第３５３堀：いつかの和解とおまけ (Part1)
**Chapter 353: A Reconciliation and a Bonus**
**Side: Comet**
The world is a difficult place.
I was just talking about this with Agil-kun earlier, but...
"Saintess!! Please, help us too!!"
"M-my child has a fever!!"
"Waaaaah!!"
Far from being able to pay my respects to the Holy Sword, I’m stuck in the middle of the cathedral’s plaza, healing everyone in sight. We probably spent too much time chatting, and somehow, the commoners gathered from out of nowhere, begging for treatment. If we leave them be, it could turn into a panic. So, to prevent that, I’m helping out with the healing as well.
I wonder what it says about the world that a Lich is the one doing the healing.
"Yes, yes. Comet-san, please save your thinking for later. There are many people waiting for treatment. You’re on break now, so go rest in the back. I’ll take over."
"Ah, right. Sorry, Rurua-kun."
Rurua-kun had been inside the cathedral negotiating to see the Holy Sword, but she came out to help with the healing once the commotion started. Agil has also returned to the castle to bring troops, who are now busy organizing the crowd.
"Haa... I should have just watched from the dungeon in secret."
Long time? No, in reality, it hasn't even been an hour, but dealing with that many waves of people leaves you feeling utterly drained. I sink deep into a chair and take a break with the others.
"Oh? Comet, you didn't hear?"
Milly looks at me, surprised.
"Hear what?"
"We’re going to negotiate to see the Holy Sword on purpose. You’re a party involved in the White Forest incident, aren't you?"
"Ah, I see. So something similar might happen in Enaria as well."
"Or rather, it’s already happening. The area in front of the cathedral is already in an uproar, and while they say they’re relying on us, we do hold regular healing sessions, and we’ve never had such a massive crowd gather before."
When Ratz said that, it clicked.
"You mean someone is intentionally causing this commotion?"
"Likely. When I was walking through town, I heard someone saying there might be healing at the church."
"That happened, did it?"
"I don't know if that person is the culprit, but usually, to avoid this kind of trouble, we keep close contact with the church and the royal family to have soldiers sent over. It’s for our own safety. Well, we don't get hurt that easily, though."
"And besides, who would let anyone touch them besides Yuki-san?"
...I think the very act of touching you lot is an insurmountable task, though.
"Well, putting that aside. Based on Ratz-kun’s story, we should assume something has already infiltrated the city."
"Yes. Big Brother also told us to be extremely cautious about that."
"Huh? I wasn't told that?"
"The difference between a wife and a collaborator, I suppose."
"Damn it. You lucky people!!"
"Big Brother is very soft on us, you see. But, I don't think he would have failed to tell you, Comet. He’s naturally soft on us wives, but he’s also quite soft on his inner circle. Actually, this is related to the main issue at hand, so why hasn't it been passed on to you?"
Huh? Now that they mention it, that’s true. This is important. It’s not the kind of thing that should depend on the status of "wife" versus "collaborator."
"Maybe he visited while I was researching, told me, and it went in one ear and out the other?"
"...That sounds plausible. No, that must be it."
Considering it’s not in my memory, he probably told me while I was deep in my research.
"Well, he probably assumed we would tell you anyway."
"That sounds like Big Brother. We know the personalities of the research types well, thanks to Narjia-san and Zargis."
"...I’ll apologize to Yuki-kun later. So, please, keep this a secret from Hifi!!"
If Hifi finds out about this, I’ll get a massive scolding. She’ll stop cleaning my room or washing my clothes!!
"Well, I don't mind. It would be troublesome if Comet withered away."
"I don't mind either. Don't you ever think about living and cooking for yourself?"
"I do not!!"
" "Haa..." "
I believe that if you work, you lose!!
Hm? Is that wrong?
Well, the nuance is correct!!
If I had to live and cook for myself, I’d rather spend that time on research!!
"Anyway. That being said, it wouldn't be strange to be attacked at any time, so please be careful."
"Comet has the lowest combat ability, after all. Please be very careful of surprise attacks."
"I know. I really don't want to go back to being a corpse again."
The break ended, and I spent the rest of the day repeating the cycle of healing and resting until sunset, all while staying on guard for an attack.
"In the end, they didn't come."
"There’s a possibility they’ll come at night."
"Yeah. Is the goal to wear us out?"
"That’s a possibility. Though, I don't think they can bypass the Master’s surveillance system."
As Rurua-kun said, Enaria has already been secretly turned into a dungeon, and Weed’s troops are monitoring the Holy Sword kept under the cathedral and watching for suspicious individuals day and night. I never thought of using monsters for things like this, but they don't have the mood swings humans do, and they are so stable that I’m genuinely impressed. They lack flexibility, though. If you narrow down the surveillance reports and tasks, they move with precision.
Man, it really is a case of "use whatever you can." I thought I was using things, but that was just an assumption. The world is vast.
"However, considering the continuous nature of these actions, the opponent must have intended to move during this period. There’s no way they could have moved this fast if they were waiting for contact from their allies."
"Indeed. Even Agil only managed to get here by riding in a car driven by Deryu."
"They probably never imagined we had gone to the Academy or to August."
"Ah, so that’s why Milly-kun asked Yuki-kun about his destination, to confirm that?"
"Exactly. Agil is under royal orders, so Yuki-san couldn't just abandon that to prioritize meeting us, right? That’s why I asked if he was at the castle if Yuki-san was there. Judging by the response, they seem to think we’ve been in Enaria the whole time. The enemy’s speed is extraordinary."
"Should we call it fortunate, or unfortunate... as the Master and Comet-san said, the enemy has begun their full-scale operation."
They wouldn't think anyone is flying around by connecting dungeons with gates, after all. Well, as Rurua-kun says, whether we should call this "making it in time" or "being on the back foot" is a difficult question.
"I’d like to stop their sabotage in each country somehow. For now, we’re thinning out the monsters around the Magic Academy, but if the war starts, the speed at which magic power turns into monsters will increase, and we might not be able to keep up with the culling. In that case, it’ll go 'boom' and result in a Great Outbreak. If it were just the Academy, Yuki-kun’s personal forces could handle it, but monsters won't just come to the Academy."
"True. If a Lich-type like Comet appeared, they would act as a commander, so they would likely move away from the Academy, which is hard to conquer, and go elsewhere."
"If that happens, will the wandering armies of monsters attack villages and towns everywhere...?"
"In this New Continent... no, even on Weed’s continent, most countries couldn't stop it. The disasters caused by a Great Outbreak led by a Lich are legendary."
If it comes to that, our current forces won't be able to handle it.
Seriously, we have to prevent the Great Outbreak.
Man, defensive battles are such a pain.
"Fortunately, the White Forest situation will be settled in a few days. After that..."
"Likely the Kingdom of Ex, who is pulling the strings from the shadows."
"Well, let’s give it one more push for that sake. Rurua-kun, how about the matter of seeing the Holy Sword?"
"Yes. I’ve already spoken to the Archbishop. Attendance is mandatory, but we can request it at any time. ...It feels a bit strange to use the name of the Saintess for something like this, though."