Chapter 60

Five days had passed since the meeting, around noon.

"A large group of monsters is approaching the city," a knight reported.

"So, they've finally come."

Putting down the fork he was holding, the saintess murmured.

The setting was the dining room of the lord's mansion. We were just having a meal with everyone staying at the lord's mansion.

"…It seems so."

It had been a long time. During these five days, I had been killing time at the lord's mansion. I had already done everything I could beforehand, like requesting reinforcements from neighboring cities.

I couldn't leave the lord's mansion, which had become like a command center because we didn't know when the succubus would attack. I couldn't keep peeking at Elise's chest in front of everyone. Luluka had already gone to the capital to call for reinforcements.

All we could do was wait for the succubus to come, with nothing to do.

After that meeting, I had been petting Yuel's head out of boredom.

"Master, this time I will definitely protect you!"

I gently patted Yuel's enthusiastic head. …Yuel had been worried about me getting seriously injured in the church while she was sleeping. She was so worried that she started guarding me without getting any sleep at night. She blamed herself for not being able to do anything when I was in trouble.

So, I petted her.

Even when the saintess looked at me with a meaningful smile, I petted Yuel. Even when the button on Elise's chest popped off, I petted Yuel. Even when the lord proposed a marriage to Fran, I petted Yuel while politely declining.

Because of this, Yuel, who had been feeling down, seemed to be more positive about making up for her failure.

"Then, Mr. Shiki, let's hurry to the city walls."

"Sure."

The surroundings were bustling with activity due to the knight's report. Although we had scouts out, the succubus's army wouldn't reach the city immediately, but we didn't have much time to spare.

We hurried out of the lord's mansion and headed for the city walls.

…During this time, I had not only been petting Yuel but also had discussions about the battle against the succubus.

How to fight the succubus's army. The saintess, who had the deepest knowledge about the apostles of the evil god, had held several meetings.

The key to the battle was me. To maximize my healing magic, we would set up the command post on the city walls with a good view and position the knights right in front of the gate. That was the plan.

I had thought that if the knights and I were too far apart, my healing magic wouldn't work, but the saintess had a magic tool to cover that.

The knights would clash head-on with the monster army, and I would use the magic tool to heal them from the walls.

If the number of monsters the succubus brought was more than expected, we would immediately retreat the knights into the city and fortify the walls while waiting for reinforcements from the capital.

That was the strategy. We would solidify a defensive formation and the saintess would give orders as needed.

"By the way, what about that magic tool you mentioned that can cast spells from a distance?"

While moving, I asked the saintess. Healing magic usually only works if the caster is close. Casting healing magic from tens of meters away from the walls would be impossible under normal circumstances. A magic tool that could cast spells from a distance would be a highly sought-after item for many healers. I was a bit curious about what it was.

"I have it with me. However, it's quite conspicuous, so I'll give it to you after we finish moving…"

The saintess, with a smile, seemed to be making a big deal out of it. Well, if it broke during the move, the plan would fall apart, so it might be unavoidable.

—When we finally reached the top of the city walls with the saintess, Yuel, and the other guards.

Below us, a large number of monsters were approaching the plain in front of the city. Above the swarm of monsters, a single dark figure hovered. It was the succubus. The succubus seemed to be guiding the swarm of monsters from above, like a moth to a flame.

The distance was still considerable. At that speed, it would take some time for them to reach the city.

"That succubus seems to be pointing at us and laughing loudly," the saintess said, looking at the succubus through a telescope-like device. When I borrowed it to look, it indeed seemed that way. She had one hand on her hip, looking up and laughing foolishly.

It seemed she was confident of victory. After all, I had heard that the succubus had destroyed many cities in the past. She probably knew how much fighting power this city had and how much it would take to defeat it.

"About three thousand, I'd say. Kobolds, goblins, forest wolves… It looks like she just gathered whatever monsters were around. The number is less than expected, though."

Three thousand. At the meeting, they had said six thousand in four days. Three thousand in five days meant it was below half the expected number. Indeed, it was significantly less than expected.

"Maybe it took her longer to control the monsters because her revival wasn't complete."

"That could be."

According to what I heard at the lord's mansion, the number of knights that could be mobilized in this city was about five hundred. The enemy was roughly six times that number.

The outcome was uncertain, but at the very least, the knights would suffer significant damage if they clashed head-on. I could understand why the succubus was laughing. The knights couldn't be easily replenished, but the succubus could just bring more monsters from somewhere else. If this scale of attack happened two or three times, the city could fall.

The knights hadn't fully deployed yet because they had been waiting inside the city. It was understandable that the succubus might misread the situation.

"Wow, that's a lot…"

Elise, looking at the monster army, whispered anxiously. I had told her she didn't have to come, but she insisted on following me because she didn't want to wait. It seemed she had a resistance to waiting for my return. Well, the monsters probably wouldn't reach this command post, so it was fine.

"Don't worry, Elise. We can win with this number. …And reinforcements are here too."

Just as I was answering Elise,

"Three hundred knights of the Crusel Order are in position."

A report came to the saintess from a knight in armor that looked different from the city's knights. Then, more reports followed.

"Two hundred knights of the Arius Order are in position."

"Five hundred knights of the Lumiel Order are in position."

"Three hundred knights of the Latoa Order are in position."

More reports kept coming. It seemed the deployment of the knights was finally complete. Looking down at the city walls, a large number of knights were in formation.

Their number: five thousand.

—The call for reinforcements had been successful.

In fact, most of the troops from cities within a five-day travel distance had gathered here.

"Quite a sight. This is all thanks to Mr. Shiki's proposal."

The saintess smiled at me.

…The reason other city lords were hesitant to send reinforcements.

It was the risk of the knights being wiped out.

If the knights sent as reinforcements were wiped out, it would affect the future administration of their cities. Moreover, the succubus was an apostle of the evil god who had destroyed many cities in the past. It was a very reasonable choice for a city lord to abandon this city and fortify their own city, knowing that reinforcements from the capital would eventually arrive.

…But I knew something.

To people in power, especially city lords, my healing magic was something they desperately wanted.

"Revealing my true strength" alone would change the lords' decisions. Supporting me was worth the risk for local lords because of the value it brought.

—In this world, "disease" is taken very seriously.

I had many reasons to think so.

For example, the unusually high drop rate of Huge Slime Drops in the lower levels of the dungeon, and their high buyback price. It turned out they were materials for curing endemic diseases, bought by local lords from the guild.

For example, the old city district that was abandoned and left unoccupied. It was just that the area had poor sunlight and health risks, so it was left abandoned.

And the panic of the residents during the Crankheight Turtle incident. Many residents rushed to the clinic, and treatment couldn't proceed at all.

If a disease spread in a city in this world, where monsters are rampant, it would be a disaster. Even people who weren't sick couldn't easily escape the city. The disease would continue to spread within the city, leading to a major catastrophe. If treatment couldn't keep up, as in the Crankheight Turtle incident, fights would break out over medicine and healers. The worst-case scenario would be the collapse of the city's independent administration.

Any city lord would know this.

So, I proposed at the meeting, "If you send reinforcements, I will heal the entire city if a disease outbreak occurs." I intended to offer this deal to the other lords.

Under normal circumstances, such a proposal wouldn't be believed. A healer who could heal an entire city didn't exist. It would end there.

But now, it was different.

The Extreme Area Heal during the Crankheight Turtle incident. It was called a miracle of the gods and even contributed to the city's festival.

Everyone now knew that a real "miracle" had happened in this city. All it took was for the saintess, a respected figure of the church, to write a note saying that this city had a person who could perform "miracles."

"…I never thought it would come to this."

The Area Heal I did to comfort Yuel after breaking her bracelet. I never thought it would be the key to calling for reinforcements. With my Extreme Area Heal, the damage to the knights would be reduced, making it easier for other city lords to send reinforcements.

Well, more gathered than I expected.

Five thousand knights.

Three thousand monsters.

Numerically, we were already overwhelming. Even without my healing magic, the knights had a sure chance of winning. The knights were elite. With a numerical advantage, they wouldn't lose to a ragtag group of monsters gathered from around here.

Looking at the succubus, the succubus and her army, which had been advancing, had stopped.

She probably didn't expect this many reinforcements. According to the scriptures, the succubus in the past had only attacked cities when humans were fighting each other, taking advantage of the chaos. She might not have expected this many reinforcements to gather for one city.

"It looks like she's throwing a tantrum," the saintess said, looking at the succubus through her telescope. When I borrowed it to look, it indeed seemed that way. Her face was red, with tears in her eyes, and she was shouting something at us. Maybe something like "Calling for reinforcements is so unfair!"

But without my healing magic, even if the numbers were even, there would still be some damage. The succubus, realizing this, started advancing again. Well, our knights were a significant loss if they were defeated, but the succubus had just gathered random monsters. She might be thinking that even if she couldn't win, she could deal some damage and gather more monsters again.

From the look on the succubus's face, it seemed she was desperate. …It was probably related to what the saintess said at the meeting, that the succubus couldn't control monsters for long periods.

But this was a foolish strategy. The succubus couldn't inflict any damage on the knights.

…Until now, I had explored dungeons alone and fought strong enemies like the Armored Ogre and Baldas one-on-one. I had always been beaten to a pulp. I didn't die because I could heal my own injuries.

But my previous fighting style didn't fully utilize my healing magic. Direct combat wasn't the role of a healer. A healer's role was to support from the back.

Looking at the knights below.

A large army against a large army.

Moreover, our side was overwhelmingly stronger.

Support from the back.

In such a situation, my healing magic could truly shine.

"Mr. Shiki, please use this equipment."

As the succubus approached, the saintess handed me something.

"…Is this a staff?"

"Yes, it's a prestigious item passed down in the church. It not only allows you to cast spells from a distance but also enables more advanced magic."

It was a pretty impressive staff. It looked expensive with its lavish decorations, but more importantly, it had a dignified feel from being used for a long time. However, it didn't look worn out despite the many scratches, as if it had been meticulously maintained. It had an aura as if it had been brought from a museum.

…Let me appraise it.

Magic Tool

Properties: Increased Magic Power, Magic Amplification, Extended Range, Expanded Effect Area, Enhanced Magic Effect, Magic Absorption (User, Constant)

It had a lot of effects I had never seen before. I remember a ring that increased magic power alone cost about ten million zennies. How much would this staff cost?

"Is it okay for me to use something like this?"

"Yes, this staff requires a vast amount of magic power to handle. I would like you to use it, Mr. Shiki, as you are suitable for it."

The saintess smiled and said it was okay to use. Well, I had planned to use it from the start.

…But this staff seemed familiar somehow. I wasn't interested in staffs, so I shouldn't have seen one like this before.

Well, it doesn't matter.

I held the staff borrowed from the saintess and aimed it at the succubus's army.

"Master… Master is… amazing, amazing!"

Suddenly, Yuel, who was standing nearby, started praising me with a look of admiration. What was going on? I hadn't even cast my healing magic yet.

…This admiration from Yuel felt different from usual. Usually, she admired me because she was happy with my actions, but this time, her gaze felt distant. It was a mix of surprise and admiration, as if she had realized something incredible.

"…! So, that's what it is."

Elise also seemed to realize something from Yuel's reaction. She looked at me with a face of understanding.

But I didn't have time to think about it now. The knights and monsters were about to clash. I couldn't miss the timing to cast my healing magic.

…But just before the knights and monsters clashed, the succubus approached the distance where my attack spells could barely reach. Then, she shouted.

"You've gathered a considerable number, but the battle isn't over yet!"

Attack spells barely reached her. A dragon might be able to attack, but Luluka and the dragon hadn't returned yet. As a precaution, they had gone to the capital to call for reinforcements. They should be back today if they were just the two of them.

"Foolish humans who sealed the evil god! Watch and see how many corpses you will leave on this land!"

The confident succubus didn't explicitly say she would win, probably because she knew she couldn't.

Even if she retreated and gathered more monsters, it was probably due to the limitations of her ability to control desires. Just like she couldn't control the dragon, it wasn't a complete brainwashing. When a monster's hunger overpowered its lust, it would target food instead of the succubus. After a while, the monsters would probably start eating each other.

The saintess had also mentioned that if the control lasted too long, the monsters would escape the succubus's control.

Also, there were no flying monsters. It was probably because the succubus was using herself as bait to guide the monsters. If she tried to seduce flying monsters, she might be caught by them.

—As I was thinking about this, the knights, who were spread out in a wide formation, started to receive the monsters' attacks. The battle had begun. It was time to work.

I raised the staff and chanted a spell.

"Area Heal"

I felt the gathered magic power being amplified. The staff was drawing out more power than I could normally use. When the spell activated, the light enveloped all the knights in one go.

The knights maintained their formation, stepping over the fallen monsters and advancing. As soon as their spears thrust out, many monsters fell to the ground. However, no knight corpses appeared no matter how many times the monsters attacked. The knights were working together, covering each other, and steadily reducing the number of monsters. I cast healing magic again, and I could see the injured knights returning to the front lines from a distance.

"This staff is amazing."

I realized it as I used it. …This staff was incredible.

It wasn't just about casting spells from a distance. I could accurately specify the range of the Extreme Area Heal as I wished. The maximum range of the Area Heal itself had also expanded. Moreover, the light of the healing magic, which was just a Heal, shone as brightly as a High Heal. The effect was probably proportional. Even though the staff was absorbing magic power, it was negligible for me.

"Yes, it's one of the highest-class magic tools the church possesses."

While listening to the saintess, I kept casting healing magic.

This was already a sure victory. The monsters the succubus brought were all weak. Most were low-level monsters that could be defeated with one strike from the knights. This was probably due to the incomplete revival of the succubus. The number of monsters was decreasing rapidly in a short time. Even when the occasional knight was injured by a monster's attack, they returned to the front lines within seconds. As expected, we had a decisive advantage.

Looking over, the succubus was staring at the battlefield with a stunned expression. The pile of monster corpses was growing, but there were no knight corpses yet.

…The succubus didn't know about my existence. That was the biggest reason for her defeat.

I raised the staff and cast healing magic again, aiming at the fighting knights.

The next update will be in about three days.