I like crossing the most

Chapter 1057 The Last Routine 236
[Urgent Mission! Urgent Mission! Monsters are attacking Axel! Adventurers, proceed to the main gate immediately! Repeat! Monsters are attacking Axel—]

Unexpectedly, monsters attacked, and this time Kobayashi suffered a long-awaited setback. It must be said that Megumin's worries were correct; his strength had declined considerably, and his movements in battle had become somewhat redundant and sluggish. Although he quickly repelled the attacking monsters, it wasn't just Axel that was attacked; the Demon King's army was attacking various parts of the kingdom, and the guild had asked him to subdue those monsters.

"You beast!" Kobayashi shouted, pounding his chest and stamping his feet. "Why has this become my responsibility?! The disbandment of the Axel Theater wasn't my fault, this is a baseless grudge!"

“That’s true, but as the producer of the Axel Theater, Kobayashi has also made a lot of money, hasn’t he?” Aqua said, and Kobayashi couldn’t refute it, but her words still made him feel a little uncomfortable.

"Alright, alright, what's the big deal?" Megumin raised her wand and shouted, "No matter how many rioting monsters appear, I'll blast them all away with my explosion magic!"

This guy is really confident, but considering that explosion magic is the most destructive magic, he decided not to argue about it.

"Onii-sama!"

"Oh, Alice!?"

Just as Kobayashi was feeling extremely troubled and distressed, Princess Alice of the kingdom unexpectedly appeared in Axel. She was dressed as the granddaughter of a silk merchant, seemingly on an incognito visit, but—

"Even Lady Claire and Lady Rhine, why are they here?"

“We’ve received reports of monsters rioting in various places. Lady Kobayashi should know something about this, right?” Rein said, then looked at Kobayashi as if seeking an answer.

In contrast to the gentle and warm Rein, Claire harshly rebuked, "Anyway, the reason for this is because of you, so spill everything you know!"

"Huh?! Please don't treat me like a criminal, thank you!" Xiaolin glared at her, equally annoyed. After all, being smeared as soon as she arrived was bound to upset her.

“You two calm down…” Alice intervened between the two, then whispered, “Tell me first, brother.”

"actually……"

Even though Kobayashi was reluctant, he still told Alice what had happened. After hearing the explanation, Alice pursed her lips.

"...This is truly a disaster."

"Can you understand me, Alice? I only made one small mistake, but I'm being called a sadistic man who doesn't value his subordinates and fans... That's just too much!"

Kobayashi complained as she said this, but Aqua rolled her eyes and retorted, "You just admitted you were a little wrong, didn't you?"

"Damn it, it's all their fault!" Kobayashi clenched his fists and said with disgust, "I have to stop that guy as soon as possible and salvage our reputation!"

“Alright, I understand the situation. Send troops to various locations,” Claire said decisively.

Alice thought for a moment and said, "Although the disbandment of the Axel Theater is lonely, they all have their own paths... Alright!" As if she had made up her mind, she walked to the front of the guild, took off her cloak, and shouted to the others, "Adventurers, as the princess of this kingdom, I want to ask you all to help my brother!!"

Unexpectedly, Alice's encouragement made it easy for Kobayashi to gather a large group of people.

“I can’t refuse the princess’s request,” Duster said with a grin. “I’m really looking forward to the reward!” That’s right, this guy only cares about the reward.

"Hey!" Lynn grabbed his head and said, "If you say anything rude to Lady Alice, I won't let you off the hook."

"Everyone is wearing beautiful clothes, it's quite a sight to see them lined up like this."

"Wearing this outfit makes me feel stronger."

"Mine was forged by a blacksmith with legendary skills; the difference in equipment becomes apparent in comparison—"

"But Aqua also makes equipment."

"As expected of the goddess! But why didn't you make one for me too..."

Mikage Hibiki looked quite injured; his prized equipment wasn't as good as Aqua's. And it wasn't just him; Claire and Rein had also arrived.

"Hehe, changing equipment will also give me more motivation."

"It seems some people don't know how either... but we can't lose this battle."

Claire said this seriously, after all, it concerned the future of the kingdom, and if they failed now... the consequences would be unimaginable.

Alice stood at the front, rallying the crowd, and said, "Thank you all so much for gathering here. Please lend me a hand...!"

"I...I'd love to!!" Youyou quickly replied.

At this moment, Wiz, who was wearing a mage's cloak, also spoke up: "Attacks are happening all over the place. Should we also disperse our forces?"

“Hmph, this is a good opportunity to go out and find door-to-door services.” Barnier thought for a moment and said, “Hmm, should we also go to other towns to help out?”

"No matter how far, I will go with you...!" the loli succubus said excitedly.

Seeing so many familiar faces, Aqua exclaimed excitedly, "It's amazing that you could gather so many people to cooperate!"

"Thanks to Lady Alice's call to action," Darkness said with satisfaction. Perhaps in her eyes, the girl who used to hide behind her for protection had now grown into a young woman.

"Hmph, the time has come...!" Megumin raised her wand high and shouted, "Now is the time for legendary adventurers to rise up!!"

"Okay, go and provide support in various places as agreed beforehand! Please!"

Kobayashi shouted to the crowd, and at the same time, the crowd accepted the final task—to suppress the monsters' uprising.

……

Encountering numerous companions on an adventure, all wielding swords for the same purpose—what an exhilarating development! It's practically the quintessential storyline! Just wait, we're about to unleash our full power…! Thinking this, Kobayashi and her friends were immediately defeated by monsters as soon as they left the city.

It was a giant toad. Upon seeing Aqua, it stuck out its thick tongue, grabbed Aqua who couldn't dodge in time, and swallowed her whole.

"Aaaaaah!!! Help me, Mr. Kobayashi... Waaaaaa!?"

And the other side.

"Looks like we launched too early. I didn't expect there to be a general among the enemy. Ah, my magic is already... Pfft!?" Huihui was also swallowed by the giant toad.

As for Darkness, the only one left, instead of trying to rescue the two after seeing them being swallowed, she charged towards another giant toad and shouted, "Damn giant toad! Swallow me too! Or rather, please swallow me too!"... This girl actually begged the monster.

"Isn't this just like any other day?!" Kobayashi felt a splitting headache. He desperately wanted to change things, but he could only save these three idiots on his own. Should he say he'd died before even starting? Kobayashi and the others had no choice but to return to Axel.

Meanwhile, in the capital city.

Holding her wand, Rhine looked at the numerous dragons soaring in the sky and said with a slightly serious expression, "So monsters have appeared in the capital as well? And there are quite a lot of them."

"There's nothing we can do. Adventurers in other places are also struggling to survive. Fortunately, we still have the Knights." Claire said this with equal reluctance. She hadn't expected the monsters to go on such a rampage.

Alice stepped forward and said to the two men, "Have the soldiers stand by, I'll go first!"

"No!" Claire quickly stopped her, "What if you're in danger...!"

“Everyone has worked together, I can’t hide alone! Clearing a path for everyone… that’s also a princess’s duty!” Alice’s words deeply moved the two guards. Alice then looked at the monsters high in the sky, “They’re coming! The flying lizards… Extilon!!”

Princess, whose ultimate skill is used as a basic attack, chopped a large number of flying dragons in the air into pieces, making people marvel at the opponent's strength.

And there's Bressey.

"Not only the golems, but even the mass-produced destroyers... their eyes are shattered. It seems this is the end..."

"Purgatory Ice Crystals!!"

Just as the adventurers who were fighting the monsters were exhausted and resigned to their fate, a loud shout suddenly came from the side, and then a powerful ice spell froze all the monsters into blocks of ice.

Barnier walked out casually and said to her, "Looks like you're still alive. Be happy for your luck."

"You...you are...!?"

“We’re late! Leave the rest to us! Even though it’s a mass-produced model, it’s still a huge threat. Here, these are your new glasses.” Wiz said, handing over the new glasses. The succubus came to her side and helped her up.

"Everyone! Thank you so much, as long as I have this...!" she said happily.

Barnier glanced at the monsters poised to attack, thought for a moment, and said, "Well, even for the sake of business, the peace of the city is the top priority. Little one, could you please guide the residents to safety?"

“Okay, leave it to me!” The loli succubus readily agreed and ran into the town to guide the ordinary people.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Demon Village is also resisting the invasion of monsters.

"Assistant! Don't rush, Youyou! Youyou—"

"Sword of Light!!"

As a powerful magic spell descended from the sky, the monster before them didn't even have time to scream before it was utterly obliterated. It covered its forehead, its face filled with disbelief.

"How could this be... You changed into new clothes, but you were defeated in an ordinary way... Youyou, is this considered a Crimson Demon Clan member?"

"W-Why are you angry after defeating the monster!?"

"Because there is no self-reporting number."

"Eh?!"

Youyou, speechless after being teased by Xiaomi, helplessly put her hands on her hips and looked at the monsters surging towards her from the other side, saying, "Xiaomi is right... There's no other way, I'll just use those goblins over there to demonstrate for you."

"Stop! Stop torturing us!"

"We're back! We've retreated!"

"Run quickly!!"

To everyone's surprise, the monsters turned and ran, seemingly unwilling to fight the Crimson Demons. Even Youyou felt sorry for them.

"I said... the monsters are retreating—"

"My name is Xiaomi! Come forth, great goblin! Turn my enemies to ashes!" With Xiaomi's summons, a giant goblin... or rather, a high-ranking demon Houster, emerged from the magic circle, complaining, "Don't just call me out every single time! Purgatory!!" Despite its complaints, it faithfully carried out its mission.

"My name is You Gou Hui! Dispel the red flash that's been eyeing the village's darkness...! Take this! Intense Lightning!!" You Gou Hui didn't hold back either, unleashing a powerful spell on the monsters, and the two of them wiped them all out.

Seeing this, Youyou twitched the corners of her mouth and muttered under her breath, "I feel like... I don't need to come and help."

Meanwhile, on the other side, in Alcanredia, the stronghold of the Axis religion.

The town, known as the City of Water, was also attacked by monsters.

"Lady Cecily! The believers' refuge is over!"

"Finally...! With this equipment given by Lady Aqua, it's like adding wings to a tiger, just like the Axis cultists have soap and detergent!"

Cecily kept cleaning up the monsters, while Duster, who was slacking off, complained slightly, "Ugh, it has to be a pumpkin monster, what a hassle... I didn't get lucky with the draw."

"Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk! You could get killed if you're careless." Lynn rolled her eyes in annoyance, and at the same time cast a spell, "Lightning!"

The powerful magic wiped out a large number of monsters.

"A strike that exceeds magic resistance?" Chris exclaimed in slight surprise. "As expected of Lynn, you should have already advanced to the higher-level Archmage class, right?"

Lynn nodded with a smile, acknowledging her suspicion.

"The opportunity has arrived! Everyone, let's attack!" Cecily shouted to the crowd of Axis cultists and townspeople. "If we win this battle, we'll present the Axis cult with a special initiation gift package as a celebration of our victory!"

"Wow... there's really no need for that..."

Chris, Lynn, and Duster all said the same thing.

Back to Axel.

"—Explosion!!"

With a shout from Megumin, a powerful spell descended from the sky, defeating a gigantic slime. Kobayashi proudly tilted his head back and said, "See? That's the power of Lady Kobayashi!"

"He was saying 'I have unbearable memories of slimes' and wanted to run away, but he became so energetic once the battle went smoothly," Aqua couldn't help but remark.

Darkness nodded and said, "Ah, the person who was defeated was clearly Megumin, but she shamelessly took credit for it. As expected of Kobayashi."

"Because I was the one who devised the battle plan!" Kobayashi rolled his eyes, showing no embarrassment whatsoever. "Anyway, thanks to everyone, the number of monsters should have been greatly reduced. Let's take this opportunity to defeat the mastermind behind it all, for world peace!"

(End of this chapter)