Her expression became cloudy as her emerald eyes trembled.
Her head drooped as she brought her hand to her chest. One of the
adventurers assigned to her, practically a little brother at this point, was caught
up in a battle between Familias. And now he'd been forced into a War Game in
which it wasn't uncommon for participants to die. Needles pierced her heart just
by visualizing the boy's innocent smile—would she never see it again?
If she could convince him to run away or maybe assist him, maybe she
wouldn't be in this much pain.
"But I'm an employee of the Guild…I can't interfere in any way."
However, the situation had progressed so far that one half-elf couldn't have
any influence at all. Eina knew that she was powerless in the face of the forces at
work.
That fact had soaked in completely. The tone in Eina's voice bordered on
despair. She felt utterly useless.
"We
____
ll, you know…You could root for him?"
Misha could tell that her friend was upset and tried to cheer her up.
Eina looked up at her.
"Root…?"
"Yep. 'Go for it!' and stuff like that? I'm sure that if he had your support,
he'd do the best he could to win, right?"
Eina looked at Misha's childish smile for a few moments.
Finally, she stood up and walked over to the window at the end of the office.
The moon shone brightly down on her as she looked up at the night sky.
"…Go for it."
Eina whispered to the moonlight.
"Ahh, how patient must I be…"
The deity's eyes slowly closed in a dark room illuminated by moonlight.
Sitting on an ornate throne made of gold, Apollo brought a glass of wine to
his lips.
The manor that he called home was tranquil, a good distance away from the
noisy areas of the city. Tonight, it was much quieter than usual. The bulk of his
Familia had already left to prepare the castle ruins that would become their
battlefield. As it was their role in this battle to defend it, Apollo Familia had a lot
of work to do.
If his only goal was to steal Bell away from Hestia, it would've been easy
enough to continue their assault and capture him even without the cooperation of
Soma Familia. If he had done so, the boy would already be his.
However, Apollo was partial to the idea of a War Game.
There was a very clear difference between a conflict fought on the streets and
the War Game. Crushing a foe in battle to obtain an objective left everyone
involved with a sour taste in their mouths. On the other hand, should he obtain
his prize by following a set of rules, then he would be able to bask in the glory of
victory and enjoy the spoils. It was, after all, a game. He would not allow the
Guild or any other group to profit from this situation. With victory, he would
gain the authority to take the follower of the enemy god—if Hestia refused to
perform a Conversion, it was impossible to make Bell his own both in name and
reality.
Above all, the other gods would not be satisfied by such a quick turn of
events. Apollo had gathered the support of many gods who were starving for
some "entertainment" in order to capture Bell. He owed them the show they
were dying to see.
He also wanted some amusement.
A war of gods fought by mortals. By far the most delicious flavor of Gekai, it
was enjoyed by all gods.
There was no greater excitement than to be able to move their followers like
pieces on a board game without any kind of interference.
Those were Apollo's true feelings—the influence of his own divinity.
His wants and desires swirling within him, the god wearing a crown of
laurels looked toward the sky.
"Oh, my beloved Bell Cranell…will there ever come a day I can embrace you
in my own arms?"
He wasn't sure when he first knew of the boy—most likely when the rumors
of a new record holder came to light. Apollo had a habit of indulging in
everything new and fresh. Picturing the events that would soon unfold brought
him great joy. His very body shook with anticipation.
—Ahh, Bell!
—No, my Belly-boy!
—You won't get away!
He could see the boy now, a tear in his eye. But something else was swelling
up within him. This heat surging through his chest was proof of his love.
Apollo's craving for the boy was on the verge of driving him insane. His thin,
compact build and rabbitlike features with white hair and young, red eyes that
were untainted by the truths of this world—everything.
Apollo's cheeks flushed like those of a drunken man.
"…If our love is to grow, Hestia, you will only get in the way. Once he is
mine, I will drive you out of this city—no, out of Gekai entirely."
Coming back to reality, Apollo opened his eyes and looked up at the stars.
The moonlight reflected off his suddenly serious eyes as his lips curled
upward.
"I'm counting on you, my cute little children…"
A low laugh resonated from his room beneath the calming moonbeams.
Click. A few moments later, both hands of his clock joined him in looking
skyward.
The time drew near.
The city was filled with a morning chill just before sunrise.
The streets were lined with silent and motionless shops. Shutters were closed
over windows and doors; it was unbelievable how lifeless the city seemed. The
city wall cast a tall shadow over the buildings, the streets covered in shade.
Two figures ran quickly through East Main Street toward the brightening
horizon through the unnaturally quiet morning air.
"You have to hurry, Bell! The caravan's about to leave!"
"Right behind you!"
Hestia and Bell ran through what was left of the morning fog. Their
destination was the East Gate. They kept talking as they ran.
"They already know you're coming. There's a spot for you on one of their
horse-drawn carts. Get off at a town called Agris, it's pretty close to the old
castle! Guild employees will give you instructions from there, so pay attention!"
"Will do!"
The War Game would start the day after tomorrow.
Bell had finished training with Aiz and Tiona and had received a Status
update from Hestia. Now all that was left was to travel to the battlefield. It
would take a day to get there, so arrangements had been made for Bell to travel
with the caravan of merchants for most of the trip.
He was dressed in light but strong traveler's clothes with a cloak around his
shoulders. Everything else he needed was in a bag over his shoulder, the
drawstring held tight in his grasp.
"Everyone else is already there, so meet up with them in town! Also, here's
your travel permit issued by the Guild—show it to the gatekeepers and the leader
of the caravan!"
Orario was set up so that it was relatively easy to enter the city but
extraordinarily difficult to exit. An individual needed several documents
approved by the Guild before they were allowed to pass. Bell took the signed
sheets of paper identifying him as a War Game participant from Hestia and said
a quick "Thank you."
At last, they arrived at the heavily fortified East Gate. Somehow, it looked a
lot smaller to Bell now than it did when he'd passed through a few months ago.
Members of the caravan were already here, talking excitedly amongst
themselves. Bell and Hestia worked their way through lines of horse-drawn carts
and large storage containers on wheels toward the head of the caravan before
stopping in front of the first gate.
"…I'll be waiting right here for your glorious return."
"…See you then, Goddess!"
Hestia smiled at him. Bell smiled back.
That's when Hestia jumped onto his chest, wrapped her arms around him, and
squeezed with all her might. Bell's body tensed out of embarrassment, but he
didn't try to escape. He couldn't. Hestia ignored all the commotion around them
and enjoyed the warmth emanating from his chest as long as she could. Bell's
face turned beet red as her arms worked higher, going above his shoulders and
around his neck as she started to pull back. Meeting his gaze, she opened her
mouth into a bright, gentle smile as she said, "Now go."
Bell took a step back, a shy smile on his face. Wiping his hot cheeks with his
free hand, the boy turned and ran to the front of the caravan. "Wait for me!" he
yelled to the front and took off into the maze of carts. The caravan leader was
talking with one of the gatekeepers. Both looked up as the boy approached,
holding out his paperwork for them to see.
The gatekeeper was an adventurer—probably someone who had accepted an
assignment from the Guild. Two Guild employees emerged from the gate office
from behind him and took Bell's paperwork. Reading it over, they nodded to
each other. The caravan leader pointed to a cart in the line and told Bell to take a
seat.
The horse-drawn cart that Bell climbed into was more spacious than he
thought. It had a roof as well as windows on each side. A few people—some
travelers, merchants, and a hired guard—were already on board. Each of them
had a very distinct look about him or her, a few in light armor and others in
comfortable clothes.
"…Hey, you there. Aren't you the Little Rookie from Hestia Familia?"
"Ah, yeah, that's me."
"Thought so! On your way to the War Game, huh? Give 'em hell!"
Bell took a seat at the back corner of the cart next to a rather friendly animal
person who immediately recognized him and started a conversation. The smiling
young man had the aura of a drifter and a bushy tail wagging cheerfully behind
him. The tension in the cart dissipated as the other passengers came over to
break the ice.
"Those guys are rough, but give it your best shot!" "This is our tradition, we
have some snacks before every trip!" "How 'bout this?!"
Each of them came over with handfuls of nougat, dried fruit, and tarts.
Surrounded by kind and welcoming people, Bell couldn't help but smile, nod his
head, and manage to say, "Th-thank you…" He didn't really like sweet foods but
he didn't want to reject their goodwill and decided to eat everything he was
offered.
The cart lurched beneath him as it started to move forward.
The cries of many horses cut through the morning air. The East Gate was
open; the caravan started to move.
Bell felt every bump in the road through his wooden seat when suddenly—
"—Bell!"
He heard someone call his name.
He leaned over to look out the window and saw Syr running right beside the
cart.
"Syr?! What are you doing? It's dangerous!"
Bell lifted the window open and called out to her.
She was out of uniform, wearing a cape over her usual clothes and running as
hard as she could to keep up with the cart. She thrust her right hand toward the
window.
"Take this…!"
"Huh?"
Something golden glinted from within her outstretched hand. Bell reached
outside out of reflex.
She gave him an amulet. It was in the shape of a golden teardrop, a jewel in
its center. It had to be an accessory that granted the wearer some kind of power.
Bell raised his eyes from the item in his hand to look at Syr.
"It was a thank-you gift to the bar from an adventurer a while ago…A goodluck charm!"
Bell's eyes shot open as he listened to her explanation.
"Do your best! And please come back to our bar!"
The cart picked up speed and Syr couldn't stay beside it, almost tripping a
few times.
"I-I'll have a lunch ready for you! I'll be waiting!"
The girl's cheeks blushed a light pink. Bell couldn't help but smile.
He leaned out the window and waved good-bye as she fell farther and farther
behind. She came to a stop, put her hands together in front of her chest, and
watched the cart disappear through the East Gate.
"…"
Bell returned to his seat and looked again at the shining amulet in his hand.
Sliding the thin chain around his neck, he tucked the amulet under his shirt.
—Win.
—Win and come back.
The faces of everyone he'd met in Orario flooded his mind as he swore to see
them again. Squeezing the amulet with his right hand through his shirt, the boy
suddenly realized he was smiling.
He looked outside the window as he felt every bump in the road shake his
seat.
The sun was just peeking over the mountains in the distance.
Bell shielded his eyes from the bright morning light.
The ruins of Shreme Castle.
Standing in a field void of trees or hills, the castle had been built in ancient
times as the first line of defense. Completed before Babel Tower served as a
"lid" over the Dungeon, it was used to stop the advance of monsters that
emerged from the hole to attack nearby towns and villages. Many castles just
like this one were built relatively close to Orario for just this reason. Most of
them had been destroyed or collapsed after centuries of neglect, but Shreme was
used as a staging point by the kingdom of Rakia in the war almost one thousand
years ago. Several of its main towers were damaged, but the castle's main wall
and other defenses were very much intact. Now it had been selected to host the
War Game.
The outer wall stood an impressive ten meders high, even higher in the areas
where the towers once stood. The wall itself was more than thick enough to
withstand the strongest of attacks—perhaps with the exception of a powerful
blast of magical energy. Even top-class adventurers would have difficulty
cracking it. The castle was located in an open area and very easy to attack. This
wall was the main reason it had lasted so long.
"Get some clay over here. Reinforce everything that's fixable."
Night had already fallen, the moon shining brightly overhead. Apollo Familia
was hard at work making their final preparations for the War Game that would
begin in a few short hours.
One hundred ten of them had arrived three days ago and had been working
around the clock to make sure the castle was ready. That was almost all of their
Familia. Working in groups, they had made repairs to the castle itself as well as
set up hidden stores of spare weapons and items in various places inside the
structure.
"Humph, pointless…Why bother?"
The fortress's main tower stood above the wreckage of the other towers in the
very middle of the castle. Hyacinthus watched the other members of his Familia
work from the top floor.
The time limit for the Castle Siege War Game had been set at three days.
Apollo Familia would win if either he was alive after that time or if the enemy
general—without a doubt, Bell Cranell—was defeated in combat.
It was their role as the defender to make sure the castle was ready, but it was
obvious that they could win without all this fuss. Hyacinthus had heard that the
enemy ranks had increased as of late, but they would face no more than five
combatants. What point was there in having more than one hundred warriors
repair a castle when they could crush their enemy outright in a head-to-head
battle?
"Lord Apollo, why? Why a castle siege…?"
Hyacinthus was very confident that he could win without all of these
favorable conditions. Did his god not trust him and the rest of the Familia? The
man was feeling underappreciated, as though Apollo had forgotten what he was
capable of.
The disgruntled man walked away from the window and took a seat on the
throne at the back of the room. The throne itself had been there when Apollo
Familia first arrived, but they had made a few modifications. Very comfortable,
the back of the ornate chair was an enlarged version of the Familia emblem, a
burning sun with a bow and arrow. The rest of the room was decorated with
artwork and had been cleaned spotless because Hyacinthus had ordered everyone
under his command to make the space pleasing to the eye.
Leaning back on his throne, Hyacinthus begrudgingly laughed through his
nose.
"What a boring game…"
"—Yeah, Hyacinthus would say something like that…"
The short-haired woman, Daphne, grumbled to herself as she looked up at the
throne room from her post on top of the solid castle wall.
Rakia had made a few strange modifications when they occupied the castle.
Their god must have really enjoyed showing off because the main tower had
many complex designs built onto its surface. It had a luxurious feel to it despite
being the castle's last line of defense. Seeing her own Familia's emblem
attached to the top of the main tower made her want to laugh out of sheer
absurdity. That hunk of metal was so big it could probably be seen from Orario.
Daphne sighed to herself and continued with her own assignment. It was her
job to motivate the other members to hurry up with the wall repairs. The hard
part was that most of them shared Hyacinthus's opinion of the upcoming battle
and couldn't wait to watch it unfold. Despite having more than one hundred
workers under her command, making sure that there were no weak points in any
of the walls of the castle had been frustrating beyond belief.
Also, Ganesha Familia had arrived at Shreme a few days before Daphne and
the rest of Apollo Familia in order to clear out the group of thieves and
marauders that had been living in the castle. Since they'd been ordered not to
damage the castle in any way before the War Game, the eviction had been
carried out by digging holes under the wall and catching the squatters by
surprise. They'd captured every single one of the criminals in less than a day.
Daphne made sure that they filled in the holes before returning to Orario.
"Daph…"
"Cassandra?"
Magic-stone lamps lit up the top of the wall in place of the torches of old.
Cassandra approached Daphne, nervously calling out to her.
She came to a stop in front of one of the lamps, only half of her face
illuminated in the light. She embraced her own trembling body with both arms as
if she were afraid it would fall apart.
"It's no good…We need to get far away from here."
"Huh?"
"The castle, the castle will fall…"
Daphne's expression turned to annoyance as she listened to the nonsense
coming out of Cassandra's mouth.
"Another dream? You know it's too late to do that now. Get it together."
"Please, please, Daph, believe me…!"
Cassandra desperately begged her friend to take her prophetic dream
seriously even though there was no way it could come to pass.
Daphne ignored her and continued inspecting the wall, but Cassandra was
much more persistent than usual. The long-haired girl's shoulders slumped as if
she were debating whether or not to keep trying, before freezing on the spot.
Surprised by the sudden silence, Daphne turned around to face her.
Cassandra's face was pale and gaunt as if she were moments away from death,
eyes transfixed on a spot below them.
"No, we can't let it in. There's still time; it mustn't come inside…"
A small line of horse-drawn carts carrying the last of their supplies was
approaching the wall just outside the gate. The girl watched, horrified, as the
gate opened.
"Heey! Wait up, will you?!"
Luan yelled at the top of his lungs, chasing the last cart as he watched the
castle gate start to close.
The driver of the last cart ordered his horse to gallop to cover the distance,
forcing the prum into an all-out sprint just to make it inside the gate before it
shut completely. A dull thud sounded a moment after he slid between the
massive iron blocks.
"Why, why would you shut it when I'm still out there?" the small prum man
asked in a pathetic, panting voice to the exceptionally large animal person
standing at the gate controls.
The large man just laughed. "Hee-hee, so you were there, Luan. You're so
tiny! Couldn't see you at all."
The lower-class adventurer known as Luan Espel looked much younger than
his age, almost like a child. Other members of Apollo Familia treated him like
the bottom of the barrel because of the combination of his rank and his
appearance. That was why he'd been assigned to bring supplies to the castle at
this late hour.
Prums were often discriminated against because of their short size and
unintimidating presence. "Come on," he retorted as other members of the
Familia joined in the laughter.
"…Quite a large shipment you brought in."
"Three days' worth of weapons and rations. Best to be ready, you know?"
The animal person laughed again, saying that he was being a little too careful
considering their opponent. The large man didn't even look at Luan as he started
to inspect the shipment.
In moments, other members of the Familia were unloading box after box
from the carts and taking them to the castle's already well-stocked storage
rooms.
"Aaah…"
Cassandra watched it all unfold from her spot on top of the wall.
Daphne had never seen her friend like this. Although she felt something was
wrong with the girl, Daphne turned to leave.
"Wake up, we have work to do!"
Cassandra watched Daphne's back pass in and out of the light of the magicstone lamps. She took a deep breath and let out a long, heavy sigh.
Then she whispered in a shaking voice like a prophet who'd seen the end of
the world.
"It's too late…The Trojan horse is inside the wall."
"What took you?"
"Sorry."
"Are your preparations in order?"
"Yes. My goddess upgraded my Status already."
"Great. Now, here's the knife I promised you. The cutting edge is way better
than the first one, I guarantee it."
"Thanks."
"Sir Welf…What about those?"
"Ready and waiting. Didn't have much time, so I could only finish two."
"…Um, Welf, are you sure this is all right?"
"Yeah…I've stopped compromising allies for pride."
"?"
"Never mind…Yo, you can take these now. But I warn you, they were very
rushed so I'm not sure about their full power or how long they'll last. Don't
waste them."
"Understood."
"Well, then…Everything is going according to Lady Hestia's plan."
"Yep. And tomorrow—we take down the castle."
"Yes…Let's win this."
Several voices went unheard under the cover of night.
War Game versus Apollo Familia. Classification—Castle Siege.
Victory condition: defeat the enemy general.
The long night was almost over.