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THE knights’ shouts rang out.
“Enemy raid! The enemy forces bear the crown prince’s crest!”
“What did he just say…?!”
The music stopped at the sound of the alarm bell, and a beat later, a messenger knight ran into the hall.
“Enemy at the gates! A magic bomb was blasted against a castle wall!”
Amidst the panic of the guests, Richard’s voice carried powerfully in the great hall. “Non-combatants, follow my knights’ orders and evacuate quickly. I want all members of the fire brigade to report to their stations immediately and the saints should follow their squadron leaders’ instructions! The rest of you get to your posts!”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights enjoying the party lined up and grabbed their swords from the ones responsible for weapons. Then they headed outside to counter the attack.
“Richard!” I chased after him, tossing my heels away as I raced down the stairs to the first floor. “What can I do?”
“Go protect the civilians in a safe place, Miss Monica.”
I didn’t expect him to say that because I thought he would want me to help as combat service support.
“You’re an asset we need to preserve. Try to use as little of your supernatural abilities and magic as possible, but make sure none of the non-combatants are hurt. And one more thing.” He lowered his voice and leaned down to speak directly into my ear. “I’m positive they’re coming after you.”
“Nh…!”
“That’s what I would do if I were the enemy. So…hide in a safe place.”
“U-Understood. May the fortunes of war favor you.”
As knight commander, Richard’s orders were absolute. When I nodded affirmatively, the corners of his eyes relaxed just a fraction though his expression remained grim. He kissed the crown of my head and then we went our separate ways. I took charge of the guests who were running around in a panic, leading them to safety.
Once all the civilians gathered in the great hall and I did a head count, the knights on security detail and I stood watch over them as we monitored the situation. Sounds from magical explosions reverberated outside, sometimes shaking the castle heavily. The people congregated here let slip their fears.
“Why did this happen…?”
“Who’s attacking us?”
“Monsters are one thing… But humans…”
I know Richard told me to avoid using my powers as much as possible. But I needed to calm down the anxious guests. I formed a sigil with my fingers and pressed it tightly against my chest.
“Seethe, my holy powers. Stir, my life force. The torrent of my magic knows no bounds as it rushes toward the heavens.”
One of the knights noticed, his expression surprised and uneasy. I ignored him and continued performing my magic. I used silencing magic to muffle my voice and chanted after establishing the area of effect for the spell.
“Witches, sisters of eld, unveil a night of peace for all.”
The soft weeping and angry murmurs disappeared as the magic calmed down their troubled hearts. Then, one after another, they slowly collapsed on the ground and fell asleep.
The knight approached me hesitantly. “Madam Monica, His Highness instructed you to preserve your powers…”
“I’m sorry. I’ll speak to Richard properly after this is all over.”
“Well…to tell you the truth, this was a big help. Especially because the battle seems to be taking time.”
Expression grim, the knight stared out the window. Outside, magical explosions lit up the night sky like fireworks all over the castle grounds. It was clear the enemy had a few mages stronger than Second Class. I also had no doubt of their composition.
“The Church’s order of holy knights and…the knights in the royal guard…”
Just saying the words out loud sent a shudder of revulsion through me. Because the people who should have been protecting Kophe’s citizens instead launched a surprise attack at night, and at a party with so many civilians no less.
It wouldn’t shock me at all if they’re scheming something even more heinous…
With a gasp, I noticed an anomaly at the top of a spire.
“Grant unto me an owl’s keen sight.” I rubbed my eyelids then activated the magical detection spell and strained my eyes for a closer look. When I saw a strange purple light flickering at the tip of the spire, I shouted. “It’s a magical lure light! The enemy’s First Class mages are using it to lure monsters!”
“What?!”
The knights raised their voices in shock. I had a feeling the battle had grown so intense that the enemy’s magic squadrons weren’t coping well. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the monsters attacked.
“It would be easy to destroy the light with my magic. But…doing it from here would reveal my location.”
Richard said the enemy was most likely targeting me. Putting the civilians to sleep inside was one thing, but I couldn’t risk doing anything that would expose my position to the foes outside.
“Goodness, what am I supposed to do now?”
That was when I felt a hand on my shoulder. The scent of cologne enveloped me.
“You look like you’re in a pinch, Madam Monica.”
“Xenu! The magic didn’t make you fall asleep?!”
“Heh heh. I’m actually wearing a magical device that wards off magic. An ancestral secret, you see.”
If I looked closely at the beads sewn into his cuff, I saw one had burst open. Saaya, his cat, slept peacefully in the cradle of his arms.
“Why don’t I help you, Madam Monica?” He whispered the words softly. “By chanting into one of my Priestess Teardrop Stones, I can make the others fly and destroy the magical lure light. I have enough magic of my own to determine that a few enemy knights are in possession of Priestess Teardrop Stones.”
“You can do that?! Wait. Why does the enemy have your bloody Stones?”
“Naturally, because they’re talismans you can get for free.” Xenu narrowed his eyes and chuckled. I just realized he and Richard were definitely alike in some ways.
“Basically, you activate their Stones with one of yours here to destroy the magical lure light out there, yes?”
“Exactly. Except my magic is only Fourth Class. I understand how to execute my plan in theory, but my magic alone won’t be enough to do it.”
“Hm… What if I lend you mine as I amplify it? Will that work?” I asked.