Dispatched by Belphegor''s orders to check the progress of the barrier restoration, Ad finally witnessed Frondier standing atop the barrier.
''He''s moving in a very precise order.''
After confirming that the barrier was being restored clockwise, she had run straight to the north, considering the time it would take to arrive.
As expected, or perhaps unexpectedly due to his honesty, Ad had found Frondier.
''As I thought, Frondier is here.''
Belphegor''s order was to confirm whether Frondier was truly restoring the barrier.
If she returned and reported this, her mission would beplete.
Unlike Malia or Frondier, Ad couldn''t see the overall situation of the battlefield. She didn''t know that Frondier was already fighting Belphegor.
However, even if Ad returned like this, it wouldn''t upset Belphegor, and he would give her the promised reward.No one would have expected Frondier to single-handedly invade Manggot.
So it would have been good if she had turned around and returned to Manggot right now, but...
''...That barrier.''
Ad''s gaze turned towards the barrier where monsters were pouring in.
This barrier hadn''t been restored yet. Come to think of it, since the restoration had started from the east, this northern barrier had been umting damage for a long time, making it the Empire''s biggest weakness at this point.
It had held up well so far, but if things continued like this, this barrier would be the first to break.
However, if Mei used Restoration now, this barrier would be repaired, the morale of the Imperial troops would soar, and the morale of the monsters would drop significantly. Monsters weren''t fools, especially the ones outside.
"That can''t happen."
The barrier hadn''t been restored yet. She didn''t know the exact reason, but Frondier probably just arrived. So he would start the restoration soon.
Ad drew two daggers from her waist. She held them in a reverse grip, with the curved des facing inward, and slipped the rings at the end of the handles onto her fingers.
Among the Shepherds of Manggot, she was the closest to an assassin. Excelling in stealth, poison, and closebat, she specialized in solo actions, unlike other Shepherds who led troops.
ording to Hagley, Frondier was a fairly strong guy, but ultimately just a student of Constel. He wasn''t Aster or Elodie.
Moreover, most rumors were baseless exaggerations and distortions. At best, he was a guy with a unique talent called ''Restoration.''
''Your performance ends here!''
Ad perfectly concealed herself and approached the barrier, using her aura to walk vertically up the wall, performing an amazing feat.
Of course, she could have crossed the barrier by jumping or flying, but that would obviously be noticed by the soldiers on top.
Using her familiar method, she leaped onto the barrier with perfect stealth and...
"Who are you?"
Mei, in Frondier''s form, looked at her with an innocent expression, causing Ad to freeze for a moment.
"Wh-what...?"
Unfortunately for Ad.
Mei also had a ''sixth sense.''
Swish!
Though momentarily flustered, Ad swung her daggers, aiming for Mei''s neck. She was surprised to be discovered, but it didn''t matter since she was going to kill her anyway.
Mei dodged Ad''s attack and briefly observed her appearance.
For Mei, with her exceptional memory and learning ability despite being born not long ago, ''a person she had never seen before'' was a very clear signal.
"...Aha."
Mei, who had been focusing on dodging, soon spoke as if she understood.
"The reason Frondier asked me to stay in his form was because of you?"
"Wh-what?"
Ad''s mind went nk for a moment at Mei''s words.
''Frondier,'' ''stay in his form,'' ''asked?''
It was the first time in her life that she couldn''t understand a single word of a sentence.
The person in front of her was Frondier, but she was mentioning Frondier. So, this person wasn''t Frondier?
Moreover, asking her to stay in his form meant she was currently transformed into Frondier?
"Then let''s see."
Mei created distance from Ad with light footwork.
The current Mei had already observed Frondier and Elodie extensively. She onlycked absolute mana capacity and physical ability; in terms of ''technique,'' she wascking nothing.
"Let''s take a look."
Ad tensed up as Mei took a stance as if she was about to attempt something, but...
...for a few seconds, Mei just stood there in that position.
"...You, what the hell are you..."
Ad, feeling deceived, was about to attack again when...
"...Th-this..."
Ad witnessed a scene that would appear in her nightmares every night for the rest of her life.
Rustle-
The Frondier in front of Ad suddenly blurred and wriggled, and...
...in an instant, she was standing there, transformed into Ad''s exact likeness.
"Hmm, I''m not used to handling weapons like this."
Then, she twirled the same weapons Ad held in the air.
...Strange, my weapons are custom-made. There can''t be another one exactly the same...
And those aerial maneuvers, she''s doing them in the exact same order and with the same habits as me...
Uh... uh...
"Aha."
And after blinking a few times, Mei...
"Indeed, I see. Now I understand everything. As expected of Frondier. I can''t imitate something like that."
The fog in her head, which had been trying to grasp the meaning of Frondier''s words, cleared, and her expression became refreshed.
Looking at Ad, who was still frozen and unable to move a muscle,
"Sorry, whoever you are."
Mei offered an apology, unsure if it was appropriate.
"I''ll borrow this for a bit."
And then she disappeared before Ad''s eyes.
It was Shadow Transfer.
"...?"
The battle at the barrier continued, with screams and shouts of desperation filling the air.
Monsters surged forward to break the barrier, while the citizens of the Empire fought to defend it.
Manggot''s forces waited for an opening in the barrier or had already leaped over it and were charging forward.
Amidst the noise and barrage...
...like a void...
Ad just stood there nkly...
"...Ah,"
Without any attack, magic, spell, or curse...
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
...she tasted fear.