ch401-ch420 · 419-ch419
Chapter 419: I Want You to Protect Me
(【Charge・Spear】【Charge・Armor・High】)
I pull off the bothersome green hood and check my equipment.
I start charging MP as well.
Super mode can wait until the boss spawns.
Everything, Shield Gauntlet included, is 'Spring Shadow' gear, but today I'm actually wearing armor too.
I secretly swapped my spear for the 'Silver Spear' before sleeping, so I only need to be careful of its weak flex.
"Your priority is protecting me—you won't need protecting yourself, correct?"
This Kasumi-san is the dream's Kasumi-san.
'Sword Saint-chan' is the 'dreaming Sword Saint-chan,' right?
Only Kasumi-san being here means this is my dream?
Though it's also possible 'Sword Saint-chan' is off in a dream of her own.
"Nu? I want to be protected too."
"Is this any time for that! What do you mean, 'can't get in'? Can't you use 【Gate】?"
Explain to Kasumi-san first?
"【Gate】. Check it yourself. It connects nowhere."
"No way......"
No time.
Rather than explaining the situation, I should explain what we do next.
"Block the first 【Dimension Slash】 with this, and that's enough. After that, everyone handles their own opponent. I will do the same."
Same idea as mine, huh.
"Understood. Let's go with that. I'll deal with the magic from above."
"......Just don't die. That's all."
Yeah, that part......
"Haruki-san, what should I do......"
"Kasumi-san, you handle whatever comes at you here. Until the 'Sword Saint skeleton' is down, don't step out of the 'Gates'' shadow. I'll take down 'my skeleton' right away and come back, then we take them out one by one, closest first. And even if I get hurt, you absolutely must not come to my rescue, okay?"
Even told not to come, the moment things turn dire, Kasumi-san will try to protect me......
And this is no bluff, you know?
Don't come, okay? Absolutely don't come, okay?
"One-on-one, Watanabe Kasumi can manage, no? I'd rather you took out the troublesome ones first."
"No. I told you, didn't I? Kasumi-san comes first. If I go chasing 'Blue Shadow,' I won't be able to deal with the fireballs from above—so when your side is done, come over here."
The troublesome one is the one who won't come close.
"Nu? And if I finish first?"
'Sword Saint-chan's' winning path is probably a 【Dimension Slash】 at an un-dodgeable moment after closing in, no?
Just mind your angle so you don't cut ME, okay?
"Don't worry about me—protect Kasumi-san. Kasumi-san can use 【Javelin】 too; with the three of us together, we can handle 'Blue Shadow' even at long range."
We should be able to finish it—spear throws at an un-dodgeable pace, plus 【Flying Slash】.
But all I'm carrying is 'Lilliputian Spears,' so we might be a little short on attack power?
For this finisher—next time I should sleep hugging a spare spear too, seems like.
"Understood. As promised, I'll have it done within five minutes."
"Wasn't the plan to hold out for five minutes?"
Yeah, that part......
The plan—hold out five minutes, then I take down the boss with a 【Charge・Spear】 MP-release attack—was settled before sleep, or rather, worked out with everyone over this past month.
But 'Sword Saint-chan' says SHE will wipe out the skeletons within five minutes and take down the Lich herself.
"Here they come!"
A full minute passes before I can get out a "don't rush, please."
"【Gate】"
Besides my left hand, I deploy the foot Gates as well.
Visibility suffers, but with three of us, we need to take up a wide space.
(【Charge・Shield・Armor Enhancement・Shield・High】【Charge・Shield・Magic Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Endurance Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Strength Up・High】【Charge・Shield・Agility Up・High】【Charge・Armor・High】【Charge・Armor・Armor Enhancement・Armor・High】【Charge・Armor・Magic Up・High】【Charge・Armor・Endurance Up・High】【Charge・Armor・Strength Up・High】【Charge・Armor・Agility Up・High】【Charge・Spear・Weapon Enhancement・Spear】【Charge・Spear・Magic Up】【Charge・Spear・Endurance Up】【Charge・Spear・Strength Up】【Charge・Spear・Agility Up】)
Full power from the very start.
But buffing still takes far, far too long.
In that window, two 【Dimension Slash】es came flying.
Well then—shall we?
I burst out from the left end of the 'Gate' line.
'Sword Saint-chan' came out from the opposite end.
Same timing on the dash.
But from here on, I'm faster.
Once I can see it, it only takes an instant.
(【Gate】)
Using the 'Eye Gates,' I circle around behind the skeletons.
('Armor Shot'!)
A minute's charge—120 MP should be plenty.
I'd banked the armor charge in my right hand, so I let it fly.
My target: the skeleton already attempting to thrust its spear through its own 【Gate】.
Not letting that happen.
(!)
It hurts.
The instant I fired the 'Armor Shot,' I got cut.
【Flying Slash】.
The one who sensed my flanking first was the 'Sword Saint-chan skeleton.'
Hey—you need to keep yours pinned down on your end, you know.
It was just when 'Charge Armor' ran out, so I got sliced clean through.
But it's fine—something like this won't kill me.
'My skeleton' noticed too and turned around.
It tried to receive with its shield—and failed.
It aligned its 'Charge Shield' well enough, but the MP we had banked differed, so the shield exploded along with it.
With that, the 'Gate' over there vanished, and the empty armor crumpled to the ground.
(I see...... so when 'I' die, the 'Gates' vanish, huh......)
The remaining skeletons noticed me and turned, so I'll withdraw for the moment.
I return to the 'Eye Gate' I came in through and roll into the 'Gate line' where Kasumi-san waits.
"Haruki-san!"
"I'm fine...... get down! 'Magic Shield'!"
The one above attacks whenever we try to catch our breath like this.
Luckily it dropped the fireball right overhead, so I caught it on my shield—the fireball vanishes the instant it touches.
"Two are coming this way!"
Then the remaining two are on 'Sword Saint-chan's' side?
Will she be okay?
(Ah—that one, again!)
The one up top is conjuring another fireball.
This time it's aiming for 'Sword Saint-chan,' it seems.
Far away—but it's fine.
(【Gate】, then 'Magic Shield')
The two 'Sword Saints' locked in combat leapt clear of the fireball's predicted impact point, so I deploy a 'Gate' there and move.
I erase the fireball with my shield.
"Ow!"
Hit again.
【Flying Slash】.
Confirming my slashed arm is still attached, I dive back through the 'Gate' and return to Kasumi-san's side.
Somebody kill that thing already......
And just then, 'our Sword Saint-chan' finished off the 'Spear King skeleton' with a 【Dimension Slash】.
Good—three to go, plus the one up top!