> Kelly PoV

“Red, you’re sure you want to go through with this? I say sod the Court Nutjob and get your family out of here!” (Kelly)

“Believe me. I want to do that as much as you do. But this smells like trouble. Runetap-type of trouble. Think kabout it - if that bird can control [Sages], she can control anyone. The Guild and the Kingdom are both within that guy’s grasp, yet he chose to go after us!” (Kira)

“Aye, it doesn’t make much sense if you put it like that.” (Kelly)

If anyone can defend themselves against that voice, it’d be a mage. So why try to attack a room full of them?

“Also that little performance with ‘introducing’ ourselves. It bothers me. I think that guy was looking for something in us.” (Kira)

“I disagree. I think it was a trick to boost the bird’s magic. What was actually said made no difference.” (Kelly)

“Huh? What do you mean?” (Kira)

“Think about it, it’s a magic song. Being the last to speak, you all were paying undivided attention to her. When the song started, you got hit with your guards down. That’s why the pain was instantaneous. Normally it takes about a minute for it to get to that state, even longer in a battlefield full of chaos.” (Kelly)

“... you sure know an awful lot about her race.” (Kira)

“Let’s just say I’ve had to hunt down more than one of them in the past.” (Kelly)

“I see… Still, our main problem is the same - we lack information. We have no idea what their plan is.” (Kira)

“And yet you still want me to charge straight into five crazy mages?” (Kelly)

“Pretty much.” (Kira)

“I better be getting hazard pay for this...” (Kelly)

“Nano, is the eye golem still safe?” (Kira)

Geh! Completely ignored! I was being serious you know?

{It is, I don’t think they can notice it if I observe them from far away.}

Nano sure is handy at times like this. His floating eye ball’s been keeping tabs on those five for a while. I thought they’d head right for the castle or something, but it seems after wrecking the guild they’ve just gone outside the city with flight magic.

This is definitely not a coup, at least not yet. Problem is that Nutjob probably told the guards to arrest us on sight. We probably got blamed for the damage to the guild HQ building, too.

Right now we’re moving through some back alleys and abandoned buildings. Red says she knows a few quiet ways out of the capital, so I’m following her lead. I just hope it doesn’t end with the-

“Here’s the sewer entrance!” (Kira)

-sewer.

“It’s an older partially collapsed tunnel. We can follow it to outside the walls.” (Kira)

“Brilliant. Now I have to worry about cave-ins on top of all that stink.” (Kelly)

“Just be quiet and get in the hole!” (Kira)

* * *

Bah, I’ll never get the stink out of Scrappy’s boots and leggings. Maybe I should just make new ones? Ah, but I don’t have that much Orichalcum left over. I should talk to Red again about getting a supplier on behalf of [Black Flame].

{How are things going on your end?}

“Almost out of the sewer, we should come out of it in a minute or so.” (Kira)

{There’s been a development, the mages have stopped 5 kilometers north-east of where you are. There appears to be some sort of shrine or altar next to a huge stone statue.}

“Oh no, please don’t tell me the statue is one of a dragon.” (Kira)

{It is. You know about it?}

“Yes, sadly. Legend goes that statue’s actually a sealed Elder Dragon. And knowing my luck, that legend must be true.” (Kira)

“What? Don’t tell me they want to break it out?!” (Kelly)

Red looked back at me with an annoyed expression that seemed to say ‘what else would they be doing?’

“Probably. That Rutland fellow must have found a way to unseal it.” (Kira)

This is no joke. An Elder Dragon is a living calamity that wrecks cities for the fun of it. What does that madman hope to accomplish by unleashing it upon the world? Probably something idiotic like trying to control it.

“Oh, that tunnel’s the way out, but... This grate wasn’t here befo-” (Kira)

*CRUNCH* *GROAN* *SMASH*

“What grate?” (Kelly)

“Nevermind.” (Kira)

As if a measly iron grate can stand up to Scrappy’s lockpicking ability. We enter the newly opened tunnel.

“Once we get outside we’ll be charging in to stop whatever it is they’re trying to do.” (Kira)

“So we’re still charging in after all? Well, I’ve been raring to punch someone lately.” (Kelly)

Red forbade me from drinking during our stay here. My fists are getting awfully itchy as a result. Let’s think of this as an opportunity!

{Kira, Kelly, I think you want to hurry. They’ve started some sort of ritual. All the [Sages] are surrounding the stone altar.}

“Please tell me it’s not some sort of sacrificial rite….” (Kira)

{Well they’re strapping down the white-haired one on top of it.}

“Why is it always a sacrifice! Can’t these ancient evil entities be appeased with cupcakes for once!” (Kira)

{Looks like the Court Wizard is performing some rite so you should have some time.}

Finally! I can see the exit up ahead! I dash through the grate on that end and raise my hands toward the sky!

“Fresh aaaair!” (Kelly)

We’re out of that damned sewer! As expected though, the stink isn’t going away just yet. Still, at least there’s progress. Sort of.

“Kelly, snap out of it! We’re going, follow me.” (Kira)

Ah, I got distracted by something stupid. Red’s already invoked flying magic without my noticing it and drifts off above the treeline. I start running after her, gradually gaining speed with Scrappy’s assistance.

Since my legs are short, I’m not exactly running. It’s closer to taking big leaps with each step. And each step digs out a rather impressive chunk of soil.

The speed is good once it gets going, it can outrun a horse! The only problem is you can’t turn mid-air like this. And we’re running through a forest. Which are traditionally full of trees.

*CRASH*

Oh it’s not a problem for me, but this small forest is going to have a dwarf-sized highway ploughed through it. When I slam into these trees at full speed I break them in half like twigs. Thankfully there’s no exceptionally thick tree trunks in a young forest like this.

I’m having some trouble keeping my eye on Red. She’s above the canopy while I’m below it, but we’re moving in a straight line so it should be okay.

{“Kira, I see the Grandmaster, he’s on his way back.”} (Ellie)

Ellie’s voice came in through the ear-cuffs. She took the kids outside the city by climbing over the wall and escaping through a gap in the guards’ patrol. They should be hiding out somewhere.

*CRASH*

{“Contact him with [Star Magic] and get his assistance, but don’t reveal yourself.”} (Kira)

“Is he going to be alright with a voice suddenly springing into his head?” (Kelly)

{“Of course. If anyone can suddenly work past something like that, it’s the Grandmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild!”} (Kira)

That’s not really the source of pride you think it is!

*CRASH*

{You’ll arrive in about a minute at your current speed. Do you have any plans for your approach?}

“Nano’s got a point. Scrappy isn’t exactly the stealthiest, they’ll hear us coming from afar.” (Kelly)

Allowing a mage to prepare in advance is pure folly. Surprise attacks work best but-

{“First we’ll distract them with a [Catapult]. Then, Kelly is in position she has to suppress the bird right away. I’ll be supporting from behind unless the situation changes.”} (Kira)

Cold sweat immediately forms in my palms and on my back.

“Is it too late to renegotiate my contract?” (Kelly)

I should have known that girl would come up with a crazy stunt like this. Why did I even agree to train that ridiculous-

{“Kelly, I’ll make sure to get you that Orichalcum supplier.”} (Kira)

“Alright! *CRASH* Leave it to me!” (Kelly)

Huhuhuhu, like this I can actually afford that chunk of Azuremite and Mirelian Pearls I saw in the capital!

{You want to use the high or the low road?}

I still need to experiment, but they should suffice for the new weapon we’ve been working on with Nano.

{“High road.”} (Kira)

I’d also like to get my hands on some Mountain Sapphires as a back-up, they should prove useful in case-

> Court Wizard Thorne Rutland PoV

“-and accept this meagre sacrifice! ------ [Offering]” (Rutland)

Tendrils of shadow spring out around the [Green Sage] on the altar! This time! This time will work! It has to work!

*POP*

They disappear like a joke the instant they touch the sacrifice.

“Bah! Another failure! Useless!” (Rutland)

Why?! Why isn’t it working! The altar is definitely the Point of Power we’re looking for and I performed the ritual just like the ancient text describes!

Must be a problem with the sacrifice. All three of these [Sages] proved useless. The text said the sacrifice has to be strong in mana, but they aren’t enough!

“Master, please calm down!” (Stupid Bird)

*SLAP*

“Don’t presume to give me instruction! Know your place!” (Rutland)

“I am sorry Master! Please, don’t punish me again!” (Stupid Bird)

This one is useless too. So many months wasted breaking her and she couldn’t even subdue that red witch! If I had that upstart, surely it would be enough! Everyone I asked said she’s clearly abnormal, so her escaping the song was not completely unexpected.

That bitch has been a thorn in my side for too long! First she took down my man Gix in Runetap, then she destroys the castle that had the perfect ritual spot in the catacombs. She even managed to get that [Black Sage] expelled from the Guild!

That boy is incompetent, but his stupidity makes him easy to manipulate. I just had to guarantee his [Sage] status and he would follow any order. Even now he’s still in my palm. He should have caught that witch’s brats by now, so we can use them as leverage and ensnare her.

At least that red bitch was still of use. She had unknowingly delivered the Ring of Dominion to my hand instead of burying it with the castle! The control may be limited to only one person, but it’s absolute. It was a good decision to enslave that stupid bird. She cannot raise a hand against me! Even that annoying song just washed over me like nothing!

“Master! There’s-” (Stupid Bird)

*SLAP*

“Be quiet I said!” (Rutland)

Maybe I should just kill her now? No, I should wait until my real target appears, then I can just order her to slit her own throat.

“Hey Nutjob!” (Distorted Voice)

What’s this? Where’s that voice coming from?

“Master, above!” (Stupid Bird)

I look up and see a shadow in the air.

“Incoming!” (Distorted Voice)

*BOOOOOM*

Gah! Whatever it was, it landed nearby with a massive sound and a cloud of dust! Are they insane! Nobody would survive that sort of-

“Blast it Nano! You said this wouldn’t happen!” (Distorted Voice)

A dark red mass of metal covered in soil steps out of the dust cloud. It’s… a dwarf?

“Right, nevermind. Alright you lot. Kiss your asses goodbye!” (Dwarf)

It points a mace towards our direction, then starts charging at us. So it intends to fight, what folly!

Have your thralls repel our intruder! (Rutland)

I send an order through the Ring of Dominion.

“Repel the intruder!” (Stupid Bird)

“--- [Thunder]” (Green Sage)

“----- [High Fireball]” (White Sage)

“----- [Create Rock Golem]” (Brown Sage)

Thunder to stun the metal-clad target, fire to cook it inside the armor and a golem to crush whatever’s left into a pulp.

Truly a magnificent combination! Even with their true selves suppressed the years of experience shine through!

Except the thunder disappeared when it hit the armor instead of electrocuting it. It was absorbed and channeled harmlessly into the ground. I see, the red tint must come from an Orichalcum alloy.

The [High Fireball] hits it head on, releasing a large burst of flame! Even if Orichalcum can resist magic, the heat should still boil anyone inside! Except it keeps charging forward as if the red-hot fire was a gentle breeze!

No good, this opponent is tougher than I expected.

Trap him and start singing! (Rutland)

The stupid bird relays my orders while the newly formed rock golem becomes a newly formed pile of rubble.

“---- [Fissure]” (Brown Sage)

“Haaa aaaaah! Aaah hahaaaa aaah!” (Stupid Bird)

The earth splits open and swallows the charging dwarf. That screeching song should take a while for it to take effect, so let’s help out as a special service!

“------ [Gravity Well]” (Rutland)

I increase the weight of everything around the fissure fivefold! That heavy armor will be his undoing! If he somehow survives, he can become a pawn like the rest!

Hmm? This flow of mana… someone is preparing to [Blink]! I turn around towards the stupid bird!

*POM*

The red bitch! She appeared in a flash of light and magical smoke! She’s right behind the bird!

“Why you-” (Rutland)

She grabs the stupid bird’s head from behind with a black gauntlet!

“----- [High-” (Rutland)

“--- [Shock]” (Red Sage)

“AAAARGH!” (Stupid Bird)

“- Beam]” (Rutland)

She was faster! She paralyzed the bird with a point-blank thunder spell and ducked under my attack! How come she’s so nimble even though she’s a spellslinger!?

This is bad, now she can’t command the thralls and that armored dwarf is a lost cause! I need to close the fissure and trap him in a tomb! Lucky the [Gravity Well] should be keeping him in place!

"Eat it, gramps!" (Dwarf)

“UGH!” (White Sage)

I take it back. By the time I look to the hole he’s already climbed out and hit one of the mages with something, taking them out!

“-- [Firebolt]” (Red Sage)

“GAaaah!” (Rutland)

My staff bursts in a puff of smoke and fire!

“Oof!” (Rutland)

I feel a kick from behind and fall flat on my face.

“--- [Earth Bind]” (Red Sage)

She… she got me. I can’t break these stone shackles without a backup focusing tool. All I can do is move my head around and stare daggers at her!

“Red! All clear!” (Dwarf)

As expected, the others are all down. They're completely useless without orders anyway.

“Good, looks like we managed to stop him from releasing the dragon!” (Red Sage)

That triumphant pose is pissing me off! Does she have any idea-

“... Dragon? What dragon?” (Rutland)

“... What?” (Red Sage)

“Huh?” (Rutland)