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“——Wyverns are attacking!!”
It was one of the Temple Knights on lookout duty who noticed it.
The Temple Knights led by Vincent and the “Rainbow Sword,” who had been ordered to standby in the rear as non-essential personnel by Hero Klein. The Temple Knights, who were under orders from the Holy Church, were one thing, but the “Rainbow Sword” had no obligation to obey. However, Dolton and the others, knowing the threat of the Elemental Dragon, sensed Aria’s intentions and decided to comply in order to avoid unnecessary deaths among the Temple Knights.
Of course, as high-ranking Adventurers with ties to the Kingdom of Claydale, they also wanted to avoid antagonizing the Holy Church, but the biggest reason was that they trusted Aria and Snow, the Kingdom of Claydale’s greatest assets.
Even so, as adults, they wanted to protect the young girls, who seemed barely of age, from politics. They had decided that if a problem arose, they would intervene in the battle against the Fire Dragon, even if it meant opposing the Holy Church.
At that moment, everyone’s attention was momentarily drawn to the roar of the “Dragon” starting a battle in the distance, and wyverns burst out from the surroundings.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
How so many wyverns had been lurking in this rocky mountain range was a mystery, but one of them attacked the Temple Knight on lookout duty at high speed. The Temple Knight screamed and instinctively raised his shield. But at that moment, an arrow flashed past his head.
“Gugaaaaaaaah!?”
The arrow struck the wyvern’s eye without fail, and the attacked wyvern hurriedly fled into the sky.
“Dolton!”
Miranda, who was the first to notice and shot the arrow, called out. Dolton, understanding instantly, stepped forward with his shield and axe.
“Vincent-dono! They’re targeting those who are isolated!”
“Understood! All personnel, close ranks and prepare for attacks from above!”
Vincent, who had been caught off guard and was frozen in place, also gave instructions to his subordinates while raising his shield in response to Dolton’s voice.
Normally, it would be the scout’s job to detect enemy attacks, but without Aria to do that, their response was delayed. Even so, thanks to Miranda, a Forest Elf with a hundred years of experience who also served as a ranger, they were able to cope without being caught completely off guard.
Wyverns were formidable foes, reaching Rank 4, but even without a Magician and a scout, they could handle about five of them.
“They’re coming from the front too!”
But then, four more wyverns were approaching from the direction of the rocky mountain where the Hero and his party had gone.
Wyverns, even though they were considered Sub-Dragons, were Monsters, not Mystic Beasts, and their intelligence was not as high as that of true Dragonkind. Therefore, they had not considered that they would take actions such as “lurking in groups,” which led to their carelessness.
No, what was truly terrifying was the Elemental Dragon that perfectly controlled the low-intelligence Sub-Dragons. They didn’t know what had happened on the rocky mountain, but at least the Fire Dragon had deemed the human species that had come to this land as enemies.
“Jesha, protect Mira! Feld and I will smash the ones that come down!”
“Ooh!”
With Snow, the Magician, not present, the only one who could defeat the wyverns in the sky was Miranda, the archer and Spirit Magician. The Temple Knights could also use bows, but the chances of them penetrating the thick hide were low, so Jesha, wielding a large shield, took on the task of guarding Miranda, who was likely to be the target of concentrated attacks.
However, wyverns could not breathe fire-like breath, and their attacks consisted of their giant claws and fangs, and the poisonous stinger at the tip of their tails.
Therefore, in order for the wyverns to attack, they had to descend to the ground, which was Dolton and the others’ chance to attack, but the problem was their attack power.
Jesha, a Dwarf and a Rank 4 Warrior, could withstand it. But, Vincent, who was Rank 4, was one thing, but the Rank 3 Temple Knights were likely to be crushed even if they blocked with their shields.
Nine wyverns circled in the sky, looking for an opening to swoop down and attack the Temple Knights.
“——【Slash】——”
A split-second decision. Feld, seeing this, jumped out without considering being attacked, and used his Combat Art to cut off the wyvern’s wings.
Combat Arts, which caused a slight stiffness after use, were difficult to use in a melee. Aria, who often fought alone, only used Combat Arts when she was sure she could defeat the enemy, but Feld, like an Adventurer, trusted his comrades and tried to reliably reduce the number of enemies by using Combat Arts.
Even so, if multiple wyverns attacked at the same time, the humans on the defensive would be at a disadvantage.
“They’re coming!”
“Gyaaaaaaaaah!”
One of the wyverns that swooped down ignored the minor injuries and swept away one of the Temple Knights with its huge tail.
As he flew through the air screaming, another wyvern tried to slash him with its claws in mid-air, but at that moment——
“——【Cross Blade】——”
A figure that had jumped in at high speed slashed off the wyvern’s wings and head in mid-air.
That person was——
“Nighthalt-dono!”
The swordsman Nighthalt, who had landed in response to Vincent’s shout, frowned and shook off the blood from his sword, pointing it at the wyverns in the sky.
“I’ve come to help you pathetic lot! You should be grateful!”
It was an Insolent way of speaking, but his participation created an opportunity for victory. But, what happened to the battle with the Fire Dragon that Nighthalt was supposed to be in?
“He’s an irritating guy, but the Hero wouldn’t be outdone by a mere Dragon, you’ll hear the Fire Dragon’s screams soon enough.”
The Hero’s party was not on good terms, but they still believed in each other’s abilities. As if to prove it, the Fire Dragon’s scream was heard again from the direction of the rocky mountain.
“…Did I hear wrong? It sounded like he was going to fight me?”
Hero Klein, who had suddenly regained his sanity, smiled brightly at us with eyes that didn’t smile at all.
What does he think he is after doing all this?
“That’s what you said.”
“Heeh…”
Killing Intent mixed with Intimidation oozed out of Klein, who was still smiling thinly.
The power of the “Hero,” whose true strength we still couldn’t gauge… Even the wounded Fire Dragon, feeling the unpleasant aura that threatened to fill the space, remained prostrate on the ground, bracing itself.
“How were you able to return to normal?”
“Can you perfectly bind a person’s heart?”
In response to that question, Aria wiped the blood flowing from her forehead, which she had struck and wounded herself, with her thumb, and calmly held up her Knife and Dagger, Klein’s mouth twisted slightly.
…Easy for you to say, Aria.
It looks like a technique that only weakens with Pain, but we couldn’t avoid it or resist it. If that is the Spirit’s 【Divine Protection】, then it is a terrifying technique that can only be escaped by hurting oneself until a way to deal with it is found.
But, I saw it? You were able to move because Kitty slapped your face with his antennae after jumping out of the Shadow, right? There’s no need to honestly tell him that, but isn’t 【Phantom Pain】 unnecessary to break my curse?
“Well, it’s certainly less effective on people whose hearts are less easily swayed.”
Klein said with a wry smile, and then suddenly pointed his finger at us.
“That would be a problem.”
“——!”
Just now, we were almost manipulated by that action alone, without any warning. But, this time it’s not that.
“Either way, some training is necessary.”
A strong light gathers at Klein’s fingertip. It’s not Magic. If it’s the same Spirit-derived 【Divine Protection】 as the “Charm” and “Brainwashing” from earlier, then this is “Restraint.”
The Divine Protection of Darkness binds the spirit, and the Divine Protection of Light binds the body. If that’s really Divine Protection, then we’ll be captured again.
As I instantly raised the Mana Particles in my body so that I could Resist, Aria looked at me for a moment.
Ah… I see.
Thump!
“Have you given up, Aria!”
Klein sneered at Aria, who jumped out towards him without even trying to avoid it. The moment the particles of light released from his fingertip engulfed Aria——
“Gaaaaaaaah!”
Kitty, who had jumped out of Aria’s Shadow, spewed out a huge amount of dark Mana Particles like a breath towards the light.
“What!?”
Light and Darkness clash. Kitty had been wary of Klein all along. He didn’t show himself when our minds were bound, and provided minimal support to Aria.
Kitty had been hiding his existence until the very last moment when the Hero became an enemy.
However, Klein, while surprised, immediately reached for his sword with one hand.
If it was the attack that defeated the Fire Dragon earlier, he could intercept Kitty.
But, you see——
“——”
The sword was frozen as if bound to its sheath. Klein… you’re being too careless. Taking your eyes off me like that.
The [Ice Whip], which had been creeping up from directly below, froze the sword, stopping its movement for a moment.
Just a moment… but that’s all I need, Aria.
“You bitch!”
“Haa!!”
At that moment, Aria, using Kitty’s body as a springboard, leaped over him and slashed at Klein’s head with her knife, catching him in a moment of vulnerability.
The battle with the Hero has finally begun.
What is his true strength!?
Thank you for always reporting typos.