Chapter 146
'The White Dragon Offering Hall' is a location Reina visits during a game event... but at first, nothing happens even when you arrive at the ruins.
From a player's perspective, it's just a place with a mysterious stone tablet and nothing else. No monsters appear, and there aren't even any treasure chests—it's a puzzling ruin.
However, as the scenario progresses, you can obtain a password that allows you to enter deeper into the ruins.
Reina, who ventured into the depths of the ruins using the password, encounters the Holy Dragon who once fought alongside the Saint. She gains an important hint to defeat the resurrected final boss... the evil god, but at this point, that part of the story is irrelevant.
"If you know the password, you don't have to be the Saint to go further in... it's the perfect cage to lure those idiots in."
"GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"UWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
As Clael muttered coldly, the surrounding gang members were attacked by monsters.
The ones attacking the gang were bipedal lizards covered in red scales... so-called Lizardmen.
In the room, which was even larger than the one with the stone tablet earlier, countless Lizardmen lay in wait.
The Lizardmen pounced on the gang one after another, swinging bone greatswords and biting with their fangs.
"D-Damn it! Why are there so many monsters!?"
"Damn it! Stay away... stay awaaaAAAAAAAY!"
The gang's screams echoed throughout the space.
Just moments ago, the gang had been proudly surrounding them... but now, surrounded by even more monsters, capturing Clael was no longer a priority.
"Mr. Byrne, we're good to go now!"
"Alright! Time to go wild!"
The Temple Knights around Clael threw off their helmets.
Revealed beneath the helmets were four of the game's capture characters.
Led by Crown Prince Eric, the four had disguised themselves as Temple Knights and followed Clael.
"It may not be a problem at your level... but Lizardmen aren't weak. Be careful!"
"We understand... everyone, let's do this!"
"""OOOH!"""
Responding to Eric's call, the four capture characters joined the battle.
Eric, the magic swordsman, swung his sword while casting spells.
Vincent, the warrior, swung around a greatsword.
Will, the mage, kept his distance while casting spells.
Luy, the support role, aided his allies while using support magic.
The four defeated gang members while fending off the attacking Lizardmen.
(Now that I think about it again... these guys are seriously strong...)
They hadn't had much chance to shine at the seaside resort... but the four capture characters were quite powerful.
(It's only been half a year since Reina enrolled in the academy. In the game, this would be considered mid-game... but even so, their levels are really high...)
Even though there's been no progress in their romance with Reina... how did they get this strong?
It's a genuine mystery. Could they have been training on their own outside the main story?
(Now that I think about it, it's also weird that Crown Prince Eric has an afro now... seriously, how did things end up like this?)
"Oops... I need to move too."
I can't just let the capture characters do all the work.
In the first place... Clael had a reason for trapping the gang without involving Reina or even alerting the bear plushies.
He wanted to resolve the problem with as little involvement from Reina as possible.
(This issue involves my idiot older brother... I don't want Reina caught up in something my family messed up. I want to settle everything without her ever knowing...)
Once the capture characters got involved, solving it alone was no longer an option... but he had decided to accept that.
They each have their own convictions they can't compromise on.
"'Power Up''High Power Up''Speed Up''High Speed Up''Guard Up'..."
Clael used Holy Arts to enhance his own abilities.
His power had increased since living with Reina... and perhaps due to the title bonus from becoming a Saint, he had become even stronger.
"Hah!"
"Gyaaah!?"
Clael stepped in with force and swung his metal staff.
With a blow backed by full centrifugal force, one gang member was slammed into the floor.
"This is what a combat healer looks like... I'm not just some heroine who needs Reina to protect me—I'll make that perfectly clear!"
Clael declared boldly, unleashing a barrage of attacks on the gang members.