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“Ha… Ha… Ha…”
Three months or so after leaving the frozen village, we climbed the mountain, taking deep and large breaths. It seems the Demon King was at the top of the mountain, so there was no detour.
Luckily, the slope wasn’t too steep, but the deep snow and the frozen ground were tricky. The careful footing required in case you suddenly tumble down to the bottom wears away at your physical and mental strength.
“Hang in there, both of you. We should be close.”
“Understood. Be careful, Tia.”
“I’m fine. I’ve created spikes on the soles of my shoes with spirit magic, so I won’t slip.”
“Eh, what? That’s unfair. What about me?”
“Sorry. It’s a magic that requires great precision and control, I can’t do it for other people’s feet.”
“Hahaha, Ed, if you keep walking on snowy roads for ten years, you won’t slip anymore, you know?”
“Oh… I… I’ll do my best…”
To inspire each other, we keep talking and move forward. The harsh mountain climb continued day after day… until finally, the blizzard in front of us disappeared.
“…!? We made it!?”
As if the world had changed, the white scenery that had been covering our view cleared up. And at the end of the clear vision was our goal, which we had been aiming for.
“Ed, look…”
“Yeah, I see it.”
A huge tree standing near the peak of the mountain, piercing the sky. The twisted trunk splays branches all around, constantly emitting something like white smoke from the tips. It seems to be spreading the blizzard all over the world like this.
“This must be the Demon King. He’s spreading the blizzard from the tips of his branches.”
“I wonder if it’s safe to approach it?”
“I don’t know. But I will go, even if I’m told it’s not safe. You two…”
“Of course we’ll go. It would be more troubling if we were told to go back now.”
“That’s right! It’s too late to be left behind now, right?”
“Haha, right. Then let’s go… carefully.”
We encouraged each other and resumed our journey. The ground was still uphill, but without the snow, the bare rocky surface strewn with large stones was visible. It’s easier to grip than the frozen ground, but if you fall, the damage would probably be greater.
Nevertheless, it’s much easier than climbing up slippery ground in a fierce blizzard. We steadily approach the Demon King… so far, the Demon King hasn’t moved.
“He’s not doing anything.”
“That’s right. I don’t know if he can’t or won’t.”
“With the power to cause such a blizzard, if he had assumed that enemies wouldn’t approach, he might be helpless if they do.”
Of course, nobody lets their guard down because of that. As we slowly approached the Demon King, when we advanced about halfway to the area where the blizzard had disappeared, finally the Demon King’s Tree….A branch of it slightly moved and pointed its tip towards us.
“Whoa!?”
“Harris-san!? Tia, get down!”
Suddenly, a blizzard-like ray of light attacked us. I activated [Hermes Dash] and caught up to Harris, who was blown away, hugging him mid-air and falling to the ground with my body underneath.
“Guhh!?”
“Ed!? Sorry, are you alright!?”
“Haaa, Haaa, no worries… Gahhh”
I answered with a smile to Harris, who was letting out a worried voice. I managed to activate [Invincible] just in time, so I was not injured, but I didn’t make it in time for [Orbit Reflecto]”, so I didn’t escape unscathed. I felt a dull pain in my stomach, but [Regenerate] healed it quickly.
“More importantly, can you run?”
“Of course. It’s unthinkable to give up now!”
“Great! Then I’ll clear the path!”
Harris’ fighting spirit was not extinguished, even though he was blown away helplessly. So my only job was to create the path for the hero.
“Tia, take care of Harris-san!”
“What about you, Ed?”
“I’m gonna cut down what’s in the way!”
With that, I jumped to the front with [Hermes Dash]. As expected, the target of the squirming branch in the far sky was directed towards us. Smiling inwardly at this, I spread my legs in a crab-like stance and held [Dawnbreaker] in front of me.
“Haaaa…”
This time, I remembered to activate [Orbit Reflector]. A blizzard-like white flash was shot towards me, but no matter how much wind pressure it had, it couldn’t blow me away.
If the attack was a line, not a point, it’s impossible to disperse it by swinging the sword normally. But if I make this body an immovable shield, the other side will cut itself by hitting the sword. That way, my back becomes a completely safe area.
“UWOOOOOOOOO.. RAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”
Successfully protecting my comrades, I load the pent-up shock into a single slashing attack. The strike was released as if to crush the space ahead, and it spectacularly snapped a branch of the tree at the apex of the sky with an ear-splitting explosion.
“Alright!”
“Ed, amazing! Harris-san, now’s the chance!”
“Eh!? Ah, yes. Right.”
Taken aback for a moment by that outrageous strike, Harris starts running, urged by Tia’s voice. Then, countless blizzard clumps begin to be shot around us from the tips of several branches.
“Tch, it’s already learning! Tia, can you defend against that?”
“If it’s just one! For two, I can’t take them consecutively without a ten-second break, and I think three simultaneous shots will probably get through.”
“Got it!”
Since I was alone, it’s difficult to defend against attacks that are designed to be handled by multiple people. But I’m not alone. If Tia’s here, I can do it!
“ORA ORA! Nuooo..RYAAAA!”
Using [Hermes Dash], I leapt into the air and deliberately let the incoming blizzard clumps hit me. It’s a blizzard, not ice…so it’s a clump of snow and wind. I can’t prevent all of it, but Tia should be able to handle a slight breeze.
Then, the impact that I absorbed was accumulated by the [Orbit Reflector] and I swung my sword filled with the impact towards another nearby clump of blizzard. Thus, the blizzard clump swayed from the side, also weakened in force, and it was blown away by Tia’s barrier before it landed.
“Heh, a blizzard… or rather, a clump of air like this――Eh!?”
Suddenly, the strength drained out of my body. As I fell to the ground, I slammed hard into it.
“Guh!?”
“Ed!?”
“What happened!? You were fine when you caught me earlier, right!?”
An unpleasant sound came from my back, and the taste of iron welled up from the back of my throat. Tia, with a worried expression, ran towards me while Harris stood dumbfounded. I can’t even muster the strength to call out.
Damn it, what’s going on!? Why can’t I use my banishment skill all of a sudden? It’s as if――Eh!?
(Am I an idiot!?)
Dripping blood from my mouth, I cursed my own foolishness inwardly. I forgot because I had been in the blizzard all this time, but this blizzard is the Demon King’s attack. So touching it would naturally prevent me from using my banishment skill.
“Ed, recovery potion! Drink it quickly!”
“Cough…Tch, I’ve really screwed up…”
Drinking down the green liquid handed to me by Tia, along with some blood, I gazed at the branch of the Demon King’s tree aiming at me, forcing a wry smile.