[The spacetime that might exist] undercurrents
Inside the banquet hall, the lights remained bright and clear, bathing every inch of air in a dazzling and ethereal glow.
Fern used her silver fork to cut a small piece of cream cake adorned with strawberries and put it in her mouth. She chewed slowly, her pale purple eyes subtly sweeping over the chatting and laughing crowd around her before turning to Frieren beside her.
"Lady Frieren, even including the two who just left, there are at least three main members of the Shadow Warriors who have not yet shown themselves here: Kleis, Varos, and Lore."
Frieren put down the silver fork in her hand and gently wiped her mouth with a handkerchief.
Do you think Lore will come?
"I already nearly killed her with magic," Fern replied, his voice calm and emotionless. "Logically, that shouldn't be the case. But the healing methods of monks are unpredictable; no one can say for sure."
After she finished speaking, she put the last bit of cake on her fork into her mouth.
Frieren placed the napkin back on the table and leaned forward slightly.
"The other enemies are probably operating out of our sight right now. It's time for us to make our move."
No sooner had he finished speaking than Sense's voice came from the side.
"Meet with Falsh and act according to his instructions."
She had silently appeared at the table, her long brown ponytail hanging smoothly down her back, her face still bearing that slightly weary, indifferent expression.
"The battle beneath the surface is about to begin."
Serie leaned back in her high-backed chair. Upon hearing this, the corners of her mouth turned up in a bright and unrestrained arc, her face beneath her blonde hair radiating long-awaited interest.
"It's finally starting." Her gaze shifted to Sense. "Are Lanto and Ubel the vanguard? Come to think of it, I haven't even asked you why you agreed to let them both go it alone. This isn't like your usual cautious approach."
Sense turned his head to the side, his gaze calm beneath his drooping eyelids.
"It's common knowledge that mages are usually no match for warriors in close combat. But Ubel and Lanto probably don't realize it themselves—that, like me, they have a certain advantage when mages face warriors in close combat."
In the corridor.
Just as Iris's long needle touched Ubel's throat, his wrist was struck precisely by an arc of electricity leaping from Lanto's fingers, and the needle flew out of his hand.
At the same instant, Lutine, who was attacking Lanto from above, was forced back by the "Nothing Is Uncuttable" spell that Ubel cast instantly after escaping, and her attack came to an abrupt halt. Ubel turned slightly, his staff already in his hand, the tip of the staff pointing Lutine.
Lanto raised his left hand, a faint blue electric current flickering in his palm, and aimed it at Iris's face. The crackling electricity illuminated his eyes behind his glasses under the corridor lamp.
With a flick of her wrist, Iris released three slender arrows, one long and one short, from her sleeve and shot towards Ubel, who had his back to her.
Lanto swiftly moved his left arm, blocking the arrow's trajectory.
"Puff, puff, puff."
Three muffled thuds echoed as a sharp blade pierced flesh. A short arrow pierced his palm, the tip protruding an inch from the back of his hand, blood dripping down the arrowhead. A flicker of surprise crossed Iris's eyes, his pupils widening slightly.
Lutine leaped into the air, her left leg whipping up, the hem of her black dress billowing up to reveal her pale thigh. She aimed for Lanto's temple.
Ubel gently pushed back with his left hand, taking Lanto away from the trajectory of the kick. At the same time, he swung his staff in his right hand—the "Nothing Is Uncuttable" spell was unleashed once more.
At the last second, Lutine's toe touched the shaft of Ubel's staff, using the momentum to somersault backward and narrowly avoid the invisible slash. A faint "sizzle" came from the stone pillar behind her, which was then neatly sliced into three pieces, the cut surfaces as smooth as mirrors. The topmost piece slowly slid down and crashed to the ground with a thud.
Lutine landed, and with a few nimble sidesteps, she created distance, flashing behind another intact stone pillar, her gaze sweeping over the severed pillar.
Ubel swung his staff again, but Lutine had already completely disappeared behind the pillar.
At this moment, Iris was crouching in the shadow cast by the second-floor railing, still holding the long, black needle in her hand. She tilted her head, her gaze falling on Lanto's still bleeding hand, and that sweet, almost unreal, harmless smile reappeared on her face.
Another corridor.
Kanon stood beside Fres, his back straight.
"Captain Fres, now that the battle has begun, we must immediately set up Cognitive Obstruction Barrier to isolate the battlefield..."
He didn't finish his sentence, as if he had sensed something.
Not far from the battle site, two young noblemen dressed in fine clothes stood there, talking in hushed tones with puzzled expressions.
"That's strange, weren't we going over there... to see someone again?"
"I don't know, I clearly remembered it just now, how come I suddenly can't remember... Is it too quiet here?"
Beside them, Falsh leaned against the wall, two fingers held up to his lips. Subtle white magic flowed slowly around him, his aura restrained.
Inside the banquet hall, Clematis made the same gesture, his fingertips gleaming with an almost imperceptible light.
"It seems unnecessary," Kanon stated. "Both sides have taken cover measures, and unrelated personnel have been affected. The fighting is strictly limited to a very small area."
Fres gazed calmly in the direction of the battle, though she couldn't see anything through the wall.
"It seems that although the battle was accidental, both the Shadow Warriors and the Continental Magic Association concealed the battlefield. They were able to handle the unexpected event with ease; the enemy is quite formidable."
Behind the pillar.
Lutine leaned against the cold stone surface, her left hand pressed against her ear, her fingertips gleaming faintly. She was using communication magic.
"I'm sorry, we're already at war with the enemy."
After a brief silence, Clematis's voice rang directly in her mind, steady and clear.
"Yes, I heard you."
"Then please issue the order to proceed with the operation."
In the corridor.
Kanon turned to Fres.
"Captain Fres, you can capture the Shadow Warriors now. Please give the order."
Fres didn't look at him; her gaze remained fixed on the darkness in the distance.
"Maintain magical awareness and monitor the battlefield."
At the same time.
Clematis sat at the table in the banquet hall, the light at his fingertips flashing for a fleeting moment.
There's really no way around it.
Fres's voice echoed in the corridor, calm and undisturbed.
"Stay on standby."
Clematis picked up his glass and took a sip. The deep red liquid slid down his throat.
"Combat is permitted."