GLITCH

Battle in the City

ROUTE MAIDEN'S GLOSS-MAIDEN'S SHROUD

December 2

10:00 am

After a while, I was thanked by the queen and Glints alike for my assistance. The queen and her masked butler went off first using teleportation magic. The Glints praised me for unveiling a monster controlling those armors.

"Missy, how did you discover that those armors were all but controlled?"

"Uh, well it's because of some distortion I saw at the sky so I had a hunch a Glitch is hiding, using a [Conceal] skill."

The people around me are in awe. Seriously…?

One of them then fired another question to me.

"Oh, is that how it is? By the way may we know who you are?"

"…I'm Rylai Lux of Crystal City."

Silence befalls them after I answered the question. Some widened their eyes, and some even opened their mouths out of shock (perhaps?). Er, it's getting awkward here folks.

"Uhmm, hello? Are...are you guys okay?"

The next thing that happened is a loud roar from these guys. I think it's loud enough for me to bear.

"T-the 5-star informant is here!"

"This is such a privilege!"

"M-may I shake your hand missy?"

"Me too…please!"

"Hey doncha butt in mate."

"Please sign my armor!!!"

Uh… What's happening here? Well, they know my title. It's been a while since I've heard of it. It's still cringe to me though.

"Ah, well…if it's okay with you guys, let's continue this when we go to the city shall we?"

"Sure!"

And just like that, the merry group and I started walking towards Maiden's Gloss City.

•••

MAIDEN'S SHROUD CITY

December 2

11:00 am

"So that brat came here huh?"

"Yes."

Along the coastline of the city, two individuals met up and basked under the sun. They portrayed as normal citizens, casting [Illusion] to the crystal embedded on their chests. One of them is Dubes, the reckless Executioner. The other party is a tanned version of Dubes—his twin brother, Urn. Both of them are members of the Fallen and were now enjoying the peaceful view of the sea—quite contrast to Dube's menacing character.

"Hey brother, did that girl finished off Cassiopeia?"

"Yes. The Blood Eminence himself said so. He's with her when that brat appeared and killed her after touching Cassiopeia."

"Is it due to a skill?"

"Probably. However, it's all but a hunch. I swear that THAT b***h shall pay for her sins."

"Temper brother…temper. You mustn't let your emotions take over you. I'm angry too, but we can't avenge her if we get the same fate as Cassiopeia."

Although he is Dube's twin brother, his personality and Dubes' are oil and water. Urn is more composed and strategic, while Dubes clearly more on head-on confrontations. Dubes is the brawn, and Urn is the brain.

"By the way, did Licht really mean what she said before? She's out of our group?"

"That's what that clean freak says. Bah! I don't need people like her in the group. Weak-willed ones deserve to die. But it's against our credo to hurt anyone who leaves the group as long as they won't interfere in our plans."

"Is that so? That's a bummer. So, this island is no longer accessible to us then?"

Dubes just nodded.

"By the way Urn, have you seen that imbecile slave lover?"

"Ah, that guy? I've heard that he escaped after his 'fortress' got destroyed."

"He might be a wimp but he's not someone easy to defeat. He's bearing a peculiar power."

"Right? He's someone who can manipulate anything and use them at his disposal. Even I can't do that."

The two siblings continued chatting with each other leisurely without a care in the world.

•••

MAIDEN'S GLOSS CITY

December 2

10:51 am

After a leisure walk with the Glints, I finally made it to the city. I then gave the Glints my full attention, answered every questions they asked and accommodating their requests. We're still at the city gates however, and that ruckus alone garners the people's attention. I actually don't want this but as Miss Ferni said, "Since you're known far and wide, it's better for you to be accustomed already to flocks of people. You're up-and-coming teacher here in the academy and since you're more of an introvert, interacting with people would be the perfect training regimen for you!"

I'm not really into talking with a mass number of people at a time. I mean, it's scary for me. I prefer typing documents rather than talking with someone.

I knew I shouldn't have accepted the offer to become a teacher.

Oh well, it's too late for regrets.

"Thank you, 5-star informant!"

"U-uh yeah…you're welcome."

With an awkward smile on my face, I waved at the group as we parted ways. Now then, my tummy is growling (thank goodness I'm already away from them). So where should I go then? I need to eat something proper.

Just when I'm about to search for somewhere to eat, I suddenly noticed several irregularities happening on the city walls. Slowly but surely, from the walls come several humanoid golems. They're mostly possessing stats over 7500. For an average person, one of those golems is a lethal threat.

"Kyaaaaaaaa!"

"W-what are these creatures!?"

"Golems!?"

"Run for your lives!"

It caused a stir, making the people panic. The golems started to wreak havoc upon the city and thus my birthday is encoded with misfortune…of sorts.

Why can't I celebrate my birthday leisurely? That's what I thought. But meh…the citizens' safety is a top priority according to AGA. I really wanted to ask for back-up. For some reason however, I can't find my G-watch. I think I might've misplaced it during the Maiden's Shroud slave incident. Ugh…I'll leave that thing to the guild-enlisted Glints. They can contact HQ. As for me, I need to help the innocent folks to take shelter. There are Glints here and the army troops too.

Despite that, there are unavoidable casualties.

One by one, unfortunate lives were taken. In just an hour, the city turns into a battlefield, and the only thing I could do is to fight against these golems and hopefully find a solution. As I continued destroying these walking lumps of walls, despair recedes slowly from the people's heads I kept protecting.

Honestly though, I can't do my thing. If I use that black sphere, some random innocent bystander might get caught. My gloves aren't the usual (since they transformed into some unscientific ones) and therefore I can't use my blast attacks. I really should practice and get used to my skills after this.

Hmm…?

Golem

Status Condition: Fallen Residue – gives a boost of 10000 to all stats, not added to the overall stats; acquired by the summoned pawns of the Fallen

A Fallen again? Are they that bored that they wanted to cause a ruckus?

Licht, as what I've seen, doesn't have a summoning skill aside [Light Maiden] -- a skill that summons a lady engulfed in light. It's a given that she isn't the root of this mess.

Perhaps this is another scheme from another Fallen.

As far as I can recall, I have met four living Fallen already. Blood Eminence, Cassiopeia, Executioner and Light Monarch— Wait, it's down to three now since I killed Cassiopeia. So, there are two rulers, one constellation and one uh…executioner. They are not truly related to each other— that's for sure.

Nevertheless, those scums…they always love chaos. I can count Queen Licht off since she's a gentle one but the others are pure demons.

My mind is occupied with all those stuff while still engaged in combat, unscathed. However the other Glints are struggling. That's because the enemy has a decent quality and absurd quantity.

The casualties are piling up. I may have the capability to defeat them with ease, but I still haven't got the gist of it—complete control of it is not assured. Though I learned some tricks during the last incident, that doesn't mean I can pull such stunt again. This is troubling. It's not that my hands are aching -- in fact my hands aren't throbbing with pain at all. Thankfully my self-taught hand-to-hand combat worked.

"We're here to help!"

Reinforcements…? Finally!

"Oh, Rylai it's you!"

Nice! It's Miss Ferni!

"Hello Miss Ferni. It's been a long time--"

"Don't you just 'It's been a long time' me—why haven't you contacted me!?"

"Uh, I kind of misplaced my watch."

"You what?"

"Nevermind that—we need to evacuate everyone here first!"

"I'll ask for further details then."

I just blinked in response. I can't really nod since I'm outmaneuvering these agile-ish golems.

Someone suddenly came in front of me with a thud.

On the ground, a familiar person is on the ground, with multiple wounds visible. His butler outfit is torn too. I'm surprised that his mask is untouched though.

"Miss Lux—please…save…the queen…she's fighting with…"

"Hellus? How did you get those wounds? Let me--"

Wait. I don't have my G-watch.

Damn it!

"Rylai here catch it! You don't have your G-watch right?"

"Thanks for this Miss Ferni."

Miss Ferni tossed some medicine encased in a plastic bottle. It's similar to the one I had.

I'm frustrated now that I don't have my watch…! I would've used the medicine stored in there and aid the wounded…

I need to hurry, and help Queen Licht!