Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Chapter 144 - One Hundred And Forty Four

"Odessa, hurry up! It’s our first mission, and I don’t want to be late!"

The childlike girl darted through the air in a blur, transparent wings fluttering behind her as she repeatedly knocked on the door of a small wooden building.

To outsiders, the sight might have seemed strange.

But within Maple Tree, it was considered fairly normal. The nation had become home to such a vast variety of races and beings that scenes like this barely attracted attention anymore.

The tiny winged sprite was named Tingle.

Although technically, calling her a sprite was no longer entirely correct.

That changed the moment she received a name from the Lady Empress herself.

Even before then, Tingle had already been unusually developed for a sprite. Her spiritual body had grown stable enough to manifest physically, allowing her to interact with the material world directly rather than existing as a drifting elemental spirit.

It was precisely because of that maturity that the other sprites had chosen her as their representative when their kind first migrated to Maple Tree.

Unfortunately, sprites as a race had very little to offer on their own.

They were weak.

Painfully weak.

Most possessed barely enough magical power to defend themselves, let alone contribute meaningfully to a growing nation filled with monsters, warriors, craftsmen, and magicians.

The only real method sprites had to overcome that weakness was evolution.

By abandoning their pure spiritual nature and manifesting fully into the physical world, they could evolve into demi-spiritual races tied to elemental affinities.

Sprites aligned with earth became dwarves.

Fire sprites evolved into ogres.

Wind sprites became elves.

And water sprites transformed into sirens.

However, once that evolution occurred, they no longer truly belonged to the sprite race.

They became members of entirely different racial factions instead.

Of the original seven thousand sprites who had migrated to Maple Tree, fewer than a thousand still remained as pure sprites after several years.

That reality was exactly why Tingle had immediately volunteered when the Spirit Rider program was announced.

She wanted to prove that sprites still had value.

That they could contribute to Maple Tree without abandoning who they were.

Especially after everything the Lady Empress had done for them.

And thankfully...

The results had been extraordinary.

Tingle honestly could not remember the last time she had been this happy.

As a sprite, before receiving her name, she possessed only a single intrinsic skill.

[Telepathy.]

It wasn’t a combat ability.

And despite how useful it sounded, she had almost never found a reason to use it.

Most sprites were barely conscious during their early stages of existence, and trying to communicate with the monsters roaming the Great Forest was usually a good way to get eaten.

But everything changed after she partnered with her Automara.

Pip.

Her Intrinsic skill, [Telepathy], which had evolved into the Unique Skill, [Resonance], had fused with one of Pip’s intrinsic skills, [Pulse Relay], after their synchronization.

It became [Thinker.]

One of it’s four functions [Thought Link] was directly synchronizing perception, emotion, and sensory processing between herself and her partner.

Through the link, Tingle could perceive the world alongside her Automara simultaneously. Sight, sound, danger, movement... all of it flowed seamlessly between them.

"Odessaaaa!" Tingle whined loudly while continuing to pound uselessly against the door. "We’re gonna be late!"

A loud thud sounded from inside the building. Then another.

"...I’m awake!" a muffled voice barked back.

"Come out already!"

The door suddenly swung open.

A massive figure stood there while fastening the final straps across a dark combat vest.

Odessa towered over Tingle easily.

Like most orcs, her frame was broad and heavily muscular, though years living within Kyusha had clearly refined some of the rougher tribal edges associated with her race. Her tusks were smaller than most battlefield orcs, and long dark-green hair had been tied back into a loose braid behind her.

Currently however, she looked half-dressed and entirely annoyed.

"I’m out. Happy? Jeez."

"Very much!"

Odessa ignored her while grabbing a long coat hanging near the doorway.

Unlike the bustling mixed population throughout Maple Tree, Odessa stood out heavily within Kyusha itself.

Mostly because she was still the only orc living in the capital.

At first, that fact had bothered her.

Now though? Tingle thought that Odessa honestly preferred it.

People remembered her immediately. Especially after becoming a Spirit Rider.

A small metallic sphere floated lazily beside Odessa’s shoulder the moment she stepped outside.

Soft arcs of blue plasma crackled harmlessly across its polished surface while several glowing rings rotated around its body slowly.

Giva.

Even in avatar form, the Plasma Automara radiated dangerous levels of energy.

The tiny construct drifted slightly closer toward Tingle before emitting several soft electronic chirps.

Through [Thought Link], Tingle immediately felt the familiar emotional pulse.

Excitement.

Curiosity.

Movement.

Tingle brightened instantly. "See?! Even Giva’s excited!"

"Giva is always excited." Odessa muttered while adjusting one glove.

The floating sphere bobbed proudly.

"Damn thing nearly overloaded the entire training hall last month." Odessa continued flatly. "Cost me two weeks of my merit pay."

The plasma arcs around Giva intensified slightly.

"No. That is not something to be proud of."

Giva dimmed slightly afterward.

Tingle giggled while Pip floated beside her own shoulder.

Unlike Giva’s smooth metallic body, Pip’s avatar looked smaller and rounder, with tiny rotating fins spinning gently behind it like wings.

The two Automaras immediately drifted toward one another.

Then began exchanging rapid electronic chirps incomprehensible to everyone else.

"...Should we be concerned?" Odessa asked.

"Probably not."

Neither Spirit Rider interrupted them.

At this point, everyone in the program had accepted that Automaras occasionally developed bizarre habits after prolonged synchronization with their hosts.

The four of them eventually began moving through the streets together.

Around them, Kyusha was already fully awake.

Massive transportation constructs moved between districts carrying materials overhead while elevated rail systems hummed softly above the streets. Merchants prepared storefronts beneath glowing magical signs while monsters, demi-humans, spirits, and humans crossed the capital roads together without concern.

Far above the city itself, several floating platforms drifted slowly between the colossal structures integrated directly into the mountainside.

Honestly... Even now, Tingle still found Maple Tree unbelievable sometimes.

A nation where creatures like sprites could exist without fear of disappearing quietly into irrelevance.

Her wings fluttered slightly at the thought.

Today especially mattered.

Because today was the first official deployment involving a good portion of the Spirit Riders simultaneously.

Not just training. Not just simulations. This wasn’t Introductions to the officials of the country states.

An actual operation.

And apparently important enough that command had refused to disclose details beforehand.

That alone had the entire Spirit Rider division restless.

Odessa exhaled lightly while walking beside her. "You nervous?"

"A little."

"You’ll be fine."

"That’s easy for you to say."

"It really isn’t."

Tingle blinked before glancing sideways at the larger woman.

Odessa scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. "Other than the war from nearly three years ago, when we fought under the Orc Disaster, I’ve never actually worked in a unit this large before either."

That surprised Tingle slightly.

Then again...

Most of the Spirit Riders were still relatively new.

The entire program itself had only existed for less than a year.

Originally, the Automaras had struggled heavily integrating into Maple Tree society despite Lady Kaede’s protection. Most citizens simply didn’t know how to interact with living machines possessing developing personalities.

The Spirit Rider program had changed that.

By synchronizing compatible individuals with Automaras directly, both sides stabilized one another emotionally and mentally.

The result was extraordinary.

Combat efficiency skyrocketed through the roof, while Automara development accelerated.

And many of the constructs began developing genuine personal identities.

Pip suddenly chirped loudly.

Tingle immediately looked upward. Several figures were descending toward the plaza ahead.

Other Spirit Riders.

One after another.

Winged riders.

Armored riders.

Floating Automaras moving beside each of them in different spherical avatar forms.

Some emitted flames.

Others crackled with frost or lightning.

One sphere constantly phased in and out of visibility entirely.

Tingle’s heart immediately started racing. There were way more people here than she expected.

Odessa stared ahead quietly before muttering under her breath. "What exactly is the mission?"

The plaza itself had been constructed near the eastern side of Kyusha’s upper district.

Tingle’s eyes widened slightly while counting again. "Nineteen..." she murmured. That was nearly half the entire division.

Some of the gathered riders were familiar. Others clearly were not.

Several newcomers stood awkwardly near the outer sections of the plaza while their Automaras floated beside them uncertainly.

Some had only arrived within the last few months after being summoned by the Archmage Lord Kanade following their deaths back on Earth.

Honestly, Tingle still found the entire concept slightly terrifying.

Death. Then suddenly waking up in another world.

Yet despite that, many of the newer recruits had adapted surprisingly quickly.

Odessa nodded toward the far side of the plaza. Two figures had just arrived. Tingle immediately brightened.

"Azeeza!"

The dark-skinned, red haired woman glanced over before raising a hand casually in greeting.

Unlike most Spirit Riders, Azeeza carried herself with unmistakable military sharpness. Her uniform coat remained perfectly arranged despite the early hour while her expression held a calm focus.

Floating beside her shoulder was Hett.

The electromagnetic Automara emitted soft pulses of yellow-white electricity while several thin metallic rings orbited its spherical frame rapidly.

Beside Azeeza stood another familiar figure.

Liu Fei adjusted his glasses lazily while staring down at a small handheld device connected directly into his Automara through several thin cables.

"...You’re still at it?" Odessa asked flatly.

Liu Fei didn’t even look up. "Morning, Odessa."

"Honestly, you and Nvel really should tone it down. Aren’t you like the calm and collected one? You don’t wanna lose merit pay like me."

"Your concerns have been heard."

Nvel emitted several soft mechanical tones beside him.

Unlike the brighter designs of Pip and Giva, Nvel’s spherical frame possessed a darker metallic coloration with pale blue lines glowing softly across its surface.

Cold vapor drifted constantly from small vents beneath its body.

Tingle tilted her head slightly. "...What actually is Nvel’s ability anyway? And why are you working on it so much? Isn’t it just the ice element?"

Liu Fei finally looked up. "Cryogenic molecular suppression."

Silence.

Odessa blinked once. "...What?"

"He manipulates thermal activity at molecular levels by rapidly extracting kinetic energy from surrounding matter." Liu Fei explained matter-of-factly.

Tingle stared blankly. "...It’s still Ice, right?" she guessed carefully.

"...Essentially."

Odessa snorted loudly.

Azeeza sighed softly while pinching the bridge of her nose. "Please don’t encourage him."

"You say that like I’m wrong."

"Try explaining that to a bunch of ten year olds, at one of your classes."

"It’s accurate."

"It made the hobgoblins cry. What a terrible teacher you are."

Nvel emitted what suspiciously sounded like an amused chirp.

Tingle giggled while Pip floated excitedly toward the other Automaras.

Within seconds, the four constructs had already begun exchanging rapid streams of electronic noises.

"...They really do socialize like actual people now." Odessa muttered.

"They are actual people." Liu Fei corrected absentmindedly.

Azeeza crossed her arms lightly while surveying the increasingly crowded plaza. "Looks like they’re serious this time."

That immediately pulled Tingle’s attention back. "...Do you know what the mission is?" she asked quickly.

Azeeza’s expression shifted slightly. Then she shook her head once. "Not exactly."

Even that answer made Odessa frown.

If Azeeza didn’t know, then information was being restricted unusually tightly.

Out of the original thirteen Spirit Riders personally overseen under Lady Kirara, Azeeza was the closest thing the division had to a field captain.

Not officially. But practically.

Especially considering her relationship with Lady Kirara’s second in command, Glenda Atlee.

Azeeza exhaled lightly afterward. "All I know is that the Archmage Lord Kanade will be present personally."

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Several nearby riders overheard the statement. Tension spread almost immediately afterward.

Even Tingle froze slightly.

"The Archmage Lord himself?" Odessa repeated carefully.

Azeeza nodded once. "...That’s what Glenda told me."

No one spoke for several seconds afterward.

Kanade was known to almost every single human in Maple Tree’s capital city, Kyusha. After all, most of them were otherworlders summoned by the Archmage himself.

Some were grateful to him, but on the other hand, some were nervous around him.