Chương 297: Chapter 280. Planning, But Caught In Lies

" Honestly, I'm just glad you shut him up with that fireball." Count Sark seemed befuddled by my reaction to his apology for taking a while to come and support us in our fight. I looked at the Counts and to my surprise, Count Sark's reaction changed from confusion to him smiling and then laughing. Did what I say sound like a joke to him?" Hahahahaha!" His laugh was pretty loud, I didn't understand what was so funny though? The look on my face must've told Lady Diana what I was thinking as she began to speak to me."

Sorry, Marquess Matthew, it's just that usually Marquesses tend to act very "Proper" and..." She seemed to be trying to be diplomatic about it, but I think I had the best word for her." Pompous?"" Yes, pompous works. Very self-important. Granted, as Count Families, I suppose we're also supposed to be like that, but we've been around each other since we were children, so it's always like this usually... Well, minus the God we need to defeat."" Speaking of which! Grand Blaze!" / WHOOSH!... BOOM!

/ Lady Kina cut in and used a somewhat big Spell to try and assault our enemy. The explosion wasn't too bad, it was quieter than the giant exploding earlier." Did you hit him?" I asked the question to Lady Kina since the speed of her flames were pretty fast." I think so? I know I hit something? More than that, what is that exactly, Marquess Matthew?" Lady Kina pointed to my Holy Flames that were still floating around me." They're Holy Flames. Though, usually, it's used as a projectile, but ever since earlier...

It's been... Hanging around?"" Why do you sound so unsure of your answer?" Count Gorse asked that of me. I wonder why the idea that I have no one to explain how a Paladin's powers work is such a foreign idea to everyone?" Because I don't have a teacher for my Paladin abilities. So, it's pretty much me learning how to do things on the fly and randomly gaining abilities by accident. Hell, I just gained 3 new Spells from the fights I've been in tonight.

One of them being "Holy Flame Manipulation", which I think is the reason behind my flames acting strangely now. But it's not all bad, I know I can hurt that bastard with it."" You sound so confident." Lady Diana had a questioning tone in her voice as she said that." Well, the fact he ran away and started to angrily insult me after nearly stabbing him with my flames, tells me that he's not a fan of being hit by them."" I see." Lady Diana seemed to accept my answer."

So, the name of the game is to let you get a hit in on that God? I think we can do that."" Granted, I think if either Anna or I land a blow, we can seriously damage him, but she's protecting Sarah for now." Count Sark pretty much spoke into words the plan I was forming in the back of my head after I realized everyone had come to help us in the fight. Thankfully, the Counts Families all seemed to accept the plan. Maybe since it came from one of their own, they became more willing to accept it?

By they, I mean Count Tye. With that, I instructed some of the Army to help protect Sarah along with Anna and then the rest were basically... Well, useless. I didn't say that to them, but I commanded them to observe the fight between, us Nobles, Princess Alice and the God Of The Blackwood and wait for the perfect moment to attack the enemy. They all seemed to be fine with that. While they are Demons and Demons tend to enjoy fighting, most of them seem to understand that we're all a bit out of our depth on this.

While I was busy giving out these instructions, Lady Kina and Lady Diana were busy blasting the God Of The Blackwood with different Magic Spells. Somehow, it seemed to work to contain him. More proof for me that I was right, he's used a good amount of whatever mana he had summoning all of those plants and the guardians we fought. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings." So, how do you want to attack him?" Princess Alice spoke to me.

Despite the fact that the Count Families having their eyes on the God we were fighting, I couldn't help but notice that their ears perked up at Princess Alice's question. Shame I didn't really have a great answer for them." I figured that Lady Kina and Lady Diana would use their Magic to support, Count Sark, Count Gorse, you and me on the frontlines and have Count Tye work as the middleman to support who ever needs it. Sound good?" After explaining my plan, everyone seemed to be a bit disappointed." What?"

I look around and Princess Alice was the only one to give me an answer." Well... It's just very normal for a plan."" Why does everyone think I'm going to come up with some insane ploy to win a fight?"" Well, the way you freed the hostages kind of left an impression, Matthew." Count Sark answered my question. I can understand the idea that my trick with my Holy Arrows and Holy Flame boosters seemed really cool, but I only did that because it was my best option.

Usually, with a situation like this, I'd prefer doing the safest most boring method possible to achieve victory. I mean, there's lives at stake here after all." I feel like you guys have weird expectations, I did that before because I thought it had the best chance of succeeding. In that same way, I think this plan has the best chance of succeeding. Also, just to let everyone know, I'm pretty sure that the God Of The Blackwood is running on empty in terms of his mana.

I think summoning all of those plants and the guardians from earlier has taxed his mana. We might be able to just outlast him if we can't land the finishing blow. Either way, let's do our best and save Zana!"" YEAAHH!" The Soldiers all around us cheered at the end of my explanation, it fits since the vast majority of the Army are citizens from Zana. The Counts on the other hand seemed to feel a sense of melancholy at my call." What's the issue?" I walk next to Count Sark and Count Gorse. Their faces say a lot.

It's not that I don't have an idea why they feel that way, but I'd still rather hear what they have to say, I questioned them, since we're going to need to go through with what happens next, no matter what, so we might as well do it without any doubts in our heads. Count Gorse shocked me as he was the one to explain it." It's just... Franz's body is the host to that God... So, in essence... We're going to be killing him... It doesn't feel good to say that about a Friend...

Even if he did kidnap My Daughter, the Franz I know wouldn't have done that."" If it makes you feel any better, The God Of The Blackwood was manipulating him in no small degree. I know it sucks that you're going to be helping in the defeat of your Friend, but think about the Victims and their Families, they deserve Justice, and this is the best way to deliver it." They didn't answer. Perhaps I'm being a bit too cold for them?

Thinking quickly, I added onto my statement with a small bit of advice I heard in my world constantly." I know it may not count for much, since I'm younger than you both, but I once heard a phrase when I was younger.

"It's best to remember the good times you've shared with those who've passed on."

"" Did that help you when you were younger?"" Yes and no. But my situation was a bi.... A lot different compared to this."" I see." Their mood didn't lift, but their eyes seemed to have a bit of fight in them. I don't think I'm good at speeches... Maybe I should work on it, along with all the other things I need to work on as a Marquess?

Regardless, since Princess Alice and I have been fighting for the longer period of time tonight, Count Sark and Count Gorse walked a bit in front of us to start the fight since they were "fresher" than we were right now." Where did you hear a saying like that, Matthew?" Princess Alice was curious about my words. Maybe that saying doesn't exist on Gaia and she's trying to help me seem like a Person actually from Gaia? Thankfully, I had a great lie to tell her so she wouldn't ask any questions."

I read it in the Daniel Claro's book."" But didn't you say that you heard it when you were younger?" Fuck.... Maybe she's not trying to help me?" Eh... Well, technically, I was younger a few days ago compared to today.... Right?"

"..." Instead of giving me an answer, Princess Alice just stared at me from the side. The look she was giving me made me feel somewhat awkward. / WHOOSH! BOOM! / Oh, thank the Gods! Lady Kina and Lady Diana launched a giant fireball and Ice spear at the God Of The Blackwood. I can use this to break the tension and get out of this situation!" Let's go and end this!" I yelled and began to walk faster, but I could tell that Princess Alice was still staring at me for some reason?