Chapter 27

Oswald, his coat flapping in the wind, moved his index finger as if slicing through the air.

A magic circle, glowing with light, unfolded directly beneath Fenrir. As the circle emitted a blue light, dozens of ice pillars sprang up in the sky.

"No way...! That guy just created so many huge ice pillars!!"

"And he did it in just an instant!?"

"――……"

As the people around them cried out, Oswald pointed his finger toward the ground. In response, the ice pillars rained down around Fenrir all at once.

With the sound of bricks shattering and ice pillars colliding, Fenrir let out a roar, his body trembling. The air vibrated, but Oswald's expression remained unchanged.

The ice pillars he had created formed a cage, piercing the brick road in a pattern that traced the outer edge of the magic circle. Although Fenrir seemed to have avoided a direct hit from the magic, his path was completely blocked.

"Ugh, wow...!!"

Charlotte, captivated by the series of events, let out a cry of joy.

"You're the most handsome, Mr. Oswald...!!"

"...At least I can see that you're not hurt."

Indeed, she was fine. Ever since she had seen Oswald, a surge of energy had filled her.

(The trembling in my body stopped instantly...!!)

She tightened her face and called out to the children in her arms.

"Kids, can you stand up!? The lady calling you over there is your mom, right? It's okay, Fenrir can't move now, so hurry back to her!"

"Y-Yes...!! Thank you, big sister, big brother...!"

With teary eyes, the older brother, trembling, grabbed his younger brother's hand and ran. Charlotte exhaled and turned back to Oswald.

"Mr. Oswald...!"

At the same moment, Oswald cast another spell. A magic circle unfolded in the air, emitting a purple light. It took the form of a lightning bolt and shot toward Fenrir.

From the deployment to the activation of the magic circle, it usually takes several seconds. Yet, Oswald's spell had no such delay.

However, she thought.

"That spell...!"

"..."

Fenrir let out another cry. Seeing this, Charlotte's doubt turned into certainty. The spell Oswald had cast, both when he helped her and now, was the same.

(It's not an attack spell! It's a sleep spell that puts the target to sleep!!)

Oswald wasn't trying to stop Fenrir by hurting him. He was trying to immobilize him by putting him to sleep with magic.

Fenrir staggered back a few steps after being hit by the spell.

"We did it! That guy's spell works on Fenrir!!"

"Considering the ice pillars earlier, what a powerful spell..."

The people watching from a distance cheered. However, Fenrir, shaking his head violently, began to crouch and growl again.

"Damn..."

(Charlotte noticed Mr. Oswald's frustration...!! ...I'll think about it later, but why? A sleep spell with such power, even for a magic-resistant Fenrir, should have worked...)

Charlotte felt two things were off.

(...No, it didn't fail! Fenrir seemed to feel a moment of drowsiness and then quickly woke up!)

The result might be the same, but the difference was significant.

"Mr. Oswald, the sleep spell..."

"I know."

Oswald answered calmly without taking his eyes off Fenrir. Fenrir, in a rage, was gnawing at the ice pillars. Growling, he shook his head, trying to break or pull out the ice pillars.

All the while, Fenrir's eyes were fixed on Oswald. The tension between them grew palpable.

(Oswald can use powerful attack spells, yet...)

The people watching grew anxious and shouted loudly.

"Hey, can't you use other spells!? If you hesitate, Fenrir will break the ice pillar cage!"

"Don't use a sleep spell! Use lightning or fire, any attack spell to take him down!"

"――……"

Oswald, who had been expressionless, frowned at their shouts.

"...Charlotte, you should run while you can."

She clenched her lips at his words, spoken without looking at her. A sense of unease lingered, and she felt she shouldn't leave this place.

(Why do I have this uneasy feeling... I can't leave Mr. Oswald alone, who is so strong...)

Yet, she couldn't just throw a tantrum. She didn't want to stay and be a burden without being of any help.

(Is there anything I can do!? Mr. Oswald wants to use a sleep spell, not an attack spell. If I can find out why it's not working...!)

With a prayerful heart, she turned her gaze to Fenrir. At that moment, she gasped.

"Mr. Oswald! That Fenrir has a wound at the base of his neck!!"

"What...?"

The wound was hard to see in the black fur, but something glinted in the sunlight. It must be the blood from an unhealed wound.

"Maybe the pain from that wound is making him wake up from the spell's drowsiness! If the wound is healed, the sleep spell might work! And I have a feeling I understand Mr. Oswald!"

Charlotte asked in a whisper that only he could hear.

"Mr. Oswald, you don't want to use an attack spell on that Fenrir, do you...?"

"..."

Oswald, who looked at Charlotte, widened his eyes for a moment. But he quickly frowned and turned his gaze back to Fenrir.

"...I appreciate your advice. But even if we know the cause, it won't help if we can't treat it. Only a select few women can use healing magic."

"..."

"There's no way someone with that power would be left in this street where many people have evacuated. Even if the creature was registered for breeding, the rule is that a third party can dispose of it if it attacks people."

Oswald sighed and told Charlotte.

"There's no other way. ...I will kill that Fenrir with an attack spell."

"No, Mr. Oswald."

Charlotte looked at Fenrir with determination.

"That morning, you said that my divine power was left to the point where I wouldn't die, right?"

"Charlotte?"

All traces of fear had left her body. This might be the only thing she could do for Oswald. She felt so much courage that her body felt light.

"Have you forgotten?"

Charlotte looked up at Oswald and smiled.

"A person who can use healing magic is here, willingly. ...By your side!"

"……!?"

Oswald, who gasped, reached out to Charlotte. She slipped past him, ran to Fenrir, and aimed for a gap in the ice cage.

"Wait, Charlotte!"