<h4>Chapter 101 – Line of Defense Crumbling Down</h4>


    Trantor: Kell | Editor: Weasalopes


    Line of Defense Crumbling Down


    The Un el Portan joint subjugation teamposed of adventurers from three different countries had already withdrawn from their initial base of operations. As of the moment, they set up their headquarters in Forestia’s Borderzard, the closest town to the forest.


    「We already lost twenty percent of our men and forty percent are wounded.」


    In one room of the town’s Adventurers Guild — which was being used as temporary headquarters — the chief, who was once a rank B adventurer, groaned. Borderzard’s guildmaster and the staff working with the chief all wore the same gloomy expression.


    The situation was gradually turning grave.


    The first one to quickly dispatch its army was the Quinnd Empire. Their forces had dwindled from the war with Ponsonia, but they still had the troops of the Margrave stationed at the border near Un el Portan who were starting to get deployed in a nearby town. They were able to respond quickly partly because the chief himself was from the Empire.


    「Any news from Ponsonia?」


    「They haven’t contacted us yet.」


    「What about Forestia’s army?」


    「They’re moving slow. Actually it feels like they’re not moving at all. Maybe the report from the guild hasn’t reached the government yet.」a staff said.


    The chief red at Borderzard’s guildmaster, but thetter held his ground.


    「You said to just send the same number of people like every other year, and so we did. Now after scrambling to take refuge here, you want us to send more?」the guildmaster said.


    「You better watch your mouth!」the chief eximed.


    「Is that how you talk to the one who saved your life?」


    「Why, you...」


    「Please stop!」


    A staff intervened. Ultimately, the Adventurers Guild wasn’t a monolithic organization. Borderzard’s guildmaster was worried that the subjugation team’s escape towards the town would draw the monsters here.


    The higher-ups in Forestia had their eyes on the fast-approaching Foundation Anniversary where the leaders of the seven nations would convene in one ce. Security was tight. Kirihal and Ludancia, in particr, always bickered every year.


    The government wasn’t really interested in monster hunts that adventurers go to just to line their pockets. In fact, the staff who informed them of the current situation was told that the Adventurers Guild should solve the problem themselves.


    If Borderzard turned into a sea of mes, the government would surely forget about the uing event, but the guildmaster wouldn’t wish for that to happen.


    「We’re calling for adventurers all over Forestia! We’ve even prepared food for emergencies! Please don’t me us for your failure on the front lines.」


    「Bastard! That’s thest straw!!」


    Ink sttered as the inkwell that the chief threw hit the guildmaster on the head.


    「H-How dare you! I will not tolerate such behavior. You’re not getting any food until you prostrate and apologize!」


    「Bullshit! The Adventurers Guild is a supranational organization and we’re in the middle of a case right now! What can a worthless guildmaster like you do?!」


    「Please just stop this!」


    The meeting was put on hold until the staff could calm the two down.


    「While they’re busy squabbling, the monsters are getting closer... 」one of the staff muttered in disappointment.


    Borderzard was located near the great forest of Un el Portan, close enough for the naked eye to see the edge of the forest. Mud walls, fences, and a dry moat surrounded the town.


    The ce looked like a fortress in the middle of a battlefield, yet it was actually quite big. It covered an area of one square kilometer, with a poption of four thousand. There were small farms inside and most people lived in housingplexes.


    Despite this, people continued to live here for two reasons: the bounties of the forest, and its proximity to Quinnd and Ponsonia.


    「Is it true there are too many monsters this time?」


    「Who knows? Maybe they’re just exaggerating so they won’t be held responsible for their failure.」


    「But I heard rank C adventurers from Forestia were severely wounded.」


    Adventurers were charged with patrolling. The top of the surrounding wall was wide enough for four people to walk abreast. Only a few soldiers were stationed in Borderzard so as not to provoke the neighboring countries. There were plenty of adventurers around, however — most, if not all of them, had their eyes set on the great forest.


    「Man, I wish I was high-ranked. I’d be rich by now.」


    「Big words. You’re only rank F, you moron.」


    「But from what I heard, Ponsonia didn’t impose any restrictions with regards to rank, and Quinnd required adventurers to be at least rank F.」


    「Really? Maybe that’s why the subjugation team failed? It’s probablyposed of weaklings.」


    The men talked as they walked on top of the wall.


    「Hmm?」


    「What’s wrong?」


    「Look at the forest. Do you see something?」


    A wide in spread out in the direction the man was pointing. Beyond ity a green line — the edge of the forest. And clouds of dust were rising to the air.


    Then out of nowhere, they heard the roar of a beast.


    「They’reing...」one man muttered hoarsely.


    「Monsters areing!」


    「Send word right away!」


    「Wh-Where to?」


    「To the guild! Where else?! Hurry up, you idiot!」


    「Okay!」


    The most dangerous day in the history of Borderzard was about to begin.


    「No! Nooo! Why?!」


    「Stay away from me! The poison will spread!」


    「I can’t live without him!」


    People’s cries rang out. The stench of blood, vomit, and antiseptics filled the air. Wounded adventurers who couldn’t be admitted to the already-full hospital wereid down on the floors of the town hall. Closed off and isted to prevent disease and poison from spreading, the ce was dark even though it was the middle of the day.


    「...Uh...」


    「You’re awake!」


    Pa held the hand of her best friend lying down before her. There were two of them: Pia who, despite having a confident air to her, cried herself to sleep at night, and Prisci — with her ample bosoms that drew the eyes of men — who always seemed to wear a nk expression, yet her skill with the bow would put grown-ups to shame. Prisci still had not woken up, only Pia.


    「Pa... Where am I?」


    「We’re in Borderzard in Forestia. We managed to escape all the way here.」


    「I-I see...」


    Pia’s vision was blurry. She couldn’t even see Pa’s face clearly.


    「It’s going to be alright! I’ll heal you with my healing magic!」


    Piaughed weakly.


    「Thanks. I know your magic is effective.」


    「You got it!」


    Pa lied. She had been using healing magic for hours, but all it did was prolong their lives, not heal them. Pia’s left nk had been ripped open after a log thrown by a Forest Barbarian hit her, trying to protect Pa.


    I’ll protect you, Pa! She uttered those words cheerfully all the time.


    Tears rolled down Pa’s cheeks. Idiot. You didn’t have to protect me with your life, you crybaby! Dummy!


    Pa coughed and blood dripped from her mouth. She ran out of mana some time ago, but she kept her magic running with sheer willpower.


    「...Pa?」


    「It’s okay, Pia! I’ll heal you!」


    Quickly wiping the blood off with her cuff, Pa resumed her chant. She nced at Prisci who still hadn’t opened her eyes. Her other friend got inflicted with some sort of poison that her magic couldn’t neutralize. All she could do was prolong Prisci’s life, who almost looked dead, color drained from her face. The only proof that she was alive was the faint rising and falling of her chest.


    「Pa...」


    Pia’s forelocks stuck to her sweat-drenched forehead. Pa was soaking from cold sweat. She had a feeling that the moment she stopped using her magic, her friends would die.


    Oh, God...


    She got blessed with healing abilities after praying every single day back in her vige.


    God, please... I don’t care about my own life. Just please let my friends live.


    Desperately, she prayed to the heavens, all the while continuing her chant. She felt her body freezing down to the core. Her bones creaked, screaming in pain. Her head ached, as though needles were being thrust into her skull.


    「You can stop... You don’t... have to die too...」Pia muttered in a low whisper.


    Her slightly-opened eyes closed. She had fallen asleep. She might not wake up ever again. The thought crossed Pa’s mind and an indescribable fear gripped her heart.


    「No! I won’t let you die, no matter what! I’ll do anything, everything!」


    Pa pleaded to the gods.


    Please! I beg of you! I offer you my everything. So please... Please give me a miracle!


    「I was just passing by and I thought I heard a familiar voice.」


    Groggily, she turned her head.


    「What happened to them? They’re seriously injured.」


    「...Hikaru-sama?」


    In Pa’s eyes, he was like a miracle sent from heaven.


    「Hikaru-sama!」


    「Whaa?!」


    Pa clung to Hikaru all of a sudden and he almost fell backwards, but he somehow managed to stay on his feet. Pa looked ragged, her clothes dirty, her hair and face a mess.


    「...Do you want to save them?」


    The question brought her back to her senses and she let go.


    「Yes.」


    Her eyes were serious. Genuine.


    「Are you prepared to give up everything except your life?」


    「I am.」


    She answered with not even the slightest hesitation.


    「You’ll never see these two ever again. Or rather, you’ll never be with them. You will devote the rest of your life to me, and only me. Are you okay with that?」


    「Yes. If you can save them, then I don’t mind.」


    「All right.」


    Hikaru closed his eyes, as though steeling himself, and opened them again, holding Pa’s gaze.


    「From now on, you will be one of this world’s most powerful healers. Your mana capacity will increase as well. People will want you. So much, in fact, that many will die. So I suggest that you keep a low profile as much as possible.」


    Pa gulped. Strangely enough, she didn’t doubt his words one bit.


    「Close your eyes. The moment you open them again, your life will change.」


    Pa closed her eyes shut. In that moment, her life was starting to head into apletely different direction.