Siege Defense Is for Ladies “Why the hell aren’t they here?!” After the fierce battle against Argus, Tiana had been carried unconscious to the hospital beneath Starmine Hall. An entire week in bed followed. She occasionally woke up to eat, but those periods never lasted long before she ran out of energy and fell back to sleep. She’d suffered no serious injuries—the only thing keeping her in bed was extreme exhaustion. Tiana was in such bad shape because she unconsciously took most of the pain and exhaustion when she and Nick dispelled Union. When a person’s mana was fully drained, they did not regain full consciousness until it was restored. Once she’d recovered enough to get out of bed, she was hit with the news that Nick, Zem, and Bond had met with Alice of the Sun Knights without her and were now setting off to defeat the Sword of Tasuki. How could they do something so foolish? How could they leave her behind? And how could they not feel guilty for doing this after all the trouble they’d already caused? “You jerks…! You’ve really gone and done it this time!” Tiana seethed. “…Yeah. I’m just as angry about it as you are,” Diamond said, her eyebrows twitching. She had explained everything after Tiana woke up, and Diamond was also fuming internally. Actually, there was nothing internal about it—her fury was as visible as Tiana’s. “Oh, uh, that wasn’t directed at you,” Tiana said. “No, I know. I understand exactly how you feel. I trusted Nick and the others to stay out of trouble. I get just how badly they want to heal Karan, but I warned them not to do anything rash. Didn’t I make myself clear?” Diamond said. Nick, Zem, and Bond had written down their thoughts and what they had learned, then asked Alice to send it to Diamond. The problem was that Diamond was still technically employing the Survivors. Their leader had ventured into a labyrinth under the patronage of the Sun Knights and had not returned in over a week. To make matters worse, they had done so while the other two party members were hospitalized at Starmine Hall. Their actions were a clear breach of contract and against the adventurer code. The thought gave Tiana a realization that made her stomach hurt—she couldn’t afford to show her anger with Nick with Diamond present. She needed to represent the party in Nick’s absence and keep them in their client’s good graces. “I’m so sorry about our leader…” “I’m not mad at you, Tiana. You haven’t done anything wrong.” “Umm… Anyway…is there anything I can help you with?” “No! You need to rest! You’re forbidden from leaving the hospital! And don’t you dare think of teaming up with Nick, Zem, and Bond!” “Wh-what? Why?!” “What do you mean, why?” Diamond glared, and Tiana shivered. “You’re a mage. It’s your job to think about the party’s resources and cast the right attack at the right time. Consider that as you answer my next question: What should you be doing right now?” Diamond jabbed a finger directly in front of Tiana’s eyes. The Sword of Tasuki had greatly weakened the Order of the Sun Knights. The Adventurers Guild had its hands full dealing with the Stampede, and public order in Labyrinth City had crumbled. Refugees had fled to the city after being driven from their homes, and criminals brazenly walked the streets. Ordinary citizens had begun organizing vigilante groups. Nobles and wealthy merchants couldn’t go anywhere without guards. No matter how skilled Tiana was, acting alone would be dangerous. More importantly, the defining feature of the Colosseum of Carnage was that it rendered ordinary magic ineffective. Strengthening and healing spells that were cast with a touch of the hand worked, as well as advanced magic items such as holy swords, but any mana that was shot into the air dissipated immediately. Tiana wouldn’t be able to fight in this place. Unbeknownst to Tiana, the Colosseum of Carnage had originally been built by the Sword of Tasuki as a type of training facility to stimulate the Awakening of physical fighters like Argus. Setting those factors aside, there was one simple truth that Tiana had to acknowledge—even if she tried to join Nick and the others, it was too late to catch up to them. “…There’s nothing to even think about. I’m grateful to you for lending me a bed. There’s Karan to worry about, too,” Tiana said dejectedly. Diamond lowered her finger and spoke gently. “I know this situation is tough on you. But you need to stay here and wait it out.” “I know.” “I promise you I’m not doing nothing. I am working on a way to fight back—that’s why I’m using Starmine Hall as a stronghold. I want you to continue protecting this place. Read these when you have the time.” Diamond gave Tiana a stack of papers. “Are these…blueprints?” Tiana asked. “Yes. Blueprints for the entire Starmine Hall, including the underground. There are explanations for how each part of the facility functions, too. This place could be attacked, so make sure to look them over,” Diamond said ominously. “…Attacked? You don’t mean by monsters, do you?” Tiana asked. “Do you think all humans are on the same side?” Diamond responded, answering Tiana’s question with a question. “Huh? What do you—” “Once you recover, I’m gonna work you to the bone to make up for the absence of your party members. So do what you’re told and stay put!” Diamond commanded, leaving the room in an angry huff. That conversation only gave Tiana more to think about, but she got back in bed. Actually, it might be more accurate to say she collapsed into bed. Her anger and the effort of thinking had sapped her energy. It took three more days for her to fully recover. Tiana spent a few more days tossing and turning in bed—angrily cursing Nick’s name all the while—and around the time when she finally calmed down, she had recovered enough to put on some slippers and take a walk around the hospital. It wasn’t long before she realized how bored she was. Diamond was busy doing just about everything, including paperwork, giving out orders, and giving pep talks to workers, and she didn’t have time to spend on anyone else. Tiana wanted to ask Diamond to share more of what Nick and the others had learned, but she decided she shouldn’t bother her and walked away from her room dejectedly. She thought about visiting Karan, but the increased security level meant she couldn’t. Patients who were hospitalized for normal injuries or fatigue like Tiana were treated differently than patients in critical condition like Karan. So Tiana just wandered the halls, wondering what to do with herself. The underground section of Starmine Hall functioned as a secret base. There was a hospital, a food reserve, a strategy room frequented by knights and detectives, and imposing defensive fortifications. “…The days of idols happily chatting in the halls feels like a dream,” Tiana murmured to herself. She sat down on a bench in a break room and began to smoke her pipe. “Yeah, but this place was built as a stronghold. It’s only serving its original purpose,” said a man in a worn-out shirt. “…Oh, Detective. What do you want?” Tiana responded without even looking at him. It was Hector, an old acquaintance of Nick’s who had gotten himself wrapped up in this situation. Diamond had hired him and seemingly entrusted him with some kind of job, but Tiana found him suspicious. Being a friend of Nick’s didn’t explain why he was so quick to jump into the maelstrom. She wouldn’t have been surprised if he turned out to be a spy for the demon-god worshippers. “Oh, I’m just taking a break. Am I bothering you?” Hector asked. “Nope. Be my guest,” Tiana replied flatly. That said, there weren’t many smokers in the hospital. In fact, they were the only two. They also had common acquaintances, they were both from the capital, and Hector was even knowledgeable about entertainment in Labyrinth City. They had a surprisingly easy time talking to each other. One of their past conversations flashed through Tiana’s mind: “Casinos in the west part of the city invest more in show business than the games themselves. Diamond’s been trying to break into that market, but idols aren’t really a good fit. She’s having a hard time.” “I could’ve told her that. Musicians are the focus there, not dancers. If she can’t persuade them to feature idol music, she’ll have to adjust.” “Diamond’s too stubborn for that. She can get tunnel vision when it comes to spreading her music and genre.” He was a perfect person to talk to, to take her mind off things. But after the last few days of being cooped up in this facility, unable to go outside or join her party members, the idea of having to talk to someone just put her in a bad mood. She sat down in the smoking area and crossed her legs, visibly upset. “…Do you wanna try a cigarette for a change of pace?” Hector asked, sitting next to the angry Tiana. “Sorry. It’s not your fault, but I’m in a bad mood right now. If you’re here to smoke, I’m leaving,” she said. “What has you so upset? Are you getting antsy because you can’t go outside?” “No, that’s not it… I’m frustrated because Nick, Zem, and Bond rushed into that labyrinth without me, and because I can’t see Karan.” “Are you worried about them?” “Obviously.” “…Karan’s a nice girl. She’s brave, and quick-witted, too.” Hearing those words from Hector filled Tiana with an irrepressible rage. What could a stranger like him possibly know about Karan? “I know you’re an ally and that you’re doing a lot to help us. But can you stop talking about her like you know her?” Tiana said. “Ah… My bad. I wasn’t trying to upset you.” “We need to restore Karan’s strength… Sorry, but if you don’t have any new information to share, I’d rather you not bother me.” “Not much has changed. She’s recovered enough to manage walking, eating, talking, and reading books.” “…Okay. That’s good to hear.” “Is it? Do you really think that’s good enough?” Hector looked at her inquisitively. “What do you…? No, obviously. I want to heal her.” “That’s not what I meant.” “Then what are you getting at? You’re being really nosy today,” Tiana said, her voice dropping. A part of her realized that she was one step from losing her temper and yelling at him. However, this more reasonable part didn’t seem to have any intention of reining in her angry self. “Nick and the others went into the labyrinth. You’re in charge of security here. So what do you think Karan should do? I’m sure you’re feeling left out, but she’s in the same boat,” said Hector. “…Huh?” Tiana responded, thrown off. “The rest of the Survivors are all working—or trying to, at least. She’s the only one with nothing to do. Don’t you feel bad for her, being ordered to stay in bed all day?” Both selves within Tiana flared red-hot with anger. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard. “Do you hear yourself right now? Are you saying we should make Karan work in her current condition?” she exclaimed. “Is there something wrong with that?” “Do I need to spell it out for you? It’s thoughtless and cruel. Is that enough to get it through your thick skull?” Hector was unfazed by Tiana’s provocation. He just shrugged exaggeratedly as if she was the one being an idiot. “You’re missing the point. Curses don’t kill people,” he told her. “Sure, but what do you expect her to do in that state?! Karan’s a warrior! Are you saying we should make her fight when she can barely get out of bed?! For a fighter, what happened to her is little better than death!” Tiana yelled. “So you’re saying Karan can’t do anything other than fight, huh? That’s insulting. And you call yourself a friend of hers?” Tiana considered encasing him in ice but then realized he was hinting at something. “Are you saying there’s something Karan can do? Do you have something in mind?” she asked. “I only met Karan recently. Nick brought her to my office, and I saw her as a curious if simple-minded girl. But now I know she’s more than that.” “…What do you mean?” “She’s good at observing people. Any perceived slowness only comes from a lack of knowledge—she’s actually quite a flexible thinker. She has the courage and guts to risk her life for another person. An adventurer like her wouldn’t give up even if they lost an arm.” Hector knew exactly what Karan had done at the Hundredth Anniversary Concert, while Tiana did not. He’d even taught Karan how to read the Sun Knight files when she asked him for help. It hadn’t been until after the concert that he realized Karan’s intentions, but Hector knew better than anyone (other than Diamond) how hard Karan had worked and what kind of plan she’d come up with. “That girl doesn’t want you all to know how hard she’s pushing herself and that she hasn’t given up. She knows she’ll make Nick and the rest of you worry. That’s why she’s acting like she’s on her best behavior… If you ever have time, take a peek into her room at night,” Hector said. “I’d obviously like to go see her, but I can’t!” Tiana replied. “Oh, right. You have to be careful of security. So much for that, then.” It didn’t seem like Hector intended on telling Tiana what he was hinting at. She realized her anger was gone and had been replaced by shame at her ignorance. “…Sorry. I shouldn’t have been so rude toward you,” Tiana apologized. “I don’t mind. I didn’t choose the most trustworthy profession.” “Speaking of that, I don’t see a reason for you to be working so hard. Wouldn’t you be better off returning to your home in the capital while you can?” “Remember my criminal record? I can’t go back there. The capital’s too boring for me anyway.” His honest words made sense to Tiana. “You’re staying here because it’s more fun?” she asked. “That’s right. I have a much better time working for other hopeless bums like me than the rich, stuck-up people in the capital. That said, I could stand for things to slow down a little.” “Is there something else going on that I don’t know about? The Stampede has already sent Labyrinth City into a panic. It’s like someone’s kicked an anthill.” “This might shock you, but…a list of spies is starting to circulate,” Hector said, sounding reluctant to bring up the topic. “Spies?” repeated Tiana, wondering why he’d decided to preface it that way. “Some of the top Sun Knight leaders have been attacked by aides and members of their staff. That means that demon-god worshippers and people working with them have infiltrated the organization, so they’ve started hunting for spies.” Discovering the names of some of the spies should have been progress, but it didn’t sound like a good thing at all. “When the Stampede started, the Sun Knights, the Adventurers Guild, and Lord Vishma’s team drafted a list of suspects who could be demon-god worshippers and began investigating them. The demon-god worshippers learned of the list and seem desperate to avoid letting anyone get arrested. They’ve shown signs of organizing to resist the Sun Knights and the guild,” Hector continued. “Are they stupid?” “Yeah, but stupid people are dangerous when they’re backed into a corner. Some of them are wannabe adventurers who are used to underground work, and others have the strength of A-rank adventurers. There’s a secret society called Dead Man’s Balloon, who might look like a mess, but don’t take them lightly. Their leader is—” Hector was interrupted when the building shook and people began to scream. “Ahhh!” “Where’d that come from? The west gate?” “We’re being attacked! Take cover!” Tiana’s bad feeling grew worse. A concert venue was no place for a disturbance like this. “Sorry, we’ll finish this conversation later!” Tiana told him. “H-hey, you need to hear this!” Hector said, but Tiana had already taken off running toward the screams. The chaos in the building only intensified as Tiana headed up to the first floor aboveground. She passed wounded people being carried on stretchers and idols who had still been practicing even with the oncoming Stampede. A familiar voice made an announcement for all noncombatants to evacuate underground. She ran toward the source of the noise and reached the delivery entrance to Starmine Hall. Diamond had taken command behind a hastily made barricade of building materials and was shouting out orders. “That’s too weak! Stop holding back your mana! Hit them with everything you’ve got! We’ll have the advantage once the barrier is restored! …Oh, Tiana! Over here!” Diamond shouted, beckoning her. Although she’d rather be anywhere else, Tiana ran toward Diamond. “What’s going on?” she asked. “We’re under attack! They broke through our barrier!” Diamond pointed toward a thin, oily substance separating Starmine Hall’s grounds from the outside world. It was a defensive barrier. Tremors rippled through the surface responding to the surrounding mana, and it bent light that passed through it. Its thin and transparent appearance didn’t look like much, but it was as hard and durable as steel and nullified magic attacks. It wasn’t something you could brute-force your way through. And yet there was a large hole in it. “How?!” Tiana asked. “The director of the Thunderbolt Corporation betrayed us! There’s a horde coming through! Go fight it back!” Tiana tried to remember where she had heard the name Thunderbolt Corporation before. “Uh, they’re a magic item maker, right? And what do you mean by ‘horde’?! Are they monsters?!” she asked. “They’re the company that made our audio equipment! They’re attacking us with an army of dolls! See, it’s Animator Havok’s Mystic Ballerinas!” Diamond exclaimed. Tiana looked toward the fighting, confused by all the unfamiliar names. There were twenty Starmine Hall guards fighting a horde of…something. It was such a strange sight that she couldn’t figure out what to call them. They were about half as tall as the average person and wore glitzy dresses tailored to their size that wouldn’t have been out of place onstage. Tiana might have even applauded if not for the fact that they were darting around quickly and attacking people with curved blades. “A-are those really dolls…?” Tiana asked. She had a hard time seeing them as dolls. Their movements were so fluid that she couldn’t tell if they were human children, monsters, or something created by human hands. And there were so many of them—easily over a hundred. Not even in a labyrinth would you encounter a force of enemies this large. “They look like short people because of their perfect faces and joints, but I guarantee you they’re dolls under a person’s control,” said Diamond. “You’re kidding… Are they using telekinesis? Is such precise control really possible?” Tiana asked. “Save the analysis for later! Just blast them to smithereens! We’re fine right now, but if they get inside, people will die!” Tiana prepared herself for battle. “…Got it! Icicle Dance!” she chanted, shooting sharp icicles at the dolls. She skewered six, immobilizing them completely. They looked shockingly human as they were hit. “Ice Shield! Hey, you all! Take cover! I’m gonna hit them with magic!” “Thanks a lot!” responded one guard. “Get back in formation! Hold on a little longer!” Tiana shouted. The guards smiled, and with their morale boosted, they reorganized and dove back into the fray with renewed vigor. The dolls were quick and fought with sharp, precise attacks, but they were too small to resist the weight of human blows for long. Ten of the dolls fell, then ten more. Relief washed over everyone present. It seemed like they finally had a handle on the situation. “Hear me, silent puppets. Channel your deeply held grudges and let them expand.” An ominous voice resounded over the battlefield, and some of the collapsed puppets began to swell. They weren’t growing fat—rather, colorful balloons were emerging from within their backs and beginning to inflate. They floated above Tiana and the guards, until the battlefield resembled a carnival. “…Get down, now!” Tiana yelled as a thunderous boom echoed throughout the area. “Ahhh!” “It burns! What the hell is this?!” The balloons had exploded. Tiana had gotten out of the way just in time to avoid being hit, but multiple guards had been injured by the explosions. And there were still balloons left. More than ten floated in the air, and the guards watched them with fear. “Ha-ha-ha! Consider that payback for harming my adorable dolls!” A woman roared with laughter. Tiana looked toward the voice and saw that the explosions had expanded the hole in the barrier. It had been just large enough for the dolls to fit through before, but now a person could walk through it comfortably. “Havok! You betrayed us!” Diamond shouted. A woman in a chic purple dress walked through the hole. Her elegant appearance was spoiled somewhat by her raucous laughter and the intimidating eye patch over her right eye. “And you never told me you were using this concert venue as a stronghold. Is that any way to treat me after I worked so hard to supply you with all your equipment?” the woman responded. “Well, you’ve attacked us anyway. You don’t seem to be an agent of the demon-god worshippers, though… So what’s your deal?” Diamond asked. “As if I’d tell you that… Well, I guess you’ll find out soon enough anyway.” Havok snapped her fingers, and a doll emerged from behind her and walked briskly toward Diamond. “Diamond and…Tiana, yes? Have a look at those papers.” “Huh? Me?” Tiana said, bewildered to hear her name. Diamond sourly took the papers from the doll and read them. Tiana walked up behind her to look at them herself and was shocked when she realized what they were. “W-wanted posters?! And they’re for…,” Tiana trailed off. “Me and Olivia. And all of the Survivors, too,” Diamond finished. The name Hibiki Diamond was on the top of the first page. It described her as a serious criminal who, as the Sword of Distortion, had plunged society into chaos during ancient times. She was also suspected for human trafficking, and the bounty was one hundred million dina. The second page had information describing Nick as her henchman. Karan was next, followed by Zem, Bond, and finally, Tiana. “What the hell?! My reward is thirty million dina?!” Tiana exclaimed. “That’s right. You are all being targeted by members of Dead Man’s Balloon,” Havok said, smiling sadistically like a predator tormenting her prey. “…You can’t be serious,” Tiana grumbled. “Hm? Surprised, are we?” Havok asked. “That’s way too cheap!” Tiana yelled, rendering Havok speechless. The others present stared at her in shock as well. “Do you really think that’s enough money to take my head? That’s absurd! It should be at least a billion dina! The Thunderbolt Corporation must really be strapped for cash if you’re teaming up with the dregs of Labyrinth City for that kind of money!” Tiana was reminded of her time job hunting in Labyrinth City. She hadn’t known her way around the city at all and had spent all her time sending one application form after another to magic item factories and magic research facilities. She had walked until her legs felt like lead to beg for interviews, only to get rejected again and again. The Thunderbolt Corporation was one of the companies she’d applied to. She vented her anger from that experience as she yelled, and the guards who had been spooked senseless by the exploding balloons fed on it. “…Yeah, she’s right! That’s not even close to the sales of one idol concert!” “Your cheap-ass dolls won’t be taking the stage anytime soon!” “Just go bankrupt already!” The guards shouted insults at Havok, and her face twisted with anger. “…You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. I might have offered you a job if not for this situation.” “Excuse me?! You refused to even give me an interview! …No, I’m over that. I have no interest in joining a company with no future,” said Tiana. “Watch your mouth, you little brat!” Havok’s one uncovered eye glared murder at Tiana. Tiana grew tense, sensing that fighting was about to resume, when a streak of pale blue light suddenly flashed before her. “Lightning Bird.” It was a bird of light. No—it was mana shaped like a bird. “Huh?!” Tiana gasped. Fear and disbelief struck her at the same time. There existed a school of magic called the Thunderbird style. Practitioners reached the beginner level once they had achieved mastery of wind and water magic and combined them to wield lightning magic. This first stage could be used to form dark clouds that rained down powerful bolts upon the heads of enemies, or fire off blasts of lightning from a staff. Further mastery of lightning magic granted a mage an intermediate license. Intermediate practitioners could bend lightning to behave in unnatural ways. They could even will it to take the form and weight of a weapon or creature and attack opponents. “Ngh… Ice Shield!” Tiana shouted, repelling the lightning bird at the last second. The bird was unfazed and began to circle Tiana and the others from above. It behaved with the calm of a hunter that knew it could kill its prey whenever it wished. “Marvelous. That was an excellent reaction to danger. Hmm-hmm… You have improved, Tiana.” Someone began to clap. Tiana looked toward the source of the unnatural sound and saw a man walk up slowly from behind Havok. He had dark skin and wore a gentlemanly outfit and a monocle. But his appearance was contrasted by an unsettling air of madness. “N-no way…,” Tiana gasped, shocked by the familiar face and voice. This was a man she greatly respected and had been worried about for some time. “I am relieved to see you are doing well. Though I must say, I never thought that scandal would be enough to break you,” the man said. “…Instructor Bellocchio?!” Tiana said. Bellocchio had taught Tiana at her aristocratic school in the capital and instructed her in the ways of magic. “Why are you here, Instructor?” Tiana asked. She dropped her guard for a moment but quickly refocused and held up her staff. There was little doubt Bellocchio had arrived to fight on Havok’s side. She just didn’t know the reason. “Why, you ask? All eyes throughout the Holy Kingdom of Dineez and the surrounding countries are on Labyrinth City because of the Stampede. Adventurers, bounty hunters, knights—as well as thieves, criminals, and wanted men, for that matter—are flocking here. This is the place to be for anyone who makes a living off of violence, whether they wield a sword or use magic. I am one of those people,” said Bellocchio. “That doesn’t answer my question,” Tiana responded. “Havok here is an old friend of mine. We were once in an adventurers’ party together. We reached A rank and delved into some rather difficult labyrinths. That is why I joined up with her.” “I knew you were an adventurer. I don’t care about your history with that woman, either. That’s not the main issue here.” Tiana glared at Bellocchio, clearly communicating that she didn’t care about Havok. Her instructor’s smile just widened, which filled the nearby guards with an odd sense of fear. “Oh, my dear apprentice. Do you really need an explanation?” “Are you an ally of the demon-god worshippers?” Tiana asked. “Hmm, I don’t know if ‘ally’ is the right word… I am simply performing a job for Callios and have temporarily hired the rest of the demon-god worshippers as my employees.” “…You’re leading the demon-god worshippers?” “I am their manager in name only. Very few demon-god worshippers serve full time, so it is difficult to achieve order among them. Nor does it help that their leader has no interest in organizational management.” “Their leader… Are you talking about the Sword of Tasuki?” “Precisely. As you know, he is the current leader of the demon-god worshippers. The rest are essentially sleeper agents.” “What do you mean?” “Basically, they are agents who lay low and live ordinary lives until they receive orders… Callios is quite fond of contracts, you see. He likes to give a helping hand by saving adventurers in trouble, lending money to merchants on the verge of bankruptcy, and assisting aristocrats at risk of losing their social standing. He then binds them into an agreement to follow his orders.” “…Are you one of those people? Were you forced into this position because of me?” Bellocchio cocked his head in puzzlement before realizing what Tiana was implying. “Oh, I apologize. I see I gave you the wrong idea. It was during my adventurer days that Callios saved my life and bound me to his contract. Being forced to quit my job as a magic instructor would hardly have driven me to a point of such desperation. My honorary post would only have been a burden considering the threat of the Stampede to our nation anyway. This position allows me much more freedom… The ancients used to say that fate works in mysterious ways, and I can see now that they were right,” Bellocchio said, chuckling. Tiana had seen him like this many times while watching over her at the aristocratic school. “I never would have thought that you were still worried about me. I am doing just fine, Tiana,” he said. Bellocchio hadn’t changed at all. He was the same man she’d seen immersing himself in his laboratory. Still the detached scholar who watched his apprentices with kindness in his eyes. “…I started an enterprise recently. It’s a secret society called Dead Man’s Balloon. Callios ordered me to organize his sleeper agents so they could act as an organization, so I decided I may as well form them into a company. The sleepers themselves brainstormed a way to make this work, and we came up with bounties as a last-resort measure to raise morale. I will take your feedback into account and adjust the amounts.” That meant he’d been this kind of person all along. He wasn’t being threatened or manipulated. He was a man who could order terrible acts of violence while in his right mind. Tiana wasn’t actually too surprised. She had always thought he was a little dangerous. But she’d also trusted there were lines he would never cross. “…I’ve heard enough. I don’t see you as my instructor any longer,” she told him. “Hmm. An apprentice achieving independence is a wonderful thing. You should walk your own path and crush any who stand in your way,” Bellocchio said. “How kind. I’m afraid I can’t offer the same support for the path you’ve chosen.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way… Now, how about we step up our efforts?” Bellocchio said, before abruptly turning around and talking to someone. Tiana’s stomach dropped. According to Hector, Dead Man’s Balloon consisted of more than just Bellocchio and Havok. It was an organization of hidden demon-god worshippers. It would be best to assume they had a lot of capable fighters. A deafening roar rang out. “Ngh…!” Tiana grunted. Dozens of magic attacks flew at the barrier from behind Bellocchio and were repelled. Their impact, however, shook Starmine Hall, and Tiana took it as an ill-mannered attempt to threaten them. Bellocchio was prioritizing noise and impact when he likely had more effective methods for breaking the barrier. “This is only a small fraction of our fighting force. If you hand over Diamond and the rest of the wanted criminals, we will not have to get too violent,” Bellocchio said. A crowd of over thirty people walked up behind him. There were swordsmen and priests in addition to the mages. Tiana thought their numbers were small for a so-called “secret society,” but one thing was for certain—they were all capable fighters. They couldn’t survive as demon-god worshipper henchmen without the skills. They could rout the Starmine Hall guards in their sleep. The amount of chaos that Havok had caused on her own was proof of that. “Why are you after me?! You should know my plan failed!” Diamond yelled. “I cannot know the mind of my employer,” Bellocchio replied evenly. “My job is simply to do as he says. But if I were him, I would not leave you alone. Havok of the Thunderbolt Corporation is a brilliant person. She is a match for any entrepreneur or mage… But even she did not know of your true plan. It would not be hard to imagine that you are pretending to have failed while you continue to scheme.” “Then you should have put a bounty on my head, and mine alone. Why do you want the Survivors, too?” “I assume he wants to capture all who are connected to a holy sword. He enjoys scouting for capable personnel and gathering them up.” “So he wants to stockpile our souls using his holy sword ability? How barbaric.” “I agree with you there… But I have been given a job, and I must carry it out. Shall we resume fighting?” said Bellocchio. The demon-god worshippers behind Bellocchio—the employees of Dead Man’s Balloon—readied their weapons. Tiana braced herself for a tough fight, but then a large, screaming man flying toward the barrier stole everyone’s attention. She initially thought he was another assailant, but it soon became clear that he had been thrown in their direction. He crashed into the barrier with an earsplitting noise that sounded both metallic and strangely moist, and he slid to the ground. “WANTED CRIMINALS DON’T GET TO HAND OUT BOUNTIES!” a woman yelled from the direction the man had been thrown. Tiana peered at whoever it was and quickly recognized her. “H-hey, you’re the Manhunt guild receptionist!” she yelled. It was a deerian woman, whose job it was to handle the rowdy adventurers of the Adventurers Guild branch called Manhunt on a daily basis. And she wasn’t alone—a crowd of adventurers behind her glared at the members of Dead Man’s Balloon. “Oh, come on, at least remember my name! It’s June!” the woman shouted. “Whoops, sorry. You couldn’t have come at a better time!” Tiana called back. Tiana stared at her wide-eyed; she had no idea the receptionist was this strong. It seemed like she had thrown the man with her one free arm—the other arm was carrying another Dead Man’s Balloon member—which took an impressive amount of muscle. “How is she so strong? Isn’t she an employee? She’s not an active adventurer, is she?” Diamond asked. “Most guild employees are former C-rank adventurers or have a degree from a magic academy. We all act laid back and friendly, but we can beat most in a fight,” Tiana explained. “Really?!” Diamond exclaimed, clearly taken aback by June’s fighting prowess. The adventurers’ arrival introduced even more chaos to the situation. Havok had summoned more dolls, which were forming an orderly line, and Bellocchio watched Diamond as if enjoying himself. “Hmm… This has gotten slightly out of hand. Both sides would suffer senseless losses were we to fight now. How about we call it a day?” Bellocchio said, seemingly contradicting himself by raising his staff. A tremendous amount of mana swirled around its tip. “Bellocchio! What are you doing?!” Tiana shouted. “Restricted Labyrinth Alteration: Doton,” Bellocchio chanted. A hole opened in the ground. It was only about two meters wide, much smaller than the coal-mine-like entrance to the Colosseum of Carnage. Even so, the Dead Man’s Balloon members began to jump into it. “Farewell for now. We will be continuing our assault on Starmine Hall. You are free to hole up and defend it if you wish. You will have the pleasure of our company day and night,” Bellocchio said. By the time Tiana realized he was escaping, it was too late. The balloons floated around the hole and exploded in succession, keeping back the guards and adventurers. By the time they all exploded, Bellocchio and the rest of Dead Man’s Balloon had disappeared without a trace. Bellocchio’s full name was Halmi Bellocchio. He was born as the third son in a renowned noble family that was tasked with protecting the eastern edge of the Holy Kingdom of Dineez. He led a free and easy life as a student until a failed attempt to suppress a Stampede near the border resulted in his family’s downfall. He later arrived in Teran, where he distinguished himself as an adventurer, forming a party called the Wanderers with himself as the leader. The party had many successful quests and achieved A rank, and they also founded a company that developed magic items called the Thunderbolt Corporation. Eventually, a prestigious aristocratic school called Royal Antoniadi Academy offered him a job to teach magic in recognition of his accomplishments. “He continued in that position until my broken engagement triggered political maneuvering in the school that ended with him getting fired,” Tiana said, wrapping up her story. She sucked on her pipe and blew out smoke, which drifted through the room until it disappeared. “Okay, I understand your instructor’s background. I can tell that you’ve been through a lot, too,” said June, the deerian woman who had just saved Tiana and everyone else at Starmine Hall, nodding indifferently. Tiana, June, and the Manhunt adventurers were currently encamped in a Starmine Hall conference room. It was the same room that Diamond had once used to hold meetings with the Survivors. The idol was currently busy racing around the stronghold making arrangements for transporting the wounded to the hospital and deploying personnel. Tiana thought about helping, but she wasn’t in the right mindset for it. The excitement of battle and her anger had carried her through the situation outside, but once the battle had ended and she’d calmed down, the sadness of her instructor’s betrayal and the fear of him trying to kill her had set in. There were currently two dominant voices in her head. One was still in disbelief that he would do something like this, and the other said that even if she did resolve to fight him, she had no chance of winning. The two voices were in agreement on one thing though—she was going to die unless she did something. “But that’s not the main issue. You understand why we’re here, right?” June asked. Tiana did understand. What she needed right now was to accept reality and search for some small possibility of survival. “Just so you know, I had no clue my instru—Bellocchio was a demon-god worshipper,” Tiana told them. “I only learned magic from him, nothing more. I’ll tell you all about his special techniques—Lightning Bird is far from his only spell. I’ll oppose him with everything I have… Though if what we just saw is any indication, he has plenty of tricks he never taught his apprentices.” June rested her chin on her hand and stared at Tiana, looking bored. “Wh-what? Do you have a problem with that?!” Tiana asked. “Sheesh… No. You just don’t get it at all, do you? I expected more from a member of the party that’s made such a name for themselves at Manhunt,” June said. “Wh-what are you talking about?” June dropped a stack of papers on the table. They were copies of the same wanted posters that the doll had given Diamond. “The Manhunt adventurers are hardly the most virtuous members of society. They’re dangerous people who take the law into their own hands by wandering the city with their blades out, searching for bounties. They’re plastered by lunchtime, and they waste their time gambling at cards, losing, and then run out before they have to pay up. They’re all hopeless,” June ranted. The adventurers laughed at her harsh words, and she pounded the table to shut them up. “But damn it, there’s a moral code shared by anybody who catches villains for a living. We don’t let wanted criminals walk the streets unchallenged, no matter how strong they are. I make sure any bounty hunters who target innocent people for the promise of a reward feel my wrath. And look at Labyrinth City now! The weak are fleeing or hiding indoors, and no one is keeping the dangerous scumbags of the city in check… Aren’t you all ashamed of yourselves?!” June shouted, making the adventurers tremble. The sight made Tiana realize something—it was June’s strength that kept the rowdy Manhunt adventurers in check. June continued to heat up. “And to make matters worse, those evil-doing bastards aren’t content with striking fear into the people of our city. Now they have some dumb secret society, and they’re putting out bounties of their own. They’re even targeting valued coworkers of ours.” “We can’t let them get away with this!” “Yeah! They’ll pay for thinkin’ they can mess with us!” “How dare they smear mud on Lady Tiana’s name!” A few of the adventurers shouted angrily, and June tore up the wanted posters. “Damn straight! Show those wannabes what it means to be a real bounty hunter! They’ll regret stepping on our turf!” she shouted. The assembled crowd all cheered in response. Among them were adventurers who had picked fights with the Survivors and others who’d taken bets on whether they would succeed at a certain bounty. The members of Manhunt had their own sense of justice, and they might be here to do a job, but it couldn’t be denied they had rushed here because they knew the Survivors were in danger. Tiana had to repress the urge to cry. “I swear… I guess you guys are good for something after all,” she said half-insultingly, and the adventurers howled with laughter. “…By the way, I was surprised to learn you guys were the Lovely Paladin,” June said. “Huh? I—I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Tiana responded, avoiding June’s eyes and feigning ignorance. Not one to be fooled so easily, June laughed. “There’s no need to hide it anymore. It’s clear now who our friends and our enemies are. That said, Vilma was livid, though.” “…That’s too bad,” Tiana said. Vilma was an Adventurers Guild employee, and it was at her request that the Survivors had explored the Labyrinth of Bonds and found the Sword of Bonds inside. The sword they’d given her, however, was an inferior replica. They had no other choice but to admit they’d tricked her. “Let’s talk plans. What are you going to do?” June asked. “Hmm… I haven’t thought about much other than protecting myself because of the bounty. One of our members is sick, too,” Tiana said. She explained Karan’s situation, and June’s face clouded over. “I see…” “She’s right. We have to get all the people with bounties on their heads and the noncombatants out of here,” said Joseph the producer. “What the—?! Since when were you here?” June asked. “I work here… I am grateful to you for coming to save us. If you don’t mind, however, could you please get your adventurers to calm down a little? I have prepared a waiting room for them,” he said. “Oh, sorry about that,” responded June. She left the room to scold the adventurers, who were causing trouble for the guards and remaining idols in Starmine Hall. Joseph breathed a sigh of relief, but he still looked tired. “You look exhausted,” Tiana said. “That I am. I have many meetings to attend, and you know the state of Starmine Hall. We were blindsided by the Thunderbolt Corporation’s betrayal. We would actually like to discuss that and a few other matters with you.” At Joseph’s suggestion, he, Tiana, June, and Diamond sat down for another meeting. “First of all, I want to thank you on behalf of Jewelry Production. You saved us. You don’t want to become an idol by any chance, do you?” Diamond asked. “No way. The music’s too gaudy for me,” replied June. “I’m pretty sure your adventurers would support you, though. You might feel differently once you see them wave their fans and magic glow sticks for you. That’s a view you can only get from onstage.” “Please, stop. I’d rather do anything else,” June said, the distaste clear on her face. The others laughed a little. Tiana couldn’t help but respect Diamond for remembering to be an idol and lift people’s spirits even in this difficult situation. “Anyway, we’re here to work. We’ll accept money anytime, but there’s no need to get sentimental. This is our problem, too,” June told her. “You’re talking about the bounties, right? They’re offering rewards for me, the Survivors, and… Were there more?” Diamond asked. June nodded. “All of the Survivors are on the wanted posters, as well as both of you, Diamond and Joseph. There’s also the magazine editor Olivia Taylor, the detective Hector Woods, the dining consultant Samurialie, and Credit King Marde, president of the Dineez Adventurers Credit Union. That’s all for now,” June said. The rest listened with serious expressions but had grown confused toward the end. “Hmm… You lost me with those last couple of names,” Tiana said. “Isn’t Credit King Marde a historical figure…?” Diamond asked. “I’m not sure why his name is there. June, are there any specific criminal charges on the wanted posters?” June shook her head. “Marde’s the only poster without a sketch. It only says the name and bounty. I don’t know any more than you,” she said, leaning back with some frustration. Questions about the bounties weighed on them all until Joseph cleared his throat. “There is much we don’t know, but we could use these bounties to inform our actions,” he said. “Oh yeah, good point,” Diamond agreed. “We may not know why, but the demon-god worshippers see the people on these wanted posters as obstructions to their plans. It may benefit us to take them into custody,” Joseph said. Tiana started to agree but then shook her head. “That’s true, but only if we can protect them. The Manhunt adventurers are here to help, but would we really be able to hold out against a full-strength attack from Dead Man’s Balloon?” June grimaced. “Honestly, we may be screwed. Engineer Bellocchio and Animator Havok are a terrifying combination. I don’t know much about them beyond rumors and what I’ve read in reports, though.” “…I don’t know anything about Havok, either, but I trained closely under Bellocchio at school,” Tiana told them. “I’d like to hear your view of him,” Diamond said. Tiana began to consider her instructor—her former instructor. “…He’s the strongest mage I’ve ever met. I’ve seen a lot of mages since coming to Labyrinth City, but I still feel that way. Most of the instructors at my aristocratic school knew nothing beyond classroom learning and spent their time researching nonpractical magic, but Bellocchio was different. His practical ability and academic knowledge are both elite.” Bellocchio had impressed on Tiana the importance of both classroom learning and fieldwork. “Lightning magic is his specialty. He performs the spell Lightning Strike with much greater strength and precision than me, and he can also create artificial spirits like Lightning Bird by mixing electricity and mana… But the biggest threat might be his ability to overload magic items that use electromagnetic force,” Tiana continued. “Overload? What do you mean?” June asked. “Every magic item has a magic stone at its core that is susceptible to electricity. Sometimes basic friction will create enough of a charge to make the item malfunction,” explained Tiana. “That’s a remnant of the Originators’ civilization, when people used electricity in their everyday lives. That was also when the fundamentals of magic theory were established and magic stones created. Magic stones were designed with a hole to allow in electricity. Commercial magic items are made to resist electricity, but…” Diamond trailed off, and Tiana continued for her. “If you intentionally expand that hole, you can cause a magic item to go haywire. Overloading the magic stone will either magnify the items effects many times over or just blow it up. Bellocchio has become an expert on magic items from researching this phenomenon, and he probably has plenty of weapons I don’t know about. He earned the nickname Engineer because of his skill and knowledge in that field. He can create new magic items as freely as people did in ancient times.” “Well, that doesn’t bode well,” June grumbled. “What about Havok? She’s obviously very skilled at using dolls…” “I can tell you about her,” Diamond said. “She’s the president of the Thunderbolt Corporation and a master magic item and doll maker. She’s called ‘Animator’ because she has such perfect control of her dolls, it’s as if she gives them souls… I didn’t know she was this good until today, though.” “You called her dolls Mystic Ballerinas, right?” Tiana asked. “Yeah. They were originally developed for stage productions. The Thunderbolt Corporation promoted them as a replacement for background dancers, but it didn’t really work out because of issues with onstage security and their ability to follow choreography. Their costumes are stunning, though, and they move so smoo—” “That’s enough about the dolls.” June cut her off. “A-anyway, my point is that no one is better than Havok when it comes to making dolls that move with humanlike fluidity. I never even considered that she would mobilize them into a well-coordinated squad of troops,” Diamond said. “Yeah. I’ve heard of people using dolls to fight monsters… But these were definitely not made for that purpose,” June said sullenly. “What do you mean?” Tiana asked. “Those are meant for killing people. Their short stature makes them difficult to hit, and they’re strong enough to kill with a blade. If they can travel far enough from their puppet master, they’d be perfect for assassination, too,” said June. “As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Thunderbolt Corporation helped to make our barrier. What a disaster… I’ll make her pay for betraying me,” Diamond said, fire burning in her usually cheerful eyes. The sight reminded Tiana of how terrifying Diamond could be. At the same time, it was reassuring to have a boss who was practically immortal. “But what should we do? There’s not much reason to fear a brute force attack from the adventurers who have joined Dead Man’s Balloon, but it’ll be difficult to protect anyone here when there’s a risk of assassination,” said Diamond. “…We should evacuate everyone who can’t fight,” Tiana suggested. Diamond nodded. “I agree. I want you to stay and defend this place.” “Okay… Wait, what?” Tiana said, staring at Diamond. She’d agreed before realizing what had been said. “I’ll take Karan and the idols away from here, and I’ll look after another one of Dead Man’s Balloon’s targets, too. Can you all hold down the fort here in the meantime?” Diamond asked. “…Aren’t you really strong?” Tiana asked. “Not by myself. I’d be more confident in my abilities if I had a barrier and magic tools like the ones from the Thunderbolt Corporation, but now that they’ve turned on us… Anyway, I’m counting on you, my new head of security!” “You’ve got to be kidding me…” Tiana’s initial reaction was one of annoyance, but then she realized this plan might work for her. Her main desire was to protect Karan; she wouldn’t have to worry about her if Diamond took her away to hide. Plus, Tiana should be the one to settle things with Bellocchio. “…You’ll increase the size of our reward. And once you’ve ensured you’re all safe, send us reinforcements. I don’t want you blaming me if your precious concert hall gets blown to smithereens,” Tiana told her. “You’ve got it. And don’t worry—we’ll have a chance of winning if you hold out for two weeks,” said Diamond. “…Two weeks?” repeated Tiana. That was an oddly specific amount of time. “That’s how long I think it’ll take to finish what I’m working on,” Diamond explained. “I assume there’s no hope of you sending us any high-ranking adventurers?” “I’d like to, but I doubt they’ll quell the Stampede in time… I promise I have a card up my sleeve, though.” “So, in the meantime, we’re helpless here,” Tiana said sourly. “Please, Tiana? I know I’m asking you to do the impossible!” Diamond pleaded desperately, clinging to her. “Okay, fine! At least let me complain about it still! And let me go!” Tiana snapped, tearing Diamond off her. “I won’t let this stronghold fall under my watch. I can’t imagine a worse opponent to suffer a siege from, but I was a straight-A student.” “What does that have to do with anything?” June asked, confused. Tiana stuffed a leaf into her pipe and lit it with her igniter as if to announce that she was done with the conversation. The igniter Bellocchio gave her had been broken, and the one she was using now had been given to her by an idol. It wasn’t anything fancy, but she liked the feel of the elegantly simple matte steel in her hands. “Oh, don’t you know? It’s a noble girl’s duty to know how to defend against a siege,” she said, puffing out smoke and smiling confidently. Noble girls were expected to learn a number of skills. Manners and etiquette came first and foremost, and young ladies often studied music or dance as well. Essentially, they learned what was required of them to function as wives of the gentry. They left housework to the maids so they could entertain guests their husband brought over, and they hosted soirees to maintain friendly relations with other noble families. That, however, was their role in peacetime, and an entirely different set of duties was expected of them during wartime. One of these skills was performing healing magic. They also sometimes fought with long-distance magic, or a spear or bow. In ancient times in the Holy Kingdom of Dineez, men fought as knights on horse or dragon back, while women stayed behind to defend the estate or fortress from enemy attack. Traces of that culture remained in Tiana’s aristocratic school. There was a subject called Siege Defense, which was a five-course curriculum consisting of Introduction to Siege Defense; Siege Defense Theory: Commanding Combat; Siege Defense Theory: Resource Management; Siege Defense Theory: General Management; and Practical Siege Defense. “Ms. Tiana! The food distribution is ready!” “Lady Tiana! Our fighters on the west side are almost at their breaking point! They can’t take much more! What should we do?!” “Their cleric won’t wake up! They’re all outta mana!” “Take turns eating, starting with Squad A! Eat fast before it gets cold! I’ll send a construction squad to the west side, so hold out a little longer! Grab building materials from the underground storehouse and drop them on the enemy!” Tiana ordered. A large whiteboard had replaced the magic item on the stage of Starmine Hall. A map of Starmine Hall and its surrounding area had been drawn in black marker, and different colored magnets had been placed to denote the positions of ally and enemy camps. Tiana was currently busy analyzing and managing information from scouts, regularly updating the whiteboard to reflect the situation, and discussing strategy with Joseph from the agency and guild employees. “There’s a force of dolls hounding us on the southern wall, and failed adventurers are attacking us from the west,” Tiana said. “The western attack may be a diversion. I believe the dolls to be the greater threat,” said Joseph. The adventurers voiced varying opinions. The debate grew heated, but it came to an end when a report arrived announcing that the situation to the south had worsened considerably. Tiana and a group of adventurers left the stage to help repel the dolls. Not all of the dolls at the southern wall fought with knives. They had also brought a catapult, which took ten to twenty dolls to operate, and they were using it to launch stones, building materials, and even themselves at the barrier. “Where’d they get one of those?!” one adventurer shouted, seeing the primitive wooden war machine. “It’s a stage prop made as part of an ancient war set! But they’re using it for real… It’s dangerous,” explained an idol who had stayed behind to help carry the wounded. The sight was a little nostalgic for Tiana. Her school was old, and it had a stock of historical weapons such as catapults and ballistas that weren’t used in modern day. She even got to shoot them once and still remembered how much of a blast it had been. “Make destroying that catapult the first priority! You can disable it by cutting the ropes beneath it! Do it quickly, or they’ll force their way through the barrier!” Tiana commanded. The adventurers quickly formed a rapid response team and headed outside the wall to follow Tiana’s orders to sabotage the catapult. The explosions and screams melded into one as Tiana and the others fought, and they ended up successfully defending the stronghold for another day. “Listen up, everyone! All injured are to visit the relief squad! That applies to anyone who feels even a little off, not just if you’re bleeding! And if any of you try to make a move on the nurses, I’ll kill you myself!” Tiana shouted. The voices around her echoed with laughter and joking complaints about her threat. Tiana’s stern voice had a reassuring effect—it made everyone believe that they were okay, that they could continue to hold out. Tiana’s command had been flawless. A troubling number of people had suffered minor injuries, but so far no one had died. The only severe injuries had been from chronic issues worsening. “You’re not half bad. I knew you were a skilled mage, but you’re a leader, too. My roughnecks and the idols have all accepted your authority,” June said in the makeshift conference room on the stage. “Gee, thanks,” Tiana responded. “Someone’s in a bad mood. Is something bothering you?” “…The battle is turning in our favor. I don’t know how many dolls we’ve destroyed, but the enemy’s resources must be finite.” “Then what’s the problem?” “We’re missing the essential ingredient we need to overcome this siege.” “What’s that?” “A rear guard. We can’t win without reinforcements, so we have to drag this out until then. It would be much better if we could take the attack to them.” “True. Should we, then?” “The enemy’s trying to bait us into it.” “Are you sure you’re not overthinking this?” “…How many days has it been since the siege began?” “Ten.” June pointed at the whiteboard with her chin as if to say Tiana could’ve checked herself. They had drawn a disorderly schedule and written down information including the amount of supplies remaining and an estimate for how many more days they could hold out. “Something about this whole situation just feels wrong. They’ve given us nothing but simple problems you learn how to deal with in school or knight training exercises,” Tiana said. “Maybe it’s all those weird dolls know how to do,” suggested June. “That’s what’s strange. They’re following textbook siege strategies to the letter. They’re even using ancient weapons you’d only see in a textbook. The demon-god worshippers should have more formidable magic items and weapons for their attack on the city.” “That’s…a good point. They shouldn’t have any need to patch up and use out-of-date weapons. Then what are they doing?” “I don’t know.” “Okay. That’s fine. But we need to figure out how to respond. Do you want to do this according to the textbook, or find a new strategy?” Tiana was grateful for June’s presence; she always knew just how to respond when Tiana asked her about something. It was clearly no accident that she had gained the respect of the unruly Manhunt adventurers. Tiana also wasn’t always the clearest in her speech; sometimes it was difficult to tell whether she was giving order or simply complaining, but June knew just how to translate to their subordinates and other adventurers. “What are you doing working at Manhunt?” Tiana asked. “Where’s this coming from?” June responded. “You’re clearly comfortable planning and giving orders on a battlefield. Shouldn’t someone as talented as you be able to work your way up to guild headquarters?” “Climbing the corporate ladder isn’t all it’s made out to be. Too much work for too little reward.” “You’re not wrong there.” June let out an exaggerated sigh, and Tiana let slip a chuckle. “…Halmi Bellocchio is an eccentric man. Both his magic and his way of thinking are wholly unique. Even the school’s staff seemed to have trouble knowing what to do with him. People always used to say there had to be a more fitting job for him than teaching. They were making fun of him, but they were praising him, too,” Tiana said. “Well, he turned out to be a demon-god worshipper, so that checks out,” joked June. “That’s not what I mean. The man’s a true genius. He’s a little crazy in the way that S-rank adventurers are. I know he can come up with nastier siege tactics than this.” Tiana had received perfect grades in her siege defense classes. She had been boasting about that for the last ten days to play a strong leader and keep up morale, which June understood and supported. There was something she hadn’t told anyone, however. Back when she was a student, Tiana would often get overexcited by her good grades and challenge Bellocchio to tabletop military simulations, a board game called tabby top in which players fought to take each other’s pieces, and card games. She lost miserably every single time. She sometimes got so invested in the games that she would forget her studies completely and play until sunset, leading to her getting scolded and sent trudging home with a mountain of homework. They would have a good match every now and then, but Tiana would always realize later that he had guided her into a stalemate. “…Is he stalling for time? Even though they have a huge advantage as the aggressors?” Tiana wondered aloud. Bellocchio usually drew her into a tie simply because he wanted to kill time. He would do it while waiting for the results of an experiment that involved filling a plant seed or microbe with mana to see how it reacted over time, or roasting coffee beans for up to two hours and calling it an experiment when he simply wanted coffee. But he never wasted time unless he had something to wait for. “…He said we would have the pleasure of his company,” Tiana mused. “Could it be a trap?” June asked, pointing out the obvious. “Of course,” Tiana said. “But it’s not time to gamble yet. We don’t know what they’re waiting for, but it’s not like we’re sitting here without a plan. Diamond is doing something. We just need to endure for now.” “Got it. We’re counting on you, boss.”
Chapter 84
53 min read