Chapter Thirteen: The Defenses of the Elven Realm

Chapter Thirteen: The Elven Homeland’s Defensive Line

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The next day, under the guidance of the Elven Queen, Shuster and his companions, accompanied by several hundred elven hunters and magic archers, arrived at a broad clearing. The area faced south, with the elven forest at their backs.

“So, Your Majesty, why have you brought us here?” Lolita asked curiously. The clearing was close enough to strike at the forest, but hardly suited for defense.

“I want to build a wall here to resist the minions of the Abyssal Demons,” the Elven Queen said, pressing her index finger to her lips.

“Oh, that's a good idea. So, where's the wall? Are there any mechanisms nearby—press a button and it appears?” Shuster looked around, thinking the Queen's plan was excellent.

“There’s nothing like that! The wall hasn’t even been built yet!” the Queen replied with perfect composure.

Everyone staggered, surprised at how calmly she said it. A wall! That’s not something you conjure up with words alone. The main party, however, was made up of formidable individuals—earth techniques, alchemy, all sorts of skills.

“My lady, how long would it take to build a wall?” Lolita asked, a dark expression on her face.

“About… a month, I suppose.” The Queen glanced at the sky, answering serenely.

“A… a month?” Lolita was anything but calm. A month—not a day or two, not a week, but a whole month. The Abyssal Demon army would arrive in just a few days! The Queen truly had nerves of steel.

“Should I even comment on this? Forget it, Lolita, let’s handle it ourselves!” Shuster, feeling powerless after listening to the two women, decided to take matters into his own hands.

“Alright, brother!” Lolita understood immediately, stepping beside Shuster.

“Earth Style? Super Earth Flow Wall!” Both of them formed hand seals simultaneously, unleashing a military-grade defensive ninja technique. Shuster was skilled with earth techniques, though they consumed a lot of energy since he didn’t possess the attribute.

“Phew, Sakuya, the rest of this wall is up to you.” Shuster and Lolita were both breathless—the technique consumed energy equal to at least four top-level forbidden spells. If not for the static electric field, Shuster would have fainted on the spot; Lolita, being a clone, would have vanished and forgotten herself at the wall. Before their eyes, a kilometer-long wall, twenty meters high and five meters thick, rose from the earth.

“Is that regional magic? It’s regional magic! Magic lost for three thousand years has returned!” The Elven Queen’s composure vanished, her eyes shining as she stared at Shuster.

“Yes, young master,” Sakuya replied before vanishing, only to reappear a moment later, as elegant as ever, though a bit out of breath.

“Hm? What did you do? How is there spatial power involved, and controlled so perfectly? Only level-eight masters can manipulate even a bit of spatial energy.” Amiru’s hand shifted the Queen’s attention to the wall. “Is this… a miracle?” The Queen was blown away by the party’s display. What did she see? The wall’s exterior was now bristling with sharp teeth, and enhanced with magic arrays for sharpness, durability, self-repair, and magic absorption. The wall had been transformed into a fortress, with additional arrays for reinforcement and self-repair. It could withstand fifty tons of impact without shaking. Every five meters there was a ballista, every ten a catapult, each equipped with a lift for transporting stones and bolts. How could one say this isn’t a miracle? The transformation happened in a flash—Sakuya’s alchemy was indeed formidable.

“Sakuya, are you alright?” Shuster, still a bit weak, but with the regenerative abilities of a demon and the static electric field, had recovered enough to move freely. He asked with concern.

“I’m fine now, young master!” Sakuya replied, regaining her flawless composure as head maid.

“Lolita, you’re almost recovered too, right?” Shuster asked.

“I’m fine, brother. We should go check on the Eastern Empire. It’s been days without news—something must have happened.” Lolita’s recovery was no less than Shuster’s, even as a clone.

“You’re right. Your Majesty, we must return to the Eastern Empire. I promised Catherine I’d help if the Empire faced trouble.” Lolita’s reminder brought Shuster back to his vow. With Amiru safely delivered to the elven forest, it was time to rescue the refugees of the Eastern Empire.

“You’re leaving so soon?” The Queen was deeply grateful for their help, which would carry the elves through difficult times.

“We’ll return soon. I fear the Eastern Empire won’t survive. Their capital is White Emperor Academy, and the Academy sits atop an interdimensional rift where tens of thousands of demons will appear. I must seal the rift. Take care, Your Majesty.” Shuster spread his magnificent black wings.

“Wait, Shuster…” Amiru suddenly called out as he was about to leave.

“Yes? What is it?” Shuster paused, ready to take flight.

“Um… please come back safely.” Amiru had meant to stop him, but when he did, she struggled for words, finally managing that simple plea.

“Heh, I understand! I won’t do anything foolish!” Shuster smiled gently, then flexed his wings and soared into the sky.

“Caw caw!” Little Snow, perched on Lolita’s shoulder, called out and hurried after Shuster.

“Heh, fallen for my brother? Good luck! Wait for me, Little Snow!” Lolita smiled at Amiru, then unfurled her wings and pursued them. Amiru’s cheeks turned crimson.

“Take care!” Sakuya, uncertain what else to say—after all, Amiru was now her rival in love—could only offer that, and followed Lolita into the sky. At the eighth tier, one could fly by rule; Sakuya had always been able to fly, though before tier eight it cost a lot of energy, so Shuster usually carried her. But she was certainly enamored of his embrace.

A black feather drifted down and landed in Amiru’s palm.

“Ah? Has our little princess found her beloved?” The Queen teased, hugging the blushing Amiru.

“That’s… not it. He did save my life,” Amiru whispered, head bowed.

“So saving your life means you’ll devote yourself to him?” The Queen grew mischievous.

“Stop it! I’m not talking to you anymore!” Unable to take any more teasing, Amiru fled to her room, cheeks aflame.

“Mother Queen is awful, always bullying Amiru. But, I envy Sakuya—being held by Shuster…” Amiru buried her head in her pillow, rolling back and forth on her bed. Really, is this safe? With a chest like hers, isn’t she worried? No one can see her rolling around like this—does she really find it amusing?

Let’s ignore the upstairs antics and see what Shuster’s up to.

“Brother, don’t tell me you haven’t noticed Amiru’s feelings.” Lolita caught up to Shuster midair, speaking with a hint of tension. Sakuya grew nervous beside them.

“Heh, you mean Amiru? I’ve lived nearly forty years—if I couldn’t see through young people’s feelings, I’d have wasted my life.” Shuster smiled, patting Lolita’s head. Sakuya’s anxiety grew.

“Hey! Don’t treat me like a child—I’m your equal, you know! Just because I call you brother doesn’t mean you actually are!” Lolita let out a comfortable sound under his touch, then realized and protested.

“Yes, yes, I know. You’re just tsundere, I get it…” Shuster kept up his good brother act.

“Go die! Wait, you’re changing the subject! I asked—how do you feel about Amiru?” Lolita pushed him away, then caught herself and pressed the question.

“That little girl? Heh, I just see her as a good companion. After living together for months, I have some fondness for her, but it won’t become anything more.” Shuster replied earnestly. Sakuya breathed a sigh of relief.

“Actually, I’ve noticed Sakuya has a crush on me, though she hasn’t acted on it.” Shuster spoke through their soul-link.

“Yeah, I know. Sakuya really likes you. When I wasn’t around, you didn’t know, but Sakuya treasures a photo album of you—full of your cutest moments. Hehe!” Lolita was briefly surprised, then answered via the soul-link.

“Uh, I never expected Sakuya to have such interests.” Shuster felt the pressure mounting.

PS: Should Lolita’s alter ego become a main heroine?