Chapter 40

"......It's finally coming along nicely."

I said, looking at the black wall I had made float in the air.

For the past few days, I had been particularly practicing compressing dark magic.

"Then, I will attack now."

"Alright, Elysia."

Elysia released her *Holy Lamp* at the *Dark Wall* I had created, but it didn't penetrate at all. It was only when she used the high-level holy magic *Holy Light* that the *Dark Wall* began to be eroded.

"It disappeared... It took ten seconds to vanish. It's good enough for defense."

"Yes! This is all thanks to Lord Alex's efforts! The way Lord Alex tries to stand up against even disadvantageous holy magic... it's truly amazing."

Elysia said, her eyes shining.

That's a bit too much...

"I can only use dark magic well... oh!"

I turned my face towards the golem that had returned from the sea to the beach.

The golem was starting to pull up a net full of fish from the sea.

"Chu! There's a lot! And there are some big ones too! I'll freeze them right away!"

Immediately, the ratmen and slimes on the beach started carrying the fish away. It seemed that they had caught some fairly large fish today, as they were carrying them away in groups.

The industrious rats and slimes.

They're cute... but more than that, they're very efficient.

"Everyone is getting quite skilled."

"The items we placed in Roburion's shop are selling quite well. It seems that people are buying fish mainly because they want to see the magic freezer."

"Considering that only large guilds in the capital have such magic freezers, that makes sense. Well, I should go deliver the frozen fish to Roburion soon."

If I could just make a magic item for teleportation, it would be easier, but for now, I'll just have to do it myself.

Just then, the sound of a bell rang from the town hall.

Soon, a voice shouting "Chu!" echoed.

Tia, who had run over from the town hall, came to us and said,

"Chu!! Lord Alex, it seems that a large number of monsters are coming from the continent towards here!"

"Monsters? ...I'll go now. Tia, tell the Armored Clan to gather in the north."

"If that's the case, Serena has already taken the Armored Clan to the north!"

"Typical of her to act so quickly. Alright, let's head there too."

I went north with Elysia.

There, the Armored Clan was already gathered with weapons in hand.

"Archers, to the rooftops and windows! Those with shields, to the front!"

Serena's clear voice echoed, and the Armored Clan moved briskly.

Soon, Serena noticed me and came over.

"Lord Alex! We're ready for the counterattack."

"Thank you. However, those are..."

I focused my gaze on the continent.

A large number of black objects were coming from the sky and the ground.

They were heading for Ars... or so I thought, but it was different.

In the midst of the black wave, two white, glowing points were visible.

"Those are..."

"Probably... winged horses, Pegasus."

Elysia whispered.

Sure enough, as Elysia said, two Pegasus became visible.

"Really..."

For a moment, Yuris's face flashed in my mind.

Yuris and the others had also ridden Pegasus.

However, it was different. The two riders on the Pegasus were wearing white habits. I couldn't tell if they were male or female, but both were small.

Chasing them from the sky were, as expected, Arrowcrows.

Serena also confirmed this.

"Are they humans? We have to help them... what about the Pegasus?"

"Wait, Serena."

Elysia, with a complicated look, made Serena tilt her head.

"Huh? Is there a problem?"

"They are from the temple... but not just ordinary temple members."

As Elysia said, it was unlikely that ordinary temple members would come here.

Moreover, Pegasus are rare and valuable. They are not something ordinary priests can ride.

"Could it be the Sacred Order!!?"

Serena exclaimed, and Elysia nodded.

"If that's the case, there's no need to help them... we should just shoot them down along with the Arrowcrows."

"No..."

"Huh? Lord Alex?"

Serena looked at my face.

"No... we can't rule out the possibility that they are just ordinary priests. The safety of Ars is the top priority, but can we keep them alive?"

There's a chance, however small. They might just be priests from Roburion looking for me.

"If you say so, Lord Alex."

Serena answered and turned to Elysia.

Elysia, after a moment's pause, nodded silently.

"Alright... don't target the two on the Pegasus! Only aim at the Arrowcrows behind them!"

The Armored Clan, following Serena's command, readied their bows and crossbows.

Serena herself drew her sword.

Elysia and I also turned our hands towards the swarm of Arrowcrows.

As the two on the Pegasus came close enough to see their black eyes, Serena shouted loudly,

"– Fire!!"

With Serena's *Flame Blade* as the signal, the Armored Clan released their arrows and bolts.

Elysia and I also attacked the Arrowcrows with holy magic. I couldn't use dark magic in front of the temple members, so I used holy magic too.

"Don't hit them... no, they dodged."

The two on the Pegasus dived to avoid the attack.

On the other hand, our magic and arrows rained down on the Arrowcrows.

Several Arrowcrows fell into the sea, and the rest immediately retreated to the continent. They had already recognized that Ars was dangerous.

"Good job! Victory is ours!"

As Serena said, the Armored Clan cheered.

In the midst of this, the two Pegasus gently landed on Ars Island.

The riders, two young women in habits, dismounted.

One was smiling broadly, while the other had a gruff expression.

The smiling woman stood in front of me and opened her mouth with a smile.

"His Highness, the Sixth Prince Alex, right?"

"Indeed. I am Alex. What brings you from the temple?"

"We are exorcists. We have come to exorcise the demons in this land."

"There are no demons on this island."

When I answered, the smiling woman raised the corners of her mouth in a disturbing way.

"Demons lie... but there is no place for demons on this earth – now, show yourself!!"

As the smiling woman spoke, the gruff-faced woman suddenly made the stone she was holding glow.