Chapter 19

Let's go back a little in time---

"Roar!"

Shiro dodged the big man's attack with a minimum of movement, then tripped him by sweeping his feet. The big man, losing his balance and stumbling, turned around and swung his axe. Shiro, dodging it with a leap, landed a blow on the big man's face.

"Ugh!?"

With a perfectly measured strike, Shiro knocked the big man unconscious and, as he leaped back, channeled magic power into his sword.

"Come forth, spirits of the wind! Waltz of the Whirlwind,

Sweep away my enemies with the melody of the gusts!"

A swirling wave of wind flowed behind Shiro, blowing away the enemies who were approaching Morgan's subordinates.

"Thank you."

"Don't worry about it."

Shiro lightly acknowledged the thanks of Morgan's subordinates and looked around. The other knights and Morgan were holding their own well. The private soldiers of Cald, who had surrounded Shiro and his group, were gradually tightening their circle.

(With so many, it's troublesome... I have to hold back.)

In a battle with beasts, there would be no need to hold back, Shiro cursed inwardly. He was also concerned about the men who had headed towards the hut, hiding themselves.

(I don't think anything will happen to Aika and the others, but...)

The thought of the girls being taken hostage made him uneasy. Shiro's gaze restrained the approaching private soldiers, pinning them in place. They seemed to sense the gap in strength and couldn't move forward recklessly.

"Hmm...?"

Shiro turned his gaze towards the hut, catching a glimpse of something strange out of the corner of his eye.

*BOOM*

Something fell through the roof of the hut, making a tremendous noise. Everyone, friend and foe alike, turned their gaze towards the hut. The knights and Morgan paled, while Gram distorted his face in pleasure.

"Ha ha ha! It fell! On the hut where the kids are! A huge mass!"

No one present had confirmed what it was, but something that could create a large hole in the ceiling had fallen. The chances of the children inside being unharmed were low.

"The children... "

"Damn it...! What the hell is this!"

While his companions wore expressions of despair, Shiro also had a bad feeling. However, it was a different kind of premonition from his companions.

"Shiro! The children...!"

Ignoring the somber voice of his colleague, Shiro searched for a familiar presence amidst the chaos. He found it.

"Could it be... "

"Too bad! You stray dogs!"

Gram, sensing Shiro's unease, let out an unpleasant laugh. However, Shiro ignored it and focused on the hut.

If the object that had fallen into the hut was what Shiro imagined, there could only be one cause. Because the only ones who could possibly move it, besides himself, were his children.

Among them, only one person, who was at home and could immediately move it, came to mind.

As everyone, friend and foe, watched, a change occurred. A torrent of wind mana swirled and flowed into the broken roof of the hut. The amplified magic began to shake the damaged hut.

"What...?"

Gram stopped his laughter and focused on the hut.

The people around, sensing the unusual atmosphere, held their breath and watched. The absorption of mana ceased, creating a moment of silence.

Then, in the next instant, a beam of light from a wind spell burst through the walls of the hut, blowing away the remaining walls and leaving a trail in the sky of Lethis as it soared over Shiro and his companions.

Everyone stared in amazement at the tremendous magical power. As the spell lost its magic and disappeared from the sky, everyone's gaze turned to the caster.

(Ah...)

Shiro also turned his gaze towards the hut and nodded in understanding. There, as he had imagined, stood a large wind wolf with Will on its back.

Realizing what this meant, Shiro looked at the private soldiers with a pitying gaze. If Will was here, it was certain that someone from the Turkis family would follow. If that happened, the person who should not be here would arrive. Unless Will had come here without being seen, which was unlikely.

"It's over..."

Murmuring these incomprehensible words and pitying the private soldiers, Shiro's companions exchanged glances.