"Miss Medea, what on earth is going on?"
After leaving the north wall under Medea's cover, Ritsuka voiced his concerns.
"Ah, that? Lord Merlin was quite generous. Though it may be just a small favor for him, it has been incredibly beneficial to me."
"Ha, did Merlin give you his illusion technique?"
Ritsuka's eyes widened at the thought.
Imagine if Medea had used an illusion like Merlin's...
No, that's not the point.
Ritsuka shook her head and tried to focus.
"Ms. Medea, what's the current situation?"
Ritsuka was taken aback when, after some thought, Medea shook her head decisively.
"Actually... I'm not entirely sure."
"Miss Medea doesn't know either?"
Lily frowned and asked.
"It seems the Master doesn't want us involved in what comes next. Maybe it's for our own good. After all, apart from the divine presence we have here, our combat power is quite limited."
Medea shook her head again, her expression turning serious.
"But I have a very bad feeling about this."
"A bad feeling?" Mash asked, interrupting.
Medea nodded.
"So, I hope you'll accompany me on a trip."
"A trip?"
Ritsuka hesitated, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"But we have crucial information to deliver to Ophis..."
Even though Merlin's last words had been cryptic, they shouldn't be ignored. Merlin was highly skilled, and his words were worth conveying to Ophis.
"Really?"
Medea tapped her lips thoughtfully and glanced at Quetzal.
"Indeed, we can't disregard the Master's instructions... In that case, why not send someone with the message? We have sufficient combat power here already."
Ritsuka's mouth twitched.
It seems the real reason Medea sought out a Master was due to the goddess's overwhelming combat power.
───────────────────────────────
In the city of Uruk, the evacuation was proceeding in an orderly fashion. At the end of the line, a middle-aged priest in robes, his face resolute, stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
"The monsters are climbing over the wall and entering the city!"
A voice from afar alerted the highest-ranking priest, causing a shift in his expression. It was the report from the young priest stationed at the city wall.
As expected, the sheer number of monsters was too great. Even with the goddess and others fighting, they couldn't completely halt them.
"How many?"
"Not too many yet, but they're coming in steadily. The city guards at the wall can't hold them back for much longer."
The young priest's face showed anxiety despite his controlled breath.
The middle-aged priest nodded.
The evacuation was nearly complete; they just needed to hold out a little longer...
Determination set in his eyes, the middle-aged priest patted the young priest on the shoulder.
"It's up to you to guide the people."
"Ah?"
Before the young priest could react, he felt his body lighten as the middle-aged priest took away the sword at his waist.
"We're going as well."
The other priests, having heard the situation, gathered around the middle-aged priest, weapons drawn. A few younger priests were left behind.
They were the flame of Uruk.
Led by the middle-aged priest, they marched toward the monsters.
This era favored strength over rules. Those who lacked swordsmanship or combat skills couldn't reach their current positions.
In fact, their fighting prowess might surpass their administrative abilities.
The middle-aged priest's attention was drawn by the sound of armor clanking, and he raised an eyebrow.
A team of about fifty fully armed black-armored warriors approached from the corner ahead.
"Sir."
The lead warrior bowed slightly, saluting the priests.
"Didn't you say your mission was to protect the temple?"
The middle-aged priest frowned.
These troops directly under Ophis were reliable but overly rigid. If Ophis commanded one thing, they'd follow it to the letter... This inflexibility could be a virtue, but it often led to resentment when support was refused.
The lead warrior maintained his expressionless demeanor.
"By King Ophis's latest order, we will assist you in repelling the invading monsters."
"Really?"
The middle-aged priest nodded in initial agreement, his aloofness giving way to wide-eyed surprise.
"Wait, the king has returned?"
───────────────────────────────
Siduri slowly regained consciousness.
During her coma, the final transformation was completed on its own. The dragon's power surged through her, enhancing her condition beyond its previous limits.
Siduri could no longer be considered human.
Pure-blooded dragons could create followers with their blood, so transforming an ordinary human was relatively simple.
While she hadn't reached the level of a true pure-blooded dragon, Siduri's current bloodline marked her as a superior member of the dragon clan.
Her mind was still foggy as she sensed softness at the back of her head.
"Hmm…"
Opening her eyes in confusion, Siduri was startled to see Ophis's delicate face... upside down.
"King!?"
Siduri sat up in surprise.
"Ophis, you're awake?"
"Ophis, what just happened...?"
Siduri glanced at Ophis's robe-covered thighs, her cheeks flushed beneath her veil. She quickly composed herself.
Now, looking at Ophis, Siduri felt a kinship as if facing a blood relative.
"King, when did you return?"
After adjusting her mindset, Siduri bowed respectfully.
"Just now."
"Congratulations on your safe return, King. But what is your current situation?"
Accustomed to Ophis's vague responses, Siduri went straight to the crucial issues.
Ophis nodded and waved her hand, unfolding a screen.
The video showed city guards engaged in battle with grotesque monsters. The city guards were clearly losing ground and couldn't hold out much longer. Meanwhile, many monsters bypassed the defenders by scaling the buildings and headed straight for the heart of Uruk.
This sight tightened Siduri's heart.
"My king, please help!"