Chapter 28

"Haa, haa... Well, I'm finally getting tired..."

How many times had he fired the 'Qi Bullet' now? While he was a beginner when it came to 'Qi,' he was more experienced with magic. He had to focus on his breathing, and the mental fatigue was starting to accumulate.

"But I'm getting used to it...!"

Compared to the first time, the speed at which he could gather 'Qi' had clearly increased. It wasn't just the speed; the range and power had also improved, and the more he practiced, the more he could feel his progress, which was incredibly enjoyable. The battle with the monsters was also well-balanced, and he wished it would last longer. As he was thinking this, he noticed that Alberto, who was standing next to him, was breathing heavily.

"The number of monsters isn't decreasing at all! The guards and Silfa aren't showing it on their faces, but their movements have become quite sluggish. And Lloyd is also breathing heavily. At his age, using that much magic is no small feat. It's understandable... But I don't have the luxury to worry about others. I'm starting to feel the strain too...! But as a brother, I can't show a pitiful face... Smile, Alberto! Smile! Especially in times like these, with a devilish grin!"

Muttering to himself, Alberto forced a smile onto his face. "Well done, Alberto. He still seems to have plenty of energy."

"...Lloyd, can you keep going?"

"Yes! I can go on for much longer!"

"You're a good boy. From here on, we need to push through...!"

Alberto swung his magic sword and released a 'Blazing Fireball.' Normally, he should have run out of magic power by now... but the fact that he still had that expression meant that the magic sword was enhancing his power, which must have been a great boost. Attack magic, with its clear measure of power, is easier to maintain enthusiasm for. Yeah, yeah.

I can't fall behind. The stalemate will continue unless something special happens, like reinforcements arriving. In the meantime, I'll keep practicing my 'Qi'—

"Hoaaahhh!"

As he was thinking, a small figure—Tao—flew in with a strange cry. A flying kick sent a Bearwolf flying into the lake. Tao landed with a spin and struck a pose.

"I'm here to help!"

A loud cheer went up.

"Tao! You came! Thank you so much!"

"I'm glad I made it in time. I'll take care of them quickly!"

Tao winked at Alberto and then started fighting the group of monsters. Her performance was nothing short of heroic. Agile and nimble, she darted around the battlefield, picking off Bearwolves one by one. Since we had been focusing on defense, the monsters were now being caught in a pincer attack, and their numbers were rapidly decreasing.

...I didn't expect reinforcements to actually arrive. If I use 'Qi' in front of Tao, my true identity will be exposed, and the battle won't last much longer. Ah, it's over. I fired a lackluster 'Fireball.'

"Here, the last one!"

Tao's 'Qi Bullet' slammed the final Bearwolf into a tree, knocking it unconscious. The dozen or so Bearwolves lying around were no longer moving.

"Yeeaaah! We won!"

The guards embraced each other, sharing their joy. Sigh, it's a shame. I wanted to enjoy it a bit more.

"Phew, we managed to take them all down..."

As Tao wiped the sweat from her forehead and caught her breath, Alberto extended both hands for a handshake.

"Thank you, Tao. You really saved us."

"Don't mention it. I'm glad I made it in time. ...Hehe."

Tao shook his hand. She was gripping Alberto's hand with a very happy expression. Alberto was slightly taken aback.

"By the way, Tao, how did you know we were being attacked by monsters?"

"Yeah, the shrine is on a high place, right? I could see you guys being attacked by a group of monsters from there."

Tao pointed to a stone shrine on a steep cliff. However, the shrine was mostly in ruins due to its age. Repairing it would be a challenge.

"...It's quite dilapidated. I remember you were supposed to go and repair it. It seems we interrupted you. We'll help you later as a thank you for saving our lives."

"That would be a huge help! Thank you! How about we have dinner sometime?"

Tao invited Alberto to dinner. Hey, he's a prince, you know. She's pretty bold.

"Lord Lloyd, may I have a word with you?"

Grimo spoke in a serious tone.

"What is it?"

"I just remembered something about that shrine. It's a shrine where a demon, like me, is sealed."

"What...? But the shrine looks destroyed..."

"Yes, the demon inside must have escaped. And it's quite close...!"

As if in response to Grimo's words, one of the Bearwolves' bodies suddenly jerked. The Bearwolf stood on two legs, its arms hanging limply.

"Is it... coming back to life!? Everyone, get your weapons ready!"

At Alberto's command, the guards surrounded the Bearwolf. But it wasn't just one; the other fallen Bearwolves started to rise as well. Upon closer inspection, a faint black mist seemed to be enveloping their bodies.

"Kukukuku, you humans are quite something, aren't you..."

A raspy voice came from the Bearwolf's mouth. Behind the sharp fangs, a pale face could be seen, resembling both an old man and an ape. The abnormally large eyes and the sharp, long horn on its forehead were clearly not human. The guards were visibly shaken by its appearance.

"Who are you!?"

Alberto shouted, and the old man—Pazuzu—smiled sinisterly.

"I am Pazuzu. The demon Pazuzu. Foolish humans, you have done well to harm my minions. You will pay with your lives."

Pazuzu closed the Bearwolf's mouth and made it stand on two legs. The massive body seemed to grow even larger, perhaps due to Pazuzu's magic. The Bearwolf's crimson eyes merged with the old man's malevolent gaze.