Chapter 49

The audience around us let out a chain of screams.

A black dot floating in the sky—there was no mistaking it for anything other than a monster.

“Damn, why are there so many monsters…!?”

A guard knight, who had just noticed, shouted.

The audience was already in a panic.

They were running around in all directions, causing chaos.

The flow of people was so chaotic that it made it even harder to escape.

While making sure not to lose sight of Elise and Yuel, we gradually moved to escape.

Even as we moved, the knights had already begun to engage the monsters.

Then, a knight with a bow tried to shoot an arrow at the monsters,

“Wait, don’t shoot! You might hit someone!”

Another knight’s voice of warning.

...With this many spectators, if you shoot an arrow upwards, it’s more likely to hit someone when it falls than to hit a monster.

“Damn, is this an attack targeting the Holy Maiden!?! Protect the spectators!”

Some of the knights began to cast spells at the sky, but it was clear that the number of spells was insufficient.

The number of monsters didn’t decrease much.

Moreover, while the knights were dealing with bird-type monsters, the silhouette of a boar-like monster appeared, charging down the main street leading to this square.

“Wh-What the hell! If it was just flying types, that would be one thing, but did such a monster even enter the city!?”

One of the guard knights shouted.

Indeed, where did these monsters come from?

While bird-type monsters might have flown over the city walls, it was clearly strange for a boar-type monster to be in the city.

I’ve never heard of monsters from the labyrinth getting out, and the city’s perimeter is guarded by both walls and knights.

Such a sudden monster attack shouldn’t happen.

This attack is too sudden.

It’s as if the monsters have been in the city all along...

“No... they were. Yes, they were in the city.”

That’s right, I saw monsters in the city.

If I looked closely, I could see that all the monsters had something like collars, magical devices, around their necks.

Those were the same as the ones from that time...

—At that moment.

A large shadow fell on the ground.

Looking up, I saw the silhouette of a large monster circling above the square.

A familiar color and shape...

...a dragon.

It was the same dragon I saw in the old town.

Earlier, a knight had shouted about an attack targeting the Holy Maiden.

Considering the collars controlling the monsters, this was definitely a man-made monster attack.

That dragon was tied up and hidden in the old town.

Could these monsters have been hidden in the ruins of the old town...?

But even if there was a hiding place, it would be impossible to bring so many monsters into the city.

...No, there was a chance recently.

The Crankheight Turtle’s poison mist incident.

At that time, the panic of the residents caused the knights to temporarily lose their function.

During that chaos, it would have been possible to bring monsters into the city.

“Hey, this is bad.”

While I was thinking about this, the knights, unable to handle the sheer number of monsters, were being overwhelmed.

About ten boar-type monsters were breaking through their lines.

We were still unable to escape the square.

The escape routes were blocked by fleeing spectators, making it impossible to leave the square.

During this time, the boar-type monsters charged towards us.

“Master, please step back!”

Yuel threw a knife to fight back, but there were too many.

Yuel’s attack succeeded in protecting me, but the boar charging towards Elise was still alive.

“...!”

...This is bad.

Elise doesn’t have the strength to fight monsters.

“Elise!”

There’s no question about what to do.

I have to fight the monsters.

I’ve fought a terrifying Armored Ogre before.

A boar-type monster shouldn’t be that scary now.

...In fact, this could be a chance.

If I risk my life to save Elise in such a crisis, her affection for me will definitely skyrocket.

Well, I won’t die just from being a shield for a boar.

At worst, I might break a couple of bones.

Alright, let’s go.

I imagine what will happen after saving Elise, and my resolve is strengthened.

I take a step forward, ready to strike the monster with my mace.

And in the next moment—blood splattered.

...I didn’t hit the monster.

Someone had intervened between Elise and the monster, slicing several approaching boar-type monsters in half in an instant.

There, in knight’s armor, was Aria.

“Aria...”

Elise murmured.

“Are you okay? Big sister.”

Aria, while shaking the blood off her sword, smiled at Elise.

Then, as if coming to her senses, Elise opened her mouth.

“Y-Yes, thank you.”

Seeing Elise’s relieved expression, Aria chuckled.

It was a mischievous expression, like a child planning something.

Then, as if waiting for Elise’s words, she said,

“You don’t need to thank me, big sister.”

Aria turned her back to Elise, ready to face the next monster.

And she declared boldly,

“I’m a knight, after all.”

“...”

Aria began to eliminate the surrounding monsters at an incredible speed.

She cut them down with a single stroke, reducing their numbers powerfully and swiftly.

Her movements stood out even among the knights.

It was as if she was showing off to Elise.

“Aria...”

Elise, with her hand to her mouth and tears in her eyes, watched Aria.

She might have been moved by her sister’s growth.

When a beautiful person does something like this, it’s very picturesque.

...But, I was supposed to be the one who fought the monsters and received that look from Elise.

I was supposed to show my manliness and make Elise swoon.

Well, I’ll let it slide this time.

Elise looks happy.

However, as Aria was performing admirably in front of us,

—The dragon circling in the sky suddenly dove towards the platform where the Holy Maiden was.

The sound of the makeshift stage breaking and a loud scream echoed around.

...This is bad.

Luluka should have been there too.

Luluka wasn’t wearing any armor.

She might have been seriously injured by that attack.

“Aria! I’ll leave Elise to you! Yuel, come with me!”

I could trust Elise’s safety to Aria.

From the battle with the boars alone, it was clear that Aria was exceptionally skilled.

I ran towards the makeshift stage where Luluka was.

There should be several injured women with large chests there as well.

I needed to treat them immediately.

Near the broken stage, there were several women in light clothing, the Holy Maiden, and the guard knights.

Luluka was there too.

However, there were no injured people.

It seemed the Holy Maiden had already healed them.

The dragon, after its attack, had flown higher and was circling, seemingly targeting this stage again.

“Shiki! Hey, that dragon... it’s the same one we saw in the old town, right?”

“Yeah, it’s the same one.”

“It’s strange! Dragons don’t attack people like this!”

Luluka looked desperate.

I remember she liked dragons.

Well, the monster’s will has nothing to do with this attack.

Those collars are magical devices that control the monsters.

There must be someone controlling the dragon and other monsters with those collars.

“Be careful! Earth Dragons use a petrifying breath!”

A guard knight shouted.

A breath attack.

But the idea of petrification didn’t really sink in.

Then, the Holy Maiden herself added to the guard’s warning.

“If you are hit by the breath, you must be treated with an Ex Heal or a specialized medicine before you are completely petrified, or it will certainly lead to death. Absolutely avoid being hit.”

The breath is dangerous.

It seems the monsters in the air and on the ground are a diversion to draw the knights away, while the main target is the Holy Maiden.

...If we stay here, we will definitely be caught in the crossfire.

We need to escape quickly.

“Luluka, let’s go. If we stay here, we’ll be caught in it.”

I called out to Luluka,

“Earth Dragon’s weakness is fire magic. Should we bring it down with a fire spell?”

Almost simultaneously, one of the guards, who seemed to be a mage, asked the Holy Maiden for instructions.

“W-What, is there no other way!?”

Luluka reacted to the guard’s words.

...Probably, she doesn’t want to kill the intelligent dragon.

She had even fed it by hand and cared for it.

Luluka might have developed feelings for that dragon.

“Controlling monsters with those collars is a common tactic of the Evil God Cult. If the collar is destroyed, the attack will stop, but please understand.”

The Holy Maiden explained to Luluka with a sympathetic look.

This was a roundabout way of saying it was impossible.

To protect the people on the ground, it was impossible to shoot arrows into the sky.

Naturally, the only means of attacking the flying dragon was magic.

And it was almost impossible to destroy the collar with magic alone.

Moreover, the dragon was a formidable opponent that could use a petrifying breath.

There was no room to worry about the dragon’s life.

“Yuel, can you try to hit the collar with a knife?”

“...I’m sorry, the range is not enough.”

I asked Yuel, but it seemed impossible.

However, Yuel opened her mouth as if she had an idea.

“Oh, but if I throw the knife from the roof of that building, it might reach. From a high place, I can use a rope to ensure it doesn’t hit anyone below.”

Yuel pointed to a five-story inn.

Indeed, it seemed possible from there.

The dragon was circling at a low altitude, looking for an opportunity to attack the Holy Maiden.

“Yuel, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, Master!”

Yuel ran towards the building at full speed, weaving through the crowd and using people’s shoulders as stepping stones.

The building was right in front of the square.

At this rate, she would reach it quickly.

Well, whether the Holy Maiden’s guards kill the dragon first or Yuel hits the collar with her knife, at least we’ve done what we can.

This should convince Luluka to escape with us.

Staying near the Holy Maiden is too dangerous.

It’s like inviting trouble.

“Luluka, it’s time. Let’s go!”

—Just as I tried to pull Luluka and escape towards Aria and the others,

“Fire Lance!!”

A huge spear of fire appeared above the head of one of the Holy Maiden’s guards and flew towards the dragon.

The dragon dodged it, but another guard created another fire spear and fired it to bring the dragon down.

The second fire spear pierced the edge of the dragon’s wing membrane.

In the next moment.

Perhaps to avoid being targeted, the dragon dove towards the ground.

It descended at a steep angle, then flapped its large wings to slow down.

Hovering a few meters above the ground, it opened its mouth wide.

A gray breath was leaking from its mouth.

...This is bad.

The gray breath filled my vision.

I tried to put some distance between us, but it was too late.

I was hit by the breath.

—Just as the breath was about to reach me, I was tackled to the ground.

I fell face down, with someone on top of me.

I could see red hair on my shoulder, and I felt a soft sensation on my back.

It seemed Luluka had tackled me.

“Hey, are you okay...?”

I sat up and looked at Luluka.

Then,

“A-Ahaha... I did it.”

There, Luluka, with her feet turning gray, was smiling weakly.

It seemed she had been hit by the breath.

The gray was gradually spreading over time.

Moreover, the dragon was preparing to release a second breath, looking at us with its mouth wide open.

This is bad.

...No.

Something even worse caught my eye.

The roof of the building where I had sent Yuel.

There, Yuel was diving from the roof of a five-story building, without any safety line.

Yuel, holding a knife downward, was falling towards the dragon, which had lowered its altitude to release a breath.

She was probably trying to destroy the collar.

But it was too acrobatic and too dangerous.

She might have panicked when I was about to be hit by the breath, but this was too much.

I didn’t ask her to do this.

“Yuel!!”

...Suddenly, the dragon flapped its wings and moved out of Yuel’s path.

It was no good.

If Yuel continued to fall, she would pass by the dragon and crash into the ground.

Falling from a five-story building would result in more than just broken bones.

What a reckless move.

Even if I tried to reach Yuel’s landing spot now, it was impossible to make it in time.

My heart clenched.

But Yuel didn’t fall.

Yuel threw a rope-attached knife at the dragon’s neck, caught it, and used the momentum to climb onto the dragon’s neck.

Then, she stabbed the knife into the dragon’s collar.

The dragon and Yuel fell, and Yuel used the dragon’s body as a cushion to land gracefully.

...I can only say, impressive.

Now the second breath won’t come.

Safety is secured.

“I’m sorry, but... I have no more magic power...”

But after healing three people with Ex Heal, the Holy Maiden collapsed.

The first breath had affected about ten people.

And Luluka was not among the three people the Holy Maiden had healed.

“...”

Luluka’s face twisted in disappointment.

The petrification was not progressing too quickly.

The people hit by the breath were still alive.

There was no choice but to act.

It didn’t matter if my abilities were revealed or not.

Luluka’s life was more important.

I tried to gather magic power to cast Ex Heal on Luluka...

At that moment.

“What the...!?”

“This is... smoke!? A new trick!?”

Suddenly, white smoke began to fill the area.

For a moment, I thought it was a new monster attack, but it was different.

...This was Yuel.

—Smoke bomb.

I remember she said she bought it to escape from strong enemies...

Also, I told Yuel,

“Healing magic is our secret, just between you and me.”

Fortunately, we were far from the main battlefield where the knights were fighting the monsters.

The smoke screen wouldn’t interfere with the battle.

Honestly, I thought my abilities would be revealed eventually, but it’s better if they aren’t.

Great move.

I needed to finish everything before the smoke cleared.

First, I healed Luluka, then I cast Ex Heal on everyone in the breath’s range, one by one.

After healing everyone,

“Shiki, where...?”

I heard Luluka’s weak voice.

Her voice lacked strength.

...Did the healing fail?

I have no experience healing petrification.

It’s possible.

I immediately returned to Luluka.

“What’s wrong!? Are you in pain anywhere!?”

Maybe some parts weren’t healed.

I carefully examined Luluka’s entire body.

Beautiful red hair.

Under the black bikini, her large, soft breasts swayed, her stomach was taut, and her legs were healthy and long.

...She’s not petrified.

“Oh, Shiki, I’m glad. I got to see your face at the end...”

But as soon as Luluka saw my face, she said that.

I examined her body again, but there was no sign of petrification.

She was just wearing revealing clothes.

...Maybe she hasn’t realized she’s already healed.

Well, with the thick smoke, it might be hard to see the petrification.

I looked into her eyes, and she met my gaze.

...When we look at each other like this, it gets a bit embarrassing.

Our last parting wasn’t exactly smooth.

If the inn hadn’t been full, we might have crossed a line.

Then, as I averted my gaze, I felt a warm sensation on my cheek.

Luluka’s hand had touched it.

“I’ve never been able to say this... Shiki. I...”

Then, Luluka stared into my eyes, trying to convey something.

What is this?

Could it be... that?

Is it that?

But if it is, the timing is very bad.

Luluka probably thinks she’s about to die from petrification.

The Holy Maiden, who can use Ex Heal, has declared she’s out of magic power.

Luluka doesn’t know I can use Ex Heal.

It’s probably something she can only say before she dies.

No, Luluka.

Not now.

You’re perfectly healthy.

It will definitely be embarrassing later...

But my prayers were in vain,

“I like you, Shiki.”

Luluka, with her hand on my cheek, said weakly.

There was no reason for her voice to be weak, but Luluka is probably a strong believer.

...But, of course.

I had a vague feeling she had a crush on me.

I just didn’t understand why.

Luluka seemed to notice my confusion and continued.

“I was only using a shield and trying to be an adventurer on my own. I wasn’t very good at defeating monsters, and I couldn’t earn much money until I teamed up with Fran and the others. I spent all my money on weapons