And so, the hope that a great storm might come and delay the fight proved futile, as the day of battle arrived.
How many times had I set out for a major battle now? If I counted all the times I'd been dragged in without even realizing it, the number would definitely exceed ten.
I woke up in a clean bed, suppressed the urge to vomit, and changed clothes.
Washed my face, ate the prepared meal, and changed again.
The equipment was the usual set, starting with the Barrier Ring. I hesitated about wearing the comfortable vacation outfit but decided against it. Partly because I'd belatedly realized the threat of Selen's transformations, but the main reason I didn't put it on was... I'd forgotten to retrieve the Treasure Weapons from Selen. Seriously, what's wrong with me...
I dragged Mimikun along and headed for the Yggdrasil entrance, the meeting point. By the time I arrived, the members were all assembled.
Unlike the previous operation to break Looke's curse, no one had collapsed this time.
The Mourning Specter and Star's Holy Thunder, the Thousand Demons' Night Parade and Yggdrasil's Mages. The tense, prickly atmosphere unique to the moments before a major battle hung in the air.
I'd slept in, but the other members must have each been preparing throughout the morning. Despite heading into a dangerous operation, everyone seemed full of motivation.
Every one of them, excluding me, was a genuine prodigy. I should have considered it an honor to fight alongside them, but as someone who'd been dragged in with nothing but a single worthless ability, I just couldn't get pumped up.
"...You didn't really have to wait, you know. Citry's group is the main force this time."
I said this half-sincerely. I'd heard the broad strokes of Citry's strategy.
Simply put, my role was to keep the Phantoms' attention fixed on me while Citry and the others activated the Mana Material mixing device. It was a dangerous job, but compared to being handed a device I might not even know how to activate, just running away from Phantoms would be a hundred times easier. Running away was what I did best, after all.
Citry greeted me with her usual high energy.
"Good morning, Krai! Please don't say such sad things—let us fight together at least at the start. Besides, when you're here, everyone gets motivated!"
I was curious what kind of system made people motivated just because I was around. Everyone certainly did seem roused, but that couldn't possibly have anything to do with me.
Then, Citry's expression shifted to something slightly worried.
"By the way... are you really not taking the Mana Material mixing device? We could reduce our allocation and redistribute, but—"
It seemed Citry was dead set on making me work harder. I couldn't help but sigh.
Even if someone handed me a dangerous thing like a Mana Material mixing device, I wouldn't know how to use it, and besides, they apparently didn't have enough to begin with. Being burdened with something so precious would be more trouble than it's worth.
"No need, no need. I have my own way of doing things. I've made all sorts of preparations, you know. Besides, what if problems came up on your side because you gave one to me?"
"Just in case, I made an extra one. Please use it if you'd like."
"...Thanks. Well, I probably won't need it, but I'll use it if something comes up."
"...Even if nothing comes up, use it! Krai, no matter what, you're way too free-spirited, you know!"
She'd gone and made one after all... Devices were precious resources too—it would have been better if she'd used it effectively on her end. But there was nothing to be done about it now.
Well, this time, I had a plan.
"It'll be fine. I humbly begged for help, and they agreed."
"?? You... begged?"
Prostration actually turned out to be surprisingly useful. You could almost call it my ultimate technique.
"Well, don't worry about me—just focus on doing what you need to do! Whether the strategy succeeds depends entirely on your side. I'll do my best, but whether things work out for me is pretty dubious, so operate under the assumption that I'll fail. Don't forget that what I'm doing is nothing more than light support."
I made sure to emphasize that they shouldn't expect anything from me. If the strategy failed because they'd counted on me, it would be an absolute disaster, and Citry had a tendency to overestimate me.
Citry was silent for a while, chewing on my words, then nodded deeply and spoke.
"Light support, is it... Understood. Then we'll proceed according to plan. Everyone, this is the decisive moment!"
Come to think of it, I hadn't actually heard the details of Citry's strategy... Oh well. It wasn't like there was anything I could do anyway. As long as I'd made this clear in advance, even if my incompetence caused problems for Citry's group, it should be fine.
* We advanced through the forest in formation along a narrow path.
Thick clouds blanketed the sky, making the forest—already difficult for sunlight to reach—feel so gloomy it was almost ominous.
Looking up, I could make out the enormous World Tree. Our destination was well before it.
The map we'd been given beforehand had our defense points marked.
Eight in total, each assigned to a different team, arranged in a line that curved around the southern approach to the Treasure Hall, well before the entrance. This row of markers would probably become the new channel for Mana Material flow.
The north side had no marks. They completely trusted us not to be a hindrance. Well, even if I couldn't be useful, I had to at least make sure I didn't get in the way...
Along the way, there was no conversation. Only a taut, prickly atmosphere. The absence of Monster attacks—was this the calm before the storm?
And so, without being attacked, we safely reached the first destination.
It was a somewhat open space, with sparse trees. I wasn't sure if it would be easy to defend, but at least the visibility was clear, and nearby there was a spring with clear, bubbling water.
In a place like this, the power of a water spirit could surely be fully demonstrated.
"Thousand Transformations—Mires."
"Krai, please bring out the device."
"Leave... leave it to me!"
Since Mimikun was here, maybe I should just stick to being the equipment guy from now on? That felt like the best way I could contribute. The problem was that anyone could use Mimikun, though— As instructed, I had Mimikun bring out the device and Mires.
The Mana Material mixing device was the strangest piece of equipment I'd ever seen.
It looked like a thin glass tube spiraling upward. Narrow at the bottom, widening toward the top—it resembled a funnel at first glance. The base was a small glass box with a slot for a power source.
This was the culmination of Citry's research, and to think it possessed the power to severely disrupt Mana Material was quite something.
It stood about two meters tall and roughly a meter wide—close to the maximum size Mimikun's mouth could store.
Mires looked like they'd regained some color compared to the last time I'd seen them. They'd been evacuated to avoid being corrupted by Mana Material and losing their sanity again, and they seemed to be in much better shape.
It appeared to be a giant dumpling, glittering and translucent, with round eyes looking up at Selen.
This time, Selen would apparently be defending one device alongside Mires.
Facing the guardian spirit, Selen wore a stern expression completely at odds with how she'd been during our comfort time. Ruin stepped forward before Mires and spoke respectfully.
"It's been a while, Mires. Thank you for protecting Yggdrasil. It's an honor to fight alongside you once more."
Upon seeing Ruin, Mires began emitting a sound like the ringing of bells. Spirit language, presumably—I still couldn't understand a word of it.
Ruin listened to the words with a grave expression for a while, then spoke in a suppressed voice.
"...I understand. This will likely be the greatest battle we've ever faced. Our enemy is overwhelmingly powerful. But this time, it's not just the people of Yggdrasil fighting—we have allies of different races, and kin who parted ways long ago. We have a strategy. We will give everything we have. On the pride of the Spiritfolk—please, lend us your strength."
I couldn't understand what was being said, but the motivation was overflowing... As for me, I wasn't nearly motivated enough to go that far for the sake of a hundred years hence. Then again, Looke wasn't here.
Ruin suddenly looked my way. Calmly burning crimson eyes. And Mires, who had been facing Ruin, moved to stand before me.
With a sound like chiming bells, its body began to flicker and glow.
Wind blew. Even I, the insensitive one, could feel it—a massive aura. Spirits were a kind of transcendent being. Those who had accumulated enough power were sometimes called gods.
I kept nodding with a smile for a while, but eventually it started to feel like a hassle.
Actually, come to think of it, all of this trouble had started when we'd encountered Mires in their insane state. Not that I intended to complain at this point, but getting talked to in a language I couldn't understand and being expected to agree—wasn't that, when you thought about it calmly, pretty absurd? I was partly to blame for nodding along without understanding, though!
The moment the bell-like sound stopped, I smiled and said honestly: "Haha... I don't have a clue what you're saying."
"!?"
Mires, who had been swaying up and down, froze completely. Ruin and Lucia held their breath.
It seemed the mages generally understood Spirit language...
"Well, at the end of the day—no matter what happens, all we can do is our best. We're fully prepared, and Citry's strategy is (probably) perfect. I'll do what I can, so please look after Selen!"
If you continued working as a Hunter, these moments where you simply had to steel yourself would inevitably come. For someone like me, I was constantly being thrust into do-or-die situations.
This time, there were members who could actually fight. There was Citry, a reliable commander. Compared to always being the only one surrounded by enemies, how much easier was this.
Come to think of it, I'd never ended up calling Ark after all. The impact of Selen being restored to comfort had made me completely forget. There was also the possibility that even if I'd tried, he wouldn't have accepted.
"...Well, my brother is right. The temple-type Treasure Hall has too few clear paths to victory. No matter what anyone says, all we can do is face it prepared to die."
"Mm."
"I-I also believe in Mastaa!"
Tino needed to doubt me a bit more.
Then Lapis snorted and spoke to Mires and Selen.
"Hmph... There's no need for apologies now. What happens to the World Tree concerns the world—fighting is only natural... But let me say this. If the strategy succeeds, I expect proper compensation. For us of Star's Holy Thunder, this is an internal matter, but for the Mourning Specter, it's not. I can't have the Spiritfolk's shame displayed any further."
I'd heard that Spiritfolk were kind to their own, but Lapis treated everyone the same, regardless of who she was dealing with.
And apparently, Mires had been apologizing to me. But as Lapis said, there was no need for apologies.
Time couldn't be turned back, and even without that incident, things likely would have developed in a similar direction. I was unlucky like that.
"I understand. The people of Yggdrasil will never forget the kindness they've received. Once this matter is resolved, we will offer whatever you wish."
Asking for whatever reward they wanted—that was bold.
But for a Hunter, reward and risk were two sides of the same coin. A great reward demanded great effort, and hearing that was a huge pressure for someone as useless as me. I made sure to set up my guard in advance.
"I don't need any reward. Hard times are hard for everyone. We might not be able to do much either."
"!? You... truly have no greed at all."
Selen's eyes went wide as she spoke with admiration.
Crus and the others were speechless too, but Lucia's group, who were used to my behavior, just looked exasperated.
It wasn't that I lacked greed. What I lacked wasn't greed—it was a sense of responsibility.
Accepting a reward meant taking on responsibility. If I worked for free, then even if problems arose and I couldn't do anything, I could excuse myself by saying I wasn't getting paid.
Citry, who managed the Mourning Specter's entire finances, poked my shoulder with a troubled smile.
"Really, Krai, you're saying that again... Well, it is a rare experience, though."
Well, no matter what I said, Citry would collect compensation if needed. Our members weren't ones to let things slip. That reassurance was what let me say whatever I wanted.
The Mana Material mixing devices that were brought out varied in size but numbered eight in total. I clapped my hands together and, regaining her composure, Citry began her explanation.
"Normally we'd want to bury these underground, but since we're expecting interference from Phantoms this time, we're prioritizing speed and installing them on the surface. Once the devices activate and their influence reaches the Source Temple, the enemy won't stay silent. I'm not sure how long it will take from activation to affect the Treasure Hall, but I welcome their counterattack. If they use their power without a supply, the time until the Phantoms are eliminated will be shortened."
She wasn't sure how long it would take to affect the Treasure Hall... This was going to be a long battle.
Well, once I'd bought as much time as I could, I'd promptly hide inside Mimikun.
The devices placed on the ground looked unstable but had the solidity of a sculpture. Citry looked up at the device beside her with satisfaction and spoke.
"We'll be the ones to judge success or failure. The operation begins at exactly ten o'clock—please activate the devices! To interfere with the great river-like flow of Mana Material converging on the World Tree and create new channels, it's essential that each device is activated simultaneously."
Everyone listened intently. Finally, Citry pulled a large blue gemstone-like object from her bag, held it out, and said: "As you may know, this is the magic stone that powers the device. Inserting it will begin the Mana Material mixing device's activation. I'll hand it over just in case."
"Oh, thanks. I'll use it depending on the situation."
Just insert it and it activates? Easier than I'd thought. Even I could do that.
"I'll distribute the necessary items. The devices are sturdily made but they're glass. Please carry them carefully—if one breaks halfway through, it'll be catastrophic!"
She began handing out items from Mimikun's storage.
Mana Material mixing devices, a clock, potion sets for combat, and the magic stone power sources for the devices.
Once everything had been distributed, Adler studied the magic stone she'd received from Citry and spoke.
"Then we'll head off to prepare. I'd also like to check out the state of our defense point."
"Quint, you're the one in charge of carrying the devices, okay~"
"I know, I know!"
The human-sized card soldiers that Quint had brought along lifted the devices, cradling them. They looked delicate but seemed quite strong—though I had no idea where Quint had gotten them. Quint then looked at me.
"Oh right, Thousand Transformations. Could you return the sword you took from me?"
Right... It had been taken by Riizu.
"...I can't help it. You can't fight without a proper weapon—"
I really didn't want to return it, but beggars can't be choosers. The Thousand Demons' Night Parade were undeniably thieves, but right now they were members shouldering a part of the operation. They held roles more important than mine, and it would be a problem if they went down easily.
Even though I'd escaped from the Mourning Specter before, at that time they'd had an army. How well they could fight without one was anyone's guess.
"Adler, what about that centipede?"
"...Fully healed, thanks to you. Yuden!!"
The moment Adler called the name, the ground shook violently. The earth surged upward, fangs jutted out, and what looked like burnt-red armor tore through the surface.
The enormous centipede emerged from underground with Adler riding on its back, letting out a bizarre roar.
I hadn't seen it since the fight in the Treasure Hall, but it was just as massive as before. Too massive.
I'd seen insect Monsters plenty of times, but this was the first time I'd seen one this enormous.
Had they called it an ancient species? If insects like this had swarmed the ancient world, then I was only grateful to have been born in the modern era.
Riizu, who stood with arms crossed and a sharp gaze fixed on Yuden, narrowed her eyes and said bluntly: "Isn't it a bit shorter? You sure it's fine?"
"Everything but the head got blown off. What can you do? It's fine—combat capability isn't impaired. If anything, it's gotten stronger from absorbing all that Mana Material."
It had already been strong enough to fight the Phantoms' army from a Level 10 Treasure Hall to a draw, and now it was even stronger... It didn't seem worried, but somehow it felt complicated.
Uuno gracefully hopped onto Yuden and waved cheerfully.
"I'll contact you if anything comes up. Good luck~!"
"Thousand Transformations, I'll be watching your moves through the Mirroring Mirror too. I'm looking forward to it!"
Somehow, even though they were thieves, their cooperation was so enthusiastic that it sapped my energy a bit... I sighed and waved back to Adler's group as they quietly departed.
Lapis stood and surveyed the Star's Holy Thunder members, rallying them.
"Shall we go as well? We can't let the Thousand Demons' Night Parade outdo us."
Quite motivated, weren't they. If I stayed here any longer, I might get swept up and end up fighting alongside them.
I'd received what I needed to receive, and I'd heard the strategy. Before anyone started expecting things from me, I'd better leave quickly.
"Well then, I should be heading out too. Good luck, everyone. We're not exactly free either—let's get this over with."
Come to think of it, there was one problem... I couldn't reach the destination on my own.
I scanned the group one by one, then looked at Tino, who stood awkwardly beside Riizu.
I needed a Thief. Ideally one who could also operate a carpet, but that went without saying.