“…【High Heal】…”
The healing magic I cast seals Camille’s abdominal wound.
As expected of Master (Serejula). Even though she was poisoned herself, she had performed perfect first aid on a wound that pierced through the abdomen.
With this kind of wound, it wouldn’t have been strange for him to die instantly. An inexperienced healer might not have been able to regenerate the internal organs completely, and he might have died. He survived thanks to Master’s experience treating many people on the battlefield and Camille’s own high HP.
Master, who switched with me to treat Camille, casually finished detoxifying herself and is now by Aishe’s side, talking to her.
It’s the sisters’ conversation after decades. It’s not something I should interfere with. Even if the result is… Master returning to the Evil Race Nation, I’ve already said goodbye to Master every time I leave that “house.”
…I can’t afford to be distracted. First, let’s concentrate on treating Camille.
I use 【Feel】 to check the condition of his internal organs, identify the internal wounds in detail, and cast 【Cure】 each time to regenerate them.
“…Camille-sama,”
Next to me, Iseru stayed close to Camille, continuing to hold his hand as if to keep him alive.
I drank the second Mana Recovery Potion and continued 【Cure】 for about half an hour, and finally, Camille’s complexion returned, and he opened his eyes slightly.
“…A…Aria…?”
Camille muttered as he looked at my face. It seems that there’s no confusion or memory loss due to the serious injury, as described in that woman’s “knowledge.”
“I am…”
Camille, who didn’t quite understand the situation, frowned as he remembered being stabbed and immediately tried to get up.
“Camille-sama, you mustn’t!”
“Iseru?”
Iseru stopped Camille from trying to get up. Camille turned his gaze to her and noticed Jesha and Kadori beyond her, and Dowhill and Charleschan, who were watching us without smiling.
“Camille-dono. We have decided to follow the King’s intentions. However, even if we sheathe our spears against the human race, we will never trust them. Think of us as always watching the future of His Highness, who has that blood.”
“…Understood. Dowhill.”
“We won’t stop you if you walk a thorny path. But for us Evil Race, strength is honor. If you want us to acknowledge you, show us that strength. That girl has reached a higher level.”
Camille’s eyes followed Charleschan’s words and gaze, and he widened his eyes at my combat power that he appraised.
“I am…”
His words were the same as before, but his tone sounded a little different. I don’t know if he’s remembering the fight with me or if he’s feeling uneasy about the future. But—
“Camille. Look around you a little more.”
“Eh…”
When Camille inadvertently looked around at my words, Iseru was offering his Demon Sword, which she had recovered, with a painful expression. Iseru… does she realize that she has been watching only you all along?
I don’t know if that feeling was conveyed, but Camille took a deep breath and gently placed the Demon Sword that Iseru was holding in her hand.
“Camille-sama…”
“Use this. It’s what Father gave to Mother, but I’ll gain that strength without relying on Mother anymore. …Iseru. Will you come with me?”
“…Yes!”
Iseru is also a half-elf with one parent from the human race, like Camille. If she has been with Camille all along, she will be able to walk the same path as him.
Before I knew it, a gate of light leading to the outside opened on the lowest level altar, just like in the previous dungeon, and Dowhill and Charleschan disappeared outside through it.
Unlike us, who were all teleported here, they went to rescue the warriors and clansmen who were still in the dungeon.
“Gaa…”
“Yeah.”
I approached Nero, who was lying down, and rested my body, borrowing his back. Jesha looked like she wanted to ask me something, but I took advantage of Nero glaring and not letting anyone approach, and gave myself up to sleep.
And—
“Taciturn Disciple (Aria).”
“…Is it over? Master (Serejula).”
I woke up when I was called. Master, who had been talking with her sister Aishe, looked down at me, who was leaning against Nero’s back, with a slightly tired face.
“Yes, it’s over. Sorry for the trouble…”
“No, it’s because Master and Nero came.”
“I see.”
Master lightly stroked my head and started walking towards the gate of light.
“…Is that okay?”
“Yeah…”
Beyond my gaze, Aishe was fixing her tattered equipment without looking at us. I could see suffering on her profile, but I still felt like the shackles within her had been released.
“Aishe is an adult now. That child has her own life. It’s better if I’m not there. Aishe will now lead the army and use that power for the Evil Race, not to strike down the human race. Even if I return to the Evil Race Nation now, there’s no place for me.”
“I see…”
Aishe has killed many people by involving them in her hatred. She has chosen to live for atonement from now on.
“If we live, we’ll meet again. The lives of the Evil Race are long. Besides…”
Master stopped and looked at Aishe for a moment before shifting her gaze to me.
“Our place to return to is that “house” in the forest, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Dark Elves live for five hundred years. Master said that she would use a hundred of those years for me.
I probably won’t see Aishe again. We fought each other, but there’s no hatred. There are no words to say. We have parted ways… that’s all.
It’s the same with Camille and the others. Even if we are on the same continent, the distance between the Kingdom of Claydale and the Evil Race Nation is endlessly far. Even if we can never meet them again, we will continue to walk the thorny path we have chosen.
“Aria… thank you for everything.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
Without any words of farewell, we turned our backs as if we were just parting on the roadside.
You can do it.
And I will return to the Kingdom of Claydale. To protect Elena. …To kill that child.
“So, how are we going back?”
After finishing the simple farewell and leaving the Evil Race Fortress as if fleeing, Jesha, who was accompanying me, called out with a resigned look for some reason.
There was also a story of the dwarf Jesha being welcomed as a guest in the Evil Race Nation. If she protected Camille in the Ceremony of Selection, the Evil Race should be more willing to accept her, but she chose to return.
However, it’s difficult to rebuild Cutlass Town, where most of the residents have left, so Jesha decided to accompany us and aim for the Calfaan Empire.
Apparently, Jesha has a letter from Camille addressed to Ron, and she intends to be hired by Ron, who is a noble in the Calfaan Empire.
It’s good to head to the Calfaan Empire, but when Jesha asked what to do about it, Master and I exchanged glances for a moment and answered in unison.
“”We’re going through Lace Veil.””
“I knew it!?”
There are two routes to go from the Evil Race Fortress to Cutlass.
One is to avoid the ancient ruins of Lace Veil and proceed through the desert, but crossing the desert without any cover requires considerable equipment and preparation, and it takes time, so it’s not realistic.
The other is to break through the center of Lace Veil, which adventurers can pass through in a few weeks. In fact, Master and Nero have also passed through there.
There are many dangerous monsters, but if you defeat them well, they can be used as food, and potion ingredients also grow wild. Decayed buildings can be used as places to hide and rest.
The reason why Jesha and I couldn’t escape from the Evil Race Fortress alone was that we thought it would be difficult for the two of us to cross the desert or break through the ruins. But if Master and Nero join us, the story changes.
Even with just Master and Nero, they couldn’t face all the monsters, and they forcibly broke through with Nero’s running power, but if Jesha, who can act as a shield, protects Master, Nero can also exert his full power, so the danger of the breakthrough itself decreases.
The plan to forcibly break through again on Nero’s back was ruined because Nero refused to carry Jesha.
If he carries three people, he will lose mobility, and in the first place, Nero wouldn’t have allowed even carrying Master if it weren’t for me. As expected, neither Master nor I are so heartless as to leave Jesha behind.
In any case, Master and Nero can’t enter the Calfaan Empire, so from there it will be just me and Jesha.
Master and the others are supposed to part ways in Cutlass, and I can accompany them there, but I chose to return to Elena as soon as possible.
“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. We left without any preparations.”
“That’s right… Aside from the clan leaders, if they find out I’m still alive, some might call me a traitor and come after me,” Jesha grumbled, and my master sighed in agreement.
The reason we, the winners of the Ceremony of Selection, fled the Evil Race Fortress was the possibility of those who couldn’t accept such an inconclusive outcome attacking us. In particular, some of the more belligerent factions within the army might seek revenge.
My master later told me that he had invited Aishe to come with us once. Even so, Aishe stayed behind to help restrain the army.
“By the way… Aria,”
“Hmm?”
“Did you reach Rank 5?”
“Yeah.”
So that’s why Jesha was looking at me so intently.
I finally reached Rank 5, catching up to the Mystic Beast Nero in combat ability. Nero was somehow pleased that I caught up, but Jesha probably felt like she had been surpassed by someone who had been her equal until recently.
The skill that increased was [Dagger Arts], but [Detection] also reached Level 5 from the assassination battles in the dungeon. I wonder if [Abnormal Status Resistance] also increased because the battles since coming to this desert have been so harsh.
“‘Yeah,’ you say so casually… Taciturn Disciple. You’ve even surpassed your master’s combat ability, so you should be a little happier,” my master said with an exasperated look, but I quietly shook my head.
“No. It’s still not enough.”
My master and Jesha looked at me with stunned faces as I muttered that. But to defeat that girl, I need “something” else.
“Master… there’s a technique I’m thinking about.”
When I said that and briefly explained the outline, my master’s eyes widened.
Ten days had passed since the four of us entered the Lace Veil.
So far, we’ve been progressing quite smoothly. The closer we get to the center, the stronger the Monsters that appear, but the higher the rank of the Monsters, the fewer their numbers, so they haven’t been much of a threat.
However, there are also Monsters that form groups as a species. A Rank 5 Monster that seemed to be a higher-ranking Ogre appeared leading multiple Ogres, but—
“—[Dancing Ripper]—!”
“Gwoooooooooooooooooooooooo!!”
The eight-hit combo of the Dancing Ripper attacked the higher-ranking Ogre, tearing its body to pieces. The higher-ranking Ogre managed to deflect the vital points with a crude Greatsword made of Monster Material, but even so, the moment it faltered—
“Gaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
Its head was cut off by Nero’s claws, easily ending its life, and the Ogres under its command scattered like spiders upon hearing its dying scream.
Even a Rank 5 Monster isn’t a scary enemy if I and Nero, both Rank 5, work together. They’re not opponents to be careless against, but if Nero and I go ahead, Jesha protects the master, and the master uses Magic to restrain the subordinates, we can handle multiple opponents.
But—
“…This is bad.”
“Yeah.”
Jesha, who came forward after the enemies were gone, said that, and I agreed.
The path we’ve been taking is a path through the ruins with a low Monster appearance rate, used by the Evil Race to move their armies. My master knew that, which is why he chose to come this way.
However, as we get closer to the center, the number of Monsters is increasing. There are Monsters that move in groups like Ogres, but it felt like those Ogres were being “driven” from the other side.
It’s as if a powerful presence in the Cutlass direction is heading towards us…
“It seems they’ve arrived…”
“—Indeed—”
We could see dust clouds rising far ahead. Soon after, we felt a ground tremor as if something huge was wriggling.
A group of multiple Armored Dragons. The ones wearing black armor on top of them are… the Evil Race Army. The killing intent I felt on my skin told me that they weren’t just retreating.
Since there are no enemies chasing us from behind, Aishe must be successfully restraining the army at the fortress. But some who couldn’t be restrained must have informed the Cutlass garrison.
Most of the Evil Race Army retreated when Aishe returned to the fortress, but they left a portion of the army to secure Cutlass.
The number itself should be less than fifty. But the problem isn’t the number.
I know the shadow that appeared from behind them, floating in the vast, swirling dust.
“…Earth Dragon…”
“Gohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
The strongest Mystic Beast, the Dragon, finally stands in our way!
A certain person appears before Aria as she fights.
Next time, Dragon Battle! Part 1