(The fog is thick…) (Eugene)
Last time, I traveled by airship, so it didn't bother me as much.
After crossing Crescent Lake, I was now making my way through the mountains.
The highest peak on the South Continent, Anna Peak, is extremely steep and always shrouded in fog, making visibility poor.
Moreover, many ferocious monsters inhabit the area, so traveling on foot is normally prohibited.
In fact, I've been hearing beastly howls and eerie growls for a while now.
Using Mana Detection, I scanned the area for nearby monsters.
I detected roughly 300 monsters of various sizes.
(Feels like being tossed into a monster house around Floor 150 of the Zenith Tower…) (Eugene)
Caution is necessary, but it doesn't seem like a serious threat.
Some of them seem to have noticed me, but they're not approaching.
Well, if they do attack, I'll just cut them down.
No problem.
The thing I feared most -an ambush by the Imperial Army or the Holy Knights- doesn't seem to be present.
Camping out in a place like this would just invite a monster attack in no time.
Now the issue is how to reunite with the others who got separated…
(For now… I'll aim for the Holy Capital.) (Eugene)
The Holy Capital Arshaam is built on a high plateau surrounded by mountains.
It's a troublesome location, but just getting there shouldn't be too difficult.
The problem is the distance and rough terrain.
(…If I walk nonstop, it'll be about 24 hours…) (Eugene)
At any rate, I can't rest properly while surrounded by monsters.
—Angel Form: 99%
I cast magic on myself.
This way, I can go without sleep or rest.
Staying like this for too long can prevent me from returning to human form, so it's dangerous.
But for about 24 hours, it should be fine…probably.
Remaining vigilant, I set off toward my destination.
◇◇
"…I finally made it." (Eugene)
I was attacked a few times by hungry monsters, but nothing else significant happened.
In the distance, I could see the towering figures of seven giant goddess statues, and the white cityscape spread out before me.
This was Arshaam, the headquarters of the Goddess Church on the South Continent.
At the center of the city stood the Saint Anna Grand Cathedral.
Sara and the Destiny Oracle, Orianne-sama, were likely inside that building.
I was hiding in the forest that surrounds the Holy Capital.
Monsters can't get close to this forest because of the city's barrier.
Instead, the Holy Knights patrol it, so I set up camp deep inside where no one passes.
I cloaked my tent with a concealment barrier, so no one would notice unless they came quite close.
I have already undone my Angel Form.
As a result, hunger, fatigue, and sleepiness hit me all at once.
I nibbled on rations and took a short nap, recovering some stamina.
—Sumire, can you hear me?
I tried thought transmission with Sumire several times, but she never responded.
Same with Sara and Eri.
It's probably the effect of the Holy Capital's barrier.
(If I stay here…will it be impossible to regroup?) (Eugene)
I thought ahead.
If we got separated, we planned to meet near the inn where Sumire and I stayed during our investigation of the Dark Bird Raum.
I already had white garments prepared to blend in with the citizens.
If the crowds are like I remembered, I figured I could slip in unnoticed…
(But there are way too few people moving around…) (Eugene)
It's probably because of the war.
I'd have to pass through a checkpoint to enter the city, but the guards were taking an unusually long time for each person.
Last time, I only had to show my student ID from the Lykeion Magic Academy to pass since I was with the upcoming Holy Maiden Sara.
That's no longer possible.
The Lykeion Magic Academy is gone, and someone from the Empire likely wouldn't be allowed through the checkpoint.
(No helping it. I'll wait until nightfall and sneak in.) (Eugene)
I didn't get a response from Sumire, but if anything happened to her, our contract should let me know.
More importantly, Claude, the top knight of the Dragon Country, a powerful ally of the Holy Union, is with her.
Miguel, too, has supported the Holy Union's logistics several times.
Sumire also has a track record from the Flower Crown Knights over these past three years.
(They're probably safer without me around… Surely.) (Eugene)
The reason we came to the Holy Union was to report the unsealing of the Zenith Tower and the resurgence of dungeon-made magic tools, and to reestablish their trade.
The logic was sound.
Though I felt anxious, I didn't act on impulse and waited for the right moment.
—Half a day later.
The forest was pitch black.
I packed up all my camping gear.
Many Holy Knights were stationed around the Holy Capital, keeping watch.
Security seemed even tighter than during the day.
The Holy Capital was surrounded by tall walls.
Normally, sneaking in would be extremely difficult, but…
([Concealment Barrier].) (Eugene)
First, I made myself invisible.
Then…
(Angel Form: [Angel Wings].) (Eugene)
Small wings sprouted from my back.
With this form, I could fly faster and more precisely than with standard flight magic.
And the best part was…
I shot high into the sky with a leap.
Even higher than the massive goddess statues.
A powerful barrier protected the Holy Capital via those seven goddess statues.
Some say it's strong enough that even an aerial bombing by the Imperial Air Force wouldn't harm the city at all.
Thus, entry from the sky should normally be blocked or detected…
But I landed on the rooftop of one of the city's buildings without issue.
(The Holy Capital's barrier can be completely nullified by entering Angel Form. Just like Mother said.) (Eugene)
The Holy Capital is protected by the strongest barrier on the South Continent, but because its citizens are devout believers in the Goddess, anything associated with angels -her messengers- is granted passage.
It's not exactly praiseworthy, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
I kept the concealment barrier active and surveyed my surroundings.
The city is quiet.
Guardian Soldiers should be patrolling inside the capital, but…
(Have I not been detected?) (Eugene)
At least, I didn't feel any hostile gazes.
I stayed alert as I moved across the rooftops.
My destination: Saint Anna Grand Cathedral.
That's where the Destiny Oracle is.
And since Mother said she'd talk to her for me, I…should be able to meet her.
Though the Eight Holy Maidens of the church have no hierarchy, the Destiny Oracle is effectively their leader.
If I could meet with her first, everything else would follow.
Using concealment magic, I moved carefully through the shadows of buildings and arrived in front of the large plaza of the Saint Anna Grand Cathedral.
The area around the cathedral had a spacious garden, a fountain, and open plazas with excellent visibility.
Naturally, it was also heavily guarded by Holy Knights.
(There's no way I'm getting in from the ground…) (Eugene)
That was my conclusion.
Just in case, I tried thought transmission with Sumire and Sara again, but there was no response.
I was currently on the rooftop of a three-story building.
None of the knights on the ground seemed to have noticed me.
I should be able to reach the Saint Anna Grand Cathedral with concealment and flight magic.
I watched the surroundings for about fifteen minutes just in case, but saw nothing suspicious.
(Time to go.) (Eugene)
I resolved myself, and flew high into the air once again.
As I headed toward a second-floor window of the Saint Anna Grand Cathedral…
—-Northern God Sword Style : [Starflow Sword]
A low…nostalgic voice echoed.
"Kh!"
But I didn't have time to reminisce. I barely managed to dodge the incoming light blade.
The part I couldn't avoid, I blocked with my White Sword.
A strand of hair fell from my neck.
A shallow cut formed on my cheek.
If I noticed even one second later, I would've been decapitated.
I called out to my attacker.
"It's been a while, President Robert." (Eugene)
"Eugene-kun…it was you?" (Robert)
The one holding a sword was none other than Robert Crown, the president of the swordsmanship club, who had once challenged the Trial of the Gods at the Zenith Tower alongside me.