I called out to Pigi-maru.
"One more connection."
"Pi! …Pi?"
Hm?
"What's wrong?"
"Pi… Pinyuu~…"
A tired-sounding cry.
"Maybe… it's too much?"
"Pi… Pinii~…"
My MP reserves were still plenty.
But it seemed the strain on Pigi-maru was heavier than I had thought.
This was the first time I had tried using it consecutively.
That connection devoured MP like crazy.
Just maintaining the connected state caused MP to keep dropping.
That was why I had temporarily released the connection earlier…
"Sorry… I didn't pay enough attention to the burden it puts on you."
The connection put a load on me too.
I had figured it would be the same for Pigi-maru.
But until now, Pigi-maru had never shown any sign of fatigue.
"It was my mistake not to notice."
"Pi!? Piyuu~!"
The cry sounded like he was desperately defending me.
Pigi-maru let out an apologetic voice.
"Pinyunyuu~…"
"Relax. I'm not blaming you, and I'm not angry. It was my error for assuming I could use it consecutively in short bursts as long as I had MP."
"So even you have things you cannot foresee."
Eve's voice came from behind.
When I looked, Seras was there too.
I thought I had only told them to report the situation…
"I'm sorry. She insisted she wanted to speak with you."
Liz was also standing beside Seras.
Eve stepped forward.
"I heard the situation. Let me join the fight."
"It's fine. Seras and I can handle it."
"Seras looks exhausted."
The exchange with Muaji must have worn down Seras's nerves.
She had taken a short rest with my [Sleep].
Even so, her sleep time had been minimal.
For her, recovering from fatigue was not easy.
"I will take on the role of stepping forward to protect you. Right now my energy and stamina are both at their peak. Above all, it would not sit right with me to make only the two of you fight."
I turned the idea over in my mind.
The strongest deathmatch fighter.
Seras, who was still carrying fatigue.
I had planned to have Eve work later, but…
"All right, I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me."
"However, if the guide to the Forbidden Witch dies, it will all be for nothing. Fight with that in mind."
"If I feel we are at a disadvantage, I should retreat without hesitation, right?"
"I'm glad you understand so quickly. Then Seras, you protect Liz."
"Understood. I'm counting on you, Eve."
"Mm. Touka, will you be all right on your end?"
"Probably."
I could not use the ultra-long-range attack that relied on the connection with Pigi-maru.
But my status abnormality skills were still fully usable.
This was not like facing the Five Dragon Warriors.
I was also receiving some status correction from my level.
"U-um…"
Liz spoke hesitantly.
Seras crouched down and asked.
"What is it?"
"If you think you need Seras-sama's power, please don't worry about me and fight for Touka-sama."
"Liz…?"
"I know I am the one who can contribute the least on the way to the Forbidden Witch… I also know that I, who cannot fight, am causing trouble for everyone…"
Liz closed her eyes and clenched both hands in front of her chest.
"I don't think it's right for my sister or Touka-sama to be put in danger… for someone like me…"
Seras's eyes softened gently.
She placed a hand on Liz's shoulder.
"I understand. Thank you for your consideration."
Perhaps because she had taken in Liz's resolve and feelings, Seras did not refuse the offer.
Liz's eyes were slightly teary.
She really was a good kid.
On the other hand, Eve wore a worried expression.
For Eve, Liz's safety was probably the top priority.
I spoke in a low voice.
"She says that, but Seras won't abandon Liz's protection and rush out. Don't worry."
Then I gave out the instructions.
Seras would take Liz a little deeper into the woods.
Eve and I would meet the enemy here.
To complete the plan, I needed to wipe out the first wave as well.
In short, I wanted to finish them all together.
A chaotic melee after luring them into the woods should be avoided.
The chance of losing sight of them and letting some escape would rise.
So it was probably best to intercept them right here.
"I will act as the decoy and draw them in. Touka, hide in that grass over there. Once they enter your range, paralyze them with that power of yours."
I accepted the plan.
The enemies' target was Eve Speed.
When I thought about it that way, Eve was the most suitable decoy.
"Are there any opponents among the duke's private soldiers I should watch out for?"
"The duke's royal guards are the most outstanding fighters among the private soldiers. If I had to name one, it would be the captain of the private soldiers, Costello."
"Is he strong?"
"In Monroy he is rumored to be second only to the dragon slayer in strength. I have heard he was once part of the Magic War Knights."
I still had no idea how strong the dragon slayer actually was.
"How does he compare to Eve Speed?"
"Many people wanted to see which of us was stronger and tried to make us fight. But our swords have never crossed. I do not know his true strength either."
"An unknown factor, huh."
"Mm. However, when they passed by earlier, I did not see him among the first wave—n?"
Eve's ears twitched.
She looked behind us.
In the opposite direction from the returning first wave.
Lights were approaching.
"The third wave?"
I voiced my guess.
"They may have been advancing slowly until now. Then they saw the light Seras released and sped up."
The first wave had been eager for merit.
The Ashinto in the second wave had probably been the same.
Both groups had wanted to find Eve first and claim the credit.
So who would not need to rush for merit?
Someone on the side that grants the credit.
"The third wave might include the duke himself."
Judging from their speed and distance…
The returning first wave would arrive sooner.
If the two forces merged and their numbers increased, the chance of letting some escape might rise again.
"Let's take them down one group at a time. First, we'll crush the first wave."
Eve drew her sword.
"Understood."
"I'd prefer not to let even one escape. So draw them in as much as possible before engaging, if you can."
"I'll try."
I already knew the numbers in the first wave from when they had passed by earlier.
Other soldiers who had been searching the woods had joined them at that time.
So that should be all of them.
"Can you grasp the current number in the first wave?"
Eve concentrated.
Before long,
"I have it."
Eve told me the number.
It matched the count I had made earlier.
They had not split their forces like Muaji.
They seemed to be charging in one honest clump.
"That's convenient."
The sound of hooves grew louder.
The first wave was closing in.
"We finally found you, Eve Speed! Too bad! We already saw through your decoy! You cannot escape from us!"
They had probably seen the light and hurriedly turned back.
So saying they had "seen through" it was not entirely accurate.
They also made no mention of that light.
"Look at that!"
"Mu!? Those people lying over there… are they Ashinto!? F—fuhaha! In the end, their so-called curses were nothing but cheap tricks! I never liked them anyway!"
"His Grace the Duke was furious! If we present him with the leopardkin's pathetic corpse, he will surely be pleased!"
"Mm! Things are turning in our favor! We won't have to let those royal guards act so high and mighty anymore!"
"Wahahaha! Thanks for running away, you fake human! To tell the truth, we all hated how you defective humans were being praised!"
Eve remained silent.
"Wahahaha! What's wrong!? Did seeing our numbers sap your will to fight!?"
The man at the front charged toward Eve on horseback.
The lead man raised his sword high.
"I'll take your head—!"
All right.
They had all entered the range.
To make sure I caught every last one, I leaped out from the grass with my hand still thrust forward.
"[Paralyze]"
"—U, oh…!?"
The private soldiers and their horses came to an abrupt stop.
The lead man remained frozen with his sword raised.
The other private soldiers were also halted by paralysis.
They looked as if they had been nailed to the ground.
"Wh… I can't move…?"
"What… is that man…?"
I could feel the panic spreading through all of them.
"[Poison]"
As soon as I inflicted poison on the private soldiers, groans of agony began to rise.
Range, area, compatibility.
The standard paralyze-and-poison combo was extremely effective.
"Touka."
Eve called to me.
"Yeah, I know."
That was right—it was not over yet.
The sound of hooves striking the ground from another direction.
They were close.
They were almost here.
The third wave.
"They're here."
Eve said.
"There is nowhere left to run, you ungrateful fake human! Even if you flee into the woods it is useless, useless, useless! You cannot escape anymore! How dare you mock us! Do not think you can get away from this Duke Zuan—!"
"Duke Zuan."
Eve bared her fangs and let out a low, beast-like growl.