Using ranged weapons for a sustained attack was disadvantageous for Neia’s side, which was operating stealthily and under time constraints. Therefore, all they could do was charge into close range and finish off the enemy, while the enemy could hit them with ranged weapons and they did not have the benefit of cover.
In that case, they would need to close the gap before the sentries spotted them. But at a closer look, the path was uneven. It was designed to slow down anyone trying to run across and force them to slip and fall off the sides.
This is dangerous… if an enemy runs into me and grabs me… I’ll fall off and die. If I’m not careful…!
After screwing up her determination, Neia realised Shizu was staring at her. Although they were of the same sex, being stared at by Shizu, the doll-like beauty, made Neia a little embarrassed.
“W-What?”
“…Using it… Neia, wait here.”
“Eh?”
“…I’ll take care of the door guards. No matter what happens, don’t come out.”
“―Eh?”
Before she could get an answer, Shizu vanished.
She had disappeared. This was not some kind of high speed movement. Shizu had been standing here until just now and then she had vanished into the air like she had been an illusion.
A wave of confusion assaulted Neia. However, Shizu had already told her to wait, so she ought to stay here and wait.
Neia concealed herself at the entrance to the aerial walkway and listened carefully to the tower and the path behind her for anything out of the ordinary.
Several seconds later ― something happened at the guard post.
She heard a scream and then the sound of a guard collapsing.
Neia poked her face out to see what was going on and saw Shizu emerge from the guard post. Shizu waved to beckon Neia over.
As Neia began to panic and wonder what was happening, Shizu’s waving gesture grew larger, until her entire body was moving.
Could she not go, now that Shizu had done that much?
Neia bent low, then ran across the windswept, frightening aerial walkway as she paid attention to her footing.
After she was across, she could smell blood from the guard post. Several dead demihumans lay on the ground, and Shizu stood inside, with her usual blank expression. She held what looked like a very sharp and large knife in her right hand. The blade was smeared bright red, and she had her spell gun in her left hand.
“…Clear. Move in.”
“Ah, yes…”
“…Can’t disappear again today. Be careful.”
“Got it.”
It would seem there was no need to explain, so Neia did not ask, but merely followed behind her.
That’s a maid demon for you, Neia thought.
She could not have come all this way without Shizu.
And this is also thanks to the order His Majesty gave to Shizu.
Only the Sorcerer King could inspire greater respect in people even when he was not present.
Honestly, the fact that he was undead or whatever was a trifling problem.
I need to let everyone know, after all. I need to tell them how great a person His Majesty is!
The tower was almost completely made of stone and it only had a small window for light. It was darker than the castle that they had pass through earlier.
The passage inside the tower was quite spacious, big enough for Neia and Shizu to walk side by side. It spiralled up along the inside of the tower’s wall.
Their objective, the Zern prince, ought to be near the top, so the only thing they did when passing doors along the way was check for movement inside while the two of them continued ever upwards.
About two circuits later, Shizu raised her hand to signal that they should stop. This happened almost at the same time as Neia’s keen hearing picked up some creature’s footsteps.
It would seem it was wearing metal armor, because she could hear the sound of metal striking stone.
“It’s alone, Shizu-san.”
“…Yes. But… heavy footsteps.”
Neia could not tell, but if Shizu said it, then it was probably so. In other words, whatever it was, it was not human-sized.
“What… should we do? Should we hide behind one of the doors we passed along the way?”
“…It’s already here. Kill it.”
“Got it.”
Neia readied her bow after Shizu. Her plan was to shoot first and not bother with questions. She had heard that the Zern prince was about the size of a human child. In addition, he would not be wearing metal armor.
A massive object came into view, and Neia and Shizu attacked without hesitation.
The arrow and bullets entered its body, as though they had been sucked in.
“Gaaahhhh!”
The massive object stumbled, and backed up along the path.
Since it had retreated along a curved path, it was no longer in the line of fire.
The fact that it had survived their attacks ― particularly Shizu’s ― suggested that it was a very tough demihuman.
“What! Who are you!?”
An angry cry echoed from the depths of the passage.
“What should we do, Shizu-san?”
“…Can’t sit here and wait… Close in and attack before the enemy gathers the tower guards.”
“Understood.”
Neia and Shizu broke into a run.
Since it could survive Shizu and Neia’s surprise attack, they could assume that it was the guardian ― a Vah Un. Vah Uns were beings which possessed very good overall fighting power and a shocking amount of stamina.
As they ran, the humidity in the air seemed to increase as well ― Neia’s nose picked up the scent of rain.
“Goooaahhh! To think there’d be humans here!”
After closing in, they saw a massive demihuman.
While it possessed the savage air of an Ogre, it looked much more intelligent than an Ogre.
Its skin was bluish-white, though it looked more demonic than unhealthy.
It had a single thick horn on its forehead. It carried a mace that was bigger than Neia.
Judging by its physical appearance, it was quite similar to the descriptions of the species known as Vah Uns.
While it was not as bad as Buser, it was still quite a dangerous opponent. The arrow and bullets had clearly hit it, but it did seem to be wounded. There was no smell of blood either, so it would seem it had not covered it up with illusions.
Somehow, it had negated their attacks ― particularly Shizu’s.
“So you’re here for my life, are you!? You’ve got good eyes on you, humans!!!”
It seemed very happy.
In that case, she would let it remain mistaken―
“…No.”
Shizu fired as she spoke.
There was a pop-hiss of expelled gas as something flew through the air. After that, part of the Vah Un’s body dissolved into mist and the bullet passed through.
“…Hm.”
“Wahahahaha! Ranged weapons are useless against me!”
Neia loosed an arrow at the Vah Un’s forehead, but its head also sublimated into mist and the arrow sank into the wall behind it.
“―Useless! It’s useless! Now quiver in fear of me, for I am the bane of all archers, and then die!”
“…Immune to all ranged weapons? On something that’s only that strong?” Shizu muttered. “There must be a trick.”
Neia glanced at Shizu and shook her head. Unfortunately, the Zerns did not know any details about its abilities.
“What are you blathering about!”
“Back up!”
The Vah Un closed the gap. The sight of its massive body approaching them felt off, like her sense of distance was messed up.