Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy
Iris
My consciousness quickly awakened.
Though my head still ached like hell, the curse seemed to have left my body, and I was able to move without any problem.
“Gather around Ashley-sama and form a defense line! Anyone whose protection magic had worn off, fall back! Sorcerer group, provide covering fire!”
I could make out Nii-sama’s face amidst my blurry vision as he frantically gave out instructions. He must have picked me up when I was knocked out and had been carrying me in his arms since.
…Oh, no! Now’s not the time to stay still like this!
“…Nii-sama, what just happened?”
“Iris! Thank goodness…”
I nodded to a relieved Nii-sama, and unsteadily got back on my feet.
My vision hadn’t cleared up, but I could see Reiji-san fending off the enemies that were climbing and jumping over the walls with their monstrous claws and legs… the situation had changed drastically, and for the worse.
“Don’t push yourself too hard. You just came back from a pretty bad concussion.”
“…How long was I knocked out for?”
“Not even two minutes, but our frontline has already collapsed. That accursed scream got us good.”
“I-Is anyone wounded?!”
“It’s… actually not that bad. The protection magic you cast at the end prevented any serious injury that could have happened, so we’re still in one piece even if we had to retreat.”
I quickly scanned the battlefield to assess the situation more thoroughly.
We were still holding on, if barely.
The remnants of the vanguard were gathering in a tight formation around Ashley-san, but the enemies no longer had any sorcerer, so they were in little danger of area-of-effect attacks.
Most problematic was the enemy leader, who was being held back by Captain Walter’s unit.
We could still turn this around. Things were yet to go beyond repairs.
In this situation, what I ought to do is…
“Nii-sama… get Reiji-san. We have to take down that troll, now.”
“Iris…?”
Nii-sama looked at me like I was crazy.
I didn’t really understand what’s going on either, but my intuition told me that we could defeat that troll.
Legs still shaky, I stood up.
My body moved naturally, as if a gentle hand were guiding it.
I somehow knew what to do.
Clasping my hands in front of my chest, I then slowly pulled them apart.
Light gathered in my palms, and a white, shining staff appeared, just as it had once before.
I grasped it and thrust it into the floor of the wall with a clang.
I will make sure that everyone return home alive!
The guard we saved, whose future wife lived in this town, also participated in this battle.
Like him, many of the guards took up their position to protect their loved ones.
Of course, there were also many people who became guards because it was their job, for money, or some other reason.
What they all shared in common, was that they had someone to protect, and they fought with their lives for that cause.
If everyone has something they want to protect and a place they want to return to, then… I don’t want to run away and abandon them!
“That which heals all wounds and grudges, that which rejects all malice… Manifest yourself, Sanctuary!”
I was about to summon the healing and purification field when…
Come on, that won’t do. Your latent power is much greater than that.
I suddenly felt a voice that was gently guiding me.
Now, draw upon the authority that’s been granted to you…
As if various pathways that had once been dormant opened themselves, magical power was coursing through my body at an extreme pace.
My back felt incredibly hot. The power that had been gathering felt like it could burst any moment.
…and speak your honest desire.
My desire…
“…The power to protect everyone… the power to overcome all hardships…! Manifest yourself… ‘Garden of Ailene’!”
The light on my back changed from gold to pure white and illuminated the entire battlefield.
“From before…!”
“Those white wings!”
I could hear Reiji-san and Nii-sama yelling in shock behind me, but for now I had to redouble my effort in controlling the power overflowing from my body.
A cleansing aura spread throughout the battlefield.
Under its influence, the ravaged wasteland quickly turned into a field of flowers.
Within it, our wounds were healed, our curses were lifted, while at the same time, the crystal monsters couldn’t withstand it, their bodies shattered and returned to dust without leaving a trace.
In their final moments, I could feel their faint residual thoughts. Pain, resentment, but there was also relief.
Here, I learned for the first time that the goblins were still barely alive when they were transformed, unlike the bandits from before who had been long dead.
Nevertheless, their crystal infestation was too far gone to be saved. The least I could do was to end their suffering.
I’m sorry.
And so, in the blink of an eye, the land within a radius of about two hundred meters centered on me was covered in flowers that fluttered in the wind.
“Everyone, get back here, quickly!”
Yes, with the opening I’d created, now would be a good time for us to regroup and reorganize.
In response to Nii-sama’s instructions, everyone who was still stunned by what just happened in front of them began to move hurriedly.
In the midst of this, the enemy leader, who had still remained in the “Sanctuary”, the troll covered in armor-like crystals, turned his eyes on me.
Well, can’t say I didn’t see it coming. It’s only natural that he would see me as the biggest threat considering what I’d done and how much I stood out.
His giant body soared into the air. To my surprise, he flew over the soldiers and landed on the outer wall where we were.
Is this thing for real? In terms of pure combat power, he was easily the strongest enemy we’d encountered so far in this world.
But that’s fine.
Immediately, Reiji-san and Nii-sama rushed over to my side. Behind me, Milly-san, Lenny-san and Weiss-san… our companions, were coming to assist.
“Everyone from the Shadow Regiment, I want you to assist those below the walls. I won’t be unable to protect them for a while… so please, keep them safe.”
“B-But…”
“Don’t worry about me, I still haven’t given up yet… I’m counting on you, Arnold-san.”
The knight in question opened his eyes wide in astonishment.
“You remembered all our names… in just a few days?”
“Yes. Aside from you, there’re also Gerald-san, Bordeaux-san, Julio-san, Oliver-san and Rupert-san stationed on the walls with me, am I correct? I worked hard to remember their names…because they are the ones who have entrusted me with their lives.”
And because they were a small group of elites. I wouldn’t have been able to remember them all in such a short time if there were more of them.
Leaving that last part unsaid, I urged them to go with a smile.
“…Understood. I wish you the best of luck, Your Highness.”
“I can say the same to you. Please do your best down there.”
The knights gave me one last bow and descended from atop the walls.
I then turned to face the enemy in front of me, the troll clad in crystal armor.
…Actually, since a while earlier, I’d sensed a large number of life signatures approaching from the east when I unleashed my power… Help was truly just around the corner.
Until then, I would not let anyone fall. I swung my staff of light to renew my resolve.
“Reiji-san, Nii-sama… Shall we begin?”
“Of course.”
“Let’s roll.”
Even in this situation, I let out a chuckle at how they responded at the perfect same time.
“Truth be told, I’m so done with commanding! Let’s just kick his ass and be done with it, simple.”
“Hehe… Thanks for your hard work, Nii-sama. Speaking of which… Reiji-san, you have a score to settle with him, right?”
“Huh…? Oh, right, he’s gonna pay for wrecking my precious partner!”
Remembering his old grudge, Reiji-san flashed a fierce grin.
We won’t lose, I can feel it.
It’s time for our revenge match!
???
“Milord! Did you see that light over there?!”
The petite girl riding on the same horse as me was pointing to the east and making a fuss.
I only let her ride with me because she couldn’t ride a horse on her own… Fortunately, she was light, so it’s not much of a burden for my beloved horse.
I sighed and asked her to stop acting up, then turned my gaze in the direction she was pointing.
There, a giant pillar of white light looked like it’s going to pierce the sky.
“It doesn’t seem like something bad, but…”
My horse was staring at the overly bright light without any fear whatsoever. On the contrary, I even felt like the fatigue of our long-distance march was starting to lighten.
Whatever caused the light, it must be something extraordinary.
“We must hurry. May I ask you to lend me your power?”
“Just leave it to me, Milord!”
“…Thanks.”
…Honestly, I don’t like the way she looks at me with such complete and genuine trust, and perhaps even a hint of affection. It’s not that it’s unpleasant, but I just don’t like it.
The moment I asked her for help, her eyes sparkled with joy.
I could only take a guess, but she looked about fifteen or sixteen years old… In any case, she wasn’t mature enough.
When I went an excursion to inspect the territory, something I did from time to time, I happened to encounter and arrest a group of bandits… and this girl was found as a captive at their hideout. After I rescued her, she seemed to have taken a liking to me for some reason and had been following me around like this ever since.
That’s fine and all, but I had no idea why a girl more ten years younger than me was so attached to me.
My face and attitude, I had to admit, was scary to women and children.
…Well, I suppose this girl, who had no one to rely on, was simply seeking the protection of the person who happened to save her from a dangerous situation.
Age aside, she was a girl with a very beautiful appearance. She had golden hair that was neatly trimmed, and her skin was flawless. If it were just her appearance, she could be mistaken for a noblewoman.
I think she somewhat resembled “that person” I briefly took care of in the past.
She was apparently afraid of men because of her experience of being captured by a gang of bandits (but completely okay with me, apparently). However, she was too vulnerable for her own good, giving me headache to no end.
But without a doubt, she was an excellent magic user. For all the trouble she caused, I did appreciate her company.
She began to chant something I’d never heard before, and that’s coming from the former Vice Captain of the Knight Order of the Magical Kingdom of Nordglacier… Our magical prowess was only second to Acropolis, the silent arbiter at the center of the world.
“…’Winning Road’!!”
A translucent bridge suddenly appeared in sight.
It stretched straight to the town, crossing over the muddy forest road. Thanks to this magic, which cut through obstacles in a straight line, the travel time was greatly shortened.
“Good work. The cavalry shall take the lead! Everyone follow me!”
“Ehehe…”
The girl in my arm smiled broadly at my praise. I held her tight as I prepared to take off.
My agent had reported about Her Highness and her companions living in hiding inside that town.
Please, stay safe out there…!
After confirming that the girl was holding on to my body tightly, I kicked the horse’s side to accelerate, and ran across the magical bridge that hung towards the sky, along with my subordinate cavalry.
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