On the road leading to the border of the Holy Capital Fandora Theocracy, our carriage sensed an ambush by bandits… but their presence is fading away.
It would be delightful if a large monster had appeared and was attacking them, but it doesn’t seem to be the case…
According to stories I heard in town, the area around the Fandora Theocracy, where the headquarters of the Holy Church in this Searth Continent is located, is patrolled by many Priest Knights who exterminate powerful monsters.
…Well, since the Holy Church has branded Dark Elves, who are merely dark-skinned, as humanoid monsters and enemies of humanity in order to gather believers, they can’t acknowledge the existence of monsters.
However, they haven’t been able to completely exterminate low-level Beastkin species like Goblins, which are only strong in reproduction, or Demon Wolves, which are only fast at running away. Even the Priest Knights, who can cross borders almost freely, can’t reach the bandits on the neighboring side of the border.
If that’s the case, could it be that Temple Knights have come all the way here on a business trip…?
“…I can see it now.”
To be precise, I can’t see much yet, but I can hear the sound of many living things moving, dust rising into the sky, and voices like screams.
However, I can’t hear the clash of swords between people. And those voices are more like…
“Screams…?”
Realizing that, the corners of my mouth naturally turned up, and my feet quickened.
Ah… how delightful.
“Gyaaaaaah!”
A scream like a pig being torn apart echoed, and the dense scent of blood filled the surroundings.
There seem to be some survivors left, but by the time I approached, the corpses of men who looked like bandits were already lying on the ground.
“They’re not just bandits.”
I used my foot to turn some of the corpses face up and checked their equipment.
They weren’t dressed in rags like poor farmers from nearby who had resorted to banditry. But they weren’t like the Assassin Guild, who wear disguises for their work either. It was as if they were all wearing the same equipment in a coordinated manner.
Could this be an assassination squad used by nobles…?
Not like the Assassin Guild, which assassinates individuals on behalf of someone, but a private force of nobles who eliminate their master’s political enemies, using groups without regard for sacrifice to ensure the death of their targets, even if they have guards.
With this equipment and number of people, it would be understandable if we were the target, but we have no reason to be targeted since we have nothing to do with politics.
There may be forces within the Holy Church who don’t want the Hero’s party to grow, but if that’s the case, what is killing them…?
Perhaps that person is the one who—
“—!”
Suddenly, a wind magic was released from beyond the forest along with “Killing Intent,” and I defended against it with ice, as it cut through the trees in its path.
“Hee…”
Sensing my “Killing Intent,” which I unintentionally leaked out due to the strong presence, “Someone” far away suddenly launched an attack magic.
To that “Enemy” who attacked without any questions, I threw off my cloak, and as I clad myself in Mana, my once different pure white hair fluttered like wings in the aftermath.
“—Levitate—”
My body floated gently, and I flew in the direction from which the magic had been released.
Such an impolite person who shot magic without even saying hello. As I slammed my “Killing Intent” and “Intimidation” into the depths of the forest as a greeting, a huge rock flew towards me, breaking trees as it went, along with an intimidation that seemed to respond to it.
“—Ice Lance—”
Dogoon!
With a deafening roar, the huge rock and the pillar-sized ice collided, scattering a large amount of rock and ice fragments around.
“A match…?”
Seeing that they were equal to my Mana, I became very interested in that opponent.
“It would be fun if I could kill them… huh?”
I felt the “Presence” of that opponent approaching at a tremendous speed.
Did I hurt their pride a little? I understand. You realized that your level 4 [Stone Cannon] was offset by my level 3 [Ice Lance], right?
“Welcome. I’m the one who hurt your pride.”
A strong presence and Mana are coming towards me at high speed.
They were using powerful magic, but could it be that they’re not a Magician like Aria?
“—Digvolt—”
They may have thought that they would strike me directly because they knew I was a Magician, but I have no obligation to go along with that.
I released an amplified Lightning Strike that covered a corner of the forest, and I heard multiple screams, perhaps because the assassination squad was still in the forest.
A large Mana gushed out from the other side as if to drown out those screams.
Gooooooo!
At that moment, the flames of [Dragon Breath] pierced through, offsetting my Lightning Strike.
The surrounding forest was engulfed in flames by the huge flames, which were just like a dragon’s breath, and the voices of the assassination squad that were still left were cut off by the aftermath.
I had been trying so hard not to burn it…
“—Ice Storm—”
My level 5 Ice Magic raged, engulfing the flames of the burning forest.
At that time—
Zan!
The forest, the flames, and the raging blizzard were all cut in half, and the aftermath turned into a blade of Mana and attacked me.
“—!”
Ginn!
The [Ice Whip] that I used in a hurry… was cut.
No way!? It even stopped Aria’s knife.
Probably not magic, but a high-level Combat Art. The hem of my dress was cut as I jumped back in the instant that the Ice Whip was cut, and I fired Lightning at the “Shadow” that jumped out of the cut forest.
“—Chase Lightning—!”
The released Lightning bolts changed direction and chased the “Shadow.”
But the “Shadow” further increased its speed, deliberately jumped into my arms, and broke through the range of the Lightning.
The “Shadow” approaching at high speed thrust its sword towards my heart.
But no. I’ve decided that only Aria can stab my heart with a blade.
While twisting my body so that I could at least avoid my organs, I increased my Mana and chanted [Freeze] as if aiming for a mutual kill.
At that moment—
Ginn!
“—Aria!”
What intervened in the meantime and blocked the tip of the sword was Aria, who was holding a Black Knife and a Dagger.
She came to see what was going on because the battle had become so intense…
“Get back.”
Aria, who had repelled the enemy’s sword with her two weapons and taken some distance from each other, jumped out at the same time as they separated, and both of them swung their weapons at the same time.
“—Dancing Ripper—!”
“—Vorpal Blade—!”
Aria’s level 5 Dagger Skill was released. But, as if to match it, a young man’s voice was released… that level 5 Sword Skill exploded and met Aria’s Combat Art.
Eight strikes and five strikes. Even so, the two perfectly clashed due to the difference in weapon length, and the two who had been offset were repelled again, and we were finally able to confirm the appearance of that “Shadow”… the opponent, by taking a large distance.
“Hee… it was a girl.”
It was a young man, only in his late teens, who uttered such a carefree line.
Black hair flowing smoothly, with red eyes…
He smiled innocently with a face that looked young, narrowed his eyes as he looked at Aria and me, who were wary, and lowered his unsheathed longsword.
“Could it be that you are… no, you(plural) are. I was planning to lure out the enemy, but I had a good encounter that was not planned. To think that there are two Hero-class people, not just one.”
As he said that, he jumped back gently and took even more distance, sheathed his sword, and gave us a full smile.
“I wasn’t in the mood, but I’m looking forward to it. …I’ll be waiting. In the Holy Capital.”
He disappeared as he was with the speed of the wind.
We both exhaled at the same time after confirming that his figure had completely disappeared and his presence had also disappeared.
“Snow… that was”
“Yes, it is…”
That strength. Maybe that’s… the “Hero.”
Just how powerful is the “Hero” who has finally appeared?
Next time, to the Holy Capital.