Once the Humvee stopped, everyone got out. Serafall, Kisuke, Claire and Ophis were stretching and trying to take in some fresh air after the exciting car trip. The unfortunate victims namely Akeno, Irina, Sona, Aika and Koneko, however, were kneeling on the ground and trying their best not to vomit as they knew that the whole of Orario was watching them.
"Damn you, Kisuke... Couldn't you have stopped them?", complained Aika with a bit of drool on the side of her mouth.
"Why would I? Ophis was enjoying herself.", replied Kisuke before he looked at them with a smug face, "Look at you lot. You clearly lack training if a few flips reduce you to this~!"
"This training idiot... And cars don't flip!", retorted Irina.
Meanwhile, Sona started muttering to herself, "Since Ophis couldn't reach the pedal, Nee-sama stepped on it for her... But I never thought that she wouldn't let it go no matter what happened. She didn't even bother touching the brake pedal. But the scarier thing is, Ophis would always go for bumpy things as if she has some sort of personal vendetta against them... These two should never drive."
"I shouldn't have eaten so much back in the city... It's really hard to hold it back.", grumbled Akeno. She really wanted to hurl, but it'd be the end of her image and she had a feeling that she'd never heard the end of it from Kisuke if she were to do that now, 'I can't let him get more blackmail material on me.'
Serafall directly ignored them and looked at Kisuke with shining eyes, "Ki-tan! Give this to me! I'll take good care of it!"
Kisuke looked at the beaten-up Humvee and replied to Serafall, "After I do some repairs on it."
Also recalling the experience from earlier, Ophis grabbed the hem of Kisuke's clothes to get his attention, "I... want one."
Since Kisuke prohibited her from assuming any other form, she couldn't reach the pedals and didn't get the full experience. Ophis wanted to do it again with her in full control next time.
Not wanting to lose, Claire also requested, "Nii-chan! Please teach me how to drive, too!"
Kisuke smiled and patted her head, "You can ask your Serafall-neechan to teach you."
The girls on the ground shuddered at his words, "No!"
But Serafall happily accepted Kisuke's proposition and hugged Claire, "This Nee-chan will teach you everything I know~!"
Kisuke also knew that this was some terrible education for Claire, however, it was also more interesting and amusing this way, so why not? Though he had a feeling that he could already hear his mom and aunt's sermon from another world.
Kisuke then went towards the back of the vehicle and took out a few large parasols and several blankets, setting them down beside the girls for them to rest on, "How do you wanna do this? Take it slow or bring them down in one go?"
Sona laid down on the blanket and said, "Let's finish this and go home... But after some rest."
The onlookers back in Orario were still clamoring about the strange and insanely fast iron carriage and many people and Deities were trying to find out its origin in an attempt to acquire one for themselves.
But without any information coming in regarding the subject, including witnesses or records of any kind, everyone was forced to sit down and continue watching what was happening. If they wanted to get it, then their only lead was the Hestia Familia.
The majority of the people who wanted to bet had already placed their money and those who hadn't still continued to do so as they believed that there was no way for the Hestia Familia to win. But a small portion of them stopped, and some who already betted regretted it. Their instincts were telling them that things aren't as simple as it seems.
While everyone was becoming impatient due to their inaction despite already arriving at the battlefield, the Hestia Familia finally made their move. More specifically, Sona, Aika, Koneko, Akeno and Irina, were bringing their weapons out.
The attention immediately went towards the contested members and watched their every move, trying to see what was so good about them that they were able to repeatedly break records.
"Finally we're going to see some action~! But what's this!? It seems that the Hestia Familia is going for a frontal attack despite the big disadvantage they have! A bold move~!", announced Ibri, which also hyped the onlookers.
The five girls walked forward until they stopped a hundred meters from the obviously rush repaired castle wall. They were well within Apollo Familia's archer range but they chose to watch what the girls were going to do first as they didn't seem to have brought any siege weapons with them.
Sona then put forward her free hand and without any words, a blue magic circle started constructing itself in front of her slowly but surely.
"Judging from the size and intensity of the magic circle, it seems to be Mid-class magic! But am I imagining things or am I not hearing any incantations come from her mouth!? Is it a skill? How is she doing this?"
Immediately after, Akeno put her hands together and a golden magic circle appeared on top of her head with a similar size and intensity as Sona's.
"And another one!?"
Sona could have cast her magic as soon as her magic circle appeared but not only did she not want to show that much, she also had to wait for Akeno's magic to be ready as she hadn't gotten used to the restriction of this world yet.
Seeing the unknown threat, the commander of the archers immediately issued the order to shoot, and a second later, a curtain of arrows rained upon them.
But before they could hit, Irina, who had been preparing her magic long before they arrived at their current spot, raised both of her hands and another golden magic circle appeared in front of the group, deflecting all the incoming arrows.
At this point, Ibri and the spectators were already speechless, 'An instantly reactive magic barrier?'
Those from the castle were also shocked, but they didn't stop and released a few more waves of arrows. However, those arrows only became a clatter at their group's side, not even inflicting a tiny bit of damage.
"Stop! Mages! Come forward and use your magic!", shouted the commander.
But before they could fix their formation, Akeno spoke up, "Sorry for the wait, I'm ready."
"No worries.", replied Sona and released her magic, manifesting a gigantic water serpent that went straight towards the top of the castle's wall.
Before it crashed down, it first stared menacingly at the Adventurers standing on the walls, reflecting the fear and panic in their eyes. "AHHHH!!!!!", shouted one of them, dropping their weapons before running away.
That single shout was soon followed by many more as they panicked against the unknown magic and started running away, "You bastards! Stop! Maintain your positions! Mages! What are you waiting for!? Attack it now!" The commander tried to control the situation but only a handful listened to him.
The gigantic water serpent ignored their screams and dropped down on the part of the wall where no one was standing with great force, losing its shape and flooding the greater part of the castle.
The panicked Adventurers didn't know what just happened, but they were nevertheless happy that they were safe. But then, Heaven's wrath was brought upon them when they thought everything was fine.
Raising both of her hands, Akeno shouted, "Lightning!"
The golden magic circle on top of her disappeared, but multiple smaller similar magic circles appeared on top of the walls, bringing down a rain of blinding bolts of lightning.
Editors:
28th00: Phis-chama want’s her own personal mini-car. Terrifying image, I want it too though! Electricity has a type-advantage vs. biological systems, it’s just not fair.
Alexander: Once Sakura and Cleria find out about Kisuke’s child raising policies, it will definitely become the scolding of the century. But what can you expect from a bunch of crazy/free spirited people like them, when even Sona as the last bastion of common sense is slowly falling. I can only shudder at the vision of their future children growing up in dark soul level training camp and mad scientist lab.
Goyya: In some sense, Sona already ‘failed’ and even Serafall may have more common sense than her.