Mobuseka Volume 13 Chapter 7

This is MTL. So, I cannot guarantee that the translation 100% contextually accurate or appropriate.

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Chapter 7 "The Twin Priestess"

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Part 1

On the bridge of the flying battleship, Nix was holding on to the railing.

The ship is shaking violently, and when he looks out the window, he sees monsters everywhere.

"Is this war? It's too different from the wars I know."

Optical weapons and live ammunition fired from allied old human weapons were blasting away at the surrounding monsters.

But no matter how many times they defeat them, monsters are sent out from the Empire's army to attack them.

From the communication device, all you hear is the inorganic voice of an artificial intelligence.

[Go forward. No need to bother with interceptions.]

Barkas, who was sitting in a chair, swung his fist on the railing.

"Are you telling us to just move through this without doing anything?"

Even after hearing Barkas's angry voice, there was no change in the reply.

[All armies, move forward]

Normally, this would be a scene where the speed would be reduced and the armor would be dispatched.

If the surrounding monsters are not defeated, they will be attached to the flying battleship and knocked down.

However, Fact and other artificial intelligence did not allow it.

It just orders them to move forward.

If they don't, they won't survive, he thought.

Nix was also annoyed.

"It's easy for you to say, but the enemy is retreating. It's impossible to catch up with them through this!"

The retreating Empire army was at a distance that could not be seen even with binoculars.

The problem is the speed of their retreat, as well as the fact that Empire troops cannot be detected because they are blocked by the monster hordes.

The ship is retreating with its head toward them, but it seems to be going down at the same speed as it is going forward, perhaps thanks to Arcadia's magic.

It was too different from what Nix knew to be the norm.

Even so, Barkas shouts out to the panicked sailors.

"Everyone, now follow orders and move full speed ahead! If we hesitate, our allies behind us will stop in their tracks. Now, move forward even just a little!"

If their speed, which is located in the front, slows down, it will affect their allies in the rear.

Understanding that, Barkas shouted to step forward.

Nix looks back at Barkas for his opinion as he holds onto the railing in the swaying ship.

"Dad, are you telling us to rush through all those monsters at full speed!? Besides, just now——"

Before he could continue, the area ahead became bright.

The captain shouts, rolling his eyes.

"Everybody, grab something!"

Immediately the ship shook more violently than ever, and the space battleship, with its shields deployed ahead of it, exploded.

The Bartfalt family's flying battleship passes by the sinking space battleship.

Nix, watching the scene, wiped away a cold sweat.

"Two of the same flying battleships as Luxion have already sunk"

It was good that they were able to prevent a large light from engulfing the fleet, but the thought of it being an enemy attack made them afraid to move forward.

The crew advises Barkas with tears in their eyes.

"My lord, it's too dangerous to go any further! We must fall back!"

Even though those around him cried, Barkas folded his arms and looked ahead.

"No. If Leon chose to do it this way, it must be meaningful. That guy acts to win. Believe in him now and keep going!"

No matter how much they advance, the Empire's fleet is not in sight.

Nix is impatient.

(Leon, are you sure everything is okay?)

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Part 2

At that time, Facto and the others were repeating calculations over and over again.

As a result, their strategy inevitably ends up failing.

[At this rate, we will lose our shield ship before we can get close to Arcadia.]

If that happens, this battle is over.

The surrounding artificial intelligences repeated the recalculation, but it did not help.

As it was about to make a decision to switch to the next best option, Facto received a communication.

The other party is Creare.

[Looks like you're in trouble.]

[Creare —— What do you want? You're a relay in Licorne]

[Ara, What a cold response. I was trying to suggest a way to overcome this situation.]

[A way overcome?]

[I've sent you the data. We'll take care of the rest, so take care of the troublesome processing, okay. Ah! Also, I’ll bring Licorne to the front.]

Even after the communication is cut off, Facto raises the volume of its voice and calls out for Creare.

[Don't put Licorne who has the important role of relaying communications in the front of the line! Do you hear me, Creare!]

The artificial intelligences around looked at each other with their single eye as they looked at each other.

And then they conclude.

[We agree with Creare's strategy.]

Facto says sneeringly and yellingly.

[Adopt Creare's strategy! At the same time, the evaluation of Creare has been revised downwards!]

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Part 3

On the bridge of Licorne, Noel took off her cloak.

It was Marie, who was close to Noel, who helped take care of the folded cloak.

When Noel begins to perform flexibility exercises such as bending and stretching in her pilot suit, Marie sighs and smiles in dismay.

"I don't think you should be dressed like that. Maybe it's Leon's hobby?"

Noel was laughing as she flexed her muscles.

"Maybe so. The way he looked at me when I showed it to him was indecent."

"Uwaah~, I didn't really want to hear that. ——And you're serious about doing it?"

When asked if she was serious, Noel finished her stretching exercises and put on a serious face.

"I'll do it."

It was the worried Livia who spoke to Noel after she made her decision.

"As I thought, I'm the one who should do it."

When Livia said she would do it, Noel waved her hand to show her refusal.

"It's okay. And Olivia has her hands full with things, right? I think this is where I——we're trying our best."

The back of Noel's right hand glowed faintly, and a crest recognized by the Sacred Tree appeared on her pilot suit.

It is the crest of a priestess.

When Livia was about to say something, Ange put her hand on Livia's shoulder and made her pull back.

As it is, she says to Noel.

"Show them the power of the Republic, which was undefeated in its defense."

Noel smiled bitterly at Ange's words.

"It's a story that's prefaced with "until Leon comes". Are you perhaps being sarcastic?"

Ange chuckled.

"Maybe so. ——Noel, I have high hopes for you."

"Leave it to me!"

As Noel stands at the front of the bridge, Creare projects a hologram around her, making preparations.

One of the holograms showed Lelia's figure.

It is as if Lelia, who should not be here, is standing next to Noel.

Although it is a 3D image, it is also possible to have a voice conversation.

The twins looked at each other.

"Aneki, are you ready?"

"Of course. Lelia, don't make any noise in the middle."

"I don't want to hear it from aneki who dresses like that."

"Let me tell you, the performance is good! Leon was happy with it too!"

"Don't speak about your loved one at a time like this!"

Noel, who was teased about her pilot suit, blushed and protested.

Creare announces that everything is ready.

[You two, any time you're ready.]

Noel closed her eyes on the spot and took one deep breath, and even though she didn't say anything, Lelia did the same action.

Then they slowly open their eyes and open their mouths.

"Lend me your strength, Sacred Tree."

"Emil, cooperate with us"

The sacred tree on the bridge generated a green light that enveloped Licorne.

The monsters attacked Licorne, who was enveloped in a pale green light —— but when they approached it, they disappeared.

"Don't you dare underestimate the sacred tree just because it's a young tree."

Noel's side ponytail floated and swung.

It was the same with Lelia.

"There's no point in you guys getting in our way anymore."

As the threat of the monsters is lost, the speed of the kingdom's army increases.

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Part 4

In the face of the Kingdom's army fighting off the monster hordes, the Empire Army's headquarters was in an uproar.

The kingdom's army, enveloped in a pale green light, pushes its way through the monsters toward them.

What the hell did they do? The people in the command center were in an uproar, trying to find out what was going on.

Among them, only Moritz was staring at the monitor with his arms crossed.

Arcadia squinted her large eyes as it observed the kingdom's army.

[——Is it because of the white airship that came out before emitting a faint light?]

It was confirmed that the Kingdom's army had made some changes to its formation.

But it was hard to predict what they did until they did it.

In the meantime, the Empire's military strategists have discovered the cause.

"Is it true that you have identified the flying battleships of the Republic?"

"Yes. There is no doubt about it."

"I heard rumors about the power of the sacred tree? But that shouldn't activate unless you're near the sacred tree."

Hearing people talking around it, Arcadia gathered up the information and grinned.

People around Arcadia looked at it creepily.

[A plant that absorbs magic elements? But isn't the sacred tree a rather grandiose name?]

As it says so, the main body of Arcadia begins to attack.

Instead of the main gun, magic circles appeared all over the main body.

[It's just a little test.]

The beam-like light condensing magic power emitted from it extends toward the kingdom's army.

Even if that light were to be detected, the kingdom's army's flying battleships would be unable to withstand it and would be destroyed and shot down.

It fired hundreds of such beams at the kingdom's army.

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Part 5

Allied ships under attack from the Empire —— Arcadia was protected by the barrier of the sacred tree created by Noel and Lelia.

However, each time they are attacked, both Noel and Lelia are under a heavy burden.

Noel was soaked in an unpleasant sweat.

"Noel-san!?"

Hearing Livia's worried voice, Noel turned around and smiled.

It was an awkward smile because she forced herself to smile.

"I'm fine if it's on this level. We'd be in trouble if people underestimated us."

Lelia, who was projected as a hologram next to Noel, was stunned by Noel's insistence.

She looked stunned, yet somewhat pleased.

It should be as painful as Noel's, but the twins still show their willpower.

"Isn't that a little hard on, aneki? You probably didn't have many opportunities to use the power of the sacred tree."

"Aren't you the one who's at the end of your rope? You could take it easy here because I'm your big sister."

"I thought you had grown up and matured a bit, but you're still the same annoying sister."

The twin sisters were stubborn with each other.

Noel looked forward and thrust out her fist.

"Don't think you can break our defenses with this level!"

They declared to Arcadia, which could be seen in the distance.

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Part 6

Arcadia, whose attack was blocked, was slightly startled and turned its eyes.

But that's it.

It quickly reverts back to its normal expression.

[I see, I guess we can't pierce it at this level. ——However, it is hard to believe that such a large barrier can be prepared unconditionally.]

From the timing of its use, Arcadia saw that there was a limit to the protection provided by the sacred tree.

[Is it a trump card to close the distance, or is there a condition —— But can they block this one?]

A huge magic circle appeared in front of the main body of Arcadia, and several magic circles were deployed around it.

Multiple magic circles were used to concentrate the power of the main gun.

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Part 7

Facto and other artificial intelligences were performing calculations on the scene created by Noel and Lelia.

Facto mutters.

[——Revise upward the evaluation of Miss Noel and Miss Lelia. Their work has brought us much closer to victory.]

With the threat of monsters removed and their speed increased, the Kingdom's army closed the distance with the Empire's army.

The surrounding artificial intelligences inform the results of the recalculation.

[Arcadia can be approached before we lose the shield ship]

Facto was confident that if things continued like this, they would be able to maintain their military strength better than planned.

That means the winning rate has increased.

[Let them maintain their speed and stay in formation.]

It immediately issues an order, but one of the artificial intelligences issues a warning.

"Arcadia prepares to fire its main guns. The target is——Licorne."

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Part 8

Immediately after receiving word from Facto that they were being targeted by Arcadia.

Creare was flustered.

[That bastard! They are targeting us because we're in their way!]

Noel, who was busy controlling the sacred tree, had sweat on her forehead as Creare expressed her annoyance.

Yumeria is worried.

"Noel-sama."

Noel winked at the teary-eyed Yumeria.

"I'm fine. Because this is the place for us to show off. If we don't do our best here, we won't be able to be proud of ourselves in front of Leon. ——Lelia, don't run away just because you're scared."

"I hope you don't fall down, aneki."

The twin sisters were exchanging light banter as Arcadia's main gun aimed at them.

The two of them put on a brave front.

Both Noel and Lelia somehow understood each other's thoughts.

(If we don't create some leeway here, things will be tough later on —— Then we have to stand our ground here.)

Noel looked at Lelia with determination, and she nodded, as if she understood what she was trying to say.

Noel smiled at Lelia, who gave a small nod.

"Tell them not to bring the shield ship forward."

Creare turned around at that statement.

[Don't tell me you're going to take on Arcadia's main gun? You don't have to be so reckless.]

"If we don't do something reckless here, when are we going to do it? ——Don't worry. Even like this, I'm quite persistent."

When Noel smiled, Livia made a praying gesture with her hands together.

"Noel-san——Good luck."

"I told you to leave it to me. Besides —— If Leon were in my position, he would definitely say that he wants to stand out and show his worth here."

If her significant other were in the same position, he would surely have been reckless in this situation.

That's why she can hold her ground, too.

Noel and Lelia both put their right hands forward, and two magic circles with the crest of a priestess appeared in front of Licorne.

Noel, and Lelia's crest.

Lelia says.

"Get our allies behind Licorne! We'll definitely take it!"

Creare warns.

[Here it comes!]

Immediately after, a dark red light rushed towards Licorne.

The first one who blocked it was Lelia's magic circle, who was in agony next to Noel.

"Lelia!?"

Noel's voice is worried, and Lelia says, her breathing ragged.

[I can't lose the life —— that Emile saved me in a place like this!]

Lelia endured to the limit with all her strength, but the magic circle shattered in the process.

Then, this time, a heavy burden falls on Noel.

"It's tough"

Under the force of Arcadia's main gun, her body felt like it was about to be thrown out.

But Noel's heart makes her hold out.

"I want to still be alive. With everyone else——with Leon——that's why we can't die in a place like this!"

As the back of her right hand glowed strongly, Noel's crest held out against Arcadia's main gun.

Kara and Kyle are happy to jump up and down behind Noel.

They hugged each other and looked really happy.

"They did it, they did it, Kyle-kun!"

"Yeah! They've endured it all!"

Hearing their voices, Noel sat down as if to collapse on the spot.

Before she knew it, she was drenched in sweat and out of breath.

"Haha——Did you see that——"

The next thing she knew, Ange and Livia had come to her side, and Marie had also rushed to her side.

Marie looks at Lelia.

"You've done well."

Noel looks next to her and sees that Lelia has collapsed and seems to be unconscious.

She was held up with the help of others around her.

Apparently, she's still breathing.

Noel thanks Lelia, who is unconscious.

"You really helped us out, thank you."

Ange and Livia held Noel in their arms as she passed out.

"You endured well."

"Yes. Thanks to that, we've gotten closer to the Empire's army."

The Empire's forces had come close enough that they could be seen with the naked eye.

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Part 9

The bridge of the flying battleship of the Republic of Alzer.

There was the figure of Lelia, held by Clement.

"Ojou-sama! Lelia ojou-sama!!"

Clement, who was at her side as an escort, frantically called out to her, and Lelia woke up.

While looking very pained, she asks about the situation.

"W-What happened to the attack?"

"! Yes, thanks to the efforts of the ladies, our allies have suffered no casualties! We've managed to close the distance with the Empire's army."

The distance earned by the two girls is of great importance in this war.

Those around her had respect for Lelia, who had done such a great job.

Soldiers who had time to spare saluted Lelia.

Lelia, who had successfully fulfilled her role, smiled at the surrounding situation, even though she was sweating.

"I'm glad to hear that. Sorry——it's a little tough, I need to rest."

Perhaps relieved to hear the report, Lelia, who was at her limit, let go of her consciousness.

"You both have grown up so well."

Lelia is held and supported by Clement.