Chapter 8

Today, this is the third update:

"Alan, three lizardmen are coming from the front!"

The young magic swordswoman, Mithia, alerts us to the approaching monsters using her detection skill.

It's a familiar scene.

"Leave it to me. I'll rust Excalibur with a single strike!"

I smirk and place my hand on my hip.

"O holy sword, manifest according to my will!"

I mutter the usual incantation.

It should be enough to activate my unique skill 'Holy Sword' and annihilate the enemies, but—

"…Huh?"

Suddenly, something is off.

The holy sword does not respond to my call—

A sudden wave of fatigue washes over my entire body.

A headache as intense as being clamped in a vise.

"Ughhh…"

Despite the monsters right in front of me, I can't help but kneel.

"Alan! —I told you so!"

Mithia stands at the forefront, shielding me.

"It's a mana drain. If you keep using such powerful moves, your mana won't last until the end!"

"Stop talking nonsense! With my level this high, there's no way I should run out of mana!"

The weapon she wields against the lizardmen is an ordinary short sword.

Mithia's specialty is a combination of magic and swordsmanship using a magic sword.

A short sword without mana is not a suitable weapon for her.

"Hey, you! What happened to your magic sword?"

"That thing can't be used regularly—Kyaa!"

Our opponent is a violent A-rank monster.

Seizing the opportunity during our conversation, the lizardman slashes with his sword.

Mithia is easily blown away by the power.

"Hey, you're slacking off! You were winning just a moment ago!"

"With mana, I wouldn't be lagging behind these guys. That's why I said it was reckless to tackle this without Ishua!"

The lizardman stares at me intently.

He no longer sees me as a significant threat.

His eyes are those of a hunter calmly stalking his prey.

"Uaaaaaahhhhh"

This was my first taste of defeat.

I fled as fast as I could.

Leaving my party members behind.

"Ridill, follow me! Protect me!!"

"Wh-what? Wait! Mithia is still fighting!"

"If we stay, we'll all be wiped out. The hero's survival is the most important thing!!"

Wise men and magic swordswomen can't replace me.

I plead desperately, but Ridill doesn't budge.

"I can't abandon my comrades who are still fighting. You have no right to call yourself a hero if you make such a judgment!"

Ridill, who usually seems sleepy and doesn't show much emotion, now glares at me with burning eyes, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

"I won't give up until the end. We will all return together!"

"Hey, stop joking! Come back! An unprotected hero is here—!"

I call out desperately, driven by fear.

Ridill ignores me and rushes to Mithia, who is being overwhelmed by the lizardmen.