Author: Sasaki Ichiro	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Mab	English Source: Re:Library
Editor(s): Silva

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“It’s true that we’re desperate enough to use even the hands of a puny commoner… but I can’t think of any use for him other than as a meat shield.” Coppelia continued, completely unconcerned, with her usual bluntness.

“Please, could you refrain from saying things that might cause problems here?” I pleaded, and Coppelia blinked at me as if my request was utterly baffling.

“Of course. Time is limited, so there’s no point in wasting it on trivial conversations. We don’t have time to dally over weaklings.”
“That’s exactly what we call a waste of words!”

Eren smacked Coppelia on the head to silence her.

“Oww… Why does a mere human punch hurt so much…?”

Clutching her head and looking teary-eyed, Coppelia voiced her bewilderment, to which Eren boldly replied: “Obviously! I’m Lady Jill’s personal maid, after all. That makes me your senior. Now that you’re also Lady Jill’s maid, you should understand the proper hierarchy!”

Wait… when did Coppelia become my maid?

With a hand to her head, Coppelia nodded in agreement. “…I see.”

Oh no, she’s actually accepting that.

“I look forward to your guidance, Senior.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”

Something… unsettling seems to be progressing without my input… A cold sweat started to trickle down my back. I glanced around at the others for some sort of rescue, only to receive lukewarm looks that seemed to say, “She’s all yours” (though Cestlavie was glaring at Coppelia like a mortal enemy).

“Then, if I may continue… my master.”

Coppelia, now apparently my maid by default, gave me a respectful bow and continued with her explanation.

“Um…”
“To break this deadlock, it’s essential that you, Lady Clara, and I work together and trust each other’s strengths.”
“…”

Just as I was about to gently correct her about the maid situation, Coppelia seized the moment to speak of “trust” and “working together.”

“Specifically, I’d like you to use your Sky magic to direct the collapsing force currently in equilibrium, so we can strike at the weak points in Igor’s magic all at once.”
“Isn’t that a bit much, even for Jill, to attempt with such an unknown spell?”

Luke addressed Coppelia in a tone that sounded more accusatory than inquisitive.

I nodded in agreement. “Indeed. I don’t think I’d be able to control it after just one look. If I had two or three more chances to observe it, though, I’d have a better feel for replicating it…”

While it might not be identical, since it seems like an enhanced version of Moonfall, I think I could eventually develop a similar spell through trial and error. If that happens, even against an opponent of No-Life King caliber, I wouldn’t fall behind so easily next time.

“For now, how about naming it Heavenfall once I’m able to replicate it?”

Eren threw up both hands in enthusiastic support of my suggestion, but for some reason, the others (Coppelia included) looked at me as if they were staring at a monster. Why?

“…Well, we’ll save that for next time. For now, it appears even Lady Clara finds this challenging, so I’ll handle the mana measurement in her place. Fortunately, we still have some data left, so I should be able to manage. If Lady Clara can then infuse her Sky mana into the points I specify, I believe it’ll work.”

Coppelia drew a small circle on the ground next to the outermost double circle, pulling an arrow from it toward the center. She doubled the lines on this arrow as it collided with the one coming from the inner circle, illustrating the impact.

We all nodded, murmuring, “I see.”

“From what I’m hearing, it seems likely to work,” said Lieselotte, looking at Coppelia with a newfound respect.

“Yes. At this point, debating the unknown won’t get us anywhere… but if there’s a concern, it’s—”

“The considerable strain it’ll place on Jill,” Viola noted, prompting Luke to focus on the small circle on the ground.

“…” Cestlavie, who was also looking at that circle, raked a hand through his hair in frustration.

♦♢♦♢

“Alright, let’s get moving. Hold on tightly to my shoulders, Lady Clara. And… you too, commoner.”

Standing in front of the conga line, Coppelia had me place both hands on her shoulders, while Cestlavie did the same, resting his hands on mine.

“—!”

I nearly let out a strange sound, startled by the unexpected roughness and strength of his grip.

“You’re a lot thinner and more fragile than I expected. Feels like you’d break if I squeezed too hard,” he remarked bluntly.

“Obviously. Ladies are delicate beings. Squeezing her shoulders like that is entirely out of the question, so do be mindful.”

Behind me, I sensed Cestlavie making a sour expression at Viola’s warning. Meanwhile, Luke and Eren watched our formation with visible displeasure.

“Why him and not me…”
“If only I could use magic, I’d be right by Lady Jill’s side…”

They murmured in frustration, but there was no helping it.

Since we’d be operating at the edge—technically even moving slightly into—the Red Light Zone, we needed to maintain a protective barrier. However, as it would be too taxing for me to sustain two spells simultaneously, Cestlavie was enlisted to accompany us at the last moment.

“…Are you really alright with this? It seems incredibly dangerous,” I asked, turning to glance back at him.

Cestlavie, with his usual scowl, shrugged. “There’s no one else suited for the job, is there? Besides, if word got out that I abandoned you and the other high ranking princesses here to run away… well, they’d have my head rolling.”

He shot a quick glance at Lieselotte and Viola, who were staying behind, and let out a resigned sigh.

Ideally, I wanted the princesses (and, to be honest, everyone else besides us) to retreat from here as much as possible.

“As the Third Princess, my position is easily replaceable… but as your one and only friend, I take pride in being irreplaceable. So, I cannot simply run away,” declared Princess Lieselotte.

“As for me, I’m the eccentric one they can’t handle back at court. No one will miss me if I disappear. So, following my own way, I choose to stay here and pray for the safety of our lovely princesses,” added Viola.

Neither of them would budge on their decision.

As for Luke and Eren, their loyalty was a given.

“Very well. —Vier, if anything happens, I’m counting on you,” I said, making my request. Though she seemed frustrated she couldn’t come along, Vier reluctantly nodded. “It’ll be fine; we’re just going there and back.”

I said in a lighthearted tone, hoping to ease the worried looks on Luke and Eren’s faces before turning back to face forward.

“Alright, we’re off! Let’s go!”

Once she confirmed we were all following along, Coppelia took a steady step forward, leading us onward at a relaxed pace.

“This is kind of an embarrassing ordeal.”

Playing a locomotive game at my age is rather humiliating, and my cheeks grew red with embarrassment.

Behind me, I thought I heard Cestlavie mumble something quietly, something like, “just ascertaining… what lies beyond this world… is you…”

“What was that?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

His curt reply and the way he shook his head told me that pressing him further wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I turned forward again.

Then, as we reached the edge of the red-glowing territory, Coppelia, in the lead, announced our entry in a loud voice and unleashed her weapon.

“OPPAI BEAAAAAM!!”

A brilliant flash tore through the red-glowing area, clearing a single path for us.

The power was impressive. But still…