Chapter 249

◇◆◇ (Four Girls Point of View)

Highland Zephyr took control of 88 main gate from the inside.

They were in the process of working to destroy the metal gate, the Fort’s lifeline, and now buying time to do so.

The assault force that served as reinforcements consists of a lone brigade. They are hiding at some distance from the Fort’s outer wall, where they are now holding their defenses. The plan is to destroy the gate and welcome them into the 88. If it works then, an even larger force will be ready to follow.

Ferris and the other three girls had left Gevaudan and joined Highland Zephyr after being attacked by Despot.

“Highland Zephyr sure has a lot of Nocturnes.”

Ferris speak to the guy who was swinging, moving around the gate.

Then he swooped down soundlessly and stood in front of her.

“–Do you perhaps think I’m a mummy?”

“Eh? you’re not?”

To Ferris, it looks like he is.

His body was wrapped in bandages. Even his face and both eyes were covered by it. Only his hair was sticking out.

Remarkably, the man can extend his bandages at will. He used the bandages to lift himself up and thus was able to operate in high places. He could also manipulate the bandages as if they were his hands and feet, almost look like white tentacles.

He had magic stones dangling here and there all over his body from the gaps in his bandages, which made Ferris think of a mummy idol decorated for a ceremony.

Anyway, he was a man covered in bandages. His name was Tarshepite.

“Ha ha ha! I’m not~~, I was told that a lot!”

The man scratched the back of his head and laughed merrily.

“Haha…….”

Ferris is puzzled by the unexpectedly friendly response.

“I’m not Nocturnes Ferris-chan. Zephyr’s Nocturnes are Yufan, Nodens, and Freesia. Me, Chario, and Papameyan are mortals with limited life span. Just half and half, I guess. Well, I’m not quite convinced that Papameyan-sama is really a mortal. There are some political things going on too.”

Then Lydia joined the conversation, hugging Ferris from behind.

“So you are a Mortal Tarshepite-san? Now I’ m curious about your real face under that bandage!”

He seemed nonplussed and said, “Huh, the face underneath? Actually…….” putting his fingers under his chin, he said, “I’m actually very handsome.” There’s a sparkling where his eyes should have been.

“I wrap my face in a bandage because I don’t like the way women always hit on me when I’m walking around. Ah, what a sinful man I am. I can’t believe that I have already make two young girls fall in love with me at first sight. Forgive me, I may look like this but I’m a virtuous man. Please wait another five years and perhaps we can enjoy some tea together.”

“Uh…… o-oh…….”

When they were at a loss for words, he folded his arms, nodded, and continued.

“Even the beautiful Valkyrie overthere had a passionate time with me on a snowy night.”

A flying stone hits the mummy right in the head.

“Lying through your teeth.”

“Haha, sorry, sorry. Noble Valkyrie-sama ……. but, what a strong door…… how cowardly you are subhuman……. How many magic stones do I need to spend to……*mumble mumble mumble*

With complaints, Tarshepite went back to destroying again. Making full use of the bandages that move freely, he arranges the magic stones in a pattern and places them on the gate.

“I hope you’re all right. Arshella.”

Tiriel said in daze, looking up at Tarshepite’s work.

“I’m a bit worried as well.”

Ferris agreed, looking concerned.

“She said she’s fine! She was fine when I talked to her earlier. She’s as strong as an adult when she gets serious! It’s just that Gevaudan’s penis was too rough for her that day!”

“When you say she’s beaten by a penis, I’m worried about her even more…….”

“That’s true…….”

As the three girls stood there talking, a cold mist suddenly brushed past their feet.

The mist took the form of a human figure before everyone’s eyes, Nodens slowly stood up from it.

He was holding a boy under his arm.

“Freesia’s down.”

Nodens said bitterly upon his return.

“What?”

Papameyan, who was sitting nearby, stood up.

“This fortress is not a simple place. Papameyan, destroy the gate and call in the main raiding team quickly. What about Yufan?”

“I already sent Yufan back, but Freesia? Hmmm…….”

Chario asked on behalf of Papameyan, who remained silent and lost in thought.

“Is that boy Yakumo?”

.

“Yes, apparently.”

Nordens lowered Yakumo to the ground.

Highland Zephyr’s mission this time was to retrieve Yakumo and destroy the gate. Also, get rid of the Butcher if possible to reduce Titania’s card, but that is not a priority. The control of 88 itself was to be carried out by the main raiding force waiting outside and the main army waiting further back.

In exchange for their contribution to this operation, they would drop their part in defeating Butcher and Titania. This was the deal that Dantalion offered.

The proposers, Ferris and Arshella, were satisfied with that. Lydia is fine as long as Gevaudan and Abigail are safe. And Tiriel stood alone, stare at Yakumo, looking somewhat guilty.

“Is this little boy really can destroy the whole subhuman race?” he says with a raised eyebrow.

Papameyan looked into Yakumo’s face.

Even when he was brought up close his face, Yakumo’s expression didn’t change at all as he held the spider with the diamond mark on his chest

“Kak-ka. Not bad, you got a good…………huh?”

Papameyan stopped moving and listened carefully, as if he had noticed something.

Tarshepite also stopped working and looked up at the sky.

“What is this?”

Following his lead, they all looked up at the night sky.

It was a strange sight.

The entire area of the fort was enveloped by an eerie, writhing dome of flesh.

“– Ah! Ahhh…… is this, may be it’s that……?”

Tiriel is the only one among them who seems to have noticed something. She lets out a faint whimper from the back of her throat and her face tightens.

“Genius Rumano girl, do you know what this is?”

“Uh, maybe…it’s Gevaudan’s skill…………..”

“Skill?”

Once again, Papameyan looks up at the dome of flesh. It was a skill he had never remembered encountered, not even with his long-live span.

“It was shown to me once before when Gevaudan and Arshella making out. I can give you more details…….”

“Hoho? I don’t know about that, but is it really dangerous?”

“Yes. I think it’s very dangerous. We should run away while we still can.”

Tiriel declared firmly.

“Mmm…… Tarshepite. We must destroy the gate now.”

“I know. I know! –Aaaaah! Why do subhumans have such high level of building skill…… Maybe I have to destroy the whole wall…… *mumble*……”

“Papameyan-sama, something is coming.”

Chario said, taking up her spear and looking across the road that led from the main gate to the city.

“What are they doing?”

A strange monster was seen running into Faymbaum’s defensive line, which had been built some distance from here. The elite troops defending there began to move to the right and left, fighting back.

The created by Gevaudan were spilling out of the main battlefield near the center and reaching here.

“Wow……. it’s even more worst than the one I saw…….”

Tiriel is horrified, clutching the cabontia to her chest.

“–Tch…… no, we won’t make it in time. We’re trapped.”

Seeing the wall of flesh covered the main gate and beyond, Tarshepite banged on the gate and clicked his tongue.

“I don’t know what it is, but it looks like it’s not just a wall of flesh.”

“Can you break it?”

Papameyan asked, and Tarshepite pounded the thick metal wall with his fist and replied, “It looks even tougher than this gate.”

“Hey! That thing is heading here!!”

Lydia pointed and shouted at Glioma’s dash. The defensive line was already broken.

Then, a horrifying scream roared out of nowhere.

“What now? –What’s that strange voice?”

“Is this place a haunted house or something?”

Tarshepite said and went back to work.

“I think I just got a bit of goosebump…….”

Lydia rubbed both of her arms.

“Mmm…… it is no use. I will go and help them. Chario, continue to defend this place. Nodens, come with me. In the meantime, tell me about Freesia’s situation.”

“Understood.”

Papameyan accompanied by the vampire Nodens, set out to intercept the glioma and reinforce the defense line.