Chapter 381: Preparations for Battle

Firuvin Pohl Karl called out the first name.

“Present!”

Dimik stepped forward.

Firuvin looked at him and said,

“You’re the fastest. Issue a quest: send all swift-footed adventurers out to gather every last soul still outside the city walls and bring them back.”

“Yes, sir! I’ll make sure everyone returns safely!”

With that, Dimik turned and left the room.

Once he was gone, Firuvin turned his gaze to another figure.

“Snook.”

“Your orders, Guild Master?”

“I want you to handle the city’s defenses. You have full authority to mobilize the entire city’s Magic Stone reserves. Concentrate all war supplies at the city walls before sunset—no exceptions.”

“Understood! I guarantee it will be done!”

After accepting his mission, Snook also left the room.

“Uno.”

“You’re to contact the Church immediately. Work with them to set up a logistics support system as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, Guild Master—but......”

“Do not hesitate,” Firuvin cut her off with a sharp glance. “Just tell the Church’s leaders—”

“This is my direct order.”

“Yes, SIR!!!”

Uno’s eyes lit up with resolve. She hurried out of the room, eager to begin her task.

“......Yuris.”

“Present.”

“You are to......”

One by one, Firuvin issued his commands. Every person in the room sprang into action without delay. At that moment, the entire city transformed into a single, unified war machine—the world’s greatest fortress finally baring its fangs.

After the last Rank A Adventurer departed,

only Firuvin and the three who had returned from the dungeon that morning remained in the room.

Firuvin turned to the trio and said,

“You three have performed a great service this day. Especially you, Hulim—the intelligence you brought us is absolutely critical.”

“Normally, we would reward you for this. But given the circumstances, those rewards will have to wait. I hope you understand.”

“Not at all! Of course we understand!”

Farna Kegris waved her hands frantically, shaking her head.

“Guild Master, please don’t worry about us right now. The upcoming battle is what matters most!”

“While that is true, I cannot let you leave empty-handed......”

Firuvin paused for a moment, then walked over to his desk.

“For your outstanding performance this time, I have decided to grant you your High-Rank Adventurer certifications immediately.”

“Really?! You mean it?!”

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Both Farna and Terrag stared at him in stunned disbelief.

“Yes, of course. Frankly, your skills have long since earned you this right.”

Firuvin pulled three Adventurer Badges from a drawer.

Two of them were Rank B Badges—but the third was a gleaming Rank A Badge......

As Hulim Heyerar took the Rank A Badge from his hand, officially becoming a Rank A Adventurer, Farna and Terrag exchanged looks that said we knew it.

They were both skilled fighters in their own right, more than capable of holding their own among Rank B Adventurers. But during their time in the dungeon, the gap between their strength and Hulim’s had been so vast it was almost laughable.

In that moment, they had understood the truth clearly.

Despite being only fourteen years old, the young girl standing before them possessed power that had already reached the legendary heights of Rank A.

“Guild Master.”

After tucking her new badge away, Hulim spoke up suddenly.

“What is it, Hulim?”

“......” Hulim looked at him earnestly, hesitating for a brief moment before asking, “You do have a way to stop this, don’t you?”

“......”

Firuvin fell silent for a short while.

After a moment, he nodded slowly.

“You’re right. I do have a plan. In fact, I’ve been preparing for this since the day you and Monroe first reported the dungeon anomalies to me.”

“I knew it! Then why—”

“But......”

Firuvin cut her off, shaking his head with a heavy sigh.

“We’re out of time.”

Hulim’s eyes widened slightly as she realized what he meant.

“......The preparations aren’t fully complete yet.”

“No.”

“This isn’t a simple spell. To set up a Giant Area Magic Array that covers hundreds of kilometers around Bongisto—the materials and time required are staggering. It’s not something that can be done in a day or two......”

“Ninety percent.”

Firuvin spoke the number slowly, his voice heavy with regret.

“Ninety percent is impressive, but......”

“Yes. Ninety percent sounds like a lot. But Bongisto is surrounded by over a hundred dungeons! Even if only ten percent of them break open, the number of magical beasts that will flood out will be absolutely catastrophic.”

“......It’s not just that, is it?”

Hulim stared at him, pressing the issue further.

Firuvin met her gaze, his expression serious.

“You really are as sharp as they say, Hulim.”

“I think you’ve already guessed the truth. There’s one crucial condition for activating the array to suppress all those dungeons—and that is this: I must stay at the core of the array to maintain its power.”

“......I see.”

Hulim let out a soft sigh of understanding.

“So that’s the real problem.”

“What?! What do you mean by that?!”

On the other side of the room, Farna and Terrag—who had remained silent until now—stared at him in horrified shock.

“D-Does that mean...... Lord Firuvin, you won’t be able to join the battle?!”

“But there’s an Rank S Demon about to break free! If our only Rank S Adventurer can’t fight, then the outcome—”

“I’m sorry.”

Firuvin said with a note of helplessness in his voice.

“If I join the fight, I can easily defeat the Rank S Demon once it escapes. But without me to maintain the array, Bongisto—and even the surrounding kingdoms—will be completely destroyed. If I don’t fight, then the number of magical beasts we’ll face will be terrible...... but Bongisto will still stand a chance.”

“Then what about the Rank S Demon?”

Hulim asked, her voice calm.

“......”

Firuvin looked at her in silence.

“I see now...... So that’s why you gathered all the Rank A Adventurers here.”

“This task...... I have no choice but to entrust it to you.”

“I understand.”

Hulim nodded firmly.

Then she turned and walked toward the door.

“I will find a way to stop it.”

Soon, the room was empty except for Firuvin.

He walked over to the window, his face twisting into an expression of rare anxiety.

“Will we make it in time......”

......

Adventurer's Guild Headquarters.

“Hurry up! Move all these supplies to the city walls at once......”

“No! We can’t spread our forces thin with even defenses! We don’t know which direction will be hit the hardest yet! Most of our troops should be kept as mobile units......”

“Evacuate all civilians to the underground bunkers immediately! The outer districts near the walls will be used as a buffer zone! Logistics should be set up in the central districts!”

“No, that’s too far! Support won’t reach the front lines in time! We have to set up logistics in the outer districts!”

“But that will put the supply lines in grave danger!”

“In this battle, no one is safe......”

Chaos and noise filled the entire guild hall. A constant stream of people rushed in and out, transporting and organizing war supplies. Commanders from every district argued fiercely over defense strategies.

Not everyone, however, was caught up in the frenzy of preparation.

“Well, well, well! If it isn’t Hulim! Long time no see!”

Russell’s voice rang out from nearby, cutting through the din.

Hulim—who had been standing idly by, observing the chaos—turned to look. She saw the four members of Team Silver walking toward her.

“I can’t say the feeling is mutual.”

Hulim said with a hint of distaste on her face.

“Hey! Come on now! That’s a pretty cold attitude, don’t you think?!”

“Yo Hulim! Long time no see!”

Behind Russell, Eileen waved at her with a bright smile.

“Yes, long time no see, Eileen. And Lucian, Frots—hello to you both too.”

Hulim smiled back at them warmly.

“Yeah, it’s been a while~.”

“Hello.”

Lucian and Frots nodded at her in greeting.

“Hey! Wait a second—”

Russell sputtered, pointing at Hulim and practically shaking with indignation.

“Hulim! How dare you! Your favoritism is way too obvious here!”

“Is there a problem with that?”