Chapter 57

"Phew, that was close. I don't really understand the situation, but it seems we barely made it."

"Yuki-san!"

"Yuki-san!?"

I had protected Owl and Junna with the 'Triple Barrier' to withstand the attacks from the skeleton giant and the dragon, but it was a close call.

Thanks to Nia's skillful control, I was able to activate the usual 'Triple Barrier,' but the first layer was shattered and the second layer had cracks. It would be impossible to defend against a consecutive attack.

"Still, what's really going on? I understand why the class president is here, but why are Soji and the others... and are they all okay?"

'Vitals are normal. They just seem to be sleeping.'

"Oh, thanks, Nia."

Nia's diagnosis is reliable. I don't know why Soji and the others are involved, but it seems they were put to sleep after fighting the black-dressed figure in front of us. The reason everyone participating in the recreation is in a daze is probably due to this black-dressed figure. If it's a mental interference ability, it's going to be troublesome.

"You are Yuki Yuki, right?"

"Uh, yes. That's right, but..."

The black-dressed figure suddenly spoke to me. I thought it was our first meeting, but have we met before? I don't think I know anyone who wears a black dress like this...

"I am truly grateful to you. Thanks to your interference with my plan, I have obtained such great power. As a thank you, I will gift you a peaceful sleep. 'Sleep.'"

"Yuki-san!"

Two people are looking at me with desperate expressions.

Perhaps some overwhelming attack is coming. I need to be fully prepared to activate the Triple Barrier at any moment.

"Huh?"

"What...?"

"What, what's going on?"

Not only Owl and Junna, but the black-dressed figure also looked puzzled.

"Are you hard of hearing? 'Kneel!'"

"No, I can hear you, and I don't want to..."

What kind of play is this? The ground is wet and muddy from the recent battle, which makes it even more unpleasant.

"My commands are not working...?"

"No, I don't usually follow orders from strangers."

The black-dressed figure seems to be panicking, so I should take this opportunity to ensure the safety of the unconscious class president and others.

"Toy. Dolls, please attach these to the class president and gather them in one place."

I gave the 'Substitute Talismans' I had hidden to the clay dolls created by 'Toy' and had them attach them to the class president and others, gathering them near Owl and Junna.

"Just to be safe, attach these to the two of you as well."

"What are these?"

"These are substitute talismans!!"

Since Owl doesn't seem to know, I'll leave the explanation to Junna.

I brought 11 substitute talismans from home. They are now all used up, with 4 for the class president and others, 4 for the delinquents, 2 for Owl and Junna, and one for me. Nia and Ul always carry them, so there shouldn't be a problem.

I brought fewer than I should have, thinking they might be teased by Takigawa if found. That was a mistake.

"Well, it's fine. Now I can fight without any worries."

I set up the Triple Barrier around everyone and focused on the black-dressed figure in front of me.

The clay dolls are also inside the barrier. If the barrier is broken, I will have the clay dolls protect the class president and others.

"If my commands don't work, there's no choice. Dragon King, Golden Giant, defeat him."

"Dissolve! Triple Barrier!"

I used the 'Dissolve' ability to melt the skeleton giant's feet and destabilize it, and the 'Triple Barrier' to block the dragon's charge.

"The first attack was barely avoided."

"It would be easier if we could defeat the caster, but in this situation, we need to defeat the giant and the dragon first."

"Don't worry, don't worry! It's 3 vs 3, so we can manage!"

3 vs 3, me, Nia, and Ul vs the black-dressed figure, the dragon, and the giant.

The difference in apparent strength is huge.

"Oh, I can just summon a dragon or something with the same spell, right?"

I already know 'Supreme Golden Giant' and just learned 'Supreme Dragon King.'

"Chant, chant... Whoa!"

"Master, nice dodge!"

I was interrupted by a wooden spear while trying to chant.

Through Ul, I can use spells without writing the incantations on my arms and legs, but these two 'Supreme' spells are different.

Even if I speak quickly, it takes about 2 minutes. That's a huge gap.

"Give up, Toy!"

"I will support as well."

I created two clay dolls as large as the skeleton giant, and Nia connected them with spirit threads.

"To create such a huge golem in an instant, that's amazing."

"It's like a giant monster battle."

It's more like a robot battle.

Nia's control skills are impressive, but the surface of the clay dolls is gradually being worn down. The dragon and skeleton giant seem to have far superior durability and destructive power. They won't last long.

"Nia, how much time can you buy us?"

"I'm sorry, but it will only last a few minutes."

"That's enough. 'Scatter Flame Bullet'!"

Thanks to Ul, I can activate 'Scatter Flame Bullet' without writing the incantations on my arms and legs.

I can adjust the power of 'Scatter Flame Bullet' without relying on Nia. I activated it from the soles of my feet and approached the black-dressed figure at high speed.

"Restrain him!"

"Flame Wall, Flame Wall! Scatter Flame Bullet, Scatter Flame Bullet!"

I blocked the approaching wooden spears and vines with flame walls and dodged the earth walls and rocks from the ground with 'Scatter Flame Bullet.'

"Ugh, Dragon King! Golden Giant!"

"Not allowed!"

The dragon and giant targeted me, but Nia's giant clay dolls tackled them into the forest.

"Obey me!"

"No way!"

I got close to the black-dressed figure and clenched my fist. She tried to dodge, but I couldn't be fooled by such amateur moves!

I aimed for her chin, striking it like a caress!

"Gender Equality Punch!"

I thought I had it... but what's this feeling? Like a rubber tire?

Looking closely, my fist was stopped by something invisible, not reaching her chin.

"That command wasn't for you. I commanded the surrounding air."

"You mean an air wall? That's too strong."

Right after I said that, I was blown away by a gale and slammed into the Triple Barrier I had set up to protect the class president and others.

It hurt. The part of my hair that Ul was holding hurt the most.

"Master, are you okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to the substitute talismans, my injuries healed quickly. Are Nia and Ul okay?"

"I was holding Master's hair, so I'm fine. A few strands fell out, though..."

"This one..."

"Master, I'm fine. However, the clay dolls have been destroyed."

"Really?"

The dragon and skeleton giant returned, shaking the ground.

Now we're back to square one. No, the situation has worsened because I've revealed my hand and activated the substitute talismans.

"Yuki-san, I will buy time. Please take everyone and escape during that time."

"I can't leave Owl behind. I'll stay too. Besides, this battle should be handled by Owl and me. So, please leave it to us from here."

"Hmm... Do you have a plan to win?"

"No, but I will buy time!"

"My magic has recovered a little, so I won't go down without a fight!"

Owl and Junna, speaking passionately from inside the Triple Barrier, but I can't allow that.

Moreover, making them resolve to this extent... I need to reflect on that.

"Sorry, both of you. Don't worry, I'll go all out."

I won't fight in a way that gives you anxiety anymore. I need to end this quickly and continue the recreation.

"Nia, Ul, let's do it."

"Understood."

"Hehehe, it's our trump card!"

I imagined the shape, Ul gathered immense magic from nature, and Nia controlled it.

In the previous practice, we could only maintain the shape for about 3 minutes, but that should be enough.

"Dragon King! Golden Giant! Stop him!"

The black-dressed figure, sensing something, hurriedly gave orders. Good intuition, but a bit too late.

As the dragon's tail and the giant's fist approached, I slowly swung the small knife that appeared in my hand.

"God's Knife"

The moment the tip grazed the tail and the fist, the dragon and the skeleton giant shattered into pieces and dissipated.