"Aswell."
He truly ca.
I couldn't believe it until I touched his coarse black hair, confirming that this was, indeed, real.
"How... are you here?"
He shouldn't have been back from his mission for quite so ti.
How could he be here now?
Then, Aswell gave an answer I never expected.
"Nightlux... ca all the way to my village alone."
"Huh?"
"He ca without you, so I thought sothing had happened. That's why I rushed over. It's thanks to him."
Wait, did Lux really bring Aswell here?
I rember telling Lux, but I never thought he’d actually fulfill it.
A horse understanding human language—was that even possible?
And not just a simple command but one to bring a specific person from a faraway place.
"Lux, just what are you...?"
I had sensed there was sothing special about him, but I never imagined it was to this extent.
When this battle ends, I owe him a feast of special carrots.
"Aswell! No!"
At Serelin's shout, I looked up and saw that the shattered space above us was closing.
Aswell noticed this imdiately, placing his hand on my waist, preparing to jump, but Behirajaga's regenerative power was faster.
"Guh."
"Ha... Sorry, Louis. I should've hurried."
"N-no, it's okay."
Unable to shake off Aswell's hand on my waist, I replied hastily.
It was more than enough that he had co to save , and I couldn't accept an apology on top of that.
"Then, let’s find a way out of here."
"...Yes."
Just monts ago, I saw no escape route while I was alone.
But with Aswell by my side, a strange certainty grew that we would indeed get out of here.
"...So of the mana of the stars has returned."
In that brief mont when Aswell had struck Behirajaga, I reconnected with Ultima's Sacred Spear.
I managed to store mana within quickly, though casting magic as freely as before was still beyond my reach.
But that was okay.
"Louis."
"Yes?"
"This place... it's practically the insides of that monster, right?"
"That's correct…?"
"If that's so, could we split the sky open as we did outside?"
"…We could try. But rather than the sky, let’s aim here."
I held Aswell's hand and pointed toward the horizon.
"This spot might be easier for an escape. If it’s truly a belly, it should split here as well."
"Got it. As expected, Louis, you're smart."
Thump.
Monts later, Aswell's holy sword glowed and sliced through the space in half.
Clang-!
But with a harsh sound, only a slight crack appeared, not large enough for the two of us to fit through.
"It’s close, close enough…."
Surprisingly, Aswell deed it possible, saying that only a bit more strength was needed.
A small amount of remaining mana.
If I used it to assist Aswell, it might be possible.
"However... a temporary mana depletion will occur."
If that happened, I wouldn't be able to move alone to a place where I could receive mana from Ultima's Sacred Spear.
"Aswell."
"Hmm?"
"There is a way. I can use my remaining mana to strengthen you. But if I do that, I won’t be able to walk on my own."
"I'll carry you."
"…."
Thump.
Avoiding his gaze, I nodded.
Then, activating the Master Key, I cast a supportive spell on him.
"Haa…."
A wave of exhaustion hit as all my strength drained away.
Aswell caught , helping onto his back.
"It might be a bit uncomfortable, but bear with it."
Aswell said that, though I felt no discomfort at all.
On the contrary, I found myself resting my head on him without realizing it.
"Rahil, Lo, Ernael."
Aswell murmured a short incantation, and the holy sword glead again.
When he swung it with the support spell applied, a different sound resonated this ti.
Shwing-!
Boom!!
The space shook violently, and we heard Behirajaga’s agonized scream.
"Let’s go!"
At Aswell's words, I tightened my grip on him, pressing my body close.
Once he was sure I was secure, he leapt through the fractured space, and soon, the mana of the stars began swirling around .
"Louie, we made it! Just like you said!"
Though he was the one who had proposed the idea, he was now thanking .
At this point, I didn't care anymore.
"Louis!"
"Lady Louis!"
"Hey!! I missed you!"
"Sis!"
And thanks to him, we had made it back to our friends.
Still on Aswell’s back, I waved to the four who welcod warmly.
As the mana depletion wore off, I regretfully climbed down from Aswell’s back and checked my condition.
"I'm still fit to fight."
It was enough.
"Herooo!! How dare you harm Behira’s body!!!"
"Everyone! Now that we’ve saved Louie, the real fight begins!"
"Let’s go!"
With the hero’s resolve and Lafiré’s rallying call, Serelin, Aria, and Niabella’s faces showed determination.
And I, more confident than ever, was ready to fight alongside them.
The entire hero’s party was assembled.
* * *
"Uaaaahhh!!"
"Ugh!! What is that sound…!"
"Everyone, cover your ears…!"
The earth-shaking roar of rcadia, filled with rage, echoed through the area.
It was so intense that the thick cloud of dust dissipated in an instant, leaving us struggling to steady ourselves.
"Behira… Behira… How dare you harm Behira!"
Even as the hero slashed Behirajaga twice, it was still regenerating its body without pause.
Perhaps even this sight aroused pity in rcadia, who pounded the ground in fury.
Boom-!!
"Aria! Over here!"
"Aswell! Take care of Louis! Niabella, hold tight!"
"Y-yes!!"
In a flash, Lafiré grabbed Aria, Serelin took Niabella, and Aswell lifted , leaping high.
The ground trembled, and the spot we had been in was completely destroyed.
Once we had narrowly dodged the colossal attack, I quickly outlined our strategy.
"We’ll split into three groups. Each team needs to take on rcadia, Behirajaga, and its spawn separately."
Clang-!
"How should we form them?"
"Aswell, Lady Aria, Lady Serelin, you take rcadia, and Lafiré and I will handle Behirajaga."
"Wha… Sis, what about ?"
I looked calmly at Niabella, who asked nervously.
"You’ll have to handle the spawn on your own."
"B-but!"
"Clearing them out first will make the fight easier. You can do it."
After all, we’re a hero’s party.
Upon hearing this, a spark of determination flickered in Niabella's previously anxious eyes.
"Leave it to !"
"Focus on stalling them rather than killing. rcadia holds the title of the Blood Iron Duke, so she won’t go down easily."
"Got it."
"Lady Lafiré, we need to identify Behirajaga’s weak points."
"Understood."
Rumble...
As Behirajaga’s next attack reverberated, our party split into the assigned groups.
Niabella’s attack ca first.
Fwoosh.
A fla ignited in her hands, and it spread until a massive fire began to engulf the surrounding ground.
"You've grown so much."
The experiences at the forge and her diligent training had transford Niabella from soone who couldn’t even control her magic to where she was now.
Thanks to her, we could make a plan even against the formidable power of the Blood Iron Duke.
"Those giant bugs are tough. Regular flas won’t cut it."
While the smaller ones or human-sized ones were either reduced to ashes or partially burned, eight larger bugs the size of buildings were still moving around.
It was then that a struggling Niabella brought up an idea.
"Sis! Rember when you told about teor magic? You said that throwing a flaming stone could be my version of a teor spell!"
Why was she bringing that up now?
The next mont, Niabella, trembling, began summoning sothing.
"Uuuaaah!"
It was a long iron structure set ablaze.
"Then, this can be a spear of fire!"
She was right.
The iron, engulfed in flas, looked just like a fiery spear, with enough size and power to pierce through the bugs.
With the spear Niabella created, she launched it at the bugs, burning through their shells in an instant.
"Lady Lafiré, could you observe Behirajaga from that building? I’ll keep its attention here."
"Leave it to !"
As soon as Lafiré climbed the building, Behirajaga turned its focus on her, allowing to cast a quick spell with the Master Key, drawing its attention.
----!!
"There’s sothing in its mouth!"
At her words, it clicked.
The eye inside its mouth.
"That’s the weak point. Can you hit it?"
"With my gloves, I think I can! Besides… I’ve grown too!"
She nocked an arrow to her bowstring.
Whoosh!
Enhanced by her gloves, a massive storm-like force gathered around her arrow.
Boom!
With a sound like a cannon blast, the arrow shot forward.
Behirajaga tried to close its mouth, but the arrow struck the eye before it could react.
----!!
Behirajaga let out a
tortured scream and collapsed.
"Behira!!"
rcadia's anguished cry filled the air.
The hero’s party attempted to restrain her, but they couldn’t stop her, overwheld by sorrow and rage.
"Behira, Behira! Please… hold on…!"
While rcadia wailed, the party prepared, keeping a wary watch, ready to finish the fight.
Then, in the midst of her tears, rcadia fell silent.
The air grew heavy.
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