[This chapter was a nightmare to get out...]
Chapter 450: Dragons, O Dragons! Part Twenty-Seven
Pencilgon: “What is that jumbo value pack of buffs?!”
Oikatzo: “Damage bonus and regen... No, it looks more like it checks for healing at set intervals.”
Pencilgon: “Damn it... That thing really is unfair...”
Pencilgon groaned as she glared up at Skull Azuchi, which was wrapped in a clearly abnormal radiance.
The condition shown was that the target had to be fighting Noirlind, but even players fighting something other than the black dragon could still check the effects they would receive.
The incredible buffs, probably using all of Skull Azuchi’s resources, were more than enough to make the players’ eyes light up.
Oikatzo: “What do we do, Leader? Hit them until they stop?”
Pencilgon: “Good idea. Now let’s figure out how to hit them while keeping our own hands clean.”
Pencilgon and Oikatzo were fighting Blockentreed rather than Noirlind.
Pencilgon was there to gather the surviving Mandies so she could interfere with the anti-Noirlind faction.
Oikatzo was searching for Argent Owl, who had been rampaging back and forth between the white and green dragons.
Their goals were completely different, but their destination was the same, so they had ended up fighting together.
Pencilgon: “Even with the top clans calling the shots, the other side has Knights Tempura and others backing them, so we barely have an advantage... And there’s no way we can offer anything equal to Skull Azuchi’s buffs... Hey, Katzo-kun. I’ve got about three dirty ideas, but using all of them would cause trouble for everyone else, wouldn’t it?”
Oikatzo’s eyes widened.
It was extremely rare for Pencilgon to show any “hesitation” over a dirty plan.
If it would only cause trouble for Sunraku and Oikatzo, she would have carried it out without a second thought.
But Wolfgang no longer consisted solely of scoundrels. Even in Oikatzo’s eyes, some members were simply not suited for “unhealthy” gameplay.
Part of him wondered why a woman who had spectacularly ruined her own relative was suddenly pretending to be a good person...
But no.
That wasn’t it.
Oikatzo: “...Even so, we have to do it, right?”
Pencilgon: “...Yeah.”
Pencilgon was not truly hesitating. Even if she had been, she would never have shown it this openly.
So why was she acting so obvious about it?
Because it was an act, of course.
Pencilgon: “All right, let’s do it!”
She announced the beginning of the plan right on cue, acting as though there were circumstances forcing her to do something she truly did not want to do.
The Mandies had been pretending to deal with Blockentreed while making its huge body lumber around and quietly interfering with the movements of the other players.
When Pencilgon raised her hand high and snapped her fingers, their behavior changed.
Pencilgon: “My Mandies! We’re changing battlefields! Other Mandies too!!”
Mandies: “YEEEEAAAAAH!!”
The figures in heavy armor roared in celebration.
Pencilgon led the Mandies toward the next battlefield as they marched forward with heavy, pounding steps, like a conductor leading an orchestra.
Pencilgon: “Focus entirely on defense! Do not attack at all! Protect the players from Noirlind’s attacks!!”
Oikatzo: “Ah, human shields... Though which side of the wall they’re actually protecting is another question.”
A tank stood at the very front and served as a breakwater against enemy attacks.
But if they simply “stayed” there, one entire part of the battle line would remain occupied at all times.
Pencilgon: “Oh, come on. We’re reducing the damage caused by Noirlind... It’s kindness. Pure kindness!”
Zenith Guevara and Super Farmer had already done plenty to advertise the Mandies because they wanted information about them to spread.
As a precaution, spy-roleplay players working for Zenith Guevara and Pencilgon had also been mixed in among those who moved toward Noirlind.
Since the Mandies had achieved decent results against Blockentreed, no one was likely to actively drive them away.
Pencilgon: “Next up is... Oh, perfect timing. Hey there, samurai rabbit!”
Ceecrue: “Hmm? You are Pencilgon-dono?!”
Perhaps there was no longer any reason to hide his appearance here. Like Diale and Emul, the rabbit in samurai clothing was running openly beneath the eyes of the crowd.
Pencilgon stopped him, then looked over the humanoid figures behind him whose reptilian features stood out strongly and smiled.
Pencilgon: “Excellent, excellent. It’s wonderful that you’re with the Lizardmen... Are you heading toward Akitsu Akane-chan?”
Ceecrue: “Indeed I am, de gozaru.”
Pencilgon: “Nice! Akitsu Akane-chan told me about the Lizardmen and Dragonfolk. If you’re going to join that group, I’d like you to casually protect Noirlind.”
Ceecrue: “Does Noirlind truly require our protection, de gozaru?”
Pencilgon repeatedly slapped Ceecrue on the shoulder and gave him a wide grin.
Pencilgon: “What matters is showing that Noirlind has followers. I’m counting on you!!”
Ceecrue: “Hmm, understood! ...Wait, why are you lifting me into the air, de gozaru?! W-wait! Noaaaaah...?!”
For some reason, the reptilian people raised Ceecrue above their heads like a portable shrine and carried him away.
They gave off the same feeling as Sunraku when he got carried away—meaning they did not look likely to listen to anyone.
A brief worry passed through Pencilgon’s mind.
Was it really safe to let those people even slightly out from under her control?
No.
Pencilgon slapped both cheeks and pulled herself together.
A battle situation was always fluid—an unstable, living thing.
Accounting for some uncertainty when forming a plan was one of the basics.
An irregularity of that level was nothing to fear...
[Irregularity Number Two]
Argent Owl: “Heeey! Ke-tzo, let’s go hit Blockentreed too!!”
Oikatzo: “Wait, where are you grabbing meeee...?!”
[Irregularity Number Three]
[The body of the white dragon Bryleinyego turns inside out as its life enters mortal danger.]
[Caution! Hazard Mode!!]
[Irregularity Number Four]
Blockentreed: “TOTTORIIIIII!!”
Tottori the Shimane: “Why do you keep targeting only meeeee?!”
[Irregularity Number Five]
Siegwurm: “Hahaha... Kuhahahahahahaha!! You dared utter that ‘name’! Then I shall reduce this so-called immortality of yours to ashes with every ounce of my being!! Behold my Dragon King Engine: Dragon × Driver, as befits the Sky Ruler!!”
...
...
Pencilgon: “This battlefield’s way too lively, damn it! Fine, bring it on!!”
Pencilgon’s shout rang through the night sky before disappearing into the noise of the battlefield...