Even Then, I Can’t Simply Stand By (9.2)

…

The Hostess of Fertility was surprisingly untouched by the attack launched by the monsters. Given the fact that neither Lyon or Grand were Mages, though I suspected Lyon had magic given the fact she was an elf, it was probably due to luck that the Inn hadn't been destroyed. That, or someone else acted to protect it, and I was inclined to believe that was the case given the various scorch marks and melted stone that surrounded the area. Though it was worth pondering who decided on protecting my current home, the current situation required me to leave that line of thought to a later period of time.

"Four attacks in less than a month and this time with some sort of humanoid, anti-magic monster capable of fighting with weapons." Loki was uncharacteristically serious. Though the goddess seemed to be only casually leaning on her elbows, there was a sense of danger about her that was slightly unsettling. A tiger finally taking a threat seriously, perhaps? Even then, I would be able to take her more seriously if she didn't look as though she came straight from a maid café in Akiba. Oh wait, with that chest, she'd never get the job! Ah, welcome back my terrible sense of humor. I have missed you. "I'm sure that you all agree that this is no longer an isolated incident. Something or someone is definitely going out of their way to try and destroy Orario."

"Indeed, and the amount of resources they have at their disposal is far larger than I postulated, as well." Dionysus, unfortunately, was not a robust, red-faced alcoholic with an amazing sense of humor as I believed. Instead, he was simply a filthy Riajuu. I could appreciate the suit he wore, of course, but having both a cravat and ruffled sleeves was simply bad taste. I can only imagine the number of maidens who fell to his charms. Pretty boy looks and immense wealthy aside, however, he seemed like a decent guy. "A single one during the Festival, a surge in smaller numbers all across the town shortly after, then the encounter in the sewers, and now this… they must have these monsters in the hundreds to throw them about so casually."

"I concur." Hecate spoke, for perhaps the first time in the meeting, looking over the same papers Loki showed me the last day at the Training Camp. I was sure that the auburn-haired goddess was taking in the information and making sure she wasn't making any mistakes. Meticulous to a fault, in everything she did, I had no doubt that she would have a lot of information to contribute- Oi! Loki! Why aren't you paying attention to what she's saying!? Are you trying to pick a fight!? "Their attack on my Familia is obvious, they simply wished to target me, see my Familia in disarray, and launch an attack without the magical support my adventurers could provide."

"It certainly sounds like a decent method to start an attack. Ridding Orario of such a large number of Mages would hamper a response." Hestia, as expected of any decent god, took in the information provided by Hecate and contemplated it fully. Despite the fact you look like a fanservice character on the outside, you have a sound and confident mind, Hestia-sama! Do your best to make sure Loki pays attention! Also, raise your arms a bit, make sure that pretty boy is looking only at you. "Normal adventurers won't be able to fight these terrible monsters without mages. Protecting Hecate-san is a priority-."

"Hat-kun, you're alright!" Hiryute's cry and sudden latching onto me drew me from my focus on the 'Main Event' of the current Arc. Of course, I had noticed that the door into the Hostess of Fertility had admitted another group in, moments ago, but I had been paying too much attention to the meeting between the four gods to actually turn to them. Alf was speaking to her student and Wallenstein met with Cranel. Needless to say, I was displeased about being suddenly distracted by an Amazon. No, not even with that massive, cute smile you're sporting, I'm not suddenly going to-. Oi, stop squirming against me! This isn't that sort of Light Novel, you know!? "Eh! Eh?! Why do you smell like blood, Hat-kun?!"

"One tends to bleed when they get wounded." I answered the Amazon plainly while attempting to pry her off with my usual technique. However, instead of detaching, Hiryute simply ignored it as she could have every time I'd done it to her. Oh no, the power of Comedic Effect has left me, this means that this was more serious that I originally anticipated. The short-haired, tanned Level 5 held me at arm's length, looking me over, and the smile on her face turned into a small frown of discontent. Holding back a sigh, I consigned myself to telling her the same answer to the coming question. Undoubtedly, she would ask if I'm alright. "I'm perfectly fine, Hiryute, I healed myself after I was hurt-."

"Not good enough, Hat-kun! You weren't supposed to get hurt at all against those things! That's why I went with Aiz-chan and Riveria-sama!" Hiryute interjected, shaking her head and wagging her finger simultaneously. I could only sigh as I picked through her thoughts. As a very friendly girl, I was sure that she was finding some inane reason to somehow blame herself for my wounds. Letting me go, the short-haired, tanned girl placed a hand on her hips and pointed straight at me. "As your bodyguard, it looks bad on me to let you get hurt this much!"

"…I won't lie that your help would've been appreciated at the end." I admitted to that fact. I was sure that the humanoid-monster we faced wouldn't have been capable of taking her on without being smashed into a pulp. Hiryute's speed and power was easily, at least, an order of magnitude or more higher than my own. Those knives of his wouldn't have even scratched her skin. I had to admit that Hiryute was showing another side of herself that I hadn't expected. Then again, most of the Loki Familia tended to be upstanding, moral individuals. Augh. No surprise that, no matter however mischievous she is, Tiona Hiryute was undoubtedly within Loki's 'batting zone' when it came to who she chose to enter her Familia. "However, you did more good with Alf, and there's nothing wrong with that."

"That's not a good enough reason!" Hiryute crossed her arms and gave off a huff. Despite looking similar to a kid who was denied sweets, I could tell that this was about as serious as the short-haired Amazon got. Laughing was out of the question. Looking deeper into the situation, it seemed that somewhere between now and when she first became my bodyguard, she started to truly care about how I fared. Mischief aside, as I said earlier, it fit with the fact that everyone in the Loki Familia was considered the good guys by just about everyone in Orario. When she locked her gaze with mine, arms crossed and eyes defiant, I was pretty sure I knew what she was going to say next. "Hat-kun, I'm going to train you!"

With all these training montages, I was starting to think that this was less of a Light Novel and more of an Anime with a very, very low budget. I highly doubted something with this quality of writing and so many asspulls would get another season. As expected of something Zaimokuza wrote.

Needless to say, given the opportunity to be 'trained' by a Level 5 specialized in melee combat for free, shortly after encountering an opponent with superior skills in the same field… well, it would've been out of my established character to refuse.

So, of course, I accepted Tiona Hiryute's offer.

…

A tentative alliance was formed between the Hestia, Dionysus, Hecate, and Loki Familias with Lyon and myself as independents. Given the immensity of the attack by the monsters, I couldn't simply ignore the storyline any longer. I initially made the mistake of thinking that the matter was a mere sidequest, but after the city-wide attack, I was sure that it was actually the main plotline.

Overall, I simply hadn't factored Cranel's power properly. My student's insane growth, the Hestia Knife, and Argonaut had made him a lethal answer to all the monsters involved in the attack. He proved himself more than capable of fighting against the monsters that were dangerous to even Veteran Level 3s, as expected of a bullshit, harem protagonist. Now, all I could do was make sure that my group and my plans were aligned with the 'Familia Alliance' that was set up, and hold on for the ride.

Thankfully, given the fact I had little need for sleep, I could usually work out the fine details of my plans while everyone else slept.

That would've been the case, if not for the fact that there was a city-wide attack that precluded the abrupt change.

Though I was sure that I would anger quite a few people, I wasn't at the Hostess of Fertility under the protection of a pair of Level 4s and a Level 5, and I was instead miles away in an abandoned, ruined castle with no one at my side.

The reason? Well, like any group of competent individuals, my students and I had plans when it came to disasters. Being Japanese, I knew the importance of having procedures and plans after something disastrous occurred, to ensure that no time and effort would be wasted. Having them also allowed me to focus on the task at hand, rather than allow my worries to fester and grow and cause me to make mistakes while in combat.

Allowing myself into the Tower, I felt a weight on my back disappear, as I gazed into the room and looked over the four, whole sets of coats, masks, and hats adorning the hangers installed on the walls.

My students were all here, largely unharmed, and safe.

"You're late, Sensei." Arde looked up from her bestiary, undoubtedly adding her experiences regarding the vine monsters earlier in the day. I noticed that my Pallum student's calf was bandaged and that an empty flask lay at her side. Health potion. Minor. A scratch or cut at most. Good. My auburn-haired student closed her book, put away her pen, and gave a yawn. Still, I felt her gaze linger on my bloodied side. Seems like I couldn't count on my coat hiding the stains from my students. I taught them too well in the art of picking apart details, it seems. "Naaza and Nelly are keeping watch at the top and…" A sigh. "Daphne, well, you know how she is about leaving her friend alone."

"Not my problem, I told her she could bring Illion if she wanted." Without the fog of worry clouding my sensibilities, I let myself into the door. Normally, I'd take off my coat, but I was sure that my collared, white shirt was in a terrible state. Also, I wasn't going to stay the night, as I was sure was the case for all of them. Walking over to Arde, I placed my hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. There, that should reassure her that I wasn't crippled or infirm. "Call the others. We have a few complications that need to be discussed."

"That's an understatement." Arde gave a huff and shook her head, but it was easy to tell that she was no longer disconcerted by my bloodied, left side. After she rose, I took to her chair, and pulled out my own bestiary from the shelf. "Do we at least have a plan to deal with these… complications?"

"The usual." I replied simply. An easy answer to an easy question. These were monsters, after all. Arde knew it well. All my students did. "Gather information, amass power, and then…"

"Crush it without mercy." Arde finished, a smirk playing on her face.

Heh, how scary.

…