Chapter 73 King of Griffins (3)
Thick clouds covered the sky and though it was still noon, the world had become dark like it was evening. The air was humid and the temperature had risen.
The griffin that was in its nest also noticed the change and looked up towards the sky. Was it due to its wild instincts or was it due to the protection of Sylph? Either way, it definitely felt the change.
Confirming its reaction from far away, I gave a quick glance towards Aya who was concentrating nearby. In contrast to the darkening world, her body was glowing with gold magical energy and it felt like the sun was shining only here. That’s how dazzling and warm that light was.
Fuyou Aya’s magical energy. Second only to the Goddess Astraera’s power, she was the [Grand Magus] who could face one on one with even the Demon God himself if it was only a competition of magic.
Beside her, both Ms Francesca and Feirona were looking at her, completely entranced. As users of magic themselves, they must have felt something.
In contrast, Mururu, who was pretty much indifferent to magic was simply thinking about how much she was shining. I think that’s not really right either though.
[As usual, her magical energy is incredible.]
“I know.”
Agreeing to Ermenhilde’s voice, I looked towards the sky.
The thickening clouds were slowly gathering around Aya and the grey clouds had mostly turned into dark black ones. The pressure around increased so much that even I who had no magical energy could clearly sense it. And the torrent of magical energy, not wind, made the leaves and plants around sway. The speed of the clouds also grew faster as they swirled right above us.
Suddenly, as if letting the whole world know, with a huge sound that resounded till deep inside my own stomach, thunder roared. The black clouds had transformed into thunder clouds. Seeing flashes inside the black clouds, I could see thin lightning within.
“———”
Looking closely, I could see Aya’s lips moving.
She was chanting the spell to fire the lightning strike magic. To use magic, imagination alone is enough but to make that magic stronger, effective, have more range and to manifest the magic with stability, it was necessary to make that imagination distinct and vivid.
For that purpose, [spells] were used. When used it to obliterate the countless demons that had once filled the skies, and when she used it to pierce through the Dragon King Fafnir’s scales, the lightning that had made even the Demon Lord falter, she had used this spell.
The reason she spoke in such a soft voice that we couldn’t hear was not because she’s in some deep concentration or anything but simply because she’s too embarrassed to shout the incantation out loud that’s all. Well, it’s not that I don’t understand.
It would be a bit too much to have two with us who’d shout out the names of their attacks loudly everytime. In fact, even us fighting together with him felt embarrassed. Shouting out your attack names was pretty useless in real life. True, it raises your spirit and confidence and I do get that it might help you put more strength behind the swing of your sword. But, it also gives away what you’re about to do so it was basically the same as giving away your trump card.
………..but even when I explained that, he didn’t listen to me saying that it was the spirit that matters more. Seriously how much more effort do they put in it?
[What’s wrong?]
“I just recalled something I didn’t want to.”
[Did something happen?]
“It’s something back then.”
Next time I see Koutarou, I really should punch him in the face at least once. While thinking that, I caressed the handle of the knife on my waist.
“What incredible magical energy.”(fran)
Ms Francesca who came beside me spoke that in a dazed voice. With her left hand she held down her hair that was blowing from the torrent of magical energy while suing her right hand to keep her skirt down. If the weather was nice, those black stockings covering her beautiful legs would be a sight to see as well though. Mururu who had her hair tied didn’t have any problem but even Feirona was using his hand to keep his hair down. Really, long hair can be a bit troublesome at such times.
” I don’t think I can use magic like that.”(fran)
“Well, that’s because it’s Aya who’s using it after all.”
“Yes.”
Even though she spoke that easily, her face showed a frustrated expression. I could easily understand what was going through her mind. I’m not her but…I know what it feels like to see a genius right in front of you who was also younger than you.
Because I was the same.
I was also once envious of Souichi and others. That’s why, somehow, I could understand her feelings from just her expression and her tone.
“It’s fine. You have things, only you can do as well.”(renji)
“Eh?”
“Aya is Aya. You don’t need to become Aya as well, is what I’m saying.”
[What do you mean?]
“……..Why are you the one asking that?”
When I sighed like that, I felt the wind making my mantle flutter become even stronger.
Raising a cute scream, Ms Francesca rolled up. Smiling on seeing her like that, I moved in front of her to protect her from the wind.
“Mururu, don’t get blown away by the wind, okay?”
“I’ll be fine.”
Saying that, she moved along with Feirona and hid behind a nearby rock.
We should do the same. When I thought that, an even louder thunder roared.
“I’m starting.”
Aya declared.
The Arch Griffin was still focused towards the sky and had not noticed us yet.
She can do it.
I was confident of that.
“Ms Francesca, be sure to look carefully.”(renji)
“Wha, Yes!”
“This is the magic that destroyed around a thousand demons in an instant.”
A thunderous roar resounded that could make ones legs feel paralyzed. The instant Ms Francesca gripped on to my mantle, the world was enveloped in light.
A light that really made one think that followed by an explosion that could tear your eardrums. The shockwave went through me and for just a second, I lost all sense of balance. I couldn’t even tell whether I was even standing or lying on the ground. I couldn’t even keep my eyes open due to the intense light. Using my right hand to cover my eyes, I used my left hand to support Ms Francesca who was desperately clinging to endure the shockwave.
The body-numbing shockwave only lasted for an instant. The bright light also died down and I hit my ears to regain my lost sense of hearing. That alone made me feel incredibly dizzy.
My senses didn’t come back instantly but I was able to endure it without falling down. That’s how big of a shockwave it was. Let alone taking it directly, it affected us even though we were standing here so far. This was Aya’s magic. Even though this was still far from her full strength, we still took this much damage. If we had been even a bit closer, it would have been actually dangerous for us as well.
“Re-nji……sama?”(fran)
“I’m here. Looks like you’re fine as well.”(renji)
My mantle was pulled strongly. Seeing her move trying to look for me like that, I replied while putting more strength in my supporting embrace while holding her.
When, I felt something cold on my cheeks. The moment I realized it was rain, it began to rain fiercely. Because of the lightning strike, I guess it’s normal for rain to follow. Before we catch a cold, we should get some shelter—-
“Renji-san! It’s coming!!”
Aya shouted loud enough to not get drowned down by the storm.
“Ermenhilde!”
Instantly, I forced my still slightly numb limbs to tightly grip the long sword created out of magical energy. At the same time, a wall of rock manifested in front of us. And the next instant, the rock wall creaked violently. Even though it was a wall created by Aya, it was already cracking.
There was only one enemy here who could use such a strong attack.
“Ms Francesca! Go towards Feirona and——”
Before I could complete my sentence, I felt a gaze on me.
Looking on top of the wall of rock, I saw it.
A Griffin three times bigger than normal. I couldn’t tell before from far away but——this was much bigger than any I’ve seen before. It must be really old. It’s eyes were staring at me without moving and I’m sure it would come down to attack me if I made even a slight movement. It’s throat was shrinking and eyes were wide.
It’s angry. I could tell that from experience.
At what?
—-at us, who tried to kill it.
[Renji!]
“tch!”
Was I too overwhelmed by the pressure, finally I regained control of my body. Returning to my senses from Ermenhilde’s words, I held on to Ms Francesca and jumped backwards. She raised a cute scream that really didn’t match the situation but I ignored it.
The next moment, the griffin came down where we had been standing. The fact that it didn’t seem bothered by the rain was probably because of the wind barrier surrounding it. Normally, that barrier would be invisible but due to the rain, I could see it right now. That barrier could even deflect arrows.
Seriously, this thing is way too big. It might even be bigger than a ogre with just its main body alone. As it spread its wings wide to intimidate us, the pressure I felt was similar to what I felt when I first faced the Dragon king Fafnir.
There’s no chance I could win.
A mere griffin. It was just one of the many species of demonic beasts. But even so, the griffin in front of me had such a presence.
My eyes met its eyes. I could clearly sense a ‘will’ in them. Other than anger, there was clear distinct will in its eyes. It was judging us as enemies.
With a eased movement, it turned its eyes to look behind me. Probably towards Aya. Then, it turned to look at Feirona and Mururu.
“Ren—-”
[Stay quiet! Do not talk.]
Ermenhilde shut up Ms Francesca who was probably about to speak to me. She didn’t want even the slightest of things to stimulate this griffin.
And in the meantime, I thought. How did this griffin survive?
Aya definitely struck at it with lightning. Even if it was a surprise attack, it was a magic that even surprised Fafnir. No matter how old this griffin was, a mere demonic beast should not have been able to survive it.
Yet, it is alive and in front of us. I could only think of two possibilities. Either this griffin has some special resistance towards lightning or through some method, it was able to nullify the lightning.
And there are three things I know right now. First, it survived Aya’s magic. Secondly, now that it has come so close, Aya can’t use magic on it again. And lastly–
“Mururu! Stay beside Aya and Ms Francesca!!”(renji)
I have no choice but to face it head on now.
Letting go of Ms Francesca on to the ground, I ran towards the Arch Griffin with full speed. It must have been expecting it as it showed no sign of panic.
It’s head turned towards me and I could tell it was gathering strength in its limbs to attack. Resolved to face it directly, I put strength in my grip holding the sword as well. Feirona, trying to support me, launched an arrow but as expected, it was deflected by the wind barrier.
It raised its right limb. The timing was perfect. If I were to continued running like I am, I will get crushed under its foot. In the time I reached it, I desperately thought. It’s an enemy that could resist Aya’s magic. I am now not even sure that I could hurt it at all. We’re going to definitely need Aya’s magic to kill it for sure.
I know her full strength. If she were to use her magic at full strength, this whole area will turn into a burnt ground. If that happens, we’ll end up as cinders along with it.
“Let’s do this, Ermenhilde!”
[What are you planning to do!?]
I rushed right in front of the griffin, and at the same time, it brought down its leg at me. Abandoning even the thought of taking that attack head on, I focused solely on dodging. I concentrated. And thought.
I focused on each and every movement of the griffin; so much that my head hurt, and came to the conclusion that I couldn’t dodge it. Even if I can see the attack, my body won’t move in time. Or rather, my reactions are still dull due to the shockwave from the lightning earlier. I swung my blade like baseball bat and slashed at its right leg.
Holding the sword with both hands, I used my full strength yet my hands went completely numb and the divine sword was blown away.
Still, I was able to avert that attack—–but, with incredible reaction speed, it used its left leg to strike from the other side, outside of my view. Feeling an impact that made me wonder if my right arm had been broken, and unable to endure, I was about to be blown away but I used my dragon bone knife to stab at the ground and create some distance between us. It’s a situation where my body moved faster than I could think this time. Looking at its left leg, I could see torn grassroots entwined around it. Aya must have used them to obstruct its attack but it must have torn itself free by force. And yet, it still held so much power. If I had taken a direct hit, what would have happened to me?
Quickly standing up, and ignoring the feeling of dizziness and nausea that I got from just one attack, I leaped on the griffin. Something hot, not pain, ran through my right upper arm but I ignored it for now. If I did start worrying about it, I won’t be able to concentrate further.
I didn’t have the time to care about myself. Grabbing the thicker than expected fur on its body, I held on tightly so as to not fall down. I didn’t even have the time to put my knife back into its sheath so I held it between my teeth. As I pulled my head closer towards its fur, I could smell the distinct beastly smell.
[Cover us!]
Since I had the knife in my mouth, Ermenhilde gave the directions in my place.
At the same time, the Griffin rampaged to shake me off. But it only tried to get rid of me by unfolding its wings and kicking the ground just once. Instantly, it used its experience and instincts of having lived several years to switch to using magic to blow me off.
As I prepared myself for the impact, at the same time the griffin also stopped its struggle. In that moment, I used all of my strength, as if trying to rip off its fur, to pull myself on top of its back. It was then I finally realized that the griffin’s limbs had been trapped by grass roots. It must have been Aya and Ms Francesca but it quickly ripped them off with brute strength.
[So, what are you going to do?]
What should I do? It’s great that I was able to climb on top of it as if I was riding it but really, what should I do next? I did all this in the naïve hope that its attacks won’t reach me here but it also made me realize that I had no way to kill it decisively either.
I put the knife I had within my teeth back in its sheath and drew my mithril sword. And used all my strength to stab it into the griffin’s back. According to my experience, if I stabbed it all the way through, it should pierce the heart but—–before all that, my sword was unable to even pierce its flesh.
It felt like stabbing at something made of hard rubber. My strength wasn’t enough to pierce through its stiff skin. Seriously, I felt like crying at my own powerlessness.
In the meantime, the griffin, finally free of its constraints, began to move. It felt similar to when I am riding a horse somewhat; so weird. It must have come to the conclusion that I was unable to do anything even while riding its back as it looked towards Feirona who had been shooting arrows at it for a while.
It moved with ease, probably because it thinks that we have no way to fight against it anymore.
“Renji! Do you think you can do something about it already!?”(elf)
“You sure make it sound like its easy!!”(renji)
While shooting arrows constantly as if to keep the griffin back, Feirona spoke that.
Seriously. As a man, it sure is pathetic to not have any sort of finishing move, really. Muttering to myself. I looked down towards the griffin who continued to move even with me on its back.
“Don’t underestimate me, you shitty bird!”(renji)
Throwing away the mithril sword, I drew the dragon knife and held in my left hand. In my right, I manifested a knife made of Ermenhilde’s magical energy. The blade was silver as usual, with a jade coloured line running down it. The covenants released were just two.
(Part 2)
Confirming that, I used all my strength to stab its back with the 2 knives in my other hand.
Instantly, the griffin, as if neighing, twisted its back.
If I lack strength, then I’ll depend on pure sharpness instead. The two sharp knives pierced through its tough skin. But there wasn’t much blood loss. It must be that since I lacked strength, the knives didn’t go in very deep.
It struggled about trying to make me fall again but I was able to hold on due to the help of the knives stabbing into its back. Ignoring the restraints and arrows of Aya and Feirona respectively, it ran around trying to make me fall. As a result, not just me but even Aya and others were left free to act but it must have felt that they won’t be able to do anything much anyway. And suddenly, it spread its wings.
“Tch!”
Realizing what it was about to do, I balanced myself on its back by lying flat on it and put strength in the arms holding on to the knife. My right arm pained dully but I grit my teeth and endured it.
The next moment, feeling a floating sensation, I closed my eyes for just a few seconds.
And when I opened my eyes again, as expected——-the ground was far down below. I was in the air.
“Alright. For the time being, it’s all according to plan.”(renji)
[………It is?]
Ermenhilde spoke sounding suspicious.
Well, if I was in her place, I’d ask the same. But I did intend to somehow make this griffin take flight, though I didn’t mean to fly together with it.
“In the sky, Aya can use her magic without holding back after all.”
[I see.]
Did she really not realize that? While tightening my grip on the knives, I let out a sigh.
Somehow, we’ve come this far. We should be fine.
[So? How do you plan on getting back down?]
“How, indeed.”
[Try to not die in such a ridiculous manner, will you?]
“Don’t call it ridiculous. I’m really desperate here, you know?”
[I know but…….I’d be happy if you’d start treating yourself more seriously as well.]
“Even though you’re the one who is always asking me to act like a hero?”
[That’s true but this is a bit different.]
She spoke in a fed up voice.
Yeah. I’ll say this again but I would say the same if I were in her place.
I did consider just jumping down but there’s no one here who could easily catch me right now. Aya’s smart so she should have already guessed my aim and should be already preparing her magic. I should ask Feirona and Ms Francesca to ready a magic that could catch me safely.
I’ll only get one chance at this but there’s no other choice either.
I really have only bad memories of flying. I have experience of flying along with Anastasia but I recalled that I almost fell down even then. What a bad thing to remember.
Why do such bad memories always remain in the depths of your mind? And another bad memory will be added today as well. The moment I thought that, the griffin turned upside down trying to make me fall. Considering it has the physique like that of a bird, I didn’t expect it to be able to do such an action so I was surprised making me late in properly grabbing on to its back. Combined with the increasing pain in my right arm, I had to hold on with just one arm.
My body almost stiffened from the fear of getting thrown in the air as I desperately put strength in my left arm. It must be able to fly upside down due to the power of the Sylph wind spirit but as a bird—–as an animal with wings, it shouldn’t be able to fly like this for very long.
And I was indeed correct as it quickly turned its body back up normally. I hurried to get back on its back and this time, without any hesitation or shame, tightly hugged on to its back with all my strength.
[………You, you okay?]
“Do I look fucking okay to you!?”
While feeling fear that made not just my heart beat faster but actually make me break into cold sweat, I quickly fixed my breathing back to normal.
Most probably, on more time……no it’ll keep on doing this till I fall off.——-I felt like crying just thinking that.
“I am definitely never ever going to fly again!”
[I feel like you said something similar in the past as well though.]
Oh shut up.
[But still, in this situation, there’s not much you can do…….]
“Let me—–”
–Think. Before I could even finish my sentence, the griffin inverted again. This time since I was ready, I didn’t panic but as expected, there was a limit to my leg strength and my lower half flew in the air again.
And looking the other way, I saw another griffin heading towards us.
“——–!?!”
I couldn’t speak.
The shock from seeing that one alive made me only think bad of what was ahead of us.
I immediately let go of the knives. Instantly, I was hit by a floating sensation that made my body go stiff and my throat cramped unable to even scream.
“Ermenhilde!!”
Forcing down my fear, I manifested the god slaying weapon in my left hand. It was in the form of a long bending weapon—–a whip.
I cracked the whip and made it grab the leg of the other griffin that had appeared. Though I had avoided falling down to my death, I still had no way of going back to the ground. On top of that, since I had come out of the arch griffins wind barrier, I was instantly soaked by the rain. Though it cooled down my body, it also made body stiffer.
Marking me, who was hanging in the air, as an easy target, the arch griffin rotated.
It’s coming.
I don’t even have the time to resolve myself properly but I don’t plan on giving up either. Making my body sway as I prepared to dodge it, my whole vision suddenly turned white.
It was due to the flash of lightning. Since I had moved away from the arch griffin, there was no reason for Aya to hesitate anymore. The surprise lightning painted the world with white light.
“Shit.”
Cursing, and blinded, I began climbing up towards the griffin I was hanging on to with my whip.
But I was blinded for only a second, and I soon saw it.
The wind barrier that should be able to avoid arrows at most had deflected the lightning strike as well. I’m not knowledgeable enough to tell whether this was scientifically possible or not but, it was a fact that the griffin had indeed deflected even that strong lightning strike magic. And I doubt that a griffin would be knowledgeable about the theories and principles behind lightning so it means that it deflected it based on pure instinct.
And soon enough, the griffin passed through the place I was hanging before. I confirmed that with my still not fully recovered eyesight. It should be the same for it as well. Even if it did avert the lightning, it should still be blinded by the light.
I think back when it found us the first time as well, it didn’t instantly attack us because it was still temporarily blinded.
But even after knowing that, it was of no help to me right now.
I hope that after failing two times, Aya has realized that lightning won’t work on this arch griffin.
“Ermenhilde, can your voice reach Aya?”
[Sorry, she’s too far.]
It can’t be helped then. I’ll have to trust her and focus on my own survival.
I don’t intend on dying here. I’ll live and return back to the ground………i felt like crying for being the only having to face such a harsh reality.
Climbing to the top of my whip, I grabbed the griffin’s legs. But the griffin didn’t like that and began to struggle trying to throw me off.
“Tch!”
Clicking my tongue, I dissipated the whip into jade green magical energy. In its stead, I unsheathed the dagger on my waist and stabbed it into the griffin’s legs to hang by it.
Somehow, I have suppressed my fear of falling……..well, not really but at least this should help me in avoiding suddenly falling down. And the arch griffin, having recovered its eyesight already, headed towards the defenceless me.
And this time, I could see multiple transparent spheres around it which were deflecting the rain. Wind bullets. Normally they’d be invisible but the rain allowed me to see them.
——-that said, given my current situation, I can’t really dodge them properly.
[It’s coming!]
“I know!!”
Yelling back to Ermenhilde, I thought of what to do. I thought and thought but——really, there’s nothing I can do in this situation.
I looked down—towards the ground. Right below me, though not very dense, was a thicket. It’s only moderately tall but I am not in the position to be choosy. If I stay like this, I’d get shot down by the wind bullets.
If I have to fall, it’d be better to fall by my own decision. Since it was winter, the fact that there weren’t many leaves on the trees made me very nervous but I really didn’t have a choice.
[Renji!]
“———-”
The moment I took a deep breath, Ermenhilde’s voice came at the same time. With a half-assed resolve, I threw myself in the air. The heavy rain pelted my body. Yet the cold rain felt pleasant to my body probably because staying near death for so long had my body hotter. It cleared my thoughts.
The 2 griffins chased after the falling me.
So fast. They looked like two meteors. Not that I have ever seen a meteor fall.
“Come at me—–”
Jade green coloured magical energy gathered in my left hand and formed into a bow. A jade green bow with golden decorations. Opposite to its look, it was a simple construct. Gripping this bow that focused more on practicality, I pulled the string with my right hand.
A jade green arrow formed automatically. While falling down, I aimed. My back could feel the ground getting closer and closer but I didn’t get impatient. The worst thing I could do right now would be to panic and miss.
It’ll be fine.
[Renji.]
“Yeah.”
Her voice, was calm. Was it due to her trust in me or was it because she didn’t think I’d die here?
It’ll be fine.
I can do this.
………if it’s us, we can do this.
Like hell I’d die here.
I promised. That I’d live, return, and play chess with her.
I’ll protect my promise. This time, definitely………..i’ll keep my promise.
——-Lend me your strength, Ermenhilde—-Eru.
Aiming at the arch griffin, I fired the arrow. A streak of light tore through the gloomy sky. The jade green arrow was averted by the arch griffin’s wind barrier only to turn and pierce the other griffin, probably the arch griffin’s male partner, right in the head.
For a second, the arch griffin’s movement stopped. It rotated mid air and looked towards the limply falling male griffin. It’s attention swayed away from me—-and from Aya.
The stopped arch griffin was, without paying any heed to the wind barrier, pulverized by a stone spear. Yes, pulverized. As if it had had a car accident, pieces of meat flew all over the air. Looking towards the place where the stone spear came from, three giant golden magic circles were present. They seemed to be lined up looking like a gun barrel.
While seeing those golden magic circles dissipate, I fell.
Gritting my teeth, and rolling up my body, I tried to reduce the impact as much as I could. While enduring through the pain of branches hitting my back, something soft carried me right before I hit the ground.
My mantle that had the protection of Sylph should have lessened the momentum of falling but it wasn’t nearly enough. Every impact made me feel like my body would fall apart, I stirred on the ground unable to even groan in pain.
“Thank god you are safe.”
That familiar voice belonged to my comrade. Opening my eyes weakly, I saw Mururu’s face, who was probably holding me. Looking around, I could tell that I was slightly away from the place where I had fallen judging by the broken branches lying on the ground.
Probably, she must have grabbed me mid fall I think. It’s a very Mururu-like way of saving someone. If I had hit the ground directly, even with the Sylph’s protection, I wouldn’t have been okay.
“Do…….Do..I lo..look….okay…to..you?”
“You’re alive.”
Saying that, she smiled. It wasn’t just my imagination that her smile also seemed to have a sense of relief in it. Seeing her smile, I also let go of strength from my body.
[True, it’s as she says.]
“It hurts….so much…..that..I could cry though.”
When I tried to move my body a bit, pain ran through all of my body making me freeze. But the pain was proof that I was alive.
But still,
“It sure feels weird to be held like this by you.”(renji)
“is that so?”(mururu)
After all, she was just 15 yrs old, a young girl like her appearance would suggest.
As someone who is 28 yrs old……..almost 29, it feels weird as a man to be held like this by a girl; it’s feels surreal. Having Mururu put me down, I sat down on the ground resting my back on a tree. And then finally, I took a breather.
“I’ve had enough of flying in the sky.”(renji)
“Un. I can’t help you in the sky either.”(mururu)
“And falling down is super scary.”
“……..that actually looked a bit fun though.”
Oh please.
Unable to even pass out due to the pain, I waited for Ms Francesca and the others to come for us. I could just have Mururu carry me all the way back but it’d be so embarrassing that I’d never be able to walk openly in Merdiore ever again.
My body that grown hot due to the intense battle had also cooled down from the rain. And it probably wasn’t just my imagination that it hurt even more now.
All my limbs were still functioning, and as far as I can tell, though all of my body hurts, it’s not like I’m having trouble breathing or anything. I probably didn’t break any bones either. This is just my own judgement but I think I was really lucky that I am hurt only this much even after falling like that from the sky.
[Hm?]
Just as Mururu’s wet ears twitched, Ermenhilde sensed a presence at the same time. There, finally, I heard the sound of grass being crushed as someone walked towards us.
Looking up, it was Feirona and the others.
“Yo.”
“Seriously. Just looking at you makes me full of worry.”(elf)
“I have no excuses.”
In the first place, I never intended to go flying like that.
“For some time, I really don’t want to go flying again.”(renji)
“So you do intend to go flying sometime later again?”(elf)
“Yeah, at least one more time.”
To cross over to Abenelm, I need Fafnir to carry me there. So even in the worst case, I need to fly one more time…….considering that I have to return as well, it’d be twice I guess.
Just thinking about it made me feel depressed. I could have Koutarou carry me tehre with teleport magic but since I don’t understand the theory behind it at all, it honestly scares me. If possible, I don’t want to use that method. Rather than teleportation……….I guess both methods aren’t really good.
“Hm so, let’s return shall we?”
“We need to take care of the nest as well.”
“……….Oh yeah.”
I really want to go back already and sleep on the bed of the inn.
Standing up with Feirona’s help, I took support of his shoulder to walk. Ms Francesca also helped me stand up while making a worried face.
“Ms Francesca as well, you did well today.”
[I don’t think it means much coming from you when you’re looking like that you know.]
“Seriously.”
When I gave shrug as usual, I ended up groaning in pain instead.
“I was saved by you again.”(fran)
“Don’t worry about it. That wasn’t really my intention any way.”(renji)
When I said that, she looked up towards me puzzled. Though I can’t shrug, I can laugh right………I hope I don’t give a stiff smile.
“We just fought together, that’s all.”(renji)
“fufu. Yes……yes.”(fran)
“But yeah, this time, the burden on Renji might have been a bit too much.”(elf)
” Not just ‘a bit’ you know?”(renji)
Next time, I’ll have Feirona work hard. If it’s this guy, he’ll probably do everything better than me anyway.
Everyone gave a slight smile.
That’s how it should be. Rather than have them worry, seeing them smile puts me more at ease.
“Renji-san.”
Aya held my free right hand.
It was shivering, not due to the cold…..I think.
“Thanks Aya. You saved me.”
My whole body hurt but I ignored it and gave a smile.
Seriously, being an adult, or rather, a man makes you such a show-off. No matter how much it hurts, you still try to endure it and smile.
Looking at me like that……while sighing, Aya also gave a smile.
Shikkaku Translations 