The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing

#380 - Great, it’s the Sword Master, we are saved!

How was the speech just now?

Did it inspire anyone?

You can tell by the confident looks on Anastasia and the others.

That declaration of war was undoubtedly reckless and might put the Great Sin Archbishops on guard or even cause them to flee. However, it was also the easiest way to boost morale.

"Rather, the morale is so high it's ridiculous; I'm worried everyone will start acting rashly."

Anastasia smiled at the unexpected result, after all, those standing here had also regained their spirits due to the influence of anger.

With that, the purpose of the broadcast was successfully achieved.

"It would be great if the people in the city could relax a bit," Subaru Natsuki sighed. "Is there anything else that needs to be done?"

"If we were to hope for more, it would only be to eliminate the cause of all this."

The Great Sin Archbishops should already know about Zun Zun and the others' intentions from the broadcast just now. Even so, they will still act according to their original plans.

In that regard, we can only hope for their irrationality. Regardless of the effectiveness of the speech, the Witch Cult still has the means to destroy the city; that hasn't changed.

We must quickly defeat them before the worst-case scenario occurs.

"So, we're going to simultaneously attack the four control towers?"

"Three Great Sin Archbishops, and two experts assisting them. Including measures against the beastmen, we must discuss how to allocate our forces for the attacks."

"…So it's come to this after all?"

Zun Zun couldn't help but speak up in response to Natsuki Subaru and Anastasia's conversation.

"Hmm? What's wrong, Zun Zun?"

"How should I put it…it's like in those passionate anime shows, the main character's group always gets split up when facing the enemy, then they fight the enemies one by one, and while fighting, they power up and defeat the enemy—speaking of which, how about we all shout 'We are royal selection candidates!' this time?"

"No, no, no, this isn't a passionate anime."

"But it does feel like a passionate anime unfolding, right, brother?"

"Al is right. Don't you know, Subaru, at times like this, you have to shout lines about friendship and bonds! That's romance, do you understand romance!"

"This isn't a teen's passionate manga!"

"Brother, you might as well say it's Naruto."

Zun Zun, Natsuki Subaru, and Al inexplicably began to have a heated discussion, but the content of the discussion wasn't about the abilities of the Great Sin Archbishops, nor was it about allocating forces, but rather about friendship, bonds, the future, and other confusing words.

During this time, Anastasia tried to stop them, but she was forced back by the three's angry roars of 'Don't get in the way!' which made the great merchant furious on the spot, and it took quite a commotion before things calmed down.

"Seriously! Arguing about those useless things at a time like this!"

"This is romance…"

"Hmm?"

"…Sorry, I was wrong."

Unexpectedly, the gentle and composed Anastasia would have such a frantic side. It seems that even the most good-tempered and secretive people have their breaking points.

"The main thing to consider now is how to allocate our forces for the attacks!"

The derailed topic was forcibly turned around.

Simultaneously attacking the four occupied control towers is a necessary condition for saving Priestella.

It's difficult to concentrate forces as much as when attacking the City Hall. If we concentrate our forces to retake one control tower, the other three towers will really open the Great Watergates next time.

Admittedly, Zun Zun didn't open the Great Watergates after defeating the Archbishop of Lust, but that doesn't mean it won't happen next time.

Putting our hopes on the opponent is undoubtedly a gamble. Of course, whether we continue to gamble like this or whether we can win is probably difficult.

There are a total of 5 main enemies. Our forces must be reduced by Crusch and the others, making the hand we hold quite grim—

"Then, how about adding a wild card?"

"Hmm?"

Just as they were counting their forces on their fingers, a voice suddenly came from beside them. They couldn't help but turn their heads towards the entrance of the room. As soon as they saw the figure standing at the door, Natsuki Subaru's anger flared up. Then, he relaxed his shoulders as if suddenly relieved.

Zun Zun greeted the newcomer.

"—Oh, you're back?"

"Yes. My master is on the front lines, but I can only be in the rear. The so-called Gray Knight is truly ashamed."

Otto gave a wry smile.

He is a knight. Even after being an internal affairs officer for a year, his main job is still a knight. However, when his master was fighting enemies on the front lines and even defeated a Great Sin Archbishop, he himself did not appear.

Frankly, it's too embarrassing.

But Zun Zun doesn't think it's his fault. Not to mention the Great Sin Archbishops disrupting the peace of the city, then the Archbishop of Wrath attacking the merchant association, and then the Great Flood engulfing the city, it's already good enough to return safely.

Natsuki Subaru also felt a sense of closeness when he saw Otto.

"Otto, it's only been a while since I last saw you, but you still think highly of yourself."

"Not as much as you, Natsuki-san."

Otto casually greeted him.

Having known each other for less than a year, the two weren't that close. To be precise, everyone is resistant to people who are enthusiastic towards them from the start, thinking they might be plotting against them—this is a natural psychological defense of humans.

Coming in front of Zun Zun, Otto took a deep look at him.

He felt the gap widening even more.

Others, like Ferris or Julius, or even Natsuki Subaru, were playing important roles in this battle as knights and were quite outstanding. He alone, from beginning to end, hadn't done anything, and hadn't even been by his master's side.

Even Al would rather not deal with the Archbishop of Lust and find Priscilla first.

"—What are you blaming yourself for?!"

"Ouch!"

Zun Zun slapped him on the back.

"Listen up, Otto, everyone has things they're good at and things they're not good at. And how to make everyone thrive in their respective fields is the job of the person in charge, in other words, my responsibility. It's not normal for someone like Natsuki Subaru, who is clearly weak as hell, to be jumping around like a flea."

"Using me as an example?!"

Natsuki Subaru pointed at himself in disbelief.

Although it wasn't exactly comforting, Otto was at least cheered up.

"Alright, alright." Seeing that the time was right, Anastasia clapped her hands, interrupting halfway, "Anyway, thank goodness Otto-san is still alive. Although I'd like to ask what exactly you've been doing until now, before that—"

Her light blue eyes stared at Otto.

"That meaningful sentence just now, could you please tell me, what exactly did you mean?"

"A wild card? It's simple. I played a little trick and brought him here."

Facing Anastasia's question, Otto said as he stepped aside from the entrance.

As if on cue, the footsteps of the person waiting outside the door without any hurry transmitted.

At the same time, a new figure walked into the room—

"Sorry, I'm late."

This person's mere words made people feel reliably aided.

Everyone looked at the newcomer in disbelief, their eyes slightly widened, and their heartbeats accelerated.

The illusion of a gusting wind combined with the feeling of seeing flames in front of them created a violent shock to the heart. This isn't an exaggeration; in fact, this reunion did indeed possess such an impact.

A combat force that had been desperately sought, the strongest reinforcement, his arrival filled their hearts with excitement.

"The Sword Saint family, Reinhard van Astrea, although a little late, I am here to join you."

Saying so, the Sword Saint declared his intention to participate in the war, like a raging flame.

With just his appearance, Zun Zun's limelight was completely overshadowed. Although he was a little bit unhappy, he had to admit that he was still far from the invincible Sword Saint.

Afterwards, the Sword Saint apologized for being late.

"Sorry, I couldn't help out at a crucial moment."

Everyone's eyes fell on him. It would be easy enough to outwardly accept his apology, but it was difficult to hide the true intentions within their hearts.

In these few hours when combat strength was desperately needed, Reinhard's whereabouts were unknown, making it difficult not to consider what the outcome would have been if he had joined the City Hall attack.

—The Archbishop of Lust was defeated, the City Hall was retaken, Crusch and Natsuki Subaru did not suffer the side effects of the Dragon Blood.

Although these things were accomplished afterwards, the suffering endured was not reduced in the slightest.

"Indeed, it's all Reinhard's fault."

"…Yes."

Hearing Zun Zun say this, Reinhard lowered his head even further, but the next moment he heard—

"If you had come sooner, I wouldn't have had to deal with the Archbishop of Lust."

"Eh?"

"That guy was very troublesome. Although his strength wasn't anything special, his recovery power was incredibly amazing. In the end, I had to use a killer move—at that time, I only had a 50% chance of success, a true fifty-fifty chance. What would have happened if I had accidentally died?"

"…Yes, it's my fault."

Reinhard had a troubled expression on his face.

Zun Zun's complaints hadn't ended yet. He wanted to save Beatrice, Mimi, and Crusch, he wanted to appease people so they wouldn't worry anymore, he wanted to make a plan on how to fight the enemy, and in the end, he even complained that he was forced to make okonomiyaki so hard yesterday morning…

He kept pouring out his grievances.

Gradually, he turned into an unreasonable mode.

No matter what it was, he pushed it all onto Reinhard.

But it was precisely this that made everyone else understand that human power has its limits—the Sword Saint is just the Sword Saint. Even if he is the strongest on earth, he can't save everyone one by one, and he can't be perfect in every aspect.

Understanding this, they looked at each other, and helpless smiles appeared on their faces.

"Hoo, I feel great, I feel great."

Zun Zun fanned his flushed cheeks. He had just said everything, including that Reinhard had been brought here against his will.

"Don't you guys want to say something? Such a good opportunity is rare."

"…What should we say?"

"Didn't you say everything, Zun Zun?"

"There's nothing left to say."

Anastasia and the others shook their heads.

Having already understood the principle, if they were to get angry again, they would be as unreasonable as Zun Zun, so they stopped speaking.

Reinhard also understood this, so he bowed deeply to Zun Zun.

"—Thank you, Zun Zun-sama!"

"Reinhard, are you Duem?!"

Hearing these words, the Sword Saint revealed a clear wry smile.