“Hey… where is the ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’?”
I asked, staring at Caspary.
At the very least, if I had a Shield with the same Dark Attribute as me, I could maximize its performance.
More than anything, it would allow me, who’s focused entirely on defense, to participate in the attack, reducing the burden on Alexandra and Monica while drawing Henwen’s aggro.
“B-but, that was the reward for when I cooperated with you…”
“It’s too late for that. In this situation, we have no choice but to defeat that guy.”
Actually, it’s possible to escape while those two are keeping it in check.
Of course, I have no intention of doing that at all.
“Ugh…”
“!? I’ll go support Monica!”
As expected, she’s at a disadvantage in a one-on-one fight. Alexandra took her sword and headed towards Henwen.
If I don’t participate as a Shield, they’ll be even more cornered…
“Caspary!”
“O-okay! …But, no matter what kind of Shield I become, don’t you ever betray me.”
…Her way of speaking, her slightly flustered appearance, there are so many things that bother me, but right now, I have to take this Gamble.
I nodded strongly, waiting for her to prepare the ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’.
“What!?”
Suddenly, Caspary’s small body was enveloped in jet-black darkness.
And then.
“…………………”
What appeared when the darkness cleared was… a palm-sized Shield!?
“N-no way!? This is like a 1/100 scale Gunpla size!?”
My eyes widened, I pinched the Shield with my fingers, and couldn’t help but retort.
I-it certainly looks like the ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’, but there’s no way it can defend against Henwen’s attacks!
Then.
“I-it can’t be helped!”
“!? It spoke!? …Wait, is that Caspary’s voice!?”
“Y-yes, it is! Is there a problem?”
“Uh… n-no, it’s not that, but…”
Caspary, the one who is the miniature Shield, couldn’t stand my gaze and retort, and snapped back in a tearful voice. Thanks to that, I was also confused, and ended up holding back.
“B-but, this size is a bit…”
“…I’m different from Mother. I’m still a child and have little Mana, so this is all I can do.”
Caspary finally sulked and started to cry.
I see… that’s why she made it a reward, and hesitated so much when I told her to bring out the ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’.
But.
“Um… what is ‘Mana’?”
“Huh…?”
When I asked a simple question, Caspary let out a dumbfounded voice.
In EnHaza, the stats are level, HP, SP, and physical and magical attack and defense. There’s no such parameter as ‘Mana’.
“Y-you don’t know!? Humans use it all the time, right!?”
“That’s why my name is Harold. Anyway, I don’t know what ‘Mana’ is…”
“Prince Harold! ‘Mana’ is the source of power that dwells in all living things in this world! It is absolutely necessary to use the power that only that person possesses! You should have some memory of it!”
Alexandra, who had been listening to our conversation with a keen ear, told me while landing a blow on Henwen.
I see… thanks to that, I understand.
In other words, the SP in Engage Hazard is what everyone calls ‘Mana’.
Then.
“Caspary. Is it possible to receive that ‘Mana’ from people?”
“W-well, I can steal ‘Mana’ from humans, but…”
“I see.”
This is so convenient.
“B-but! If I want to become the same ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’ as Mother, I need a lot of ‘Mana’! If I take ‘Mana’ from you, you’ll run out of ‘Mana’ and collapse in no time!”
“What, are you worried about me?”
“!? N-no! Why would I care about a human like you…”
When I asked teasingly, Caspary immediately denied it, perhaps because she was embarrassed, but her words trailed off.
Or rather, I’ve been thinking this since we met, but she’s like a human despite being a Demon Beast. She’s completely different from the Holy Beast turned Demon Beast Henwen in front of me, who only acts on instinct.
Because she’s worried about me, a human who is supposed to be her enemy, and holding back like that.
I looked at Caspary in her Shield form, chuckled, and said.
“Then, take as much ‘Mana’ as you want from me.”
“Were you listening to me!? If you do that, you’ll run out of ‘Mana’…”
“!? Just hurry up!”
Seeing Monica being cornered by Henwen, I panicked and gave Caspary instructions in a rough tone.
“Fine! Don’t blame me if something happens!”
I felt like something was being sucked out of me from the ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’ in my palm.
It seems that the SP, which is called ‘Mana’, is being supplied successfully.
“!? How dare you, you pig…!”
“Monica!?”
“Bweeheeeeeeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!”
Monica, who had been repeatedly feinting to buy time, was finally cornered by Henwen and lost her escape route. She braced herself and showed a stance of intercepting with the blade of her weapon, a Dagger Knife.
Alexandra attacked many times, but even though she could inflict wounds, it didn’t budge due to its massive size.
Not yet… not yet…
“Bwehehehe…”
“!? I won’t let you lay a hand on my Precious Thing!”
I shouted and ran at full speed towards Henwen, who licked its lips triumphantly.
And then.
–Clang!
“Bwee?”
“!? Prince Harold!?”
I barely made it in time and caught Henwen’s foreleg as it swung down.
With this dull, shining, heavy, black iron ‘Jet-Black Shield Caspary’.
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