Chapter 175 - The Great Familia War

"Ahnya."

"…"

"How long are you going to stay like that?"

"…"

"…I asked how long are you gonna stay hidin' in bed!"

"…Runoa, calm meown."

"Don't stop me, Chloe! Lady Freya is Syr, isn't she, Ahnya?!"

"…"

"Then we've gotta go hear the full story, even it means kicking her ass!"

"…"

"We just have to help out the kid and take Syr back, right?!"

"…"

"Say something, you stupid cat!"

"Runoa, calm down."

"Get up already! If you won't, I'll make you!"

"Runoa!"

"Gh…"

"…"

"..."

"…"

"…We're going."

"…"

"You can rot away there for the rest of your life!"

The door flew open.

The sound hung in the room; her resentment had taken shape. That left

just two people in the room.

"Ahnya, we're going to the war game meow."

"…"

"We begged Lord Njǫrðr and Lady Demeter. Mei and the others

converted, too."

"…"

"Lyu doesn't know…But we're going to fight, too."

"…"

Ahnya, do you not want this place to go back to how it was?"

"…Gh."

"Well, I want that back…So I'm going."

And then there was one.

The door closed. Ahnya hugged her knees and curled up in her bed.

Runoa was strong. So was Chloe.

But Ahnya fighting, that was impossible.

Her brother was scary.

Freya was scary.

She didn't even know what the girl who had saved her really was.

And she couldn't muster the courage to find the answer to that question.

Runoa was right. Ahnya was just wasting away. She was a lost kitten

who couldn't do anything alone.

She hung her head in disappointment at herself.

Then—

"—You."

The door flew open, and someone rough and coarse walked over to the

bed.

That coarse and vulgar tone sounded so familiar. Her shoulders quivered

as she buried her head between her knees.

"…Big brother…?"

The lost kitten nervously raised her head.

The giant city walls in the east are glowing a faint white.

A bead of sweat drips down my cheek as the darkness starts to give way

to sunlight.

"Eeeya!"

The next instant, sweat and a few strands of hair are wiped away by an

impossibly big twinblade.

Even as my eyes widen and I gasp, my arms and legs don't stop moving.

After twisting my body to the side, I kick the ground twice like I'm

dancing, using the rotation to slash with Hakugen.

"Haaah!"

It's a brute-force response that relies on the raw force of my Strength

and Agility stats.

At a glance, it looks haphazard, and it's something I definitely wouldn't

have been able to pull off before. But with a Level 5 status, I can combine

evasion and attack into a single fluid motion.

"Don't let your status decide what you should do!"

But my outrageous reaction is instantly crushed by my opponent's even

greater absurdity.

With insane visual acuity and courage—and an Amazon's strength—she

grabs my wrist and hurls me behind her.

"Guuuuuugh?!"

Instead of flying in an arc, I bounce against the ground like a ball.

Thrusting my free arm into the grassy field, I recover my balance and

kick off the rapidly approaching wall and leap to the side. Time is of the

essence because the other Amazon, whose long black hair fans out in the

wind, is already slashing at me.

"Don't be so eager to go for such an obvious opening!"

"…! Ghaaaa!"

The two kukri knives flashed in succession while the big twinblade

came crashing down from above.

A howl works its way up from the pit of my stomach as I meet their

combined attack head-on.

It's just before dawn in Hearthstone Manor.

I can't remember anymore how many times I sparred with Ms. Tiona

and Ms. Tione in the courtyard.

They burst into our home a few days ago. Just like the goddess and

everyone else, I was taken aback when they announced they wanted to help

me. Mr. Finn had volunteered to teach Lilly, and he was the one who

suggested asking them to help me with some "fine-tuning." We've been

fighting constantly since then.

For serious training, it would probably have been better to go up on the

wall where I went with Ms. Aiz or else somewhere in the Dungeon, but Ms.

Tione pointed out that the time spent getting ready and going back and forth

would be wasted, so it was decided we'd train right here in the middle of

the home.

"Here I come!"

The courtyard wasn't nearly large enough to accommodate a bunch of

first-tier adventurers going wild. The lawn was completely torn up, the

plants were in terrible shape, and the pole holding the magic-stone lamp

was broken. And Lilly had already thundered about the repair costs, but I

didn't have time to worry about that. I couldn't afford to lose focus at all.

Training or not, that's what it means to cross blades with first-tier

adventurers.

"Your body first! Then your head! You'll never be able to keep up in a

fight with first-tier adventurers otherwise!"

"Freya Familia's attacks will be even more intense!"

Countless scratches cover my arms and legs. I feel every impact in my

bones, and everything feels numb. The rapid slashes of the knives and the

heavy crush of the twinblade lay into me again and again as I focus on

defense.

They keep pushing me back against the wall over and over with what

can only be called a torrent of attacks.

Ninety percent of my counterattacks are instantly defeated, so

scrambling away is the only way for me to survive. When I unleash a kick

like a cannon shot only to have it easily parried by a deft elbow, it feels like

I'm having a nightmare.

As first-tier adventurers, the Amazon sisters have far, far more

experience and techniques than I do. So the result is exactly what you'd

expect. I've been getting pummeled day in and day out.

"Remember your training with Aiz!"

"You have the tricks and techniques she pounded into you, don't you?!

So draw them out now!"

But just as often, their words spur my heart and body onward.

—Don't let your status decide things for you.

—Don't leap at every opening.

Right, those were things she told me, too.

Now that I've made it to Level 5, I need to revive my old resolve.

Link my abilities and my techniques, combine my weapons and tricks,

synchronize my spirit and body!

"Grow…Uchide no Kozuchi!"

Just then, a supporting voice reaches my bloody back.

In a corner of the courtyard, Ms. Haruhime stands up from where she

has been kneeling and finishes her casting.

She's sweating just as much as I've been while focusing everything on

applying her level boost.

"—Ngggh!"

Readjusting to my status that's suddenly been boosted, I launch my

counterattack.

As beautiful rays of light envelop my body, I accelerate. The gleaming

white and jet-black knives in my hands flash.

Using the techniques I've learned, I aim for the sides of Ms. Tione's

weapons, knocking them off path to parry all of her slashes. Intentionally

leaving an opening, I bait Ms. Tiona. Seizing the initiative, I swing the

Hestia Knife in my right hand and put my whole weight behind it.

"Haaaaaaaaah!!!!"

Everything is riding on this attack. A single strike containing all I can

muster.

Ms. Tiona's eyes widen, and she smiles as she blocks it head-on with her

massive weapon before flying backward.

The impact made her adamantite weapon shudder. It's a refreshing

sound that I haven't heard yet in all of our training. It feels good.

A high-pitched sound like a tuning fork rings out in the courtyard.

"Allll right! …So, how's it feel, Argonaut?"

"…Yes, it's probably fine now."

Ms. Tiona spins in the air and lands without issue a short distance away.

Breathing heavily, I return my two knives to their sheaths before

opening and closing my fists over and over.

"The inconsistency I was feeling…is gone."

When we level up, there's inevitably a gap in perception between our

body and our mind. The mind can't immediately adapt to the sudden

changes in every aspect of our physical abilities. Maybe because I'm

inexperienced and have only been an adventurer for a short time, it takes a

while for me to adjust. The last time it happened was while I was fighting

iguaçu during the expedition two months ago.

So the goal of the training this time isn't to practice to the very last

minute. Like Mr. Finn said, this is to fine-tune my body and mind to get rid

of that discrepancy.

"It took us until the very last moment but looks like it worked. You

shouldn't be in trouble anymore…And you did good keeping up. I've heard

about it plenty by now, but that's some amazing magic."

"Th-thank you…"

Ms. Tione even complimented Ms. Haruhime, whose eyes are still

spinning. She looks like she might collapse at any moment. Ms. Haruhime

has also leveled up, and since a few days ago, she's been helping with my

tuning.

In her case, rather than becoming physically stronger, her level boost has

become even more formidable. Now that she's Level 2, it lasts for twenty

minutes instead of fifteen, the cooldown has gone from ten minutes to nine,

and naturally, the maximum number of tails she can muster has increased

from five to six.

There's no doubt Ms. Haruhime's power is going to be key in the war

game. Lilly's eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep when she asked Ms.

Haruhime to test it to her limits. This way, we won't have to worry about

using it without practice during the main event.

Plus, it's good that I got to experience pseudo–Level 6 movements…

Combine the level boost with the mental gap I already have from

leveling up and I really might have ended up rampaging like a bull.

It's a bit of an odd comparison, but the power output almost feels like

transforming into a dragon. Thanks to Ms. Tione and Ms. Tiona, I'm able to

control it now.

Considering this was also practice fighting against first-tier adventurers,

this fine-tuning session is something that could only have been done with

Level 6s like them. I can't begin to thank them enough.

"It would have been good if Aiz could have trained you all, too, so…

sorry."

"No, I heard there are reasons, and I'm sure she is cheering us on."

I shake my head. I don't know the details, but…the things she taught me

are still firmly rooted in my heart. Now, and even during all the fighting in

that field, everything she has done for me is a huge help.

I will face the war today together with her teachings.

"…The sun is…"

Ms. Haruhime looks up.

Even in the courtyard, surrounded by the walls of the manor on all sides,

it's still clear the sun has started peeking over the horizon.

The sky is bright red. So red it almost looks like twilight.

This is the third day of our training and the day of the war game.

My heart quietly but suddenly starts to race as I prepare to meet the

fateful day.

"Argonaut…"

As I peer up at the sky nervously, I realize Ms. Tione and Ms. Tiona

have walked over and are smiling at Ms. Haruhime and me.

"Do your best!"

"Go kick Freya Familia's ass!"

Ms. Haruhime and I look at each other, feeling just a little bit relieved by

their glowing smiles and rough and wild encouragement.

Nodding, we smile back for Goddess and Lilly and everyone else, too.

""We will!""

It was a track left by the giant called history.

Rows and rows of large, crumbling pillars in lines.

Countless paving stones faded of color extended all around.

Broken arches leaning but still standing after many, many long years.

A large mausoleum, several structures that were believed to be

residences for religious figures, bare ground and massive boulders, green

encroaching everywhere, even now in the process of becoming part of

nature. It was a majestic, sublime scene, but at the same time, it was one of

immense solitude.

And what was most notable was that all the ruins were on top of a lake.

This island floated atop beautiful emerald-green water—water cupped

by a giant caldera surrounded by a foreboding ring of mountains.

These were the Orza city ruins.

It was the name of a massive complex of ruins in a caldera lake to the

northwest of Orario, at the western end of the Beor Mountains. And this

was the battlefield where the war game would be carried out.

The history of these ruins stretched back over 2,000 years. It was

originally a fortress city carved out of the land to stem the tide of monsters

pouring from the massive rift in the ground.

In addition to ensuring they did not have to worry about water, the

caldera formed a natural moat that frustrated the monsters' assaults. With

the steady work of half-elves and half-dwarves, the islands grew to be a

self-sufficient city, and it apparently stood proudly until the day an

especially large monster attacked it from the sky.

The warped, elliptical island that had now fallen into ruins was still

surrounded by the remnants of ramparts and towers. Scattered across the

rugged and undulating landscape were a great many leaning structures and

many more completely broken skeletons of buildings, making it clear this

place had been abandoned long ago.

And among them was one particularly large temple on the western edge

of the island.

In ancient times, before deities descended to the mortal realm, people

exposed to the menace of monsters worshipped imagined deities, praying

for salvation. Orza was believed to have a deep connection with spirits, and

that large temple was generally known as the house of the gods. Inside,

several statues of deities were enshrined.

It was believed that a goddess of beauty was one of the deities

worshipped there.

"—The breeze is cold, there are scattered clouds here and there, but as

you can see, it is a beautiful day! Perfect weather for fighting, even on the

battleground in the mountains where the weather can shift so quickly! I will

be your host and commentator for the war game again this time! Ganesha

Familia's Fire Inferno Flame, the fire spitting flame magic, Ibly Archer!"

"I am Ganeshaaaaa!"

"And I'm joined by Lord Ganesha!"

In distant Orario, the Orza ruins were visible in the reflection of mirrors.

Divine mirrors had already been set up all around the city, and a live

commentary was being run by Ganesha Familia.

But in contrast to the feverish excitement that accompanied the war

game with Apollo Familia five months ago, the city was quiet. The

adventurers in taverns, the people looking up at the mirrors set up on the

main streets, and even the deities gathered in Babel all looked nervous in

the final moments before the battle began.

"Now, then! This is a new experience for Orario—The Great Familia

War! A clash between Freya Familia, hailed as the city's strongest, and a

coalition of familias led by Hestia Familia! And the aim of the game this

time is a variation of Hide! And! Seeeeeeeek!!!"

The annoying commentators were the only ones fired up.

In front of Guild Headquarters, Ibly was screaming into the magic-stone

microphone.

"Allow me to breeze through the rules! Victory goes to the side that finds

the other side's deity first! Every familia taking part will hide its patron

deity somewhere in the Orza ruins, and the followers will race to find them!

Quite literally hide-and-seek!"

"Is that…Ganesha?!"

"That's exactly right, Lord Ganesha! Of course it is not just a simple

hide-and-seek, either, though! If enemy familia members run into one

another they can get in their way and fight—a full-on battle royale! Rivers

of blood and graveyards of weapons will surely spring up as they try to

protect and find the deities!"

That wasn't just metaphorical, either.

All told, forty-seven familias were taking part, and more than eight

hundred followers would be fighting in this war, so no matter what the rules

might be, a battle where blood would be washed away with more blood was

what awaited them.

Hearing Ibly's explanation, the people of the city all gulped.

"Buuuuut! While Freya Familia will have to find every last one of the

coalition gods and goddesses, the coalition need only find Goddess Freya to

win! That has to be a pretty big advantage for the coalition! It almost feels

unfair! What do you think, Lord Ganesha?!"

"Even that's not enough of a handicap."

"Is that a serious answer from Lord Ganesha?!"

The live commentary and the mood of the city were at complete odds

with each other as they echoed through the streets. Meanwhile, those left

behind in the city…

"Bell…"

"Eina…"

In the Guild Headquarters, where a mirror was hanging near the ceiling,

Eina could do nothing but pray for Bell's safety, wishing she could do more,

while her colleague Misha gently held her.

"With rules like this, they had to ban me specifically since not only

could I fly around and locate Goddess Freya, I could even end it

immediately with a surprise attack…Was that it?"

"Thought it was your Talaria more precisely. Some people knew there

was a magic item that allowed its user to fly through the sky, but with you

carrying Hestia and charging into Lady Freya's home like that, it has

definitely become common knowledge…You still haven't accepted it?"

"…Making a fuss about it now wouldn't help. Other than Talaria, which

was banned, I've already shared all my magical items with them…There is

nothing to do but believe in him. In them."

On the thirtieth floor of Babel, where various deities had gathered, Asfi

grimaced as Hermes shrugged in resignation.

"Aiz, it might be hard…but do you want to watch together?"

"...Yes…"

In Loki Familia's home, Aiz held Tiona's hand and finally looked up,

stepping into the parlor.

Tione sat on the couch while Gareth crossed his boulder-like arms and

Riveria kept one eye closed. Finn just licked his finger. They were all

watching the mirror that Loki had set there.

The war game was about to begin.

"It's so big…"

I mutter to myself as I stare out at the ruins that I couldn't completely

take in even with an upper-class adventurer's vision.

"The eastern side is our coalition's camp…and Freya Familia is in the

west?"

"That's right…the biggest structure is in the center. That's supposed to

be the boundary…"

Ms. Nahza holds her longbow at the ready as she explains the layout,

since I've only just arrived.

We're on one of the surrounding mountains, which gives us a vantage

point from where we can see the whole of the island. The view of the

caldera lake from the cliff top is beautiful. If I had come for any other

reason, I'm sure I would have been stunned by the way the lake mirrored

the heavens above.

This is the second time I've been to the Beor Mountains. This caldera is

on the opposite end of the mountain range in relation to Edas Village, where

the goddess and Ms. Aiz and I got lost during Rakia's invasion.

I never would have imagined such a beautiful sight is only a couple

hours away even if I'm carrying Ms. Haruhime—which wasn't any trouble

at all for an upper-class adventurer.

"Freya Familia has been in the ruins since this morning…Lady Freya is

hidden somewhere in the western side, I'm sure…"

Following Ms. Nahza's finger, I spot the ruins of a half-destroyed giant

temple.

The area for the coalition to hide our deities is on the eastern half, while

Freya Familia holds the western half. As long as they're inside those

regions, it's fair game to hide the gods and goddesses anywhere we like.

They could be in one of the towers on the outer edge or right in the center.

The ruins are big enough to contain a whole district of Orario, so finding a

single deity will be difficult.

"But to have a war game in such a massive ruin complex…" Mr. Ouka

commented.

"Considering there are almost fifty familias taking part, it's reasonable

enough…" Ms. Nahza holds down her hair being rustled by the breeze.

I don't want to just steal his words, but the city ruins atop the giant lake

really do look almost like a completely different world. We're about to turn

what used to be a fortress city into a battlefield to settle things with the most

powerful opponents there are.

"…Thank you. This is enough for me. Let's go back."

Controlling my nerves, I turn back with the both of them. We descend

the long, precipitous slant, back to the field camp.

The Orza ruins are near the southern end of the caldera, and on the

southern end of the island is the only bridge. The mountain side of that

bridge is where the coalition's base camp has been set up.

While Ms. Haruhime and I trained until the very last moment, most of

the other coalition adventurers came to the group of tents set up by the

Guild and Ganesha Familia the day before—Freya Familia had apparently

crossed over the caldera lake on a raft from the north.

Once the war game starts, this base camp will be the evacuation point

where injured adventurers who drop out of the fighting will be taken for

treatment, which is why Dian Cecht Familia members can be found all

around the camp.

"I feel like I don't have enough items…Hey, anyone got some spares?!"

"Miach Familia has them! Go talk to Lord Miach and pick up what you

need!"

"Having Crozzo magic swords and even swords from Hephaistos's shop

to pick from is like a dream come true…but I still can't calm down."

The camp is buzzing with excitement and nerves.

A beast person carefully inspects their weapons, and a dwarf is having a

comrade help to put on heavy armor. I watch these scenes unfold as the

battle draws near—when a couple of voices call out to me.

""Bell Cranell!""

"Ah…Mr. Luvis, Mr. Dormul!"

Turning around, I see a familiar pair running over to me—Modi

Familia's Mr. Luvis and Magni Familia's Mr. Dormul. The elf and dwarf

from during the expedition who we helped fight a moss huge.

"Are you going to fight with us…?"

"Of course. The life I should have lost along with my right arm, I owe it

to you. If I don't repay that debt now, then when?"

Mr. Luvis has a bow and a quiver of arrows ready as he touches his right

arm.

It's covered by his battle gear and a glove, but if I looked underneath,

I'm sure I'd see a silver prosthetic just like Ms. Nahza's. Even though he

has lost his arm, he still has a neat smile befitting an elf. "The time to fulfill

my pledge has come. Let us fight together, comrade of the elves."

—I swear on the name of Luvis Lilix that one day I will repay this

enormous debt.

I remember the promise he made when we were in Rivira after we

defeated the moss huge. Behind him, Ms. Lana is wearing the same sort of

smile as she stands firmly on her prosthetic leg.

"What are ya talking about, comrade of the elves! Then us and Hestia

Familia are dwarven brothers!"

Mr. Dormul delivers his retort in a booming voice. Ignoring Mr. Luvis's

reproachful gaze, he pounds his broad chest.

"We haven't forgotten, either. It's a crazy opponent…but for you, we'll

fight to the end, brother."

I'm at a loss for words as Mr. Dormul and his dwarf comrades beam at

me with warm smiles.

Though I met them both in a strange way through Ms. Eina, we helped

one another in the Dungeon, and now we're standing shoulder to shoulder.

It would be easy to call it an odd bond. But the connections that brought

these elves and dwarves to come to our aid is making me feel so warm

inside my chest, and I'm truly grateful to them from the bottom of my heart.

"Yes! Thank you so—"

"Hey! Don't forget we came, too, Rabbit Foot!"

"—Geh?!"

Out of nowhere, a thick arm wraps around my neck. Coughing as

everyone else looks on in shock, I frantically turn around and see an

adventurer flashing a crooked grin.

"M-Mr. Mord?! You all came, too?!"

"Damn straight! If we win this, we'll get every last bit of treasure Freya

Familia has tucked away! We're gonna break the bank at the casino!"

I can't help but smile that even at a time like this, Mr. Mord is the same

as always.

A few steps away, Mr. Gyle and Mr. Scott were just shaking their heads

though…What could that be about?

"…Looks like you're good and ready."

Letting me go, Mr. Mord looks me up and down.

I'm wearing the sixth iteration of the armor Welf made for me and a new

set of anti-detection battle gear. My weapons are the trusty Hestia Knife and

Hakugen. And I have a Goliath Scarf around my neck.

My equipment also includes three dual potions and one of Ms. Nahza's

precious newly developed elixirs.

Looking down at the gear I've put on before going to survey the

battlefield again, I nod firmly.

"Let's win this, Rabbit Foot."

"…Yes, Mr. Mord!"

He flashes an adventurer's smile instead of his usual thuggish one, and I

can't help but smile back.

"Would all of the deities and children please come here! It's time for the

final briefing!"

As everyone steels themselves for the coming battle, Lady Hestia's

voice rings out from the center of the camp.

Ms. Nahza and Mr. Ouka, Mr. Luvis and Mr. Dormul, and Mr. Mord all

nod to one another and start moving.

Only two hours to go before the war game begins.

We're just waiting for the signal from Ganesha Familia in the final

intermission right before stepping out on the stage. In front of the tent at the

center of the camp, Lady Hestia has gathered everyone's attention. The

other deities and the captains of the various familias were arranged at the

front of the group while Welf, Ms. Aisha, and dozens and dozens of

adventurers, smiths, and the Berbera formed a half-circle around her.

"First of all, every god and goddess needs to take one of the flowers laid

out here. Put it on your chest and don't try to hide it! This is an official

notice from Ganesha Familia!"

The deities all do as Lady Hestia asks.

Lord Takemikazuchi chooses a purple chrysanthemum.

Lord Miach a coleus leaf and flower.

Lady Hephaistos grabs a rainbow iris.

Lord Modi and Lord Magni are crying weakly that everything is over.

But they and the goddesses who hold a grudge against the goddess of

beauty all put flowers on their chests as well.

"The rules were settled in detail at Denatus, and I'm sure the deities

already know, but…if your flower is stolen by one of Freya's children or if

you lose it, you are removed from the game, so be careful!"

"So even if a god is found, that's not the end, and as long as they hold on

to their flower, the game's not over…Is that how it works?"

"Yes, that's right, Mord! All of you children are aiming for Freya's

flower, and her children are after our flowers! However, if a deity's flower

is taken, their entire familia will be out of the war game, so all of you

deities be sure to run or fight to the very end!"

Lady Hestia puts a red freesia on her own chest.

It's taboo for mortals to hurt or kill deities. I heard that the flowerstealing rule is meant to neatly sidestep that issue. We're of course

forbidden to attack deities directly. If, by chance, a magic barrage hits a

deity and they're accidently sent back to heaven, the offending side that's

responsible for the attack would be immediately disqualified. This was

decided to avoid any extreme strategies like blowing up the entire ruins the

moment the war game started.

Freya Familia will be hunting for all of our deities' flowers.

As for us…stealing away Lady Freya's flower is our ultimate goal.

"I didn't get to confirm at Denatus, but how much are we allowed to

resist? Am I allowed to fight Freya's children directly?"

"Using divine authority is banned, and Freya's charm is obviously out,

too, but…"

"…Where does that put Take?"

When Lord Takemikazuchi asks his question, Lady Hephaistos didn't

have an answer, and it seems like Lady Hestia doesn't, either.

All of the deities preside over something…and in Lord Takemikazuchi's

case, it's war and martial arts. It could be argued that him resisting would be

an extension of those things, so it isn't really clear whether it should be

forbidden, and if it is, how much…Basically, it's a blurry line.

"…Just for argument's sake, if you were up against Freya's kids, how

many could you fight?"

"Against second-tier adventurers, I could handle twenty of them. And

against a first-tier adventurer, I should be able to take at least one."

"""Then go out and fight on the front lines.""" Hearing his calm answer

to Lady Hestia's question, Lord Modi and the other male gods all grumbled

together.

While all of our expressions went stiff, Ms. Mikoto and Mr. Ouka and

the rest of his familia puffed out their chest in pride.

"W-well, why don't you resist, but don't go so far that it gets ruled as

foul play…The most important thing is how we deploy our forces and how

the deities are hidden."

Pulling herself together, Lady Hestia turns around to address the crowd.

The commander of the operation is on the wooden box behind her, staring

down at the parchment spread across the giant table.

—Hestia Familia stands at the head of the coalition, so naturally the

brains of the operation has to be one of her followers.

There was more than a little resistance when the commander was first

announced, but no one's complaining anymore.

She keeps staring at the map of the ruins with a tranquil expression

that's like the calm water's surface—like a certain hero of her race.

Long before I arrived, Lilly was looking out over the battlefield,

drawing up plans.

"…The deployment…will be left to all of you."

After finally collecting her thoughts, or maybe because the time is up,

Lilly looks up with a resolute look, having cast aside her doubts as

everyone focuses on her. "If Lilly decides everyone's positions, that makes

the formation predictable. The enemy would be able to figure out where all

of the deities are hidden. So Lilly would rather remove your hiding spots

from the plans entirely."

"…Yeah, got it, supporter."

No one here thinks she's shirking her responsibility. She clearly grasps

the difference in ability between our side and our opponents', and she's

taking the all-knowing deities into consideration as best she can.

Some unknown male god whistles while looking at the prum girl

standing next to Lady Hestia.

"Everyone, let me say this first. The enemy's commander is shrewd. He

is far more capable than Lilly. If we prepare ten plans, he will crush nine of

them and use the last one as a trap to corner us."

Lilly looks out at the gathered adventurers as she speaks the unvarnished

truth.

The enemy's commander is almost guaranteed to be Hildsleif—the

white elf I call my master, Hedin Selrand. I know painfully well just how

intelligent, logical, and merciless he can be.

"It goes without saying, but we are facing einherjar. Even with the

numbers we have, if we faced them head-on, they would crush us. That is

our enemy. That is Freya Familia."

As she watches Lilly share her analysis, her inner thoughts, and a

moment of weakness, Ms. Daphne murmurs "Lilliluka…" in concern.

"Put bluntly, if the situation were any different, Lilly would want to run

away right this instant." For just a moment, Lilly averts her eyes, looking

faint, almost ephemeral. "But—Lilly wants to win."

Then the next moment, she looks up with a breathtakingly powerful

light in her eyes.

"Lilly wants to pummel Lady Freya for the unforgivable things she

did…and more than anything, Lilly doesn't want to be separated from Mr.

Bell! We will never hand over the people precious to us!"

A sudden passion fills her voice. Ms. Mikoto's and Ms. Haruhime's eyes

widen, and Welf breaks into a smile.

Ms. Daphne and Ms. Cassandra are caught by surprise, while Ms. Aisha

and Mr. Mord grin ferociously. Mr. Ouka and Ms. Chigusa nod. Ms.

Nahza's and Mr. Luvis's and Mr. Dormul's eyes grow sharper.

"Adventurers, lend Lilly your strength! And Lilly will guide you to

victory!"

She said it.

That word.

There's no going back. Now we have to go out and bring back victory.

The adventurers explode.

"Uooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"

They raise their weapons and roar as one.

Their shouts echo across the sky, aimed at a single girl. Lady Hestia's so

taken aback she almost falls over.

"All right! Let's do this!"

"If that prum kid's gonna say that much, then we got no choice!"

"Anything less would bring shame on Amazons everywhere!"

The morale of the adventurers who were struggling with unease, anxiety,

and fear has been completely replaced by a ferocious determination to fight.

"You're a good woman, Lilly! I'm sorry for laughing and calling you

stumpy!"

"At the next naming ceremony, we should give her the title My Little

Lover!"

"I have to show sweet Lilly my good side, too!"

It isn't just the followers. The male gods who are notoriously fickle

suddenly sound like they're raring to go, too.

I can't help being stunned by the sudden frenzy that's consumed the

camp…But that lasts only for a brief moment. I suddenly realize my cheeks

are flushed, and I'm grinning from ear to ear.

"Looks like she stole your thunder, Mr. Supreme Commander," Ms.

Nahza whispers teasingly.

"Ah-ha-ha…But still, I think this is fine."

I laugh awkwardly.

I'm not the right person to give everyone rousing encouragement. It

might be a bit disgraceful as a captain, but…I'm happy. More than I can

begin to put into words. I'm just so glad.

The person I consider my partner for my first party, the supporter who

so hated adventurers—she's become someone who can move this many

people's hearts and inspire their cheers.

—She really is just like Braver.

That's the first thought that comes to mind. Even though I'm hardly

qualified to make that comparison, I'm still really proud of her.

"Ah, Mr. Bell…"

As the fired-up adventurers pour out of the tent, rushing to finish lastminute preparations, I walk over to Lilly and Goddess. With her first job

over, Lilly heaves a big sigh and starts blushing when she sees me coming.

"You were amazing, Lilly. Really…It was like seeing Mr. Finn up

there."

"It was all Mr. Finn's suggestion. 'Take advantage of your cute

appearance and after acting sweet, fire them all up with a bold declaration.'

…He said that would be the best approach for adventurers." Lilly looks

embarrassed after revealing her trick. "The name Braver does not fit how

cunning he is."

For some reason, that's funny to me. But at the same time, Lilly seems

larger now somehow.

…The way she is now, I think I can tell her…

There's something I've been thinking this whole time.

Not quite something out of place. It might even just be a wildly

overblown idea. But there's a possibility that's been nagging at me.

"Hey, Lilly…could you hear me out?"

The white clouds sail eastward in the wide expanse of the blue sky.

All of the deities and other adventurers have left the central tent.

The only ones left are Welf, the rest of our familia, plus Ms. Aisha, and

the people from the expedition. When she heard what I said, though, an

uncomfortable look came over Lilly's face.

"Since you said it, I don't really want to doubt it, but…Lilly just cannot

accept it. The possibility of something like that happening seems

impossibly low."

"Yeah, that's fine. I think you're right. But could you just tuck the

thought away in the back of your mind for me?"

When I ask that, Lilly smiles and nods.

Maybe I shouldn't have said something so strange and bothered the

commander who's in charge of running the whole battle. Honestly that is

exactly what I've been thinking and why I hadn't thought of saying it

sooner.

But seeing how much she's grown, I decided to trust Lilly.

"Uh, ummm…could I talk to you…just a bit…?"

Ms. Cassandra clutches her rod as she nervously makes a request.

"What is it, Cassandra? This isn't about some new dream or something,

is it?"

"Ugggh, Daph…even though you believed me in the lower levels…you

still won't accept my dreams." She holds back the tears and fidgets

awkwardly under Ms. Daphne's glare. As everyone looks at her, she starts

getting nervous, so I lend her a hand.

"Umm, did you see another dream?"

"Y-yes…"

"What sort of dream was it?"

"I—I don't really want to say…or rather, there's no way to escape it…

All sorts of things happened on twilight-colored ground…fairies and

prums…and a boar and a chariot…"

That…actually makes me really want to know…

I start sweating when I see her turning pale and struggling to put what

she saw into words. Her eyes dart back and forth before she finally seems to

make up her mind.

"But a wind was blowing."

When she says that, what I feel isn't doubt but surprise.

"A…a wind…?"

"What's that supposed to do?"

"I—I don't know, but…still…a wind was blowing."

Ms. Haruhime cocks her head, and Ms. Aisha is wearing a dubious look,

but Ms. Cassandra just repeats herself.

I peer up at the sky as Ms. Daphne and the others sigh exasperatedly.

"The wind…huh…"

A light breeze pulls the clouds along the sunny sky.

"The bridge is lowering! The familia coalition is to deploy in its

designated region!"

One hour before the start.

With the order of Ganesha Familia's captain, Shakti, the bridge to the

Orza ruins was opened up.

Seeing that, the coalition adventures on tenterhooks in the camp rushed

out onto the bridge.

Dwarves with war hammers, elven mages with staves, smiths with

magic swords, Berbera, who answered Aisha's call, all rushed to the points

Lilly had designated for them.

"What a surprise, seeing you here, Bors."

"Who asked you, Cyclops! When the time comes, I can get off my ass!

…No, that's a lie. The truth is even if it killed me, I didn't want to

come…!"

Bors was carrying a big ax as he started to fire back nonchalantly only to

turn pale and almost start sniffling.

"I had planned to hide out in Rivira! But my stupid goddess joined up,

wanting to put Freya in her place…! She dragged me all the way out here!"

"Ohhh? Is that really the only reason?"

"…Nope. If it wasn't for Rabbit Foot and Gale Wind, I would have

bitten the dust already. I'm payin' my debt before the interest grows. That's

how we do it in Rivira."

The head of Rivira, who got mixed up with Juggernaut along with Bell

and Lyu, made his excuse.

The wide, stone bridge rumbled with the sound of hundreds of

adventurers running in long strides across it.

"Ha-ha-ha! I see, I see. Then be sure to prove your manhood!"

"Damn straight! Now that I'm here, I'm gonna win and claim my share

of the money and fame! And brag in front of all the cowards who didn't

come to fight!"

Tsubaki laughed at Bors's desperate last shout, and then they reached the

end of the bridge and headed off in different directions. The rest of the

adventurers followed their leads and began to scatter.

There were no parting words. They knew the enemy they were facing

wasn't going to give them the time for heartfelt farewells.

"Ruins in the depths of the forest, basements—there are too many places

to hide. I'm honestly a little worried about being found at all. Not being

found during hide-and-seek is as lonely as the setting sun…"

The deities crossed the bridge as well and began looking for places to

hide in their designated eastern half of the island.

"Quit the stupid crap and just hurry; pick your hiding spots already. It

won't be funny if you get caught before your children even get to do

anything," Hephaistos chided Hestia, who puffed out her chest.

"I—I know! I was treated as a rare character up in the heavens, but I

happened to be a master at hide-and-seek!"

"That's the first I'm hearing about it…" Takemikazuchi glanced

dubiously at her.

"Did you mean to say you couldn't be found because you just holed up

inside the temple?" Miach hit the nail on the head.

The coalition deities were moving with small security details while

taking one another's movements into consideration when deciding where to

hide.

"All adventurers and deities have crossed the bridge!"

"All right, seal the bridge! Ilta, you all watch the area along the cliff like

we planned!"

After the deities finished crossing the bridge, Ganesha Familia sealed

the way again.

The Orza ruins were located on a giant island at the southern end of a

caldera lake. It was impossible to reach it without crossing the bridge on its

south side, and there were guards posted around the cliffs at regular

intervals to prevent anyone trying to swim across. So even if outside forces

or monsters appeared, they would have to get through Ganesha Familia's

Level 4 and Level 5 adventurers before making it to the ruins.

Their rock-solid perimeter wouldn't come down until the flowers of the

familias fighting in the great familia war were all accounted for.

"Lady Freya."

Inside Freya Familia's camp in the western ruins, their patron goddess

was sitting on a stone throne as Ottar approached after finishing his

preparations.

"What is it, Ottar?"

"The flower from the Guild has finally arrived. Please set it upon your

chest."

It was a small bunch of petals.

This was the flag and key to victory in this war game.

The flower she was presented was a lilac.

"…How ironic…"

Seeing the beautiful purple flower, Freya wore a smile that was almost

self-deprecating.

"…? Is there a problem, Milady?"

"No, nothing."

Freya took the flower and put it on her chest.

She wasn't wearing her usual dress that resembled a black flame.

She was wearing a stylish, modest white dress that resembled a bridal

gown.

Adorned in formal white dress, the goddess made a break with all of her

lingering attachment and announced to her boar attendant— "Win, Ottar."

"Yes, Milady."

"I will get my hands on Bell. This is the only way left."

"…Yes, Milady."

The warrior simply nodded. He would do that as many times as needed.

All for the sake of his master's divine will.

"…"

A pair of coral-red eyes looked in their direction.

Hedin's long blond hair rustled in the wind as he peered at the goddess

without any change of expression.

"What are you doing standing there, fly?"

"…Silence, ignorant cat. I was merely affirming my loyalty."

Hedin turned away without even a glance at the cat wearing a silver

pauldron on one shoulder with a hanging cape attached.

Turning away from his master, he adjusted the position of his glasses

with one hand and addressed those below him.

"My loyalty is all for Milady. Followers of the sublime goddess, obey

my voice and become her arms and legs."

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

!!"

As he stood atop the massive building, the einherjar roared back.

The battle cry shook the emerald-green lake, resounding like a horn

blowing to announce the arrival of a battle.

"Keh…keh-keh…the time has come. Ragnarök…i-is beginning…"

The dark elf hugged his pitch-black sword in its scabbard as he muttered

timidly.

"Is it time?"

"It is."

"Now?"

"Now."

The four prums lowered their sand-colored helms.

"Let's get this over with. We're not doing anything different this time.

Run them down."

The cat person readied his silver spear and clad himself in an unalloyed

killing spirit.

"Once the battle has begun, you will support me, Rona, Ilda. If any

barbarians appear that would harm the goddess, I will not be

accommodating."

""Yes, ma'am!""

The healers and herbalists known as the Andhrímnir snapped to

attention in fear of the girl sitting atop the rubble with closed eyes.

"…Come, favored one of the goddess."

The boaz warrior moved away from the goddess's side, interested only

in one single boy.

"It's starting, Bell."

"Yes…!"

Meanwhile—

The redheaded teen and white-haired boy clenched their fists as they

heard the warrior cry echoing from the west.

"And with that! The war game starts nooooooooooooooooooooow!!!"

The two hands on the clock aligned pointing straight up.

In the distant Labyrinth City, the bell rang, signaling the beginning of

the battle.

VS. Freya Familia. Hide-and-seek.

Victory condition: collect the divine flowers.

The curtain rose on the biggest war game in all of history.

The Orza ruins were certainly big enough to be compared to most cities.

The total area of the massive ruins in the middle of the caldera lake

would contain almost an entire district of Orario. Meaning even with almost

fifty familias milling around, there was plenty of room to spread out.

The one to offer this location as a possible battleground—when the

Guild asked for suggestions—was Hermes Familia. A neutral faction

whose patron god made a hobby of visiting various ruins, doing fieldwork,

gathering information and treasures from the olden times. All sorts of

artifacts from the ancient era had already been retrieved from Orza, and the

ruins were an empty husk at this point, which was part of what made it ideal

for the familia war.

Bathed in sunlight, there were half-broken pillars and walls forming

forests of shadows. The statues of imaginary, unspeaking deities, missing

parts of their faces and arms, watched on silently. The ruins of a great bath

missing not only a roof but even walls had been filled with the rains stored

for years on end and had been transformed into a large, tranquil pond.

Scattered here and there around the ruins were white and gray rune

stones with spear-wielding gods and giant wolves engraved in them. The

stones would have had cultural value, but they had been shattered by

monsters long ago and could no longer be deciphered. All the valuable

burial goods in various graves had already been stolen by grave robbers.

It was a symbol of decline and destruction.

The sublime majesty of history and the emptiness of an age forgotten to

the past.

The adventurers gave the scene one glance before immediately looking

away. The city that had once boasted such glory only to fall to destruction

was going to experience another massive change today.

"Any enemy presence?"

"None. They don't seem to have approached the boundary between east

and west yet."

"Then report back to base! We're moving!"

The adventurers of the coalition were constantly on the move.

Modi Familia's elves, led by Luvis, and a party of beast people, and

many, many more scouts flooded the ruins.

"No enemies detected in the southeast, Lady Lilly. It appears they have

not yet arrived at the eastern region."

"Roger, Ms. Mikoto. Leave the rest to the garrison and proceed west.

From there, investigate the forward ruins. Were it Lilly, that would be the

first place to assign troops."

"Understood!"

Lilly gave her orders to the crystal that echoed with Mikoto's voice.

Her location was approximately the center of the eastern region that was

the coalition's side of the island.

Lilly had set up a headquarters of sorts in the ruins of a marketplace

surrounded by the bases of various broken columns.

There were crystals—oculi—spread across the stump-sized pillar bases.

By chance, it resembled the command base Hestia had set up on the roof

of the tower during the skirmish in Daedalus. Spreading out a map of the

ruins, Lilly received reports from various units via the oculi and then

proceeded to hand down clear and quick directions.

"L-Lilly…the reports have been coming nonstop for a while now. Are

you going to be all right?"

"Everyone else is fighting the monster that is Freya Familia. Lilly can't

fight, so she can't afford to complain over something like this!"

The headquarters guard Chigusa was taken aback by how many oculi

were glowing with constant transmissions from adventurers, but Lilly didn't

even look up as she focused on making notes.

They were calling it headquarters, but the two of them were the only

ones there.

The coalition needed to protect the deities hiding around the ruins, too,

so they couldn't afford to spare more manpower to protect Lilly. If she fell,

the chain of command ran to Aisha, Daphne, and then Tsubaki. Losing her

wouldn't be the end for the coalition. The thing they most needed to avoid

was failing to discover the enemy's strategy because of an excess of

caution.

With her silence, Lilly made it clear to Chigusa that they couldn't afford

to get their priorities flipped.

But—

"Hey, prum! There aren't any enemies in the central area! What now?!"

"Li'l E, there aren't any enemies coming from the north. I don't think we

need to be worried about getting outflanked for now."

"We're at the front line and going to cross into enemy territory!

Okay?!"

"Commander! Give us some orders!"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I can act tough all I want, but this is more

information than I can handle!

She had spoken as if it was her duty that she had to do, but what she

really felt was different. Bors's husky voice, Welf, an Amazon, an elf—all

the oculi were blinking and making shrill sounds, and she wanted to just

throw them away. She started feeling a powerful grudge against Braver for

just smiling and saying, "If it's you, you'll manage," and ordering her to

orchestrate and command a massive multifront operation.

But I have to…! With as weak as I am, this is the only way to help Mr.

Bell and everyone else! I can't just rely on Ms. Daphne's strength!

Daphne, who had reached Level 3 with her exploits on the expedition,

was a valuable fighter in the coalition.

They couldn't afford to have her serving as Lilly's lieutenant.

She had been entrusted with command, so she didn't have the option to

rely on anyone else.

She gave orders to all of the adventurers as her eyes grew bloodshot,

sweat formed on her brow, and her face twisted so much Chigusa started

getting scared. And then she scrawled the new information down on a

parchment different from the map.

"Repeat, all scouts should prioritize finding the enemy forces and Lady

Freya! Avoid combat if at all possible! Gathering information is the number

one priority!"

Picking up a fist-sized oculus, she deftly issued critical commands.

Lilly was focusing heavily on offense in this battle.

As proof, the ratio between scouts out looking for the enemy and

defenders was 70/30.

Put bluntly, they couldn't defend against Freya Familia's attack.

Loki Familia's Finn made clear that a rush by Ottar, the first-tier

adventurers, and the einherjar was something that absolutely had to be

avoided. No matter how many adventurers banded together, they would be

crushed by any serious attack.

That meant a defensive battle was as good as defeat.

Understanding that, the strongest defense Lilly had was offense—she

wanted to seize the initiative and put the enemy off-balance to avoid her

forces finding themselves on the back foot.

I need more information! The enemy's approach! Positioning! Numbers!

If Lady Freya has been carefully hidden, we'll have to calculate it backward

from the enemy's deployment! No matter how many traps might be set along

the way in that!

She wouldn't say it out loud, but Lilly didn't mind if the scouts were

wiped out.

Put another way, she was resolved that they couldn't do this without

accepting some sacrifices. Because contact with the enemy was functionally

equivalent to complete annihilation. Even between forces of equal level, the

base strength of the alliance adventurers and Freya Familia was just too

different.

If they were noticed, the scouts would absolutely get devastated.

One of the garrison squads in the central region of the ruins, away from

the market— "Eh?! Then Lilly's treating all of the scouts like sacrificial

pawns…?"

"More like whatever move she might make, it will end up that way. It

would be the same even if I were commanding."

Daphne covered one of her ears in annoyance as she explained the

situation to Cassandra.

"To win in this game, both sides have to dedicate a massive portion of

their forces to scouting. They have to find all of our deities in this enormous

battlefield somehow, just like we have to find Lady Freya."

She decided not to mention that Freya Familia, as long as they had

enough time, had the option of just defeating every single follower on the

coalition's side.

"If we know where their goddess is, then no matter how furious an

attack they launch, we can counterattack. The more people they send out to

attack us, the weaker the defenses around Lady Freya will become."

"Ummm…so then since they have to find all of our deities to attack,

they will have to spread out their forces…and that's the opening that Lilly is

aiming for?"

"Exactly."

Glancing at the oculus at her hip, Daphne was thinking about what Lilly

was going through at the moment while carefully choosing her words.

"If she tries to limit the damage to her allies, we will never be able to

win this fight."

In one of the scouting squads—

"So we're letting them graze our flesh to smash their bones?"

"Yes. That is what Lady Lilly said. Honestly, it's not just us scouts,

either; even Lord Takemikazuchi and the other deities are lures, too…"

Ouka and Mikoto were running through the woods as they spoke.

"—And as our flesh is carved away, we will have no choice but to strike

the opponent's heart."

"—No matter how much it might hurt."

Right after they found out the format of the war game, Lilly had said as

much to Hestia Familia. She didn't need Finn to tell her that much. She

could recognize the flow of the strategic front.

Ouka looked amazed while Mikoto just looked forward.

"We must bring down Lady Freya before our last deity is defeated—

even if we fall in the process. That is what is expected of us."

"—Of course, some of us are more important than the others when it

comes to the master plan."

Tsubaki chuckled at Aisha's comment.

"In that sense, she's nasty like Finn. Or I guess I should say,

determined."

There was a limit to the number of oculi available. It was clear that Lilly

had been selective about which groups were given a communication device:

Aisha and Tsubaki's group, Daphne and Cassandra's, Mikoto's, and so on.

Their force was large enough to be worthy of being called a coalition.

Whether intentionally or unconsciously, there were sure to be adventurers

who didn't listen to Lilly's orders. The most obvious were members of

familias in the Goddess Alliance who were after Freya for personal reasons.

Taking that into consideration, Lilly assigned the oculi to people she

could trust, particularly people like Aisha and Tsubaki, who could be trump

cards or might have a key role in the chain of command.

"So we command—well, watch all the squadrons we can see and report

back to the shrimp. Basically like field officers."

"I'm not great at directing others. I'll handle the vanguard and you can

take care of the troublesome stuff, Antianeira!"

"There's just two of us Level Fives here, so you're gonna have to do

some work too, Cyclops…You're a familia captain, aren't you?"

With a little sigh at Tsubaki's irresponsibility, she looked back at the

smiths ready to deploy behind them. After confirming the readiness of the

artillery unit armed with a massive loadout of magic swords, Aisha spoke

into the oculus in her hands.

"There are no movements in the center of the battlefield, Shrimp…It's

quiet. Too quiet…"

No unit has noticed any enemy movements…?

In headquarters.

After taking Aisha's report, she slipped into deep thought as Chigusa

watched.

Are they waiting to see our positioning? …But even knowing that, we

have no choice but to start feeling them out!

Feeling something off, Lilly gave another round of orders for the scouts

to push into the enemy's territory.

We pilfered as many oculi as we could from Fels, so we should have a

clear advantage in communication! Meanwhile, the farther Freya Familia

gets from Mr. Hedin, the more their communication will suffer! That applies

even to first-tier adventurers!

That would create an opening that they would surely be able to strike at.

That was what she believed. Or rather, that was what she was praying

would be true.

Even if they were using magic-stone signal lights, they wouldn't be able

to maintain full reciprocal communication, and in some areas of the island,

they wouldn't even be able to communicate at all. For hide-and-seek, the

oculi were so valuable they were practically cheating.

Taken to the extreme, this hide-and-seek game is a war for information!

No matter how many local losses might pile up, winning on the real

battlefield is all that is needed!

The farther Freya Familia's members got from Hedin, even if they were

acting on their own judgment, the more people the coalition would have to

rely on. If they could use the time that the sacrificial units managed to gain

to array their forces and attack Freya's hiding place, they had a chance of

winning.

Depending on how they're positioned, we can deploy our artillery units

armed with Crozzo magic swords, Ms. Haruhime, and our trump card, Mr.

Bell. There won't be any holding back! Time is against us! We have to steal

Lady Freya's flower before we lose all forty-six of our deities…!

She clenched her hands as a disgusting sweat formed in her palms.

As Daphne and the others understood, her strategy would require

massive sacrifices.

But even so, Lilly needed a precise understanding of the state of the

board.

Which squares had pawns; where was the queen hiding?

Where was the rook that could smash through everything?

Where were the black and white bishops that could unleash a long-range

barrage?

Where were the knights that could disrupt everything with their

characteristic movement and teamwork?

Where was the strongest king, the queen's ultimate defense?

She needed to know all of that as soon as possible to really grasp the

board. If the scouts were taken out, so long as they left the information they

had gleaned behind, that was worth a mountain of gold. It could even be the

key to victory.

So Lilly assumed the role of a ruthless commander, quashing the guilt in

her heart.

When it came to a commander's callousness, she couldn't see herself

being a match for Finn, no matter how much she might grow.

"All clear in the north."

"No enemies sighted in the south."

"We're pushing forward!"

As the unease welled inside her, the battlefield was quiet.

At the very least, it couldn't be anything other than quiet on the

coalition's side.

To find Freya as soon as possible or to catch any enemy squads aiming

for their deities, they had an enormous number of scouts out patrolling or

else lying in wait in each sector.

When would the silence break?

As commander of the whole operation, Lilly felt her heart grow louder

and louder as time passed.

So she waited attentively.

For the moment her allies got some information.

For the moment they were sacrificed.

Waited, waited, and waited. Until—

"...Gh?"

That was when she noticed something was off.

It was too quiet.

Far too quiet.

"L-Lilliluka Erde…we've pushed halfway into the enemy's territory."

As if confirming her suspicion, she received a stunning report from

Luvis.

Half of the enemy's territory.

In other words, the coalition had a dragnet spread across three quarters

of the entire island.

And yet they not only hadn't met the enemy, they hadn't even seen any

trace of them.

It was strange. Disturbingly so.

Had the enemy even deployed any adventurers on the island?

Did Hedin really understand they were supposed to be playing hide-andseek?

"Lady Lilly…w-we cannot find the enemy…"

"Hey, Li'l E, what's going on?! There hasn't been a single fight yet!"

"There's no way they're just hiding. We have a net up using Asfi's magic

items. Even if they went invisible and erased any scents, there is still no way

they could have slipped through undetected."

Lilly's thoughts wavered from doubt and unease as the oculi lit up with a

symphony of bewildered voices.

No enemies? That's impossible.

But even if it should have been impossible, the current situation was

running counter to all of Lilly's predictions. The possibility that they were

somehow slipping through using incredible stealth could be ruled out, based

on Aisha's report.

What is this feeling? This cold feeling.

Am I already caught in the enemy's trap?

Countless worries flitted through her mind, eating away at her heart, but

she just barely managed to swallow them down with an iron will.

The island's western side…are they inviting us into their territory? But

what are they planning? Are they trying to stretch our lines to separate us

from our deities? Or is there some trap set to annihilate our forces in the

field? Or…?

Her hand trembled as she scrawled notes on the parchment, updating the

information, and then tried to read the board in front of her.

Her brain proposed countless possibilities, and she examined every

factor she could think of as the doubt seared her mind.

Should they keep pushing west? Or should she stop the scouts for the

time being?

But what would change by waiting?

Without information, they couldn't launch a preemptive attack or

respond to an enemy assault.

Lilly's thoughts stalled in the face of an intractable situation—just then.

"E-enemy sighted! Enemy sighted!!!"

"!!!"

One of the oculi lit up.

The voice was Luvis.

Modi Familia's four-man cell had pushed the farthest forward.

Lilly shuddered, and she leaped to grab the crystal.

"Where?!"

"In the west! The westernmost edge of the island!"

—The western edge?!

Lilly couldn't believe her ears.

"How many?! In what scale?!"

She restrained the urge to ask him if he was sure, but she reflexively

raised her voice in a shout, forgetting that they were trying to hide

themselves.

But there was no reply, no matter how long she waited.

Instead, she just heard a gasp through the crystal.

As she grew more baffled, Luvis finally spoke.

"…All of them…"

"…What?"

The elf's voice quavered as time froze for the prum.

"All of Freya Familia."

"…What the hell is this…"

Mord froze at the scene unfolding before him.

"Oy, what…"

"Wh-what are they…?"

Welf holding his magic sword and Dormul holding his shield both

murmured in shock.

"…Are they crazy…?"

Bors broke into a cold sweat as his uncovered right eye widened.

"They deployed their entire force on the western edge of the island?! Is

this a joke?!"

And Daphne, who had theory-crafted dozens of anticipated enemy

deployments herself, couldn't hide her shock.

Freya Familia had set up their headquarters at the edge of the

precipitous cliff on the westernmost edge of the island, with the waters of

the lake at their back.

It was an area where the ruins of temples littered the ground. There were

150 warriors. They were all wearing the familia honors attire, their uniform

beneath their armor, arrayed like an iron wall.

They showed no sign of moving, and there was no trace of any spells

being readied. None of them so much as twitched.

They had arrayed themselves on the western edge of the ruins like an

army prepared to defend their goddess's castle to the last.

"Where's Lady Freya?! Is she really in the enemy's camp?!"

In the ruins of a market to the east, Lilly screamed into an oculus as her

disbelief showed on her face.

Shock and agitation, confusion and irritation, and more than anything,

apprehension.

She was praying that this was just a trap or an empty nest as she

repeatedly sought confirmation.

"W-wait! ...No, she's there! Goddess Freya is inside the camp, too!

Inside the temple farthest to the back of the camp with its back to the lake!"

In the southwest of the ruins, Luvis had climbed to the top of the tallest

tower on the island and shouted back into the oculus, unable to keep his

calm.

Squinting his eyes that were fittingly sharp for an elven archer, he could

see through the broken roof of the largest temple—the house of the gods—

and inside, he spotted the goddess herself.

She was sitting on a throne that had been prepared for her, not doing

anything. Just casually propping her head up. She suddenly looked up, her

silver eyes clearly looking back at him. Luvis turned deathly pale.

"Is there a detachment?! Is this massive fortress a decoy while the

monsters hit us in the back?!"

"…No, they're all there. At the very least, their core force is inside the

camp. Vana Freya, Bringar, Dáinsleif, Hildsleif…and Ottar, too."

A giant mausoleum sat in the center of the western ruins.

Aisha had moved to the roof of this mausoleum and couldn't hide her

shock. Tsubaki looked like she had just swallowed a bitter pill as she stared

at the details of Freya Familia's formation.

"That's why we couldn't find any trace of them…"

From the start of the war game to now, they hadn't moved one step from

their base.

It wasn't just Tsubaki and Aisha, either. More and more reports came in

from the scouts who had pushed into the western half of the ruins only to be

left speechless.

"A bear-in-the-hole castle…?"

Mikoto was bewildered as she looked at it.

The enemy formation she saw reminded her of a strategy used in a Far

Eastern board game. A castle-like formation that surrounded and protected

the king with every single piece on the board.

"They're literally fighting with their back against the water…!"

Far away from them on the eastern end of the island, Takemikazuchi

groaned as he saw the scene reflected in the oculus that Hestia was holding.

The enemy had cut off their own retreat and forsaken all tricks. They

intended to face down the coalition head-on.

Meanwhile, inside Orario…

"Eh? Ehhh? What do you mean?!"

"They're ignoring the rules…!"

Tiona couldn't follow what was happening, and Aiz gasped.

"So that is what he went with."

Meanwhile, in the same room, Finn narrowed his blue eyes.

"Lord Hermes, this is…!"

"It's not like they've broken any rules. They just ignored the standard

approach for the game."

As confusion spread across the city, inside Babel, Hermes calmly

explained for Asfi, having seen through the strategy.

"It's a plan we can't possibly copy. Something only they could pull

off…"

Back on the island, Hestia tensed as she clenched the oculus in her right

hand.

"Gh…! Master…!"

And the news also reached Bell, who was acting alone to avoid being

noticed by the enemy or his allies. His mind turned to the person who had

surely planned this.

"Why should we go along with pointless rules?"

As the surprise of their deployment rumbled across the battlefield and

over the mountains into Orario itself, Hedin haughtily spoke from his place

in Freya Familia's formation.

Standing atop the temple where he could look out at all of his forces, he

adjusted his glasses with his right hand.

"Inside the range of my voice, the warriors are as freely controlled as

my arms and legs. This method is the most efficient. This formation is the

strongest."

His beautiful golden hair blew in the breeze as he made his declaration.

The silent second-tier and lower einherjar went without saying, but even

the first-tier adventurers, while they scoffed some and looked unhappy

about it, gave their silent assent, too.

"Respond quickly. You have only two options."

Hedin's strategy was exceedingly simple.

He concentrated his forces into a single point—abandoning any thoughts

of hiding or seeking.

As Hestia realized, this was a strategy that was possible only because it

was them.

If the coalition tried it, they would just be trampled by overwhelming

force.

It was because they could bring a heavy-weight prizefighter's force to

bear that they could turn hide-and-seek into a battle royale.

He's a demon…

Lilly turned pale.

Leaving the market in the east with Chigusa, she rushed to the massive

mausoleum where Aisha's group was waiting. When she saw the enemy

layout for herself, she felt her heart freeze.

She had been too naive.

Even though Finn had shared so much information with her, she hadn't

been cognizant enough of it. Of just how much Hedin Selrand loathed

inefficiency and just how ruthless an elf he was. She was reminded again of

just how far beyond her he was as a commander.

He has no intention of any dialogue with me. He isn't going to play

chess! He doesn't care about turn order or rules, he's just telling me to

draw my sword!

He had as good as stabbed a knife down into the board and was telling

her to pick it up and fight him.

Ordinarily, anyone would get caught up in the concept of hide-and-seek.

Where to search.

Where to hide their deity.

Where to spring ambushes.

How to build a strategy to account for all of the possible choices.

But Hedin had transformed what was a troublesome competition for his

side into a more convenient contest of strength. By not scattering his forces,

he had completely nullified Lilly's plan to sacrifice numbers to create an

opening. There wouldn't be any great search for deities. From the moment

Freya Familia chose a fortress strategy, the coalition was left with only two

options.

Charge into it or not.

He's…a demon…!

The thought echoed in her head as her mind raced.

It was the worst sort of choice.

There was no other option. At the very least, Lilly couldn't think of

another one.

She recognized she was being forced to choose between two options that

were both convenient for the enemy.

"Hey, what do we do, commander?!"

She could hear Mord's and Bors's nervous voices ringing from the

oculus.

She couldn't choose a prolonged fight.

Freya Familia's entire force was gathered in one place. And their

fundamental strength was on a different level anyway. Sporadic attacks

would just be driven back, and the casualties on the coalition's side would

only grow. And if they just kept staring at each other, they would be hit by a

crushing attack the moment their focus wavered.

They were far weaker in strength, so at a fundamental level, they

couldn't afford to be put on the defensive. And when it came to the question

of provisions, the coalition, with its significant numerical advantage, was

going to run out of supplies first.

A drawn-out fight was meaningless. Meaningless!

They had no path forward that didn't involve a decisive battle then and

there, just like the enemy wanted!!!

"Lilly…"

"Lady Lilly…"

Chigusa, who was her guard, and Haruhime's squad, which had come

running over to the mausoleum, both noticed the heavy sweat on Lilly's

brow.

Not good, I can't let them see me sweat. If they do, there will be no

calming the panic.

Aisha and Tsubaki, who had waited for her to arrive, and Daphne as

well, all watched quietly as she stood frozen in a maze of shock, not saying

a word.

A head-on fight with Freya Familia was hopeless, but did they have any

choice but to face it?

Only a failure of a commander would make that choice. Was there not

any other path? What would Finn say if he were there?

Would she really have to send her comrades into what was certain

defeat…?

Just as she was about to be crushed by the weight of her responsibility—

"Lilly."

The white oculus hanging at her hip lit up.

"Let's do it."

The boy's voice was trembling. He was struggling with his own fear,

too.

Let's face it together. Saying that, he was putting his hand on Lilly's

back as she stood frozen.

That was enough to shine a light in the dark maze she had been trapped

in.

Her swirling thoughts suddenly cleared, and her racing heart calmed as

she made her decision.

She clenched her hand into a fist.

"—Gather all the scattered forces."

There was still sweat on her cheeks as she glared out at the enemy.

"Quickly re-form the squadrons. Mr. Luvis and the rest of the scouts will

act as a raiding force."

"U-understood!"

"Ms. Haruhime, go inside the building here and put on a reverse veil. Do

not allow the enemy or anyone in the city to notice you, and hang back

close behind Ms. Aisha's unit. Be prepared to cast your Level Boost

whenever needed."

"Y-yes!"

Surprised by the sudden change in Lilly's demeanor, Daphne started

giving directions to Cassandra and her squad while Haruhime and her

Berbera bodyguards went down into the mausoleum for a moment.

"Ms. Chigusa, Lilly doesn't need a guard anymore. Link up with Mr.

Ouka's unit and support them."

"Lilly…yes!"

"Ms. Aisha, Ms. Tsubaki, do we know the location of the enemy's

healers?"

"…No, we can't see them from here."

"They're being kept hidden. We won't know until the fighting starts."

"Then prioritize finding them once the fighting starts. Lilly will search

as best she can, too. Breaking the enemy's lifeline will be crucial…Prepare

magic items for Mr. Luvis's raiders, too."

Chigusa nodded forcefully, and Aisha and Tsubaki smiled as they

responded.

Hearing their commander's unfaltering voice and seeing the

commanding and courageous prum's figure, the coalition forces escaped

their moment of turmoil.

Mord and the others seeing and hearing her through the oculi, and the

adventurers around her, obeyed her instructions without question.

"Other than the raiders, re-form everyone into three divisions. Ms.

Tsubaki will command the center, Ms. Aisha the left wing, and Ms. Daphne

and Mr. Bors the right wing. Distribute the magic swords throughout all

three divisions!"

Morale quickly recovered from its low ebb as Lilly fired off orders.

It was safe to say that the advantage Lilly had tried to gain from the

oculi—communication speed and fidelity—had basically been erased.

If Freya Familia was entirely within earshot and well inside Hedin's line

of sight, then his orders could reach every warrior. Even if there was some

lag, it would just be a rounding error. Their army was firmly under control,

and they would be able to make up for the communication speed of the

oculi.

Because of that, the only clear advantage the coalition had left was the

massive number of Crozzo magic swords they had prepared. They would

have to cut through the strongest deployment using just the powerful magic

swords that Hephaistos Familia had provided and that Welf had mass produced instead of sleeping the past two weeks.

Don't cower! You're standing here for Mr. Bell's sake!

We'll break them.

We have to break through.

Remember the grief and anger!

Shred the enemy formation to get revenge on Freya and her followers

for charming them and making them hurt Bell!

I am this party's commander!

Spurring herself on, Lilly drew the knife, stabbed into the board, and

pointed it at the devilish elf across from her.

"We'll do it…!"

"Passing marks."

After receiving confirmation of the coalition's redeployment, that was

Hedin's evaluation of Lilly's resolution.

If she had turned tail and run just because the enemy was Freya Familia,

or if she had trifled with some pointless stratagem, Hedin had intended to

decimate the coalition in the blink of an eye.

"I despise incompetence. But I will acknowledge the weak who strive

for competence."

An ordinary commander would have cowered at the difference in

strength between the two sides and not have drawn the blade he had thrust

into the board.

On that point, the prum girl who had received Finn's shared wisdom was

passable in the same way as Bell.

"If it's you, then I can cross swords as I planned."

Having silently acknowledged the girl, Hedin gave his order.

"Have them prepare to charge. Do not defend. Only attack."

"Sir!"

As the one adventurer rushed off, the white elf carefully observed the

coalition's movements.

"This is like a dream. Lining up head-on across from Freya Familia…the

Freya Familia…"

"I know what you mean…a nightmare, right?"

Following Lilly's orders, a large number of adventurers started moving

together.

Ogma Familia's Gyle's face drained of color, and Nahza grinned ever so

slightly as she responded.

"I joined because I thought I would be able to fight, too, since they

aren't monsters, but this…this is scary. Really scary."

Her right arm, her airgetlám was trembling.

The opponent was the strongest enemy imaginable. Difficult enough to

make her think a monster rex would be better to face. Even Nahza, who

always had an indifferent look on her face, couldn't avoid being scared.

"…I'm not going to run. I'm doing this to help Bell. I won't hurt him

again."

But even so, she wouldn't say she regretted it.

She was another adventurer who had committed to fight for Bell's sake,

just like Lilly. The smile on her face captivated Gyle, and steeling his

resolve, he smiled back.

"…Same here."

They didn't say anything else as they both headed to where they had

been deployed.

Gyle with his ax to the raid squad, Nahza with her bow and arrows to

the left wing.

"The center should be heavy on walls and focused on defense; the wings

are mobility oriented. The dwarf-only Magni Familia needs to head to the

center."

Lilly was standing atop the massive mausoleum, having sent everyone

else away as she continued to give orders into her oculi.

She wasn't dividing the adventurers by level. It was natural that keeping

members of the same familia together would allow them to work together

more easily. Other than people like Nahza, who didn't feel any restraint—

she was mostly filling the divisions with whole familias.

The center had Tsubaki, Welf, Magni Familia, and many of Hephaistos

Familia's high smiths.

The right wing had Daphne, the healer Cassandra, Ouka and Chigusa,

and the Rivira outlaws led by Bors.

The left wing was Aisha and the ex-Ishtar Familia Amazons. Because

they had notably fewer magic swords than the other two divisions, Mikoto

with her gravity magic had also been deployed there. Behind the three

divisions were the mages and Haruhime's reserves.

"Sh-should we change our positions, too?"

"Don't. It would be pointless for us to do that. All we can do now is

keep hidden and watch."

Inside a certain ruin, Hestia was restlessly staring at the oculus

connected to Lilly while Hephaistos just crossed her arms and leaned

against the wall with her eyes closed.

The eastern half of the island where the coalition deities were hidden

was devoid of adventurers save the deities' bodyguards. The battlefield was

farther west than the dividing line in the middle of the island. The coalition

set up its headquarters at the big mausoleum in the center of the western

region, Freya Familia was deployed to protect the house of the gods on the

western edge of the island, and the two sides were carefully watching each

other.

"…This is the first time I've seen such a quiet war game."

In the city far away, Ibly, who was always so loud and abrasive,

murmured to himself in a voice barely picked up by the magic-stone

megaphone.

He was right, it was quiet.

The only action was the redeployment of the coalition's forces.

Other than that, there were no swords clanging and no battle cries raised.

The deities on the island and the residents of Orario gulped as they

continued to watch.

But finally, the silence was broken.

"…It's time. Advance…"

Having finished their preparations, Lilly gave the order through the

oculus in her hand.

As both camps watched, the crumbling ruins turned into a battlefield

strewn with a sea of rocks. There was no one to stop what had once been

blocks filled with buildings from being turned into a vacant lot. The three

large divisions nervously began to advance in a line toward Freya Familia

in the distance.

"Hold."

Meanwhile Freya Familia was unmoving.

At Hedin's cool command, they maintained their positions, not budging

at all. Some had thrust their spears' pommels into the ground like

gatekeepers, while others just glared with their swords still sheathed.

"Keep advancing. Don't stop…"

Lilly repeated the order as the divisions unconsciously slowed beneath

the glare of so many eyes.

What she wanted was to get into effective range.

To reach the range where the magic swords could spit flames that would

scorch the enemy's forces.

It felt like her life was being shaved away with each step the coalition

force took, but with a will of steel, she had them continue the advance.

"Forward…"

The coalition pressed onward.

"Hold."

The einherjar didn't move.

"Forward…"

A bead of sweat trickled down the prum girl's cheek.

"Hold."

The elven marshal's expression was unmoving.

"Forward…"

The sweat dripped from her chin.

"Hold."

The marshal's eyes wouldn't misjudge the distance.

"Forward!"

The next instant.

"Now."

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

!!!"

The battle cry marked the start of combat.

"They're coming!"

Bors shouted as the einherjar rushed forward in the blink of an eye like a

raging tide.

"Ready the magic swords!"

In the center, Tsubaki's shout reinforced the adventurers who had been

badly shaken.

"Not yet! Don't fire yet!"

On the left wing, Aisha watched for the moment to unleash her fusillade.

"The enemy isn't using any magic yet! They aren't in range, so calm

down!"

On the right wing, Daphne called out her analysis.

In the era of gods, when opposing armies met, it was standard to see

volleys of spells instead of arrows. But there was no magic yet. Meaning

the enemy had grown tired of being cautious of the Crozzo magic swords.

That was how it looked to their eyes.

"Ugh…?!"

But the danger they posed was all too real. Weapons brandished with

malice, bestial roars, and a speed that could only be achieved by those with

terrifying statuses. A disjointed charge poured forth like a torrent, as if they

had no intention of cooperating with one another. Freya Familia's

followers, who built their individual strength by clashing daily in

Folkvangr, didn't pay any attention to their comrades. They only looked to

cut through the coalition lines and scatter the enemy by their individual

strength alone.

It was a charge that brought to mind a twisted mountain of swords, and

Ouka and Chigusa holding their magic swords were overwhelmed by the

vision of it.

"H-hold! Hold! Don't get ahead of yourselves!"

Bors's voice shuddered as he desperately tried to control himself. An

eerie coldness gripped his heart.

They were pushing, closing in, stampeding. Faced with the strongest

warriors who would trample them the moment they closed the distance,

they felt their mouths go dry, but even so, they endured the moment that

seemed to last an eternity.

"Hold, hold! Nowwwwwwww!!!"

And Bors roared, his veins swelling and spittle flying.

"Fire!!!!!!"

Tsubaki gave the signal as well.

The next instant.

"Kazukiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!"

Flames erupted from countless magic swords.

Explosive flames, crackling blizzards, thunderclaps, gales all erupted

into the advancing force.

" GH?!"

The rainbow flashes of artillery intertwined, creating a glorious torrent

of magic power, slamming straight into the onrushing Freya Familia and

drowning out their cries.

Explosions and shock waves shattered the paving stones and shook the

entire ruins.

Explosion after explosion. The concentrated fire of the entire force set

off a chain of detonations, and a flood of destruction followed in the blink

of an eye.

"Giii?!"

"Geeeh!"

"Gaaaaaa?!"

The unwavering cannonade sent a beast person running at the head

tumbling, followed by a human, and then a half-elf.

As the overwhelming and awful contradiction of a rapid-firing artillery

barrage landed all around them, Freya Familia couldn't escape. Even

famous second-tier adventurers fell victim to the magic swords and were

swallowed up in the flash of light.

All of the Crozzo magic swords could output a power that far exceeded

even long-cast magic by an advanced mage. Adding Hephaistos Familia's

magic swords to the mix, the firepower swelled to excessive proportions. It

was a pure show of force capable of pacifying even some of the lower

floors of the Dungeon.

Seeing the wide swath of destruction they had cut before them, even the

adventurers using the magic swords shuddered.

But that shock was immediately replaced by terror.

"—Oooooooooooooooooooo!!!"

They didn't fall.

Even with their skin burning, even after losing their weapons.

Even if they might lose an arm, even if they might have a leg blown off

out from under them.

The followers of the goddess of beauty couldn't be stopped.

"Ahhh?!"

Forgetting that she was a healer, Cassandra clutched her staff and

screamed.

A human kept charging despite being covered in terrible burns.

She saw a dwarf with icicles still hanging from their body, and an

Amazon holding her arm that had been cut off by a blade of wind. No

matter how many times they were blown back, they kept getting up, even

walking over their fallen allies as they charged at the coalition.

"Einherjar!" Daphne shouted.

The army charging through scenes of hell were the epitome of

berserkers.

Freya Familia didn't fear death. They had experienced it countless times

in the daily fighting in Folkvangr, dying and then reviving. There was fear.

Pain, too. But the goddess's formidable followers forced all of that into

submission with their unwavering fealty and pure, honed fighting instinct.

That was why they couldn't be stopped. That was why they continued to

run beneath the furious assault of the magic swords, still seeking battle.

That was why they were einherjar. It was a feat only possible because they

were Freya Familia—and after witnessing that live demonstration of why

they were often called the strongest familia, the coalition adventurers grew

pale and started to recoil in fear.

"D-don't cower! Crush them! Fire! Fire! Fire!!!"

Bors roared in fear, but it was effective. It was a reckless command, but

because it was simple, the adventurers reflexively obeyed. They fired. And

fired. And fired again. Swinging down and swinging up, pleading for the

fearless warriors to be destroyed, they grew desperate as they continued to

unleash their barrage. Cracks formed in the blades, but when they shattered,

one of the adventurers waiting in the reserve would step forward, and a new

magic sword would roar to life.

Even without the divine mirrors, what sounded like a volcanic eruption

echoed over the mountains between Orza and Orario and could be heard by

residents all around the city.

"Whoa…that's crazy…"

"This is just a straight up war."

"But this is the only way Hestia's side can win."

"So this is why that idiot Ares is so obsessed with Crozzo…"

While the people shuddered, the deities in Babel had their own thoughts.

The thunder echoed without end, shaking the entirety of the Beor

mountain range. As the mountains were shaken to their foundations, the

monsters living there fell into a panic and scattered, trying to get as far

away from the giant caldera as they could. And just as the number of

remaining Crozzo magic swords started to reach the halfway mark of their

reserves…

The massive cloud of dust, sparks, ice crystals, wind currents crackling

with electricity, and multicolored magic particles quietly cleared. Just

beyond, countless einherjar lay collapsed on the battlefield where even the

paved stones had been obliterated.

"…Hah, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-hahhh! We did it! Serves you right, you Freya

Familia bastards!"

After almost a minute of silence, when he saw that the enemy wasn't

getting up, Bors started laughing maniacally.

"Screw einherjar! We've got Crozzo's magic swords!"

His laughter spread, and the other adventurers, who were all breathing

heavily, started cheering, too. Even if the einherjar didn't fear death, there

was no one who could escape it. None except for deusdea. Because of that,

the limit would come. The sheer strength of Crozzo's magic swords just

happened to be greater than their fortitude this time.

The coalition roared with excitement.

Even if the enemy's first-tier adventurers hadn't been part of the charge,

they had taken down a large portion of the enemy's fighting strength. It was

safe to call this initial skirmish a complete victory. Holding up the hilts of

broken swords, the members of every familia cheered.

All save a few who grimaced.

Even if there hadn't been any other way, Daphne and Aisha and the likes

of them didn't feel great about a sheer burst of firepower that couldn't really

be called a strategy.

"Rakia's mythic invincibility…dammit!"

In particular, Welf, who had mass-produced the Crozzo magic swords,

had a bitter look on his face. His homeland of Rakia had fought many

countries using countless Crozzo magic swords, turning everywhere they

reached into a wasteland. They had earned the resentment of most elves and

brought the sort of destruction despised by spirits. And the scene before

them was no different from the works of Rakia that gave birth to their

legend of invincibility. Or at least that was how it looked to him.

"I just ended up doing the exact same thing as them…!"

Following the same path that he had so despised, Welf was struck by

intense self-loathing.

But.

There was a misunderstanding in his reaction. He didn't see the whole

picture.

He was too naive.

"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha…huh?"

Bors's loud laughter suddenly stopped. His good eye was focused on the

members of Freya Familia collapsed on the broken, shattered ground. And

countless golden particles the color of twilight.

"—My name is Gold. Arm of the goddess who vows immortality."

And then a sweet voice reached their ears.

"Thrice burned, ever pierced. Hell of flaming spears, yet light is born

laying death low."

It was coming from the enemy's formation. They appeared, standing

within the clearing cloud of dust in the distance.

"The Andhrímnir?!"

Lilly was the first to realize they were there. Her hazel eyes picked out

the group wearing white robes like a band of priestesses. She shouted,

realizing she had been slow to notice them because the fusillade unleashed

by the magic swords had created a curtain of smoke covering the battlefield.

"Rejoice, be merry, go wild. My body is gold. Source of renewing light,

bring endless conflict here."

Her long, faintly crimson hair was tied back in two tails. She wore a

white pinafore over a red nurse's dress and token armor. The one difference

between Heith Velvet and the other healers and herbalists was she held a

rod embossed with gold decorations as she wove her spell.

A giant golden magic circle appeared in the center of the battlefield

strewn with piles of corpses. Time froze for the coalition forces. They

simply couldn't believe the scale of the magic.

"Zeo Gullveig."

It was a healing spell that covered a massive area. The special ability of

the girl who had supported the baptism in Folkvangr all by herself activated

—and the fallen einherjar revived.

"What?!"

Bathed in the golden magic welling up from the ground, the human's

scorch marks and the beast person's frostbite completely disappeared. The

dwarf and Amazon pressed their severed limbs to their wounds, and after an

eruption of magic energy, they regained the use of their limbs. And like the

dead rising anew, more warriors tottered back to their feet.

"I have received Lady Freya's permission. Starting now, this is a new

Folkvangr."

Ignoring the coalition staring in shock, Heith calmly spoke.

"Welcome, brave savages."

Despite those words, her eyes were cold, as if she was looking at insects

rather than warriors. It was a gaze Bell had never seen coming from her.

Instead of a reliable healer, she was a merciless enemy. The beautiful girl

with a visage almost like a goddess's delivered the death sentence.

"The blessing of battle upon all of you."

There was an intense gleam in the eyes of the newly revived einherjar.

"Th-the magic swords!" Lilly shouted.

"Too late," Hedin concluded.

"Go forth, einherjar," Heith delivered the goddess's command.

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

OOOOOOOO!!!"

A second charge.

This time, the fearless charge slammed into the coalition's lines.

"No waaaaaaaaaaay?!"

Bors's scream was drowned out by a deafening war cry.

The einherjar had covered half the distance in the initial charge, and now

their sprint was carrying them the rest of the way as they unleashed their

swords, spears, axes, and hammers.

The coalition's shield wall immediately braced themselves as the lines

crashed.

"Guoooooooooo?!"

Dormul shouted in shock the moment the enemy's charge landed.

His shield caved in and the heavily armored dwarf forced back.

"I—I can't hold them?!"

The struggle only lasted a moment.

Magni Familia's defenses were shredded in the blink of an eye, and they

were all flung clear.

"Gaaah! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!"

After their shield wall collapsed, the adventurers' screams were

inevitably going to follow. Under the brutal assault of the einherjar, their

armor shattered, their weapons snapped in half, and before long, blood was

splattering everywhere. And from there, it was a familiar scene. The

unforgiving math of superior levels and statuses utterly crushed the lowerlevel adventurers.

A human cut down, a beast person run through, an elf hit by a thrown

sword, Amazons thrown back all at once. After Dormul and the other

dwarves had been sent flying, dozens of pairs of sabbaton forced their way

through the hole. Panic and confusion consumed the coalition, and the line

began to buckle.

"Dammit!"

Aisha's voice roared as she swung her sword in a one-sided melee.

The right wing, the left wing, and the center had all been shattered the

instant they made contact. The front line was crumbling, leaving the mages

and Haruhime's reserves in the rear very exposed.

There were some who unleashed their Crozzo magic swords even if it

meant hitting allies, but it was no use. Even if some of them were blown

away, Freya Familia wouldn't stop. Ignoring their comrades that fell, the

einherjar thought of nothing besides slashing into the enemy. The most

nightmarish part of it was that even if three coalition adventurers banded

together to attack, they would be taken out by just a single einherjar.

In the age of gods, quality outweighed quantity.

Just one higher-level adventurer could easily dominate a hundred

nobodies. In a fight against opponents who were superior even in

techniques and tactics, the coalition's adventurers were helpless.

"They're too strong…?! Even the weakest of them is too much! All of

them are like this!"

Mikoto couldn't do anything but focus on evasion as she endured attacks

from all sides.

She was forced to use shinobi skills to survive rather than fight head-on

like a samurai. Smoke bombs, grenades, and her kunai Shakuya—she was

going through weapons and items at a rate that was going to leave her

empty-handed soon.

She finally managed to cut down a single person, but she could tell from

the response that it was a mere Level 1 adventurer. As she stood still, struck

by that merciless realization, she was nearly decapitated and was forced to

continue fighting.

The strongest familia.

They should have been aware of the weight of that reputation already,

but Mikoto shuddered as the full force of it hit her.

"Ms. Haruhime! Cast your level boost on Ms. Aisha, Ms. Mikoto, Ms.

Daphne, Mr. Bors, and Mr. Welf!"

"R-right away!"

With the coalition being shredded, Lilly wasn't going to stand idly by.

She was deploying five tails. With her level up, Haruhime could now

handle six, but the Mind cost grew with each tail. When she used five

during the expedition, she had almost slipped into Mind Down, but Lilly

couldn't worry about that now. To hold the line, she had to use their cheat

card without holding back.

"—Mages! Commence your attack! Serket Familia through Ratri

Familia, focus fire on the center of the line!"

This was also the time for Command Call.

The effect of the skill she had gained with her level-up allowed her

words to travel farther when she shouted above a certain volume.

So if she raised her voice, it was possible for her orders to reach people's

ears even on the most intense battlefields. This was how she was sending

orders to those who hadn't received an oculus.

Standing on the roof of the giant mausoleum looking out at all of the

divisions fighting, Lilly used her skill and the oculi to send out more orders.

But she couldn't erase the concern she was feeling.

"They got us to waste our magic swords!"

The initial charge of the einherjar had seemed reckless, but the true

purpose was to bait the coalition into using their Crozzo magic swords.

Hedin hadn't underestimated the threat that Welf and Hephaistos

Familia's magic swords posed. So he had provoked them to waste a large

portion of their limited resources on a failed attack that was completely

negated by the Andhrímnir. The fierce counterattack was just a cherry on

top.