Chapter 154

I jumped out of the tower and ran towards the guard house. While I rushed through the sky, another ball of fire shot towards me from the same direction as the first. I switched on ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ as soon as I saw it, and my body moved along with the images in my brain. My mind was always one step ahead, which gave me a power that was like predicting the future.

“Hyaahh!”

Thanks to ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None,’ I knew that it would work. This leg that was aided by not only silver and green wind, but also blue magic, could kick back even a fireball.

Well, turns out I had got one thing wrong. I was bound by the notion that ice was weak to fire. But the laws of magic were special in this world. Ice was weak to water and fire. However, fire was also weak to water and ice. While ice could be melted, it could also extinguish a fire. In any case, it would be about brute force. It all depended on who had more energy.

“It’s actually quite simple!”

Bandits started to fire off arrows at me from the ground. But I dodged them in the air as a tail of silver and green streaked behind. I was on a nonstop course to the guard house.

And then came the fire magic again. This time it wasn’t a large fireball, but numerous bullets that blocked my path. I had to twist my body, jump over and even kick them. And those that I couldn’t avoid, I cut away with my great sword. An ordinary sword would have melted, but this sword was carved from the bones of a tempest whale. A legendary monster that was long extinct. It would take a lot more than fire to damage it.

By the time my vision cleared again, I had a good view of the guard house. Eve was standing on a mountain of bricks and glaring at me. Daniela was nowhere in sight. I sighed in relief, knowing that she was likely still safe.

However, it really was just a matter of time. I needed to get rid of the root of all our trouble; Eve. Or they would always chase after us. I would crush these bandits that were disguised as guards, find Daniela, and cross the river. If I could do that, we would have won.

“Eve…!”

I ran towards the target. With my sword on my shoulder and in a lowered posture, I increased my speed.

Eve’s hands started to gather magic energy. She was likely going to strike with her combination of fire and wind again. I had nowhere to run the first time, but we were out in the open now. There was nothing to stop me. The field was mine.

“DIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!”

Once again, the enormous red tornado was unleashed. I maintain my speed as I dodged it with the minimal amount of movement. However, the tornado swerved violently every time Eve moved her hands to chase after me. Still, the movement was relatively slow. Anything that is powerful yet lacks speed is not a threat to me.

The scenery seems to rush passed me as I increase my speed. My sword is filled with blue magic as I raise it above my head, then it swings down as Eve looks at me with eyes wide with shock.

“HHh…!”

“Tsk!”

Eve clicked her tongue in annoyance, deactivated the magic, and rolled out of the way. My sword cut through the air and landed in a pile of bricks, where Eve had been a second ago. There was a deafening crash as the pile of bricks went up in a cloud of dust and debris.

It was my own doing, but the dust was irritating. I couldn’t see anything… Well, at least it meant she wouldn’t see me either. However, she was the one who had dodged my attack. It was clear which of us was likely to attack first. And so I dropped the great sword and jumped back. Just then, a flash of red shot past me.

I activated Presence Detection in order to find Eve’s position as I generated a sword of ice. This, I launched towards Eve. This was a magic I had devised during my fight with Mordred, the Frost Sword Straightshot.

“GGggg…!”

I hear her groaning. I didn’t know where I had hit her, but hit her I did. In that case, there was only one thing to do. She was not likely to be able to dodge this while the pain made her sluggish!

“Icicle Rain!!”

Countless ice arrows came raining down from the sky. The arrows struck the ground, causing it to thunder and quiver as if it were an earthquake. Then I unleashed Legs of the Forest Wolf. The silver and green wind bellowed, pushing away the dust clouds and exposing the entire scene of the former guard house.

The arrows that fell had turned the bricks into dust, which was now being cleanly blown away.

In the center of the now barren land, was Eve. She had created a shield of fire and had avoided the lethal blow. She was a tough one. Still, there were several ice arrows piercing her arms and legs. As she no longer had the substitute tool, she could not allow herself to be killed.

“Hahhh…hahhh… Ggg…I underestimated you… I thought you were nothing but her shadow…I was wrong…”

“Actually, you’re not. She’s very strong.”

“Hmph… I am aware. But you are far more dangerous…”

“Thanks.”

I had speed, but was not great with magic. I didn’t think that was enough to beat someone who was truly strong. However, I could make it work if they were at my level or lower. My own mistake had been mistaking how magic worked here. But now that I felt that I could win, there was no fear or worry in me.

“Allowing you to live would be putting an obstacle in Daniela’s path. And so you will have to die.”

“Hmph… But can you really…?”

“What…?”

Eve searched in her pockets as if to take something out. I unsheathed the Glampanzer at my waist and dashed forward in order to cut off her head before she could finish what she was doing.

“Too slow!”

“Wha-…gggah…”

Eve had slammed it onto the ground. There was a flash of light that filled my vision. I didn’t know flash grenades existed here!

“Haha! Is this your first time seeing one?’

“Damn it. Get back here!”

Her presence was growing smaller. She was getting away…!

I chased after her while relying on Presence Detection to see. But as I did so, I sensed that others were approaching me from the sides. Humans. They must be bandits… Reinforcements. Then I had to quickly get Eve and…

Hmm?!

“Ggaaah!!”

A sharp pain ran through my left leg. It forced me to stop and search for the reason for it. My hand hit something stick-like. A chill ran up my back as I checked the other side and felt the same stick.

“Damn it…!”

The reinforcements were archers…! They would have had to be special arrowheads to pierce through wind dragon armor. If I kept going like this, without being able to see them, they would make a pincushion of me in no time. It pained me to do it, but I had to retreat…!

And I must do it quickly. It was just as I activated Legs of the Forest Wolf and attempted to run in the opposite direction. Another human had entered the field I was covering with Presence Detection. While not quite as fast as me, it moved at an incredible speed towards the four reinforcement guards. And in a flash, they were dead.

Who was it? A friend? It was coming towards me now. I focused on it with Presence Detection. Ah…so she had been hiding after all…

“You saved me…Daniela.”

“Damn it, Asagi. You always let your guard down.”

It was Daniela. I was so frantic that it had taken me awhile to realize it was her…

“…Ah, there’s no time to talk. Eve escape in that direction. Right now…I can’t see… I’ll catch up to you, so you go on ahead!”

“I will deal with her!”

I feel something soft and moist on my lips. Then she immediately pulled back and ran in the direction that Eve had gone. Damn it…

“I couldn’t ask for a more reliable partner.”

I sat down and let out a sigh. There was no one around me. Daniela had killed them all… I needed to rest a little and recover my eyesight. Then I would go after her. Daniela would be fine until then. I couldn’t help but smile.

□ □ □ □

As I rested in Vent’s house in order to recover my magic, I heard the sounds of fighting coming from outside. Surely it could only be from Asagi. There was no doubt about it. He would be fighting Eve.

“I have to go…”

“Hey, hey. You can’t go while you’re still like that.”

“My partner is out there.”

“Didn’t you say that you were lost? Who are you fighting?”

“…”

It would be hard to lie any further… But he was not likely our enemy. After all, he had not put poison in the food. He had the compassion to aid a complete stranger. I would have to talk to him and make him understand.

“I am not…lost.”

“I see. And…?”

“I…we are fighting against the captain of the guards.”

“What did you say?”

Vent’s expression grew harsh. Did I read him wrong…?

“Why didn’t you say this sooner! I would have gladly helped you crush her once and for all!”

“What…?”

“Don’t look so surprised. Half the people in this town are no friends of hers.”

Half, you say?

“Is that true?”

“Aye. Though, to be precise, the people on the other side of the river are against her. I’m working undercover, you see.”

“Well…you could have told me that sooner…”

“I guess that works for the both us then. Am I wrong?”

No. Not at all.

“So I suppose you weren’t merely tired from traveling?”

“Aye, my magic has been drained… Do you have any potions?”

“Just one. Well, it’s a very potent one, at least.”

So saying, Vent went to the back of his room and produced the bottle. Ordinary magic recovery potions were a dark blue color. A deep blue…which meant that it was low in quality. You could judge the quality of a potion by the brightness. Darker colors meant worse quality, while brighter colors meant higher quality. Of course, the higher the quality, the higher the price.

And the potion that Vent produced was a bright blue color, just like the sky. It would likely cost nearly thirty pieces of gold.

“But this is of the highest quality…are you certain?”

“I am. You are not from this town, but you are one of us. In my opinion, you have a right to drink it.”

And so he pushed the bottle into my hands. I accepted it, looked at him and then the potion, and hesitated.

“…I will pay you.”

“There’s no need to act so reserved. And hey, you complimented my cooking. This is to show my gratitude.”

The corner of his mouth lifted in a playful smile. I couldn’t help but laugh as well. Damn it…these good-natured people were everywhere.

“Very well, I will not act reserved then.”

“Aye.”

“And I will not pay you either.”

“Aye.”

“So there is no use regretting it later…”

“Just shut up and drink it!”

There was no more need to talk. I pulled off the cork. The scent drifted out of the bottle and tickled my nostrils, but there was no time to relish it. I downed it in one gulp. As one would expect from the finest quality, the sluggishness in my limbs vanished in a second. I now felt as if I could fly.

“I have never felt better. Eve does not have a chance.”

“That’s the spirit. Go and destroy that leader of the bandits!”

“Count on it! And thank you!”

Vent raised his thumb towards me and I returned the gesture before flying out of the house. He had helped me a great deal. I survived because of him and also escaped hunger. And now, I would be able to win this battle.

“I sense Asagi’s presence over there.”

There was immense magic flowing from his body. Spirits were lured by my jade magic and were gathering around me. And so I decided to ask for their help.

“I want to go to Asagi. Will you help me?”

“Sure.”

They waved their little hands and granted me the protection of the wind. Now, I could run almost as fast as Asagi. Yes, I would run faster than I ever have in my life. Wait for me, Asagi. I will reach you faster than you can blink.

And so I ran, cutting down the guards and kicking away any in my path. Running. To where Asagi waited.