READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 142
142. It’s Coming
The Syrega expected to appear at Point Thirteen, as indicated by radar measurements, is classified with threat levels of S or higher.
In other words, enemies possessing at least Class S power are coming to attack us—
a truly massive-scale quest.
The gathered adventurers were divided into thirteen teams to intercept them.
I ended up in the same team as Sarome and Alice.
Incidentally, Lilith, Luca, Baluga-san, and the four-person group with Ally were each assigned to different teams from ours.
“We’re on the same team! Let’s do our best together, Haruto-kun!”
Sarome hugged me from behind.
“W-whoa…”
I was caught off guard by her sudden action.
Even in the previous battle, she seemed oddly clingy… Sarome…
The soft sensation of her ample chest pressed directly against my back.
“Looking forward to working with you too, Alice.”
Sarome smiled at Alice while still pressing against me.
“Y-yes, I’ll do my best…”
Alice’s smile seemed a bit stiff for some reason.
“Exactly! Alice, you’ve got to step up and make your move too!”
Sarome egged her on.
“Wha—!? Wha-what do you mean by that? I-I mean, I’ll do my best as an adventurer on the quest…not that… Ahh, no, I’m not—”
Alice frantically waved her hands in denial.
“Of course, the quest is important, but you’ve got to give it your all in love too. Right?”
Sarome smiled sweetly.
“L-love…!? N-no, I’m not really… that’s…”
Alice became even more flustered, waving her hands desperately.
Wait, where is this conversation going?
“I know Lilith and Alice are both shy, but when it’s time to act, you’ve got to take the initiative. Otherwise, someone else might snatch away the person you like.”
“…Take the initiative…”
Alice seemed deep in thought about something.
“Well, getting too playful before a battle isn’t ideal, I guess. I was just trying to lighten the mood, but maybe I went overboard. Sorry about that.”
With a wry smile, Sarome released me.
“When this is all over, let’s snuggle up again, Haruto-kun!”
“…Ugh, maybe I should try being more proactive too…”
Alice muttered, seemingly troubled by her thoughts.
Even though a battle was coming, was this really okay?
Regardless, we boarded the guild’s magic carriage and headed to our assigned area—
Three hours later, we arrived at the northwestern point of the capital city of Rudiloum.
Fields and a lake stretched out around us.
The refreshing breeze felt pleasant.
It was a picturesque spot that resembled a tourist attraction.
It was hard to believe this beautiful place would soon become a battlefield.
“Don’t take my prey.”
Rudolf-san said quietly.
Known as one of the top three adventurers, the Sky Spear, Rudolf Reiger—
He was part of our team.
Standing over two meters tall, clad in flaming red full-plate armor.
He exuded overwhelming fighting spirit from his entire being.
There couldn’t be a more reliable ally.
Though his face was expressionless as always, his voice carried passion.
Our team was made up of ten people, including Rudolf-san and several Rank S and A adventurers.
“I’ll take care of the monsters.”
Rudolf-san declared firmly.
Even just facing him, his presence was staggering.
He didn’t come across as brutish; rather, he seemed intelligent.
Yet, his aura radiated intense pressure.
He was like a razor-sharp blade in human form.
“It’s coming.”
Rudolf-san looked up at the sky.
Above us, a small black dot appeared—
the Syrega, a subspace portal connecting the human and demon realms.
The dot gradually expanded—
and, accompanied by lightning, demons descended to the ground.
There were five of them in total.
“Those guys are—”
I recognized their silhouettes.
The strongest beasts, the dragons—
Draped in tattered hoods and cloaks, white-masked demons—D Eaters.
A knight with four arms—Hell’s Arm.
A robed mage with a massive staff—Mystic.
A ten-meter-tall ogre with immense strength and fire magic—Blaze Cyclops.
“We’ve fought these ones before.”
I spoke while focusing to activate my skills.
“That one’s mine. I’ll handle it alone.”
Rudolf-san pointed his spear at the dragon.
With a clinking of red armor, he walked straight toward it.
The opponent was a dragon, the strongest of beasts, but Rudolf-san was one of the top three Rank S adventurers.
He seemed confident, so it was safe to leave it to him.
That left the remaining four as our enemies.
All of them were formidable Class A foes.
I took the front as the tank, with Sarome and Alice positioned in the rear.
Without needing to communicate, we naturally formed this formation.
The other adventurers, armed with swords and magical staves, faced the demons and beasts,
waiting cautiously to see what they would do first.
“Humans…our sustenance…”
“Tremble, fear, and despair…”
“We feed on your negative emotions…”
The demons spoke in deep, ominous voices.
“Be crushed and broken…”
The D Eater launched the first attack.
“[Pressure Bomb]…!”
With an incantation, it unleashed a spatial compression attack.
“[Thunder Arrow].”
Mystic’s lightning magic followed immediately.
A simultaneous magical assault from two Class A demons.
For an average adventurer, even fending off these two attacks would be nearly impossible.
But for me—
──[Alter].
──[Kaleidoscope Shift].
“Ilfaria’s Crest…? Guh!”
The D Eater cried out in pain.
I deflected the compressed magic with a defensive skill, sending it hurtling back at the demon.
“[React Shell]!”
Alice effortlessly blocked the lightning strike.
At this point, Class A demons could hardly breach our defenses.
However—
“Ah…!”
A shockwave burst, sending Alice flying.
Though it seemed blocked, the force wasn’t entirely nullified…!?
“Alice, are you okay!?”
I rushed over in panic.
“Mystic shouldn’t have this level of magical power…ugh.”
Fortunately, Alice had only suffered a minor bruise thanks to the defensive spell absorbing most of the impact.
“Can you stand, Alice?”
I helped her up from where she’d fallen.
“Y-yes, I’m fine…ah!”
Alice stumbled and fell into my chest.
I quickly steadied her, holding her close.
“A…Haruto-san…”
Alice looked up at me, her face red.
Her face was so close, her delicate beauty almost made me forget we were on a battlefield.