CHAPTER 115: REASONS TO STAY

“Well. What do you say, Toru? You want to run away?” (Esther)

“We’ll do what we can, and if not, we’ll go back.” (Toru)

“I understand.” (Esther)

“Well then–” (Toru)

　I conjured a [Fireball] in the palm of my hand. I then fired it at Shieldbearer.

　The other party held up their shield without hesitation. The other party seems to be confident in their magic resistance. Even if you attack from the front, it would be difficult to inflict damage.

　Then, I would have to play

“[Fireball]–” (Toru)

　I send a signal to my magic, timing it when it makes contact with the shield.

“—Explode” (Toru)

　The next moment, the [Fireball] bursts. The directional explosion swallowed the two shadows as well.

“You did it!?” (Esther)

　Esther let out a cry of relief. But it was too early to tell.

“Esther, get ready!” (Toru)

“Huh?” (Esther)

“They are still responding!” (Toru)

　The attacker appears from beyond the explosion and quickly approaches us.

　Their body shows little sign of damage.

　The impact of the explosion was deflected by using their shield as a wall, and the heat generated seemed to be contained by their own resistance.

　They are frighteningly quick to see things through. It was like an adventurer with a long history of combat. Their judgment is too good for a mere monster.

　A shadow approaches with light steps.

　—Ping!!

　I just barely caught the sword of the attacker who tried to slash at Esther

(Heavy!) (Toru)

　The sword was extremely heavy. However, it was not as strong as a monster. If they had the same physical strength, I would have been blown backward.

　The attacker pushed the sword further in. While enduring the pressure, I was checking the Shieldbearer with a sideways glance, and that’s when I saw it.

　–Help. Help me.

　I heard a voice.

　It was a very sad voice.

“……eh?” (Toru)

　The sword tip of the attacker pierces my side, and I was dumbfounded by the voice.

　Immediately, I backstepped.

　I was just in time to minimize the damage.

“Toru, are you okay!?” (Esther)

“Uh, yeah. I’m okay.” (Toru)

　So, I observed the two shadows again.

(What was that voice?) (Toru)

　There was no time to look for the owner of the voice. The attacker attacked again and again, and the shieldbearer was in the perfect position to attract my attention.

　Perhaps it was the difference in experience, but I was easily revealing gaps.

　The two are like fellow adventurers who have been together for years. Their coordination would be impossible without them trusting each other’s abilities. I couldn’t find a single opportunity to take advantage of them.

“Toru, let’s leave!” (Esther)

“I know it would be better to do so…” (Toru)

　I agree with Esther’s opinion. But something caught my eye.

　What’s stuck is something in the information I’ve gotten so far. I feel that if I unravel the tangles a little more, I will be able to understand what this shadow really is.

“I’m sorry, Esther. I’ll fight with it one more time.” (Toru)

“Hey, wait!” (Esther)

　Ignoring Esther’s attempts to stop me, I lunged at the pair of shadows.

　Seeing my attacking stance, the shadows moved immediately.

　The Shieldbearer was holding his shield and the attacker was behind him, looking for an opening.

　If I even slightly show a gap, they will immediately move to the side and the shadows will cut me with their sword.

　I can see the movements of the shadows, but I cannot respond to them at all. This is because their fighting tactics are very sophisticated. I felt like an amateur against a skilled aikido or judo martial artist.

(–If only.) (Toru)

　Forcefully pushing through with strength to outmatch technique!

　I clad my [Magic Sword] with [Flare] and slashed at the Shieldbearer with all my might.

　—Gooong!!

　The sound of the shield and sword clashing violently resounded.

　At the same time, the attacker moves from behind me.

　With a single blink of an eye, I would receive a counterattack.

　Before that happens,

“–ooooooooooh!” (Toru)

　I shouted and put all my strength into my sword.

　That was the moment.

　—Gooong!!

　With a violent metallic sound, the sword was split in half right down the middle.

((?!?!?!)) (Shadows)

　They must not have thought even in the smallest chance that their weapons would be cut down.

　The two shadows stopped moving as if in a panic.

The [Magic Sword] slipped through the shield and made contact between Shieldbearer’s eyebrows.

　I cut their body in half.

　I immediately spun.

　I lifted the tip of the sword, which had dropped close to the ground, and swung it sideways.

　The attacker was at the receiving end of it.

　Without mistaking my aim, I cut the attacker’s neck with my [Magic Sword].

　The next moment.

“–eh?” (Toru)

　A strange feeling flowed into me.

　This is the same mass of memory from when I cut down the devil before.

　A party of four people visited this place.

　The members were a vanguard, a swordsman, a priest, and a magician.

　It was a well-balanced party.

　But it was destroyed.

　It was a person clad in darkness who destroyed them.

　—I couldn’t protect them.

　Without knowing why, the vanguard died, and so did the swordsman.

　And the priest’s body was taken over.

　–how shameful!!

　Inside my chest, the rage was ignited and exploded.

　—Ah, but…

　It soon subsides, and this time I was filled with sadness.

　—We left that elf girl alone.

　—I wonder if she is alive and well. Will she be able to live on her own?

　—I’m worried.

　—I beg you, please be happy.

　—Be happy for us.

“Toru!” (Esther)