Chapter 364 - Invisible Factors

<Author’s Notes>

My apologies, I wrote “ideally posting by the first half of December” back in the last update, but it got delayed and it’s now New Year’s Eve.

I also apologize for the lack of updates in the latter half of this year.

I was writing at the same time for another work and couldn’t easily switch my mind to the current timeline of the second part of the final arc, which led me into a mild slump…… ending up with me being rattled for the latter half of this year.

That said, I thought I should at least express my thanks and greetings to everyone at the end of this year, so with this last update of the year (which may be somewhat lacking in polishing), I would like to take this opportunity to briefly express my greetings.

Thank you very much for your support this year.

Before I knew it, it felt like I’d been carried through to the final arc, all thanks to everyone’s support.

In 2024, I will do my best to return to regular updates as much as possible so that I can respond to the support I have received so far.

Well then, see you again next year for the next update.

I wish everyone a happy new year.

The other day, Gio asked me for my advice.

“You want to be part of the first wave?”

“Even though we’re reinforcements, we don’t have any actual accomplishments in the outside world yet.”

“And you want to show them early on———– that the Faraway Country properly had its solid force huh”.

“That’s part of the reason. What I had in mind…… was that if we show them our performance, we will be treated better later on. But well…… Even more than that, I just want to show them that we aren’t guests here. We too———–“

Gio paused for a moment before continuing.

“I want to show them that we are also in this together.”

Scratching the back of his head, Gio spoke.

“Thanks to you, it’s a lot easier to talk with those in the higher-ups, Fly King.”

Gio Shadowblade leads the Leopard Light Army.

And now, he’s showing the others his subordinates———-

——and the sight of them taking the lead in this war.

Holding it at an angle, he allowed the force of the enemy’s slash to flow to the side.

The blades of their swords violently scratched against each other, scattering sparks nearby.

At that moment, Gio swung his other katana———- the black katana in his left hand down on the head of the half-horse Sacrament.

[——————]

The half-horse Sacrament reacted———– in what appears like agitation.

Gio’s attack is fast.

“At this speed, he won’t be able to receive his attack with his hammer in time.”

Perhaps having judged it that way, the Sacrament released its hand from its hammer and attempted to guard with its arm.

It tried to catch the attack with its arm clad in silver armor.

—————————ZUBAAAAAAN!

The half-horse Sacrament was cleaved in half from overhead.

They overtook Gio and joined the surrounding Mira soldiers.

Still in his landing position, Gio readied his black katanas————-

[————–GO!]

The Leopardkin soldiers to their army commander with a war cry.

Then, one after another, they engaged with the Sacraments.

Perhaps inspired by this, the Mira soldiers also increase their momentum.

[We will not be outdone by the Leopardkins! If we don’t show His Majesty the power of our Mira soldiers, when will we!? Charge!]

A battle cry resounded.

Here, the somewhat late infantry units of Mira joined in.

As a result, the forces on our side began pushing the Sacraments back.

Seras, who was watching the situation with me, spoke.

Thus, I have to take into consideration preserving their fighting strength.

The problem with Heroes lies in their usage of MP.

Our Unique Skills consume a large amount of MP.

Therefore, if they enter a battle with the Divine Servants after they ran out of MP———– or with their MP significantly reduced————- increases the risk of losing.

There are two ways to recover reduced MP.

Either level-up or sleep.

However……

[Reporting!]

A messenger from the center of the front line.

Not long ago, the Brilliant Squadron entered the battle there.

Yes, the Brilliant Squadron is a unit working together with the Asagi group.

I turned to Loqierra on my shoulder.

[I suppose it’s better if we think———– that Vysis has made it so that we won’t get any EXP from defeating the Sacraments huh.]

[Looks like it……]

Of course.

It’s also possible that she could only make it so one could only get a small amount of EXP.

Perhaps, we would be able to level up if we kill a lot of them.

However, it would be really bad to rely on something we aren’t sure of.

If that’s the case———-

We can only recover our reduced MP by sleeping.

This being the case, even if we were to send out the Heroes, they would just be in a situation where they find it difficult to use their Unique Skills.

Naturally, even if they don’t use their skills, they will still get tired if they fight.

Fighting with it also doesn’t accumulate that much fatigue in me.

It’s just, if those Giant Sacraments were “baits”……

What if Vysis is among them, looking for an opening……

Yes, I could see several possible patterns in this situation.

Vysis and the Divine Servants have come to this battlefield.

Vysis and the Divine Servants are currently on their way to Jonato.

Vysis and the Divine Servants———— even now, are still in the Royal Capital of Alion.

As for the probability of each pattern……

Actually, I see the third pattern as the most likely.

This is because I heard Loqierra’s predictions.

For example———-

“The location of the gate deployment can’t be quickly changed.”

“If the deployment location is to be changed, it will require Vysis a considerable period of preparation.”

“She can’t imagine Vysis leaving the Royal Capital unattended and risking having her Anti-Deity Sacraments destroyed right under her nose.”

Her predictions were persuasive.

However, there’s still a possibility that Vysis will try to outwit us.

I certainly don’t think she will leave the Royal Capital and head for Jonato.

After all, she’s afraid of having her Anti-Deity Sacraments while she’s away.

Especially since we have the means to destroy her Giant Sacraments.

However———–

If she were to leave the Royal Capital and come to crush us directly……

If she also intends to engage in the decisive battle on this battlefield……

That possibility remains.

“She intends to wear down the Heroes with her Sacrament army and then come to kill us.”

Such a possibility “exists” because the thought that such a thing wouldn’t happen has come to our mind.

A counterplot against our counterplot.

What we need now is proof.

Information that can be confirmed.

That right now, Vysis and the Divine Servants are in the Royal Capital.

Yes, what is needed———- is that definite information.

On the other hand……

If we can deal with this dilemma———– the Heroes can be deployed.

[These waves of subsequent Sacraments don’t feel like it would stop…… The number of enemies reaching the frontlines is increasing. Did Vysis…… come here to settle things once and for all? Or perhaps……]

Loqierra is also unable to tell.

I put my gloves back on.

[Well…… I’m going to fight to some extent too. To solve this issue of conserving the Heroes’ MP———- Me, who can deal with the MP consumption problem, should be the one to come out. I’ll handle dealing with those large guys.]

I must also move under the assumption that Vysis and the others would come out.

Thus, I should make sure that Sogou and the others are prepared as well.

……Hmm?

[Umm, Touka-dono.]

[……Yeah.]

I also noticed it.

A crow is coming our way.

[Could that be…… a familiar?]

The way it crows.

That’s one of the cues to indicate if that was a familiar.

The crow landed on the ground in front of me.

And then, it moved its wings.

A unique movement, similar to Morse code.

There’s no doubt about it.

This crow is a familiar.

[Is Erika back?]

The character board is always kept nearby so that it’s ready for when the familiar arrives.

Seras brings the character board and places it on the ground.

I get ready to take notes.

OVERLAP LINK: HERE

Speaking of Volume 11.5, gamers.co also had a limited edition for Volume 11.5, available for pre-order. The limited edition comes with:

An original A3 tapestry

Gamers benefits (I dunno what this is, prolly related to their site)

A 4 page booklet written by Shinozaki Kaoru-sensei

The gamers link is down below if you want.

GAMERS LINK: HERE