Chapter 841 – Operation Begins

000

＂From now on, I will explain the strategy to attack the fortress!＂

Layla gathers the party members together and speaks in the living room while slamming the portable blackboard with a bang.

When explaining things like this, she wore the glasses she always wore, and held her baton in her hand so that she could easily point it at the top of the blackboard. She was like a female teacher at an academy.

＂Wow~!＂

After Lila’s declaration of the start of the semester, Sasha responds by clapping her hands.

Considering that Cuon and Cleon’s reaction to Lila was ‘Here we go again…’, Lila looked thrilled when she saw Sasha.

“… So? What is Lila’s strategy?”

When Cleon asked, Lila smiled and snapped her fingers.

Then, a translucent illusion appeared on the blackboard, and even without hearing an explanation, I could tell that what looked like a blueprint for something on the outside was a blueprint for a fortress.

“Is this… The blueprint of the fortress?”

When I asked Amelia if she had the same thought, Lila nodded her head.

“That’s right! With this, you can figure out the internal structure of the fortress, what weapons it is using to attack the ground, what speed it can move at, and what weaknesses it has in its structure.”

“That’s amazing… But where did this come from?”

When Kuon questioned, Lyla took out the disk she had handed over from her previous quartz from her pocket.

“It was inside. In addition to the information I saw last time, here and there. It took time to get everything out, though.”

Lila sighs as if she had a hard time.

＂Quartz, you prepared this information in advance…＂

Kuon muttered as if he was impressed by her resourcefulness, and Lila nodded her head.

“If we didn’t have this, it would have been difficult to properly prepare for them bringing this in. Fortress— As I mentioned before, Vajra has a barrier that absorbs, disperses, and nullifies shocks from the outside. Even if we use all our firepower, it is impossible to penetrate that wall.”

When Lila said she had finished all her calculations and adjusted her glasses, Sasha asked her.

“Then, I guess we’ll have to destroy it from the inside. Is there a hole to go in?”

“Oh, you’re quick-witted, Sasha. As you said, this Vajra must be destroyed from the inside, either by seizing its internal control device. And there is a hole to go in… Of course there is.”

As Lila spoke, she pointed with her baton to the huge gun ports installed along the outer wall of Vajra.

Probably, the shells used to bomb the ground will also pour out through these gun ports.

Considering the size of the cannons used in general siege warfare, it was a huge gun port that was outside the standard and beyond common sense, and was large enough for several people to fit comfortably.

＂… Could it be there?＂

When Amelia asks in a worried voice, Lila closes her mouth for a moment, then smiles and nods her head.

＂Let me tell you one more thing, the gun gates of this fortress are not always open. They are equipped with shells and only open right before they are fired. Therefore. The chance to go inside is very short.”

“It’s incredibly risky.”

When Cleon expresses his sentiments in response to Lila’s explanation, she shrugs her shoulders.

“It can’t be helped. That’s the kind of opponent. There are two problems here.”

Then she lifts her finger and spreads her index finger as she speaks.

“First. At the speed of normal flight magic, you cannot go inside until the shell is installed, the muzzle is opened, and right before it is fired. It’s such a big fortress, it takes less than a minute from loading to firing.”

Lila said she didn’t know what kind of technology she had and shook her head.

“And the second thing is… Once you go inside, of course, you will be fighting many enemies.”

That may have been a natural story, but after hearing it again, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut for a moment.

I couldn’t guess how powerful the Exiled Church would be inside Vajra, but it certainly wouldn’t be that simple.

“So the plan I came up with is… This.”

Lila snapped her fingers again, and the vision before her changed.

After the picture changed to a cityscape with a huge tree in the center and a fortress above it, I could see that it was a brief depiction of Asteris and Vajra.

“Although it is normally invisible to our eyes, there is a barrier around Asteris centered around the sacred tree. It’s a similar item to the one in El Querdo that can block monsters.”

As Lila finished explaining, a hemisphere-shaped line appeared surrounding Asteris.

“A barrier created using the magical power of the spirit vein flowing through the ground, centered around the sacred tree… Tokoyo once explained it to me.”

When Kuon said that, Lila nodded her head as if doing as she said.

“That’s right. And the being who can control the barrier is the ‘Great Shaman’ who becomes the vessel of the sacred tree. Tokoyo and Kuon, those two people.”

The barrier was formed through the will of the divine tree, and it was impossible to interfere with the barrier unless one was a great shaman who could communicate with the divine tree.

“If you increase the magic density of the barrier, you can make it exert physical interference like the hammer that Amelia creates or the barrier that spread across the former imperial territory that we saw last time.”

If the barrier has physical power, it can become a second wall that blocks objects coming from outside.

“Then, can we prevent bombing with this?”

“No. Unfortunately, it will be difficult. The weapon they use… It was written on the blueprint that it was a shell that directly incinerated magic power.”

Lyla shook her head at Kuon’s question, and Cleon frowned at her.

Because I had heard of that type of weapon somewhere.

“If that cannonball lands on the barrier, the barrier will not be able to resist at all and will disappear. Because it burns up magical power. And then when you land on the mainland of Asteris…”

“… Something terrible will happen.”

Amelia’s expression darkened as if she didn’t want to imagine it, and Lila nodded.

“Then… Why did the explanation about the barrier come out?”

When Cleon asked Lila, Lila answered him by crossing her arms.

“Of course, a barrier cannot block a cannonball… But it can at least push something up. It is a barrier so powerful and gigantic that it surrounds the entire city, so it is like a buoyant object floating in the sky. If it touches it, it can be pushed up.”

＂… Push it up?＂

As if the image wasn’t going well, Cleon asks Lila again, and Lila nods her head.

Then, she moved her body aside so that the illusion spread out on the blackboard could be clearly seen, and then she snapped her fingers again.

Then, the barrier surrounding Asteris gradually increased in size, and soon reached the fortress floating in the sky.

It is an indestructible fortress from the outside, but that only speaks to its durability.

If you push up from above with strong force, it will push up accordingly, as if the ground has risen.

Moreover, since the bottom was rounded, it was obvious that the balance would be disturbed as it was pushed up.

“For the safety of the occupants of the Vajra and to prevent the shells from exploding inside, there is a restriction that prevents the shells from being fired unless balance is maintained.”

“Wow, indeed…! So you’re saying that you’re going to push up the fortress itself with a barrier and break the balance control?”

Amelia spoke as if she was a little impressed by Lila’s idea, and Lila nodded her head.

“That’s right. So, Kuon! The most important thing in this plan is how much Kuon can improve her skills as a great shrine maiden so that she can freely control her barrier! Hey.”

Lila’s finger points straight towards Kuon.

＂Uh, uhhh… Yes. Okay, I’ll try my best!”

When Cuon pointed that at Lila, she grunted a little at first, perhaps because of the pressure, but then shook her head and clenched her fists to express her enthusiasm.

“For a moment. The plan doesn’t end with throwing the fortress off balance, does it? As soon as the fortress regains its balance and moves a little to the side, the bombardment will begin again.”

“Of course. So, in the meantime, we need to go inside, block the launch, and suppress the inside.”

Laila responds to Cleon’s point.

And when she snaps her fingers again, a small dot appears on the top of her barrier.

＂The second key point of this plan. Shoot Cleon.”

＂…＂

Hearing her own name combined with some unsettling word, Cleon’s expression became subtle.

Of course, if someone had to go inside, the most suitable person would have been myself, so I had no complaints about myself going inside the fortress-

＂… First, let’s listen.＂

“What. But don’t worry, it’s not that difficult. Did we talk about it earlier? It takes time to go up to the sky using flight magic from the ground.”

In particular, Cleon’s flight magic is a bit slower than Lila’s.

It would be a bit faster to jump up by creating a platform using leg strength enhanced by magical power.

… Scaffolding?

If Cleon’s thoughts reach that point, Lila will laugh and talk to Cleon.

“The experience of leaping into the sky using the Asteris barrier as a stepping stone is not something everyone can do, Cleon.”

Cleon wanted to say something to Lila, who was talking with a disgusted expression.

Now, thinking that was the surest way to do it, she put her hand on her forehead.

The expansion speed of the barrier is faster than the flight speed of Cleon or Lila.

Therefore, if Cleon expands the barrier while standing on the barrier, he can ascend to the sky faster than flying.

With the fortress so close, Cleon leaps and dives into the open gun port.

After that, subduing the inside was Laila’s first plan her.

＂Will it is okay for Cleon alone? It seems a little reckless.”

Amelia spoke as if she was worried about Cleon’s safety, and Lila spoke to Amelia as if to reassure her.

“Are you okay. Rather, Cleon is a magic swordsman with a high aptitude for solo play.”

“When you say that, it seems like you’re saying it’s not suitable for party play.”

As Cleon spoke as if recalling painful memories from her past, Lila waved her hand in embarrassment.

“Well, you didn’t say that much! And, you should only go in alone at first.”

After Lila said that, she took out the scroll she had prepared and handed it to Cleon.

＂… This?＂

“Scroll of Convocation”. It’s something I found with difficulty.”

This is an item that was finally airlifted from the academy by putting up various things as collateral and using all the available connections.

It is a scroll containing ‘legacy grade’ magic, for which there is currently no wizard who can create the same scroll, and its ability boasts such high utility that it can turn the tide of war in one go.

＂Before using this scroll, it contains a ‘convocation magic’ that transfers the designated target to the scroll user’s side. Targets that can be designated are… About six people.”

At her words, Cleon opened the scroll and looked inside.

Someone’s seal had already been stamped there.

Looking at the size, it’s female.

＂Is it Lyline? This is.”

“Huh. That’s right.”

When Cleon asked a question, Laila nodded her head.

＂Specifying a target means the target with the blood seal on this scroll. Of course, I plan to go-“

“… We’ll go too!”

As Sasha spoke, Cleon silenced her for a moment and then shook her head.

“No. Sasha and Amelia, please stay on the ground.”

＂Yes!?＂

＂Why…＂

When the two people raise their voices as if they are a little disappointed by Cleon’s point her, Cleon talks to the two people.

“Both. You probably haven’t forgotten Bourbon’s request.”

＂Ah…＂

＂Ssssscht too

That’s right. The two have received a request to protect Bourbon from Dharma.

If Dharma found out that Cleon had entered the fortress, he could have come in targeting the empty Asteris.

“Protecting the land is also a necessary task.”

After Cleon said that to the two people, he picked up the scroll.

“I’ll leave it to Cleon to decide who to take. What. It’s like the balance of the party. He’ll think better than me.”

At Lila’s words, Cleon nodded his head and also made eye contact with Kuon.

＂… It’s still a little later, but… You have to be careful. Cleon.”

“I know. Kuondo, please don’t overdo it by saying you want to control the barrier.”

After the two exchanged worried looks, Lila stretched her arms and raised her voice.

“Good! The strategy meeting is over! All that’s left is to work hard to make this happen!”

001

Cleon, who entered the inside through Vajra’s gun port, first attached the magic tool he had received from Laila to the cannonball that was in the firing preparation stage.

The magical tool neutralized the shell from the inside, turning it into an unexploded shell that would not explode even if it fell to the ground, serving as a kind of insurance.

Of course, since this was not the only gun port, we could not sit back and relax, and we had to hurry to neutralize the other projectiles or take control of the launch device itself.

Beyond the gun port – When he came out to the spacious warehouse-like place where the cannonballs were stored, Cleon couldn’t help but remember infiltrating the dwarf’s fortress from the exile area.

＂At that time, several people attacked at once…＂

It already felt like the distant past, so as I muttered that, I heard a loud alarm sound and at the same time, I could see people gathering at Cleon’s location.

Cleon pulled Galatea from his belt and quietly glared at the door of the warehouse.

Then, a moment later, the door opened automatically, and armed members of the Exiled Church and security automata inside the fortress poured in.

[Intruder found! Intruder found!]

The loud warning sounds of the automata, and the exiled cults wearing masks and pointing their weapons in this direction.

Cleon looks around at them all at once, then quietly takes out a scroll from his pocket.

They must have judged it to be some type of attack magic, when the church members all took a defensive stance.

＂… According to the promise made under trust, gather here now…!＂

Along with a short spell to activate the scroll, it tears the scroll apart with magical power.

Then, the magic contained within was activated, and those who had promised to help Cleon infiltrate the fortress crossed the portal and gathered inside the warehouse.

Including Lila, Selena, Diora, Aine, Riomes, and Demis.

＂Wait a minute, some magic potion…!＂

Lyla held a potion bottle in her arm to restore the magic energy she had lost from using her freeze magic.

“Is this the strongest party Cleon thought it would be?”

When Diora, who arrived fully armed, looked around and spoke, Cleon nodded his head.

＂On balance, I guess so.＂

＂Oh, there is even a princess and a prince from the eastern country…!?＂

When Selena looked at Riomes and Demis in surprise, Aine also knelt down while looking at the two people.

＂… Riomes, Demis.＂

＂Hehe~ I’m glad the teacher recognized our skills~＂

When Rio Mess, wearing the combat uniform he wore when he was at the academy, said that, Demis responded by snapping the gauntlets on his hands.

“Ah. As the three strongest members of the Department of Sexology, we have no choice but to do our best, sister.”

＂Is it possible that the group of 3 includes me…＂

＂Of course.＂

It was a title that bothered me a little, but Cleon stood by their side as if there was nothing he could do.

Cleon, seeing the members of the Exiled Church bewildered by the sudden reinforcement, raised the corners of his mouth.

“What’s the matter? “You still have a lot more numbers.”

When Cleon speaks provocatively, they raise their weapons in this direction without saying anything.

Cleon also sees this and responds by aiming at them with Galatea.

“Let’s go. From here is our battle to conquer Vajra.”