Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 129

The sound of the emergency alert bell resounds throughout the city, mixing with the sound from flying through the night’s air.
The fact that the evacuation has not been finished is clearly demonstrated, by the white light of people’s activities that still overflows beneath my eyes.
And the red of infernal fire that has already seized the place of the twin moons’s calm purple color rises up into the western sky.
It’s almost sinister enough to swallow the moon.
My heart is racing.
This is already――a battlefield.

「Nn, the sound of master’s heart, is noisy. Nervous?」

The Aim clinging to my waist struck with light words while pressing her ear to my chest.
There wasn’t a hint of tension in her carefree seeming voice.
Seriously this child is quite the person.
It’s not the case that surviving in a world where the sun didn’t reach was just for show.
Landing on a tall building, the church’s tower where the bell cried out just now――I do one more jump.

「Since I’m the same coward as always aren’t I. I’m scared. As expected I can’t obfuscate it can I.」

I’m afraid of exchanging lives.
But I think that’s normal.
I must not become such that I’m able to do this in a manner where I breath normally.
At that time, I won’t be myself anymore.

「……That so. But……it’s a kind sound.」

She didn’t reprimand me for being afraid in front of the battlefield but, Aim came to hold me slightly strongly.
As always a power that doesn’t compare with the small stature of Aim’s body……!

「Muuu～～～u!」

I ran out of air.
I land on the pinnacle on a certain restaurant’s roof and catch my breath.

「Koraa, I’ll suffocate you know!」

Because you’re strong Aim!

「As expected of master, this body that’s like a cutting board isn’t just for show is it.」

Cutting board……?
Aim raised her index finger for some reason.
With sleepy seeming eyes.

「It’s okay, because small b.r.e.a.s.t.s are status.」
「No, that is……」

Agreeing here would really look overly indecent.
No but it’s the body I chose……
After making a complicated face so as to obfuscate it, I jump once again without saying anything.
The battlefield comes ever closer but, I managed to reclaimed my calm.
Aim is a warrior who truly should be called experienced.
My excess tension was released by our ridiculous exchange.

「Master isn’t a coward you know. You have a vessel that can become a hero.」
「In my experience hero-sans can’t live properly though.」
「Don’t mind.」
「I don’t like itt……」

Aim’s intuition hits home doesn’t itt.

「Furthermore……I’m more of a coward.」

Somehow Aim’s self loathing is something exceptional.
Her circ.u.mstances are her circ.u.mstances after all……even so.

「I’ve said it haven’t I? Aim is my archer who I can rely on. My world first, prided comrade.」
「……Confession? Will you marry?」
「Eh……?」
「Nn, if this battle ends――」
「Wait a moment, that will end up raising some sort of flag!」

That something that most must not be said in this sort of time where we’re going into battle after this.

「Nn……in any case for the a.s.sessment or such, if I get 1 or 2 people’s worth the rest is extra.」

I didn’t question the bravado in Aim’s words after she declared that.
I try looking into the

face of the Aim clinging to my b.r.e.a.s.t.s and, she seems sleepy, but I’m pierced with a sharp glint in her eyes and this side’s heart leaps.
Reading my lips that aren’t saying anything, Aim makes a small smile.
I see, there’s no need to worry as she’s――far tougher than me.

「――Stop.」

――We’ve arrived then.
Ascertaining my resolution, I land on the roof of a fitting building.
I want to choose a place that’s as high as is doable but, I won’t take a spire like place with poor footing.
As expected if the footing isn’t level then surely it would be hard to aim.

「Target confirmed……Distance clear, weather is calm, wind is weak……visibility――clear.」

Taking her distance from me, she promptly enters a sniping posture.
The bow that had been on her shoulder, Trick Shooter is calmly readied.
I swallowed my breath as I was struck by the air said as the peculiar『s.p.a.ce』of a person who’s resolving the path of their bow.
As if Aim alone was moving within a stopped s.p.a.ce, the『movement』of pinning down those she sees.
Reverberating, the sound of a pulled string comes.
The ma.s.sive tightly drawn bow of the sort that I definitely couldn’t handle, is being pulled tight without difficulty by the Aim with a body that’s smaller statured than my own.

「A little up……fine adjustment to the left……」

Watching over her from here this side also has enough focus that I can’t breath.
On that note, Aim’s serious sniping isn’t something I’ve seen from up close.
I look forward while straining my eyes.
My range of vision itself isn’t bad with my proficient night vision but, irregardless it’s too far away so I basically don’t know the target.
At the least there isn’t the shape of an enemy that I can catch clearly with my naked eye at this distance.
Something is flying in the western sky illuminated by flame……it’s at the level where I can just barely understand that sort of thing.

「So s.h.i.+ny and bright……your a target.」

However that doesn’t apply to Aim.
A voice bearing a silent wrath descended, before the flame that makes it seem like you can hear the cry of the people, the city, the sky――

「――Fall.」

1 shot――faster than sound, Aim’s arrow that shook the air was released.
An unworldly high pitched note following immediately after――the sound of death ripped through the night sky.
There was a slight interval before impact.

「Direct hit.」

Endeavoring to be nonchalant, Aim put the results to her mouth.
It wasn’t visible to me but, there’s no reason for Aim to lie either.
That reality is plainly reported with a voice like she’s killing her emotions.

「I’ll confirm this, once more. The one pulling that string is me.」
「……It’s alright master. Because I have no intention of attaching a reason to justify it.」

Aim entered her preparations for the 2nd shot without hesitation.
Whatever the reality may be, I feel that what’s called the sophistry with which to convince the heart is also important.
……With my level of emotional strength okay.

「……I know I’m making you do something difficult and, even so for you as of now, I’ll have it forcibly seen through.」
「Nn……Master, coercive. I don’t dislike it you know.」

Aim soon pulled her bow tightly and, released her second shot.
She didn’t say anything but,

but, I suppose it’s probably a direct hit.
How much can we reduce their numbers from here……

「They’ve already noticed……fast reaction.」
「At this distance!?」

Over there is bright, it’s dark over here.
Therefore it’s a distance where we shouldn’t be found but……
However as Aim said, flame magic and arrows flew haphazardly at us from long range.
Their aim is all over the place, unlike Aim it shouldn’t hit but this is what states that the enemy’s experience isn’t to be taken lightly is it.
Be that as it may this flame magic……!

「……This will start a fire! A feat like burning only the target really is, impossible if you’re not at Eclair’s level!」

Their magic control is lacking!
Since even if hypothetically Eclair released Fire in a forest it wouldn’t start something like a fire would it.
In comparison to that, the flame magic impacting this building has become an inferno and is setting the city ablaze.
……No, is their aim to expand the fire!?
This is war is it……

「Thunder!」

Causing lightning to materialize like a whip, I prune the conflagrated portion of the building.
There’s no ma.s.s to my lightning but, the lightning energy honed far beyond what it used to be expanded in mid air and, became physical damage by the act of applying pressure.

「But something like a defensive battle, won’t be carried out with this number of people! Aim!」
「Roger.」

Aim fired off countless shots one after another, before I finished speaking.
I suppose they were probably all direct hits.
The extent of the appearance of something falling from the bright sky is, visible even to me.

「――Tsu! Repelled……tough.」

Murmuring, Aim stopped once.
Drawing in a deep breath with her bowstring drawn, she shot her target once again.
But――

「……What, is that.」

This is that『something』that Aim’s bow can’t bring down is here is it.

「Is something coming?」
「It’s coming directly at us.」
「Understood, ignore that. The other enemy troops.」
「Affirmative.」

If you’re coming then come……I’ll be your opponent.
Straining my eyes, I keep a watch on what’s in front of me.
A point like a bean, became larger as I watched.
――Fast!
That’s a……Chimera is it!
I happened to see it together with s.h.i.+on-san when undertaking a guild mission earlier.
There’s a sense of unease even when ignoring that it’s a monster, a monstrosity that has a body that’s fundamentally『impossible』for a lifeform.
But, that is……an appearance that pulls on something that I remember hearing somewhere.
――A monkey’s face, a tanuki’s body, a tiger’s limbs, with a snake as its tail, on top of that it’s growing bat wings.

「……Nue.」

It fits into the legends from that world――is that a coincidence?
There are too many overlapping elements.
……No, what’s more important right now is!

「Come!」

The ma.s.sive body blocking the flame’s illumination that s.h.i.+nes from the west, appeared before us.
It gazed this way with its monkey face and, an eerie bird’s――a scaly thrush’s――voice threatened us.
Frankly it causes me to go into gooseb.u.mps……that delicate lonely crying voice which doesn’t suit its large frame.

「……Kuu, Thunder!」

My body moved an instant later.
Preemptive, attack――however my lighting is, taken in by the nue’s body.

「It was absorbed!?」

On that note, wasn’t there a theory like nue are lightning beasts!?

「Kueeーーーー」
「――!」

A flash surged

flash surged from its mouth, along with a crying voice that made dread run down my back.
It’s instinct at this point.
My body didn’t move.
Even so Icicle Garden is released, as if it was a conditioned reflex――I barely blocked the nue’s counterattack.

「Nn, if it’s this distance」

Aim released an arrow aimed at its stomach from an extremely close range.
The snake tail bites that apart from the side at a speed that leaves nothing save its afterimage.

「Monstrosity……!」

Being before the eyes of an abnormal lifeform, gives an aberrant sensation that’s truly as the words imply.
An existence separate from nature.
A clearly taboo deed.
What did this is science――alchemy……Libra.

「……I won’t lose! Aim, you’re on the other enemies! I will be this one’s opponent!」
「Master, how?」

The fact of the sort that it didn’t accept Aim’s shot at close range means, that it could judge that physical attacks harm its body to such a degree.

「There is, a way to do it!」

At any time right!
I’ll show it be done.
Aim nodded slightly at my reply and, began taking distance from the nue.
It’s fine with that.

「――Lightning Field!」

This side also deployed a barrier and, is grasping the opponent’s approach.
The speed of its tail that I saw just now is a threat, I suppose it’s over if I’m bitten.
Confront it without letting my guard down, without blundering.
――Its tail flew at me the moment I thought that.
It was almost too late when my body dodged.

「――tsu」

This is……on the right――I managed to avoid it!
I noticed when I was already within the nue tiger limb’s attack range.
Having noticed that intent just one step in advance, I jumped while endeavoring to escape.
However――

「Kueeeeee」
「～～～!?」

It’s like my body is paralyzed and I can’t move!
This crying voice……!
What a troublesome!
The tiger’s arm faced me as I couldn’t move and leaped at me.
Looking at those sharp claws, something like my body would be skewered and then some.
I can’t avoid it――as such!
――Ascertain its axis.
Ascertaining its axis of motion, I match the opponent’s movement with my hand coursing with lightning.
The signal called『move』is forcibly sent to my limbs using lighting.
And since this is within my field.
Grasping every movement, I stop my breath and, touch the hand being swung down with the opponent’s high speed as if to guide it and――s.h.i.+ft.

「――!」

It seemed like the nue’s surprise was conveyed to me for once.
With its attack『nullified』, I overcame the danger.
And so that means, directly connecting into a counterattack.
The location I’m currently in is the opponent’s s.p.a.ce!

「――Lightning・Impact!」

The impact of my full bodied magic is, struck into the nue’s stomach.
――There is, resistance!
I blew away the nue’s ma.s.sive body.
As we’d been fighting on a rooftop, it’s being thrown off the building and into the ground headfirst.
Following that――A thunderous noise.
I didn’t think I’d brought it down but, it was hurt.
I won’t let this escape!
The current me doesn’t intend to be so sweet as to, overlook the point when its movements have stopped anymore.
Descending not a hair’s breadth later, on the lips of the nue that still hasn’t stood up is――s.h.i.+t!
The snake tail came at me to interfere, at the point where I point where I was going to deliver the finis.h.i.+ng blow.
Does it think independently?
Troublesome isn’t it.
Changing my vector by kicking the wall, the snake’s attack goes by.
It righted its posture as a result……Landing a ways off on the ground, I wait to confront it as it to gets up without wanting to wait.
The effect of direct magic is shallow, diving in for an impact type and arriving at zero distance is difficult.
While dealing with the snake tail as well, guarding against the paralyzing voice……
No there isn’t much to be done for the voice’s guard.
If I think the end is what’s coming and grind my teeth I can endure for 1 second――!
Let meat be cut to sever bone――that is a boy’s logic you know, perfect!

「I’m going, nue.」

This side came here by beating even that Yamata no Orochi.
I step in at my highest speed.
As expected, the snake tail came while keeping up with my speed.
Receiving it or diverting it is now unsuitable with it swerving like this.
As such――

「Just cut!」

One flash from my right hand.
The snake tail is beautifully sent flying in shreds.

Special technique――Lightning・Blade.

Harden magic lightning in the shape of a sword from the hand and change it into a physical blade.
For the amount that magic is continuously released, the expenditure is rather intense and on top of that, controlling it is difficult.
As such I’ll have this resolved quickly.

「Kueeeeee!」
「～～～Go, with, guts!!」

At the point where its crying voice froze my body, this side also mustered my voice with my full power.
Blowing my voice out, I can handle it even if my body is being made to relax, don’t take me lightly～!
As such, the me who flew into it this time still had my physical Lightning・Blade thrust out――I grasped victory.
The battered body crumbled like the chimera I saw at some point and, left the blackened stone that should be called its core once again.

「……Strong, isn’t it. I’m sure everyone of Wilmington is also dealing with a lot, with this sort of thing mixed in.」

When I took one breath, I heard a voice calling out to me from Aim.

「Aim, it’s safe here! How is the battle situation!?」

I jump to the rooftop, while raising my voice,.
It seems that Aim has already used up all her arrows but, more importantly I suppose it’s not the case that she wants to report that sort of thing given her surprised face.

「What is it, Aim? Have the enemies in the sky decreased?」

With a face like she’d made her resolve, Aim slowly turned her hand toward the western sky.

「I think the conventional aerial troops have, decreased significantly.」
「Is that so.」

From that grave atmosphere, I was wary of the fact that there was more to come.

「But――over 100, chimeras that seem the same as the one just now……came.」

The size of those words, snared the heart of me who had just won a fierce battle in a murky black.

「100……of those?」

As if to further deny me Aim, widely, slowly shook her head.

「――At the least, over 100.」

28th day of the dragon’s moon.

The worst defensive line in Wilmington princ.i.p.ality’s history, was about to begin.