Chapter 37

Kneeling on the ground, Viela attacked the last part of the summoning spell inscribed at the bottom of the stone. She destabilized the situation and infused her magic power to peel it off the stone.

"――"

As expected, the residual magic power in the boundary stone was too much, making it difficult to interfere with the spell.

Viela poured in more magic power. The spell wavered, and she felt the success of her interference. She poured in more power, pressing it in, and took control.

To deactivate the summoning spell, she began tracing the floating words, infusing the power needed to break it down. The spell began to fade away smoothly.

(I can do this. However, the consumption of magic power is more intense than I imagined... It was right to have the magical devices removed from the surroundings. Now it depends on the remaining amount of my magic power and efficiency!)

She intensified her concentration on the spell. She gauged the flow of magic power in the summoning spell and used the minimum necessary force to deactivate it. She made the words float, took over the spell, and frantically moved her pen to deactivate it. The griffin's cries and the sounds of battle that she had heard until a moment ago no longer reached her ears.

There was no need to prepare for escape. She believed that Lucash and the divine beast knights would definitely protect her, and she focused all her attention on the boundary stone.

She was about to enter the part where the summoning spell and the boundary spell were mixed. The part she had deactivated so far was the auxiliary spell to 'stabilize' the summoning spell. To truly eliminate the summoning effect, this was the decisive part.

(Generally, it's best to analyze and slowly erase each spell one by one, but at this rate of magic power consumption, it might not be enough if it takes too long. It's going to be tough, but there's no other choice.)

Viela doubled the magic power supplied to her head and began erasing the two spells simultaneously. A sharp pain shot through her head, and she began to feel the heat as if she was overheating.

The movement of the pen tracing the spell accelerated, and the light emanating from the boundary stone and flowing in the wind increased.

(A little more...)

Her head began to reject the magic power, signaling that it was reaching its limit. Despite the headache and dizziness, Viela forced herself to continue the work. She slowly extended her knees, raised her arms, and stood on her tiptoes.

Fifteen minutes after starting the deactivation, the words of the spell floating on the boundary stone had disappeared.

"Deactivation complete!"

Viela shouted loudly. Her body tilted backward.

Her body was caught by the royal knight who was guarding her. She was carried away from the boundary stone, supported under her armpits and knees.

In her place, Clement and the other boundary division members ran up the hill toward the boundary stone. Their side profiles were filled with a sense of mission, and they looked very reliable. The leading group moved in front of the boundary stone and activated a temporary boundary device to protect the boundary division members.

With the summoning effect gone, the Skiamaus regained their senses and showed signs of confusion. Seizing the opportunity, the griffins, following Lucash's command, formed a line and began to drive the Skiamaus into the forest, surrounding them.

The distance between the boundary stone and the divine beast knights widened.

Four members of the boundary division poured their magic power into the boundary stone to activate the automatic system. Clement constructed the boundary spell at an unprecedented speed and inscribed it on the stone.

The small vibrations reached Viela, who was being carried by the royal knight, indicating that the boundary stone was functioning correctly. Clement lowered his staff.

"The boundary stone has been updated! Report on the movements of the monsters!"

As he shouted, a divine beast knight on a griffin flew up from the group and responded.

"The monsters are confirmed to be fleeing into the depths of the forest. There is no risk of attack! The divine beast knights are ready to withdraw at any time!"

"Then, as a precaution, two members of the boundary division and two divine beast knights will stay here to monitor the situation for the night, and the rest will withdraw. Inform Lord Herring as well."

"Understood!"

The messenger returned to the place where the divine beast knights were gathered. The boundary division quickly began to withdraw.

Viela, watching the scene with her blurred vision, relaxed her shoulders, knowing that everything had ended safely.

Clement, who had finished giving instructions, ran over to her.

"Senior Viela, thank you so much."

"Hehe, I almost didn't make it despite boasting that I could do it. My magic power is depleted, and I can't move much. What should I do?"

It seemed she couldn't ride a horse by herself, just like on the way there. She consulted Clement, the leader, for help.

"Can you sit? If you can, I can ride with you on my horse and support you down the mountain."

"Ah... I don't think I can sit. Not only is my magic power depleted, but I also feel like I've forgotten how to move my body from overusing my mind."

Her legs and arms could move a little, but they lacked strength and couldn't support her. She could see herself falling off the horse due to the shaking.

The royal knight suggested carrying her on a stretcher prepared for emergencies. Feeling guilty about the trouble she was causing, Albertina, carrying Lucash, came running over.

"I'll ride Albertina and carry Viela."

"Mr. Lucash? It's dangerous even on a horse, and you plan to carry her on a griffin's back?"

"Clement, do you know who I am? I can easily support a small woman, and Tina also wants to do this."

Lucash jumped off Albertina's back and knelt down, looking at Viela's face. His slightly narrowed blue-gray eyes showed concern, and she could tell he was worried about her. Feeling that he cared for her, her heart warmed.

"Mr. Lucash..."

"You did a great job. If you're tired, just sleep. I'll carry you properly."

He said this, but she didn't have the strength to mount Albertina herself. Sleeping would be even more dangerous.

"Isn't that too much?"

"No, this is the best way."

"――?"

Lucash took off his jacket and handed it to Clement, then covered Viela. As his handsome face approached, her heart beat strongly.

As she was flustered, he wrapped his right arm around her back and his left arm under her knees. He lifted her with ease, as if she weighed nothing. While she was floating, his strong arms wrapped around her thighs, supporting her entire weight without touching her buttocks.

When he stood up, it was in a style like a parent carrying a child.

"Clement, support Viela from below and tie us together with the jacket."

"――I understand."

Clement, who didn't hide his displeasure, went behind Lucash and tied them together with the jacket sleeves, like a makeshift baby carrier.

"Is this okay?"

It was embarrassing. Being treated like a baby, being so close to Lucash, and hearing his good voice in her ear.

However, she felt a sense of nostalgia, and her exhausted body accepted the embrace, seeking comfort. Her arms wrapped around Lucash's neck, and her head rested completely on his shoulder, leaning into him.

Being in the arms of someone she trusted gave her a sense of security.

"Sorry... I might really fall asleep."

"It's fine. Goodnight, Viela."

"...Goodnight."

Her consciousness was pulled toward the world of sleep. The ribbon tied to the end of Lucash's braid faintly appeared in her blurred vision.

(Come to think of it, he's always worn it... I'm so happy.)

Thus, Viela relaxed her face and let her consciousness sink into the world of dreams.