black-winged knights to engage in a defensive battle while evacuating the citizens. Then, the protagonist ran to the nearby metropolis of Wazlow, seeking help from the stationed White-winged knights. However, by the time the White-winged knights arrived, it was already too late. The city had been destroyed, and most of the members of the Black-winged knights had lost their lives as a result.
“Is it because of me…? Did I cause this by accelerating the development of the potion event?”
By accelerating the potion development event, I had brought various impacts on Ritzheim Magic Kingdom. It had a positive impact, but in some ways, it resulted in decisively changing the story of “Change the World”. The protagonist of “Change the World” should have been summoned to this world a long time ago. However, due to the influence of potion development, the attempt to summon the protagonist, the savior from another world, disappeared without a trace.
Does this mean that the monster attacks on Menonu City are related to the protagonist not being summoned? Is it my fault that monsters are attacking Menueu City?’ Such thoughts passed through my mind, and the sound of my heart pounding loudly in my ears.
“I can’t afford to feel depressed. If this battle means the destruction event is coming sooner, I have to think about what I can do. I have prepared Elixirs, so I can take them with me. Is there anything else, anything at all?”
‘As far as fighting power goes, the three knight orders of the Yellow-winged, Black-winged, and White-winged knights are gathering in Menonu City, under conditions much better than the original game event. However, the problem is the Yellow-winged knights. Some of the members of the Yellow-winged knights who is leading the way may suffer casualties.
After the joint knight meeting is over, I will go to Ingrid Perfume, the perfumery in the castle town, and get all the elixirs they made for the sake of the Yellow-winged and Black-winged members. There are only twelve bottles, but in past experiments, it was found that even a small amount of elixir dissolved in water had a great healing effect, much more than potions. Even with this number, it should be a significant help.
And then there’s my cursed sword. I can’t afford to be stingy this time. It’s time to fight regardless of the consequences.’
For once, we are not in a situation where we can afford to be stingy.
It’s time to fight like hell.
“Damn it. Should I have made more Elixirs in advance…? No, that would be putting the cart before the horse,” I cursed and looked upward. However, since I was currently indoors, all I could see was the wood-grain ceiling.
‘I can’t see anything… If, by any chance, Gazelle or Felix were injured in this battle. I don’t want to think about it, but if by some chance those two were to die… I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.’
◇◇◇
The clear blue sky was refreshing, and the air was incredibly fresh. If it weren’t for a day like this, I would have undoubtedly felt cheerful. However, as we approached our destination, the smell of rust mixed with the air. The smell grew stronger as we were nearing the city’s walls.
The members of the Black-winged knights surrounding me tightened their faces and filled them with determination. In contrast, the young members of the White-winged knights following the Black-winged knights began to show fear on their faces.
“Why are we the ones providing backup… damn it,” one of them muttered.
“Hey, don’t say that too loud! This is an imperial edict!” one young man even voiced his thoughts out loud, not just through his facial expression.
But, to be honest, I could understand his feelings. From what I could see, he was a young man of the same age as me. Even I wouldn’t have volunteered for a rescue mission if it weren’t for my purpose.
‘But as for me, I had to go. Since… the cause of this monster attack might have been due to me tampering with the game’s storyline.’
We left the royal capital early in the morning and galloped our horses continuously until we finally saw the city walls. Not only the walls but also the corpses of horses and monsters scattered on the ground were visible around us. The source of the strong smell of blood was undoubtedly from them. I wrinkled my nose and held my breath while glancing at the group of corpses as they passed by.
I let out a sigh of relief when I realized there were no human corpses among them. As we approached the gate of the city wall, the number of corpses became even more conspicuous. Menonu City is a large city surrounded by a circular city wall with six gates. The height of the wall was about eight meters. Around the wall, there were the bodies of monsters such as Mad Bears, Skolls, and Spotted Deers.
I was a bit surprised to see a Red Deer[1]-like monster with bright red fur among the corpses. It was the same one that appeared in “Change the World,” but for it to appear here means…
“We, the White-winged knights and the Black-winged knights, have been appointed to assist in the relief of Menonu City by His Majesty’s decree! Open the city gate!” the vice-commander of the White-winged knights shouted to the other side of the gate.
Then, after exchanging words with the people on the other side of the gate a couple of times, the gate slowly opened. The gate was lifted, and we entered Menonu City. However, the moment we entered, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
There were members of Yellow-winged knights and the Menonu City’s vigilante group who had gone ahead previously, were all badly injured. Their arms and faces were wrapped in bandages, and blood was oozing out of them. Moreover, there were soldiers sitting against the buildings or lying on the ground, barely receiving any medical attention for their injuries. Gazelle and Leon, who were at the forefront, were seen frowning at the sight.
Then, a familiar figure was seen from the depths of the city. It was Ortolan, the commander of the Yellow-winged knights. Although he did not have any major wounds, his face and hands were covered in abrasions.
Gazelle and Leon instructed their members to take their horses to the stable and to confirm the situation of the city’s defense respectively. Felix and the vice-commander along with other members of the White-winged knights began to give instructions accordingly. As I had to report something from the scene earlier, I left my unit and walked to Gazelle.
“Ortolan, I’m glad you’re safe. What’s the situation?”
“To be honest, it’s pretty bad. When we arrived, the south gate was almost breached. And as soon as we concentrated our members on the south gate, they started attacking the west gate.”
“What? That sounds like they were anticipating our movements. I’ve never heard of monsters doing such a thing…” Leon voiced his suspicion at Ortolan’s words.
Upon hearing this, Ortolan clicked his tongue irritably, “I’ve never heard of that kind of thing either. But they did it in reality. Or are you suggesting that we’re lying?”
“That’s not it. It’s just that it’s too unprecedented.”
“Hey, both of you, cut it out.” Despite Gazelle’s attempt to mediate, Leon and Captain Ortolan glared at each other.
It took tremendous courage to speak up to the two at the center of this atmosphere, but I couldn’t just ignore them. “Leon, Gazelle. Can I talk to you for a bit?”
“Takumi?”
“Takumi, is something wrong?” Gazelle turned around, surprised, and Leon stepped closer to us. “Hey, hey, you’re too close.”
“On the way here, there was a red deer in the midst of a group of monsters. You might have seen it too, but since it wasn’t mentioned in the messenger’s report, I thought I should report it just in case.”
“….Red Deer?”
Footnote
[1] There’s a difference between Spotted Deer and Red Deer here. Spotted deer has a slightly smaller frame, and have spotty dark-brown to reddish-brown coat. While, Red deer, has a bright-reddish coat with large antlers.