Chapter 31

We abandoned the carriage and, the three of us mounted the horses, rushing towards the capital city.

--A few minutes after Mr. Noal.

When we tried to enter the city, debris was flying in the central part of the capital, and the towering castle had crumbled away.

Rising smoke enveloped the area--now, on the other side of that, Mr. Noal was battling the [Disaster Dragon].

Though we couldn't see Mr. Noal directly, the scene was terrifying.

Every time the dragon moved, an earthquake would occur, and the buildings in the eastern district of the capital would be instantly destroyed, houses in front of us would collapse, and the surroundings would turn into wasteland one after another.

Most of all, the incredibly powerful magic beams occasionally released from the dragon--those were the legendary dragon's [Breath]--the 'Light of Destruction'.

They fell into the distant plains, creating holes.

A battle that could change the surrounding terrain was being waged over there.

It was hard to believe that this was a battle between a human and a dragon.

But Mr. Noal was indeed fighting that dragon.

The dragon's relentless attacks were proof of that.

Mr. Noal seemed like a real hero straight out of a heroic tale--

"Something's coming--!!"

At Ines's voice, I turned around, and for a moment, my body froze.

There were--three 'Goblin Emperors'.

Three massive figures, forming a group, were charging towards us.

"──What--!?"

One of them scooped up debris from the ground with its giant hand and threw it at us one after another.

Dodging while on horseback was impossible.

"──[Divine Shield]──!"

Ines instantly created a 'Shield of Light' for defense.

But it wasn't enough--the horse was hit by the debris and its head was shattered.

We lost the horse and were thrown to the ground.

"──Stay close to me."

Ines created another 'Shield of Light' in front of us.

The 'Goblin Emperors' approached in an instant and attacked us all at once, but they were blocked by the 'Shield of Light'.

"──We're safe, Ines."

"But if this continues--"

Ines's voice was tense.

--I understand.

We were now surrounded.

There was no place to run.

No way to escape.

Even Mr. Noal, who had such a hard time with a single 'Goblin Emperor', was struggling.

If we, who were so weak, were surrounded--

Surrounded by monstrous figures, I was paralyzed with fear and couldn't move.

--But, we can't run away here.

We can't run away.

What would Mr. Noal do in a situation like this?

If Mr. Noal were here, what would he say?

"──Don't be afraid, they're just goblins--"

I tried saying it.

--When I said it out loud, my trembling legs calmed down a little.

That's right.

What is Mr. Noal fighting now?

He is facing the legendary [Disaster Dragon] and engaging in a fierce battle.

If I, who want to be his disciple, were to be afraid of mere goblins--

He would surely be disappointed in me.

"──Let's stay calm and deal with them--first, we'll stop them one by one."

"──Yes."

"I'll freeze them to the ground--[Dance of Ice Blocks]"

I created countless ice blocks and threw them at the Goblin Emperors.

But they were quick.

No matter how many times I tried, I couldn't hit them.

Mr. Noal might be able to, but I couldn't keep up with their speed.

Cold sweat trickled down my forehead.

"......I'll stop them......"

The young demon boy, Roro, who was behind us, took a step forward and spoke.

"──'Don't move'──"

"──Geh!"

At that moment, one of the Goblin Emperors stopped moving.

--Now. Now is the time.

"[Dance of Ice Blocks]"

I aimed at the feet of the stopped Goblin Emperor and launched the ice blocks all at once.

--I hit it.

The ice blocks I created destroyed and froze the Goblin Emperor's legs, pinning them to the ground.

"It will recover soon--Ines, finish it with the 'Sword'."

"──Yes."

Ines dissolved the 'Shield of Light' that was covering us and instead created a large 'Sword of Light'.

She held it quietly and swung it horizontally.

"[Divine Sword]"

A flash of light ran horizontally, and the Goblin's head flew off.

At the same time, all the surrounding houses were split horizontally and collapsed with a loud noise.

"──One down."

Ines confirmed that the Goblin was no longer moving and made the sword disappear.

--Ines, the [Divine Sword].

Along with the [Divine Shield], another title given to her by the royal family.

Ines can wield the 'Sword of Light' in addition to the absolute defense 'Shield of Light'.

A sword that can cut through even an orichalcum armor with a single strike, the absolute cutting sword.

"Two more--"

We looked up at the sky.

The remaining Goblin Emperors were avoiding the 'Sword of Light' and leaping high.

Their reaction speed was incredible.

Ines blocked the Goblin Emperors attacking us from the air with the 'Shield of Light'--and at the moment of landing, Roro stopped them again.

"──'Don't move'──!"

The massive figures really stopped on command.

The demon, and more specifically, this boy, had such power.

It was hard to believe that he was the same child who had been trembling in fear just a moment ago.

It was easy to understand why demons were feared worldwide as a race.

But this child must have--

Come this far to help Mr. Noal.

Despite being so afraid--he mustered the courage to stand here.

"[Ice Hell]"

I activated the skill to freeze the ground and turn the opponent into an ice statue.

I would freeze them to the ground with ice, and Ines would cut off their heads--that's how we defeated all the 'Goblin Emperors'.

Suddenly, the thunderous noise that had been echoing around us stopped.

"──Mr. Noal--?"

--The battle between the dragon and the human was over.

The sound stopping meant that one side had won--and the other had lost.

"──Let's hurry. We might be needed."

"──Yes."

We pushed aside the monsters that appeared and rushed to the center of the capital, where dust was still rising.