After Fíliya's figure disappeared behind those massive doors, the atmosphere on the scene instantly descended into an eerie silence.
It was evident that many were curious about the situation inside, but they quickly regained their composure, rising to prepare for the interception of their respective opponents.
"Wait."
Frieren suddenly called for a halt, then slowly walked over to Edel.
"Edel, cast that magic on everyone," Frieren said softly.
"Eh? ...Oh." Edel nodded hurriedly.
"Mm, but I won't be able to help you maintain the spell this time, okay?" Frieren reminded her in a whisper.
"It's okay... with the experience from last time, I should be able to maintain it on my own... probably."
Edel patted her chest, clearly trying to psych herself up.
Next, Edel once again cast the spell Fíliya had named "Squad Voice," enveloping every mage present within its network.
This... This is!
Those experiencing the magic for the first time let out mental exclamations, while the veterans who had used it before immediately shifted into combat readiness.
Just as we agreed, everyone find a suitable opponent and stall for time as best you can... Report immediately if any unexpected situations arise.
Frieren transmitted her message to everyone before walking toward another individual.
Her target was the examiner squatting in the corner.
"Is this really okay? You're clearly worried to death, yet you're pretending to be calm."
Frieren spoke in a tranquil tone, tentatively striking up a conversation with Sense.
"..."
Sense remained silent. Her heart was indeed in turmoil. Especially after hearing Fíliya's battle plan, she felt an uncontrollable urge to rush in, to help, and to fight side-by-side with Fíliya.
Watching her sister walk into danger was agonizing torture, yet her professional duty bound her hands, leaving her in this state of helpless paralysis.
"Hmph... I can see you're in a terrible mood... I'm not very good at offering comfort, so..."
Frieren took a deep breath as she spoke.
"Don't worry. That girl... isn't the type to die in a place like this. Didn't she look confident when she went in?"
Frieren left Sense with a smile and those words, then immediately turned away.
After all, she also shouldered a monumental task: finding Fíliya's replica.
Although she didn't know why Fíliya's replica hadn't made a move yet, this development was undoubtedly beneficial for everyone. After all, it was just as Fíliya had said. If that girl, with her treacherous and unfathomable methods, started assassinating people... no one here would even get the chance to use their Emergency Escape Golems.
In other words, the fact that the replica possessed no "Intellect" was truly good news.
Rationally speaking, the best solution would have been for her and Fíliya to enter together and quickly eliminate their own replicas. But if they did that... the less skilled young mages would face the threat of death.
Frieren was well aware of her own capabilities. She knew that even if she and Fíliya joined forces, they couldn't instantly kill "her"... If such a battle dragged on, the mages outside might be picked off one by one by Fíliya's replica... To minimize casualties, she had no choice but to place her trust in Fíliya for now.
...
"Found you..."
Frieren stopped concealing her mana and expanded her detection range to the limit, quickly locking onto that specific target.
But to her confusion, the replica remained motionless in a room.
Frieren didn't know what the replica was planning, but that didn't stop her from immediately rushing in that direction.
"This is..."
Frieren looked at the figure not far away and instantly went on alert, observing the surroundings.
This was a corridor much smaller than the previous hall. On the walls all around, countless sharp blade marks were branded...
Wait? Blade marks...
Frieren suddenly realized. This was a place full of mages; there shouldn't be any swords... So, was it the work of that girl with the green side ponytail...? She remembered her saying her magic was "Scissors"...
Then this room... Is this the room where Sense's replica was destroyed?
Frieren quickly grasped the situation.
What surprised Frieren even more was that she felt she could see a trace of loneliness on the fake Fíliya's face...
Strange. Aren't replicas supposed to only have instincts and combat intuition, with no intellect or heart? How could I have this illusion?
Could it be that behaviors like "Protect Sense" or "Avenge Sense" have themselves become that girl's "Instinct"?
Just as Frieren was letting her thoughts wander, Fíliya's replica finally moved. In the blink of an eye, the replica brushed past Frieren.
Frieren, who had been prepared for an attack, revealed a stunned expression. Because the replica didn't attack her at all. Instead, it sprinted directly in another direction.
"That direction... is towards that girl named Übel... Is it really going for 'Revenge'?"
Frieren frowned slightly, then hurriedly chased down Fíliya's replica, blocking its path.
"Sorry, but I can't let you pass."
Frieren finally raised her staff against the replica.
...
Meanwhile, inside the giant gate.
"Umu... Not good, this is quite bad. I talked big... but I have no idea how to start..."
It had been several minutes since Fíliya entered the territory of this counterfeit Frieren.
Fíliya had been observing, trying to find a single opening in Frieren.
Honestly... openings were practically everywhere. But Fíliya had a gut feeling that the moment she actually struck at those openings, she would be the one to suffer.
And that clay-doll-like figure kept staring at Fíliya with cold eyes. In these few minutes, it hadn't initiated an attack either.
Tsk... Is this standoff situation actually good?
Impossible.
Fíliya shook her head.
The guys outside were mortal flesh and blood; their mana was finite. The replicas, however, were supplied with mana by the Age of Gods monster, the "Water-Mirror Demon," making their reserves nearly infinite. Plus, they respawned endlessly after death... No matter how she looked at it, her side couldn't afford to stall.
And this guy is really pissing me off... seeing an opponent with much lower mana enter, she just relaxes? Does not attacking mean she wants to give me a handicap?
Frieren, you idiot, this goes beyond just underestimating the enemy, right? What are you pretending for?
Fíliya vented her frustration internally, but regardless, it was time for her to take the initiative.
____
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