Chapter 949 Raid
After our casual conversation, Renatta decided to head back to her room, fatigue tugging at her. As for me, I chose to linger, wide awake and gazing at the night sky, contemplating the course of events since my return. I felt disconnected from my initial purpose, my intent to seek revenge against Kazuki now seeming insignificant amidst the myriad incidents that had unfolded.
In hindsight, I've come to realize the superficiality of my initial motivations when I accepted the opportunity to revisit the past. My primary goal, it appears, wasn't mere vengeance but rather the chance to alter the fate of all involved.
Even though I hated betrayals and almost died because of that, the enduring presence of Janus, despite his betrayal, doesn't invoke resentment within me. It's my fault for failing to forewarn him. I wonder about his current circumstances, but he seems to have forsaken any concern for us. We must press forward, yet there's a lingering sense that our paths may cross again, sooner or later.
Before I knew it, morning had arrived. The sun's light spilled into the room, and the Spirit Servants began their daily tasks, stirring me from my restless night.
"Didn't get a wink of sleep..."
I massaged my temple, rising from the bench to return to my quarters. It didn't seem like sleep was in the cards for me right now.
"Time to gear up for the raid..."
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One by one, my comrades began to stir. Akira and Sora were the early risers, followed by Pandora. Alena and Labo accompanied by Pixie, were up soon after. It was a bit disheartening to see Pixie bonding more with them than with me, her supposed Master, but I guess fairies like her weren't commonly seen around humans. A bit disappointing, though.
Avos and Mila emerged next, with Renatta trailing behind, being the last to join the group.
Meanwhile, I kept busy preparing breakfast. Since the Spirit Butler had awoken earlier, I'd asked for the role of a temporary cook until a replacement was found. He'd agreed, and now I was diligently making use of the leftover ingredients.
By the time everyone was up, I'd finished cooking a nourishing meal. Avos and Mila were still on the mend, and the rest needed sustenance to shake off any lingering debuffs. I couldn't say how long those effects would linger, but I hoped they'd be gone by now.
I instructed the butler to have the servants serve the food promptly, letting them know that their meals were prepared as well, which caught him off guard.
"We don't require sustenance like humans and elves," the Spirit Butler admitted after I mentioned sharing the food among the workers.
"But you can eat, right? So, there's no harm in enjoying a meal. Please, go ahead."
Eventually, the Spirit Butler complied. As for the last dish, a braised chicken, I carried it myself, expressing gratitude to the butler and the other Spirit Servants for their hard work.
Upon my arrival, everyone had already taken their seats in the dining room, and even Avos and Mila were astonished.
"It's been ages since our last meal, and this is our first breakfast since we gained our freedom!" Avos excitedly surveyed the spread on the table.
"I had no idea you could cook, Manato-kun. All these dishes look mouthwatering!" Mila's gaze lingered on the food, and I even noticed a hint of drool at the corner of her mouth.
"Haha, I dabble in cooking from time to time. It may not compare to my mother's culinary skills, but it's enough to satisfy our hunger. Please, dig in, everyone. We'll need the energy for the upcoming operation," I encouraged them to eat.
"Right. To make sure they understand our perspective, we should savor our meal until we're full," Avos chimed in before eagerly digging into his food.
All I can say is that the breakfast passed without any noteworthy events aside from the fact that they bulldozed all of the food I cooked and I didn't get to eat any.
...
A few hours later, everyone was ready. As usual, Renatta entrusted the Spirit Servants with taking care of the two unconscious kids and staying vigilant. She emphasized sending an SOS signal if things took a turn for the worse or if the gate attackers returned, so we could respond swiftly.
I also established a Teleport Point for immediate return in case we received an SOS signal or needed a quick escape route.
Avos and Mila wore stern expressions, while Renatta appeared nervous, her concerns still apparent. I offered a reassuring pat on her shoulder, and she returned it with a smile.
"Thanks, Manato, but I'm okay. Don't worry about me."
"All right, it's time to show those guys the error of their ways. I don't care about their justifications; everything they're doing is wrong," Avos expressed his frustration.
"Stay composed, dear. We'll let out our anger when we confront them," Mila advised Avos.
Taking a deep breath, Avos regained control over his emotions. "You're right. Let's go. They might already anticipate our arrival, but let's see how they react."
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In the castle, the royal couple were enjoying their breakfast when a group of guards suddenly entered, disrupting the tranquil atmosphere of the dining room.
"My apologies for the intrusion during your meal, Your Highness and Your Majesty, but we have intruders causing a commotion. They are currently clashing with our royal guards," the guards reported.
The king furrowed his brow as he wiped his mouth with a napkin, "Why do you feel the need to inform us? Shouldn't you be capable of handling intruders and preventing any inconvenience?"
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but these intruders are not ordinary. It's a mix of humans and a few elves," one guard explained.
"Elves collaborating with humans? What an affront! Aren't you capable of dealing with them? As for the elves, capture and interrogate them. Their actions bring shame to the entire elven race," the king sternly replied.
The guard hesitated before saying, "Your Highness, the elves among the attackers include your missing daughter and the Kingdom's Founders, your in-laws."
...
Upon hearing this, the king was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure. "I find that hard to believe. They must be impostors manipulated by those humans. Deal with them and these impostors, and do not disrupt us any further."
Although hesitant to carry out the order, the guard obliged and saluted before leaving.
"What was that all about?" the Queen asked as she took a bite from the cake on her fork.
"Nothing, my dear. Just some nuisance."
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...
As the two royals peacefully enjoyed their meal, the kingdom's gates fell into turmoil. Countless guards lay unconscious on the ground.
"This is getting annoying. Can't we just subdue them?" Mila's fist swiftly silenced an approaching guard, rendering him unconscious. Her fighting style showcased the prowess of a Fighter, promoted to Martial God class, as she incapacitated her foes with precision, refraining from lethal blows.
"I feel the same, but (BZZZT), it's our granddaughter's wish to spare their lives," Avos lamented as he fired an electric charge attack on the next guard, incapacitating him in the process.
"Ugh... Holding back is harder than I thought. I might've already broken a few of their bones," Mila grumbled as she dispatched another guard, her palm crushing his armor-clad face.
The guards were relentless, leaving me no choice but to wield my double-wired swords, an arsenal of the Saboteur class. The wires between the short blades allowed me to incapacitate them, although, as Avos and Mila said, it proved challenging to avoid lethal harm given the guards' murderous intent.
Sora and Akira skillfully delivered nonlethal blows, effectively neutralizing the guards. Pandora opted for her golden chains, using them more as a makeshift whip rather than a lethal weapon, demonstrating remarkable control.
Alena and Labo switched from archery to their spellcasting abilities, unleashing a flurry of non-lethal magical attacks in rapid succession.
Renatta is using her bo staff with extreme precision as she dispatched the guards left and right as well.
"You have mastered the Bo staff so well, Renatta," Avos complimented Renatta who was surprised at his sudden praise.
"Thanks, Grandpa but I know I still can improve."
As we defeat the guards one by one, a few more guards appear and they are already looking like stronger versions of the guards we just fought.
"Never in my life I would beat up fellow elves like this," Avos grinned as he gave a glance to the guards before shaking his head.
"Same," Mila nodded.
"Still, those f*ckers really didn't have the gall to even face us? I doubt they didn't know we were here. I bet a few guards are already reporting on them."
Renatta who just finished defeating one of the soldiers chimed in. "Perhaps they are not convinced you two are already back."
Hearing this, Avos grinned. "If that is the case, it is more reason to show them that we are so finally back."
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