Paradigm Parasite 221 "Purple Smoke"

221 "Purple Smoke"

I - Ehrman - ran down the stairs and ran out of the quarters to find that it was a terrible ss outside.

There were strange armoured n who looked like Marslan's kind, and for so reason, even demons had entered the place in large numbers, and it was a trendous lee.

...What are those guys?

I've been in this business for a long ti.

That's why I have a certain amount of knowledge about demons.

I've been in this business for a long ti, so I have a fair amount of knowledge about demons, and if I don't know about them, it's a direct link to death, so I've worked really hard to learn about them. There are so that co to mind in terms of similarity, but they are clearly different.

As far as I can see, there are three types.

A humanoid demon with the head of a beast.

A black four-legged demon that looks like a giant Lupus.

And...

I pull out the short spear from my waist and at the sa ti thrust it behind .

The spear catches sothing and a deafening scream is heard.

He quickly drew his spear and at the sa ti made a small leap to distance himself.

The monster appeared as if oozing out of space.

Hard green outer skin, large, black eyes, red pupils.

It was humanoid in shape, but more akin to a sub-race such as orcs or trolls.

The demon looks at angrily and disappears as if lting into the air.

I click my tongue and warn my surroundings with my short spear at the ready.

... nasty.

If I can't catch it with my eyes, I use my other senses to grasp its movents.

I eliminate the sounds of the battle around from my mind and concentrate on the sounds at close range.

Great concealnt form. Not only is it invisible, but there is hardly any sign of it.

...But breathing and moving are two different things.

Mud and rainwater bounce off it as it walks. The ears pick up faint sounds mixed in with the rainfall.

The footsteps heard are one in front and one behind.

The sound is recognisable by its forcefulness. Leap.

I can read the trajectory of the flight from the sound and my own position.

I will kill one of them and make sure I kill the other one.

I throw the spear forward and diagonally upwards at the right mont.

I run forward without looking at the result.

I hear a scream as the spear catches sothing in the air behind .

As soon as he turned around, a huge object hit the ground.

At the sa ti, he passed magic power through the bracelet fitted to his wrist.

The short spear that was pierced by the demon cos back to my hand.

This one is not a supplied item, but one that I have used for a long ti.

It is paired with a bracelet, and if you pass magic power through it, the spear will return to your hand.

However, it is limited to a distance that can be clearly seen, so you have to be careful about that.

The short spear supplied to is attached to my waist.

While pulling it out, throw the spear back into the hand.

A hard sound is heard and the spear flies off in an unexpected direction.

Was it hit? But that point has already been taken into account.

The remaining spear is spun in the hand.

The spear glows thinly and exhales light purple smoke.

Short spear of purple smoke.

The weapon the Order gave to commorate my becoming a knight of the cathedral.

It produces smoke that absorbs magic. This smoke is limited, but when it touches magic, it cancels it.

It also blocks vision, so it has a wide range of uses, including escape and defence, and is very useful.

It is literally a smoke screen.

Head-on fights are the exclusive domain of the Christella girl, not mine.

...So I left the place in a cloud of smoke.

Naturally, there was a chase, but I managed to escape without any problems thanks to my light armour.

Light Armour of Confusion.

The effects are invisibility and alteration.

To be precise, it's a childish trick that only gives the illusion that sothing is there, but it's not foolproof.

Four signs of and disappearing.

Running in separate directions. The demon showed signs of hesitation and then went after my alter ego.

As I move, I take out a magic stone and contact my n.

Fortunately, it seems that my subordinates are currently working with Christella's subordinates to clear the enemy.

However, the scale of the enemy and their exact objectives are unknown.

I have heard, albeit briefly, from my n that the enemy is attacking to close the circle after encircling the area.

It is clearly a move of encirclent and annihilation, and I can only assu that it is simply aid at the fall of this base.

I don't know if they have other aims, but with the information available, I can't co to any other conclusion.

The move can only be thought of as an attempt to kill itself.

The number of those equipped with strange armour is small.

But we can see that the three types of demons we saw earlier are entering the area in large numbers.

It pains not to know the exact number. Because of this darkness and the rain, sound and sight are limited.

...I'm starting to feel like I should run away...

Seriously, the longer I stay, the more dangerous I feel.

I want to escape, but my position doesn't allow to do so.

Let's say I did run away as fast as I could. Well, you could go on your own without any problems.

But it would certainly be regarded as a breach of trust and pursuers would be sent after you.

Your social standing would be dead and you would be a wanted man.

Well, as long as the situation doesn't allow you to escape, you'll just have to hold on here.

-Hellman! You're alive!

Suddenly there was a reaction on one of the magic stones, so I let the magic through and heard Stanislas' voice.

--Sothing.

--You're all right. What's the situation over there? We're gathering our forces in the office building and we're going to intercept them.

That's a good decision.

As long as the enemy's aim is strongly set on extermination, it's not a good idea to spread out.

Stanislas must have sohow read the enemy's aim from their movents.

-- The enemy's strength was confird at one point. The majority of them are demons that I have never seen before, although I also confird those who seem to be mbers of DARZAIN. I don't know when they beca able to follow such a large number of demons...

--I don't know how long they've been able to follow such a large number of demons. I don't know who they are. Are they DARZAIN assassins or sothing else? I hear they're good at hiding, using magic tools to disappear...

--No, they are demons. I killed one just now, but it was pretty tough.

Intelligence that allows them to act in coordination with their companions after disappearing if they think they are going to attack on impulse.

Like the others, their movents are also precise attack actions that make use of the high physical capabilities unique to demons.

There are no signs of mistakenly attacking black dressing gowns or armour.

No matter how you look at it, it is perfectly controlled.

How did Darzine get hold of him? Is it a by-product of your demon research?

With my ability, I can manage up to a few of them, but it's tough when they're cut down by a dozen or so.

--I see. But where the hell did they co from? I heard that the armour and the followers fell from the sky, but the first ones that set them off must have co along the mountain path...

--I wouldn't be surprised if they jumped over the gate, judging by the way they're moving.

It's this ti of night. Not many people out and about.

It would be difficult to do so without being seen, but if you move along the roof of the house, it would not be impossible to co here without being seen too much.

...No, I don't have to go through all that trouble, but I can go in a simple disguise if I'm in human form.

And the fact that they ca straight here ans that we should assu that the mountain gates on all four sides have been seized.

It's obvious that they would be ambushed if they went down the mountain to escape.

--Should we assu that - the gates have been overrun...?

Stanislas seems to have co to the sa conclusion.

-Hermann. You, too, co to the office building. If we disperse, we will be destroyed individually.

To tell you the truth, I would like to, but I can't leave Cristela behind and I want to gather information.

--No, I'll gather so more information. I'll get so more information from Kristela at .......

Oh, shoot. I forgot to ntion Marslan.

Shit! I'm getting impatient.

--I forgot to ntion that Marslan was in the armour.

--What? What do you an?

Stanislas is upset, perhaps because he didn't expect it.

--It's nothing. They attacked us with the armour. Now Cristela is dealing with them.

-Well... if Crystella is dealing with them, then there's no problem.

I agree on that point.

I don't know how much that armour has changed his fighting strength, but as long as he is a Marselan inside, I don't think he will lose to Cristela.

It's true that Marslan is strong.

There's no doubt that he's stronger than if we were to do it properly, but Cristela is literally outclassed.

Not many people can win a proper fight with that young lady in a head-to-head battle.

But although Cristela is strong, she is not invincible and there are no absolutes in battle.

-Do you think Marslan was responsible for this incident?

--No, I don't think so. From the way he spoke, he was a complete errand boy.

I can tell you that.

--What about... manipulation?

--I can't say that... not at ....... He seed a bit drunken in his tone, but he seed sane to .

--I understand. You continue to gather information. If you see Cristela, tell her to co to the office building.

--The other side is defending itself while staying in the castle?

When I ask this, Stanislas is a little cagey.

--No, we're going to strike out.

Launching? That's not what you just said.

-Only those in charge have been taught this, but there is a back-up technique that is only allowed to be used in an ergency. Use it to turn the tide of the battle.

...What's that? Is there such a thing?

--Is that secret hand really that powerful?

--Yes, that's what I've heard. But it takes ti to prepare.

I see. So it's a siege defence.

--I dare not ask what it is, but I'm counting on it. I'm counting on it.

--If you know anything too, please let know. If you can't, co here imdiately.

I say yes and end the call by switching off the magic.

...that's what I hear...?

I know it sounds great, but maybe I shouldn't expect too much.

I checked my surroundings and heard the sounds of battle moving gradually.

This is probably due to people moving and the battlefield being settled.

I moved out of sight from the area, my armour having taken effect and I remained invisible.

There is much to do and much to be done.

And ti is running short. I need to hurry.

I put strength into my legs as I build up a plan in my head of how to move.