The operation to attack Saint Jornes has begun. Those participating are me, Meltia-san, and eight warrior priests lead by Sirius-san, making a total of ten people.
Five of us have already split away to approach the angel statue from opposite side. The group me and Meltia-san are in is tasked with approaching Jornes from the front and attracting her attention. Then, Sirius-san’s group will attack from her blind spot.
Although, the only one who will actually attack will be Sirius-san. The other four are only going with him to clear the way. They’ll protect him from the monsters, so he can focus on Jornes.
Sirius-san’s bow skill is [Dragonshot]. It coats the arrow in dragon-shaped light, and flies straight towards the target.
It takes a lot of mana, and he needs time to prepare it. However, the attack power and penetration gained is worth it. Sirius-san explained earlier that it’s good for dealing damage against targets with high defence or high [Physical Resistance].
If the [Dragonshot] connects and we can confirm that it did damage, then we’ll have learned that it’s possible to kill Jornes. We’ll probably then want to retreat, but we can take that information to other groups to recruit them, then draw up a plan to kill her. We’ve taken into account the possibility that provoking her could make the situation worse, but the current status quo is too hopeless not to risk it.
With Meltia-san taking the lead, the five of us are approaching Jornes. The beauty that the streets held just days ago has vanished as a result of the monsters’ rampaging, being replaced with rubble and broken statues.
“Do you think this’ll work? Meltia-san?”
“No idea. But it should give us some information.”
Meltia-san replies, looking up at Jornes.
“Sirius-sama’s [Dragonshot] might just make her to come down and start actively attacking. Once that happens, we’ll…”
One of the warrior priests, Radda-san, says.
Radda-san is a short middle-aged man, and I’ve seen him rebuked for his timity by the other warrior priests several times now. He’s easy to get along with, so I’ve talked with him a lot over these past four days.
“Hey! Don’t say something that’ll bring down morale! We factored in the danger! We know it could backfire!”
Having angered one of the other of the warrior priests, Radda-san bows his head down repeatedly in apology.
But, to be honest, I think there’s a good chance he’s correct in his assessment. I didn’t want to object too strongly, because otherwise I would have ended up sending Meltia-san to her death by herself.
It’s very optimistic to think Yornes could be defeated by human hands. She has the rainbow attack magic she used at the start, so if she decided to start using it, we’d have no chance. Right now she’s just floating, but if she starts freely flying around, then it’ll be almost impossible to hit her. On top of that, if we manage to gather enough forces to try and kill her, all she has to do is make that black rain fall again and we’ll be forced to retreat.
But, if we choose to be pessimistic, then we’re already doomed. In order to have the best chance of survival, we have to act on the premise that Jornes can be defeated. As the warrior priest said, we had all already factored in the risk of it backfiring when we agreed to the plan.
“We’re still too far away. Mine and Miria’s attacks won’t reach from here.”
Meltia frowns, looking up at Yornes. She doesn’t seem to be paying any notice to our presence, not having even glanced at us.
“Don’t worry about it. Heh, even our bows won’t reach at this angle. We aren’t Sirius-sama, after all.”
Radda-san says jokingly. The other two warrior priests glare at him, and he scratches his head. Meltia-san also fixes him with a cold glare.
“Sorry. I thought the mood was a bit too dark… But, yeah, it’s not a problem. Our role is simply to attract her attention. We don’t need to be accurate. I’ll call out to her with [Telepathy]. Let’s each do what we can, okay? Remember, we don’t need to hit her, just get her attention.”
“The way you said it aside… You’re right, I guess.”
Meltia-san nods towards Radda-san.
Once we’ve gotten close enough to the angel statue, we begin.
『Saint Jornes-sama! Why are you doing this? We don’t understand! Have we committed some sin? Please, say something! I don’t want to die without at least knowing why!』
Radda-san calls out with [Telepathy] as planned. But Jornes doesn’t show any response at all. The arrows shot by the other warrior priests pass by below her feet.
“[Lucent Luna]!”
Meltia-san holds her sword aloft and shouts. The sunlight touching the blade shoots out as ten orbs of light. However, they only reach as high as the statue’s abdomen. Of course, Jornes doesn’t respond to this either.
“…It was never really a long range skill.”
The [Fire Sphere] I shoot skims past her side. She still takes no notice.
“Both [Telepathy] and arrows failed. She’s just not showing any interest in us.”
Radda-san shrugs his shoulders.
“My [Presence Perception] is picking up on monsters coming this way. This could get bad.”
One of the warrior priests reports bitterly.
The fact that she’s ignoring us so thoroughly makes me think she probably won’t dodge Sirius-san’s arrow. If anything, it’s good she’s so oblivious. If she were to notice and move out of the way, risking our lives would have been completely pointless.
“Ugh… If only there was something that would draw her attention. She’s from thousands of years ago, so I have no idea what interests her…”
“Hmm… I was thinking earlier that it looked like she was waiting for someone. Maybe she’ll show interest if you bait her with that in somehow.”
Radda-san claps his hands and grins.
“I see, not a bad idea. I just need to act like I know what she’s after.”
Radda-san looks up at Jornes.
『Jornes-sama, the person you’re waiting for is already here! How about giving them a greeting! You got the entire Holy City involved to invite them here, after all!』
Jornes twitches and looks down at us. Then, my [Water Ball] bursts against her feet, drenching her legs.
“I hit…!”
I figured it wouldn’t do damage either way, so I switched to using weaker magic. Rather than fire, getting her wet would probably do more to draw her attention.
Jornes frowns at us.
I look at Sirus-san’s group on the opposite side. An arrow point pokes up from up from the rubble, trained on Jornes’ back.
The operation to attack Saint Jornes has begun. Those participating are me, Meltia-san, and eight warrior priests lead by Sirius-san, making a total of ten people.
Five of us have already split away to approach the angel statue from opposite side. The group me and Meltia-san are in is tasked with approaching Jornes from the front and attracting her attention. Then, Sirius-san’s group will attack from her blind spot.
Although, the only one who will actually attack will be Sirius-san. The other four are only going with him to clear the way. They’ll protect him from the monsters, so he can focus on Jornes.
Sirius-san’s bow skill is [Dragonshot]. It coats the arrow in dragon-shaped light, and flies straight towards the target.
It takes a lot of mana, and he needs time to prepare it. However, the attack power and penetration gained is worth it. Sirius-san explained earlier that it’s good for dealing damage against targets with high defence or high [Physical Resistance].
If the [Dragonshot] connects and we can confirm that it did damage, then we’ll have learned that it’s possible to kill Jornes. We’ll probably then want to retreat, but we can take that information to other groups to recruit them, then draw up a plan to kill her. We’ve taken into account the possibility that provoking her could make the situation worse, but the current status quo is too hopeless not to risk it.
With Meltia-san taking the lead, the five of us are approaching Jornes. The beauty that the streets held just days ago has vanished as a result of the monsters’ rampaging, being replaced with rubble and broken statues.
“Do you think this’ll work? Meltia-san?”
“No idea. But it should give us some information.”
Meltia-san replies, looking up at Jornes.
“Sirius-sama’s [Dragonshot] might just make her to come down and start actively attacking. Once that happens, we’ll…”
One of the warrior priests, Radda-san, says.
Radda-san is a short middle-aged man, and I’ve seen him rebuked for his timity by the other warrior priests several times now. He’s easy to get along with, so I’ve talked with him a lot over these past four days.
“Hey! Don’t say something that’ll bring down morale! We factored in the danger! We know it could backfire!”
Having angered one of the other of the warrior priests, Radda-san bows his head down repeatedly in apology.
But, to be honest, I think there’s a good chance he’s correct in his assessment. I didn’t want to object too strongly, because otherwise I would have ended up sending Meltia-san to her death by herself.
It’s very optimistic to think Yornes could be defeated by human hands. She has the rainbow attack magic she used at the start, so if she decided to start using it, we’d have no chance. Right now she’s just floating, but if she starts freely flying around, then it’ll be almost impossible to hit her. On top of that, if we manage to gather enough forces to try and kill her, all she has to do is make that black rain fall again and we’ll be forced to retreat.
But, if we choose to be pessimistic, then we’re already doomed. In order to have the best chance of survival, we have to act on the premise that Jornes can be defeated. As the warrior priest said, we had all already factored in the risk of it backfiring when we agreed to the plan.
“We’re still too far away. Mine and Miria’s attacks won’t reach from here.”
Meltia frowns, looking up at Yornes. She doesn’t seem to be paying any notice to our presence, not having even glanced at us.
“Don’t worry about it. Heh, even our bows won’t reach at this angle. We aren’t Sirius-sama, after all.”
Radda-san says jokingly. The other two warrior priests glare at him, and he scratches his head. Meltia-san also fixes him with a cold glare.
“Sorry. I thought the mood was a bit too dark… But, yeah, it’s not a problem. Our role is simply to attract her attention. We don’t need to be accurate. I’ll call out to her with [Telepathy]. Let’s each do what we can, okay? Remember, we don’t need to hit her, just get her attention.”
“The way you said it aside… You’re right, I guess.”
Meltia-san nods towards Radda-san.
Once we’ve gotten close enough to the angel statue, we begin.
『Saint Jornes-sama! Why are you doing this? We don’t understand! Have we committed some sin? Please, say something! I don’t want to die without at least knowing why!』
Radda-san calls out with [Telepathy] as planned. But Jornes doesn’t show any response at all. The arrows shot by the other warrior priests pass by below her feet.
“[Lucent Luna]!”
Meltia-san holds her sword aloft and shouts. The sunlight touching the blade shoots out as ten orbs of light. However, they only reach as high as the statue’s abdomen. Of course, Jornes doesn’t respond to this either.
“…It was never really a long range skill.”
The [Fire Sphere] I shoot skims past her side. She still takes no notice.
“Both [Telepathy] and arrows failed. She’s just not showing any interest in us.”
Radda-san shrugs his shoulders.
“My [Presence Perception] is picking up on monsters coming this way. This could get bad.”
One of the warrior priests reports bitterly.
The fact that she’s ignoring us so thoroughly makes me think she probably won’t dodge Sirius-san’s arrow. If anything, it’s good she’s so oblivious. If she were to notice and move out of the way, risking our lives would have been completely pointless.
“Ugh… If only there was something that would draw her attention. She’s from thousands of years ago, so I have no idea what interests her…”
“Hmm… I was thinking earlier that it looked like she was waiting for someone. Maybe she’ll show interest if you bait her with that in somehow.”
Radda-san claps his hands and grins.
“I see, not a bad idea. I just need to act like I know what she’s after.”
Radda-san looks up at Jornes.
『Jornes-sama, the person you’re waiting for is already here! How about giving them a greeting! You got the entire Holy City involved to invite them here, after all!』
Jornes twitches and looks down at us. Then, my [Water Ball] bursts against her feet, drenching her legs.
“I hit…!”
I figured it wouldn’t do damage either way, so I switched to using weaker magic. Rather than fire, getting her wet would probably do more to draw her attention.
Jornes frowns at us.
I look at Sirus-san’s group on the opposite side. An arrow point pokes up from up from the rubble, trained on Jornes’ back.
