Chapter 48: Wings of Compassion
The exit of the monastery was blocked by the sudden appearance of an army. Needless to say, the monastery is a church facility. There was no way that the knights of the church could have been so careful. A siege network had been formed that would not allow even a single cat to escape.
The monastery was aware of the situation. The main figures had gathered on the top floor of the building and were watching the situation.
"Did she betray us?"
"It was not betrayal. She was not one of us to begin with."
"However, is this the behavior of someone with the title of saint?"
"It means that she is not the saint we want."
It was on purpose that they made Shizuru listen to the conversation about the attack. The result was as they can see spread out in front of them. It was a head-on battle.
The Director knew this would happen. Shizuru wouldn't move to stop the fight. What the Director asked for was a way to end it. The stage was set.
"......Was the world the way we wanted it to be a pipe dream?"
"No, we were wrong."
"What?"
"It is a mistake to cling to the existence of a saint or a savior."
"But we also sacrificed our own lives."
They weren't just waiting impatiently for the savior to appear. They would also take action.
"That's also a mistake. Somebody told me that if you want to do something in this world, you have to live. We forgot about this obvious thing."
"...Yes. But now."
"Right. You won't be able to save your life. If that's the case, at least."
"Take as many heroes as possible with us"
“The stage has been set just as we had hoped. This is our last battle. However, our aspirations will be carried on by other comrades. So, all of you, die without regret."
"""Yes!"""
"Then, let's go."
They don't even realize that this ending is wrong. Unknowingly, the monastery has moved to cause further tragedy.
Meanwhile, those surrounding the monastery.
"What is this monastery? This is no castle."
"The gates can be breached at a moment's notice. It is not a defense that can be compared to a castle."
Sorenne, the deputy commander of the Mage Order, and Simon, the deputy commander of the Knight Order, were having a discussion.
"That's what knights all amount to."
"What did you say?"
"The barrier is amazing. I thought it would be over after shooting magic from the outside, but it might take quite a while."
The monastery is protected by a strong magic barrier. For decades, they've been preparing for when the time comes. Attacking it is not easy.
"If that is the case, just sit back and watch. The Knights alone will finish the job."
If magic attacks are impossible, there is only close combat. It's time for the Knights.
"Can you do it?"
"You think a knight will lose to a nun?"
"With a sword, yes. But with magic."
"I know... Ah, I understand. I'll ask the Mage Order to provide a magic defense. Then it doesn't matter if there's a barrier, right?"
"Yes. I understand."
As expected, when it comes to actual combat, it's not the time to compete with each other. After deciding on the division of roles between the two, the attack finally began.
The knights break through the gate and invade one after another. They quickly formed a formation inside the main gate and prepared for the enemy's attack.
However, the Anti-Hero Alliance attack took place outside the outer walls of the monastery. A number of explosions resounded.
"It's an attack!"
"Go in! Hurry up! Run inside!"
As if at the sound of their cries, an avalanche of Mages burst through the main gate. Not only Mages. The hero candidates were with them.
"What happened!"
"We were attacked by a suicide bomber!"
"Damage!?"
"Several people were killed, but the details are unknown!"
"Change to a circle! Form a circle around the mages! No, circle around the heroes!"
Enemies aren't just in front. In preparation for further suicide attacks, knights are also placed outside the main gate.
"Send word! Have the rearguard attack the Anti-Hero Alliance outside!"
"I've already sent it!"
"I see……"
"Forward!! Magic attack!!"
The attack from the monastery side continued. Magic was coming out of windows all over the monastery when the shouts rang out.
"Anti-magic defense!"
At Sorenne's command, the chanting flowed in unison. Immediately, a thin membrane-like object rose up in front of the formation. It was a magic defense barrier.
The monastery's magic crashes into the defensive barrier and disperses.
The defense barrier also received a lot of attack magic, and before long it shattered into pieces like broken glass.
"Prepare the next barrier!"
"Vanguard! Move forward!"
While watching out for the enemy's attack magic, the knights placed in front slowly move forward. Then the second wave from the monastery side attacked.
"Anti-magic defense!"
However, this time there was no barrier. Two of the advancing knights escaped from the formation and rushed back, drawing their swords and attacking the mages who were chanting.
"Traitors!?"
"They are traitors! Cut them down!"
"Vanguard! Hold up your shield! Magic is coming!"
"No! The target is behind!"
The attack magic flying from the monastery's side jumped over the heads of the knights in the vanguard and headed in the back. The trajectory is in the center of the mage corps. It was heading toward the place where the hero candidates were gathered.
"Dangerous! Dodge!"
"Don't underestimate me!"
Mei's angry voice echoes around.
Immediately after that, a large fireball floated in the air that swallowed all the monastery's attack magic. As if kicking away the attack magic that was actually coming towards it, the fireball advanced forward and crashed into the building. The blast that came with the tremendous sound of impact shook the bodies of the knights and mages.
“The traitor!?”
"I already killed it!" "This one too!"
Yuya and Jin answered Mei's question.
"Let's go forward! I'll blow away the barrier with the next blow!"
"Mages! Simultaneous attack! Destroy the building's barrier!"
Ignoring Mei's words, Jin gives instructions to the Hero Candidates who are qualified to be mages.
"My magic is enough for that!"
"Breaking the barrier is not the end!"
"……I understand"
About half of the hero candidates start chanting magic all at once. Each of them possesses great magic. They are all advanced offensive magic. Huge fireballs, spears of ice, and wind magic with the force of a tornado, all of these magic attack the monastery building at once.
After the sound of impact, as if the entire building is shaking, the sound of breaking glass echoes through the building. It is a sound that is a mixture of both the collapse of the barrier and the actual breaking of the window glass due to the impact.
"They are coming! Intercept them!"
As if they expected the barrier to collapse, men with swords rushed out of the monastery building without any delay.
“Knights, stand down! We will intercept them ourselves!"
Under normal circumstances, Jin's words would have been unacceptable, but the knights could not refuse him when they could not be assured that the traitor was no longer there. The situation became pathetic, as they fell back and warned each other.
On the other hand, the hero candidates showed their skills worthy of being hero candidates. Their strength was not at a level that the monastery could stand up to.
In the blink of an eye, everyone who ran out was on the ground.
"Let's just go straight into the building."
"Wait a minute. We don't know how many people are inside."
Jin stopped Yuya from saying something hastily.
"It doesn't matter how many people there are."
"It could be a trap."
"If there is a trap, just break it!"
"...What line is that?"
In such a situation, Jin was amazed at Yuya's self-assured, baseless lines.
"Well? I just remember seeing something about it."
"Why don't you just use a little more magic to attack them? Close combat is the last thing you want, right?"
Mei suggested continuing the magic attack.
"Alright. Please."
The chanting starts up again. This time, it is not large-scale magic, but intermediate-level attack magic, flying one after another toward the windows of the building. The purpose is to attack the enemies who are supposed to be inside the rooms.
Even if there is a counterattack from the monastery side, the power of the magic is different. Even when they collide, the momentum of the hero candidates' magic is so strong that they push the magic released by the monastery side and fly into the window.
Into the window of the room where the monastery's mages are.
The counterattack gradually lost momentum as more smoke rose from the window.
"It's about time."
"Yes"
Finally, they were going to enter the building. Just as they were thinking that, they saw a figure jump out again. The hero candidates prepared for them with their swords at the ready.
However, the tension soon dissipated.
"Children?"
The figures were all small children. Some of them were walking while pulling the hand of a child even smaller than themselves.
"……What does this mean?"
"I don't understand. Have they given up their resistance?"
Yuya took this as a sign of surrender.
"I hope so. Anyway, let's not let our guard down yet."
"Yeah, that's right."
Even though they said so, they were completely caught off guard. It is correct to say that they did not understand the ruthlessness of the enemy side.
The boy who came running up first. When one of the hero candidates picked him up―― a flash of light ran.
A hot wind spread out, with a slight delay.
And then another. A young child blew itself up.
"...Y-you're kidding, right?"
Many of the candidate students who were present had no choice but to stand there stunned by the unexpected situation.
"Get a grip! We're also still children!"
Mei scolded Yuya and the others and regained their composure.
"...What should I do! Are you telling me to kill a child!?"
"That's……"
"Don't come here! Don't come near me! Please don't come!"
Such a cry from one of them expressed the feelings of everyone. The composure that had been there just a few moments before was gone, and everyone looked dismayed.
What saved them was a voice behind them.
"No mercy! Kill the enemy! This is an order!"
Ruthless words. However, the hero candidates accepted it.
"Yes, that's right. If you don't kill them, they will kill you."
"Yuya?"
"This is a battlefield! We must be ruthless!"
"What are you doing?"
"Everyone! Regret later! Think only about winning now!"
"Yeah" "Alright" "Fuck it, I'll do it!" "This is vengeance!"
One after another, the other hero candidates also agree with Yuya's words. In fact, they acted.
The children rushing toward them were attacked with relentless attack magic. Swords were swung at children who slipped past them. Without catching the hero candidates, the children blow up and shatter into pieces.
"...Stop it. Stop it already!"
Jin and Mei were the only hero candidates shaken by this.
"They're still coming!"
Children emerge from the building. Soon another horrific massacre would begin... or so it was supposed to be.
"Let go of me! Children are not tools for murder! This is unacceptable!"
"Wait! Stop Kazu! Don't let her get in our way!"
A voice came from inside the building. Shortly after, a woman jumped out. It's Kazuki.
When Kazuki passes the children, she turns around and stands in their way with her arms wide open.
"Stop! Turn back!"
Even though the children were a little confused, they stopped moving forward and turned their eyes to Kazuki.
"No! You guys have a future! Don't throw your life away like this!"
"But Kazu-nee! This is important!"
"That's a lie! Nothing is more important than life!"
"But the Director-sama..."
Children do not think about right and wrong. They are taught that it is the right thing to do, and they do as they are told.
“Your lives belong to you, no matter what anyone says! They are not for them to do with as they please!"
"Kazu-nee..."
The children's hearts are beginning to shake at the sight of Kazuki screaming desperately.
“I want you all to live. I want you to live a life that makes you glad you were born."
"...But we were abandoned"
"So what? Your parents may have abandoned you. But I am happy to have met you. I'm glad you're here."
"Kazu-nee..."
"You are my hope. You are necessary for me to live like this."
“…………”
"So please! Live!"
Kazuki's desperate thoughts reached the children. And in the moment they thought so.
"Now!"
Who was it that reacted to those words? A blade of ice pierced the chest of one child.
"Uwaaaaa!!"
The heartbreaking cries of children echoed.
"Attack! Don't hesitate! Kill!"
Attack magic is mercilessly shot at children one after another. Children fall helplessly. Even in such a hopeless situation, Kazuki did not give up.
"I won't let you... I won't let you kill the children. I will protect the children! I will definitely protect them!"
Kazuki's strong feelings for children cause miracles.
Gradually, Kazuki's body became illuminated. The light extended to the left and right and changed into a wing-like shape, spreading out to encompass the children.
The figure looks as if an angel is protecting the children with its wings. In fact, the attacking magic that attacked the children was repelled one after another by the wings of light.
"Magic defense?"
The hero candidates were surprised by Kazuki's change. They couldn't believe that Kazuki, a dropout in Class C, had such an ability.
And it's the same for the monastery side, which was watching what was going on inside the building.
"Director? What is this?"
"...What a surprise. Why does Kazu have such power?"
Of course, the Director knew of Kazuki's background. Kazuki, who was not supposed to have any special skills of any kind, was showing power in front of her.
"What is that?"
"I'm not sure, either. But it seems to resemble magic I read about in an old book."
"That is?"
"If I remember correctly... [Wings of Compassion]. It's a unique magic that has the effect of both absolute defense and healing magic that neither magic nor sword can penetrate."
"Unique magic?"
"Yeah... it's a unique magic said to have been used by a legendary saint."
“Saint!? No way?”
Kazuki is using the unique magic that the saint used. The nuns are greatly disturbed by this fact.
"...I'm a fool. There was a true saint nearby, but I didn't notice it."
"What are we going to do?"
"That's……"
"Director! Kazu's magic!"
Magic has the effect of both absolute defense and healing magic. There is no way that such high-level magic can continue indefinitely. The wings gradually narrowed their range and now only barely cover the children who are clustered right behind Kazuki.
And even that.
"Uooohh! Shatter! Slash!"
With a single blow from Yuya's magic sword, they were shattered into pieces. And attack magic rained down mercilessly on the children who had lost their defense magic. Kazuki no longer had the power to prevent the attack. She had no other option but to use herself as a shield.
And Katsuki did it.
"Everyone! Get behind me!"
Kazuki cannot hide all of the children with her body alone. Even so, the children believed in Kazuki and stuck behind her back.
Fire, water, and wind rained down on Kazuki, who was standing with her hands outstretched. Burning flames and smoke rising into the air blocked the people's sight.
――People saw it after the magic stopped and the dust subsided. Her hair and clothes were burnt, her skin was burnt, and her whole body was cut in places.
Kazuki's corpse, still standing with her arms outstretched.
"...U-uwaa, Kazu-neee!"
One of the children who had been protected by Kazuki's back screams at the sight of her.
“Kazukiiiii!”
"I won't forgive you! I'll kill you all!"
The children's surprise and sadness soon turned into hatred for the hero candidates.
"Vengeanceee!"
"They are coming! Intercept them! Keep them away!"
A blinding flash of light and a thunderous roar that shook their whole body stopped the children who were trying to approach the candidates and the candidates who were trying to intercept them.
Lightning flashed across the ground, interrupting them. Everyone turned their heads away from the scene, and many people were dazzled by its brilliance.
――The moment of silence finally came. The hero candidates, the knights and mages behind them, looked at their backs, which weren't there before.
Three people with silver hair and black clothes, and a silver wolf standing guard behind them.
"...To really give up your life for someone else."
This mutter could only be heard by the two people standing next to him.
"Ren... Kazu-nee is."
A child behind Kazuki called out to him.
"I can see it. More than that, what are you guys trying to do?"
"...Revenge for Kazu-nee."
"Can you kill them?"
"Even so."
"Don't joke around!"
"Eh!?"
The children are horrified at being yelled at by Ren.
"Have you guys forgotten Kazuki's words!? What did Kazuki say to you at the end!?"
"...Go and live."
"Then why are you trying to die?"
"But they killed Kazu-nee."
"That's because she wants you guys to live. Are you going to make Kazuki's wish null?"
“…………”
"Kazuki loved you. She loved you, who are strangers, like a mother. Are you betraying your mother? Because you were betrayed by your real parents, you thought it was okay to betray your true mother, who truly loved you?"
"No!"
"I want you to recognize Kazuki. She felt happy to have been born when she met you guys. So, you should live too. Until you are happy to have been born."
“…………”
All the surviving children are in tears at Ren's words. There was no longer any anger left on their faces. They had returned to the expressions of normal children.
"Let's go. This is no place for you guys."
"Kazu-nee... what about Mother?"
"Of course, we'll take her. Let's all mourn together."
"Yes……"
"If you decide to do so, throw away those dangerous things."
The words were spoken unexpectedly.
“Mion-san?”
Before he knew it, Mion was nearby. Behind her are the guild soldiers.
“When you throw them away, you will be carried on the back by these couple of tough-looking old men. You guys must be tired, right?”
"""Eh?"""
The guild soldiers are upset because they were told to carry the children who were about to launch a suicide attack just a moment ago.
"You're fine, aren't you, since you guys haven't done anything, right? You guys should work a little."
"Ha"
Children who put their magic tools on the ground are carried away by guild soldiers in order. Seeing that, Ren also moved to carry Kazuki's corpse.
“Ren-sama, take this.”
Rin holds out the cloak she was wearing. It means to wrap Kazuki's body.
"I don't give a damn about appearances."
"She's a woman. Do you intend to walk outside with her skin exposed?"
"...That's right. I hadn't noticed that."
He wrapped Kazuki's body in a cloak and gently picked her up. Rin crossed Kazuki's arms, which were hanging loosely from her side, in front of her chest.
"……Shall we go?"
"Yes"
Ren and the others also walked where the guild soldiers were headed.
"W-wait! Where are you going!?"
The voice that holds Ren back is Yuya's.
"...Do I need to tell you that?"
"What did you say?"
"Our job is an escort request, not a slaughter. The slaughter is for those who want to do it."
"……What are you saying?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
After that, no matter what Yuya said, Ren continued walking without looking back. Yuya and the others don't have time to worry about it.
This is because a violent attack from the monastery side has begun. It's a fierce attack that doesn't think about the consequences.
"Quickly, get out of here!"
"If you're going to escape, take the Director-sama with you!"
"I must die here. Otherwise, this will never end!"
"But"
“I have no right to live. The saint was killed because I could not find her. And I completely misjudged him.
"Him?"
“Ren, Silver Wolf. I knew he was not a simpleton. But in the end, I misjudged the talent and made a mistake in my evaluation. By the talent principle that we hate."
"What does that mean?"
What is there in Ren? After what happened to Kazuki, the meaning of the Director's words is quite important.
"Don't you see!? The ones next to him were a spirit and a demon! And that thing that looks like a wolf is probably a high-ranking magical beast! It is more than I thought!"
"No way..."
"I don't know that far. I can't see through him because I can't see a human beside him. But the problem is."
"What is it?"
"Since there are no humans on his side, it's possible that Kazu was the only one who could have been on his side. But Kazu was killed."
"What do you mean?"
"As it stands now, all of the human race will become his enemies. When he becomes what I think he is, what will the future of the human race be... I don't even know."
As a matter of fact, even the Director doesn't know who Ren is. Even if he's what she thinks he is, she doesn't know what it really is.
"Director-sama..."
"Let as many young people as possible escape. And follow him no matter what. No matter if he throws you out or hates you, you must never leave."
"To that extent?"
"I don't know what's going on anymore. Just do what you think you have to do, okay? I'll leave it to you."
"……Yes"
"Good. Everyone else should die with me! Be a sacrifice so that as many people as possible can escape! Be a decoy that attracts as many enemies as possible!"
The members of the Anti-Hero Alliance prepare to face the final battle. In fact, it is a battle that will lead them straight to death.
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