Chapter 506 – Sea City Grantios

“Thank you. Now I can fight again.”

“I’ve closed your wounds with healing magic, but please don’t push yourself too hard.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

The wounded soldiers received Ashley’s healing magic on the deck of the Sirius, bowed once, and then flew back out into battle.

Ashley watched their retreating backs with a somewhat complicated expression. She must have had mixed feelings about those she healed returning to the battlefield. Even after I fought the high-ranking demon, Ashley had been worried about me.

“Ashley, are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine.”

When I called out to her, Ashley placed a hand over her chest and returned a happy smile. When I smiled back, she nodded and returned to treating the injured. Marlene ran over to Ashley looking slightly worried… and the two exchanged smiles.

Hmm… I should do my own work. I’ll place seals on those who surrendered. While it’s a package deal that includes binding them, perhaps because their spirits are broken, the sealing technique works normally even if they’re conscious. In other words, those who resist still require caution.

After the battle has calmed down, what needs to be done is checking the damage situation while treating the injured, placing seals on those who surrendered or were subdued, binding them, and handing them over to the soldiers waiting in the rear. However, on the other hand, we don’t want to give the enemy time to devise countermeasures.

That’s why we had Old Sigmund and the others construct a barrier on the deck, where we’re confining the prisoners and processing them in order. The Sirius follows from behind the pursuit force while simultaneously advancing with treatment, sealing, and binding.

Perhaps because the barrier is guarded by Corulis clad in crystal armor and Alpha flying around at high speed as light bullets, the prisoners are behaving quietly.

“Uwooh!”

“Damn it!”

I can hear the angry shouts of the Sea King’s familiars being pursued ahead. I’m also checking the situation there with Caduceus, and the pursuit battle is proceeding smoothly.

But we mustn’t let our guard down. While pursuit presents an opportunity to deal a major blow to the enemy, the opposing side also deploys ambushes and sets traps as countermeasures to reduce damage, so caution is necessary.

Since we’re in an advantageous position as the pursuers, if we become too greedy for more, we might fall for strategies we normally wouldn’t, or misjudge the right moment to withdraw.

We don’t know how much military strength remains in the City of the Sea, but at the very least, the Sea King is still waiting. His close aides might also be there. If we approach Grantios too carelessly, we might face interception before we can prepare our formation.

So… while continuing aerial surveillance with Balor, I’ll relay the detailed movements of those fleeing and any rearguard actions to the commanders in real time, determining the line where we can attack without taking significant damage.

“Listen well. We’ve already achieved a great victory in the initial battle. Be careful not to advance too far, and don’t misjudge when to withdraw!”

“Hai!”

I could see through the Five Senses Link the commander with Caduceus conveying this to the soldiers.

Both morale and calmness seem fine. They also have sufficient caution regarding the enemy’s high physical abilities. If I notice anything, I’ll inform them promptly through Balor and Caduceus.

“Grace, are you okay? With the smell of blood and all.”

Since we’re in a battlefield, I’ve kept the cursed tool in its released form… but what about Grace? Being in the water, she might be affected by the blood somehow. When I asked, Grace nodded quietly.

“There’s no problem. Since Her Majesty Eldorene and Lady Rovisa are nearby, the smell of blood seems to be diluted.”

I see. Water purification. I wondered how an underwater battlefield would be for Grace, but if it helps reduce her bloodsucking impulses, that’s what matters most.

Grace smiled faintly, her red eyes giving a slightly more bewitching impression than usual, likely due to the effects of having the seal released.

“You… you bastard…!”

While this was happening, newly captured familiars were being brought in. They’re no longer in fighting condition, but their spirits aren’t broken, I suppose.

He was shouting various things, but when thrown into the barrier, he let slip something concerning.

“If only His Majesty the Sea King could move freely, scum like you would…!”

“…Hmm?”

When I reacted, he made an expression as if he’d said too much.

“The seal placed by the previous queen… seems to be more than just the lid on the oceanic trench. I gather that even though the outer barrier has been removed, the personal seal on Waldom is still active?”

When I lightly probed, he bared his teeth with a grinding sound and glared at me.

But… perhaps having realized his slip of the tongue and becoming defiant, he continued to radiate anger while laughing brokenly, then said:

“Don’t get cocky! Soon…! Yes, soon…! His Majesty the Sea King will be free any moment now! When that happens, scum like you…!”

Was that trust in Waldom, or just bravado? Even after that battle, he could still say that, so Waldom must possess that much power.

As for the maintenance of Waldom’s seal… it’s a delicate line between truth and falsehood. It’s possible that communications to these guys are just delayed and he’s already free, or it could just be sour grapes. Or perhaps there’s some other intention.

Once the situation calms down a bit more, I’ll consult with everyone.

“What should we do, I wonder. Whether we can rush in and deal with it before the seal breaks. It’s unclear how much time ‘soon’ actually gives us.”

When I told everyone on the bridge about what happened earlier, Claudia frowned.

“Indeed… It’s a difficult situation. If we change plans based on uncertain information and force a breakthrough, the damage might be significant.”

Rosemary also seems to support the cautious approach.

Well, the enemy was the one who brought it up themselves. This is somewhat different from our usual information gathering, and we don’t have the time or personnel for a magical inquisition.

“It might be a desperate measure where they have some preparation and are trying to lure us deep into their territory by making us anxious.”

When the Grand Duke said this, Prince Helfried opened his eyes wide with an impressed expression.

I see. There’s also the possibility that he was quick-witted and aiming to lead us into a trap on the spot.

“I agree as well. While the situation we understood might improve, I don’t think it will worsen.”

Queen Eldorene also believes we should proceed cautiously.

Indeed. Considering that we originally planned to engage Waldom in battle anyway, while we should act quickly within our anticipated range, we shouldn’t abandon caution.

If the seal is still maintained, we should consider ourselves fortunate and simply apply multiple seals. If not, we proceed as planned. But we’ll also keep in mind that he let it slip unintentionally. That should be fine for now.

Even if he’s still sealed, it’s a fact that they’re managing the situation by releasing the petrification of the familiars and taking various actions. We can’t let our guard down.

“Theodore. It’s coming into view.”

Sheila pointed at the monitor she had been peering into.

While we were taking time to discuss – it seems the City of the Sea has approached. There’s still enough distance that we need to zoom in with the monitor to confirm it though…

“It’s terrible…”

Rovisa frowned at the sight.

The City of the Sea, Grantios. Even larger in scale than Aianos.

A city constructed from white building materials. But like after an earthquake, pillars and buildings have collapsed everywhere, and a large fissure runs through the city center. The roads and houses around the fissure have crumbled into the dark abyss.

…The oceanic rift. The pitch-black evil energy leaking from it has spread throughout the entire city, coiling like a serpent. Particularly around the towering royal castle – as if symbolizing the resentment of those who were sealed – the evil energy clings like a living creature.

If only there were no traces of destruction… and if that evil energy weren’t there. It’s not hard to imagine that this was originally a magnificent city with a beautiful castle…

“So this is… that Grantios. This is…”

For us, it’s the first time seeing this city. But not for Queen Eldorene. She closed her eyes, shaking her head painfully. But she immediately straightened up and turned back to the monitor in front as if steeling herself.

Queen Eldorene and the Water Guardians also have the great task of purifying this city. But first, to do that, we must crush the remaining Waldom faction and eliminate the threat.

By annihilating the forces gathered on the plain, we should have eliminated the majority of their military strength. We’ll shatter the royal castle’s defenses with great magic and break through… but if any military threats remain, first would be Waldom. Then, possibly his close aides. The battle will likely shift from army versus army to elite combat. I too… will steel myself and face the assault on the City of the Sea.