Above Tengu City, inside the bridge of Fraxinus EX.
—Ground units in Tengu City, Areas A through T, are under attack!
—Targets confird. The attackers are Wizard units belonging to DEM.
—Seventy seven percent of the city's defensive installations have been destroyed. Damage is still expanding.
Unfavorable reports ca one after another from her subordinates. Kotori gritted her teeth, her expression extrely grave.
"Maria. Have you confird the enemy's infiltration route?"
[Investigation complete. I'm sending the cara footage to your screen now.]
Maria's voice rang through the earpiece. Soon, a map marked with the Wizards's movent data appeared before Kotori.
"So it really was underground…"
Looking at Maria's investigation results, Kotori could not help frowning.
There had been no gaps in the Spirits's defense line, and all of DEM's airships were being pinned down by Kotori. If there was only one place where a problem might arise, it would be Tengu City's underground shelters.
Those had originally been designed with the citizens' safety in mind, yet now, they had beco a route the enemy could use to slip in.
Because spacequake disasters occurred frequently in Tengu City, evacuation facilities like underground shelters were arranged in relatively large numbers. Considering the possibility of spacequakes exceeding B-rank scale, the underground shelters were basically connected to the outside of the city.
Although much of the land and many buildings in this city were Ratatoskr's private property, and although the company had constructed its own underground facilities, Tengu City was still, in essence, a residential area built by the state. Important buildings such as shelters and underground bunkers were still managed by the governnt, and Kotori's side had no authority to interfere with them.
(The invading Wizards only number a few dozen… No matter how I look at it, this is too fast.)
For so reason, Kotori felt that sothing was strange. She had not failed to consider the possibility that the underground would beco a breakthrough point, and she had made corresponding preparations. Even if enemies really invaded from underground, logically speaking, Tengu City should not have fallen this quickly.
(And Yutsuki-nee's surprise attack earlier should have dealt a considerable blow to the Wizards. Isn't it too fast for those Wizards to recover?)
"Imouto-chan. The analysis on this side is done too."
At that mont, Honjou Nia raised her head from the computer and reported to Kotori. Because Reine, their analyst, was not currently present, Nia was temporarily substituting for her work. At first, Kotori had been sowhat uneasy, but in reality, Nia seed to have often and secretly asked Reine for advice about analyst work long before this. After operating the system for a while, she had picked it up smoothly.
"Based on the conclusion, the guys invading Tengu City and the enemies the Yamai sisters encountered should be the sa type of Wizards."
"The sa type? What do you an?"
She had not said "the sa group" or "the sa faction." Nia's wording made Kotori feel a slight sense of disharmony.
"These Wizards are different from ordinary Wizards. They don't only rely on magical power and Territory to fight. Spirit power reactions can also be detected from their bodies. I'm afraid that, in addition to CR-Units, they're equipped with sothing like Astral Dresses."
"Astral Dresses… Are you saying they're in the sa situation as Yutsuki-nee and Origami?"
"If you only look at the result, then yes, they're very similar."
Nia nodded and explained.
"The difference is that Biri-chan and the others are 'beautiful Spirit girls using manifestation equipnt,' while these ones are 'Wizards who obtained spirit power.' Although we don't know the specific situation, from what we currently understand, each of these Wizards has combat power comparable to a Spirit deploying a Partial Astral Dress."
Hearing that, even Kotori could not stop her expression from changing. A few dozen Wizards and a few dozen Wizards capable of standing against the Yamai sisters and the others were completely different matters.
"Is this also Beelzebub's ability?"
Kotori asked.
"…Absolutely not."
As its original owner, Nia shook her head with complete certainty. Looking at the Wizards on the screen, who were destroying things with machine-like lifelessness, her expression beca sowhat disgusted.
"…At the very least, this is absolutely not a normal use of Rasiel—Pwah!"
At that mont, the airship suddenly shook violently. The sudden jolt forced Nia to pitch forward uncontrollably. Her forehead made intimate contact with the hard computer screen, and stars imdiately filled her vision.
"Ow, ow, ow! Who was it?! Who interrupted right when I was seriously working for once?"
Nia could not help bristling and shouting.
"Ah—sorry, Nia-san. Several airships attacked us just now. I didn't have ti to properly adjust the gravity inside the ship's Territory before making an ergency evasion."
Kannazuki Kyouhei scratched his cheek and spoke awkwardly.
"A-airship attack?"
"…There's nothing strange about it. Without Tengu City's firepower pinning them down, DEM can naturally split off more strength to deal with us."
Unlike the flustered Nia, Kotori calmly analyzed the situation. That said, even though she had ntally prepared herself, the sudden turn of events still made her secretly click her tongue.
"Kannazuki! How many airships are moving toward us right now?"
"Report, Commander. Thirteen in total. The remaining twenty are still waiting in place."
Hearing Kannazuki's words, Kotori could not help falling into thought.
(Twenty ships… Looks like Yutsuki nee was right. There's definitely sothing strange about those airships.)
It had not been obvious at the start when they were locked in a stalemate, but now that her side was already at a disadvantage, DEM still had over half its forces choosing to stay still. That made it extrely conspicuous.
(Are they seriously guarding against our backup plan? No, that shouldn't be it—)
Kotori imdiately denied that possibility. Since Westcott possessed the omniscient Demon King, he should clearly understand their current situation. This kind of conservative battle was very unlike DEM's style.
If it was not that they did not want to move, then it ant they could not move. Most likely, those twenty airships had so purpose that Kotori's side did not yet know about.
"So… our current mission is not only to survive while being surrounded by thirteen airships, but also to find a way to sink all twenty of those airships."
Kotori pressed a hand to her forehead, speaking as if confirming whether or not she was dreaming.
[Hey, hey, is your head still working properly, Kotori?]
Hearing Kotori's words, Marina was speechless.
[You only have five airships on your side, you know? Yutsuki and the others can't spare their hands to help you right now either. This isn't a video ga. Five against thirteen is one thing, but five against thirty three is absolutely hopeless.]
"Report, Commander! One of our airships has been hit. It can no longer maintain flight and is making an ergency landing."
"Kindly correcting you, it's not five against thirty three. It's four against thirty three."
Kotori shrugged and corrected her with a wry smile.
[…You're not giving up on yourself, are you?]
With a black sesa and mustard flavored lollipop in her mouth, Kotori replied irritably:
"Idiot. I'm the commander here. What happens if I'm the one who wavers? This isn't a question of whether we can do it. It's a question of whether we have to do it."
After taking a deep breath, Kotori loudly addressed everyone.
"That's how it is! You all heard ! We don't just need to survive—we need to take down every enemy ship! Are you all prepared?"
"Ohhh! A speech straight out of a shounen manga! So passionate, Imouto-chan!"
"Of course! I prepared myself long ago!"
"Wherever the commander goes, naturally, we follow!"
"Of course, Commander. A thrilling experience like this won't co more than a few tis in a lifeti. Anyone who gives up now is the one with sothing wrong in their head."
As if responding to Kotori's resolve, everyone answered in powerful voices.
[Looks like there's no problem.]
[Fine… Seems I worried for nothing.]
After sweeping her gaze across the bridge and exchanging a glance with Maria, Marina said helplessly.
—————
"W-what's going on?"
Looking at high rises all across Tengu City suddenly exploding and collapsing, and an airship in the sky suddenly being shot down, Natsumi, who was in the middle of "fighting" Nibelcole, could not help panicking at the abrupt change.
(Calm down, Natsumi. Don't lose your own rhythm.)
"Y-you're right… Anyway, I should contact Kotori first?"
After calming down slightly, Natsumi continued dealing with Nibelcole while using her earpiece to contact Fraxinus EX and understand the current situation.
"Wizards using spirit power… DEM can even do sothing like that?"
After learning that every Wizard had strength nearly comparable to a Partial Astral Dress, cold sweat ran down Natsumi's back.
"Everyone seems to be in danger… W-what should I do?"
Thanks to having Shido's appearance, Nibelcole was no match for Natsumi, and the Wizards did not seem to be attacking this place, so Natsumi's side was not under much pressure.
Although she really wanted to help everyone, Natsumi had no effective solution. Acting on her own might instead make things worse.
(Who says there isn't one? Those Wizards are definitely Westcott's doing. As long as you deal with him, everyone's crisis will be resolved.)
"I see… as if! , deal with Westcott? Impossible!"
Natsumi hurriedly shook her head and denied it with a retort.
"That guy looks exactly like the final ultimate boss of a ga. How could a small-fry mob character like ever win against him?!"
"What? You actually want to hurt Father?"
"You hateful scum, you actually want to lay a hand on Father!"
"D-don't think we'll let you off just because you're sowhat good-looking."
"...I love you~"
Looking at the noisy Nibelcole flying up in front of her, Natsumi, for so reason, felt no ripples in her heart. She rely skillfully put on a business smile, then blew a kiss with a "mwah."
"Ah… no… It feels so… so good…"
"Damn it… even though it's so frustrating… it feels wonderful…"
"Feels like… these girls are starting to enjoy it, aren't they?"
Looking at the Nibelcoles ascending on the spot one after another, Natsumi felt the corner of her eye twitch slightly.
How should she put it… There was no tension at all. If this face she had right now really had such lethal power, then maybe she really was the best choice to deal with Westcott.
"But even if I wanted to, I don't know where he is…"
"Take this, Itsuka Shido!"
At that mont, yet another Nibelcole flew toward Natsumi. Having already experienced this scene many tis, Natsumi did not panic at all and casually blew a kiss with practiced ease.
However, this ti, Nibelcole did not vanish as Natsumi imagined. The blade ford from pages did not stop at all as it slashed toward Natsumi.
(Dodge!)
"—!?"
Although her reaction was half a beat late, Natsumi still rolled away at the critical mont and barely avoided the attack.
"T-that was close…"
Looking at the crack carved into the ground, Natsumi could not help secretly swallowing.
"What just happened? Why did the flying kiss suddenly stop working?"
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Just as Natsumi was confused, a light round of applause suddenly ca from not far away.
"Ah, wonderful, wonderful. I was wondering why the Nibelcoles in this area were disappearing so quickly. I never expected they were being dealt with in such a way. Truly beyond my expectations."
Footsteps gradually approached. A gray-haired man in a black suit slowly walked before Natsumi.
In an instant, Natsumi's face turned deathly pale.
"W-Westcott…"
"Mm. We et again~ Itsuka Shido."
As if he had seen an amusing toy, Westcott slightly narrowed his intoxicated eyes, and the corner of his mouth involuntarily split into a smile.
"What a coincidence. To think the trump cards of both sides would et each other. In that case, why don't we take this chance and end this war in one stroke?"
(TL:NATSUMI WILL CLUTCH, I LOVE NATSUMI)
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