The Ivy Thicket, which had appeared as if to protect them, gradually dissolved into the air after a while. Only the vines that bound Jiemeld’s undead knight and those that adorned Flora’s chest and hair remained.
Priest Sidney, who was nearby, quickly reestablished a Wide-Area Barrier to ensure a momentary safety against the Undead Slime.
“Gilbert, Flora-chan, are you both unharmed!?”
As Dolf’s voice reached them, they looked up to see that all the enemy knights who had attacked the carriage were now ensnared by the ivy vines. Those vines, which appeared to be mere plants, seemed impossible for even the knights to tear apart.
“Yeah. How about you?”
From the window of the overturned carriage, Barbara and Chelsea poked their heads out. Chelsea looked frightened but appeared uninjured. Barbara was even holding a magical pot in her arms.
“We’re both fine, and so is the contents of the pot!”
Barbara replied with a beaming smile that could ease anyone’s worries, prompting Gilbert to chuckle wryly.
“I’m surprised. Gilbert, you really did well.”
A mercenary, for some reason, teased him. After confirming that there were no injuries, he let out a sigh of relief.
“No, I didn’t do anything…”
“What are you talking about? That thing Flora-chan is wearing is your handmade gift, right? It’s overflowing with your heartfelt blessings. Flora-chan wears it every day. Just think about how many people have prayed for her happiness every time they saw it!”
Barbara laughed as if she had successfully pulled off a prank. Even the mercenaries nodded with smiles.
“…Is that really a blessing…?”
“Of course! ‘Wishing you happiness’ is one of the most common blessings, isn’t it?”
Suddenly feeling intensely embarrassed, Gilbert averted his gaze. His face was burning hot. Beside him, Flora’s cheeks were also flushed, but she looked happy as she tightly clutched the brooch.
Flora, adorned with the leaves and flowers of the ivy, appeared ethereal and breathtakingly beautiful.
──I’m glad I could protect them…
As Flora and everyone else took a deep breath, savoring the fact that they were all safe, they began to regain their composure. The Undead Slime, which was the main concern, was held back by the Wide-Area Barrier that Priest Sidney had set up, and fortunately, it was still some distance away.
They righted the overturned carriage, and the undead knights ensnared by the vines were gathered onto the carriage’s cargo area, where Barbara and the others were forcing them to drink the infamous soup. The sight of them shoving a funnel into the mouths of the undead was as absurd as ever.
While confirming that the carriage could move, they heard multiple footsteps and turned to see the knights of the House of Marquis Beresford approaching.
“Are you all safe? Something seems off, so we prioritized regrouping.”
“Yeah, we’re somehow okay. Did something happen on your end?”
“Well, the Undead Slime we were fighting suddenly vanished, as if the tide had receded. Thanks to that, we managed to protect the civilians and new recruits here, but…”
As they spoke with the Beresford knights, the ground began to shake once more.
“This is bad; we should retreat to the wall for now. The floor here won’t hold much longer.”
The Holy Knights and the Royal Knights Order should also be near the wall. This retreat would also allow them to fulfill their initial objective. Everyone nodded and started running from the spot, just as the floor began to crumble beneath them.
Gilbert was running alongside the mercenaries pulling the carriage. However, he suddenly felt a piercing killing intent and turned around.
──What is that…? Where is it coming from…?
As he scanned the surroundings while running, all he could see were the collapsed arena floor and the red-black wall created by the Undead Slime, blocked by the barrier.
Suddenly, a sound like slicing through the wind pierced the air.
“Wha—!? Ugh…”
“Sidney…!? This is bad, he’s been shot with an arrow!!”
The groan of Priest Sidney and Dolf’s shout came simultaneously. Turning back to the Coachman’s Seat, Gilbert saw an arrow embedded in Sidney’s shoulder.
“Where did it come from!?”
He looked around, but there were no figures in sight.
“Damn it… the barrier is… fading…”
Sidney grimaced in pain, squeezing out his words. Just after that, a sound like shattering glass echoed. The Wide-Area Barrier crumbled, and a thick wave of red-black sludge surged toward them. Its viscous nature made its advance slow, but if caught, they would be completely immobilized.
“This is bad, run!!”
Everyone desperately increased their speed. A clergy member accompanying the Beresford knights quickly reestablished a barrier behind them, but the number of Undead Slimes was overwhelming. It might buy them some time, but not for long.
“Mr. Gilbert…! The axe!”
At Flora’s call, he turned just in time to receive the battle axe from the carriage’s skylight. As he ran, Gilbert peeled off the tanned leather wrapped around the axe head.
The clergy member set up another barrier at the edge of the arena, and everyone rushed to jump through it. The Royal Knights Order should be waiting just beyond.
Gilbert slid to the ground, pivoting on one hand to turn his posture and raised the battle axe before the barrier.
“Gilbert, don’t do anything reckless!”
Nodding at Dolf’s warning, Gilbert glared ahead. The mercenaries and Beresford knights were also readying their weapons.
──There must be someone targeting Sidney…
If the arrow had pierced through the Wide-Area Barrier, it was highly likely that the assailant was one of Jiemeld’s undead knights. If they were to confront that threat, they would need to reduce the number of Undead Slimes.
He absolutely couldn’t let Flora face danger again. That meant relying on the vines was out of the question.
As he struck the oncoming wave of sludge with the battle axe, small bolts of lightning coursed across the surface of the red-black muck, turning it to dust.
Against an opponent whose full form was obscured, it might be like pouring water on a hot stone. Still, he felt the impact.
He could hear the Beresford knights behind him gasp in astonishment.
“…What is that weapon…?”
“Oh, um, that’s our secret weapon, Gilbert.”
A mercenary replied in a somewhat troubled yet proud tone.