Episode 4: Before the Final Battle
"Thank goodness you're all safe."
"We were just keeping an eye on the slime and that strange castle. More importantly, ......"
It was about ten days when Mariabelle returned to Grabalt Forest with reinforcements from Fonteau.
More than a month had already passed since the disappearance of the goddess Fasalina and the black-haired female hero that had been newly summoned.
There was not a moment to spare.
She could feel that impatience from Fornelis...... her troops who were waiting for her orders in Grabalt.
"Everyone in the unit seems to have no time to spare either."
"Yeah. I'm hiding the information, but rumors are still spreading. Where the hell did it come from..."
People cannot put a door in another's mouth, and that information inevitably spreads.
Perhaps leaked from the believers from Lishlua is the fact that the goddess Fasalina has manifested in the world and that the goddess has summoned a new hero.
These rumors were spreading with more truth than when Mariabelle left the land.
(The threat of the slimes is getting stronger day by day... Maybe everyone is feeling uneasy about it...)
It would originally have been Mariabelle's mission, as a hero, to soothe that uneasiness.
But right now, she is occupied with fighting. She can't think of anything else to do right now.
From the watchtower built on a small hill in the forest, Mariabelle looked far into the distance.
The deep forest of Grabalt spread out in all directions.
It was a dense forest covered with dense dark green, so dense that sunlight did not reach the ground.
――The castle, built as if piercing through the greenery, was made of a gray slime that was almost black.
"Even though it's so far away, it looks so big."
The one who muttered that was a woman next to Mariabelle.
A woman with silver hair that shines beautifully like moonlight, the exact opposite of the black hair that is the proof of a hero.
Mariabelle's mother, Leticia.
She muttered in a calm voice, narrowing her eyes.
“…So, why is Leticia here?”
"Ara, am I a nuisance?"
"Not really... but I've heard you've been held captive for a long time and aren't in the best of health. It's a nuisance to have a sick person on the battlefield."
Fornelis, a beastwoman with dull gray hair, looked at Leticia again as she said this, her voice filled with a sense of dismay, but also with a concern that she could not hide.
She was wearing a black robe over a white shirt and a white ribbon wrapped around her waist in place of a corset.
On top of the robe was another white jacket, a neat white jacket to reduce the amount of exposed skin.
The robe has a deep slit, through which peeks a pair of pure white garter stockings full of adult sex appeal......They are different in parts, but they were familiar clothes.
Although she may be an elf with a long lifespan, she feels as if she has gone back more than twenty years when she puts on her adventurer outfit with a youthfulness that belies her being the mother of two children.
Fornelis smiled wryly at the nostalgia, and Leticia smiled at the words of her companion who had traveled with her, walking alongside the hero.
"Fufu. Do you think I'm going to stop just because I'm a little tired?"
"That way of speaking is still the same as before―― I thought you had calmed down a bit since you became the queen."
"Ara, I'm still active. My mana... has decreased a little, but in terms of magic, it's as good as Meltia's."
"That's true. How old do you think..."
Fornelis sighs in dismay, thinking, "Don't compare yourself to your daughter".
Then she looked at Mariabelle.
"What about the country? Don't the people feel insecure in the absence of their queen?"
"Yes―― but even while we were returning to Fonteau, the slime invaded the royal castle......There is no place on this continent that is safe anymore, Fornelis-sama."
"……I see."
With those words, Fornelis guessed part of Mariabelle's complexity and Leticia's feelings.
Fonteau has a history of being invaded by slimes once.
It was only two years ago.
Just two years ago, the country was taken by surprise by the slime, and Leticia was captured by the abominable mucus monster.
For a year until she was freed, she was violated endlessly, giving birth to slimes.
The monster had robbed her of most of her mana, and even now, a year later, she is still not completely cured.
Yet, the castle was attacked again, and Leticia was deprived of much of the mana she had recovered.
In the first place, even though she didn't leave the castle for treatment, the castle was invaded.
As Mariabel said, Fornelis strongly believed that there was no safe place on this continent anymore.
(Are you going to settle this here?)
Fornelis also intended to do so, but the appearance of the continent's strongest mage...... who came to the front lines without being fully healed and whose mana alone is said to rival that of the Demon King, and who fought alongside Fornelis, the hero, and the missing Jenna who was kidnapped by the slime, dressed in adventurer outfit, made her determined.
“If you say so, I won't say anything. I know that you are not the kind of person who bends your will based on what others say."
"That's rude. I listen to others, too."
"Only listen. Even though you're sick from a long trip, you ignored our request to take a rest and jumped out, I'm sure even the fingers of both hands wouldn't be enough to count them."
“Okaa-sama, you did that…?”
“…I'm not the kind of person who would be defeated by just being sick. I knew exactly what I was capable of and acted accordingly."
(Probably, Fornelis-sama and others were genuinely worried about you...)
Mariabelle gave a wry smile, and Fornelis shrugged her shoulders in exasperation.
"She hates to lose. Always have."
"Uu."
"When you got hit, you have to fight back. Right?"
"......Well, maybe that's part of it."
After hearing that, Leticia cleared her throat.
Her cheeks were a little red.
Her skin is as beautiful as porcelain, so it is easy to tell when she is embarrassed.
It was the first time Mariabelle had seen her mother like that, and she understood that her mother Leticia and Fornelis were really close "best friends".
She even envied their relationship, and even though she was her daughter, she felt a warmth in her heart.
"――Well then, what should we do? I'm glad for the reinforcements, but to tell you the truth, it's going to be a little tough."
After talking about the old days for a while, Fornelis brought up the main subject.
From the top of the tower, she looked at the slime castle.
“I gathered as many mages as I could from Fonteau. It's going to be hard to blow up the whole castle with that......."
Leticia said, half joking, half serious, and Fornelis shrugged her shoulders.
In fact, it would be impossible.
Slime's mucus heals minor damage―― or rather, it's more correct to say that it fills the damage with new mucus.
It can be seen from a distance―― if the castle were as large as Fonteau's royal castle, even the magic of a thousand people would probably be enough to gouge out the outer wall.
Once the damage is covered with another mucus, even if they shoot powerful magic, it's pointless... it's just a waste of precious mana.
"You can try, but it's probably useless."
"Haa... I didn't expect the slime castle in the report to be this big."
In a world where verbal communication is the norm, some methods of explanation can lead to an underestimation of the other party's information.
Leticia was thinking of blowing the outer wall with magic and directly pushing Mariabelle to the humanoid slime.
(At that size, even if I were to work with other mages, we'd probably only be able to make a hole.)
A hole of that size would be easily plugged, and forcing Mariabelle to advance would isolate her.
That would be a bad move.
It could be the worst possible outcome, so she rejected it.
"...How about a frontal breakthrough?"
"What?"
"The slimes seem to start moving when we get close to the castle. First, we all approach the castle and lead the slimes away from the castle. After that, the others will enter the castle......"
"Fu, mu..."
Marieabelle reaches out her hand from the top of the watchtower and explains while moving her fingers in the air.
First, Leticia and Fornelis' troops create a diversion, and then Mariabelle and the rest of the elite unit will invade the slime castle.
"Can you do it?"
"Probably, but I think that if I enter the castle, the slimes outside will return to the castle as well."
"Fumu?"
"Because the intruders will come first to the castle where either the original slime, or the goddess...... or both, are."
"...Do you think they have that kind of wisdom?"
Fornelis said, and Leticia tilted her head.
To be honest, they didn't think the slime monsters had a sense of camaraderie.
However, Mariabelle was certain.
By fighting the slimes so far, she was able to understand a few things.
Slimes absorb power.
It could be mana or the sacred power of the priests, but the slime, which cannot recover its mana, cannot use magic unless it is deprived of it.
And what would the slimes do if their most outstanding source of power―― the goddess Fasalina were taken away from them?
No, to begin with,
"The slime castle was built after Fasalina-sama went missing... I feel that Fasalina-sama is that important to them."
"Your intuition as a hero?"
"Yes. Besides... they never built a [castle] until now, so Fasalina-sama, or the hero-sama that Fasalina-sama summoned. Either of those, I think, is the objective."
"Certainly―― it's the first time they've taken such a bold step as building a castle."
The castle has the disadvantage that one's location will be noticed, but more than that, there is no better base to "protect what is important".
From Mariabelle's words, Leticia and the others understand that the Goddess Fasalina is so important to the slimes.
"Then, the diversionary force will lure the slimes out. We will invade the castle. If the slimes notice the intrusion and try to return to the castle, the diversionary force will attack them from behind to reduce their numbers."
"Not bad."
Fornelis listens to Mariabelle's explanation and arranges the plans in her head.
Whether it is possible in terms of personnel, whether the slimes will really withdraw, and if that happens, the safety of Mariabelle and the others will be...
Thinking that far, Mariabelle grabbed the sleeve of the black military uniform that Fornelis was wearing.
"Our safety is of no concern."
"That's not how it works..."
"No... we will settle this here. We will rescue Fasalina-sama and destroy the slime with her help."
"Mariabelle..."
The voice filled with determination rendered Fornelis speechless.
Leticia stands next to the gray-haired beastwoman.
"I'm ready for it. That's why I've come to the front line."
"……I see."
Fornelis swallows further words at the determination of the mother and daughter.
It's a matter of probability and possibility.
She understands that "absolute" doesn't exist, but she thought she has to think of a strategy with a high success rate.
It's common sense in battle.
It is natural to want to reduce the number of casualties.
As a commander, Fornelis thought.
But at the same time, there are times when they have to make a choice even if they ignore such a probability.
……When they absolutely have to win.
In such a case, they have to take action to grab victory even if they order their allies to "die".
"Haa..."
The smile disappears from Fornelis' face.
What showed there is a feeling of fatigue.
(If the slime doesn't retreat when it realizes Mariabelle's intrusion, we'll be wiped out.)
......No, that's still fine.
If they can lure the slimes, that alone will reduce the burden on Mariabelle.
(Jenna. If you can, lend Mariabelle some help.)
Heading to scout the castle, she thought of her missing comrade.
She is probably still alive in the castle―― a comrade-in-arms who was even called a "saint".
A companion who she traveled with and defeated the Demon King.
She is alive and in the castle, Fornelis hopes.
If Mariabelle rushes into the castle and saves her, she will surely be able to help.
...
“Now… please be quiet, Fenelieka-san!”
"I know. You're still a worry wart."
The next day, Meltia, who had gathered the knights and mages brought from Fonteau, said so.
Her beautiful silver hair, inherited from her mother, was neatly combed and she was wearing the adventuring outfit that her mother was said to have worn when fighting the Demon King.
She is not only shorter than her mother, but shorter than her sister, and those who have lived for a long time feel as if they were watching Leticia when she was a child as she walks with her ample breasts swaying in the air.
On the side of such Meltia.
As if to walk one step behind... No, the one who was chasing after her while floating in the sky was the succubus Fenelieka, a succubus with impressive red hair reminiscent of burning flames.
She was dressed in a dress as bright red as her long red hair and floated after Meltia, not caring that her bright red panties decorated with black lace, not to mention her black garter belt, were visible.
"Who's to blame for all the worries..."
"Ara. Even with this, I've learned etiquette, you know?"
"You're using that language right off the bat. Mou."
Meltia, aware that she was being ridiculed, snapped and turned a sharp look at Fenelieka.
However, Fenerlieka didn't seem to care in the slightest, and flew beside her with a faint smile.
She ignored Meltia's nagging and look around.
For the time being, this place is far from the slime castle.
It should be safe, but it is common knowledge these days that slimes suddenly start behaving in ways that do not conform to conventional wisdom.
(Jeez. Even though we're on the enemy's territory, we're walking carelessly... As usual, they're careless, or rather, there are many gaps...)
Even though they are in the middle of the camp, Fenelieka is dismayed by the relaxed alertness of the people.
It sounds good to say that she is reassuring her allies, but such careless behavior worries her every time she sees her.
"Well, it's that kind of out-of-the-box behavior that makes you so adorable."
"What is that!?"
She probably did not hear what Fenelieka said.
When Meltia asks in a slightly quarrelsome manner, the red-haired succubus smiles wryly.
"There's no need to be so angry."
“Isn’t it because Fenelieka-san has been doing strange things since morning! Um, with a m-man..."
"I was just getting a little bit of power through kissing. I wasn't sleeping with him......"
"...Ugh. Even though it's before the battle, it's imprudent."
"You're being a child, Onee-chan is."
"Who's Onee-chan! I don't remember having a little sister like you!"
She's angry to see Fenelieka kissing a male knight in the morning.
Inappropriate, unhealthy, and unserious.
(As a succubus, it's like breakfast.)
Just well.
(I may have shown off a little too much in the morning.)
She just invited a male knight from Fonteau to the prepared tent and had him share his genitals.
But it is also true that she kissed him on the mouth, sensing Meltia's mood.
She really only intended to tease her a little, but she regretted that she made her angrier than she expected.
(I'll be careful next time.)
Well, it seems that she has no intention of stopping that teasing.
As Fenelieka was thinking of making fun of her a little more gently next time, Meltia, who was walking ahead of her, stopped.
After confirming her appearance, she turned her gaze to Fenelieka.
She looked at the beauty of the succubus, then dropped her gaze to check her attire.
“Alright. ……Please be really careful with your language, okay?”
"I know. Even I wouldn't make fun of the Queen. It's scary."
"............You mean you're not afraid of me?"
"How can I be afraid of a pretty girl?"
“――――Haa.”
Meltia sighs and drops her shoulders, realizing that no matter what she says is useless.
Finally, after checking the condition of the neck, which was buttoned up, she went into the tent.
It is a modest tent given to the queen.
But both Meltia and Leticia, the queen, understand that there is no room for luxury.
"Ara."
Feeling the atmosphere of the upcoming decisive battle, Meltia entered the tent and saw Leticia wearing her clothes.
She was still wearing her pure white underwear, which gave her an air of purity, and she was still not wearing most of her equipment.
"A-ah!? I'm sorry!?"
"Haa... you're too nervous. You should be a little more aware of your surroundings, Meltia-sama."
"Ah, uu..."
"That's right, Meltia. Next time, please check carefully before entering."
Leticia does not blame Meltia for such disrespect, and she puts on her equipment with a wry smile.
Without seeming to mind Fenelieka's gaze, she slipped her sleeves on her dress and wrapped a ribbon around her waist, a substitute for a corset, so thin that it was hard to believe she was the mother of two children......
"Good morning, Fenelieka-san―― I see that you're taking care of Meltia."
"No. I'm the one being taken care of, Queen."
Before Meltia knew it, Fenelieka had her feet on the ground, and in front of the Queen, she kneeled on the ground and bowed her head.
"There is no need for such an attitude. We are now comrades fighting together―― you're an important friend who protects Meltia."
“I am glad to hear you say so. To be honest, I don't like to act formal."
"Fufu."
"Muuu..."
Meltia made a complicated face in the friendly conversation between her mother and Fenelieka.
Especially around the word "friend".
"Okaa-sama, I and Fenelieka-san are not in that kind of relationship..."
"Wait, that's terrible. How many times have I put myself on the line to protect you?"
While they were making such idle small talk, Leticia finished getting dressed.
It was a conversation to make room in Fenelieka's own way, and to relieve Meltia's nervousness.
By this time, Meltia's shoulders had relaxed a little.
"Sorry to keep you waiting―― so, how is Maria doing?"
"Eh? Maria is... She went for a walk with Kara-san. She said it might be the last time."
Meltia muttered, then dropped her shoulders and let out a sigh.
She seems to think it's a bad omen.
Leticia smiles as she feels the emotion coming to the surface.
"Fufu―― that's nostalgic."
"Eh?"
"I also did something like that―― before fighting the Demon King."
It was more than twenty years ago.
The final battle with the Demon King... the night before.
Leticia also left the camp with the hero and left their comrades for the night.
Looking up at the moon, they conversed, wished each other well, and then tied the knot.
The inappropriate words just before the conclusion, but it is also true that they helped each other.
Mariabelle and Kara.
They are both trump cards against the slime, and they may feel it too.
When she thought about this, Leticia became nostalgic and smiled softly.
"Anything else?"
"Umm. Earlier, I received word from the Lishlua priests that they were ready."
"I see. What about everyone from Fonteau?"
"They are ready, too."
Leticia leaves the tent.
It's a hateful sunny day, even though mankind is in such a corner.
Looking up at the sky, Leticia squints at the sun's radiance, and under the bright sky she checks her clothes to make sure they are in good condition.
"Okaa-sama."
A familiar voice called out to her as she was making final preparations.
When Leticia looked up, she saw her beloved daughter, Mariabelle, with her black hair tied high on her head, walking up to her with a calm expression on her face.
Next to her was Kara, a petite white-robed woman with peculiar chestnut-colored hair flowing in the air.
Behind them were Fornelis, a beastwoman with wolf ears covered in gray hair, and Graffus, Jenna's husband.
"...I'm sorry, Graffus. Jenna is..."
"No. She came into this battle prepared."
Graffus.
He bowed his head, still wearing the distinctive blue vestments worn by the goddess's followers.
His short, neatly coiffed blond hair was pulled down by gravity.
Beneath the hair is a beautiful face with a soft smile that everyone loves to see.
However, his mouth is slightly stiff, and one can see the dark circles around his eyes that cannot be completely hidden.
After hearing that his wife had been kidnapped by the slime, he led the followers of Lishlua and participated in this battle.
――To help his wife.
Graffus calms down by stroking the wedding ring on his left ring finger.
"Today, I will lead the followers of Lishlua to the front line."
"I see……"
If the command is given by Graffus, the "Saint" Jenna's husband, the followers of Lishlua should have no problem responding.
To begin with, Fasalina's followers are skilled in miracles of recovery, but they do not have many skills to fight monsters.
Their troops are mainly logistical support.
Grabalt warriors led by Fornelis and knights of Fonteau led by Leticia will serve on the front line.
"Please leave the recovery to us."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."
“Best regards... we will make sure to save Jenna."
"Yes."
After saying that, the three looked at each other and nodded.
“The plan, as we discussed yesterday, is for Leticia-sama, Fornelis-sama, and Graffus-sama's unit to create a diversion. After that, we will storm into the castle."
After confirming this, Kara spread out a map on a nearby desk.
It was a map that the Grabalt warriors had made after checking it from afar while Mariabelle and the others were returning to Fonteau.
It was not detailed, but it was sufficient for a general overview.
It gives some idea of the structure of the castle built by the slime and the geography of the surrounding area.
"However, I didn't know that they were cheeky enough to build an outer wall and a gate. Really, these guys are hatefully intelligent."
"But they are walls and gates made of mucus, right? Burning or freezing them seems easier than stone."
"I think so too... but it's a slime, you know. It can easily recover from few damages."
After saying that, Kara looked at Mariabelle.
One of the few powers that can extinguish slime mucus. The goddess weapon.
The rest is "Valhari's Blessed Water" carried by the knights of Fonteau.
An amount of several carriages and more than ten barrels.
"There's no problem with the gate. But it would be impractical to sprinkle the entire castle with the blessed water."
"Is it possible to produce more of that blessed water?"
"Not right now. Worst case, it can only help the goddess......"
"No."
Kara was about to say the best scenario, but Mariabelle interrupted her.
"I will defeat it here. Otherwise, people will not be able to live in this land."
No, even Mariabelle knew that the slime had no intention of destroying the people.
Also to the women here.
If people perish, the slime cannot survive.
Living creatures need food in order to survive.
It is the same for the slimes and monsters.
Humans are monsters' food, and if they destroy them, they will also perish in the near future.
……That’s why Mariabelle and the others are still alive.
In favor of the slimes.
(That future will change... I will change it)
Unconsciously, Mariabelle gripped the hilt of the hero's holy sword at her waist. She gripped its hilt tightly.
Saving people―― that's her mission as a hero, and that's how she thinks of her father.
"We will defeat the slimes here."
Mariabelle declared so.
With strong words, she would not allow any opposition.
(Maria……)
Although she may have a mission as a hero, Mariabelle has never lost her courage in any situation so far.
Kara sensed something in her cornered expression.
(Perhaps, this is where our fates diverge.)
She remembered that Mariabelle had invited her for a walk earlier, which was a rare occurrence.
There was little conversation.
Just a morning greeting.
Just slowly walking and...... that was it.
She knew from that moment on.
"Are you prepared?"
"Yes. I will help Fasalina-sama and Jenna-sama, and with your help... I will subjugate the slimes."
Mariabelle quietly asserted as she stared at the slime castle drawn on the map.
The hero's intuition, which is close to predicting the future, is also dangerous.
……Because she knew what lies ahead, she is compelled to take on challenges even when she knew they are at a disadvantage.
Mariabelle understood that if she withdrew here, she would have to face even more dangerous battles in the future.
That's why she would challenge it.
She had no choice but to challenge it.
Even if she knew they were at a disadvantage, this was their only chance to win.
The hero's intuition, which is close to predicting the future, won't allow her to escape......
