Chapter 10

Thanks to the genre-specific daily ranking, I'm doing a commemorative update!

I and Lirisia were walking in the forest.

Tall trees grew densely.

The dappled sunlight felt pleasant.

Lirisia was making a circle with her thumb and index finger and placing it over her eye.

She was looking at the trees and the ground through her finger glasses.

“Ah! There it is!”

“Did you find it again?”

I answered, impressed.

Lirisia, swaying her white nun's habit, ran to a spot where underbrush grew.

Then, she collected the jagged leaves.

The herb gathering went smoothly thanks to Lirisia's finger glasses.

She found mushrooms growing in the shade of a tree.

“These mushrooms are part of a different request, but apparently, we can take them on later, so I'll pick them up.”

“Ah, leave it to you... Still, those finger glasses are amazing.”

“They are amazing, but it's you, my master, who is amazing... Before I met you, I could only tell if something was good or bad.”

“I see. So, that's also the power of an angel?”

“It seems so. Now, it even shows the names and ongoing quests. If it's a weapon, it can show its effects and fatigue level.”

Lirisia smiled at me through her finger glasses.

I could only sigh in admiration at her wonderful ability.

“Convenient... I wish I had met Lirisia earlier.”

“I do too, my master!”

“With you, we could have had easier adventures and given more Holy Waves.”

Lirisia, perhaps remembering last night, blushed.

“...Yes. Please give me a lot.”

“Ah, every day, I'll love you and definitely help you regain your angelic power.”

“My master!”

Lirisia, blushing, lowered her head and swayed the hem of her nun's habit as she hugged me. Her large bosom pressed against me.

—Ha, she's just too cute.

I couldn't help but think about the night coming sooner.

◇ ◇ ◇

After that, we continued deep into the forest without encountering any monsters.

The density of the trees gradually increased.

The dappled sunlight became less, making it dim.

But there were no monsters.

Lirisia tilted her head.

“Is it unusual to not encounter any monsters?”

“Well, maybe because the capital is nearby and there are many adventurers, they've been hunted a lot?”

“That could be it.”

“But it's troubling that we can't even find a Hellrich...”

I put my hand to my chin and thought.

Honestly, I felt I had made a mistake.

I chose based on how easy it was to defeat.

Hellrich doesn't move around much, so there are few clues to their hiding places.

I should have thought more about why finding their location is a D-rank mission.

Until now, I had only gone to exterminate them after a location was identified due to significant damage.

This is a bit of a mistake...

As I frowned, Lirisia looked up at me with her big eyes and asked.

“What kind of monster is it?”

“Hmm, it looks like a skeleton with skin stretched over it. The skin color can be bluish-black or reddish-brown. They usually wear robes. They are high-level undead created when a mage falls into darkness.”

“That sounds strong... But if it's a high-level undead with such dark power, we might be able to find it—though it's a bit dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

“It's a power I can only use when I'm in my angel form...”

“I see. It wouldn't be good if someone saw.”

I looked around.

The forest was dense with no sign of anyone.

Lirisia also looked around, swaying her long silver hair.

“But it seems difficult to find just by walking. Should we try it?”

“Yeah, go ahead. Even if you're discovered as an angel, I'll protect you.”

“Thank you...”

Lirisia smiled happily.

Then, she moved a little away from me, placed her hands on her chest, and slightly bent her back.

Swish!

Beautiful white wings spread widely from Lirisia's back.

White feathers scattered around.

Lirisia straightened her back, took a step forward, and twisted her right hand.

“—Dark Magic Detection”

A white wave spread out from Lirisia like ripples.

White feathers flew out in a radial pattern.

The feathers passed through trees and bushes without stopping.

—Those feathers, they don't have a physical form. I touched them.

A quiet time passed.

Lirisia extended her arms and remained in the pose with her white wings spread.

Her large eyes were closed, as if searching for something.

—Suddenly!

Lirisia turned her body quickly.

She turned her head diagonally backward, crouched, and extended both arms while spreading her white wings to protect her body.

“—Angel Great Shield Array!”

In front of her, the feathers on the ground flew up and formed a circle.

A pentagram magic array was created and glowed golden.

Then, a black shadow's wave of energy broke through the bushes and flew toward her!

The energy wave hit the feather magic array Lirisia created, and light exploded.

Boom!

“Ugh!”

Lirisia was thrown back by the impact and fell on her buttocks, sliding along the ground.

But before she could get up, she looked through her finger glasses at the direction the energy wave came from while still lying down.

I ran over in surprise and helped her up by holding her shoulder.

“What happened!? Lirisia!”

“I'm sorry, we were discovered by the enemy—it's definitely a Hellrich... It's much stronger than I expected.”

I pointed in the direction the energy wave came from.

“Is it in this direction?”

“Yes! It's quite far—deep in the forest, in a cabin. It has a complete grasp of our situation. We can't surprise it—use obstacles and maximize magical defense...”

“No, now that we know the location, it's fine.”

“Eh?”

“Then, I'll go. Lirisia, be careful of the enemy's attacks and follow me—don't get hit at all.”

“Eh!? My master!?”

Leaving Lirisia's cute, confused voice behind, I started running.

As long as I know the location, I can handle it solo.

Thank you for the bookmarks and ☆ ratings!

I didn't expect to make it into the genre-specific high fantasy daily ranking (96th place).

It's all thanks to your support.

If you enjoyed it, please give it a ☆ rating! (I might do another commemorative update!?)

The next chapter will be updated around noon tomorrow

→ 11. The Reason Alek Was the Strongest and the Weakest