The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 35

As the members of the clan returned to their rooms to change and prepare, I waited, and Annie was the first to return.

Annie was holding a staff, so she’s probably a mage.

And her outfit is quite something…

The neckline is generously open, and she’s showing a lot of leg.

Is she… a seductress?

“You’re quick.”

“I’m just impatient.”

She says that about herself?

“So, you’re from this town, right? Why do you live here?”

Shouldn’t you live with your family?

“I can’t stand living in the house where my brother and his wife live.”

Ah, I see.

“That’s a good reason to move out.”

“Indeed. But what about you, Yuuma? I’ve been a bit delayed in my introduction. I’m Annie, a B-rank adventurer.”

Annie extended her hand for a handshake, so I shook it.

“B-rank? I thought you were A-rank.”

“Huh? Why’s that?”

“Your magical power is higher than Alice’s.”

And there’s quite a difference, too.

“Ah, I see. Alice just recently became a B-rank. It’s been over a year since I became one. I have more experience.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m 21. Why do you ask?”

She looks younger than her age.

Or rather, she gives off a much more mature vibe.

“No, just a bit of a misunderstanding. I’m Yuuma. You might have heard, but I’m a reincarnate. And this here is AI-chan.”

“I know AI-chan. She’s always wandering around the third floor.”

Because she goes to call Natalia and Alice.

“I can’t go to call them.”

“Indeed, the third floor is off-limits for boys.”

“Either way, I’m not going. I’ve been taught not to go into a woman’s rooms.”

Unless there is a relationship, that’s different.

“Oh, how gentlemanly… Hey, are you really going to participate? No one will blame you if you run away, you know?”

“I said it earlier, didn’t I? Saving people is my job. If it were a war, that’s another matter, but when it comes to monsters, that’s within my purview.”

War is the job of soldiers.

Dealing with monsters is the job of us Onmyoji.

“I see… Thank you.”

Annie, wearing a top with a generous neckline, bowed her head.

Is she doing that on purpose?

“By the way, just curious, but will there be a reward?”

“It’ll be provided by the country.”

I wonder how much it is?

Well, I’ll ask later.

I don’t want to lose motivation by hearing the amount.

“Well, never mind. What exactly should we do? Are we going to leave town and engage in melee combat?”

“When everyone gathers, we’ll first head to the guild. We’ll get instructions from Jeffrey there. But basically, I think it’ll involve shooting magic or arrows from the top of the wall. It’s impossible for me to go outside even if I’m told to.”

Indeed, this woman seems incapable.

She’s showing too much skin, and her arms and legs that are visible are too thin.

She doesn’t look like a warrior at all.

“That seems about right. Well, our two as well…”

What should I do?

Either is fine, but it’s better not to get tired.

As Annie and I wait and talk, clan members who have finished preparing gather one after another.

Excluding me and AI-chan, there are seven members, and only three men, including Clive, are wearing armor.

The rest must be magic users since they are holding staffs.

“There are a lot of magic users…”

“Because the leader of this clan, Layla-san, is a woman. There’s a higher ratio of women in the group. Naturally, that leads to more magic users.”

Natalia explains.

“Speaking of which, you guys mentioned admiring Layla. I haven’t met her, but is it okay?”

“She said she wanted to talk when she got back.”

Hmm, should I…

Considering I’ve been allowed into the clan and given a place to stay, I should at least offer greetings.

“It’s good that you have time, but please save it for later. Let’s go,” Annie says, leading the way with everyone.

Once everyone is assembled, we leave the clan dormitory with Annie at the forefront and head towards the guild.

The surroundings are still dark, but soldiers and adventurers are bustling about.

I’m not sure if the town’s residents are still sleeping, but I don’t see any of them around.

However, I see scenes of people who seem like merchants hurriedly loading goods onto carriages here and there.

“It’s not in panic mode yet,” AI-chan murmurs as she looks around.

“It’s because of the time. Early risers with keen senses like merchants are preparing to flee, but the town’s people are probably still asleep,” Annie responds to AI-chan’s murmur.

“Don’t they know? They should flee from the east gate.”

“This town is complicated. If we’re not careful, we might run into the people from the eastern district.”

It’s divided into four districts, right…

The representatives of the eastern district will probably prioritize evacuating their own townsfolk.

“Isn’t it dangerous? There might not just be panic but riots.”

“That’s true. But the district leaders aren’t fools. They’ll handle it properly. Anyway, we just need to win.”

Well, yeah, but…

Having four representatives is still a problem.

What’s the king doing, I wonder?

“Oh, it’s Pamela.”

When we arrive at the guild, there’s a bonfire in front of it, and Pamela is standing there, looking at documents.

“Pamela.”

Annie calls out to Pamela.

“Oh, Annie-san. Is Team Zephyr participating too?”

“I’m from this town, so yeah. Technically, everyone’s participating, but sorry… most of them, including the leader, are on a job.”

“I understand. We’re grateful just to have you participate… Jeffrey!”

Pamela calls out to Jeffrey.

Then Jeffrey, who was talking to soldiers in the distance, comes over to us.

“Team Zephyr…”

As Jeffrey approaches us, he looks us over.

“Yes, it seems nine members are participating.”

“Layla is… no, she’s in the capital, right?”

It seems the clan leader is in the capital.

Wasn’t it close by?

Hurry up and come back.

“Jeffrey, what should we do?”

Annie, the representative, asks.

“Those who can engage in close combat, go to the gate. Those who can use healing magic, stand by near the gate. Those who can use offensive magic, go up on the defensive wall.”

“Got it. Everyone, please.”

Annie says so, and everyone nods and heads to their positions.

Clive’s group of men, along with Natalia, head towards the gate, while Alice and Annie’s group head towards the stairs on the defensive wall surrounding the town.

As for Koma-chan, she seems to hesitate between the two options for a moment before heading towards Natalia’s group.

That leaves only me and AI-chan in this place.

“What should I do?”

Since I can’t use healing magic, I know I’m not supposed to go to Natalia, but I’m not sure whether to go to the gate or up on the defensive wall, so I ask Jeffrey.

“Huh? Aren’t you a mage?”

“I can do either.”

“Oh right, you can use a sword, I forgot.”

“I have one.”

I take out a large number of talismans from my pocket and infuse them with spiritual power.

Then, the talismans scatter and take the form of a sword.

“What’s that? Paper, right?”

“It’s a sword. So, which one? Either is fine.”

“Obviously, the defensive wall is safer.”

Yeah, that makes sense.

“Well, then, I’ll start by going outside. If I get tired, I’ll go up.”

“Well, that’s fine, but… what about this kid?”

Jeffrey looks down at AI-chan.

Ah, what should I do with AI-chan…

“AI-chan, should we go to Alice’s place?”

“I am Master’s skill! I will stay with Master!”

She’s kind of in the way…

“Well, if she dies, I can just summon a new shikigami.”

“Yes! That’s right! With my claws, I’ll tear the monsters apart!”

AI-chan says so, raising her claws.

Well, they’re round though…

With those cute hands that seem capable only of scratching your back, what can she possibly tear apart?