Chapter 64

I continued firing Magic Arrows—

The nine-headed dragon closed the distance while enduring them.

How much time had passed?

The scene—where everything seemed to remain unchanged, like a still image—continued for a long time.

Only two things changed.

The number of the nine-headed dragon's heads had been reduced to four.

The distance between me and the nine-headed dragon had been reduced to a third—about four kilometers.

"Magic Arrow, Magic Arrow, Magic Arrow—"

This isn't good...

Even after the initial sprint, about half of the nine-headed dragon's heads remained. Yet, the distance I had maintained had been reduced to a third.

Moreover—there was another change.

The depths of my body were hot, as if a candle flame was flickering inside.

This heat was gradually spreading throughout my body, especially intense in my left arm.

Did I catch a cold...? Could it be, at a time like this...?

I didn't seem to be unwell. What is this?

It seems the situation is not in my favor.

...What should I do?

Fleeing by flying with Magic Arrows is one option, but—given the nine-headed dragon's speed, it might close the distance the moment I ease up on the Magic Arrows.

It didn't seem like a good move.

I might have to keep firing Magic Arrows until the very end.

The nine-headed dragon is also covered in wounds. The remaining heads have no strength left. It must be close to its limit.

I haven't lost yet—

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"Haa, haa, haa, haa, haa!"

Lola, who had been running from the village, stopped and caught her breath. In her right hand, she held a small staff with a Lighting spell cast on it.

She had finally emerged from the dense forest and reached a spot where the lake was visible.

While catching her breath, Lola looked toward the lake.

"!"

Lola saw the nine-headed dragon for the first time.

It was a giant dragon with nine heads, just as the village elder had described. Its massive body towered like a mountain.

Aiming at the dragon—

A vast number of white arrows continued to fly from the middle of the opposite mountain.

That was where Alberto was.

Sure enough, it was Alberto's Magic Arrows. Their power was effectively restraining the nine-headed dragon.

They were effective, but not perfect.

Proof of this was that the nine-headed dragon had already crawled out of the lake and was closing in on the mountain where Alberto was.

"...Mr. Alberto!"

The situation was unclear.

But it was certain that this was not an easy opponent.

(I have to help...!)

The reason Lola came here, ignoring Alberto's request to stay in the village, was this.

She wanted to help Alberto.

Because—

The current Lola was not the powerless Lola from before the summer break.

Lola's hand holding the small staff trembled slightly.

(If I use the disaster witch's magic...)

The disaster witch's magic, which Lola had seen in the library, was vividly etched in her mind.

As if it were a spell she had already mastered.

Probably—

If Lola wished, the conditions to activate it were in place.

(Of course, as long as my magic power holds...)

The disaster witch's original magic.

It was uncertain whether she could handle it.

No, before that—

She was afraid.

"Never get involved with the disaster witch."

She had been taught this many times in the village.

Not just the disaster witch's knowledge.

The disaster witch's power itself.

It was frightening to have such power in her mind.

It was frightening to use such power.

But Lola had obtained the power.

She had the power.

And Alberto was struggling right before her eyes.

She was given a choice.

Would you save the person in front of you? Or not?

Until now, it had been easy.

There was no such choice. The powerless Lola could only wait for Alberto to handle it.

But it was different now.

Lola had power. The same power to 'choose the world' as Alberto.

Would you save the person in front of you? Or not?

The answer to this question was already decided.

If Lola didn't use her power here, she would regret it forever.

It was terrifying, incredibly terrifying, but—

She had to discard those feelings now.

(That's right! It's for Mr. Alberto!)

Lola made up her mind.

She would activate one of the disaster witch's secret techniques.

"O power that brings down all things from the heavens, lend your ear to my voice. I command you, the chains that bind the heavy—!"

Lola began her incantation.

The incantation had two purposes.

The first was to compensate for her lack of power.

Most spells can be used with just a trigger word when fully mastered, but the success rate can be increased by performing the incantation.

The second was because the spell was too powerful.

Too powerful for a human to handle.

The spell Lola was about to use was one of those.

Because—

It was a divine magic.

Why could the disaster witch—a mere magician—fight against the kingdom?

The answer was divine magic.

Divine magic, unlike ordinary magic, is a powerful spell that affects ultra-wide areas and has ultra-long range.

In other words—

It was so powerful that it was considered the realm of the gods.

The number of publicly available magic books is countable.

Most magicians can't even master those.

The disaster witch manipulated countless original divine magics, unknown to anyone but her, to face the kingdom.

Now, Lola was about to activate one of those magics.

It was a spell that manipulated gravity.

A spell that bound all things with weight to the ground and immobilized them.

If she used this spell—

At least, she should be able to buy some time!

The long, long incantation ended, and finally—

"Invisible divine command!"

Lola pointed her small staff at the nine-headed dragon and uttered the trigger word.