Kenja no Mago
Volume 9 - The Astounding Invasion of the Devils
102 – Faint Hope
[←Prev. Chapter] [Index] [Next Chapter→]
Author's Note: I've got a sore back. (´・ω・`) I couldn't sit in the chair because of the pain. So I took a week break. I'm sorry.
The Earlshield's soldiers were in despair. They had almost given up on winning and coming out unscathed against the unprecedented horde of disaster-class demons as their opponents. The god of salvation descended on those who were prepared to die.
It was their beloved crown prince, August von Earlshide, the man who bears the alias name the "God of Thunder". A number of soldiers were blinded by August's lightning strikes, but the wrath of heaven caused the demons around them to be completely charred; while preventing them from causing any new casualties among the soldiers.
The crown prince saved the lives of his men. Their eyes were still flickering due to the sudden lightning strike, but their loyalty for their savior was exploding. And August, who received that loyalty wholeheartedly, gritted his back teeth at the sight spreading in front of him.
"My… doing that to the people of our country, how dare you…" - A small muttering.
"Listen! Brave soldiers of our country! Now that we're here, the fate of the demons has been sealed!" – August exclaims, as he gazes over the soldiers and continues. – "Because from now on we're going to take them all down!"
In response to August's words, the members of the Ultimate Magicians began to gather their magical power.
"Knights, disengage at once!"
With those words, the knights activated their jet boots and pulled backwards immediately.
After confirming that everyone has retreated from the front line.
"Let it loose!" - The Ultimate Magicians unleash their magic on the remaining demons all at once.
When August and the nine other people, excepting Mark who was still heading to the location, released their magic all at once, the scene is truly like a natural disaster. It is so powerful that the soldiers of the Earlshide's Kingdom Army, who witnessed the magic of the Ultimate Magicians several times in the past, drop their jaws wide open in awe.
Even with such power, there were only about a dozen disaster-level demons that have been subdued from the onslaught. There were still many demons left. Seeing this, August spoke again.
"Soldiers! Endure! We are with you, and you… will definitely come back alive!!"
"OOOOOOOHHH!!"
Returning home alive. They had tethered on the verge of giving up earlier, but August reminded them of their lost hope. Regaining their vigor, the knights pointed their swords again at the demons and…
"Magic Division! Decimate them all!"
With that command, countless magic spells are launched from the magic division, which are overwhelmingly more numerous than the Ultimate Magicians.
"Knights, chargeee!!"
The knights, not allowing themselves to be left behind, activated their jet boots and also charged at the demons again.
"We're going too!"
"Demons total extermination"
With the highly motivated Alice and Lynn taking the lead, while the remaining Ultimate Magicians join the fray as they lead the battle. Even though the way the battle started had not changed, the Earlshide's army now has not fallen into a disadvantage just because of their mere presence.
The magic division fire a concentrated barrage of magic, and then the knights followed after the attack. If it looks like it's going to be dangerous, Alice and the others provide the necessary support. Feeling that the battlefield was leaning in their favor, August gives his next command.
"Claude!"
"Yes!"
Sicily was the only one who did not rush in to defeat the demons, but waited at August's side. She understood her role.
"You go treat the wounded soldiers! Please! Don't let anyone else die!"
As part of the royal family of the Kingdom of Earshide, the people, whether noblemen or commoner, are all treasures and assets. All soldiers are deemed equally valuable. August couldn't stand losing any more valuable subjects due to a demons' attack. So he lowers his head and earnestly requests Sicily to treat the severely injured soldiers.
"Your Highness… I understand! Please leave it to me!"
Normally, she would advise him to raise his head, but right now, she doesn't even have time for such formality. Sicily dashed toward the area where the injured soldiers were being gathered.
With sideways glance at the darting Sicily, August called upon the commander of the garrison forces.
"Brief me in the situation. Did those demons appear among the garrisons forces of each nation? Or they only appeared among our stationed troops?"
"Yes! We have confirmed that. They have not appeared in any other areas of the collective nations. Only in our area."
"I see"
"Yes. And the countries that we have contacted are on their way to provide relief."
"Thank heavens. If we can defeat these demons, our bond will grow even deeper."
"Indeed"
If only these demons are defeated, the ties between the countries will be strengthened for sure. For that reason, August was eagerly hoping that demon subjugation would end without any further incidents
Then, after receiving the order from August, Sicily arrived at the temporary relief station and called out to the posted local healing mage.
"Please bring forth the critical ones!"
Until a while ago, on-going battle that made the soldiers give up on the idea of living. The tragic number of injured people was no less than half of the force.
"Saint! M-Me, treat me!"
"Hey you! The saint said that the critical patients come first!"
There are healing mages at this post, too. However, there is no one in the capital of Earlshide who does not know the name of Saint Sicily, the healing magic genius; who under Shin direction, cellular structures of living organisms the living body is composed of, and practiced the methods at the treatment center run by the church. The injured began to rush in, while ignoring the words from Sicily that she would perform healing magic on the critical patients first.
"Oh, um! Please listen to what I'm saying!"
Sicily desperately calls out to give priority to the critical patients, but the soldiers, agitated by the on-going battle and injuries, do not listen to her. At this rate, she could not perform the mission entrusted to her by August.
Then during her pondering of the situation, a tiny but not negligible magical explosion above their heads resounds. The wounded soldiers, startled by the sound, stopped moving for a moment.
"You guys! You dare to have the nerve to bother my younger sister!?"
"U-fu-fu… Do you need to be punished for troubling such people?"
"Sister! I'm so glad you're safe!"
Sicily's Sisters, Cecilia and Sylvia, admonished the wounded soldiers the moment they stopped moving. Their faces were fuming, angered by the soldiers who didn't listen to Sicily with their haste to get healed.
"As Sicily was saying! Bring forth the critical wounded patient who can't move on their own!"
"If you don't like it, I can make you a critical wounded patient, okay?"
"Oh, elder Sister…"
Cecilia, who served as a member of the magical division and also participated in this garrison army, scolded the soldiers. Sylvia muttered something quite disturbing.
Then, whether it was Cecilia's scolding or Silvia's threats working, the soldiers began to gather the critical wounded patient in a hurry. And a number of soldiers who were unconscious and visibly in a serious condition were brought in.
"That is…"
Looking at one of the soldiers that was brought in, Cecilia was at a loss for words for a moment. His arms are broken, bones popping out, and some internal organs are also exposed. Honestly, she doesn't think he will survive. It was that type of injury.
And now Sicily is going to try to heal him, most likely she would fail. If that happens, because she is Sicily, she might feel depressed that it was her fault for her inadequacy. Concerned about this, Cecilia and Sylvia approached Sicily.
"Sicily, those…"
"Isn't it impossible for him to survive, right? So you don't have to force yourself to treat him…"
"Elder Sister Cecilia, elder Sister Sylvia" - Sicily interrupted the words of her two sisters. – "I know that you're worried, but it's all right. I've been trained by Shin in many ways."
"Huh?"
No matter how good you are at healing magic, a wounded human being is not something you get used to seeing. Cecilia and Sylvia were surprised that Sicily was speaking calmly in front of a severely injured soldier and seemed to have no issue with the devastating sight. Sicily immediately began treating the soldier.
First, the most precarious torn abdomen and internal organs, they were mended and placed back in the abdominal cavity while being sterilized. Then, after confirming that there are no lacerations in the internal organs, the wound in the abdominal area is healed.
For the broken arm, Shin would forcibly cut off the nerve impulses and forcibly give anesthesia, but for Sicily it is not possible to imitate that much.
However, Sicily's healing apparently does not cause eruptive pains. The healing magic that Sicily uses actually has two distinct properties. One is the physical regeneration based on the medical knowledge taught by Shin. And the other is that originally, healing magic is activated when there is a great desire to heal the other person through the spirit of compassion. During the activation of Shin's method of healing magic, with the desire to help the patient, a dual secondary effect of reducing pain is invoked.
The soldier's injuries were regenerating at a rapid pace. And the gathered people around the patient were gawking in astonishment at the situation.
"… Phew, it is done! The wound has healed, but the lost blood hasn't regenerated, so let him rest in the back!"
"Ah, Y-Yes! Understood!"
A soldier, who was much older than her, replied to Sicily, after her report of the first treatment had been completed. With a respectful gaze, he carried off the soldier with the completed the treatment on a stretcher with the assistance of another soldier.
"Next person! Please!"
"Si-Sicily?"
"What is it? Elder Sister Cecilia"
Completely flabbergasted, Cecilia decided to ask Sicily about the current treatment. - "What's that? I've never seen healing magic like that before…"
"Huh? Oh. Because that's the healing magic that Shin taught me."
"By Shin?"
While treating the next patient, Sicily answered briefly. Cecilia would have liked to hear a little more, but Sicily probably thought she was done with the previous explanation, which Cecilia didn't feel it was the case. Sicily did not speak further.
"…Huh? That's it?"
"Yes? Shin develops magic… as you can see that it's different from conventional magic and is out of the common standard."
"Oh, so that's your evaluation…"
Cecilia was surprised. She was familiar with Sicily and Shin lovey-dovey behavior. When she returned to her parents' house for a rotation of duties, she witnessed the sight of their blatant flirting while being oblivious and really made her want to puke sugar. So she thought that Sicily was unconditionally accepting anything about Shin. Although the situations between them are unconditionally in her perspectives, there is also an apparent different meaning behind that.
While Cecilia was pondering, the patient's treatment was completed and he was carried away by another assisting soldier. And while the next patient is being brought in, Sicily began the continuation of her earlier explanation.
"Shin has a way of thinking that seems to be little different than most people."
"A way of thinking?"
"Yes! Shin didn't have the elementary and middle school education that we received, but he is unusually smarter."
Cecilia and Sylvia also knew about that part. They've read "New Hero's Tale", in which Sicily appeared as the main heroine, and they read about the storyline many times over.
"It's hard to believe, but… Shin learned everything on his own. Natural phenomena, the structure of living beings. And many other things as well, all on his own."
"Se-Self-taught!"
"Bu-But wasn't he educated by the Wiseman and the Guru?"
While Cecilia was surprised and Sylvia inquired, a new patient was brought in. This time, it seems that the internal organs have been seriously damaged and the soldier was vomiting blood.
Sicily applied the ultrasound diagnosis spell that Shin had taught her on the patient, probing for the damaged parts in the internal organs and applying regenerative treatment. Seeing the patient's complexion gradually improving, Sicily decided that the patient was going to be okay and asked the soldiers who brought the patient in to transport him to the rest area again. Then, in the meanwhile the next patient is brought in, she answers Sylvia's question from earlier.
"Grandfather and grandmother only taught Shin how to use magic and how to make magic tools. He said that from the time he learned how to read and write, he learned on his own from the books brought by the Hague's employee."
"Learned on his own…"
"There are some prodigies…"
Cecilia was surprised and Sylvia was dumbfounded.
"There is no way the magic that Shin uses it's normal."
Cecilia and Sylvia were convinced by Sicily's words. As expected of the king of mages, with the tittle of the "Demon King". Perhaps he lives with a worldview that is difficult for ordinary people to comprehend.
In the meantime, another patient was brought in again. Since other healing mages are taking care of minor patients, only severely wounded patients are brought in from since a while ago. This time the patient's arm is about to tear off.
Sicily carefully aligned the torn arm so that it would not shift, then she connected bones, muscles, blood vessels, and even the nerves. When the treatment was complete, the knight was stunned to see his arm can be moved like normal once again.
"Excuse me. Could you free the space for the next patient that is coming in?"
"Ah, y-yes! Thank you so much Saint!" - The soldier bows, turned on his heel, and ran to the battlefield.
"Whoa! For the sake of the saint! I will do… huh?" - The soldier rushed out in high spirits, but then abruptly cut off his words. - "A demon! A demon is coming over here!" - Then the soldier shouted.
At those words, e everyone who is within the makeshift aid station of this location turned around in unison. Then they saw a huge wolf demon, darting towards them, probably having passed through the siege net.
"Sheesh! I was caught off guard because I was in the back line!"
"No! We're not going to make it in time!"
Although Cecilia and Sylvia had increased their magic control with Merlin-style practice, they hadn't reached yet the point where they could use their magic completely without chanting.
Sicily, who was dedicated to treatment only, could not stop the treatment on the spot. As a result, it seemed that the sudden demon raid was successful in reaching them.
But then…
"I won't let you!"
Mark, who arrived late, launched several very thick spears of fire at the wolf demon at high speed. Although the first attack was avoided, one of the fire spears aimed to cut off the escape route landed on the wolf demon.
Cecilia and the others tried to continue the attack, but there was no need at this point. Because of that one magical shot, a large hole was made in the middle of the wolf demon body, which had evolved disaster-level, and doomed it to die.
"Miss Claude! Are you okay?"
"Yes, thank you Bean."
"I feel like I'm a bit late to the party, so I'm going to stay and guard this place."
"I look forward to working with you."
The interaction was so brief that it was hard to believe that he had defeated a disaster-level demon so easily. It's true that Shin is more on a level of abnormality than the non-standard, but Cecilia and the others felt that the people led by Shin also reached beyond the non-standards of common sense.
And then, they shifted their gazes to the battlefield, wondering what the other non-standards were doing. Over there the demons had visibly reduced in number. There are only a few remaining. All in this short time… Cecilia's feeling of dismay was over-growing her admiration for these people. If that's the case, they will be able to subdue the demons without any further problems that was her train of thoughts.
"!!??"
A magic as powerful as the Ultimate Magicians was unleashed on the army, a magic so powerful that even Sicily and Mark turned to the source.
"Tsk! Your Highness!!"
Mark shouts unintentionally, but August was also aware of that immense magical power. Although August was somewhat surprised, he was able to deploy a magic barrier and also activated the defensive magic on his combat uniform. He was able to prevent that magical attack without any problems.
"Your Highness! Are you okay?" - Suddenly surprised by the unexpected, Thor confirms that August is safe.
"I'm okay! But what was that?! Where was the attack from?!"
It's no wonder August is suspicious of the source. There he could only find a demon, albeit a disaster level. Even if a demon uses magic, it is at most magic such as physical strengthening, but it is impossible for it to be a magical release-type. Then who has unleashed this magic? There is only one possible answer. But he didn't want that expectation to be true. With that in mind, he was paying attention to the area where the magic was released…
"Hey, hey… you've got to be kidding me."
The devils reveled themselves as they stood at the suspected location, which they hid themselves until now by concealing their magical power.
"Ho! How did he blocked it just now? After all, it's not just Shin Wolford that's tricky." - The devil who appeared to have released the magic muttered, perhaps because it was interesting that his magic attack had been blocked.
Looking at the devils sudden appearance, August had a feeling that the worst was yet to come. If possible, he wanted the demons to remain quiet in the old imperial capital.
Oliver Schtrom, their leader, hasn't found an ambition yet and right now was merely a husk. But he finally made his move. That means that Schtrom has acquired a course of action for some ambition. And the course of action taken by the devils was still battle. August gnashed his teeth at this reveleation.
The operation to capture the demon territory was successful. The surveillance network has also been established. However, it seems that the peace of mind for humanity will not come any time soon. August looks at the devils with caution.
Five devils have appeared. August have defeated many devils until now, but these devils are different from the previous ones so far. First, they are calm. Although he was suddenly struck by their magic, he doesn't get the impression that they are drunk with their power. Above all, the biggest difference is…
"What…? This magic is…"
The black magic power peculiar to demons. The amount of black magic was one level larger in magnitude.
"So you are different from the previous devils…"
"Isn't it obvious? Would you not lump me in with those dumb asses?"
At August's words, the devil expresses its displeasure as if it was offended.
"Isn't that quite harsh? You guys are all companions, right?"
"Companions? Don't say such weird things. We're devils? There's no sense of camaraderie."
"Then why are all of you in such a tight group?"
"Everything is for Lord Schtrom. All of our actions are for Lord Schtrom."
"Hmm. That's quite a bit of trust."
"Isn't it obvious? We owe everything we have to Lord Schtrom. I would have liked to have buried the incompetents who betrayed him, with my own hand."
"…"
"Such an ungratefulness. They should be grateful that they were used as sacrificial pawn."
"Sacrificial pawns…"
With that single exchange, many things started to come together in August's mind. Such short-sighted invasion by the devils. Very poor combat tactics. He finally understood the things that had been eluded him up until now.
"In other words, all the actions of those devils were all from your instigation… Is that so?"
"Hahaha. Those idiots didn't notice it at all, though."
For the first time, August talks calmly with the devils. In that conversation, August realized that they lacked something in their humanity. Probably, they don't really care about anything other than Schtrom. Even though they are part of the devil's collective, he doesn't value their lives in the least bit.
"Now, there's nothing left for us to do so we came out like this" - While everyone was shocked to hear that the previous devils were discarded like tools, the devils began to tell the reason why they appeared here. - "Before the biggest threat of all Shin Wolford comes back… I thought I'd get rid of you guys!"
With those words, the devils suddenly made their move. And the five devils released their magic simultaneously.
"Activate the defensive magic tools! All soldiers fall back! I don't want you to get involved!"
August, while blocking the incoming magical attacks on himself with his own magical barriers and magical tools, issued an evacuation order to the soldiers.
The knights retreat in a haste, desiring not to be caught in the crossfire in this intense battle between the Ultimate Magicians and the devils.
However, they couldn't match the speed of the magical spells, and because they used the jet boots, they were struck by the incoming magical bullets while they were jumping, and the aftermath made some of them blown far away, flying through the air. August, who completely blocked the magic attacks of the devils, made a hypothesis that the demons knew about Shin's absence.
"No way! The stabbing of Her Eminence the Pope?!"
"Ho. Did you finally notice that? Yes, we used someone who was brainwashed by us. Shin Wolford will be stuck in Ys for a while."
With a grin, the devils reveals that separating Shin and August's group was part of their own strategy. This infuriated August and the others, who are Creationists' devotees.
"You! You used Her Eminence the Pope as bait!"
"Hahaha. Yes, you danced to our plan well and fell into our trap. After that, we'll get rid of Shin next."
As soon as the devil declares that, they spread out and multiple people began to target a single person at a time.
"Whoa! Hey!"
Since she was on the front lines, Alice was the first to be targeted, and she quickly activated the defensive magic applied on her combat uniform.
"This is… you're wearing such nasty magical clothes!"
"Hmp! It's Shin's special defensive magic! If you think it's easy to break it, you're very mistaken!"
When Alice, after blocking all magic, was about to retaliate.
"We don't want you forgetting about us, either."
"Eh? Kyaaa!!"
During her attempt to counter-attack, the magical defense of her combat uniform was deactivated for a moment. Taking advantage of the momentary gap, another devil attacked.
"Corner!!"
For the first time, a direct attack landed on an Ultimate Magician. August couldn't resist the urge to scream. And what about Alice, who was struck by the magical attack.
"Whoa… I was surprised!! I thought I was dead!!"
It seems that she quickly activated her defensive magic again and barely came out unscathed. August was relieved for the time being, but in the meantime, the devil were targeting other people and continued their attacks. At last, with coordination of multiple people they solved the defensive magic, by taking advantage of tactically attacking during non-defensive and counter-attack moments.
August and his friends outnumbered the devils, so they attempted to surround the devils and counter-attack; but during their group attack on one devil, they are led to believe that their friends may be caught in the line of fire, and so they are hesitant to release the full power of their magic.
"In that case!"
With that said, Tony starting running. Holding a vibration sword, he thought about using a direct slash in close quarters combat rather than relying on distant magic attacks. However…
"If you charge in alone, you are going to get burned!"
"Ugh! Damn!"
If you aim at one of the devils, another devil will also aim at you with its magic. When that happens, you have to stop the assault and deploy defensive magic or avoid it. Tony avoided it as quickly as he could as he can as he is approaching the demon, and he decides to stop as he deems it to be too dangerous.
"Tch! If you hadn't stop, I would have killed you"
At those words, Tony felt a chill running down his spine. Everyone was in agreement at this point.
(These demons are so much stronger than the ones we've seen so far!)
Recognizing that didn't mean that things will improve. The magic level of the devils was still manageable, but going from defensive to offensive was difficult and any time it was possible, their attacks were avoided. Was it unexpected for the devils that August and his friends also had powerful defensive magic items? Both sides lack a decisive winning factor.
The demons believed at first that it wouldn't take much time to annihilate August and the others, however were now getting increasingly frustrated because their magic attacks was being completely invalidated by the defensive magic tools. This battle cannot be settled as it was at this moment. So August decided to give an audible whisper to Thor who was standing nearby.
"(I'll call Shin now. Buy me a little time.)"
"(Understood)"
And while the others were facing the devils, intercepting them, holding them back from attacking him, August temporarily left the battlefield. Then, he took out a communication transmitter from the dimensional storage and contacted Shin. Caught in this predicament, he judged that there was no other choice but to play the humankind's ultimate trump card.