Chapter 88

Everyone in the Hawkfield family, hello. I'm Hawkfield Miharu. A cute little girl has arrived. I know it's mean to the others, but I intend to have a party first. I know it's wrong to start a party without permission, but please forgive me with my cute little girl smile.

So, here I am, charging into the forest.

With her silver-gray hair flowing and her sapphire-like deep blue eyes gleaming fiercely, the young girl bared her canines like a wild beast.

A young girl riding a griffin, challenging the Martians who are planning to invade Earth. Someone, please draw this picture for me.

Thinking to myself, "What a silly idea I've come up with," Miharu smiled a delicate, flower-blooming smile and dove into the forest of the Hawkfield family.

"How big is this garden?" The forest, which is part of the vast grounds that would surprise a protagonist in a typical scenario, is filled with trees whose trunks are about five meters in diameter. It's truly a forest. What's the point of creating such a forest? You should grow red pines and harvest matsutake mushrooms.

"I won't let you escape!"

Ignoring Zephyrus's voice filled with anger, I charged through the forest without worrying about the branches and leaves getting in our way. There was no damage or impact from the branches and leaves. Of course, this is because of the game's mechanics. Even if you accidentally fly into a building, you won't take any damage. It's a common feature in games.

"Okay, Goo-chan. This place will do."

"Quack!"

Here, we can fight. Given the character's dedicated 'Magic Armor,' this place is suitable for the battle.

The 'Magic Armor' is the star weapon of 'The Night of Magic.' It was used more often in battles against other players than against monsters. After all, it was a school setting.

I have never properly fought against someone with 'Magic Armor' before. There are mass-produced 'Magic Armors,' but the character's dedicated 'Magic Armor' is far superior in terms of firepower, defense, special magic, and skills.

To put it simply, the difference is like that between a soldier and a tank. So, if I fight head-on, I will definitely lose. The difference in stats is that significant. The character's dedicated 'Magic Armor' is that troublesome.

The combat power of the Martians is far different from when we fought in a party. I can't match them.

If only I had made my main job a thief, it would have been better, but now I'm a Level 2 Priest. This is a bad habit of players. Once you max out, you switch to another job to gain proficiency. I didn't expect to face such a strong enemy with a guard around.

Hawkfield Miharu is a cute little girl, only 10 years old. Isn't it too much to have so many combat events for such a young girl?

So, I thought about it. A way to repel the 'Anemoi' and a strategy to ensure no one dies. I thought and decided. This is the only way, right?

That's why the battle is in the forest. Here, Goo-chan can fully utilize her abilities, and there are various tricks I can use.

As we cut through the branches and leaves, a tree trunk looms in front of us. Goo-chan extends her front legs, plants her feet on the trunk, and uses it as a stepping stone to jump between the trees, kicking off the trunks like walls. Goo-chan uses the trunks as stepping stones with a soft touch, disappearing into the forest.

"Damn! The branches are in the way!"

Zephyrus immediately gives chase, but in the dense forest, the speed becomes a disadvantage. The 'Anemoi,' who has a magic barrier, takes no damage. However, even without taking damage, the branches obstruct the view and hinder movement. While clearing the branches to avoid colliding with trees, Zephyrus's speed inevitably slows down.

Seeing this, I clench my tiny hands, thinking, "Just as I calculated." On the other hand, it's different for us.

When a tree trunk looms, Goo-chan uses her lion's legs to kick off and jump, moving even faster. Instead of slowing down, she darts between the trees at high speed.

It's a movement befitting a lion. With explosive speed that leaves afterimages, Zephyrus, despite trying to catch up, can't keep up and is being toyed with.

"I don't think griffins are the kings of the sky."

While riding the griffin that darts between the trees at high speed, I fly carefully to avoid colliding with the trees and call out to Zephyrus, who has lost his original speed, in a cute, bird-like voice.

"Brat!"

'Retreat Wind Blade'

Aiming with his magic wand, Zephyrus fires small wind bullets like a machine gun. They easily pierce the trees and scatter the leaves. But we are already gone from that spot. Too slow, Martian.

"The king of the sky is the eagle. The king of the land is the lion. Then, what about the griffin?"

While moving at high speed, I taunt Zephyrus. I thought he might blow all the trees away in a fit of rage, but contrary to my expectations, Zephyrus becomes quiet and hovers.

If he had knocked down the trees, they could have been used as obstacles, but I'm disappointed. It seems he has calmed down and is focusing on catching me. He's a character with good combat sense. I raise my alert level and explain.

"In my opinion, griffins are mediocre. They can't be the king of the sky. They can't be the king of the land either. So, where do they excel?"

"In this kind of environment, right? They can fly in the sky and use the lion's explosive power, making this kind of forest their forte!"

'Wind Chaos Blade'

Zephyrus laughs and swings his magic wand horizontally. Wind blades are released in all directions from Zephyrus. They scratch the trunks and cut the branches, but their power is weak. It's a spell to hinder Goo-chan's movements.

Wind blades also fly in front of Goo-chan as she kicks off one trunk and moves to the next. However, Goo-chan stops in mid-air, and I direct her to another trunk.

That's the point. In the fantasy works I've seen, griffins are often portrayed as the kings of the sky. But, without the lion's fangs and with a large body that hinders their speed compared to eagles, griffins are not the kings of the sky.

On the ground, they lack the lion's fangs, and the eagle's wings are just a hindrance. Griffins have disadvantages both in the air and on the ground. They look cool, but that's all they are. So, I thought about where their true advantages lie.

Griffins can use the lion's explosive power to dart between trees and change their trajectory using the eagle's buoyancy, even when their movements are predicted. In such a forest, the griffin's abilities truly shine. Miharu is smart! Hehe.

"You're quite experienced in battle, aren't you?"

"I trained with the old man at the oden stand!"

I explain while moving between the trees, blushing. I trained for a surprise.

While on guard, Zephyrus tries to grasp Goo-chan's jumping pattern and moves through the air. Seeing Goo-chan kick off the trees and move from a distance, he aims his magic wand to attack, but...

Now!

Seeing Zephyrus move to the target location, I quietly drop from the branch above.

'Brain Shaker'

I swing a wine bottle, activating the annoying combat skill again.

"What!"

However, as I fall, Zephyrus immediately defends with his gauntlet. The shield attached to the gauntlet assembles instantly, blocking my combat skill.

I thought it was a success, but what a reaction speed.

The 'Brain Shaker' loses its effect due to the defensive action, and the wine bottle shatters with a clink. Even if a combat skill is supposed to give an effect without fail, if it's blocked by a shield, it doesn't work. It's treated as a miss.

"Damn! Miharu Punch!"

I throw the broken wine bottle, do a somersault in mid-air, and punch with my tiny hands.

"Ha!"

'Gale Fist'

However, Zephyrus sneers and, judging that the distance is too close for his 'Zephyrus's Feather Broom,' wraps his arm in wind and punches before my punch can land.

"Ugh!"

Zephyrus's punch sinks into Miharu's small stomach. The sensation of the metal gauntlet is felt, and air is forced out of my lungs, causing intense pain.

"What! Miharu Kick!"

Bent in a C-shape and about to fall to the ground, I grab Zephyrus's arm like a bar, do a backflip, and kick his head.

But this time, Zephyrus doesn't even try to block. My kick hits the green heavy armor helmet with a thud and bounces off.

"Hah-hah!"

Zephyrus, taking no damage, grabs my neck and lifts me up, laughing.

"You're just a kid. You probably thought that with magic-enhanced strength, you could break iron. But the 'Magic Armor' has a hardness that far exceeds ordinary metals. Multiple defensive spells are active. Especially the one-of-a-kind special model!"

"Miharu Punch!"

While being choked, I hit Zephyrus's arm. But only a light metallic sound rings out, and it doesn't budge at all. This metal is too hard.

"And this is made of Sky Adamantite, which combines the lightness and hardness of Adamantite with wind magic. Your struggles are futile."

Zephyrus tightens his grip, trying to strangle me. The HP on my status board is rapidly decreasing. In a few minutes, it will be zero.

Breathing is difficult. I can almost see Zephyrus's laughing face through the helmet. In this world where you can't reload, Miharu will be game over.

"You have some combat sense, but your skills are nothing special, and your lack of combat experience is your downfall."

Zephyrus mocks me, thinking my resistance is futile. The wine bottle attack was a good move, but it's too early to mock me.

"Hehe. Licking your lips in front of your prey is a Japanese way..."

"What? What did you say?"

Zephyrus, showing his confidence, taunts me. But this situation is exactly what I aimed for.

"The Martian showed a weakness! You underestimated the wisdom of Earthlings!"

"What! Your eyes!"

Miharu's eyes gleam fiercely as she grabs Zephyrus's arm. Shocked by Miharu's unexpected action, Zephyrus immediately tries to put all his strength into the hand holding my neck, but it's too late.

'Triple Charge'

The griffin, enveloped in wind, kicks off the trees and approaches at high speed. With its beak like a spear tip and its body glowing with green mana, it charges into Zephyrus's back.