Chapter 26

The wyvern, attempting to escape, was trying to reach Zeato before the knights. In front of its line of sight, a large fortress loomed as if to block its path, but for the wyvern, which could fly freely in the sky, this was meaningless.

However, on top of the fortress, there were knights assigned to guard it. The knights, upon discovering the wyvern, immediately sounded the alarm.

The sudden alarm that echoed through the streets of Zeato greatly confused the residents, but once they learned that a monster was attacking Zeato, they quickly followed the knights' instructions and began to evacuate into buildings.

The street was soon completely empty. Since Zeato was a region frequently attacked by monsters, the residents' response to such situations was remarkably swift.

Under the knights' guidance, the residents quickly completed their evacuation.

The knights on top of the fortress prepared the ballistae, which were set up as defensive mechanisms, to target the wyverns approaching Zeato.

The archery and magic units were also in position, and the preparations for intercepting the wyverns were complete.

Unaware of these preparations, the wyvern flapped its wings toward the fortress, where it could find prey to recover its lost strength.

As the wyvern approached the fortress, arrows were launched from the ballistae. The arrows, faster than those from bows, pierced the wyvern's wings.

Surprised, the wyvern, having lost its wings, fell to the ground. Realizing that its companion had been easily taken down, the wyvern tried to fly to a height where the arrows couldn't reach, but arrows and magic prevented its escape.

Realizing it would be killed, the wyvern took a reckless action, flapping its wings at maximum speed to reach the humans, its prey, beyond the fortress.

If it had abandoned such thoughts, it might have saved its life, but being a monster, the wyvern lacked the foresight.

The remaining four wyverns attempted a reckless attack to cross the fortress. However, due to the ballistae, arrows, and magic, one of them was riddled with holes and died.

Despite this, the wyverns' unexpected actions allowed three of them to breach the fortress, as the knights couldn't aim properly.

The wyverns that crossed the fortress searched for prey below, but the residents of Zeato had already evacuated into buildings and couldn't be found.

The street was guarded by knights, making it impossible to land.

Realizing they couldn't find prey, the wyverns decided to move further. Then, they discovered a large mansion.

Seeing a human figure, the wyvern trembled with joy. Believing there was prey, the wyvern charged straight for the mansion.

"What do you think you're doing, lizard?"

Suddenly, an old gentleman in a tailcoat appeared before the wyvern. His eyes were so cold that even the wyvern shuddered.

The wyvern, seeing those cold eyes for the last time, met its end.

(Wh-What!? He was right in front of me, but he flew to the wyvern in an instant... The legendary assassin is truly fearsome!)

A little earlier, Gilbert was practicing grappling with Leord as part of his daily routine. When the alarm suddenly sounded, Leord was greatly surprised, but Gilbert calmly watched the fortress.

Leord was anxious to evacuate, but Gilbert calmed him down.

"There's no need to worry. The knights guarding Zeato are excellent."

"R-Really? Is it safe?"

"Yes. The knights guarding Zeato are excellent."

"O-Okay. If that's the case, I'm relieved—What!?"

Leord saw a wyvern behind Gilbert, approaching at high speed, and was so shocked that he fell on his bottom.

However, in the next moment, Gilbert, who had been standing right in front of him, appeared before the wyvern. It took Leord a few seconds to understand what had happened.

Gilbert easily kicked the wyvern's neck and killed it. Leord was speechless, witnessing his first battle in the world of Fate 48, but the events were too overwhelming for his mind to process.

(Amazing... I can only say amazing...)

That was the only comment Leord could muster, his vocabulary drained.

Leord, who was in a daze, didn't notice that the wyverns heading for the mansion were not just one but three.

Gilbert easily dispatched the first wyvern, but the remaining two took advantage of the moment to charge into the mansion.

"Damn!"

Gilbert, having taken down one wyvern, tried to take down the other two, but as an assassin who used his bare hands as weapons, it was difficult to handle multiple opponents simultaneously.

While Gilbert had the skill to handle multiple opponents, he couldn't simultaneously take down the fast-approaching wyverns.

(Wh-What!? No way!?)

In the brief moment of Leord's confusion, the wyverns attacked the mansion. One wyvern broke through the wall and caught a servant inside.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

"Shelia!?"

The one caught was Gilbert's granddaughter, Shelia. The wyvern, carrying Shelia, tried to escape into the sky.

"I won't let you escape!!!"

Gilbert chased the wyvern. Although the wyvern was fast, Gilbert was even faster. Catching up to the wyvern, Gilbert tried to punch it to save Shelia.

"What...!?"

Whether by chance or intent, the wyvern used Shelia as a shield to block Gilbert's punch.

Gilbert, unable to strike, lost his momentum and fell to the ground.

"You damn lizard!"

Gilbert glared at the wyvern with hatred, but the wyvern had already escaped to a place beyond his reach. There was no way to save Shelia now.

But then, a savior appeared. Leord, with his impressive belly jiggling, ran to Gilbert's side.

"Gil! Get ready to catch Shelia!"

"Y-Young master! What do you intend to do!?"

"I don't have time to explain! Just do as I say!"

(Phew, phew, I can do it. I'm the fallen golden pig Leord now, but I was once the golden lion Leord, known as a prodigy! I have to make this work, or I won't be Leord!)

Leord, mentally encouraging himself, extended his palm straight toward the wyvern. Thanks to Gilbert, the wyvern had paused slightly, allowing Leord to reach it in time.

The wyvern was within range of Leord's magic, giving him a chance to save Shelia.

Aim for the head.

One hit to bring it down.

No room for failure.

"Lightning—!"