Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Strange.

Incomprehensible.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Those were the only thoughts circling in their primitive minds.

Their prey were small in size, but there were so many of them.

Just the right size to swallow in one gulp, they had no scales, no thorns, no shell. Very easy to eat.

And so the wyverns gleefully attacked, but what awaited them was barrages of thorns that pierce through scales, stones with lethal power hidden within, and flashes that incinerated their bodies.

As it turned out, the small creatures inhabiting this intensely incomprehensible terrain weren’t the easy prey the wyverns expected.

Doubts began to rise.

Wyverns are no different from wild beasts.

What they desire is not the blood of their hated enemies, but meat to fill their bellies. It’s a survival instinct. Therefore, it’s only natural that they want to avoid fruitless hunts.

Unfortunately for them, their choice of prey proved to be a big mistake.

If it had been their males, whose duty was to venture out to obtain food… they might not have considered attacking in the first place. Centuries worth of experience baked into their instincts had taught them to avoid attacking “humans” lest they receive harsh retribution.

But alas, they had all vanished without a trace.

Despite it being breeding season, they never returned, even as seasons passed.

Without the males’ food offering, the remaining females had to exhaust the prey in their vicinity to the last, but they still couldn’t find enough food.

If that’s the case, they would be forced to leave their territory. The surrounding areas weren’t welcome, as they were already under control of powerful beasts and dragons.

They had to venture further, into the unfamiliar outside world.

However, in the direction where the sun sets, there was literally nothing.

Thus, they aimed for the direction where the sun rises, crossing deep and vast forests, in search of new hunting grounds.

And so… they came across a territory without owner.

No powerful rivals nearby, only mindless beasts that were more feeble than themselves.

The female wyverns had found themselves a paradise… or so they thought.

Strange.

Incomprehensible.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

No matter how much they’d come to regret their decision… in the end, it all came down to their lack of experience, being creatures that knew nothing beyond their own habitats and picked the wrong fight as a consequence… It would take some time for them to understand and leave.

Iris

“…?!”

I jerked my head up and frantically scanned my surrounding.

I felt like I was looking at something, but I could only vaguely remember it now.

Did I just fall unconscious mid-combat?

The surroundings seemed to have skipped ahead while I was out.

My last memory was engaging in combat with a new wyvern.

But at present, that same wyvern was entangled by the legs by the huge bolas thrown by the mercenaries and soldiers, its wings caught in a net, and anchored to the ground, immobilized.

…Suddenly, our gazes intersected.

“Ah…”

For some reason, I found its figure pitiful, making me involuntarily reaching out my hand…

…but its neck was then immediately pierced by numerous swords and spears.

Even the robust skeletal structure of a wyvern was helpless against countless sharp blades thrust into its spinal joints.

The wyvern let out one last pitiful cry and went limp, its eyes rapidly clouding over, turning white.

Shrinking back at the sight, I closed my eyes tightly…

No, I shouldn’t be absent-minded in the middle of combat like this.

Shaking my head, I pulled myself back together.

As I lifted my gaze… there’s another wyvern peeking its massive body from around the corner.

Some time had passed since we descended into the city.

Everyone was showing signs of considerable fatigue from relentless fighting… but still, we’d managed to come closer to the city center.

While our progress was by no means swift… we’d successfully repelled one wyvern after another, securing the eastern gate and expanding the space for people to evacuate.

On the other hand, the frequency and density of wyverns attacking the city seemed to be gradually decreasing.

Perhaps due to seeing many of their kinds being defeated, the numerous wyverns overhead appeared to have lost their hunger-induced frenzy and slowed down their movements.

Some of them even took off from the city and fled from the battle.

Please, if you’re going to leave… do so as soon as possible Let no more lives be lost…!

Gripping my staff tightly until my hand turned white, I silently offered a prayer.

Suddenly, something else reached my ears, faintly carried by the wind.

“Was that… a child’s scream?!”

I snapped my head up and looked for the source of the sound.

There was nothing visible in sight… but I definitely heard it.

However, right now we were busy dealing with a new wyvern, so there’s no room to go and investigate.

But I just couldn’t leave it be.

Determined, I tugged on the sleeve of Zeltis-san, who was taking command nearby.

“Zeltis-san, may I ask you to take care of things here for a bit?”

“Miss Iris? Did something come up?”

“I heard a child’s voice. I’ll be back as soon as I investigate it.”

“But you shouldn’t go alone… Ah, I see.”

“Yes, this little one’s coming with me.”

I glanced at the white furball at my feet… the Sirius cub, and smiled.

I have an escort with me.

I won’t do anything reckless if this child’s around.

Zeltis-san, who seemed to understand my intentions, relaxed his expression and nodded slightly.

“Please be quick about it. There shouldn’t be any more wyverns around that area, but don’t let your guard down.”

“Thank you very much!”

I bowed my head, and accompanied by the Sirius cub who ran ahead to protect me, I rushed toward the direction where the scream came from.

“There…!”

I turned around two, then three streets before I finally found it.

In the direction my gaze fell upon, there stood a lone soldier. And nestled beside him for cover… was a small girl crouched at his feet.

Further ahead of them, were several wolves clad in white fur… White Fangs, if I recalled correctly.

Should I try to incapacitate them with Divine Spear?

As I pondered and prepared to act, I felt a gaze upon me.

It came from the Sirius cub. If I wasn’t imagining things, her gaze seemed to say, “Leave it to me”, and I nodded in agreement.

“Please!”

At the sound of my voice, the Sirius cub who had been running ahead of me quickened her pace, and…

GAAAAAAAAOOOOOW!!

Her roar reverberated through the air with intensity that seemed inconceivable to have come from such a small body. It was a roar that sent shivers down the spine, invoking an unbearable instinctual fear: death.

The special ability of Sirius the Phantasmal Beast, even in its infancy, was able to make its targets experience visions of death.

All of the White Fangs succumbed to the fear and froze up on the spot.

Wolves weren’t supposed to appear in a city like this either. Perhaps they, too, were driven out of their home and fled here in confusion due to the turf war that’s going on in the mountains. Exposed to their primal fear of death, they had completely lost their will to fight.

“…Go. And never come back here again.”

With those words, they turned tail and fled like their lives depend on it.

I breathed a sigh of relief at their departure. Then, looking at the Sirius cub who seemed to be proudly looking at me as if seeking praises, I smiled.

“Yes, you were very helpful. Thank you.”

The Sirius cub wagged her tail and let out a joyful bark.

I ruffed her fur as thanks, then turned my gaze elsewhere, as my work here wasn’t done yet.

The soldier and the little girl hadn’t moved from their original spots.

Squatting down beside the girl, who looked no more than ten years old, I met her gaze.

“Are you hurt?”

“Saint-…sama?”

Being called that felt somewhat embarrassing, but I nodded.

If that made the girl feel a little safer, it was a small price to pay for such peace of mind.

I quickly assessed the girl’s condition.

There were abrasions here and there, and blood was seeping out, so it looked very painful… but other than a badly bruised fingertip, there didn’t seem to be any major injuries.

The water that was spreading on the ground beneath her… well, I couldn’t blame such a small child surrounded by wolves. I’m just glad that wasn’t blood.

“It’s okay now, let me tend to your wounds…”

“*sobs*… Uwaaaaaah!!”

“Kyah?!”

However, the girl’s face twisted, and burst into tears. Before I could react, she suddenly leapt into my arms, causing me to lose my balance and almost fell.

That reaction didn’t come from relief. It was something else, much more urgent.

“Mom… she’s… under…”

Amidst her sobs, I followed the direction the girl pointed to and held my breath.

…There was a collapsed house.

“Is it that house?”

As I asked, the girl nodded.

So the girl’s mother was trapped inside that house’s rubbles.

If that’s the case, how am I going to save her?

First, I had to somehow clear away the rubbles.

But if I moved them around too much, I might worsen the collapse and further trapping the girl’s mother…

As I struggled with what to do, suddenly, a tingling sensation flared at a spot on my forehead.

At the same time… sharp pain surged through my head, as if a massive amount of information was being flooded into it, leaving me with a strange sensation that I couldn’t put into words.

It wasn’t something I could see. Yet, I could sense it like it was were a dot on an invisible radar within my mind.

Said dot… was right under the collapsed house the girl pointed to.

She’s still alive!

The color and the rate of the dot’s blinking indicated that she was in a dangerous situation, but not fatal… I could feel it, not through logic but through intuition.

And if I could pinpoint her location, I now had a way. I hurriedly began chanting magic.

Back in the game, this spell was learned along with resurrection magic at the end of my primary class, and was used to pull incapacitated players into a safe zone where they could be revived.

Since there was no resurrection magic in this world, I had almost forgotten about this spell, thinking that it was only in the game.

But now, in reality, it manifested as a divine miracle… the “magic” to save people.

“Come to my side… Rescue!”

My surroundings were enveloped in light.

In the dazzling light, the weight of a single person appeared in my arms.

Immediately, a warm, slightly viscous sensation seeped into my clothes.

Quickly, I checked her whole body.

All limbs were intact. However, apart from large lacerations here and there, and the bleeding from the wounds where the rubble had pierced through or compressed the body, there seemed to be no major injuries.

Her body was cold, her breathing shallow and rapid… indicating hemorrhagic shock.

But she’s still alive!

Fortunately, my biggest concern, that being her head and brain, seemed unharmed. With a relieved sigh, I began preparing for my next spell.

“…Mom?!”

The girl beside me gasped, perhaps because her mother had suddenly appeared in front of her, or because of her injuries, or both.

Smiling to reassure the girl, I spoke.

“…She’ll be alright. As long as she’s alive… I can definitely heal her!”

With that, I began chanting again.

But as it is, the girl’s mother had lost a lot of blood.

The normal Heal spell would only close her wounds, but wouldn’t do much more. Therefore, I cast my higher level healing spell.

“Ares Heal!”

The woman in my arms was enveloped in light.

Her injuries vanished from existence, and color returned to her face.

“……It’s beautiful.”

The girl murmured something I couldn’t hear, but I had to devote my full attention to controlling the magic.

Soon, the light subsided… and the completely healed woman seemed to regain consciousness, faintly opening her eyes and struggling to sit up.

“Thank goodness… How are you feeling now?”

“…Saint-sama? Am I… alive?”

“Yes, you’re in no danger now. Your body might be weakened for a while, but please don’t rush and slowly make your way toward the evacuation point.”

The girl’s mother, reminded of her current situation, staggered to her feet.

“Mom looked so hurt earlier, and she’s all healed up… You’re so awesome, Saint-sama.”

“Thank you. You should go with your Mom now, please.”

Saying that, I put my hand on the girl.

The small scratches disappeared from her body, the dirt on her clothes and the liquid that had soaked her thighs were all cleaned up.

I took my gaze away from the girl, who was looking all around her body in bewilderment, and turned back toward the remaining person at the scene, the soldier.

“Can I leave the rest here to you?”

“Y-Yes!”

I was mildly surprised by soldier’s younger than expected voice.

When I looked at him, he seemed to be a new recruit, of the age between a boy and a young man.

His expression was a little downcast… maybe it was due to his frustration at not being able to fight off the wolves with his own hands. But… if it weren’t for his work, the girl would have long been torn apart by the wolves, and finding her mother would have been impossible.

“…I have to thank you as well. Thanks to your perseverance, I was able to save both mother and daughter.”

“Me…?”

“Yes. You should be proud of yourself. I’m going to leave those two in your care.”

I stood up, brushing off the dust from my robe.

Then I realized my hood had come off, so I hurriedly fixed it back in place.

It was at that moment when a voice called out from the direction I came from.

“Miss Iris, we’ve repelled all the wyverns from this area. We’re moving on to the next!”

“I’m coming! And please beware of small monsters as well! I saw some of them breaking into the city earlier!”

After answering Zeltis-san’s call, I quickly scanned the surrounding.

The heat still lingered on my forehead, and that uncanny radar-like ability still remained.

There were no other heavily injured individuals to rescue. Feeling relieved, I dashed towards Zeltis-san, who was waiting for me.

“Sorry for the inconvenience. My work here’s complete.”

“It’s fine by me. Everyone’s gone on ahead to the craftsmen’s street, so I’m here to pick you up.”

“Once we get there… we’ll be in the city center.”

“That’s correct. I’ve received words from Uncle to rendezvous there. Now, if you please.”

Taking the hand offered to me, I was swiftly lifted up.

Grateful for the help, I allowed myself to rest a bit and assess my condition as I surrendered to the vibrations of being carried and closed my eyes, even if just for a brief moment, for a bit of rest until the next engagement…

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

“Mr. Red, behind that building with red roof!”

“Nice job kiddo! Here I go!”

Scar-san’s cannon roared and fired off a bullet.

Hayato-kun had descended from the city walls to the nearby rooftops, and now acted as a spotter for Scar-san’s sniping.

Mid-flight, the bullet got its trajectory altered by a small magic circle set up beforehand as relay points and vanished into the shadow of a building.

The next moment, even from a distance, I could hear a wyvern’s pained cry.

“Is it down?!”

“You got its wing, but the wound wasn’t fatal! It’s still coming!”

Hayato-kun yelled in a hurry.

Then, turning around the corner with a cloud of dust, appeared the massive form of the Frost Wyvern dragging its wing.

Enraged by its severe injuries, it lunged towards the evacuees at the gate, spitting bloodied foam.

In its path… unfortunately, amidst the chaos of the crowd, a girl of about ten seemed to have fallen and might be swallowed whole by the wyvern’s large mouth.

“Darn it, just one more shot…!”

“No, I’ll do it!”

While Scar-san was hastily reloading, Hayato-kun leapt off the roof toward the wyvern.

slashes

Hayato-kun used “Assassinate” in the middle of his fall, and the wyvern’s head was severed from its neck and danced in the air, spilling copious amounts of blood.

Though I instinctively cover my mouth at the sight, I manage to hold back from vomiting.

Screams of panic from people unfamiliar with such chaos echoed from all around; there’s no time to waste.

“Hayato-kun, are you alright?!”

I anxiously peered under the gate.

“I’m okay! This girl here’s got no scratch on her either!”

There stood Hayato-kun, having dashed away from the falling wyvern while carrying the girl.

Said girl, in a daze, gazed up at Hayato-kun, but as he said, neither of them seemed to have major injuries, and relief washed over me. However…

“Shit, it’s hiding behind a building! I can’t shoot it down from here!”

Scar-san, aiming at another wyvern, grimaced as he looked away from the scope.

From his point of view, only the tail and wings of the wyvern that just swooped down were visible behind the building.

“…”

Looking up, I saw the wyverns descending one after another into the city. Scar-san readjusted his aim and opened fire again.

Though he managed to down the wyvern with a single shot, their number was starting to get to the point where he couldn’t reload fast enough to deal with all of them.

Below the city gate, the evacuation was far from complete. People were scrambling away from the massive bodies of the wyverns.

Furthermore, wings and tails crashing against the surroundings caused some buildings, already fragile due to aging, to collapse. Some people might have been trapped underneath the rubbles.

“I… can’t…”

Even if I went down there, what could I do in that situation?

Is it better for me to stay here and assist with the relief efforts?

And what about the promise to not overexert myself? Was I going to break it after all?

At times like this, if Reiji-san were here, he would take the lead and pave the way forward.

At times like this, if Saul-niisama were here, he would become the reliable backbone of the operation.

My thoughts went in a downward spiral, as I didn’t know what the best course of action is.

My vision narrowed, as I lost track of where I stand.

Was I really this powerless by myself?

Feeling helpless, strength started to drain from my limbs.

My view darkened, sounds fade away. My body slowly succumbed…

“If you’re feeling lost, my princess… then just trust in your heart and do what you think is right.”

“…Eh?”

…But then, someone gently tapped on my shoulder and supported me.

Turning around, there’s a face I thought wouldn’t be in the city right now.

“…Zeltis-san!”

“Yes, it is I. Upon hearing the crisis facing you and this city, I rushed here as fast as I could.”

“After all, this is my hometown”, he smiled calmly.

Suddenly, there were movements below us.

Figures leapt forward from behind, moving to halt the wyverns’ advance.

“They’re…”

I recognized all of them. They belonged to the first squad of the “La Cercueil” mercenary company, under Zeltis-san’s command.

I gazed down in astonishment at their participation, considering they were supposed to be on a mission pursuing the Death Serpent just recently.

“Damn, kid, do you have to look so glum every time I see you?”

“…Weiss-san?!”

Another voice came from beside me.

Weiss-san, who had appeared by my side before I knew it, drew his massive bow, the “Dreadnought”, and let loose.

The arrow precisely pierced into the eye socket of a wyvern, sending it tumbling down the walls.

…He’d become quite proficient with it.

To think he could barely use that powerful bow when he first received it… A person can change significantly within mere days, as the saying goes.

“I’ll stay here and pin down the ones above, you can go on without me.”

“…Hehe, when he puts it like that, you wouldn’t expect him to actually pester the Captain to come here against all odds because he’s worried about you and Miss Lenny, you know?”

“What, you can’t just…”

Weiss-san was foaming in his mouth as Zeltis-san casually revealed that with an impish smile.

“…Is that so?”

“Tch.”

“Thank you very much, Weiss-san. It’s very thoughtful of you.”

“…Hmph.”

With a curt sigh, Weiss-san simply returned to taking aim at the next target.

Watching him, Zeltis-san shrugged as if to say “Well, the guy can never be honest with himself”, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“By the way, it’s not just us. Philias is leading the second squad towards the west gate. I trust that she can hold her ground for a good while.”

The situation was rapidly changing, but this time in our favor.

The city was still in turmoil… but everyone was doing their best to protect it. Then, what should I do next…?

“Name your wish, milady. My squad and I will do our best to make it happen.”

“Remember, we’re all in this together.”

Zeltis-san was smiling as always, while Scar-san flashed me a grin.

Their gazes asked me as they turned to me.

What’s my wish?

As I looked around, both Milly-san, who’s also looking at me, and Hayato-kun, who’d just climbed back onto the wall with a rope, nodded in agreement.

Suddenly, I felt a tug at the hem of my robe from below.

Looking down… I found the fluffy white Sirius cub that was supposed to be kept inside the gate because it’s dangerous.

“Even this little one wants to join you, milady. What a splendid knight, despite the size.”

“…I see.”

I crouched down and stroke her soft fur.

“I’m sorry for leaving you behind. Are you… here to help as well?”

She replied my question with a cheerful bark. Such an adorable reaction made me smile involuntarily.

Ah… So many ppl are willing to help me like this.

The fog of my thoughts cleared, and my vision became clear.

It seemed that the severe defeat I’d suffered had made me a coward, and without me realizing it, I’d become entangled in the fatigue caused by my own fear and helplessness.

But… it’s going to be fine now.

Because… unlike the old days, I wasn’t alone anymore.

Taking a deep breath, I calmed the racing beat of my heart.

“Are we doing this?”

“Yes… let’s try to help as many people as possible.”

I answered Scar-san with a straight look.

“It’s likely that Leonhardt-sama is also moving to the attacked district to address the situation.”

Indeed, the wyverns that had been attacking Rolandia Castle seemed to have been subdued, and the bridges of light Titilia-san conjured were gradually approaching us.

“We’re clearing our way from here to the west gate, providing aid to any civilians or soldiers we come across while mopping up the enemies. It may not be easy… but I wish that everyone lend me a hand, please.”

I conveyed what I wanted to do and bowed my head.

“Now that’s what I wanted to hear. Count me in.”

“Uncle Leonhardt will probably get very angry… but I’ll always be on your side, my princess. If he yells at you, rest assured that I’ve got your back.”

“Ahaha… I need to get ready for that.”

I chuckled, thinking Leonhardt-sama must be really scary when angry.

But I’d already decided. I steeled myself and contemplated on our battle plan.

“Weiss-san, Milly-san, please keep an eye on the sky.”

“…Yeah, sure, not like I can do much else.”

“We can’t just shoot toward the city, nya. Leave it to us.”

Weiss-san grumbled as usual while nocking an arrow and turning away.

Milly-san shrugged at him and smiled wryly before focusing her mind on casting spells.

And to protect them, soldiers with shields fortified their defense.

“Hayato-kun, Scar-san, please open a path for us.”

“Got it!”

“Aye.”

With that, they both gave a thumb up and dashed off.

Hayato-kun with his agility.

Scar-san’s legs were clad in lightning… if I recall correctly, it’s a skill called “Ion Craft” that allowed him to dash through the air.

Descending from the presumably tall outer wall, the two leapt onto the roofs of the city with great momentum. Their figures quickly diminished.

“Zeltis-san… Can you guard everyone with the mercenaries?”

“Your wish is my command, my princess.”

“And… I’m sorry, but can you carry me down first…?”

I completely forgot that even with a rope, it’s difficult to descend directly from the top of the gate by myself.

I can’t believe I just embarrassed myself just after making such a speech. Feeling my face flush, I bowed my head.

“Of course. Then… allow me, my princess.”

“Iris is fine, Zeltis-san… Please do.”

Still maintaining his knightly attitude, Zeltis-san effortlessly lifted me with one arm.

The sensation of floating sent a chill through my body.

With me still in his arms, he grabbed the rope hanging from the wall with his other hand and slid down.

Where we landed… was right near the people fleeing in panic.                

Looking closely, they seemed to have sustained some injuries from running away, even if not major ones.

“Can you keep going?”

“…Yes, I can manage.”

Zeltis-san kindly asked, and I nodded once before getting down from his arms and wielding my staff.

And as I slowly walked against the flow of evacuating people, I chanted a spell.

“…Goddess Divine Embrace…!”

A vast magic circle began to form around me, enveloping the crowd of confused people at the gate, and in the next moment, a dazzling yet warm healing light burst throughout the area.

I think it might have been a bit excessive.

However, the aim was to first bring this situation under control. As intended, everyone around, unaware of what had happened, fell silent as if the previous commotion didn’t happen.

“A Saint…”

“Are we saved…?”

The crowd faintly murmured.

Involuntarily, I pulled down the hood of my cloak. Stimulated by the voice reaching my ears, I resisted the urge to flee, feeling a pang of embarrassment.

Despite feeling overwhelmed by the whispers around me, I regained my composure, believing that they would now listen attentively to my words.

“…Please prioritize children and people with disabilities! Follow the instructions of the soldiers calmly and evacuate without panic!”

Amidst such attention, I desperately raised my voice to give instructions.

The effect was dramatic; the calmed people cooperated and began evacuating into the gate at a faster pace than before, following the soldiers’ instructions.

Reiji-san, Saul-niisama, please wait just a little longer. I’ll return to you as soon as possible.

Gripping the makeshift staff that still didn’t feel quite natural in my hands, I tightened my grip nonetheless. It’s okay… I can do this.

“Soldiers, please focus on guiding and guarding the evacuees and fulfilling your duties. Everyone… please, lend us your strength…!”

With a resounding cheer, we stepped into the city, which was still in chaos.  

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

A man with flamboyant red hair who suddenly appeared.

Likely the one who annihilated a wyvern in a single blow, his peculiar choice of weaponry caused a stir among the onlookers.

It’s a massive box-shaped rod, about the height of a person.

With some levers on its side and grips for handling with both hands protruding, it had a somewhat futuristic, SF-esque look to it… However, as he carried it, one could confirm a trigger near his hand, proving that it was indeed a firearm.

The redhead who carried what could be better described as a cannon than a gun approached us.

Soldiers around me became alert to his movements and attempted to shield me, but I reassured them with a glance, signaling there was no need to worry.

Ignoring the soldiers, the redhead approached me so closely that one of them looked like he was about to draw his sword…

…then, abruptly, he knelt down before me.

Reaching one hand toward me, and placing the other on his chest, he began to speak.

“Please marry me!”

“My deepest apologies, but I have to refuse.”

The surrounding fell into complete silence.

Only Milly-san, who knew the circumstances, smiled wryly as if saying “Here we go again…”.

“Ah, rejecting me without a second thought… That’s Ku… I mean Iris-chan for you.”

“I could say the same to you… Long time no see, Higami-san.”

“Yeah, glad to see you back again.”

With that, he casually got up and stroke my head as if the previous exchange had never happened.

Even in such a situation, this person hadn’t changed at all. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“It’s alright, everyone. He’s someone who took care of me a lot when I was missing. His personality is a bit eccentric, but he’s someone you can rely on.”

There was still some confusion among everyone, but the tension finally dissipated after my explanation.

Higami-san, however, quickly assumed a serious expression, leaned close to my ear, and spoke in a volume that others couldn’t hear.

“Hold up, where did Ayame-chan and that childhood friend of yours go…? Aren’t they supposed to be with you?”

“Well, about that… um…”

My body trembled when that topic was brought up. Those two were still in a coma.

In these past few days, I could do nothing other than bottling up my feelings about them… but when Higami-san, who wasn’t just my superior at work but also an older brother figure, showed up, those feeling within me were about to burst forth like a dam breaking.

Tears started to stream down my face.

“…Something happened, didn’t it?”

I rubbed my eyes to wipe away the tears, but they just kept on flowing.

Higami-san gently placed his hand on my head.

Somehow, that gesture reminded me of Reiji-san…

Come to think of it… It’s been so long since the last time Reiji-san patted my head like this.

And that was the breaking point.

The tears could no longer be stopped.

“Hey, wait… Iris-chan?!”

“Waaaaaaaah…! Aaaaaaaaah…!!”

I dove into Higami-san’s chest and cried like a child… We stayed like that for a while.

“…Feeling better yet?”

“*sobs*… I’m sorry, it was unbecoming of me, especially in a time like this…”

The wyverns were still circling overhead, and everybody else was thoughtful enough to look the other way, remained vigilant. As I calmed down, a mix of embarrassment and guilt overwhelmed me.

I then managed to bring Higami-san, or “Scarlet” as he was known in the game, up to speed about our current situation, all the while being soothed by him stroking my head.

“I see… That must have been tough.”

“Like you wouldn’t believe…”

I forced myself to smile as I replied to him because if I didn’t try to jest, I feared that I might break down again. I could only hope that it was convincing enough of a smile.

“Gotcha. I might not be able to replace them, but until Ayame-chan and the other guy wake up, rely on me as much as you need, okay?”

“Yes… Thank you so much…”

His words brought tears to my eyes again, and I quickly wiped them away.

Back in my old world, I hesitated to show my weakness in front of Ayame, who was my little sister, and Reiji, whom I wanted to stand beside as equals one day… Unlike the two of them, Higami-san, who was older and more experienced than me, felt like an older brother figure, and I found myself almost naturally wanting to rely on him.

I need to pull myself together, I thought as I lightly slapped my cheeks and regained my composure.

“You know, Iris-chan… Is it just me or you’re acting completely different now, like you’ve been a girl all along or something…”

“…?”

“F-Forget I said anything!”

I could only tilt my head when he started to get flustered and murmured in a barely audible voice for some reason.

At the same time, the surroundings began to stir again.

Looking up at the sky, it seemed that the battle had already been resumed, as several wyverns began charging toward us, and the ballistae firing their massive arrows in retaliation.

“Anyway, let’s get this over with quickly and wake those two up, shall we? Iris-chan, cover your ears, and don’t stray too far from me.”

With that instruction, I obediently covered my ears with both hands and took a few steps back.

As I glanced at him, Scarlet… I should call him Scar-san from now on, pulled a lever at the side of his gun.

With a clang, a spent cartridge about the size of a marker pen flew out from the side of the gun, danced in the air for a moment, then fell to the ground .

Immediately, his hand reached for the ammunition case attached to his waist, and what emerged from it was a new bullet. Like a flowing movement, the new bullet was loaded into the gun, the lever was returned, and the chamber closed again.

Similar to our old world’s firearm, his gun operated by igniting the primer in the base of the cartridge in order to fire bullets, but with magic instead of gunpowder.

In the game, guns were a relatively new weapon category, only available to the Archer grouping’s specialized class, Gunner.

To obtain the Gunner class, one must clear the notoriously difficult magic gun creation quest, unlocked after leveling up to the latter half of the Archer grouping’s secondary class and consumed a staggering deal of rare materials upon completion, and that’s not the last hurdle a Gunner player had to overcome.

Unlike the “reincarnation”, their level didn’t reset after becoming a Gunner, but they would lose the entirety of their archery skill tree and had to start over from scratch. That’s why they were often looked down on by players who remained in the so-called “proper” Archer grouping, leading to frequent disputes on the forum… but I digress.

There were various types of magical firearms within the game, such as the initial single handgun, dual pistols, rifles, etc… but I’d never seen one as large as the one he carried.

So his gun must be one-of-a-kind, because…

“I’ll show you the power of the Gunner tertiary class, Der Freischutz…!”

With a snap, the air around us cracked, and I saw Scar-san’s hair standing on end as if electrified.

Several lines of magic circuits shimmered on the magic gun, and small magic circles lit up at the tip.

Those magic circles were projected in the direction ahead, about twenty meters apart, and extended into the air.

Just as I wondered what it was…

…A thunderous explosion pierced even the hands covering my ears.

It wasn’t just the explosion.

The moment the released projectile passed through the magic circle deployed in front of the gun—blinding light and thunderous noise resounded, followed by the air bursting, and a sound that pierced beyond limits, leaving only a streak of lightning burned into the retina before disappearing.

It was an almost instantaneous moment, barely recognizable.

The wyvern unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of the gun’s payload had a gaping hole on its body, where its heart and lung once were, and fell powerlessly toward the ground without leaving so much as a death throe.

Instant death. The wyvern’s hard scales provided little protection against Scar-san’s bullet.

Although it pained my chest to see another life snuffed out in an instant… I was aware that if we didn’t take down those wyverns, they would kill and devour us as prey. Thus, I grasped the chest of my robe tightly and made sure to witness the scene without averting my eyes.

“…Amazing.”

Muttered Hayato-kun. Everyone around, including me, honestly felt the same way.

In terms of sheer destructive power, Milly-san’s magic probably had an edge over Scar-san’s bullets.

However, Scar-san clearly surpassed Milly-san in terms of penetration and killing power.

Boasting the highest DPS among all physical attackers without regard to consequences, that’s the Gunner class in the game.

Scar-san, who obtained the tertiary class of that specialization, had well inherited that glory.

“…And that’s the basics of my current ability. Hope I can be of help in combat, Iris-chan.”

Saying so, Scar-san looked up at the sky.

There, changes were happening in the movements of the wyverns.

The wyverns, which had previously returned to observing once one of them was defeated, were not retreating.

On the contrary, several wyverns that had been circling changed their course… one after another, they were heading towards us or into the city.

“…Looks like those guys are starting to get serious too. Iris-chan, if it’s too dangerous for you, you can head back inside the gate-”

“…It’s fine. I can do this.”

Despite his concern for me, I shook my head.

I didn’t intend to push myself too hard, and it’s much more scarier to hide and tremble without doing anything. So…

“Like you said earlier, let’s get this over with quickly and wake those two up… Scar-san, please lend me your strength.”

“Yep, heard it loud and clear!”

Once again, a cartridge was ejected and fell to the ground with a clang.

It resonated strangely loud, as if heralding the beginning of the real defense battle of this city…

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Wyverns.

Among the dragon subspecies, these winged creatures with dragon-like heads are the most prominent of them all.

Many species of wyverns typically formed group of males and females, living separately but not too far from each other.

However, during the breeding season, the males each build their own nest and tried to attract the females by hunting and offering food to them.

This is also the time when danger significantly increases, as the males have the tendency to kill and devour the infants other than their own offsprings, perhaps out of the primal instinct to leave descendants… Once the offsprings reach a certain age, the females gather with their young in one place and keep the males away.

All in all, wyverns mostly minded their own business, and aside from the few “strays” that are expelled from their group, they rarely come down to attack human settlements for food… or so it should have been.

Unlike regular vywerns that are usually green in color, the wyverns that were attacking Rolandia right now have bluish-white scales and feathers growing sporadically on their bodies.

They’re Frost Wyverns, native to the snowy continent of Nordglacier. Instead of breathing fire, these wyverns exhale ice and snow, creating blizzards in their wake.

The abnormal thing about this situation was that sightings of Frost Wyverns were exceptionally rare, even within Nordglacier.

According to adventurers who followed their tracks, the Frost Wyverns’ habitat lied beyond the dense coniferous forests to the west of Nordglacier, atop the harsh and frigid mountains where few humans dared to set foot.

They were never supposed to appear so close to a human settlement…

Iris

In the distance, another wyvern was engulfed by an intense beam of lightning and reduced to a charred corpse, plummeting to the ground.

The one who fired said beam was most likely Leonhardt-sama, whom I saw performing the same attack before.

Around the castle, translucent platforms seemingly conjured by Titilia-san’s magic spread in all directions, upon which the elite soldiers bravely engaged in combat even at this moment.

But… there were simply too many of those massive bodies soaring through the sky.

Unlike dragons, wyverns hunt in large packs.

Therefore, while their individual capabilities might be significantly inferior, depending on the circumstances, they can become far more troublesome than a solitary dragon.

…And that was exactly what was happening now.

The city was echoing with screams and shouts from all corners, but little could be done to calm down the panicking crowd that had gathered.

If the wyverns circling overhead were to descend upon them… undoubtedly, a massacre would occur.

For the time being, the massive ballistae stationed throughout the city kept firing warning shots to keep the wyverns at bay.

In support of that, and to minimize damage throughout the city, attack magic, primarily of the wind attribute, was launched from the sorcerers atop the walls, including Milly-san.

As I observed the wyverns with Eagle Eye, a question spiraled in my mind.

Why only the females?

Female wyverns, often staying on the ground to incubate their eggs, seem to have sturdier legs compared to males. It’s also said that many of them have developed sharper teeth and wings for intimidating or repelling predators and feeding their hatchlings.

Most of the wyverns attacking the city, if not all, perfectly matched these characteristics.

In other words… there was no male among them, unnaturally so.

“…Your Highness, watch out!”

“Kyah?!”

My train of thought was suddenly interrupted as someone grabbed me in the collar.

The next instant, one of the soldiers who had been guarding me and Milly-san atop the wall—a young one, still rather inexperienced—pulled me down to the floor.

For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm me, but I quickly grasped the situation and somehow managed to regain my composure.

It seemed the young soldier who pulled me down was wielding a shield with his opposite arm as he held me, and just as I managed to separate from him… a fierce blizzard engulfed my surroundings.

One of the wyverns had decided to target our position and unleashed its breath upon us.

“Are you alright?! That was so reckless!”

“Don’t worry about me, just keep your head down, please!”

With a firm grip, my head, covered by the hood of my robe, was pushed down by his hand, urging me to take cover.

I considered casting “Protection”, but I had to save that spell for Milly-san in case she was attacked, so now all I could do was hope that the shield, enhanced by the “Enhanced Armor” I cast earlier, would hold. The sense of urgency left me biting my lip.

“How dare you do that to Iris-chan, you big fat lizard?!!!!”

Milly-san finished her incantation, and a brilliant lightning bolt released from the massive magic circle drawn at her fingertips pierced through the wyvern spewing the blizzard, shooting up into the sky.

The breath enveloping us stopped.

As the paralyzed wyvern began to descend, a wire with a hook at its tip seemed to entangle its neck. In the next moment, Hayato-kun leaped onto its back, swiftly climbed up, and with a short dagger in hand, severed its neck halfway.

When Hayato-kun gracefully jumped off the headless wyvern, landed perilously on top of the gate, and readied his weapon once more, I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“Iris-chan!”

“I-I’m fine, this soldier was protecting me the entire time… Can you stand up?”

I assisted the soldier who shielded me, taking the full brunt of the blizzard, and helped him rise.

“Y-Yes, Your Highness… I can only pray that you forgive me for pushing you down so rudely earlier…”

“No, it’s not like that at all! I’m the one who was at fault for being absent-minded in this emergency situation. Your actions were far from rude!”

I shook my head, then bowed to the soldier as thanks for his help… Though, if Lenny-san were to see this, she’d probably scold me again for not acting like a lady.

“You have my utmost gratitude for saving me from that wyvern. Please, show me your wounds.”

“Y-Yes…”

With oddly robotic movements, the soldier obediently showed his arm, the one that held the shield.

Said arm… was in terrible condition.

It was completely frozen, with severe frostbite visible everywhere. The chainmail he wore was torn in places, shredded and torn all over, perhaps due to the flying ice shards.

…If not treated immediately, it may need to be amputated.

“Please stay still. I’ll treat it now.”

With his consent, I hovered my right hand over his arm.

Immediately, the ice that had frozen his arm fell away, and underneath, the injured arm, covered in wounds, regenerated back to its healthy state.

Seeing him clutch his now-healed arm as if in disbelief, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, I felt a slight warmth on my forehead, and I pressed it with my free left hand.

“…Milly-san, what’s wrong?”

When I looked up, Milly-san was looking down at me with an expression of astonishment for some reason.

“Iris-chan, what was that you did just now…? Sorry, now’s not the time for that.”

“…?”

Brushing off her previous concern, Milly-san turned back to the direction where the fighting was still raging.

As I followed her gaze…

“Uhhh… We may have stood out a little bit too much, nya…”

Despite her light tone, Milly-san’s demeanor was tense, her gaze was fixed on the three wyverns flying in, seemingly identifying us as high-priority targets after witnessing the recent lightning strike.

A commotion erupted around us. From the queue in front of the city gate, screams of those who noticed the approaching danger echoed one after another.

“If it comes to this, I’ll go all out…”

“You can’t, nya!”

As soon as I attempted to cover the entire crowd with “Protection”, Milly-san adamantly rejected that idea.

“There’re too many people here!”

“But…!”

Below us, under the gate, people who had hurriedly taken refuge there in this crisis were crowded together.

Thanks to Leonhardt-sama’s coverup, the people of this city only knew me as a Saint who only happened to be present, and they didn’t know my true identity.

The soldiers, of course, knew that I was “Irisria”… but except for some who fought by my side before, the majority didn’t know anything beyond that.

If I were to support them with all my strength, I could reach all of them with protective magic… But to do that, I would have to expose my wings.

With so many civilians present, it’d be impossible to cover up my identity if I exposed myself.

Until now, we’d relied on mercenaries and soldiers, individuals with a well-established chain of command, and overall, they were trustworthy. That’s how I was able to give it my all.

However, it was completely different this time. If I were to reveal my identity here and now, there would be no way to prevent the news from spreading among the general population.

But… I couldn’t just sit back and watch everyone get hurt because of it.

From above, one of the wyverns assumed a posture to release its breath.

Within its would-be line of fire, I saw…

…a woman instinctively embracing what seemed to be an infant to protect it, probably her child.

“…No!”

Before I knew it, I couldn’t stand still anymore.

Gathering my resolve, I prepared to cast “Wide Protection”, and…

BOOM!

First came the resounding boom of something like a cannon going off, but amplified several times.

Then almost simultaneously, the sound of something akin to a thunderbolt striking nearby, accompanied by the eerie sensation of singed air, reverberated through the air.

“…?!”

In shock, I stared ahead.

One of the wyverns, the same one that was about to unleash its breath, had been instantly blown to smithereens by something that hit it from the side.

Perhaps wary of the unidentified attack that instantly killed their kin, the other two wyverns ceased their attack and ascended to a higher altitude.

“…Phew… Looks like I made it just in time for the good part…!”

All of a sudden, a light-hearted voice came from behind.

Turning around, at the staircase leading into the gate, there stood a figure spinning a ridiculously long, boxy rod in his hand and readjusting it on his shoulder, appearing out of nowhere.

And that rod… the smoke rising from its muzzle clearly indicated that the previous attack was his doing.

“Yo, long time no see. How have you been?”

Raising one hand, the figure casually greeted me as he walked along the top of the gate.

A man clad entirely in red.

Red coat worn haphazardly.

Red hair, as well as a bandana covering one eye, and cheeks adorned with a fire pattern.

Though flamboyantly dressed… there was a striking familiarity in his expression. In fact, I knew him well from various events we attended together.

“…Higami-san?”

The person we’d been looking for ever since we arrived in this world, who was once our superior.

The art director of “Worldgate Online” development team, Higami Kyouya… or rather, his in-game avatar, stood before me.

Author’s Notes:

At last, a reunion!

By the way, the detail about wyverns killing and devouring infants was derived from real-life animals. Asian black bears, for example.

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Scarlet

“Gramps, still alive?”

With trepidation, I spoke to the old man beside me.

Although he got back up and was holding the reins again, I was actually scared to death when he was knocked out cold earlier.

“Unfortunately, yes. Your ‘little’ stunt almost killed me, though.”

“I did warn you in advance! Just plug your ears!”

“But you didn’t say it’d be THAT loud, you dunce!”

“It was an emergency situation, okay?!”

We shouted at each other until we ran out of breath, and sighed.

“So, uh… Is it common to see something like that around here?”

“No way. This is my first time seeing that thing, too. Apparently you might encounter it if you travel further west, but that’s beside the point.”

“… I see.”

In other words, that was some ungodly bad luck that we encountered such a monster on the middle of the road.

“Well, in any case, thanks to you, we’ve made it to Count Roland’s territory in one piece. You have my thanks.”

“Oh please, I got to ride straight to my destination and even got paid for it, I can’t be any more grateful right now.”

“…Heh.”

“Hahaha…”

“You could have earned more than that, you know.”

“Really? I didn’t give it much thought about it…”

We both shared a laugh together, the tense atmosphere from when I revealed my identity mostly gone.

The trust we built over the past few weeks, sharing meal and sleep, made us comfortable enough to be frank and casual to each other.

Ah, it’s going to be tough to part ways with him.

Once we passed this checkpoint, it’s only a few more hours to the capital. Depending on the situation, this could be farewell…

“…Huh? Gramps, what’s going on here?”

“Hmm… I have no idea myself, too.”

I was brought back to reality when we were suddenly stopped dead in our track.

The last checkpoint before the capital were full of people who wanted to pass. However, there was no sign of the gate being opened.

“Come to think of it… when you sent that thing running away, it headed toward this direction right…?”

“I-It’s unrelated, probably! Even if it were related, it was self-defense!”

Besides, it wasn’t that long since I repelled that monster.

It was hard to believe that such a big crowd of stranded people would form in such a short time. Probably. Surely.

The old man continued to stare at me with a suspicious gaze.

“…Okay, I get it. Let me go ahead and see what happened…”

Defeated by that look, I reluctantly got off the carriage and went to look for the guards.

…Please, let there be no compensation this time, I don’t want to go broke again…

“Excuse me, sir… what’s with the traffic lockdown?”

When I saw an opportunity, I asked one of the guards standing by.

In response, he turned around with a weary expression and looked at me with irritation.

…Well, he’s probably fed up with having to answer the same question so many times.

“You’re… a merchant’s escort? Listen, beyond this point, there’s a special alert due to increased monster activity. The road is expected to be closed for a while, so you better find an inn quickly.”

“Increased monster activity?”

“Don’t ask me about the details. I’ve been in this post for a while, but this is the first time something like this happened. So, just move along already.”

A slightly older middle-aged guard said dismissively, seemingly about to shoo them away.

I had a bad feeling about this.

Driven by an unclear anxiety, I persisted.

“As you can see, I’m quite the fighter. Could you let us through if I cooperate with you on this matter?”

“…Is that a spear you’re carrying? Unfortunately, this isn’t a situation where that will be useful. There have been reports of wyvern sightings…”

Wyvern, he said.

It’s totally, one hundred percent not my fault, right?

As a matter of fact, if it’s flying opponents like wyverns, then this bad boy on my back was going to have a field day with them.

Just as I was about to seize the opportunity and spoke up…

“Sorry but interrupting, but could you let us through too…?”

“Like I said, no is no-”

The guard cut off mid-sentence.

Turning around at the same time, I saw a young man with blue hair.

He had two long swords hanging from his waist, both showing signs of considerable use.

On the contrary, his face was handsome, his demeanor was gentle, to the point of attracting admiring glances of women sneaking glances at him from a distance.

…Looks like a prince or something. Why wouldn’t handsome guys like him just explode?

“…Zell, is that you?”

“Long time no see, Uncle Josef. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“You too, boy. I heard you’re working for a well-known mercenary company now? You’ve grown up so much.”

“Yes, I was out on another job, but circumstances changed, so we’ve returned with just a few of our comrades.”

Behind him stood an armed group.

It’s not just the guy with blue hair, all of them seemed pretty capable.

…One of them, the archer with a huge bow who looked like a thug, was glaring at me.

Well, archers who could tell what kind of weapon I was carrying usually gave me that kind of look anyway. They considered me some kind of heretic who went against the way they’d been trained or something.

Still, he didn’t have to glare at me like that, asshole…

I was contemplating returning the favor when…

“By the way, you, with the red hair.”

“Me?”

Apparently, the guy with blue hair had finished his business and suddenly addressed me.

“You said you were quite the fighter, didn’t you? Since we both have business ahead, how about you join us?”

“You sure?!”

“We could always do with extra firepower. Besides, the thing you’re carrying, is it what they say has been circulating in the southern continent lately?”

So even apart from the archer, who was like a rival profession, this band of mercenaries easily discerned that the weapon I was carrying is still relatively rare in this world.

“…Well, I wasn’t trying to hide it or anything. Is that a problem?”

“Not at all. By all means, use it however you like. I’m sure we’ll need it.”

“Alright, nice to be working with you.”

Saying so, I shook hands with the blue-haired guy.

And with that, after promising to meet again with the old man who had come this far together, we set off once more.

And so, after another three hours.

We finally caught a glimpse of the capital city that is our destination…

Iris

Atop the eastern gate of the capital city Rolandia.

“Iris-chaaaaan!”

“…Ack?!”

As soon as I stepped outside to visit Milly-san, who was stationed on top of the gate, my face was suddenly buried in something soft, and my vision went dark.

“Thank goodness, nya… You made me really worried, you know?!”

“Okay, I know that, just release me, please…!”

“Sorry, nya, I just had to make sure you were okay with my own eyes… I’m really sorry!”

After finally being released, I took a deep breath.

…Something about this felt terribly familiar.

“*panting*… I’m sorry for making you worry…”

“It’s fine, as long as you’re okay…”

She pulled me into another embrace (thankfully this time she’s gentle about it), making me realize how worried she’d been. So, I quietly yielded to her embrace.

As I remained like that for a while, eventually she released me again and rushed over to Hayato-kun, who had been guarding me from behind.

“You’re the kid who were with us in Diamant Valley, aren’t you? Mhm… Looking at you now, you’re quite pretty… exotic, even. That’s it, nya!”

“Huh?!”

“I think I’ve taken a liking to you, nya!”

And just like that, Hayato-kun’s shoulders came under Milly-san’s firm grasp.

Caught off guard by the sudden embrace of an older, beautiful woman, he turned red and seemed flustered.

But… being liked by Milly-san… wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

“Kiddo, are you interested… in crossdressing?!”

“Cross… What the heck are you on about?!”

Hayato-kun, who was blushing red like a tomato, yelled in panic.

Since Milly-san had a similar look in her eyes to the one she occasionally gave me, I figured that must be the case. I smiled wryly behind them.

“I’ll try to make it as boyish as possible! Is that no good, nya?!”

“I’m a guy, dammit! Don’t force me to wear girl’s clothes! That’s it, I’m outta here!”

With that, he shook off Milly-san’s arms, used “Cloak” to make himself vanish and ran off.

“Oh dear… I got rejected, nya.”

“Yes, yes, apologize to him later, please.”

“Will do, nya…”

Milly-san weakly laughed. But soon, her expression turned serious, and I straightened myself.

“The repair of the Clarte Iris is going to take longer, nya. I’m so sorry, I really wanted to fix it as soon as possible…”

“No, it’s my fault that the outfit you made for me got damaged in the first place…”

“You don’t have to apologize. I adore my creations, but clothes is for protection first and foremost. Iris-chan’s safety is more important than anything else… Be sure to remember that, nya.”

“…Yes, thank you very much.”

I relaxed and smiled at her hand gently stroking my head.

“Moreover, your abilities have improved since you first received that outfit, so I wanted to upgrade its performance to match your level… it’ll take a bit longer, just wait for it.”

“I’ll look forward to it.”

“And… regarding the new material, I’ve figured out how to use it.”

“…I see. Please go ahead.”

The material she talked about was Blanche-sama’s… in other words, the Sirius’ brilliant white fur.

Much like the powerful Phantasmal Beast that was Blanche-sama, her fur would make an excellent material to make clothing with.

As part of her final wish, she wanted us to make good use of the fur she left behind. The Count had collected it and left it in the hands of Milly-san as material.

“For now, if I weave the fur into fabric, I can make three coats out of it and another surcoat for Ayame-chan to wear over her armor while still having some in reserve. As for the armor, I think we need to order them separately…”

“Um, Milly-san… What about you? Don’t you want to make something for yourself?”

“Hehe, thanks for asking, but I already got that covered, nya.”

Said Milly-san with a smug face.

I was worried that a magician who’s focused on offense like her would have problem with defense, but she seemed to have thought it through, so I felt relieved.

“Iris-chan, I just want to ask… Is it urgent for us right now to strengthen ourselves and our equipment?”

“I think so… after what happened that day, I realized that at the moment, we’re nowhere near powerful enough.”

It’s a real possibility that our battles would become more and more intense in the future.

Sooner or later, Nii-sama, Reiji-san, and all the other players who had been sent here would find their current equipment inadequate… I had a strong feeling about that.

The equipment that everyone originally used after coming to this world was much better than what could be found in ordinary stores.

However, they were just substitutes for the main equipment that had become unusable due to post-reincarnation level reset.

“So we have Milly-san to handle protection clothing, as for the rest…”

“…We need to find a craftsman, correct?”

“Do you have any contacts who might be able to do that?”

Since Milly-san was the guild master of a production guild back in the game, I figured I could ask her about it, but…

“Hmm… I don’t think any of those guys got sent over here… We might have to start from scratch, nya…”

“Is that so…”

Things never went smoothly for us, did they?

The only thing we could do was adapting to our situation, and that meant returning our focus to the battle.

Although our position hadn’t come under attack yet, the Count and everyone else was already engaged in combat.

“How’s the battlefield looking?”

“Well, skirmishes have been occurring sporadically around the castle and the mountains for a while now, nya. We occasionally see flashes of magic, but… it seems to be under control. There haven’t been any serious injuries reported, right?”

“Yes… So far, there have only been two cases of children falling ill due to environmental changes, and a few minor injuries due to small troubles.”

And those cases had already been dealt with by the doctors and pharmacists there like Aini-san, who were stationed there.

Things were still relatively peaceful around here. Truth be told, I wanted to use this downtime to continue treating Reiji-san and Saul-niisama…

“Don’t rush it, okay? Their conditions are currently stable, right?”

“…Yes.”

She patted my back to reassure me.

It seemed that anxiety was written all over my face, and she knew it.

“Trust me, they won’t just disappear and leave you behind, Iris-chan. And neither will I, nya.”

“…You’re so kind, Milly-san.”

“Nyahaha, if you want to thank me, call me Onee-chan would do. You can start doing it right now if you like! Come on, just do it!”

“That’s a bit…”

Although I sometimes forgot about it, back in our old world, this girl was Ayame’s classmate… so she’s the same age as my little sister.

Calling her Onee-chan was just too much… so I only smiled wryly.

“Gnnnn… Iris-chan is being so mean to me…”

“I’ll let you know, I may look like this, but I’m actually older than you-”

As I composed myself and retorted a pouting Milly-san… our vision was enveloped in light.

“Iris-chan, that light just now…”

“It’s… a yellow signal flare!”

One of the scouts hidden in the mountains must have fired that signal flare.

With my hands on the parapet of the gate, I leaned out and saw the lingering yellow light in the distance.

As I stared at the light in amazement, Hayato-kun, who had just dropped his stealth, also noticed.

“Onee-chan, what was that just now?!”

“Um, yellow is… ‘Unexpected danger, be cautious’… right?”

The other two nodded at my words.

By the way, a red signal flare meant ‘Evacuate the city immediately’.

“What on earth…”

“I have a bad feeling about this, nya…”

I stared intently at the mountains.

Soon enough, several shadows were coming from that direction toward us.

“Are those… birds?”

No, they looked too big for birds.

I cast Eagle Eye on myself to enhance my vision.

Hayato-kun seemed to have used a similar skill, as he too began staring in the same direction.

“No way… Whatever those are, they aren’t birds.”

Hayato-kun muttered in shock.

What appeared in our enhanced vision was…

Long, giant body covered in scales and sharp tails.

No front legs, but instead, large wings with membranes spread out.

And heads that look like dragon’s.

“…Wyverns?!”

Not just one or two.

From beyond the mountains… shadows of the same creature were flying toward us, one after another.

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Within the deepest reach of the capital city, stands Rolandia Castle.

Built utilizing the slopes of the towering mountain behind it, the castle overlooks a steep cliff, beyond which lies a sprawling, naturally abundant highland.

However… despite such a location, the city of Rolandia had scarcely faced the advance of monsters from the mountains in the past few centuries, as history would recount.

The reason being the Phantasmal Beast Sirius, who had claimed the mountains as her territory, had prevented any other predators from intruding.

So what would happen if Sirius… was no more?

The void she left behind had created a massive power vacuum… In this regard, the world of nature was no different from the world of humans.

What ensued was simply the expected outcome.

Iris

Just as I thought I had finally gotten some sleep, it was taken away from me without a moment’s notice.

Judging by the height of the sun, it might have been noon or thereabouts when the alarm bell on the rooftop of Rolandia Castle resounded, forcing me to wake up involuntarily.

Soon after, there was a faint, almost familiar knock on the door. However, this time, the door was opened with little delay.

“Pardon my intrusion, Iris-sama, but there’s an emergency… Ah, I see that you’re already awake.”

Said Lenny-san as she entered the room, immediately helping me change into battle clothes.

..It wasn’t the usual sky-blue robe, that one was currently under repairs due to the damage sustained in the last battle.

The one I was wearing now was a simple robe imbued with some defensive enchantments. While it paled in comparison to the Clarte Iris, which Milly-san had put her heart and soul into, it was undoubtedly suitable for combat.

As my outfit was being put on, my hair was combed, and something was applied under my eyes.

Once I was ready, I headed straight to Reiji-san and Saul-niisama’s sickroom, but there was no one inside. They must have been moved somewhere more secure.

A loud voice issuing instructions from the training ground below reached my ears. Determining that the person I was looking for was there, I swiftly made my way down with my companion.

Upon entering the training ground, soldiers were running and shouting left and right as they prepared for battle.

Leonhardt-sama, who seemed to have finished giving instructions, was surveying the surroundings. I tried to make my way towards him, avoiding the busy figures around me.

Then, someone next to him, a petite girl with long golden hair, Titilia-san, noticed me and hurriedly approached.

“Iris-chan? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”

“I’m fine… I think.”

“…Yeah, you don’t look fine at all to me.”

Perhaps it’s because of the way I was walking, but my attempt at bravado was quickly seen through.

“Please don’t worry about me. More importantly, how’s Leonhardt-sama?”

“Ah, I should let him know you’re here… Leonhardt-sama!”

Titilia-san hurriedly went to fetch Leonhardt-sama.

In response to her voice, he promptly came over.

“Leonhardt-sama, what’s going on here…?”

“Her Highness Irisria… You look unwell.”

“Ahaha… I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

My remaining magic power was one-third.

My physical and mental strength were likely far from ideal.

Not to mention my current equipment.

My beloved tin staff had completely lost its power when it was broken in half, and had to be discarded. What I had in hand now was no different from beginner gear.

Combined with my lack of defense due to the Clarte Iris being under repairs, standing on the battlefield in my current state… it just felt too precarious. That was an undeniable fact.

I often tried to put up a strong front to hide my issues, but if Titilia-san was able to expose it in an instant, there was no way I could get under Leonhardt-sama’s watchful eyes.

“Then you shouldn’t be here. Allow me to guide you to safety…”

“No, I want to help too. I promise I won’t overexert myself…!”

But even so, I couldn’t stand hiding behind everyone and receive their protection.

Leonhardt-sama sighed in resignation.

“…I figured as much. It’s no use talking you out of this, is it?”

“I’m sorry for imposing on you so much…”

“No, your desire to protect others is precious, therefore I want to respect it as much as possible… Just don’t push yourself too hard. Did I make myself clear?”

He looked at me with a frighteningly serious expression, and I nodded in agreement.

“…Good. I hope I can trust you on this matter.”

I breathed a sigh         of relief as he relaxed his expression.

Honestly, when he stared at me so intensely with such a grim expression on his handsome face, it was genuinely intimidating.

“So, about our current situation… due to the territory disputes among the monsters in the northern mountains, a number of them had been pouring in this direction. We commonly refer to this as a ‘stampede’.”

“Is it because… Blanche-sama, who used to reside there, is no longer present?”

“Yes… Upon hearing about her lifespan, we immediately considered that possibility and took measures…”

Leonhardt-sama spoke vaguely.

Only three days had passed since Blanche-sama’s passing. I felt something unsettling about the unexpectedly short period, which should have had more time considering her natural lifespan.

Even if she had passed away naturally, there was no way such a big monster attack could happen so soon.

“Once a new ruler of those territories is found, the phenomenon will naturally settle. Those who live in nature generally don’t willingly pose a risk by attacking human settlements… Ideally, I would like this Sirius cub to become said ruler like her mother once did.”

As the topic of conversation suddenly shifted to her, the Sirius cub, who had been following behind me, tilted her head.

I picked her up and stroked her head gently…

“Hayato-kun, am I correct?”

“Y-Yes?!”

Responding to the call, Hayato-kun, still dressed in the pageboy costume with holders placed in various locations, stepped forward, his beloved short sword at the ready.

“It seems that you’ve also volunteered to help. Please, I’m entrusting Her Highness’ protection to you. She’ll probably feel more at ease with someone she knows well.”

“…I’ll do it.”

“Thank you. I’d like Miss Lenny to accompany Her Highness as well… but I’m going to need you somewhere else.”

“Me?”

“Indeed. We’ve confirmed the presence of flying monsters, so I’ve asked Miss Miriam, who’s one of your companions, to defend a different location… We can’t afford to let a valuable offensive magic user like her idle.”

Even in my immediate vicinity, organization was underway.

The most common offensive magic used in Nordglacier, by both soldiers and mercenaries alike, was a mid-tier fire spell called “Lava Bomb”.

It’s a very user-friendly magic with good range and high effectiveness against most targets. However, it was unsuitable for the anti-air role as its projectile was heavily affected by gravity, which was made even worse as we had to defend the city against flying enemies.

On the other hand, Milly-san exceled in magic that dealt damage in a straight line such as lightning and pure energy magic. She was well-suited for the current situation.

“Roger that. Until later then, Iris-sama… Please stay safe.”

“Yes… Please watch after yourself too, Lenny-san.”

Bowing, I watched Lenny-san leaving for her assigned location.

Waving my hand until her back disappeared, I was hailed by Leonhardt-sama. I quickly adjusted my posture and turned around.

“…The castle is, unfortunately, located in the frontlines. I’ve designated the east and west gates as fortified evacuation points for the citizens. Since a medical team has been dispatched to the west gate, could you travel to the other side and assist Aini-kun in treating the injured?”

“U-Understood.”

“Very well. As a matter of fact, the injured people who were being treated in the castle have also been moved to that location.”

As far as I knew, there were only two people who fit that description.

“Thank you, Leonhardt-sama. I’m really grateful.”

“I simply performed my duty. Now, if you excuse me.”

I bowed once again to Leonhardt-sama as he returned to giving orders to his subordinates and then left. As I did so, the knights who were present gave me a sharp salute.

An escort was already prepared, guiding me to the corner of the carriage for non-combatants and supplies. Feeling a tug at my heartstrings, I boarded the carriage, heading to my assigned post while sensing something being left behind.

Quietly, the carriage advanced through the city.

It felt like a distant memory already… When I came to the city for leisure before, it was lively with the hustle and bustle of people. Now, it was eerily quiet and still.

The majority of the residents had already evacuated. While I could sense sporadic human presence, those who remained seemed to have taken refuge inside their homes.

On the main street, besides the soldiers standing in their respective positions, only the stalls left out were lined up.

Defensive equipment of all kinds was installed throughout the city. This city, which had prepared in advance while I was holed up in my room for the past few days, had changed drastically in appearance.

“Leonhardt-sama, Tia-san, please stay safe…”

I was well aware of Leonhardt-sama’s strength, having witnessed it in our last battle. As the former Vice Captain of this kingdom’s knight order, he retired while still young and active, possessing strength equivalent to or perhaps even close to Captain Walter’s.

Moreover, the soldiers under him were also highly elite. Through some interactions in our daily lives here, I had come to understand them quite well.

The only concern might be Titilia-san, who, like me, lacked significant combat abilities. However, if she stays by Leonhardt-sama’s side, she should be fine.

Even the common soldiers underwent rigorous training daily and were the finest this border region had to offer. It’s just absurd for me, who was the far from my top form, to worry about them.

I understand all that, but…

Not being able to remain on the frontline alongside them just felt…

“…Frustrating.”

I felt an overwhelming sense of unease, as if my chest would burst if I didn’t do something. That helpless feeling was simply…

“Nee-chan?”

“…Eh? Ah, I didn’t mean to burden you with my troubles, I’m really sorry…”

“Huh? I wasn’t bothered by it or anything, it’s just…”

Hayato-kun, who had been wandering his gaze, suddenly grabbed my hand. Seeing this sudden action, my eyes widened.

“…Are you this nervous because those two big brothers aren’t here with you today?”

He spoke to me with concern. I finally realized that my hand, the one he was holding, was trembling.

At last, I understood the cause of my unease.

“…I think that might be the case.”

“Nee-chan?”

“You probably don’t know, Hayato-kun, but whenever I was alone without them, it never left me with any good memories… Somehow, it feels like I was always unlucky when that happened.”

Trying to mask my trembling by recalling the past, I smiled wryly.

Immediately after coming to this world, I was kidnapped by bandits until those two rescued me. After reuniting with them, I used to have a period of constant frustration as I was unable to go outside with them. It’s like bad things would inevitably happen whenever I was separated from them.

That’s why… I wanted to distract myself from the fear with something else.

“Is that so… Things must have been tough for you, Nee-chan.”

“If only I could be more composed, then those two wouldn’t have to worry about me all the time…”

I then took a deep breath.

During our conversation, I clearly understood the lump in my chest, and my mood improved considerably.

Now, I have things to do… I must rest my body a bit to prepare for the arrival of the injured.

“…Thank you, Hayato-kun, I’ve calmed down a bit now. I’m glad that you’re coming with me today.”

“Y-Yeah… I might not be as reliable as those guys, but you can leave it to me.”

“Hehe… Then I’m counting on you, okay?”

Unused to being thanked, Hayato-kun blushed and turned away.

I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at that.

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

“Iris-chan…? Iris-chan, are you okay?”

The sensation of having my shoulders shaken brought me out of a deep slumber.

Struggling to lift my heavy eyelids, as I raised my face, strands of slightly messy hair slipped down my cheek.

“Ah… I’m sorry, I fell asleep again…”

My body was aching all over, most likely due to me falling asleep while sitting on a chair beside the bed, and that’s absolutely not a good posture to fall asleep with.

I straightened my posture and stretched out my totally stiffened body.

“Did you stay here all night again? Lenny-san was quite upset, you know?”

“Aini-san…”

Even after being repeatedly told to rest and return to my room, ultimately, I couldn’t settle down there.

Therefore, I secretly slipped out of the guest room assigned to me and made my way here.

The reason being…

“Well… If there’s no one else available to take over, I suppose it can’t be helped… but it’s going to be for naught if you join them on the sick bed, you know?”

“I’m sorry… Please let me treat them one more time, then I’ll return to my room to get some sleep.”

I glanced briefly at the bed where I’d been resting my head until now.

There laid the still unconscious Reiji-san and Saul-niisama, whose faces occasionally contorted in agony.

With a sleep-deprived mind that wasn’t functioning properly, I absentmindedly watched Aini-san diligently conducting examinations and changing IVs.

“Both of them have already fully recovered from their injuries. Aside from the muscle weakening during their sleep, there shouldn’t be any lingering aftereffects.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief…”

It’d been three days since that battle.

Physically and mentally exhausted, I had slipped into a coma right after tending to Blanche-sama, waking up a whole day later.

Since then, I had been constantly attending to the two of them, providing care and treatment until there was not a single scar remaining on their bodies.

In other words, it took me two entire days of constantly applying healing magic to complete their physical recovery.

Severe as their injuries were, my magic should have healed them in an instant under normal circumstances.

However, there’s something that’d been hindering the effectiveness of my healing light.

It’s also the reason why both of them had yet to awaken…

“…It’s so potent, this miasma…”

The Death Serpent we fought could control miasma so powerful that it could overpower my healing magic.

Nevertheless, by consistently applying healing and purification magic, weakening its effect, and forcibly delivering healing magic bit by bit, I managed to slowly, gradually treat those two up to this point…

Still, even though the wounds have healed, I hadn’t been able to entirely eradicate the deeply-rooted miasma lingering within their bodies.

Perhaps, that’s the reason why both of them remained unconscious, showing no signs of awakening.

“I wish I could still use Sanctuary…”

“…Is it truly impossible?”

I nodded bitterly at Aini-san’s words.

My “Sanctuary”, which should have been usable again after I used it in that battle, had become completely inoperable.

It seemed that when the Death Serpent destroyed my Sanctuary, the pain and trauma in the aftermath had carved a deep scar in my heart, and I was unable to use Sanctuary again due to this lingering fear.

…There’s no use in dwelling in what can’t be done. I must focus on what I could still do in this situation.

Slapping my cheeks to gather determination, I turned back to the two on the bed, took a deep breath, and then prepared to chant.

“…Curse Erasure…!”

Magical light glowed in both my hands.

Despite its significantly narrow effective range that necessitated direct contact with the target, this was my most powerful cleanse skill I possessed. I gently brought this light closer to the chests of the two lying on the beds beside me.

“…Guh… Uuugh…!”

As the purifying light in my hands neared or almost touched the bodies of the two, a writhing darkness akin to a serpent oozed from within them. This darkness clashed violently with my healing magic, flashing intensely in black and white.

Until now, it’d been a struggle just to chip away at this darkness.

However, this time, some of those small snake-like shadows vanished. After numerous attempts, the purifying light finally reached the bodies of the two, blowing away and dissolving the surrounding darkness it touched.

“Just a bit more…!”

All this time, I’d been anxious about the progress of the treatment.

However, I finally became certain that I could finally make a breakthrough.

When I hurriedly tried to exert even more power… my field of vision wavered.

“…That’s enough. Please rest for the remainder of the morning.”

“*pant*…*pant*… Y… Yes…”

Sweat poured down from my forehead.

Doubling up on high-tier healing magic had depleted my stamina far quicker than I had anticipated.

I couldn’t help but wonder just how much effort Blanche-sama, who saved me from a far larger amount of miasma than those two currently afflicted, had expended or how much agony she endured…  It must have been beyond my imagination.

There was no way I could ask her about it now, though.

Still… I’d made some progress this time.

I resolved to try again by the end of today, hoping for an actual breakthrough.

“I admire your dedication, but you’re in dire need of rest. Leave the two of them to me, okay?”

“Thank you very much…”

Aini-san had a point. Dizzyness was overwhelming me, and my eyelids felt incredibly heavy at the moment.

As I reached for the doorknob to return to my room…

“…It’s frustrating, isn’t it? In times like these, as someone who can’t use healing magic like you, Iris-sama, all I can do is monitor the progress.”

“Aini-san?”

I instinctively turned around when I heard Aini-san’s mutters.

On her otherwise calm expression, I could see a slight shadow over it.

“My ancestors from many generations ago were said to possess similar healing abilities like yours. When I faced patients whom I can’t help no matter what, I always found myself thinking about what could have been if I had that power… and why that power was lost.”

While her gaze remained directed towards the sleeping Nii-sama, Aini spoke at length while brushing aside the strands of sweat-matted hair on her forehead, seemingly lost in thought.

In her eyes… if I wasn’t mistaken, there was a hint of frustration.

“…It’s futile to think about such things, isn’t it? Even if I can’t use healing magic, I’ve trained myself in alchemy and medical practices to save people the best I can. Now, please have some rest, will you?”

Aini-san urged me to rest with her usual gentle smile.

However, her words seemed more like she was trying to reassure herself than anything.

“Ah, Nee-chan.”

“…Hayato-kun?”

Upon opening the door and stepping into the corridor, there sat the well-behaved Sirius cub… I should really give her a name once things calm down… Alongside her, Hayato-kun was crouched down and gently petting her fur.

“It’s pretty docile, huh? It doesn’t seem to dislike me, right?”

“Um… She seems okay with it, I think.”

I didn’t sense any negative emotion from the Sirius cub.

In fact, she seemed to enjoy being petted, squinting her eyes contentedly.

But more importantly…

“May I ask why you’re dressing like that…?”

Hayato-kun, whom I hadn’t seen for a while, was now dressed in well-tailored shorts, a white shirt, and a vest, the attire of a young male servant – or valet – working in this castle.

“Haha, I was just helping out here and there, one thing led to another, and they gave me this to wear… I don’t think it suits me, though.”

“No, not at all! It looks really good on you.”

Among us players, Hayato-kun’s appearance didn’t stand out much compared to the more prominent figures like Saul-niisama, but he was quite good-looking in his own right.

Slightly tanned skin with glossy jet-black hair.

His hair, usually somewhat tousled, was neatly combed, with a single long strand tied back neatly and falling from his shoulder to the front. Objectively speaking, he appeared to be a beautiful young boy emitting an Oriental vibe.

I idly pondered that in a few more years, with a bit more height, he might attract attention from girls…

“…You know, Nee-chan, you’d better take a rest. You won’t believe what your face looks like right now.”

Saying this, Hayato-kun scrunched up his face, furrowed his brows, and pulled down the skin under his eyes in a comical manner, causing me to burst out laughing involuntarily.”

“Pfft… Is… Is my face that weird…?”

“Yeah, totally. You have those huge dark circles under your eyes and stuff. Just hurry back to your room already.”

He then reached out a hand toward me while facing the other way, seemingly offering to escort me back to my room.

Feeling like I might doze off on my own, I gratefully took his hand, also picking up the Sirius cub that had flown over to me in my other arm, and followed along.

As I walked down the corridor, smiling at his slightly shorter stature than mine, I couldn’t help but find his demeanor endearing.

“…?”

“What’s the matter?”

While on my way back to the room, I suddenly felt something amiss within the scenery visible from the window. I paused, peering outside.

“Are those… ballistae?”

I didn’t notice those large contraptions before when I visited the garden, but now I could discern a number of them lined up in the courtyard.

…They were aimed towards the back of the castle, toward the direction of the mountains.

However, despite feeling skeptical about it, my drowsy mind couldn’t function properly. I brushed it off, telling Hayato-kun it was nothing, and resumed walking towards the room.

And so, after two days, I finally lay down on my bed in my room.

Succumbing immediately to the comfort that felt as if my body was sinking, I fell into the clutches of sleep without a moment’s delay.

Just a few hours later…

…I was abruptly awakened once again by the sound of alarm bells echoing throughout the castle.

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

On my cheek, I felt a slightly moist and soft touch, which brought my consciousness back.

“Ugh…”

With great difficulties, I managed to pry open my eyelids.

As I faintly opened my eyes, the first thing that came into view was a small leg covered in white fur.

Shifting my gaze slightly upward, I saw the Sirius cub peering at me with a worried expression.

It seemed that the sensation on my cheek from earlier was due to her licking it.

Moreover… besides that, I felt enveloped in something warm and fluffy.

“Where am I…?”

“…Thank goodness you’re awake. This is the garden of Rolandia Castle, you’re completely safe here.”

Leonhardt-sama’s voice could be heard overhead.

Somehow managing to move my neck, the scenery I had grown completely accustomed to over the past few days came into view.

He must have carried me back here when I was unconscious.

“Where did everyone go…?”

“Saul-sama and Reiji-kun have yet to regain consciousness, so they’re resting in their room. Miss Aini is currently attending to them, so let’s entrust them to her care. Captain Walter immediately set off to pursue the ‘Death Serpent’ after bringing you back here.”

It’s extremely unlikely that we’d find any traces of him… Leonhardt-sama concluded.

“That’s right, I still have to treat those two…”

Both of them had sustained severe injuries. Even without “Sanctuary”, I must treat them.

…But no matter how hard I tried to get up, I couldn’t muster the strength in my body to do so.

“Stay still, child. You can’t do that yet.”

Something caught around my collar, and I was gently placed back into the warmth and fluffiness as it was before.

Then, a solemn voice echoed from behind, solemn yet seemingly on the verge of disappearing.

“Ah… You, what are you doing…?!”

It was at this moment that I realized what’s happening.

A cold and dreary sensation, accumulated within me like sediment, began to dissipate from within.

In sync with its dispersal, strength gradually returned to my body.

It felt as though the poison within me was being drawn out, sucked away.

I quickly realized that what was happening to me wasn’t purification.

It was merely the miasma accumulated within my body being extracted and transferred elsewhere.

And by elsewhere… it was the mother Sirius’ body, of which I was lying on top like a cradle.

“This is the only way to completely purge the miasma from your body. I don’t have much time left, so pardon me if there isn’t much room for a conversation.”

“But if you do that, you’re going to…!”

Although she was a Phantasmal Beast much stronger than humans, she was already nearing the end of her lifespan, not to mention being grievously wounded herself.

I didn’t want her to suffer any more than that, but I still couldn’t move my body properly, and most importantly, she showed no signs of stopping.

“…I wasn’t long for this world to begin with, so it wouldn’t change anything for me.”

“But…”

“With what little life remains of me, to be able to save you, the child left behind by that girl… there’s nothing more I could wish for.”

Her gaze directed towards me was gentle, and that alone rendered me unable to say anything.

“Thus… I’d appreciate you letting me fulfill my final duty to her. And do not apologize to me, will you?”

“…Thank you… for saving me…”

“Yes… That will do…”

The mother Sirius then fell silent, seemingly to fully focus on extracting the miasma from me.

Time passed for a while in silence.

“…Blanche.”

“…Eh?”

“That’s the name Lilith gave to me. When we first met, it was daytime, so she named me after my white fur. Quite the mundane reason, don’t you agree?”

Blanche-sama smiled wryly.

However, I could tell from her tone that she really cherished that name.

“…But I digress. I truly wanted to talk to you so much more, though it seems that’s already impossible.”

I shook my head at that. She’d already done so much for me, without me able to repay her kindness. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I ask too much from her.

“At the very least… I shall leave you a clue as to where your next destination is, should you want answers for your questions.”

“A clue?”

“Yes… if you head further north, past the capital of this continent, beyond any large human settlements, there lies a forbidden sacred peak… where a dragon resides.”

Dragon, the king of mythical creatures, often revered and considered divine.

“He’s older than myself many times over. He can no longer soar in the skies, sustaining himself merely with meager offerings from his believers dwelling at the foothills… It’s said that he’s been alive since this world’s creation.”

“This world’s… creation?”

So how exactly was this world “created”?

If it was a planet being born, it wouldn’t have made sense, since it was impossible for life to exist at that point.

“If you feel inclined, it might be a good idea to pay him a visit… Lilith, too, talked to him once. Perhaps you could learn something…”

“…I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good… Here, it’s finished.”

While we were talking, she had finished extracting the miasma from within me.

When I tried to sit up, although feeling considerable fatigue, I could move without any issues.

“How are you feeling? Any issues using your power?”

“Please wait a moment, I’m going to try it.”

Without any issue, I chanted a spell and touched the healing light in my hand into the mother Sirius.

I watched anxiously as her body was enveloped in a phosphorescent glow.

“How does it feel…?”

“Ah… this warmth… and this sensation… it’s very much like Lilith’s.”

“Is that so…?”

“Though, if I have to say, your light is more on the tender side. Lilith, on the other hand… she was too much of an airhead, so she couldn’t maintain the stability.”

“I-I feel like my image of her is starting to crumble…”

To me, she was an image of a serene and gentle saintly figure, calming those around her… was she actually quite tomboyish in reality?

“…Were you expecting her to be like a saint? At first glance, she might look like one, but she was actually a prodigy who loved stirring up the surroundings.”

“That’s… unexpected.”

“Indeed, there’s a serious gap between that girl’s appearance and personality.”

Saying so, Blanche-sama narrowed her eyes.

Her demeanor seemed serene, and her discomfort seemed to ease a little but…

“The wounds… aren’t healing at all.”

It’s like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it.

…So this is the end.

With her life force all but nonexistent, her wounds wouldn’t heal anymore.

At this point, all I could do is bid a peaceful farewell.

The Sirius cub seemed to be aware of this as well.

She was staying close by, silently gazing at her mother.

Seeing this, Leonhardt-sama approached and gave Blanche-sama a respectful salute.

“…Then, I shall take my leave here. Thank you for the service you’ve done to this city for centuries.”

“What are you thanking me for… I’ve always been aloof to humans, and yet, it’s your kind that’s provided me with a quiet and peaceful final resting place for generations… It’s I who should be thanking you.”

“Please, it’s too kind of you to say so.”

Leonhardt-sama bowed and departed.

Left behind were only me and the Sirius cub.

“Sacred Daughter of this generation. If you consider that you owe me a debt, could I ask you for one final favor?”

“If it’s something I can do, please tell me.”

“I’m entrusting my child to you. As it’s a little early for her to stand on her own, please allow her to grow up and learn by your side.”

“Yes… I understand. I’ll take responsibility and look after her.”

“Thank you… My child, do you hear me?”

The Sirius cub sitting beside me lowered her head with a droop.

“…This is farewell. From now on, you shall stay by her side…”

Upon hearing those words, the Sirius cub lifted her head and let out a small whimper.

With a satisfied expression, Blanche-sama slowly closed her eyes and laid down.

“…Blanche-sama?”

There was no response.

“Thank you, Blanc. For helping me until the end.”

I heard a voice.

A really, really nostalgic voice.

“…Lilith… Is that you…? Thanks to you… it was a good life… Let’s meet again on the other side…”

“About that… I’m sorry? I’m not there yet, so I might keep you waiting for a while longer.”

At those words, my heart skipped a beat.

“I see… so that’s how it is for you…”

Ah, I suddenly felt like I didn’t want to go just yet, Blanche-sama thought.

To her, if only she had a little more time, she could have conveyed these thoughts to that somewhat unreliable Sacred Daughter and that overly overthinking idiot who’s always running amok.

Nevertheless, after living a hollow life for several hundred years since losing Lilith-san, it must have been the biggest relief for Blanche-sama to know that Lilith-san was still alive.

“I guess… I don’t have to worry about… you using me as a pillow all the time anymore… do I?”

Blanche-sama let out a weak chuckle and teased.

Somehow… it was a very nostalgic atmosphere to me.

“Rest well, Blanc. Until we meet again, have pleasant dreams.”

“Ah… you needn’t rush… I might… just enjoy basking in the sun for the time being… The sunlight in the heavens must be delightful… So, take your time coming… I’ll be leisurely waiting…”

Then, her eyelids finally closed.

I felt as though I heard a song.

Amidst the familiar lullaby… her consciousness gently slipped away into a quiet, deep slumber… 

The last of its strength faded away from the colossal body wrapped in white fur.

“…She’s gone, isn’t she?”

I pulled the Sirius cub into a tight hug. In my arms, she let out a short, quiet wail.

Blanche-sama closed her eyes with such a serene expression, as if she was just sleeping peacefully…

…Only this time, she would never awaken again…

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Death Serpent

“I’ve always thought that if I just push myself, the children born after me won’t have to go through so much suffering anymore.”

Despite being strapped to a machine, she looked down at me with a smile.

She, who had always been by my side,… was now far, far beyond my reach.

“So, I’m fine with this. If by doing this, everyone no longer has to experience suffering, then my purpose will be fulfilled.”

There’s no way she’d say such a thing.

While being helplessly captured, I’d been hearing her crying all this time.

But… at this moment, all I could do is take this thing in my hand back with me.

Sealed within this magical device… was the soul of her successor who was supposed to be born.

This thing, which I shed blood to take it with me, was the cause of my peaceful life turning upside down… but I must not lose it. At least until I could leave it with someone I trust.

“That girl’s in such a tough situation, but I think it’s going to be okay in the end. Someday, you’ll rescue her, right? So… please, hurry up and leave.”

Behind me, the partition was beginning to descend.

It was the only escape route she had pried open with her final act of free will.

…Someday, I’ll come back for you.

Struggling to say that, I turned away from her.

Perhaps it was cruel to offer her unnecessary hope.

But… because there was a sense that giving up here would be certain if I didn’t put it into words.

“Yeah, I’ll be waiting.”

She smiled in response as if we were making a usual arrangement for a hangout.

That’s a lie.

Neither I nor probably she believed in those words.

Nevertheless… not allowed to stop, I slipped through the partition that had descended lower than my own back by now, escaping out of the room.

…It was then that I heard her voice.

“…it.”

It was her voice, escaping through the gap, her true feelings that emerged thinking I probably couldn’t hear her anymore.

“…I hate it here!”

I hesitated to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help but want to know her true feelings, so I stopped.

What I heard from inside was… sobbing.

“I want the three of us to see various things and taste a lot of delicious food together…!”

I know. You’re surprisingly gluttonous, so I hope you don’t pass that habit on to our daughter.

“I want… to be a mom…!”

For me, you always seemed absent-minded and yet so restless and clumsy, so I’d honestly been worried if you could really handle being a mother.

Perhaps, had things gone differently and our child was born… that part of yours would change too.

“I want us to travel and explore together as a family… not just here, but the outside world too!”

The outside world… from what little we knew of it, time flew faster there than in this secluded place. I wonder if civilization had developed to an unimaginable extent over there.

Ah… everything seems so captivating… but I can’t reach any of it.

If only I had the power… not just fighting ability or magical prowess, but the power of speech, political influence, social skills, and the power to change the world we live in… Would my wishes have come true?

“I’m… I’m really sorry, but…”

Just before the partition closed, her voice reached me through the gap.

Perhaps it was a convenient hallucination.

…But even so, I did hear it.

“I’ve always… always loved you…”

That was the last I’d ever heard from her.

Iris

“……Ah……ah……”

Though dimly, my consciousness resurfaced.

My body, still entwined by the snake, remained suspended in the air, limbs hanging limply, completely devoid of strength, not moving in the slightest.

I felt nothing of my body, and only my consciousness was still barely hanging on…

“…So you can still wake up. What a shame. Had you stayed unconscious a little longer, your power will be completely gone, and you’ll be free from this suffering.”

I shook my head weakly, devoid of strength.

From within me, I sensed something crucial being shattered.

A chilling sensation gripped me as I felt the hand of destruction finally touching the deepest core of my being.

But… I couldn’t do a thing about it.

“Ha, haha… HAHAHAHAHAHA!! There’s no need to mourn such a thing! Even if you possess that power, humanity will eventually latch onto you, exploit you and eat you up until nothing remains! It won’t amount to anything worthwhile anyway!!”

He began cackling like a madman while covering his face with his hand, but I could still catch a glimpse of his left eye through the gap between his fingers.

Why… even when he’s laughing… why is there such a painful look on his face?

At this moment, he should be messing with and destroying my existence as he pleased… but he looked terribly, terribly sad about it.

“That’s why… you should just let me… destroy that power so it can never be used again!!”

I felt a lethal sensation, as if something crucial had been seized.

At this overwhelming sense of loss, my consciousness started fading again…

“I see… so things have come to this. He’s always the overthinking type, isn’t he? Sorry for my late arrival, but it’s okay now, I’m going to protect you.”

In the midst of sinking into darkness, unexpectedly, a light was born.

“Come on! Haven’t I told you to not bully girls?”

“I’m not bullying, I’m just… What…?”

Somehow, the man could hear the voice, even objecting to it.

He looked absolutely stupefied, and the hand that’d been tormenting me involuntarily stopped the abuse.

“Even if you don’t mean it, you always look so… well, you often seem grumpy and have a scary face, so I always tell you to be a little nicer, right?”

For some reason, even in this situation, there was a light and soft feeling… I felt like could hear a warm voice, as if being held by a mother.

“…Impossible… What trickery is this?!”

The man suddenly groaned aloud.

At the same time, the pressure gripping my head began to release.

The spot on my forehead where she touched me in a dream before felt warm and emitted light around it.

As if repelled by that light, the man’s hand moved away from my face.

Simultaneously, the dark feeling that was swirling around my mind and soul abruptly vanished, setting me free.

“……!”

I couldn’t breathe properly, and my body could barely move.

However, the cold was easing, and I was slowly regaining some sensation.

It felt like something was embracing me and warming me up.

“Why… why can I sense you with her… why are you protecting that girl…?!”

With a shocked expression, the hostility he directed towards us and the frenzy from moments ago disappeared, and the man shouted as if he were just an ordinary young boy.

“Answer me, LILITH!!”

“……Li…lith…?”

In a daze, I struggled to raise my head while murmuring what seemed like a name I heard earlier.

Amidst my fading consciousness, in my blurred vision, there was a vague sight of her, her back turned away.

“Yeah, my name’s Lilith Atlas Wim Aileen, meaning ‘Lilith, child of Atlas and Aileen’. It’s a mouthful, but what can I do.”

I remembered now.

She’s the person I’d seen in dreams several times before.

Now, in reality, despite the fading and feeble light, I could sense her right in front of me.

“It was close, but we meet again. Everything will be alright now.”

Those words… despite me still being restrained, they brought an inexplicable sense of relief.

“I can’t stay for much longer, but that girl’s arriving soon… Really, she manages to help out until the very end, even though she deserves to rest peacefully in this place. I’m truly sorry.”

She turned around and gave me a faint smile as she said that.

The next moment, the shadowy snakes that had been constricting me were suddenly pierced by numerous needle-like objects, causing the restraints to loosen.

AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

An incredible roar echoed throughout the entire area.

Even though I knew it wasn’t directed towards me, my body instinctively tensed—a wolf’s… no, a thunderous roar that could rival hundreds, if not thousands, of wolves combined in intensity.

As if being scraped away from my soul, one of the snakes restraining my body began to liquefy and dissolve, losing its form and flowing away like a liquid, releasing me.

There, standing before me as if it had appeared out of nowhere, was a majestic and colossal wolf. Her fur stood on end like needles all over her body, and her wings, spread wide, served as a shield between me and the man.

“…You’re…?”

Um, mother of the Sirius cub?

“Indeed. Sacred Daughter successor, you have my thanks for saving that child.”

Her thoughts were conveyed to me. It was an imposing will, as expected of the epitome of Phantasmal Beast, one that did not reflect any signs of aging.

“Even though these dying bones can’t do much… I’ll repay him in blood before I depart the living realm…!”

Simultaneously with that thought, the remaining two snakes restraining my body crumbled and dissolved, pierced by the countless spears formed by her fur.

“Get up, child, and brace yourself as hard as you can!”

Just as I felt my support waning and about to collapse, I suddenly realized being held by something akin to a gigantic mouth. There was no time to comprehend this before experiencing the sensation of my body floating in mid-air.

Snatched and ripped away from the shadows, I sensed being flung backward… It was only after my body was already hurled into the air and started its descent that I became aware of this.

“Guh… Iris…”

I was barely conscious when Reiji-san caught me, who seemed to have regained consciousness himself.

The two of us tumbled to the ground together, and in a protective manner, Reiji-san shielded my fall with his own body. But he seemed to lose all strength once again.

In a frantic attempt, despite my entirely unresponsive body, I turned it back towards the direction we came from. There, a colossal wolf, shining in gold, was entwined in combat with the shadow, now transformed once more into a large serpent.

A gruesome battle unfolded between the two, as they entangled, each attempting to devour the other.

“…No… stop…”

The losing side… was clearly the mother Sirius.

It seemed that her body had done all it could for that single throw. Her golden fur was rapidly stained red.

With the shadowy serpent entwined around her body, she was immobilized. Yet, her head and neck were still able to resist, fighting against the restraint.

Then… a slender object fell toward me with a red trail and rolled to the side.

It was… the mother Sirius’ right foreleg.

Severed from her body.

“Please… stop…!”

I felt emotions flooding in.

With those feelings riding on it, my throat, which shouldn’t have been able to move, quivered and shouted out.

“…pauwel…slepir…!”

From my heated forehead, light spread once more… and the giant shadowy serpent halted its movement.

Released from restraint, the mother Sirius regained freedom and, standing unsteadily on her remaining three legs, moved to shield me.

“…Ridiculous. Why… not just Lilith, but why are you standing in my way?! Don’t you harbor resentment for this world as well?!”

The man raged, shouting his anger at his surroundings.

His demeanor felt almost like that of a child left behind by his parent.

“You utter fool… Have you gone so blind that you don’t even recognize your own child, the successor with her blessing?! Has your brain finally turned into mush, or you’re this foolish from the very beginning?!”

“…What did you just say?”

The man went stiff at the mother Sirius’ words.

“It’s as I feared, you don’t get it at all… Begone from this place, and reflect on what you’ve done, if you’re still even capable of it, that is.”

“No… this can’t be… Are you saying this girl is… Lilith and I’s…?”

His eyes locked firmly onto me.

Gradually, the madness within them receded, replaced by a rational gleam, and the man’s face contorted slightly with a sense of astonishment and shame.

“Then, what have I… done…?”

He was dumbfoundedly looking at me, as if wondering whether he’d done something that couldn’t be undone…

“Rayo Gerifalte!”

Suddenly, a voice filled with resolute determination echoed from behind.

It darted past me and Reiji-san, racing through the air while emitting fierce flashes of lightning.

“Guh…?!”

The man, taken by surprise, quickly created a barrier with his hands, redirecting the lightning towards his back.

“…Tch, I should have realized this is your home turf. Humans can be unexpectedly capable, right, Sir Vice Knight Captain?”

Someone else interposed himself between the man, who once again emitted an aura of resentment, and us.

Clad in comfortable yet practical attire, he effortlessly wielded a large sword with just one hand… He was none other than the ruler of this land, Leonhardt-sama, whom I had seen only once before on the battlefield during our initial encounter.

“I apologize for my tardiness and for allowing you to face such a situation due to my inadequacy. I’ll take responsibility later for any blame… but for now!”

He thrust his sword into the ground before him and began an incantation.

“Ignition, Acceleration, Circulation… Speed of lightning…”

Every time Leonhardt-sama advanced his incantation, numerous magic circles expanded around him… this magic was something I’d never seen before. Perhaps it’s a spell not implemented into the game?

“Full Install!”

From the purple magic circle floating around him, bolts of purple lightning extended towards Leonhardt-sama, wrapping around his body. With lightning enveloping his entire form, he dashed forward.

…Even Reiji-san sprinting at maximum speed was no match for this.

Using that kind of speed, Leonhardt-sama thrust his greatsword into the man in a reverse grip.

“Damn you… for a human to…!”

After staggering the man with the impact, Leonhardt-sama took another step and slammed his hand on the pommel of his greatsword with tremendous force.

The man was frozen in place and couldn’t react, and with a loud clang like steel being struck, sent flying along with the barrier he erected.

“I can’t pierce through…! Nevertheless, today’s the day you go down!”

Leonhardt-sama effortlessly swung his greatsword like a stick, pulling back into a stance as if pulling back a bowstring.

The purple lightning that covered his entire body converged into the greatsword.

It emitted a dazzling light, rapidly increasing in momentum, scorching the surroundings and blinding the sight.

“Receive the retribution for trampling upon my territory and harming His and Her Highnesses! Thunder Dragon’s Wrath!”

“That won’t do, you imbecile…!”

The man, despite reaching out to defend against the purple lightning flash, was completely engulfed and overwhelmed by its brightness, which was about my height in diameter.

“…Take this, monster!”

“I’m not… done yet…!”

At that moment, someone else’s roar was heard overhead.

“ORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

The lightning fired by Leonhardt-sama faded away, and a large figure, resembling a meteor with a crimson glow, descended toward the man that had just become visible.

As the light held by this figure was swung straight at the man, the force field surrounding him was shattered, sending shockwaves tens of meters away before finally stopping.

“Curses… so this is a Cyclop-made weapon, made to slay dragons…!”

The man, finally sustaining some damage, with his shoulder and chest torn open, coughed up blood from his mouth.

The large figure who inflicted real harm on the man we couldn’t so much as leave a scratch before… was Captain Walter, the “Ars Nova” he wielded glowing even more ominous than before.

“You know how long I have waited to skin your slimy hide, snakeface!!”

With his hair standing on end due to rage and emitting a powerful fighting spirit that could be felt even by us standing behind him, Captain Walter’s demeanor was vastly different from the hearty and somewhat reassuring atmosphere he usually exuded. He appeared more like a demon god in that moment.

For the first time since the battle, the man showed fear, if only briefly.

Captain Walter, not taking any chance, leaped at him like a berserker and swung his battle axe at the man’s neck.

“…No…you can’t…!”

A plea escaped my lips involuntarily. Despite everything that he had done to me, it was strangely unbearable for me to witness him getting hurt right in front of my eyes.

And not just me…

“I beg you, please don’t kill him…!”

I felt as if she was also pleading to spare his life.

The next moment, the warm light that had saved me before surged and enveloped the surrounding again.

“What the…?!”

The crimson light emanating from Captain Walter’s “Ars Nova” suddenly vanished, causing his axe, swung wildly, to miss its target.

Despite being shocked by what happened, Captain Walter still managed to pull back.

Neither side ended up getting hurt… For reasons I couldn’t understand, I felt relieved about it.

“…Doesn’t look like I can win against all three of you at once, can I?”

As the man spoke, the wound on his chest vanished.

He cleaned off the dirt from his slightly tattered clothes before turning away.

“…I’ll let you go this time. But if you dare show up in front of me again… I won’t be so merciful.”

He wrapped the shadowy snake, which had reverted to its small form, around his arm and spread his wings wide to take off.

Walter-san seemed to want to pursue him, but after a glance back at us, he reluctantly lowered his battle-axe.

“Oh, and one more thing… I have no obligation to give you advice like this, but…”

As if he only remembered at the last minute… he looked back at me, whose consciousness was still hazy, and…

“…Don’t come near Acropolis. If you want to keep your human rights, that is.”

With that, the man known as the “Death Serpent” flew away.

As soon as I could no longer see his back and the pressure disappeared, the thread of tension that had been building up in me finally broke, and my consciousness blurred.

“Irisria-sama, hang in there-”

Leonhardt-sama called out to me in a panic, but his voice quickly became distant.

As my consciousness sank into darkness again, only a single thought lingered.

The man’s final expression when he looked at me before leaving, it seemed… lonely.

Editing/Standardisation: Medicine Melancholy
Original Translation: Medicine Melancholy

Iris

We can’t win against this enemy.

We instantly assessed the situation and tried to escape. However…

“Good decision… but I can’t let you get away. Go, Crom.”

Upon the man’s command, a colossal snake, which had expanded to five meters, opened its mouth wide, and darkness formed within.

Swiftly enlarging, the darkness emitted an intense curse that even bystanders could sense, withering the grass and flowers around the giant snake.

“Both of you! Behind me!!”

At Nii-sama’s shout, Reiji-san and I jumped toward his shield’s shadow. Just as we reached safety, the gaping maw of the shadowy serpent released a flash of darkness.

It was as if countless curses were condensed into that flash.

“I won’t let you! Force Shield…!”

The barrier, an absolute assurance that had saved us multiple times, erected from the shield Nii-sama thrust into the ground.

However, despite suppressing the impact, the shield was getting pushed back from sheer force…

“Guh…!”

“Kyah?!”

“Ack?!”

Three different cries echoed.

Before us, the dispersing darkness enveloped us.

A thunderous roar, then violent tremors followed.

“…What’s this… It’s suffocating…”

“The miasma’s too thick…!”

The darkness contained an intense miasma, which quickly spread out to the surroundings.

Penetrating our lungs, it aggressively attacked our bodies, causing excruciating chest pain.

Amidst this chaos…

CRACK

“Impossible… It’s breaking?!”

The barrier, which should have been absolute and saved us from numerous crises, cracked before our eyes.

As long as Nii-sama’s magical power persisted, we believed it could repel any attack. Yet now, more and more cracks began to appear.

“…Kuh!”

Instinctively, Nii-sama retrieved a piece of parchment from his pocket.

The “Moonlight Seal”… a disposable charm embedded with protective magic that lessened the impact of spells and magic, tearing it apart with his hand and mouth.

The shield held by Nii-sama was enveloped in a faint light. But that light was too fleeting against the raging darkness before us.

As the “Force Shield” shattered, the black serpent finished exhaling its breath.

Finally consuming the broken barrier, an explosion swept over us, swallowing us whole.

After what felt like an agonizingly long span of time, the shockwave of miasma that pierced our bodies gradually subsided.

My body felt heavy.

Despite wearing various equipment gifted by Milly-san, and being naturally resistant to curses, I, too, felt extreme fatigue, unable to resist the clinging darkness.

If that’s the case… what about the other two in the same situation…?

“Nii-sama… Reiji-san…!”

Jumping up in a hurry to check on the other two, I froze.

The landscape had completely changed.

Just a moment ago, the highlands were lush with vegetation, boasting a picturesque landscape with diverse flowers blooming everywhere. However, the area around us, our immediate vicinity, had turned into desolation, where residual miasma lingered, transforming into an eerie wasteland.

In that space, in a certain spot—behind the shattered shield embedded in the ground, a green patch of land remained as if it had escaped the blast. At the tip of that patch… Nii-sama, who had always protected me, lay sprawled on the ground.

“…Nii-sama!”

I rushed over in a panic, desperately casting healing magic.

“You can’t… Hurry, run…”

“Stay quiet, Ayame, I’m going to heal you…!”

I continued casting healing magic… to very little effect.

The miasma clinging to my entire body must have interfered with my healing magic.

Still, persistently layering “Heal” over and over, gradually but surely, the injuries began to fade away.

“Well done holding on for this long, but there’s only you left now. How do you plan to escape if you exhaust yourself trying to heal him?”

“Guh…?!”

Upon hearing the man’s words, I instinctively shielded the collapsed Nii-sama, maintaining the recovery magic while cradling him in my arms.

It might not offer more than paper-thin resistance… but with enchantments on my clothes, I resolved to endure the incoming attack.

The man conjured up something akin to black flame in his hand…

“Stay away from them!”

Reiji-san, despite bleeding all over, jumped in to separate us from the man.

Around him, invisible force-field swords I’d once seen rotated. Twelve of these swords were sequentially shot towards the man, making the air quake as they sped towards their target, each one forcing Reiji-san to take slight steps backward. However…

“Are you kidding me… He’s deflecting them barehanded…?!”

Using what seemed to be some sort of darkness magic, the man lazily brushed away the swords as if swatting flies.

But just as the twelfth and final “Form is Emptiness” was launched, Reiji-san lunged forward before it could reach. Swiftly unsheathing the “Arventia”, the sword glowed brightly due to all the fighting spirit concentrated within it.

In that moment, the man’s eyes widened in realization. The briefest of hesitation created an opening for Reiji-san to strike.

“Take this!”

Reiji-san leaped up, putting all his weight and the force of gravity behind him, and swung the sword down upon the man’s head.

Accompanied by a sound akin to striking a steel wall, the sword seemed to have landed directly on its target.

“…Heh… That actually hurt a little.”

“…The… fuck…?!”

As blood trickled from his forehead… the man, who seemed unaffected by the blow, nonchalantly licked it.

“Congratulations, you actually scratched me. But it’s going to take much more than that to bring me down, you know.”

The man’s tone remained casual.

When I looked closely, he was surrounded by faint hexagonal force fields, which seemed to have clashed and stopped Reiji-san’s sword.

Even Reiji-san’s best effort… resulted in only a small cut on the man’s head.

“Still, pain is still pain… and must be returned in kind!”

“Dammit…!”

Attempting a follow-up attack, Reiji-san’s white sword was seized by the man.

Just that action alone stopped the blade in mid-air, as if it had been fixed in space.

“What…?!”

“Did no one teach you how to swing a sword, human?!”

The man swung his leg.

In response to the gathering darkness around his foot, Reiji-san instinctively released his grip on the sword, focused his fighting spirit into his fist…

“Gaaah?!”

However, the man’s kick reaching Reiji-san’s body was slightly faster.

Thrown backward, Reiji-san’s body floated through the air, falling towards us like a ragdoll.

“REIJI-SAN?!”

“*cough*…*hack*?!”

“No… No!”

Each time he coughed, he vomited a large amount of blood, clearly having broken several ribs… There was no way he could stand up until healed.

And… like a spreading flame, the shadow that had clung to his body covered Reiji-san, and his body collapsed powerless.

The only one left was me, with no direct combat capability.

Powerful area healing was also out of the question without securing the time for incantation.

“Well then… both Sir Sword and Sir Shield here are down for the count, what are you going to do?”

At the man’s faint smile, my body trembled involuntarily.

How can someone be so strong…?!

This was the calamity that the previous King and Captain Walter repelled at a great sacrifice, a disaster that shook the entire continent.

I never intended to get too conceited, but even so, my heart, which had unknowingly soared after winning against a few formidable enemies, was rapidly growing cold.

There’s no way we can win.

A feeling of despair crept up from my feet to my entire body.

“I’m not going to ask again… What are you going to do?”

The man approached me with a sneering smile, his eyes filled with cruelty and sadism.

…I still had a last resort.

To heal the two of them and buy time for help… I could only use it once every few days, and it would drain me immensely… but I judged that I had no other choice but to use it, staking everything on a slim hope.

Struggling, I scolded my legs that seemed about to give in, and infused strength into my abdomen to shout.

“Manifest yourself… Sanctuary!”

The “Sanctuary” spread out with me at the center, enveloping the two of them and dispelling the curses clinging to them.

Even though I poured all my strength into it, my magical power, significantly higher than before, still had plenty to spare. At the current rate of power flow, it should last for about an hour.

I hoped that those two would wake up, or help would arrive in time…

As I desperately maintained the “Sanctuary” with that hope in mind, the man scornfully glared at me… and sneered.

“…?!”

The look on his face sent a chill down my spine.

Was he waiting for me… to do this?!

Nii-sama’s “Force Shield”, which we thought was an absolute protection, was easily broken by this man.

What’s there to say he couldn’t do the same to my “Sanctuary”?

As I realized my mistake, the man’s hand touched the “Sanctuary”.

“…Eh?”

I felt as if something unpleasant had touched my body, a sensation akin to slimy liquid. But when I looked down, there was clearly nothing touching me.

He was… caressing my “Sanctuary”.

“…Ah… Aaaaaah?!”

At the next moment, a sensation as if some foreign substance, like vile liquid, was seeping into every part of my body surged, making me inadvertently scream.

Erosion.

Such a word flashed through my mind amid the throbbing agony. At the outer edges of my supposed “Sanctuary”, the part touched by the man exhibited a mottled pattern of black and gold at the edge of my vision.

“…Hmph, what a fragile ‘Sanctuary’, not even worth calling an imitation.”

“No… Aaaaaaaaah, aaaaaaaaaaaah?!”

The man’s fingers sank into the “Sanctuary” with a squelch, as though plunging into clay.

At that moment— it felt as if a foreign object had been inserted into the core of my body, stirring a sensation that pierced through my entire body from the lower abdomen to the top of my head.

“Heh, why don’t you struggle more? If you don’t resist, it’ll tear you apart on the spot.”

“?! Aaaaaaah!”

His fingers delved into the “Sanctuary”, stirring and prodding as though to toy with it.

Each time this happened, intense pain shot through my back, at the base of my wings, causing me to twitch and arch backward.

The once small cracks widened with each exertion of the man’s strength, breaking and fracturing the “Sanctuary” bit by bit.

With each crack, my body felt as though it were being torn apart, as if pierced towards the center of my being, sending waves of sensation throughout my entire body, making my knees tremble and give way.

Amidst all that…

“……Ass…hole… keep your… hand off Iris…”

Faint murmurs, akin to delirious muttering, came from where Reiji-san should have been collapsed behind me.

At that voice, I remembered that those two were behind me now, and this time it was my turn to protect them.

Yes… I must… protect them…

“Ugh, aaaaaaah!!”

My hand trembled, blood vessels in my arm burst from overload, and crimson liquid spattered as it pierced through the thin skin. I summoned every ounce of remaining strength to maintain the “Sanctuary” at all costs.

White flowers began to bloom on the devastated ground, and the man’s fingers, previously embedded, were gradually pushed back against the intensified barrier.

“…Heh.”

The man’s voice was filled with something like interest.

“My, aren’t you the tryhard. Are those two really that important to you?”

“They… are…! I’ll… never… give up… on them…!”

Drops of sweat trickled down my forehead as I glared fiercely at the man before me.

It was a bluff.

I didn’t feel any confidence in winning.

But… I couldn’t give up.

For that reason alone… even if it meant exhausting everything I have!

“Foolish… utterly foolish! Humans just get more and more foolish with every generation!”

In the man’s hand, the gigantic, shadowy snake had transformed back into a small snake without me knowing… The moment I laid eyes on it, a dreadful premonition surged within me.

“Ugh… ‘Garden of A-”

As I tried to reinforce the “Sanctuary” by calling out that name… my usual staff was severed and split into two while I was holding on it.

The moment I realized that, the world around me—the “Sanctuary”—cracked with countless shattering noises.

And then, the very next moment—the “Sanctuary”, cracked into a grid-like pattern, or rather, like a cage meant to capture me, was enveloped in black flames.

“—――――!?”

I let out a voiceless scream.

As if my soul were being ripped open.

As if my existence was pierced through and thoroughly trampled.

As if my hope and dignity were mercilessly crushed and whatever remained was violated as one pleased.

The overwhelming feeling of loss, despair overcame my mind and body, to the point where I wished to die…

And then… the “Sanctuary” was burned away without so much as leaving a speck of ash.

To think that such a thing could happen.

“…*hack*…!”

The aftermath of the forcibly shattered “Sanctuary” caused chaos in the pathways of magical energy throughout my body, distorting vision, overwhelming me with intense nausea, and I couldn’t help but vomit.

The uncontrollable surge of magical energy within my body seemed to have harmed it, as a red liquid, a mix of stomach acid and blood, dripped onto the ground.

Even though magical energy remained, my body no longer responded at all.

My will to resist broke, and leaning on the remnants of the staff, now devoid of its ornamental tip, I collapsed gradually.

“Now… Crom, capture that girl.”

“No… don’t come here…”

A hand stretched out, and the large shadowy snake appeared, seemingly split into three.

Even attempting to escape, my trembling legs failed me, and I fell to the ground.

Despite trying to create some distance by retreating, I couldn’t summon strength into my shaking legs.

There was no desire to resist at all.

My body, heart, and even my soul had submitted to the man before me.

The snakes reached me in no time. They coiled around my right leg and both arms.

“W-What…?! No, please… not beneath my clothes…!”

The large snakes crawling over my skin, slipping between my clothing and flesh, slithered up and licked my entire body, constricting it directly.

The chilling sensation flowing from the snake in direct contact with my protective enchantments caused an uncontrollable scream to burst out.

My body was drawn up tautly by the snake constricting me just enough, lifting my feet off the ground.

“No, no… something’s coming in… please… let me go…”

“Just… shut your damn mouth.”

“Guh?!”

The man’s fingers rested on my neck, gradually exerting pressure, making it impossible to breathe, and only a groaning sound escaped.

It’s so cold.

My entire body was freezing.

Similar to when I was invaded by the crystalline monster in the first town.

No, this time it surpassed that intensity by far. My body, which should have grown stronger since then, was completely helpless against the invading cold sensation, and my body’s senses were fading away.

“…Crom, ease your grip. At this rate, that girl will die before her power can be removed.”

As those words were heard, the pressure covering my entire body suddenly loosened.

However, even so, a repulsive impurity, flowing slowly with a steady rhythm, seeped into my firmly constricted body.

“…Stop… ah… ah…”

Each time my body convulsed, the anguish of being tormented by the writhing impurity inside me made a gasping sound escape uncontrollably from the corner of my mouth.

“Relax. I don’t know how you managed to use that book… But even if you’re an artificially created fake, you’re still my kin, so I won’t kill you.”

With that, the hand on my neck loosened.

An unpleasantly gentle touch on my cheek, as I desperately tried to take in oxygen.

“However… here, I shall completely violate and defile your body. To make sure no one like you shall ever appear among humans again, so they won’t ever foolishly hold onto futile hope again…!”

“Agh… no, don’t… ahhh, please… ah… Aaaaah…?!”

What he said felt like a death sentence.

Disregarding my pleading, the impurity poured incessantly from the snakes coiled around my entire body, from the man’s hand touching my neck and cheek.

The pathways of magical energy throughout my body were being overtaken by opposing forces, and I could no longer feel anything.

I must not run away.

If not, what I can do, the meaning of my presence among everyone, will disappear again.

…No, I refuse to let that happen!

Pushed by such an impulse, at that moment, when even the slightest intention to resist emerged—those feelings, futile as they were, the faintly flickering wings finally, suddenly disappeared.

The world before my eyes turned pitch-black.

The world lost its color and sound.

I couldn’t feel any strength in my entire body anymore.

Even the sound of the staff’s remnants falling from my hand seemed distant, far away—…