Dawn light swept across the land. The elf girl lifted her brows and ended her chant in a proud tone.
"Luminous Wind!"
Countless spheres of light burst into existence around Ryuu, twining with the green gale and streaking down like falling meteors, hammering the monster without pause. The magic tore through its yellow-green hide, dazzling flashes erupting amid the thunderous blasts.
Just as the monster could no longer withstand the assault and lurched back with its jaws wide open, Bell saw it clearly. Deep inside that grotesque maw, a strangely colored Magic Stone caught the light.
"The Magic Stone is three meters behind the teeth!"
Bell immediately shared the information.
From Ryuu's angle she couldn't see it, but she didn't doubt his words at all. The last remaining light orb, carrying her trust, shot straight toward the Magic Stone.
Its skin blew apart, and the monster let out one long, shrill scream. Under the elf girl's unflinching gaze, the Magic Stone shattered, and both monsters dissolved into drifting black mist.
"We won..."
Heith's eyes widened in disbelief. Who was this powerful elf girl? And how was the boy connected to her?
"Um… what's your relationship?"
The fierce battle was already behind them, but the image of the elf girl holding Bell still lingered in Heith's mind. Unable to suppress her curiosity, she finally asked.
"I'm just a shop clerk passing by."
Ryuu didn't lie, but she intentionally dodged anything involving the boy. After everything that had happened, she couldn't sort out her own feelings toward him. Trust and fondness were definitely there, but whenever she tried to trace where they came from, Syr's tear-streaked face rose before her eyes. Unable to make sense of it, Ryuu chose not to say more.
"Wait… you're from the Hostess of Fertility?!" Heith burst out.
"...."
Ryuu was exasperated. She hadn't expected someone to recognize her, and whenever things involved the boy, her thoughts turned hazy.
Heith watched the silent elf girl and seemed to catch on.
"Then it's fine. More importantly, you two were way too much just now, using me as bait."
"I'm sorry. I couldn't think of a better plan," Bell said earnestly.
"No, no, Bell, you don't need to apologize. You're only level 1 and still came back to help so much."
The one who should be apologizing was that green-haired elf who'd grabbed the boy without the slightest remorse. Heith kept that thought to herself. She ran her fingers through her long pink hair, thinking about how to get the elf beside her to hurry up and leave.
"Actually, I've been grounded lately. Since I'm out on a rare trip, how about grabbing breakfast together..."
After spending so long with her bloodthirsty companions, Heith finally realized that even a simple invitation like this could make her heart race.
A faint morning breeze swept across the land.
Ryuu had planned to leave.
News of monsters appearing on the surface would spread quickly. Staying here would only draw more attention to her.
More importantly, because she had gone out for morning training, she was wearing short sleeves and shorts, her arms and legs completely exposed.
Sweat from the battle had soaked through her clothes. Not only did Ryuu want to change into something clean, she was painfully aware of the boy's gaze.
But when she heard the Golden Witch's slightly intimate invitation, Ryuu froze, staring blankly at the boy.
Amid the tangled feelings in the two girls' eyes—
Before Bell could answer—
The ground began to shake.
More violently, more fiercely than before.
!
"No… no way!"
Heith stared ahead in shock.
Through the rising dust, eight serpentine creatures burst out like bamboo shoots after rain.
"Roarrrrr!!!"
They ripped through the earth, gaping maws roaring as they surrounded the trio.
Bell had expected this.
The reason he hadn't immediately whisked the two girls away was his fear that running would put innocent people at risk.
But there were far too many of them now.
Their previous tactic was useless against a net like this.
"Wh-what do we do?!"
Heith grabbed her staff and pressed herself behind the boy.
Ryuu frowned as the human girl used the moment to lean against him. "If you could stop that rude behavior, you might try helping him break through."
"I'm not a vanguard!"
Even in this hopeless situation, Heith felt strangely reassured.
Just because the boy was next to her?
As the shrieks intensified, countless tentacles and fangs came surging toward them.
And Heith's inexplicable sense of safety was proven true in a completely unexpected way.
Bell's earlier retreat hadn't been out of fear. It had been a well-thought-out decision.
He had spent his money to seek help from a reliable local resident.
That man reported to the Guild on his behalf and submitted a commission.
That was why Bell had stayed here.
If rescuers came, running all over the place would only make it harder for them to find him.
"—Harbinger of the end, the white snow. Blow with the wind before the twilight."
As if answering the boy's foresight, a proud chant rang out from afar.
At the height of despair, Riveria arrived alone on the battlefield.
"Closing light, the freezing land."
The elf princess's voice was clear and enchanting. Even as she ran, her breath remained perfectly steady.
Parallel chanting—this advanced technique flowed flawlessly from her lips.
A storm whipped up a killing cold, snow-laden winds seeming to freeze time itself.
Riveria had not come for the reward, but because of Eina's plea.
She had planned to observe the Sword Princess's morning training, but the half-elf girl had run to her in tears, saying the boy was in danger.
Because Eina's information came from some unknown passerby, Riveria had doubted it at first.
Monsters appearing on Orario's surface were impossible. Even more impossible was them attacking a rookie adventurer.
But Eina's next words sent the elf princess charging out the door.
This commission was undoubtedly from that boy.
Its content was:
"I cannot repay you for now, but if someone will save those two girls, as payment, Bell Cranel is willing to offer everything."
Riveria's emerald hair billowed with concentrated magic power, and a magic circle of the same color moved beneath her steps.
Light churned and shimmered overhead.
Every Viola monster turned toward her.
With terrifying screeches, they rushed toward that overwhelming surge of magic.
"Blizzard, the three severe winters - my name is Alf!"
The magic circle expanded sharply.
With the dignity of a princess, Riveria declared the spell's name.
"Wynn Fimbulvetr!"
In an instant—
Three blizzards swept across the battlefield.
Every monster was swallowed by pure white frost, not even a scream escaping their mouths.
On the blue-white frozen ground, several ice sculptures stood silent and unmoving.
"We're saved..."
Heith stared at the overwhelming display of magic, too stunned to say anything.
She didn't notice that the elf girl beside her wasn't looking at the monsters.
Ryuu's gaze was fixed on Bell.
As if she finally understood the boy's thoughts and everything he had done.
A faint, unfamiliar emotion flickered in her eyes.
One she herself had never noticed before.
...
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