32 – Openha

“I’d be grateful for your assistance.”

I didn’t know why she, who should have been at the academy, had appeared in the middle of this dangerous battlefield, but what mattered was that with Etilla’s help, I could safely repair the tank’s wheels.

Etilla immediately cast a concealment barrier.

As quickly as a puppy, eagerly awaiting its master’s command.

As the barrier unfolded, the chilling footsteps of the demons gradually faded away.

Thanks to that, I was able to repair the tank without incident.

Etilla stood nearby, watching me work.

Her lips kept twitching, she seemed to have something she wanted to ask me.

“You can ask me comfortably.”

“I was just wondering if you built it.”

“Half of it, yes. My sister did the design.”

For reference, the setting was that Haniel had designed the Hell Tank.

Either way, I was planning to leave the estate after this trial, and my sister seemed intent on remaining to continue facing the trials.

I intended to give my sister the credit for developing the Hell Tank.

As I’d emphasized time and again, I had no desire for fame.

Living a comfortable and peaceful life was my dream.

If I can just sell this Hell Tank to the Red Mage Tower after this Zenith, then use the money to find a decent house, pay Dalpi her salary, and cover Haniel’s treatment, wouldn’t that be just perfect?

Giving away the credit is actually better for my own well-being.

Of course, it’s troubling that somehow everyone knows the Zenith is happening earlier than planned…

Life’s graduation isn’t far off now.

If I can just get through this hurdle, I can live a life of extravagance and debauchery that would make the King jealous, spending my days in leisure, never working again.

Ester Tristy, aja aja fighting!

“Tell me honestly, you’re not 15, are you?!”

Etila suddenly interrogated me out of nowhere.

“I am 15.”

“It doesn’t make any sense that you can assemble and repair these machines at the same age as me!”

“There are all sorts of people in the world. Some, like me, can assemble and repair machines like this even at 15.”

“uuugh…”

Etila wore a bewildered expression.

“W-well… I could probably assemble and repair them the same way if I had the blueprints too… I-if I studied for a month, that is!”

I watched her turn her head away with a petulant air, and thought.

I’ve been feeling it for a while now, is Etila perhaps envious of my talent?

“……”

I hope she doesn’t get too discouraged.

Her opponent isn’t a person, but Nob AI.

『……』

『(◔_◔)』

Anyway, the repairs are safely completed.

“It’s done. Thank you for your help during this time.”

“Hmph…”

I’ve answered her questions many times by now, so this much gratitude should suffice.

I reached for the hatch, intending to enter.

“B-before you leave, just, um, can I take a peek inside…?”

“Are you curious?”

Etila hesitated, then squeezed her eyes shut and nodded.

“Yeah…”

Honestly, even I felt a certain curiosity about the insides of this strangely-shaped railway carriage.

“Come in.”

I climbed into the cockpit, and just as Etelia was carefully descending into the interior,

『Strong mana reaction detected in the north. Please exercise caution.』

*Kiii-geeeak-*

An ominous sound echoed from the ceiling.

“Kyaa!?”

Etelia hadn’t even fully descended before the hatch began to move. Thankfully, it wasn’t moving at a threatening speed, so she wasn’t injured, but her waist got caught in the closing gap.

It felt like watching one of those damsels stuck in a wall that frequently appear in *that* sort of manga.

『Limited edition underwear, “Sky String,” created by Frozenheart, the most famous clothing designer in the Kingdom of Justina.』

To my eyes, they just looked like sky-blue striped panties, but considering the black dress she was wearing, Etelia seemed to be a well-off noble lady, after all.

“I, I’m a little stuck…!!”

“…….”

『With less fabric than common undergarments, the daring design is particularly popular among some of the bolder young ladies….』

You really don’t need to go into such detail.

『I was simply attempting to provide a helpful explanation for the user who hasn’t been able to take their eyes off Miss Etelia’s lower half… I’ll keep it in mind for next time.』

Quiet!

『…….』

『(๑°⌓°๑)』

“What are you just doing down there? Don’t just stand there watching, help me….”

“Just stay still for a moment, please.”

I grasped Etelia’s flailing legs.

“Where do you think you’re touching!?”

“I’ve told you to stay still twice now.”

Anyone who heard that would misunderstand me as a pervert.

Although circumstances had led me to touching a young woman’s bare skin, it wasn’t for any lascivious desires, but purely for the greater good.

I pulled Etelia downwards.

“It hurts…!!”

“I’ve told you to stay still three times now.”

That moment, Etilla descended with a whoosh.

I managed to catch her safely below, preventing a hard fall to the floor.

“D-did you see…?”

Etilla’s face was as red as a radish.

Judging by how even her ears were flushed, she was immensely mortified.

I shifted the subject for the girl’s sake.

“In any case, this is the interior.”

“Hmph, it’s surprisingly spacious and comfortable…”

“It’s designed for prolonged activity inside.”

Etilla inspected the inside of the tank.

Honestly, I didn’t know much since Nob AI designed and controlled it.

Nevertheless, Etilla was diligently taking notes, her eyes sparkling, proving she was a very studious friend.

Had it been about three minutes?

“So, what are you planning to do with this invention?”

“I intend to return to my family and protect the territory.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

I smirked faintly.

With Nob AI by my side, there was nothing to fear.

Only I could possibly understand this feeling.

Etilla gazed at my smile meaningfully.

And…

“Don’t get hurt, stay safe…”

I winked at Etilla, who was looking at me with concern.

It felt like, for the first time in a long time, I was experiencing a normal human relationship.

For the first time in a long while, I felt warmth from someone other than Dalphy, Haniel, or the servants.

“Don’t worry. Etilla should wait safely in the dormitory until everything is over, rather than being in a dangerous place like this.”

I opened the hatch.

Before leaving, Etilla told me,

“I-I could help a little more if you need it…”

“You should sit at your desk and study during that time.”

Etilra wore a pert expression.

“I’m already doing plenty!”

Huffing, I tossed a parting shot at Etilra as she marched towards the Academy.

“Oh, and you might want to be a bit more discreet with your undergarments until after your coming-of-age ceremony.”

“Hey!!!”

Vroom–

Without looking back, I bolted.

She was a friend with a good punch.

*

The Tristi Autonomous Territory was in the worst shape of all the eastern regions of the Kingdom.

The number of demons that spawned there was vastly superior to that of other territories.

Roughly triple the amount.

The Tristi Autonomous Territory began to teem with countless demons.

They advanced to destroy everything.

It was a scene so terrifying, it left onlookers speechless.

But.

Porto’s expression remained impassive.

“Derald, lead the knights and immediately support the Richter Territory. Redrock, take two thousand soldiers and head to Argento. David…”

Rather, Porto dispatched his vassals to aid other territories.

Demons were attacking the defensive lines with relentless force.

In a situation where a single mistake could bring about total collapse, supporting other territories was a choice not easily made, even by the bold.

“Understood, Lord.”

No one questioned it.

He was the supreme commander, the one with the strongest voice in the territory.

Porto had proven the correctness of his judgments time and again.

His thoughts and actions were always imbued with certainty.

This time was no different.

At Porto’s command, everyone moved with perfect coordination.

Soldiers formed a bulwark, halting the demons’ advance.

Knights and mages prioritized eliminating the dangerous entities that could create variables.

The magic artillery entrenched in the defense lines scythed through the Mazoku.

These were not supported by the Crimson Magic Tower, but were instead armaments personally owned by the Tristi Autonomous Territory.

Mages, it should be known, did not exclusively exist within the Magic Towers.

There were combat mages who followed the battlefields with mercenaries, amassing fortunes, and civil servants employed in institutions directly managed by the kingdom.

Most notably, there were noble mages who majored in magic at the academy, graduated, but failed to adapt to the Magic Tower system.

Because the academy existed, Tristi was in a far easier position than other territories to retain skilled mages.

It was simply a matter of securing the noble mages who graduated.

Mages were useful in many fields, including agriculture, industry, education, geography, and military affairs.

Tristi knew how much the number of mages affected the development of the territory, and after Porto became the head of the family, it came to possess the most mages among the autonomous territories.

The aura users, who could be considered a considerable military resource, also often graduated from the academy and served as knights in Tristi’s order.

This was the biggest reason why Tristi’s head of the family, despite holding only the title of Count, could rival the marquesses who possessed numerous territories.

As the Mazoku offensive subsided, Porto gathered his children, except for Kenes, in one place.

“Zepher, Haniel, Uriel.”

“Yes, Father.”

“From this moment forward, I appoint you as acting heads of the family.”

It was a startling declaration.

In a situation where the territory could collapse at any moment, he would give the position of chief manager to children who hadn’t even been vetted?

It didn’t seem like a sane statement at all.

“Father…”

“I will not accept rebuttals. From now on, you will defend the Tristi Autonomous Territory in my stead.”

Porto’s will was unyielding.

In the end, they had no choice but to obey the head of the family’s decision.

Zepher knew that too many cooks spoil the broth.

He proposed to his sisters that they appoint one person with the final decision-making authority.

Uriel and Haniel quickly agreed.

Every group needed someone to set the direction.

After a brief discussion, they concluded that Zepher was currently the most suitable person.

He was the most versed in military tactics among his siblings.

He had close friendships with the talents active on the front lines, and had built up a considerable reputation.

Haniel was sickly, and Uriel was weak at tasks that required the use of her mind.

The one most adept at handling the current situation would be Jeper, without a doubt.

“Understood. I shall not disappoint you all.”

Jeper, as the supreme commander, felt a crushing weight, but this was also an opportunity to prove his worth.

He swiftly grasped the situation and reorganized the troops.

Everything in Tristi began to stir anew.

Jeper possessed a talent for military strategy.

He was considered most like Porto, quick-witted and decisive.

Knowing when to act boldly, he advanced the front line, securing geographical advantages.

The defensive line could be called a fortress, built so thick, but the demons, who had been quiet, began to move fiercely once more.

Jeper was still young, lacking in actual combat experience.

Inexperience bred misjudgment.

It was only once, but the world was unforgiving.

The demons seized the opportunity, relentlessly gnawing at the newly formed defense line’s weaknesses.

“Kee-ahhh!”

“The b*stards dared to use magic cannons!”

Eventually, the first line of defense began to collapse at an irreversible pace.

“Damn it all, retreat!”

The entire army began to fall back.

However, the place where Jeper had established the new defensive line was not geographically suited for retreat.

The retreat slowed, and the moment swift-footed demons encircled the soldiers from behind…

“Megido.”

Haniel’s high-level magic activated.

Pillars of fire engulfed the demons, and Dalpi and Ian dealt with the remaining stragglers, opening an escape route.

Furthermore, thanks to the valiant knights led by Uriel, the demons’ offensive faltered for a moment.

Thanks to that, they were able to retreat with minimal losses.

Jeper rapidly established the second defensive line, beads of cold sweat trickling down.

“…”

Looking at the corpses beyond, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

Zephyr resolved to exercise caution, knowing that a single decision could doom countless souls.

A sudden image flashed in his mind: Esther Tristi.

If Esther Tristi stood in his place, what judgment would he render, what choices would he make?

He hadn’t yet witnessed his brother’s military prowess, not directly.

But his shrewd younger brother, who had foreseen this very predicament…

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Esther would arrive at a superior outcome.