Chapter 195 : Chapter 195

Chapter 195: Lilith Eradication Operation (7)

Operation?

Nothing much changed.

The existing raid parties would remain as they were.

Their roles would also be maintained.

The only thing that needed to change was the final objective, from killing Lilith to subduing her.

In other words, you could say that only my mission in the 1st raid party, whose goal was to kill Lilith, had changed.

Still, there was one thing I needed to make them aware of, so I gathered the professors.

Excluding Rachel and the cadets.

“You all know that subduing is generally more difficult than killing. But I do have a method. No, to be precise, it would be more accurate to call it a vision rather than a method. I hope you will understand that it is difficult to explain what kind of vision it is.”

Section Chief Baron and the others showed their curiosity but soon nodded their heads.

Even they knew that it was not polite to ask various things about the other person's vision.

“One problem is that even I cannot guarantee what result this vision will bring.”

However, at these words of mine, the professors had no choice but to raise their doubts.

“Hmm? What does that mean? That you don't know the result of the vision?”

“Literally. This is the first time I'm using this vision, so I don't know what the result will be.”

“Wait a minute. By any chance, that vision. Are you able to handle it perfectly?”

Ronica Jasmine, who had been listening quietly as a magician would, asks with her eyes narrowed sharply.

I looked at her for a moment and then shook my head.

“I can't be one hundred percent sure of that either.”

Although I had borrowed it, [Judgment] was strictly Uriel's power given to Roland.

I couldn't be sure if it would be permitted to me, and even if it was possible to use it, there would be a condition, and I didn't know if I could fulfill Uriel's demand, which would be that condition.

“Then isn't it an incomplete method?”

“That's right. This is an incomplete method. So, if this attempt fails, we will kill Lilith as originally planned. Well, not much will change. Nevertheless, the reason I'm bothering to bring this up is because of her.”

“Right. Rachel.”

I nodded my head.

“She must not know this fact. Of course, it must be kept secret from her friends, the cadets, as well. I believe that you, who are experienced, know well what dangers will be brought about when personal feelings are involved in such an operation.”

“Seeing as you’re saying this, it seems the probability of that attempt of yours succeeding is very low.”

I could not answer immediately.

“I’ve never taken on a request that I wasn't sure of. But…… honestly, I don't know about this one.”

“……”

“If it fails, I will send a signal. Then we will kill Lilith as originally planned, but I believe there will be strong opposition from Rachel. At that time, please stop her.”

The atmosphere of the professors sank heavily.

So, I was telling them to hold Rachel's arms and legs so that we could comfortably kill Lilith and Reina.

Although they were all veterans, they were also people with a lot of human affection.

Not only Professor Ilai and Section Chief Baron, but also Chaser Idna and Ronica Jasmine had an extraordinary affection for the cadets, to the point of spending time with them outside of the designated class hours.

Among them, there was no one who did not know Rachel's story.

It was natural to want to save Rachel's sister from the clutches of the demon and return her to Rachel if possible.

“……Still, you’re going to try, right?”

It was Ronica Jasmine.

I looked at her anxiously wavering pupils and then opened my mouth.

“I have never once given up on a request.”

* * *

At the Academy, there is a place that looks like the Colosseum in Rome, used for regular duels between cadets, events to show off martial prowess, and to hold swordsmanship competitions.

The Plaza of Valor.

Right.

This was the place where the entrance ceremony was held at the beginning of this year, and where the cult's terror first began with the Swamp Orcs.

As in the original work, I had expected Lilith to be staying in this Plaza of Valor, and that guess was exactly right.

We, who had entered the Plaza of Valor while avoiding the seduced people, and knocking them down when we couldn't, were finally able to face her, who was sitting loftily in the middle of the platform like a queen.

“You’ve come?”

It goes without saying, but she was not alone.

The spectator seats that surrounded the area in a circle were filled not with spectators, but with people who had been seduced by her.

The guards and cadets.

The only relief was that there were no professors, but it seemed they were outside, trying to catch the Vice-Dean.

‘No, wait. It’s not that there are none.’

The spectator seats are located in the north.

There was someone sitting there, all alone.

A man with a large build and a neurotic impression.

‘Allen Desico.’

Why?

When he was a professor, he was so unlucky and annoying, but now, seeing him on the enemy's side, drooling, was even more annoying.

To the point where I wanted to change the raid party for a very brief moment.

‘In a way, it’s a chance, right? Because now is the way to legally beat him up.’

It seemed this was not just my thought, as I could hear the conversation between Chaser and Ronica next to me.

“Th-um. Let’s beat him up.”

“Of course. That dog-lik…… ahem. Do you know how much I was overworked under that Department Head? I’m going to tie him up and beat him. The catalyst? I'm definitely not just going to feed it to him.”

It seemed a lot had built up.

Thanks to that, the atmosphere, which had been frozen due to the presence of the demon and the overwhelming number of enemies, loosened a little.

To the point where a 'puhat' sound of laughter came out.

It was then.

Lilith raised her hand.

“Get ready.”

“They’re coming!”

The cadets rushed towards us, who were in the south.

And against them, we moved according to the formation we had pre-arranged.

The first move was Professor Ilai's.

The Bible, which had already opened in her hand, floated up in the air and flapped as if it would tear.

Immediately after.

Kwaaaah!

An intense beam of light that fell from the sky mercilessly struck down on the platform where Lilith was.

Kyaaaaaaak──!

Lilith lets out a pained scream.

[Heavenly Punishment].

The light was quickly withdrawn, but the peeled skin, the hot steam, and Lilith's pained panting reaction let us know that our first surprise attack had hit home.

“Alright!”

“I’m sorry. Haak. Th-this is my limit.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Professor Ilai, who seemed to be exhausted from using Heavenly Punishment from the very beginning, hugged the Bible and struggled.

But her mission did not end there.

Professor Ilai, who had opened the Bible again, bestowed a blessing upon us.

[Heuu. Heuuu! So there was a cleric? Kill the cleric first! Now!]

Before long, Lilith's voice had completely changed to that of a demon.

The 2nd raid party, the Guard Captain and Section Chief Baron, blocked the two paths where the enemies were swarming to protect Professor Ilai.

Just in case, even Rachel was positioned next to Professor Ilai.

The rest, the 1st and 3rd raid parties, ran forward.

Towards Lilith.

Tadat!

As I run across the plaza, I glance to the side.

Chaser Idna, who was running alongside me, looked at me.

A nod.

And we split into two again.

The 1st raid party and the 3rd raid party.

Chaser Idna, along with Clatter and Ronica Jasmine, circled the platform.

And they ambushed the man, Allen Desico, who was striding towards Professor Ilai.

Kwaang!

Good.

That side has started too.

I raised my staff.

Kkaang!

With a heavy impact, something hard and thick was deflected.

It was Lilith's nail.

She had extended her long nails and was swinging them at us as we ran.

It was true that it was fast and sharp, making it difficult to approach.

But it was just difficult, there was a way.

[Phase Shift].

Before I knew it, I was in front of Lilith.

With Roland's holy sword in one hand.

Kiiiing!

The intense brilliance emitted from the blade brightly colored the surroundings.

* * *

Although he had spoken tough, saying he would beat him up and all.

Chaser was actually anxious.

Because he had no idea what the skill of the bandaged swordsman, called Clatter by the Skull Mask, was.

‘We’ve never once coordinated our movements, but can I subdue Department Head Allen with him?’

He had seen him fight at the Ladrier Hotel before.

His dazzling and light footwork had caught Chaser's attention at once.

But it was too brief, and the situation at that time was so chaotic that it was somewhat difficult to properly judge his skill.

‘Department Head Allen is a difficult opponent.’

Even he himself could not guarantee a win.

No.

If they were to fight one-on-one properly, he would probably win.

But that was 'barely'.

Also.

‘This isn’t a life-or-death battle, is it?’

Allen Desico was a senior who had dedicated himself to the royal empire earlier than him, and was now a colleague working in the same place.

He had to protect his life, not take it.

To do that, he would inevitably have to control his strength, and if that were the case, Chaser was not confident that he could beat the person named Allen Desico.

‘It’s the same even if Ronica helps. A magician can’t give much of an influence to a Mage.’

At best, it would be supported.

So, the only one he could rely on was that man named Clatter…….

‘Huu. The situation is what it is, so the stress is no joke.’

What was more stressful was that he didn't even answer when he asked him something.

Tak!

When he opened his mouth, all that came out was this strange sound.

‘Damn it. Really.’

Even the good-natured Chaser Idna was going crazy.

‘I have to succeed.’

According to the Skull Mask's story, the importance of his raid party's mission was second to none.

In a way, they were the vanguard.

Because only when they finished their mission the fastest could the next raid party do their work.

A heavy sense of responsibility weighed on his shoulders.

Chaser gripped the catalyst he had put in his pocket tightly.

‘Damn it.’

He decided to talk to Ronica about this concern.

Since she was smarter than him, she might have some way.

But what do you know?

Ronica was unexpectedly not worried at all.

“He just subdued senior, you know?”

“No. You said that was a surprise attack, right? And with the Skull Mask too!”

“That’s also true. But Professor Ilai and the Section Chief said it’s fine.”

“……Eh? Really?”

“Yeah.”

Chaser blinked his eyes.

He might not know about Professor Ilai, but Baron Tesda was reliable.

Before he was the Section Chief of the Academy who managed the students, he was an outstanding swordsman who had devoted many years to the sword and was on the verge of becoming a Master.

Also, during their time together in the Central Royal Knights, he was the person who had seen what he had missed and guided him on the right path.

‘Does senior know something?’

He didn't know what it was, but in any case, he decided to believe those words.

In fact, he didn't have any other choice.

And so, now.

Chaser was momentarily captivated by the martial prowess unfolding before his eyes.

‘Wh-what?’

The best wind mage in the royal empire, Allen Desico.

Taking advantage of the characteristic of wind-attribute magic, whose casting time gets faster as one's level increases, the [Spatial Leap] he used was like a ghost that moved, leaving only a faint afterimage.

The magic combination of using [Spatial Leap] continuously while firing thousands of [Blade Winds] and [Air Cannons] from all directions was his proud technique.

The reason why Allen Desico was called the only battle mage who could fight in close combat with a top-level Expert knight was also thanks to that technique.

However.

‘How is that person moving like that?’

There was another monster-like person here.