ALL NOVEL Chapter 194
Paaak!
As Charles wielded the Holy Sword with abandon, Jinzou’s right arm soared into the sky.
“Umm.”
Jinzou smiled bitterly as he looked at the severed stump of his arm.
“Hah!”
Without giving him a chance, Charles shot out a distance attack. Jinzou twisted his body to deflect the sword’s edge, creating some space.
“I cannot face a Hero.”
He sighed and flicked his fingers at Charles. Right after that…
—Kaaah!
Strange cries echoed all around.
The infected horde of minions began charging toward us.
Just from my vantage point atop the clock tower, I estimated there were easily over a thousand.
“S… Stop right now!”
Charles attacked, but Jinzou evaded the trajectory, pulling back.
He pulled something from the pocket of his chest. It was a sinister-looking orb brimming with mana.
“To face a Hero, I too must pay a proper price.”
—Paaak!
When he burst the orb, a magic circle was inscribed in the air, creating a hole.
“It’s a magic storage.”
Clearly, it was spatial magic, transporting belongings, known as Bringer. Quite an advanced tier.
Jinzou had no deep understanding of magic, so it was undoubtedly something he received from Ritch.
Kuuwng! Three coffins fell from the hole to the ground. When they opened, people with gags in their mouths sprang out, rendered unconscious.
“This is my secret collection. To manage talents like these simultaneously requires quite a bit of blood and souls.”
Jinzou bit down on the severed edge of his arm.
“Isn’t that the law of the world?”
—Paan!
Mana exploded from his back.
At the same time, the Child Bodies emerging from the coffins began to move.
“Hmph, showing weaknesses!”
Charles dashed toward Jinzou. Focusing on the Child Bodies would hinder his main body. He intended to capitalize on the opening.
—Kaaang!
But Charles’s advance soon came to a halt.
The Great Wizard’s Child Body erected a barrier to block Jinzou’s main body.
“Coward…!”
Before he could finish speaking, a bomb-like punch flew toward Charles. The Avatar of the Martial Arts, the essence of someone who had reached the pinnacle of martial skills.
Evading was all he could do, and after receiving a decisive blow shot by a master of spears, Charles was sent flying through the air, crashing into a neighboring building.
With his eyes shut, the main body of Jinzou concentrated on controlling the others and smiled gently.
Not good.
When Jinzou used those Child Bodies, the assistance from party members was absolutely necessary. No matter how skilled Charles was, breaking through alone was impossible.
—Kaaahk!
Moreover, the minions were charging in.
If they overwhelmed this battlefield, our movements would be severely restricted.
“I’d also be trapped here.”
Though I had healing potions, spreading them widely was impossible; it’d be hard to hold out if they came rushing in randomly.
While searching for a way out, my eyes met with Jinzou’s spear-wielding minion.
He smiled and threw a spear toward the clock tower where I stood.
—Swaeeek!
How reckless. I tried to dodge, but Kwang!!
The spear exploded mid-air, losing its force and crashing down.
The magic circle, having fulfilled its role, was fading in the east.
There, alongside the Imperial Knights, stood Acella, her face set in a fearsome expression as she advanced toward me.
“Ha ha, what a surprise.”
Why are you here?
Seeing her face made an amusing laugh escape me.
Somehow, I couldn’t say I was completely unprepared; I had certainly become accustomed to Acella.
“Lars!!”
She suddenly called my name out of nowhere.
Though her face bore a furious expression, seeing it felt oddly funny.
Her appearance suggested she had decided to confront Jinzou directly.
My intentions for her to stay away from this dangerous scene seemed to have gone unheard.
As Acella attempted to move forward, Ambrosia held her back.
“3rd Princess, where are you going? Wasn’t it Your Majesty’s order to command the battlefield?”
“Heck, just provide support from there.”
“Heh.”
Ambrosia shook her head and positioned herself with the troops from the Imperial Palace.
Thanks to that, I had a chance to approach Acella, who was running straight toward me.
I descended the stairs and barely managed to reunite with her at the entrance of the clock tower.
“Hey! How could you leave me behind!”
Acella shouted at me without introduction.
“Hey, I didn’t abandon you. As you can see, a dangerous situation has arisen, so I was advising a strategic retreat.”
“That’s my call. I’m leaving you behind while taking him with me?”
Acella pointed at Charles, who was distracted fighting Jinzou.
It was so like her to be jealous even at a time like this.
“The Hero is needed to hunt the Demon Race, and the Royal Princess must play the role of command center from the main force.”
Acella drew a magic circle in an instant and shot an icy spear, piercing the spear-wielding minion’s leg.
Her skills were definitely impressive.
No one else could match her level of magic, even if she’d lost one talent.
“I also went hunting with Tanya. Do you really think I can’t handle this?”
“That wasn’t the point. I was worried about you.”
“Worried, about what?”
Acella averted her gaze, letting out a sigh.
“Because you’re my Attending Physician?”
“No.”
I spoke clearly to her.
“Because you’re my Betrothed.”
Acella lost her words and began to mumble, her lips at a loss for where to direct themselves.
“Whatever actions I take, they are for the better future of the Royal Princess.”
Acella’s eyelids fluttered rapidly.
I caught sight of her reddening earlobes.
―――――――――――
○ Good Ending
[Route of the Healer]
· After ■■ years, again from ■■ 54% → 61%
―――――――――――
My answer to Acella was genuine.
After erasing all the bad endings, I believed this was the only good ending I could reach.
Whatever the form it may take, it was sure to be a good ending for Acella too.
Well, simply put, she would become the Empress, and I would become the Doctor.
At least I believed that, unlike the deaths I had experienced until now, she would not remain as my enemy.
“Lars.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What do you need?”
“Um… a warm smile and some compliments?”
“I can’t do those things.”
Acella muttered that and, unlike usual, timidly stretched out her arms to embrace my waist.
Pat pat, she awkwardly patted my back before pulling away.
“I have a way to win against the Demon Race in mind. If you need anything, just say it.”
“I’ve prepared a treatment to incapacitate the rushing minions for now.”
I showed Acella the liquid contained within a vial.
“But there’s no way to spread it.”
“Would it be effective if diluted?”
“Yes. I’ve enhanced it sufficiently.”
“Then open the lid and hold it.”
Acella drew a large magic circle in the sky. It was a shape I’d seen before, the one she’d demonstrated at the Martial Arts Conference.
At the same time, she drew a small circle with her left hand to cast it. The treatment created a whirlpool, rising from the vial, and shot into the sky.
—Kaaah!
The minions approaching us were now less than 500 meters away.
“Huh.”
Acella took a deep breath as she completed the final process.
With a pop, she pierced her own chest, finishing the cast.
—Wahack!
A hole opened in the sky. It was high-tier spatial magic. Suddenly, dark clouds poured out of the rift, accompanied by thunder.
The treatment that soared up mixed with the dark clouds, spreading out. And then…
—Swoosh!
A torrential rain began to fall.
The rainwater infused with the treatment drenched everyone on the battlefield, reflecting on the ground and spreading into the air.
“Ha ha.”
What a scale this is.
Looking back at Acella, she proudly flaunted her might with an expression of triumph.
Thud, thud. Minions infected with rabies began to drop one by one, losing consciousness.
“Ugh… where am I?”
“What have I been doing…”
The incapacitated army of vampires lay sprawled on the ground. Those recovering quickly regained their senses.
“Cease the battle!”
“Stop the attack!”
The soldiers from various nations, deeply immersed in the battle, assessed the situation and tended to the injured.
“Surround the enemy!”
The Imperial Knights encircled Jinzou’s remaining main body and the three Child Bodies he was controlling, tightening their formation.
In the midst of the battlefield, Charles was surprisingly holding out admirably.
—Chwaaaak!
Charles continued to step on the rain-soaked stone floor.
I stood at the very front lines alongside Acella, pushing through the ranks of knights.
“Demon Race, kneel and apologize with your death!”
Even amid the downpour, Acella’s voice rang loud and clear.
Jinzou smirked widely and responded calmly.
“I never expected this. A Healer with a means to stop my minions and a user of magic like you… I’ve never seen the likes.”
I couldn’t let my guard down just yet.
The three Child Bodies he controlled were quite skilled among humans.
If we attempted to crush them recklessly, our knights would be turned into mush.
“I will assist.”
Tanya joined the fray, engaging in battle.
She and Charles began to take down Jinzou’s Avatar and spear minions.
“This is bad.”
Jinzou nodded lightly.
—Wahack!
A dark surge of mana poured out from his body, amplifying the power. That meant the price paid to enhance his abilities had increased.
The movements of the Child Bodies quickened. The amount of mana wielded by the Great Wizard Jinzou also increased.
“Leave the defense to me!”
Ambrosia stepped forward and established a protection barrier alongside the Healers.
Impressive.
“Lars, do you think the Hero can win?”
“Honestly, it’s fifty-fifty. The Child Bodies he controls are quite strong.”
“Any sharp ideas?”
“It would be good if we could catch him off-guard, but the Great Wizard’s Child Body is currently guarding.”
The defensive magic protecting his main body formed a dome that completely restricted outside intrusions.
I scanned the surrounding area.
Jinzou was positioned in front of a large fountain in the square. The fountain had been shattered due to the battle’s aftermath.
A hidden underground passage must surely exist to draw the water from the fountain.
We could attack from below.
I opened the status window.
―――――――――――
· Crafting List
· Nitroglycerin = Hair + Fertilizer
―――――――――――
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes?”
As I stroked Acella’s hair, her eyes widened in surprise.