Chapter 177 – Assault on the Thieves' Guild

I gently stroked Lindwurm’s nose area, and it purred as if responding to me.

“We’re ready.”

“Mm. Let’s go then.”

Though we called it a trip, we intended it to be just a day outing, so it was quite casual. I packed some lunch and brought cards.

It was a short journey swaying in the dragon palanquin. Once we boarded, the wyverns slowly left the ground. Marlene seemed to enjoy takeoff the most, clinging to the window frame and happily gazing at the scenery outside.

Now then. The journey wasn’t that long. Playing cards would be nice, but first I had to take care of necessary tasks.

In short, equipment maintenance. In my case, that meant cleaning Ouroboros with Water Magic and then polishing it with a cloth.

Ouroboros closed its eyes and let me handle it. Perhaps it felt pleasant.

Furthermore, I took everyone’s magic tools and performed simple operational checks – there were surprisingly many small tasks.

After completing what needed to be done, we spent the journey playing games like Old Maid. Games that rely more on luck than skill are easy to relax with.

Time passed leisurely like that during our journey. Perhaps because Caduceus was freed from escort and guard duties, he took his cat form and was being held on Grace’s lap.

“I can see it now.”

Grace smiled while looking at the map. Our destination was a town nestled in the mountains, slightly off the main highway. But…

Sheila was the first to notice something unusual.

“Something’s… strange. Are people gathered at the gate? No, are they fighting?”

“…Lindwurm. Fly a bit faster for me.”

At my words, the dragon palanquin increased its speed.

As we approached, it gradually became clearer. The road leading to the town went through a forest, so visibility wasn’t great – but it appeared an armed group was surrounding the town entrance.

Were they… attacking the town? I could see them skirmishing with what appeared to be the magistrate’s soldiers and members of a self-defense force.

“Bandits. But attacking a town rather than travelers or merchant caravans…”

Judging by their numbers, it was quite a large-scale operation. Should I call them a mercenary group turned bandit?

…Living Dead and Skeletons were mixed in among them. It seemed there was a Necromancer among the enemy group.

“Crossbows! They’re aiming at us!”

Sheila shouted. In another direction. In a clearing within the forest, multiple ballistae had been set up and were taking aim at us.

…They’re thorough. Either they have ample funds for proper equipment, or they made them with Wood Magic.

At any rate, they seemed intent on shooting down even a dragon palanquin and not letting any witnesses escape alive. And by aiming those weapons at us, the possibility of this being some misunderstanding was eliminated.

Due to air pressure issues, dragon palanquins don’t typically fly that high. And they’re trained to fly along roads. If they brought out ballistae, we would definitely be within range. Or rather, they probably calculated the placement of the ballistae based on the position and distance from which the gate assault would be visible.

“No problem. Lindwurm. Continue as is–no, first we’ll crush the crossbows. Head toward where they’re set up.”

Responding to my command with a cry, the dragon palanquin changed direction. The crossbow marksman who had been smirking widened his eyes in surprise as we charged straight toward him instead of fleeing or appearing not to notice.

At this distance, there’s no way we could escape anyway. And by aiming at us, I was beginning to vaguely understand their purpose.

“Fire!”

A volley of arrows launched from the ballistae. I intercepted them–

“Futile.”

–with Earth Magic’s Solid Hammer. Rocks suddenly appeared, deflecting and scattering the giant arrows. I could see the marksman’s jaw drop. I wouldn’t let him fire the next shot.

While flying around overhead, I used Rock Press to drop chunks of rock, crushing the ballistae one by one. The ballista marksmen screaming and running around were being precisely shot in the legs by Irmhild, neutralizing their combat ability.

The bandits’ objective was probably to occupy the town. I reached this conclusion based on the town’s location. A small town, off the main highway.

It would be conveniently positioned as a base to seize the entire town and attack the highway from there.

In that case, they’d probably take the residents’ wives and children hostage, treating them as slaves or else killing them. They’d completely replace the townspeople and operate systematically with medium to long-term vision. That’s why–they had prepared even for the possibility of an unexpected dragon palanquin arrival.

“Good. Head toward the town.”

The dragon palanquin changed direction.

“What will you do?”

“Naturally, we’ll crush those attacking the town. Now that we have air superiority, we’ll dive down and assault them all at once. There seem to be archers too, so Lindwurm, land in the town.”

I cut my lip and kissed Grace’s ring.

The town entrance rapidly approached. I threw open the dragon palanquin’s door and jumped right out.

Diving straight into the midst of battle, I sent a nearby bandit flying with a headbutt from Capella the goat. I didn’t bother watching the outcome. It was a height where falling wouldn’t end well. From Ouroboros in my right hand, I released a Lightning Strike, while from my left sleeve, Nemea the lion leaped out and bit into another man’s leg. I then swung him around like a weapon.

“Gyaaah!?”

“M-magician! Watch ou–guoooh!”

Screams rose around us. Bandits within range became prey for Ouroboros and the Chimera Coat one after another.

“Y-you there”

“We’re reinforcements. These guys are bandits, right?”

I asked the wide-eyed town soldier, who nodded blankly but repeatedly.

“Don’t get cocky!”

A bandit attacked from behind. I didn’t bother turning around. Capella’s hind leg kicked up from behind, shattering the man’s jawbone with a powerful back kick. By then, I was already charging toward my next opponent. I entangled the sword he tried to match with Ouroboros, then thrust the opposite end of my staff into his now exposed solar plexus.

“You’re in the way.”

Grace’s opponents were mainly Skeletons. Even if dismembered, they could reassemble and return to the battle line, but when they’re

crushed

(

..

)

to pieces, even if similarly dismembered, the meaning is completely different.

With her super-heavy axe, she cleaved them head-on, or with casually swung fists, she shattered Skeletons from skull to pelvis as if scraping them away. It was such an extreme sight that no one seemed to be charging at Grace.

“Please stay calm. Regulate your breathing, relax your posture.”

“Y-you’re a healing magician? Th-thank you.”

Ashley seemed to have landed with Marlene, positioning themselves with their backs to the town entrance. After activating the Defense Field magic tool to form a defensive position, she began casting Healing Magic on the injured.

“It’s a healing magician!”

Those who had retreated due to injuries returned to the battle line one after another. Enemy archers quickly noticed this and shouted while firing arrows. But they never reached their target.

“Lavigne”

Lavigne positioned herself as if blocking in front of Ashley who continued treating, freezing the incoming arrows mid-air and making them fall. Lavigne’s ice walls and Marlene’s Saucers blocked the enemy arrows.

The marksmen were stunned by the incomprehensible sight, but they weren’t allowed to take further action. Sheila had silently slipped in and quickly cut them down from behind.

Living Dead–were perfect targets for Irmhild. Their movements were slow so they couldn’t react to arrows, and if hit, the Cursed Melody’s power would strip away the necromantic energy, causing them to collapse immediately. Seraphina perched on her shoulder was probably enhancing her abilities too.

“Damn! What are those guys! Where’d they come from!”

One bandit who had been focused on the battle apparently hadn’t noticed our dragon palanquin. He seemed to be panicking quite a bit.

“Calm down! Reform the battle line–“

Oh ho. Found what appears to be the leader.

I kicked off a shield with the goat’s hind leg and made a huge leap from the midst of the melee.

“Wha–“

I didn’t give him a chance to react. I momentarily flew left, maintaining my own posture, while Nemea who leaped out from my side kicked off the shield to close in. Simultaneously with approaching, I deployed a shield and delivered a shock attack the moment we made contact. A moment later, the leader dropped his weapon, clutching his stomach as he collapsed. Nemea and Capella grabbed his limbs and lifted him high. I thrust Ouroboros’ tip through a gap in his leather armor and pushed upward forcefully, causing him to moan in agony.

A weak Lightning Strike that wouldn’t kill him or make him lose consciousness pierced through the man’s body. A scream. We rose to a certain height, showing off our prey to the enemy as if boasting.

“W-what the hell is that!?”

“M-monsters!”

With my free hand, I scattered Fireballs toward the rearguard. The distance was far so they weren’t that powerful… but combined with the screaming leader and the Chimera Coat’s abnormal appearance, it seemed to have the intended effect. Namely, causing rout through fear.

Right then, Marlene’s Dullahan was summoned. Perfect timing.

“Eeek, eeeek!”

Finally, some couldn’t take it anymore and began fleeing for their lives. One, then two. The fear spread exponentially.

Now then. Time for pursuit.

We chased those who fled into the forest from above, thoroughly harassing them.

Even amidst the panic, there was someone trying to gather and organize the surrounding comrades.

Irmhild nocked a glowing arrow to her bow but–

“Leave him be.”

“What will you do?”

“We’ll let him escape for now. I already attached Caduceus to him.”

“Ah… I see.”

Irmhild gave a wry smile.

We’ll identify where they flee to and catch them all in one sweep. The Necromancer-like opponent didn’t seem to be among the bandits we fought either.

Well, we’re just giving them a little grace period. During that time, I want to check the town’s damage. They don’t seem to have penetrated deep into the town, but I’m concerned about whether Mihaela is safe.