𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟓: 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧
“I hate it! I hate it! I hate it! I hate ittttttttTTTTT!”
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The voice emitted by the Legion was a creepy echo, alternating between that of a man, a woman, a child, and an elderly person.
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“Well, of course, you’d hate it. You’ve lost your country, your capital, and even your family. But.”
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I cut off my words and thrust the Flame Cut.
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“But! If you hadn’t gone astray, tens of thousands of people wouldn’t have had to die!”
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Don’t scream as if it’s your own tragedy.
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If you had honestly agreed to Demon King Ingral’s peace plan, if you hadn’t invaded Gaillia, this wouldn’t have happened.
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Kicking the cobblestones, I make my move.
In one breath, I intend to slash him apart with Flame Cut.
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“Do I have to be killed again?! How many times should I die?!”
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However, the sight of a young child’s face appearing before my blade made me inadvertently stop my hand.
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I had never seen him before, but he was probably a royal child.
I can’t help but think of unnecessary things.
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“What?!”
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I fell into such an obvious trap!
I tried to leap back in a hurry, but it was too late. The Legion’s hands touched my body.
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“Gah. . . . . .”
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Unable to bear it, I knelt down, placing both hands on the ground and vomiting.
I vomited blood that was dark and cloudy.
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Did I receive a curse. . . . . .
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“Neldan-san?!”
“Nelnel!”
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Meg and Salieri attacked the Legion, who was about to deliver the final blow.
Throwing knives stuck into him one after another, and a fireball jumped out from the flaming sword Ifreet, burning its surface.
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The Legion flinches just a bit.
The holy magic imbued in Meg’s weapon, Salieri’s flame, they all have a special effect against undead.
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But, it’s no good if we break formation.
I’m fine, so get back to your original position.
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Somehow trying to stand up, I put strength into both of my legs.
At that moment, I was lightly lifted up.
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“Huh?!”
“There’s no way a mother could kill a child, even if it’s a ghost. I knew that from the start!”
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It was Asuka’s voice.
What was reflected in my fading vision was her brilliantly red hair.
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“Stupid you. . . . . .Meisha’s protection. . . . . .”
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If all four of them come here, only Miliaria will be left in their original position.
Even though there are other ghosts.
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“No problem! Magic Missile! All Direction Guidance!”
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A large number of light bullets appeared around the shouting Miliaria.
There were about fifty of them. It was too many to count in a split second.
Could she really control all of that?
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“Go!”
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She buries all the approaching ghosts, not leaving a single one.
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“Asuka! Take mom to Meisha now!”
“I know!”
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My body was transported in the blink of an eye.
It felt like a princess in a story, but I was merely carried on a shoulder, more like baggage than anything else.
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Rather, in fact, I’m just a burden.
How pathetic!
To think that I’d be a hindrance!
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I feel like I would want to hide in a hole if there was one.
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“Mei! Leave it to you!”
“I will heal you perfectly. You can count on me.”
“Leave it to you! I will go and punish that guy for a bit!”
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Asuka, leaving me to Meisha, heads towards the Legion.
Around us, ghosts shot down by Miliaria continued to explode without sound.
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“You directly took the brunt of the vengeful spirits, Mama Nel. It could’ve been a one-hit kill if you hadn’t been careful.”
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Meisha’s hand removes my breastplate.
Comforting myself that I escaped injury, all thanks to my sturdy willpower.
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As my clothes are stripped off, a large, dark discoloration runs from my chest to my stomach.
It feels utterly disgusting to see this on my own body.
It hardly seems like something that would be found on a living person.
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“It is an advantage to be able to undress Mama Nel every time he gets injured.”
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While making jokes about wanting to undress me in a more romantic situation, Meisha draws a holy symbol.
Just that alone, it feels like the pain consuming my body has eased.
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As the afflicted area is gently stroked with a holy phrase, the discolored skin gradually returns to its original state.
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“You couldn’t cut because it was a child.”
“Did you see it too, Meisha? How disgraceful.”
“I didn’t see it. However, among countless hands of resentment, there was only a single small hand trying to prevent Mama Nel’s death.”
“I see. . . . . .”
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“Even though he was killed by his grandfather without understanding the reasons, and even though he was transformed into a collection of evil spirits, a handful of good conscience seems to have been left. May your journey be at peace.”
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The last words are probably not directed at me.
Something leaves my body and ascends to the heavens.
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“You’re good now, Mama.”
“Thank you. Back to the fight immediately.”
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As I say that and try to stand up, I’m knocked back down.
A large chest hits my back.
But before that, it’s heavy.
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“Guuuh, what are you doing?”
“You can’t do that yet. Command from here.”
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She helps me get up.
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I’m indeed unsteady.
Being half-naked and having to rely on my daughter to stand, I’m a pathetic Strategist.
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“Everyone! I’m sorry! I can’t participate in the frontline, so I’ll give instructions from here!”
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I shout loudly.
To report to my comrades that I’m safe.
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[OK!]
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The voices of my daughters echo back.
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The ghosts have been taken care of by Miliaria.
The remaining enemy is only the Legion.
Let’s finish them all at once.
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“Asuka! Don’t get too close! You’ll get cursed!”
“Yep!”
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As she speeds up and disturbs the enemy, the red-haired swordsman continues her hit-and-run attacks.
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“Salieri! Prioritize coordination with Asuka.”
“Roger~”
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When Asuka steps back, the dark elf hero steps forward at the right timing.
This is their coordination.
That’s why the vanguard of [Hope] is strong.
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“Meg! Don’t try to get to the front line. Maintain distance and use projectiles.”
“I know that.”
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The scout with chestnut-colored hair retreats to a midline position, dodging the extended hand of the Legion by swiftly moving like a dragonfly.
This position for guerrilla warfare is her true capability.
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“Miliaria. Can you still go?”
“I’m fine, Mom.”
“If so, I need your support fire. Divert the enemy’s attention from the vanguard.”
“Even if I defeat them, it’s okay.”
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While bragging, Miliaria releases magic missiles one after another.
Even though she doesn’t have any magical power left to shoot her icicle lance.
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But, that’s okay.
The brain of the team always needs to be confident.
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The Legion, being chopped up, battered by thrown knives and magic, lets out a death cry.
Their hideous bodies start to collapse.
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The eastern sky is beginning to lighten.
The long, long night is over, and the dawn has come.
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“You no longer need to hesitate.”
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Meisha murmurs quietly.
It probably was a kind of monologue and likely wasn’t expecting a reply.
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But I,
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“That’s right.”
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Agreed with a slight nod.
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