Actually, it had been exactly two months since the last update. ('ω')ノ
Although with breaks in between, I have managed to reach around 350,000 words, nearing the end of Part Three.
This is all thanks to your support. I think Part Three will end in a few more chapters, but I will do my best to make them enjoyable. I would be grateful if you could continue to follow along m(__)m
"Pay no attention to the grunts!"
Rize, who was leading the way, called out.
True to her words, Rize and her companions prioritized moving forward over defeating the enemies.
Their goal was singular: to bring Linphia to the location of the black sphere.
Abel, who was beside Linphia, muttered while looking at the sky.
"It's a relief to have an SS-rank adventurer as support. It makes things a lot easier."
"Yes, it was fortunate that he came."
While dealing with powerful enemies like Dragon Zombies and Giant Skeletons, Abel was also thinning out the Skeletons around Rize and her companions as much as possible.
He was the best possible reinforcement they could have hoped for.
However, why did Silver come when the whistle was blown?
A question crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
Now was not the time to think about it.
Linphia swung her magic sword, which she had shaped into a spear, and kicked the Skeletons away.
"I'm going ahead."
"O-oi!? We're all here to protect you!"
"Otherwise, we won't reach the city without doing anything."
"Hmm... I like your spirit, adventurer. What's your name?"
"My name is Linphia."
"I am Rize Lotte. Do you know me?"
"Yes, I know. You are the First Princess, the strongest marshal of the royal family and the older sister of Prince Leonard and Prince Arnold."
"Do you know Al too?"
Being called Leonard's sister was something she was used to, but being called Arnold's sister was rare.
It meant that Arnold was a prince who rarely came up in conversation. In a different sense, he was a prince who was often talked about, but not in a good way.
However, Linphia smiled favorably at the mention of Al.
"Yes. The first person to lend me a hand was Prince Arnold."
"Al? That's surprising."
"I was surprised too. But he wasn't the person people say he is. Both Prince Leonard and Prince Arnold are capable of acting for others. They are even lending their strength to someone like me."
"Leonard might, but Al is overrated. Don't you think so, Leo?"
Rize, without hesitation, turned to Leo, who was dealing with an approaching Giant Skeleton.
Leo, who was not really paying attention, responded loudly.
"Huh? What is it!?"
"Listen to your sister's story."
"If you have something important to say, choose the right time and place! I'll deal with that monster first! Go ahead without me! I'll make sure Linphia is safe!"
"Alright, leave it to me. Be careful too."
"Sure, sister."
After this exchange, Leo moved away from the group and went to deal with the Giant Skeleton with the knights.
In the sky, Silver was fighting multiple Dragon Zombies.
The city was finally close.
"Is it alright to let Prince Leonard go?"
"He's my brother. Don't worry. What were you talking about?"
"About how I might be overrating Prince Arnold."
"Right. Leo might help you out of the goodness of his heart, but Al is different. He doesn't help just anyone."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. When Al helps someone, it's because he sees value in them. It might seem whimsical to many, but Al has his standards. Whether they have the ability to be helped, a just cause, or a strong belief. Al looks for these things. So, hold your head high. If Al helped you, it means you have his approval."
With that, Rize cut down the Skeletons in front of her.
She then rode her horse into the space and cut down more Skeletons.
"Al pulled you up, and Leo walked with you. From here on, I will clear your path. But, I won't let my brothers' efforts go to waste. You must save your sister. Never give up."
"Yes!"
Linphia answered Rize's words and moved forward.
Not long after, Linphia and her companions successfully entered the city of Bassau.
■■■
"Now! Attack the legs!"
Leo led the knights in fighting the Giant Skeleton.
The knights attacked the giant's legs simultaneously, causing the Giant Skeleton to fall. Seizing the opportunity, the knights finished it off.
"Another one is coming!"
"Prepare for a charge! Don't let them get close to the others!"
Leo gathered the knights present and prepared to defeat the Giant Skeleton.
However, a presence suddenly appeared behind Leo.
Reacting quickly, Leo jumped off his horse and evaded the presence.
"Ugh..."
As he rolled on the ground, his side felt abnormally hot.
When he touched it, his hand was covered in blood.
"You're a perceptive prince."
"Balam, I see..."
The demon Balam, who could become invisible, was there.
His sword was stained with Leo's blood. If Leo hadn't reacted quickly, he might have been killed.
While thinking this, Leo stood up.
The wound was bleeding heavily but was shallow, not hindering his ability to fight.
"Your Highness! I'm coming!"
"Half of you go stop the Giant Skeleton! The other half, deal with the surrounding enemies... I will handle Balam."
"But, your injury!"
"Balam's target is me. If he comes for me, I have no choice but to fight."
With that, Leo readied his sword.
Balam, who had expected Leo to flee and then attack from behind, clicked his tongue.
Even among demons, there were those suited for combat and those who were not. Balam was not particularly skilled in combat, and his possession of a human was incomplete.
Unlike Fullcas, who possessed a recently deceased human, Balam possessed a living one, which limited his demonic powers.
For Balam, it would have been more convenient if Leo had fled, but Leo saw through his plan and challenged him to a fight.
"You're a clever prince."
"I'll take it as a compliment."
The tension between the two grew.
Suddenly, Silver descended from the sky.
"I'll help."
Balam's face twisted at the arrival of such a powerful ally.
If his opponent could withstand Fullcas's attacks, Balam had no chance of winning.
However, the presence of this masked man meant that there was no one to counter Fullcas.
Balam smirked, thinking that targeting the prince had a greater effect than he intended.
But,
"It's not necessary. Go after Linphia."
"It doesn't look unnecessary to me?"
"She needs you. Go."
Leo stepped forward and told Silver this.
However, Silver did not back down.
"I can't just say 'okay.' If you die, I'll be in trouble too."
Silver used a healing spell to heal Leo's side wound.
However, Leo did not even thank him, but glared at Silver.
"Don't say foolish things...! My life is less important than the children's. Isn't that why you came here!?"
"I'll deal with this guy and then follow. Don't worry."
"Don't pay attention to me... Go now."
"But..."
"No buts! If you recognize me, go!"
Leo looked at Silver with a strong gaze.
His eyes, which had a strength that neither Silver nor Al had ever seen in Leo before, were intense.
"I aim to become the emperor I idealize... The first step is to save the children. I mobilized many knights and adventurers and pushed through my plan. I won't accept failing to save the children after all this... We will save the children and resolve this anomaly!! Go! Silver! If you're an SS-rank adventurer, show me your power!!!"
It was almost a roar.
Al, who had never seen Leo like this before, gently kicked off the ground and floated into the air.
"Then I'll show you. Don't die before I see it through, Prince Leonard."
"Don't worry... I'm the man who will become emperor. I won't die here."
"Alright..."
With that, Al teleported towards the city.
Leo's strong gaze then turned to Balam.
"Come, Balam. In the name of the Imperial Prince, I will execute you, who have brought disaster upon the empire!"
"Try if you can!"
With that, the battle between Balam and Leo began.
Swords clashed. If it were the usual Leo, he might have fought calmly, assessing his opponent's situation.
But this Leo was different.
"Haahaaa!!"
"Ugh..."
Balam, with only one arm, was forced to retreat under Leo's relentless attacks.
Then, Leo's strike broke Balam's sword.
"Uooooooh!!"
"Damn!!"
Leo turned his wrist and aimed for Balam's remaining arm.
At that moment, Balam became invisible and fled.
"He's gone..."
Leo focused on the sounds and presence around him.
If Balam was going to retreat this easily, he wouldn't have attacked in the first place.
He would definitely come after Leo.
Leo was certain of this.
And he was right.
"Ha!"
"Ugh..."
Balam suddenly appeared behind Leo and slashed his back.
He held a short sword.
Leo turned and swung his sword, but Balam was already gone.
Frustrated, Leo looked around.
But he couldn't find Balam, and this time, Balam stabbed his left leg from the side.
"Ugh..."
"You look pathetic, Prince."
"Damn you!"
Leo swung his sword at Balam, but Balam calmly kept his distance and became invisible again.
Realizing his anger, Leo took a deep breath.
Where would Balam attack next? How should he counter?
As he thought about this, Al's face flashed in Leo's mind.
Deception was Al's domain. How could he catch Balam off guard?
"If Al were here..."
Leo thought for a moment, then sheathed his sword and closed his eyes, focusing only on the presence around him.
Balam's weapon was a short sword. To deal a fatal blow, he would aim for a vital spot. The most likely attack would be a thrust. Balam, who still had plenty of energy, wouldn't take unnecessary risks.
So, the target would be the heart. Leo, having determined this, felt a presence behind him and shifted his body to the right.
However, a sharp pain shot through his left shoulder, and he saw that a short sword was deeply embedded in it.
"Did you think that by giving up on counterattacking and focusing on evasion, you could avoid it?"
"No... I didn't give up on anything..."
With that, Leo gritted his teeth, shifted his body, and grabbed Balam's neck with his right hand.
He then whispered, putting all his strength into it.
"May the flame descend from the heavens, to save the righteous. O supreme holy flame, rise nobly to destroy the evil ones—Holy Blaze."
A modern five-line spell.
A holy magic that is highly effective against undead monsters. While it is a high-level spell among modern magic, with few users, Leo had learned it thoroughly to be prepared for any situation.
A holy flame was born in Leo's right hand, burning only Balam. Leo's hand was unaffected.
"Uooooooh!!??"
"I won't let you escape..."
Balam, who tried to escape, was held tightly by Leo's right arm, and Leo intensified the holy flame.
Eventually, Balam stopped resisting, but Leo continued to burn him until his body turned to dust.
"Haa haa..."
Seeing the dust scatter with the wind, Leo drew his sword from its sheath and raised it high.