Chapter 178: A Dagger in That Hand 2
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“As I thought, the sanctuary is too close in this city.”
The half-destroyed head spoke in human words.
The Knights, who had been carefully and cautiously keeping their distance, stirred.
As if to compensate for the missing part of its head, a mass of Black Magicka took a human shape.
To someone who couldn’t see it, it would probably look like a person whose face was crushed from the nose up was talking.
“How unfortunate, Solntsalri. I was thinking of lopping off that head of yours as a greeting, but it seems I won’t be able to play with you much.”
“Your way of speaking has changed quite a bit. What happened to the exceptionally beautiful girl?”
The man’s voice, both in quality and manner of speaking, had changed.
There was no trace of the girl in his voice; his age was indeterminable, and one might even question his gender.
It was wrong to expect consistency from a being that could stand nonchalantly with half its head destroyed, but this was far too inconsistent.
“Shin.”
Erica spoke to me, her voice serious.
“That thing is a man, you know?”
“I haaate that part about you, Solntsalri.”
That was the signal to begin.
Instantly, the Black Magicka around the man began to move strangely.
It was a movement of Magicka I had never seen before.
I braced myself, wondering what kind of magic would come flying.
I could tell the air was distorting.
“Don’t tell me, Space-Time Magic?”
It was Erica who identified what it was.
As expected of someone who had top-class grades at the academy.
I knew Erica’s words were correct from the horde of Majin that overflowed from the space.
That’s not magic humans should be using!
I panicked as the man’s figure disappeared behind the swarm of Majin that had appeared in vast numbers.
“Are you trying to run away!?”
Could it be, at this timing?
While thinking it impossible, I couldn’t eliminate the possibility.
In Fountain Square, instantly engulfed in chaos by the sudden appearance of the Majin horde, I hesitated on what to do.
The injured refugees unable to move, the adventurers trying to protect them.
What should I do?
Should I go help them?
“Those who uphold order, follow me!”
It was the Margrave’s words that cut through my hesitation.
The Margrave charged into the horde of Majin, and naturally, the Knights were not ones to stand by and watch.
Suddenly, I felt warmth on my back.
It was Erica’s hand.
“Whatever that thing may be,”
Erica looked around.
Not with eyes searching for an enemy, but as if confirming something.
I followed her gaze and looked around.
The Margrave, leading the Knights, slashing at the Majin; Lana, the Guild Staff member, who possessed no fighting strength, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with adventurers, yelling at them to shout louder from their guts.
Shara was swinging a piece of lumber she’d brought from somewhere, and the Bishop had a Majin locked in a headlock.
What is this ridiculous sight?
It’s full of idiots, isn’t it?
Erica smiled.
“I have grown quite fond of this city.”
“Me too, Erica.”
Just with that, I felt like we understood each other.
It’s a selfish delusion, a childish desire.
I want the people I like to like me back.
I want the people I want to help to help me too.
I want to rely on the people I want to be relied upon by.
I want them to allow that.
It’s quite childish.
“Believing is also a good thing, you know?”
What I thought was a childish wish, Erica called believing.
Her words were drowned out by the clang of iron striking iron.
“Solntsalri!”
Calmly parrying the shouting man’s Sword with her own, Erica said,
“My apologies, but my Dance Partner is already decided.”
I kicked the man’s side at a forty-five-degree angle.
Wait your turn, you… uh… you… damn bastard!
*** Author’s Afterword ***
Thank you always for the comments, Likes, etc.
Updates might become a bit irregular for a while.
I’d like to maintain the schedule until the end of this chapter if possible, though.
Also, this? Will it even post?
Replying to comments kept failing, and I almost gave up on updating today.
If this fails too, I’ll give up for today.