The End of Winter. (1)

The Altar, which retreated from the barrier without achieving anything, were surprisingly calm. Arlos, still staying in the Altar's sanctuary, found it interesting. No, the ecological system of this sanctuary itself was strange.

"This sanctuary is divided into several facilities?"

While walking through a dark hallway, Arlos asked the soldier-ranked priest who she had become close with recently.

"Accommodation, schools, restaurants, training center for nurturing priests. We have lived here for decades."

"In this darkness?"

"Yeah, but we won't need it soon. If God incarnates, He will punish all of those who killed him and live with us in a new and clean world."

They held a lot of very strange beliefs completely different from the history on the continent.

"God, killer."

"That's right. In the distant past, the people of this continent murdered God and made their own country. It's an unacceptable sin."

The people of the continent, to be exact, their ancestors, killed God. Therefore, all of their descendants were also God's killers. On the other hand, the Altar was a disciple of justice following a god who had already died. Their main mission was the resurrection of God, and he would bring down punishment upon the continent…

That was what they claimed.

"What would you do now?"

They planned to break the barrier with their vanguard and annihilate Reccordak by blocking their escape route. However, because Deculein showed power worthy of his confidence, a hilarious situation took place in which the vanguard retreated ten minutes after starting.

"…"

The priest did not answer. He was more tight-lipped than the lower-ranks.

Draaaaag—

He opened a door in the hallway.

"This is the room that you'll be using. Come in."

Arlos looked around the inside. From the finest mana stones to the chisel knives, the threads and needles, the awls and saw, and more, there were all sorts of things that could be used in making dolls.

"It seems to have everything."

"Of course. But, before that."

The priest gathered dark energy in his palm. Then, he searched Arlos from head to toe.

"…You don't need to use other mana stones or equipment. Go on in."

Arlos nodded and went inside. Then, she took out the tiny device that was left in her pocket.

"Will you be working for the month?"

"I think I can make some pretty good dolls."

"I know. Good luck, barbarian. Your cooperation will be rewarded with your survival in the future."

"…Survival?"

"Yeah. Then, I'll get going. The elder will bring down a more detailed report."

Draaaag—

The door closed behind the priest. Arlos delivered her message by pressing the buttons of the machine in code.

Tap, tap, tap.

Her actions and words would be closely monitored in this place, so she created a different way to deliver messages.

*****

I received Arlos' code. It wasn't very good information, however. Only things I already knew about.

"…Should I expect it to go deeper?"

I muttered and looked ahead. The barrier was right in front of me; its damaged side to my right. I placed my hand on the wall, closed my eyes, and began to commune using Understanding.

My aptitude was fire and earth. When those two combined, it would make steel. Of course, my Metal Enhancement hadn't yet been completed, but this understanding was a preemptive condition for its completion. If it was completed, it might get tough for me due to a lack of mana.

—…I won!

A voice rose behind me. I looked back to see Julie and Raphael.

—I finally won!

Julie was shouting after winning their practice battle. I wasn't able to watch in detail, but if she could beat Raphael, then she had grown.

—Finally! Finally!

"…Aare you that happy?"

I grinned.

She continued to shout. After finishing Understanding again, I went up the barrier.

[Level of Understanding: 53%]

This was what I gained after consuming more than half of my mana, but I was satisfied.

"Boss, you're here."

Louina, set on night watch duty instead of me, smiled brightly. I nodded and sat beside her. It wasn't too far away now.

*****

"…It's quite peaceful these days."

Atop the wall, Epherene was mumbling to herself while eating. There were only a few pieces of meat on her plate and a mostly empty bowl of porridge.

*chew* *chew* *chew* *chew*

Epherene was chewing it like gum. How long had she been working on that piece of meat?

"A storm is coming soon. We should get ready."

The reason for this calm was simple: the other monsters fled from this area after being overwhelmed by the power and energy of the Altar wizards.

"Is that so?"

Deputy Director Primienne answered. She was still in Reccordak with a portable heater beside her.

—…Hbbp! Haaaaaa!

Then, there was a yell from under the barrier. I looked down.

Clang— clang, clang——!

Syrio and Julie were sparring. Sparks splashed out every time their swords met.

Clang—!

Their blade met again with a loud rumble.

—Oh!

Syrio, defending against the sudden attack, shouted in surprise and stepped back.

—Oh? Julie, you've gotten better! What was that just now?

—…

Julie quietly adjusted her sword. Syrio continued to regard her with a broad smile.

—What was that?

—I transformed it. I used my pattern, but it doesn't work like it used to.

—Ohh…

Julie's skills had dramatically improved thanks to my advice. The other knights were also thinking the same thing, as evident by how Raphael and Gwen were pacing up and down beside me.

"You guys lost to Julie, right?"

Raphael and Gwen flinched. The two-bit their lips and faked a cough at the same time.

"It's more trial and error… rather than lost. Isn't that right, Raphael? Should I say that Julie's sword has suddenly grown dirtier?"

"That's right."

I flipped to the next page of my book without saying anything. I was continuing to read [3333 The History of the Imperial Family]. It may look like I was reading because there was nothing else to do, but this book that dealt with magic had five-hundred thousand pages. It was the essence of history and the times when the empire was a kingdom and then when the kingdom was a tribe.

"…Can't you analyze us, too?"

Gwen finally broached the subject. I raised my head.

"No… I think we might have made a mistake. It helps. You have great eyes…"

"That is true."

Raphael added to Gwen's pleas.

"I'll think about it."

Then, Gwen's eyes widened.

"Think? Why?"

"I will decide based on your results this time. First, survive and kill as many as you can."

I answered like that, but it appeared enough to convince the two.

"Well… winning is our priority."

Whiiiiing—

A cool breeze wafted by. Raphael went down the barrier, and Gwen went to Drent, who was drawing a magic circle on a piece of paper.

"…"

I took my eyes off the book to look around Reccordak.

—Here, this is the firewood.

The residents were cutting firewood from the forest and putting it in a wagon. Wizards would make arrows from it by combining wood and steel.

—And, here are the snacks. You must have been so hungry, so eat while you work. Hehehe.

Wherever they got it from or whatever it was made of, they gave six pieces of it to the wizards. Since sweets were valuable, the wizards didn't refuse.

—I'm sending an arrow up.

The finished arrows were sent above the wall, and supplies needed for the siege were sent up one by one, such as buckets of gasoline, explosives, and more.

"Professor, I think we need more gasoline. I experimented, and if you use fire magic on gasoline, its power increases by three times."

"You always talk very assuredly."

"…What?"

It was when Epherene was chattering-

Boooom—!

There was a huge vibration. Above the barrier and inside the barrier, everyone's actions momentarily stopped.

Boooom—!

I stood and glanced at Delric. Nodding, he spoke to the people under the barrier.

"Everyone, except the knights and wizards, get back."

The residents hurried back to their houses.

"…What is it, Professor?"

Epherene asked me as she approached. Dense fog surrounded the army over the horizon. Among them, an individual stood out.

"So, there's a gunboat."

"…What?"

Gunboat, literally a boat with guns. In actuality, it was a monster that resembled a giant turtle. There was a cannon on its shell, and someone was shooting dark energy from the inside. It was one of the chimeras that the Altar made.

Boom—!

Boom—!

The turtle, slowly approaching with an earthshaking rumble, turned its body when it reached its range and aimed at its target.

Gooooo…

"Get ready for battle."

Get ready for battle—!

The knights rose in response and amplified the barrier.

Gwaaaaaaa—!

A shot of dark energy rushed in a moment later, aimed at the right side of the barrier. It was the most vulnerable point of their defensive line.

*****

Gwaaaaaaa—!

A direct hit from the cannon scratched the solid barrier.

"…Oh."

Delric was startled to see cracks forming. Of course, it was still a small gap…

Boom—!

It had spread like a spider web following the second shot. Delric was afraid that the barrier would collapse.

Boom—!

The third shot followed. Delric and the knights wanted to run away, but the feeling quickly waned. For them right now, rather than seeing the barrier collapse or dying from the surge of monsters, they were twice as terrified of Deculein, who was watching them from above the wall. If they died fighting here, their family would survive, but if they ran away to survive, their family would die.

…No. If it were Deculein, he would certainly find and kill those who ran away.

"…What are you doing! Knight Delric!"

Julie, arriving on the scene, woke them up. Delric was startled to see that Deculein was also next to her. Delric and the knights forgot about the situation and bowed their heads.

"You're here."

"Relax."

"No, because of this barrier-"

Deculein came closer and looked at the barrier with Ihelm at his side.

Boom—!

Fragments of metal clattered down, signaling the collapse to come.

Tsk—

Ihelm clicked his tongue.

"I don't think we can salvage this one. Unless Roserio comes."

Delric quickly cut in.

"…Yes, yes. It is collapsing, Professor. So, we have to create some countermeasures-"

"There are already countermeasures."

Boom—!

The fifth shot. At this point, Ihelm grew serious.

"Where are they shooting this from?"

"I already sent Ganesha."

There was no other Named that surpassed Ganesha in terms of maneuvering. Lia and Leo were with her so that the mission would be a success.

"I will also follow you."

"You."

I blocked Julie as she was about to step up.

"Don't be cheeky. Someone injured like you will be no help at all. You'll only be a burden if you get caught in the dark energy."

"…"

The cannon was firing dark energy. So, if they cut through that turtle's belly, a great amount of dark energy would explode out.

"Know your place and get lost."

Delric and Ihelm were surprised by his harsh words. The dark energy spreading like a fog over the barrier was making Deculein more violent.

"…Yes."

Julie moved up the wall, then Deculein placed his hands on the barrier. Ihelm questioned Deculein as he had closed his eyes.

"…What are you going to do?"

"…"

He didn't respond.

Baaaaaaaaam—!

The sixth shot. The barrier was gradually collapsing, and the upper part had already busted open. Nevertheless, Deculein was, as always, calm and relaxed. He had his eyes closed as he seemed to be having a conversation with the barrier.

—!

The seventh shot. When a part of the barrier fell, Delric and the knights took a step backward. Deculein murmured.

"… demonstration."

With that one word from Deculein, his wood steel connected with the barrier.

[Metal Enhancement].

He would strengthen and restore the barrier, even with an output of 99%, as his skill wasn't complete yet.

Goooooooo…

The dirt around them was swept away by Deculein's mana.

—!

In the midst of that, the eighth shot connected. The march of their foes began, their near-infinite ranks emerging beyond the barrier.

"…"

Then, Deculein opened his eyes. He warmed up his body while looking at the wood steel attached to the barrier. His mana was swirling like crazy, triggering a magical circuit that was engraved in his body. Light poured out in response.

The magic technique was completed by consuming all four thousand mana, but it was marked with a very simple message.

[Self-Mastery Achievement: 「Metal Enhancement 」 Completed]

◆Purifying the Quality of Mana

◆Attribute added

It was a very satisfying result from Deculein's standpoint.

Schwaaaa…