Chapter 118: The Warning, Part 2

“Goodness me, Miss Monika, whatever has gotten into you? A lady should never comport herself in such an unseemly fashion,” Marcela chided, exasperated, as Monika came pelting full force, breathless, into the room of the inn where the three of them were currently staying.

“L-L-L-Listen! It’s fine! That’s not the point! Outside! You gotta come outside! Pronto!!!”

It was clear to the other two from her behavior that this was no ordinary happening. They followed her outside at once.

“Wh-wh-wh-what the heck is thaaat?!” Marcela screamed, while Aureana stood frozen, slack-jawed and speechless. The other people around were largely in the same state. Then, the bizarre form floating in the sky up above them let out a deafening sound.

Those who had the free time to be kicking back and relaxing at the guildhall were largely mid- or high-ranking hunters, who could tell instantly from the state of this newcomer that whatever was going on should not be ignored. Swiftly, they grabbed their weapons and rushed outside. Naturally, the guild staff followed suit. They all looked up at the sky, wondering if there was a wyvern incoming, or a gryphon, or hippogriff. Instead, they saw…

“I heard some hunters saying that Miss Mile and the rest of the Crimson Vow have gone MIA and are probably dead…but I know that they would never be defeated so easily! Still…what in the world is she doing up in the sky?! Oh, wait… If she’s floating in the sky, I suppose that means she really is dead? Huh? Wait what?!”

As people across the continent gazed up into the skies, the digits on the timer above the mysterious lion girl’s head hit zero. And then…

The panel on which the lion was painted fell forward, bringing a girl into full view. She had smooth, glittering silver hair. She was not remarkably beautiful, but she had a gentle face, the sort that would put anyone who looked upon it at ease. Her modest bosom appeared to be around a B-cup, but that was simply because the tanner who had crafted her armor had molded it on the larger side, overestimating her future growth—beneath it was still room to spare. Her lips, though unpainted, were glossy. And the first words that passed from those glossy lips were:

From outside of the frame of the image, a hand holding what appeared to be a rolled-up tube of paper smacked the girl across the head. Another hand then stretched into view before both wrists rotated and one pointer finger flicked out in the girl’s direction. This was seemingly some sort of command.

The girl continued speaking, as though nothing had happened. “M-my name is Mile. I have been entrusted by God with the protection of this world…”

Unfortunately for those watching the broadcast, there was no way for their voices to reach the giant girl floating in the sky. As much as they might like to offer some response, they had no choice but to simply sit back and watch her.

“I am a completely average ordinary girl who was asked by God to protect this world.”

“No way! Nuh-uh! No friggin’ waaay!!!” the people cried. A singular thought united each of their hearts:

You ceased to be a “normal” girl the moment you received that instruction!!!

“People of the world. Humanoids, beastfolk, demons, fairies, elder dragons, all other sentient life-forms, spirits, animals, plants, and every other creation that exists within this world. God has an important message for you all.”

Mile drew in a deep breath. Then, making a reference that only she would know, she uttered two final sentences. “My name is Mile. This world is in danger.”

Mile explained to the people about the civilization that had governed this world in the distant past, as well as the calamity that had befallen them when monsters invaded from another world. Though the ancients had somehow overcome this disaster, they chose to leave this world, leaving only a fraction of their number behind. Next, she told the people of the Seven Sages, the benefactors of this world, who took pity on those who remained. In the hope of equipping the survivors to survive future attacks, the sages came to a decision:

The people of the forest, who could live in harmony with nature even if civilization collapsed—the elves.

The people of the mountains, skilled at refining and working metal, who could maintain the foundations of society—the dwarves.

The people with strong constitutions, equipped with all the abilities of animals—the beastfolk.

And those with the sturdiest bodies, gifted with skill in the art known as “magic”—the demons.

The fairies: miniature beings, only one-seventh the size of a normal person, who could subsist on the smallest amounts of food and persist even when said food became hard to come by. They were granted wings so that they might survive despite their minuscule forms.

And the humans: those gentle, too-frail creatures who were granted intellect and large bodies with which they might protect and lead. As in the “One-Seventh Plan,” they received divine assistance and blessings, to support their massive forms and keep them upright.

The sages then put various emergency measures in place around the world—the golems and the Scavengers. They were to be allies to every last one of this world’s inhabitants and would never attack them.

“Our combined forces currently face off against only a fraction of our enemy’s might. Their main force will emerge from a dimensional rift in the mountains of the Albarn Empire in thirteen days.”

People across the continent shrieked as Mile dropped this bombshell. Among those alarmed by her announcement were the very combined forces she had mentioned, who were about to engage a horde of monsters.

If they could win this fight, they had believed, the world might be saved. But just as they were about to put their lives on the line, they received the devastating news that the foes they faced were nothing more than a small fraction of the actual enemy forces! That most of said forces would be approaching from the opposite side, attacking those soldiers’ own homelands, which were currently undefended! It was no surprise that the men were shaken to their cores. That said…

“Brave soldiers stationed to the east of the capital of the kingdom of Aubram, please hold strong against the monsters before you. Should you turn back now, attempting to travel with your heavy weapons and armor on your backs and your supply wagons in tow, you will never make it back to the Albarn Empire in time. Furthermore, not only would your troops be battered from a dozen days’ forced march, but also, with no one left to stop them, the hordes you face would overrun the cities and towns of Aubram and move on to assault your bedraggled forces from behind… Therefore, I ask that you remain where you are and face the monsters of Aubram, as planned, after which you might recuperate, and then make an about face. Do not rush. Please care for your own well-being.”

“My people and I will stomp the tar out of the fiercest monsters that appear in Albarn—all those of A-rank and higher, most of the B-ranks, and as many as we can of the C-ranks. Those of you who live in small villages not defended by walls, please take refuge in the nearest citadels. Those soldiers and hunters who remained at home to keep the peace and defend your towns, please do your best to keep the B, C, and lower rank monsters that get past us at bay, so that we might buy time for the combined forces to finish their assault in the east and return to aid us.”

No matter how you sliced it, Mile’s proclamation amounted to this: “We’re going to fight to our last breath to take down the high-ranking monsters, thereby protecting people all across the world…”

A deep silence swept over the land as people in every corner of the continent froze in their tracks. Just how great a fighting force could this girl, this child, command? An army of a few? Of dozens? Typically, the largest group that a girl of her age could hope to amass on her own would be a single party’s worth of fighters—and in the presence of such powerful monsters, very few would opt to face what was certain to be an instantaneous, meaningless death.

As people considered this reality, they silently began to ponder what they themselves might be able to do against the monsters soon to emerge from the Empire.

“Now, please allow me to introduce my allies—the brave fighters of the monster-stomping patrol!”

The image changed from the silver-haired girl who had been speaking, now showing a handsome golden-haired girl of around eighteen or nineteen.

“Leader of the hunting party the Crimson Vow, daughter of Count Austien, and disciple of the Ladimarl School of swordplay—holy knight Mavis von Austien!” the silver-haired girl announced. Mavis gave a winning smile, her teeth flashing. Apparently, it was Mile who was going to be making all the introductions…which was probably for the best, as Mavis would have been embarrassed to call herself something as lofty as a “holy knight.” Her brilliant golden hair was cropped short as a male knight’s would be, and her clothing and armor were equally masculine. Were it not for the swell of her chest, one could not be blamed if they mistook her for a particularly beautiful male swordsman. She was the fairy-tale prince all women dreamed of, possessed of a strange and magnetic charm that plucked at the heartstrings of all sensitive young maidens who cared not for the boorish, violent, callous creatures known as “men.”

A shrill cry rose from women across the continent, from schoolgirls all the way to grandmothers…

“Member number two of the Crimson Vow, and the last surviving member of the hunting party known as the Crimson Lightning—grand sorcerer Crimson Reina!”

A girl with a long shock of vibrant red hair, dressed primarily in black, was next to appear. She had sharp features and a haughty look upon her face, but her petite physique gave her the endearing air of a spirited child who was doing her best to stand up alongside the adults. Supportive cheers bubbled up from all the men, and the women of more big-sisterly dispositions.

It was unclear whether she heard their voices, but Reina’s face took on a serious expression. Just as she had always dreamed, the name the Crimson Lightning would be written in the annals of history. What she had assumed would not be possible until she became an A-rank hunter and could pen a memoir was becoming reality right now. They would forever be known as the party who gave birth to one of the four heroes who faced down a great army of monsters all on their own…

“Member number three of the Crimson Vow, daughter of the late owner of the Beckett Company—arch-saint Pauline!”

This girl wore thick pink protective gear shielded by a custom breastplate—which molded to a chest that would draw praise from most men and jealousy from certain women. She wore not a blackhearted grin but a serene, businesslike smile. To all but those with keenly honed animal instincts or a child’s sensitivity for ill intent, she gave the impression of a young lady filled with kindness and affection. Though an impression was all it was…

Pauline stood straight with her staff in hand. Now, her family’s business would be known throughout the land. Even if she were to perish, her mother’s and brother’s futures would be secured, along with the shop her father had left to them.

“Once, I was the daughter of a viscount. Once, I was a scholarship student at Eckland Academy. Once, I was an employee of a bakery. There was a time I was Viscountess Adele von Ascham. And yet another time, I was renowned author Miami Satodele. And yet another time, I was a messenger from God. However, my true identity is…!!!”

On cue, Mile struck a pose.

“Average, commonplace, ordinary girl and member of the hunting party the Crimson Vow, C-rank hunter Mile!!!”

“Nuh-uh. No way! No way! NO FRIGGIN’ WAY!!!”

From the depths of the hearts of every citizen of the continent rose a unified cry of protest.

In truth, there was a reason Mile had chosen to introduce the others with such impressive titles. It had all begun a little bit earlier that same day.

“Mile, I have a request,” Mavis had said. “Would it be possible for you to remove all of my physical limitations?”

“Uh…”

“I’m sure I’m capable of much greater physical feats, aren’t I? I was able to withstand an earth dragon’s attack—I must have a great deal more strength available to me. I understand that you’re worried about pushing my body past human limits…but I need that strength right now. As a hunter. As someone striving to become a knight. And, most importantly…as I, Mavis von Austien!!!”

“Mavis…”

“And please let me use the Flame Body technique I came up with!”

“Sure…” Mile stared at her wide-eyed.

“And I have one more request…”

“Yes! Sure! Whatever you want!”

Mavis was her ally until the bitter end. Mile would gladly grant her whatever was in her power.

“Make me your knight!”

“Uh…huh?!”

Her final request came completely out of left field.

“Oh! Me too, Mile!” chimed Pauline. “Receiving an appointment from a servant of God would be far more prestigious than from any king or archbishop!”

“…In that case, maybe I should ask for some kind of appointment, too,” said Reina. “Something that will make the Crimson Lightning proud up in heaven…”

“Wh-wh-what?!” Mile was stunned.

Mavis grinned and said, “Pauline is right. Forget lords and kings—I want you to appoint me as your knight, Mile. I don’t care if the crown never recognizes it or if I don’t make it onto any formal registers. I don’t want to wait to serve some old dude who only sits on the throne because some ancestor he’s never even met was a king—I want to serve you, Mile. Please, Mile, let me stand beside you on the battlefield as your official knight! I will put my life on the line to protect someone who truly deserves my protection here and now—”

Though she did not say the words, one could easily imagine how Mavis might have ended that sentence: “for our final battle.”

Logically, there was no way the four of them could survive going up against an army of monsters alone. Regardless of their strength, they were powerless against the sheer numbers they would face. A hundred absurdly powerful warriors might have a slim chance of victory against a thousand foes, but there was simply no way a mere four could win against tens or even hundreds of thousands, no matter how powerful they might each be. Their bodies and their magic had limits. Even the mildest scratch could kill if multiplied by the thousands.

If this was to be their final battle, Mile wished to see her companions happy, even if she could grant them nothing more than words. And so…

“Very well. If you all truly insist… Mavis von Austien. In the name of Mile, divine servant, I hereby appoint you as holy knight. Crimson Reina. I appoint you grand sorcerer. Pauline. I appoint you arch-saint.”

“We most humbly accept,” said all three. And with that, a holy knight, a grand sorcerer, and an arch-saint were born.

***

“The monsters will flow out of a dimensional rift that is going to open up in the wilderness outside the small town of Cloto in the Albarn Empire. Citizens of Cloto, please evacuate at once to a fortified settlement. We will be standing by in Cloto until the enemy appears, so I hope you don’t mind us making use of your inn. We’ll be sure to leave payment on the counter…”

Obviously, if they were going to be camped out in a town, an inn was far preferable to a tent. Though, of course, they would be making use of the courtyard of any inn to set up their own portable baths and toilet.

“With that, I pray for safety and strength for you all.”

Shoop!

The image in the sky vanished.

“It’s over…” sighed Mile.

“It’s over…” hummed Reina.

“It’s over…” murmured Mavis.

“It’s over…” nodded Pauline.

The four were rightfully tuckered out after such a nerve-racking operation.

“Now that we’ve warned them, the combined forces facing the monsters in the east should be able to face the onslaught without retreating halfway through,” said Mile. “We just need the people holed up in citadels to hold out as best they can until the armies return.”

“They might be able to survive this with only minimal casualties,” Mavis agreed. “But in order for that to happen…”

“We have to kick the majority of the stronger monsters’ butts,” concluded Reina. “That’s the most essential thing.”

“Well then, let’s keep prepping. We have a prolonged battle with some extraordinarily powerful monsters to train for!” said Pauline.

“All right!”

***

“Fire Lance!”

Ka-boom!

“That was lovely, Reina! A little excessive, though. You’ll tire yourself out more quickly if you use more power than you need. You need to regulate your output a bit better.”

“Of course,” said Reina, dutifully accepting Mile’s instruction. This was not the time for sassy retorts, and she did genuinely value Mile’s guidance.

Naturally, Mile herself was receiving real-time feedback from the nanomachines to aid her in tutoring her comrades. This made her feedback incredibly effective, since it was essentially coming directly from the entities responsible for making magic happen.

“Pauline, offensive spells aren’t your forte, so let’s concentrate on leveling up your healing. If any of us end up seriously injured and unable to fight, you can get us back in the fray, which will make anything we accomplish from there on to your credit as well.”

“Understood!”

Pauline had been feeling down on herself for being much weaker than the other three in terms of combat skill, but Mile’s encouragement was helping her realize how crucial a role she played. Plus, she currently had the power of “hot” (both in terms of heat and spiciness) magic. Her spells might not be ranged or precise, but they could do plenty of short-range damage—to monsters. Pauline’s contributions had value. Realizing this, a newfound confidence bubbled up in her timid heart, and she finally felt she could stand shoulder to shoulder with her comrades…

“Mavis, for this battle, forget about your Wind Edge—it isn’t strong enough. If you’re going to expend the time, energy, and focus to let off a Wind Edge, the EX True Godspeed Blade would be a far more effective use of those resources.”

“Got it! Instead of relying on cheap tricks, I should fight using my strengths as a swordfighter—no, as a holy knight. If I can’t rely on my own power and my beloved blade in what’s to come, then what can I rely on?”

Mavis did not use magical attacks, so she had little trouble regulating her power, even with the increase in her authority level. That said, she had still been blessed with enhanced abilities: Not only were the effects of her Micros capsules far greater than before, but her physical prowess was immensely boosted by the nanomachines in the atmosphere that came in contact with her body. The effects were not as strikingly apparent as they were with Reina and Pauline, both mages, but this was still a big change for Mavis, a swordswoman. An already top-class fighter had now become fractionally faster in her movements. This was nothing to scoff at—and Mavis, of course, understood this.

“Everyone, let’s make the most of these last few days!”

“All right!!!”

***

“Only one day left,” sighed Mile.

“Only one day,” hummed Reina.

“Guess tomorrow’s it,” chimed Mavis.

“Tomorrow…” nodded Pauline.

The four sat on their beds at the inn where they were staying. The situation had progressed swiftly since the continent-wide broadcast, and the joint forces in the east of Aubram had been fighting valiantly against the hordes of monsters for some days now. They had defeated the bulk of the enemy but taken heavy losses in the bargain. Somehow, they had managed to regroup and were heading for Albarn, leaving any easily slain low-ranking monsters to Aubram’s own royal army and the local mercenaries and hunters. However, their progress was slow, and there was no way they would reach their destination before the rest of the monsters appeared. At this point, it was unclear if they would even make it in time to offer relief to those biding their time in the citadels.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Vow had found themselves a room at an inn in the small, deserted village of Cloto, which sat atop a hill—an inn which, they found upon arrival, had a piece of paper affixed to the door which read: “Welcome, members of the Crimson Vow. Please help yourself to our rooms and refreshments. No payment necessary.”

As planned, the four of them had spent dawn to dusk each day in training. Most of their practice was focused on getting comfortable with the increase in magical output that came with their advanced authorization levels, as well as preserving their magical and physical strength to withstand the rigors of a prolonged combat situation. Mile also was developing a sort of liquid diet so that they would be able to replenish their nourishment and hydration stores mid-battle.

And so the days passed, until finally the nanomachines informed Mile that the main dimensional rift would appear the following day. Put another way: Tomorrow, the gates of Hell would be flung open…

“Well, all things considered, I really enjoyed my life as a hunter,” Reina said, a grin on her face.

“Yeah, we really never wanted for anything, thanks to the food and baths and toilets Mile provided us,” Mavis cheerfully agreed.

“Forget not wanting for anything—we’ve been living like royalty! If Mile ever opened an inn, she could charge a gold piece a night!” Pauline laughed.

“Forget being knighted by a king—I must be the first person in the history of the world to ever be honored as a holy knight by the servant of a god. Plus, my very first duty is to protect our world from hordes of monsters pouring in from another dimension. This is the stuff of legends! The thing that every knight in the world dreams of! I’ll be mythical, known throughout the ages! To think someone like me would be so blessed… Thank you, Mile. I can’t thank you enough!” Mavis crowed.

“You changed my life, too!” yelled Reina. “Just when I found myself heading down the path of a life fueled by anger and vengeance, y-you…made me into a total pushover! You’d better take responsibility!”

Then Pauline chimed in. “You helped me rescue my mother and brother, and take back my father’s business… Plus, my plans to save up capital to establish my own business have far exceeded my expectations. I’m never letting you out of my sight, Miley!”

“Ah ha ha,” Mile laughed dryly.

Those few days passed far too quickly for the foursome. By daylight they trained, and by candlelight they sat on their beds, laughing and reminiscing about all of the fun times, the happy times, the sad times, and all of the friends they had made along the way. This night was to be the last of those nights. None of them were eager to die, but they could not deny that the odds were not in their favor. What was certain was that Mile would not back down until the bulk of the highest-ranking monsters had been defeated.

Why?

Because she was Mile.

Mavis surely felt the same way. And so, it was little surprise that Reina and Pauline were happy to stand by them. They were the Crimson Vow, bound to their very souls, and their friendship could never be torn asunder.

“We should get to bed,” Mile finally said. “We’ve got an early morning tomorrow…”

And thus, their final night came to an end.

***

IT’S MORNING! IT’S MORNING! IT’S MORNING!

Oh, good morning, Nanos. Thanks for the wake-up!

Now that her authorization level had risen, Mile had begun using the nanomachines as an alarm clock. Actually, she had occasionally done so even before this, but it had now become an every morning sort of thing.

“Mm… Morning already?”

“Yep. Here you go.”

“Th-thanks…”

The other three soon awoke, perhaps as a result of Mile’s shuffling around. It was dark still, the sun yet to rise, but they had gone to bed early, and all four were wide awake.

They sat on their beds, eating a simple breakfast of sandwiches and hot tea from Mile’s inventory. Normally, it would be foolish to fill one’s stomach right before a battle. It slowed your movements and made it less likely you’d survive being pierced through the gut. Today, however, stamina would be key. Stuffing themselves to fullness was obviously out of the question, but it seemed smart to at least have a little something in their bellies.

Once they were done, they tidied themselves up in their second-story toilet and bathhouse, then put everything but their clothing, gear, and other key items—Micros, energy drinks, and such—into Mile’s storage. Then their preparations were complete.

“Everyone ready?” asked Reina, taking charge until the very end. “Let’s get going. Crimson Vow, roll out!”

“All right!!!”

By now, even Mavis had come to accept this as the status quo…