Chapter 158: The siege

Everyone looked at me.

"Um, but?"

"Keep in mind that the imperial army has an overwhelming advantage in the north. The sword saint’s daughter is there."

If it’s the sword saint’s daughter, it must be Quintia.

She is a person of great interest.

"Kibele is guarding the east as well. With her aquatic abilities, it would be difficult to breach, even if we were to attack throughout the night."

"Then our only option is the south?"

"The problem here is that the gates are thick, and the walls are much too high."

"Is there any secret passage?"

[「Crimson Eye」activated]

None.

It seems that this time, we have no choice but to break through honestly.

The rebels’ morale appears to be set so that we would always have the upper hand against the imperial army’s NPCs, especially with the "crown" in our possession.

Yet our opponents are desperate too. We must play a key role.

"Hilaria can scale any wall, can’t she? Could she let us in from the inside?"

"Hmm. That was my first thought as well, but look there."

Hilaria pointed towards the top of the wall.

Below the soaring imperial flag, where archers were shooting their arrows, a certain wizard was running rampant.

"Ren Asahi! Where are you?"

"..."

It was Deherit Ade, who had transformed into a monster due to her obsession with me.

"An A-class wizard general is guarding it. Even if we somehow open the door, we’ll all be in danger. Is that alright?"

"No, it’s not alright."

Fighting an A-class wizard who occupies the prime position atop the castle walls would be suicidal.

As I pondered which choice was better, I noticed something.

"Huh?"

Where did Cleo go?

"Cleo!?"

I hurriedly searched for my cute blonde-haired sister.

I spotted her near the thick southern gate.

Isolde and Sarika looked shocked.

"What are you doing all by yourself?!"

"We have to bring him!"

In the next moment, with a deafening roar as if the sky were being torn apart, the southern gate was struck by a red lightning bolt and blasted away.

Soon, we had no choice but to crouch in the face of the shockwaves that followed and the vibrations that shook the ground.

"Destroy the gates and only get 80 points?"

Hahaha.

This one, they’ve really given their all in the spirit of teamwork.

But well done!!

I called out to everyone.

"Isolde, Sarika! Cover Cleo. We’re joining in!"

We just need to work together!

Thanks to Cleo’s efforts, the rebel NPCs entered through the southern gate.

Above them, a raging fire rained down like a baptism.

"Block it! Stop it somehow!"

Oh.

Did they receive a general’s buff? Their fire magic is that extensive?

Deherit Ade. Desperation is evident. Having had the crown snatched away so easily, they must be seething with anger.

How exciting. Let’s give it a try.

"Wait! I’ll counter their magic with my own. Kyaa!"

Cleo stumbled over a boulder and fell.

"Target the mage!"

As the Imperial Army NPCs seized the opportunity to attack Cleo, a storm swept across the ground in one swift motion.

*Swoooosh...!!*

"Cleo, this is Ren’s command. I’ll cover you!"

"I’ve got a great weapon, thanks to a hot spring condom picture!"

"You, I don’t need your help!"

I declared while firing my shotgun at the torso of the oncoming Imperial Army NPCs.

"How about my assistance?"

"Ah, brother! How was it? My magic."

"It was fantastic. Let’s just focus on speed. Why delay things any longer?"

The swordswoman on the other side is quite intimidating.

"Should we go see Yuna? Elle!"

"Yes!"

She must’ve been upset about being forcibly separated from us. My dungeon wife.

How can I comfort her?

Will she be incredibly angry?

As I shoot with my shotgun, I cut down the charging Imperial soldiers and advance the front line.

We blew up the castle gate, but the Imperial Army’s wizard battalion and Deherit Ade’s fire magic displayed tremendous firepower.

"Hilaria! Wreak havoc so the rebels can enter."

"How much?"

"As spectacularly as possible!"

Delighted to become the long-awaited "General,"

Hilaria quickly scales the castle wall with fierce determination.

Fireballs cascaded upon Hilaria’s head, but she deftly parried them with her dark-hued greatsword before launching herself into the air. With only three fingers, she clung to the wall.

"Don’t let her climb up!" Deherit cried out. Hilaria, however, evaded all the spells and soared over the towering castle walls.

"I’ve come as a general too!" she declared.

"Argh! It’s that insane woman!"

"Let’s have a contest of generals. Don’t flee this time!"

"What contest?! Stop following me!"

"Ha!"

*Whoosh!*

Hilaria brought her greatsword down upon the wall, as if detonating a line of bombs. As the magic ceased, the rebels rushed through the southern gate in unison.

I, too, mingled with the rebel group and infiltrated the castle. Then, a massive number of imperial troops swarmed in to confront us.

"Hilla! Where’s the tower?!" someone called.

"Over there!" Hilaria responded, pointing.

I followed the direction her finger indicated.

[Crimson Eye: Activated]

It was quite a distance away. The castle’s interior was as labyrinthine as a dungeon, and it felt as if there was another wall within the wall.

I need to find the shortest route to Yuna.

There was no secret entrance from the outside.

However, once I made my way inside, there were more than 16 viable routes through the back door.

I examined the map with my reddened eyes, as if scanning it, and felt a slight sting.

*Ugh.*

Though it’s not a skill that consumes mana, continuously using it is taxing.

Regardless, I must make haste to the Queen’s Room. The longer I am trapped here, the more troublesome it becomes.

To reach the back door...

"Senior! Where are we headed?"

"11 o’clock."

It was a location where the imperial army was surging in with tremendous force.

"I shall break through!"

Sarika thrusts her enemies aside with a sword encircled by a tempest.

Isolde, not to be outdone, sweeps away the imperial forces using a scythe with a texture reminiscent of a pink magical-girl toy.

"We can’t afford to be held up here for long. Let’s entrust this to Hilaria and make our way inside!"

I shouted as I peppered the area with lead bullets from my Benelli. We must break through, no matter what.

Yet, if there are those who think, "We must break through somehow," there will inevitably be others who believe, "We must stop them somehow."

*Whooosh!*

A volley of arrows rains down from the sky. When I realized that all these arrows were shot by just one person, I witnessed the rebel NPCs falling, entwined in countless blooming purple lotuses.

Yuna... It’s her masterpiece, "Yeonhwa." Yuna, sniping from 300 meters away, is a formidable reinforcement for the imperial army from the east.

Moreover, this time, Yuna shows no mercy. It was a stark contrast to when she had been holding back her strength to avoid hurting me.

"Elle, can you stop that?"

*Dory, dory, dory.*

Elle simply shook her head.

’Have you been lenient until now? Yuna.’

It wasn’t just Yuna who appeared.

Brigid, donning heavy armor and a tightly fastened helmet, emerged alongside the elite imperial troops.

"Senior."

Though I shouldn’t, the memory of last night’s intimate encounter caused my cock to slightly stiffen.

"I’m truly sorry for enjoying a good meal and rest, but Yuna and I will remain faithful to our roles!"

"It’s alright! Don’t worry, and give it your all!"

As everyone else was busy scoring points,

I didn’t want those I encountered to play passively while being observant.

Yuna was merely doing her best at this moment.

’The problem is that we have to break through here.’

Brigid’s defense seemed formidable at first glance.

What could be done in this situation?

I didn’t want to resort to invoking my girlfriend’s personality, but...

’It’s a bit tricky when wearing such rigid armor.’

While a mere rubber bullet could cause a reaction on bare skin,

The issue with Brigid’s defense was that it appeared she might need to employ even slug bullets.

As I placed my hand on the ammunition belt and pondered, Cleo seized my arm.

"Brother."

"Huh?"

"Is Yuna the objective of this mission? Can you arrange for her to meet me?"

"Yes. We must bring Isolde along. She’s the true queen we need to enthrone."

If we dethrone the current queen and establish Isolde in her place, the mission will culminate in our victory.

The siege could persist for several days.

During that time, a tremendous amount of Pt might be generated, but

In the end, the victor will reap the greatest rewards.

"I’ll create an opening for you. However, it will only last about 7 seconds."

"Cleo?"

"Regardless, you can’t fight against Yuna and Brigid."

"Ugh..."

She hit the nail on the head.

One of them is my beloved younger sister, while Brigid is my girlfriend.

Cleo abruptly advanced.

Oh no, that’s dangerous!

"Sarika! Keep an eye on the sky!"

[「Crimson Eye」activated]

"Over there!"

As I directed, Sarika brandished her Storm Sword.

*Swoosh!*

The arrow was deflected mid-flight, falling to the ground.

It had been a split second; Yuna’s arrow could have easily struck at Cleo’s feet. Yet, Cleo seemed unfazed.

Her entire focus was devoted to breaking through the passageway before her.

’Why doesn’t she take care of herself?’

That day came to mind.

Dozens of zombies could be swept away with a snort.

But my sister struggled with a protruding steel beam and a slightly jutting stone. Gazing at her, both strong and vulnerable, I resolved to protect her and treat her well.

’Right.’

So what if there’s something she can’t do?

We can help; we can be more attentive. Cleo, too, will aid in ensuring she enjoys her time at the academy.

"Sarika! Block the sniper fire. I’ll read the timing!"

"What?! Understood!"

Sarika obeyed my command, not comprehending the reason.

For now, that was for the best.

While Sarika gathered the power of the storm...

"Raise your shields and advance!"

Brigid attempted to push us back with her shield-bearers. Amidst the retreating rebels, Cleo stood unclothed, focusing her strength. I strapped the shotgun to my back and held onto Isolde and Elle tightly, prepared to run when the moment arrived.