Lunar Eclipse (4)
"This time, I plan to move separately from you two."
"Separately...? You mean you'll move alone?"
"Yes. More precisely, each of us will take a different role."
The boy pointed at the dirt floor.
A rough map of the village had been sketched there with a finger.
"First... this path here, directly opposite the Cathedral. I want you two to cause a disturbance there."
"A disturbance? D-do you mean we should draw attention on purpose...?"
"Exactly. Pull the attention of as many ghouls and vampires as possible."
"I'll move on the Cathedral side."
The field boss of this stage, Jersian.
He was still too much for the three of them to handle.
After all, he was a mid-boss who appeared late in the original story.
If you ranked him, he was A+.
He was stronger than most Grandia staff members.
That was why Viktor had no choice but to be cautious.
'Even if I gather every bug I can, this is still cutting it close...'
He needed time.
Until he could seize a future where victory was certain.
And only those two could buy him that time.
"Exactly one hour."
"......"
"If you two can hold out for just one hour, I'll handle everything else."
A simple, straightforward plan.
The explanation was thin, but the two girls did not mind.
Even if it sounded absurd, they believed he would succeed in the end.
Viktor was that kind of person.
"Then... shall we go?"
The night would not wait for them.
With no room to hesitate, the three immediately moved into action.
Exactly 30 minutes later.
A square directly opposite the Cathedral.
Alice and Carmilla appeared there.
"W-we're here..."
"Yeah."
One wore a black mask, the other a red one.
They deliberately let their presence leak out.
-Grrrr...
-Kiiiiiik!
-Bark, bark!
As if in response, ghouls prowled around them.
Alice wore a black crown, and Carmilla had blood tendrils spread through Blood Manipulation.
"I'll start. Support me."
"Yes! I-I understand...!"
Shhhhk-!
A storm of blood shot out in all directions.
Blood Manipulation, unfurled like spikes, slaughtered the charging pack of ghouls.
Right after that, a black-red mist rolled out, and Card Soldiers burst into view in a flurry.
"Defensive line! Use this square as our base, stall for t-time...!"
Tak tak tak tak-!
Following The Queen's order, cards sliced across the square.
The soldiers' weapons cut down ghouls one after another.
Thud! Boom, slash-!
"Move flashier! Draw more eyes!"
"Yes! I'll pull in e-even more ghouls...!"
Rumble, slash! Pshhk-!
The flow of battle seemed stable.
But sudden changes always struck without warning.
Carmilla was unfolding Blood Manipulation again.
"Good. Keep it like this..."
KWAANG-!
A blood-red spear came flying in and slammed down without warning.
Carmilla instinctively spread blood and barely blocked the strike.
"...!"
If she had been even a little slower, her neck would have been cut clean off.
The aftershock peeled her mask halfway away.
Carmilla's eyes widened.
"This is...!"
Just taking one exchange made her entire arm throb.
This was Blood Manipulation on a completely different level from what the rabble used.
A chill ran down Carmilla's spine.
There was no mistake.
This was the power of a pureblood.
'A pureblood? Why is a pureblood in a place like this...!'
Shaken, Carmilla watched every direction.
She had no time to fix her crooked mask.
If the opponent was a pureblood, and an adult at that, she could be killed with a single gesture.
As she pushed her senses to the limit, a strangely familiar voice reached her ear.
"Well, look who this is."
"......"
That voice made her mind go blank.
Without even finishing her breath, her red eyes turned behind her.
Their gazes met.
"Princess."
Red eyes.
A man with an elegant mustache stood there.
His clothes were neat, and he gave off a strong noble air.
"I heard you survived the assassins, but to think we'd meet in a place like this."
Click, click.
Even that distinct heel sound stirred old memories.
But both his hands were wet with blood, and ghouls stood beside him.
Carmilla muttered blankly.
"...Jersian."
"Have you been well?"
Jersian.
The uncle who had often looked after her since childhood.
One of the aides her father had cherished most.
Someone Carmilla had also followed closely.
The middle-aged man stared at the girl with cruel eyes.
-Carmilla.
The girl's body froze.
***
Elsewhere.
Viktor had infiltrated the Cathedral.
'They've probably met by now.'
Viktor glanced toward where Alice and Carmilla were.
By now, those two would have run into Jersian.
'To keep the plan from falling apart, Jersian would move in person to deal with the intruders.'
For Carmilla, he was a bitter enemy.
An object of revenge, and a trial she had to face someday.
If that was the case, it was better to face him in a situation Viktor could control.
"Hoo... time for me to start on this side too."
Viktor walked down the long corridor.
Since he was moving alone, he had been able to infiltrate without being noticed.
Ting-!
[A Very Discreet Necktie]
-Category: Accessory
-Grade: B
-Status: Clean
-Description: A necktie once treasured like a priceless relic by a legendary petty thief. Can be worn at all times. When equipped, the skill 'Secretly, Greatly' becomes available. This skill has a 72-hour cooldown.
[Skill Name: Secretly, Greatly]
-While the skill is active, the user's presence vanishes entirely.
-The effect lasts for 1 hour, and the concealed presence cannot be read by anyone.
-All sounds originating from the user (heartbeat, footsteps, breathing, etc.) are silenced.
'Pretty good performance.'
It was one of the rewards he got during the last practical, when he over-cleared the quest.
It erased the user's presence, making movement much easier.
Viktor crossed the corridor and reached deep underground.
'Bingo.'
Inside, kidnapped villagers were packed tightly together.
Every one of them was tied up and unconscious.
He wanted to free them right away, but it was not time yet.
Releasing this many people now would only create chaos.
'I have to move quietly.'
He went down one more floor.
At the bottom of the stairs was an underground prison.
Originally, criminals should have been locked here, but now things that were not human filled it.
"Ghouls..."
Human-origin ghouls were confined here.
They seemed to be ones that had appeared unavoidably during the suppression of this village.
They could not be used in the Sacrificial Ritual, but they were too valuable to throw away, so they had been gathered here.
They could be used later in war.
'Looks like about... fifty of them.'
Perfect.
Viktor reached out and pulled the connected lever without hesitation.
At the same time, he canceled the item's effect that had been wrapping his whole body.
Creeeak, kreeeak-!
Rattle, the rows of iron bars opened all at once.
The confined ghouls staggered out.
They had already sensed the boy's presence, and their eyes had turned blood-red.
-Grrrk...!
-Kyaaaak!
Blood-red pupils all locked onto him.
As if on signal, they bared their teeth and charged.
"Hoo..."
Viktor took a deep breath and raised his sword.
Even in the pitch-dark prison, the Balloon Sword gave off a faint glow.
Ting-!
[Balloon Sword+]
-Category: Growth-type Weapon
-Grade: E+
-Growth Limit: None
-Status: Colorful, Squishy, Sparkling
-Description: A special Balloon Sword. Emits a faint purifying light from the blade. A weapon capable of growth.
The tip of his sword grazed the nearest ghoul.
Piiik-.
Right after, as if bounced away by some strange force, it was flung behind the boy.
Its ghoul form was gone, and it lay there unconscious with an intact human face.
Viktor smiled at that.
-Ting!
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[Remaining Karma Points: 80p]
A blue window rose before his eyes.
Viktor leveled his blade and charged into the rushing ghoul pack.
"Then... I'll farm points fast and join the other two!"
Piiik-.
Piiik-.
Piiik-.
The sharp scrape unique to each parry kept ringing out.
At his ears, status window notifications chimed pleasantly.
Ting-!
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
.
.
.
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
[20 Karma Points obtained.]
Points piled up in huge numbers.
It was leveling time.
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