Ch.170170. I’m the Weak One Among the Weak Ones and Mages, Aren’t I!?

“Kuhak-!”

Moranas’s whip struck Rebecca’s body with force.

The magician was targeted first.

Whiriririk-!

Slap-!

Rebecca exhaled deeply and spoke to Selden Alphonse with an irritated voice.

“Come on, at least draw your sword!”

“…I’m the weakest among the weak and magicians!?”

“You need to survive until the veil is lifted!!”

“Acting so strong, but can’t handle Moranas alone, huh?”

Rebecca gritted her molars.

Nobles. Always the same.

They would use any means necessary to protect themselves, using territory residents as shields to prolong their lives.

No, begging would be the more accurate description.

Protecting the village from monster waves?

Even making deals with a succubus?

She thought it was just flowery lies.

After all, reputation tends to get exaggerated as it passes from mouth to mouth.

“Ice Arrow!”

Pachichit-!

Moranas, who had parried Serion Lykus’s sword, also reacted to the magic.

Naturally, he easily avoided Rebecca’s spell.

“Ice Arrow!”

Pachichichit-!

Rebecca redirected her target from Moranas to the veil.

Since she couldn’t handle the monster alone, she decided to break the veil.

However, the veil easily absorbed the damage from “Ice Arrow.”

-Rebecca!! Are you alright?

-Young master, please wait a little longer!!

The voices of her companions outside the veil, beyond her sight, reached Rebecca’s ears.

As always, the only one she could trust was herself.

She gripped her sword, ready for close combat.

Fortunately, having trained primarily in swordsmanship at Leike territory, she felt no burden.

Swish!

Clang-! Clang-!

“Ice Arrow!”

While engaged in close combat, Rebecca cast magic whenever she saw an opening.

Moranas, seemingly understanding her intention, began to gradually increase the distance while wielding his whip.

Slap-!

“Kuk!”

Rebecca’s leather armor, made of lightweight high-quality fabric, was mercilessly torn by Moranas’s heavy, long whip.

Before she knew it, covered in blood, she belatedly tried to create distance to heal herself, but Moranas gave her no time.

With both physical strength and magical power bottoming out,

Rebecca moved toward Selden Alphonse.

And then.

“Barrier!”

Squeezing out all her remaining magical power, she created a large barrier.

Selden Alphonse looked at her with wide eyes and asked.

“W-what? Did you cast a defensive spell for me?”

To Rebecca, Selden Alphonse remained a detestable person until the end.

However, it was also her best choice.

Even if she had used her magic to heal herself, defeating Moranas would have been impossible.

Her final gamble was to buy time until her companions outside could remove the veil.

“If I die and you survive, please take care of Serion Lykus.”

“Why should I?”

“…Really, until the very end…”

To think that her last act would be protecting a noble she so despised…

Rebecca’s eyes welled up with tears of frustration.

Would things have been different if she had trained a little more?

As numerous thoughts swirled in her mind, a metallic sound struck her ears.

Srrrrng-!

Along with a resonant sound, blue light spread throughout the entire veil.

Rebecca looked up.

Selden Alphonse had already drawn his sword and was facing Moranas.

She urgently raised her voice.

“D-don’t go outside the barrier! Until Serion Lykus comes—”

It happened in an instant.

Selden Alphonse vanished before her eyes and suddenly appeared behind Moranas with a flash.

Momentarily surprised by this sight, she watched as Moranas’s body was perfectly split in half, as if measured with a ruler.

Kwajijik-!

And then.

The veils that had frustratingly confined them split powerlessly in all directions.

Through the gaps, her companions came running toward Selden Alphonse and Rebecca.

-Rebecca! You’re badly hurt!!

-Young master!! Are you alright!!?

Selden Alphonse sheathed his Raiden Sword and looked at Rebecca with an expressionless face.

She laughed softly, as if dumbfounded, and muttered quietly.

“…See, I told you he deliberately took my magic.”

*

“Are you really alright?”

Back at the inn after conquering the monster’s sanctuary.

Just as he was about to pack his belongings and move to see Lucien, Serion Lykus knocked on the door.

“Yes, I’m fine. How is Rebecca?”

“She’s recovering with healing magic whenever her magical power fills up.”

“Let’s sit down for now.”

Pointing to a small wooden table set up in one corner of the bedroom, Serion Lykus sat down in a chair and smiled faintly.

“…I was surprised. I knew you’d have some skill since you stopped the monster wave, but to be this strong…”

“I think there’s some misunderstanding. Moranas was already injured from fighting Rebecca. I just added the finishing touch.”

“Haha… As expected, Selden Alphonse’s modesty is truly remarkable.”

Originally, Serion Lykus, Rio, and Luna—the three knights—would have defeated Moranas.

However, because of me, Rebecca and Rinadiel joined earlier.

As a result, Moranas cast the “veil” spell to deal with Rebecca, who was casting magic from behind, making things different from the original novel.

Therefore.

I tried not to interfere as much as possible.

After all, I had no plans to hunt monsters with them for the rest of my life.

But.

Even though Rebecca was a protagonist’s companion, it was obviously impossible for her to defeat Moranas alone, who in the original story was defeated 3-to-1.

That’s why I stepped in.

No matter how much I wanted to punch Rebecca in the face, I couldn’t let her die here.

I sighed briefly and spoke.

“Rebecca really almost had him.”

“Even so, didn’t you finish him off yourself, Selden Alphonse?”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Rebecca’s skills have improved in such a short time. I see the secret was you all along.”

Even though I had only exchanged a few words with Rebecca while she was in the territory, without actually doing anything…

Would he even believe me if I explained?

“Anyway, I should get going now.”

“Already? We haven’t even processed the byproducts from Moranas yet…”

“Haha, it’s fine. I only joined the party to clear my name of the accusation of dealing with a succubus. I won’t involve myself with the byproducts.”

“Even so…”

I shrugged my shoulders at Serion Lykus as he trailed off.

“Have you forgotten? Despite appearances, I’m a noble with plenty of money.”

Despite my nonchalant attitude, Serion Lykus seemed troubled, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

Then, with gleaming eyes, he rummaged through his bag.

“Then I’ll give you this!”

A light so bright it made the entire room dazzling leaked in.

Squinting slightly, I looked at what Serion Lykus held in his hand—none other than “Moranas’s Magic Stone.”

I spoke in startled surprise.

“Y-you’re giving this to me?”

“It’s my decision alone, but I’m sure everyone would agree. After all, you played a decisive role in defeating Moranas.”

It was a gift difficult to refuse.

Besides, among all the byproducts from Moranas, the magic stone was what I needed most.

“Shouldn’t you get permission from the others, especially Rebecca?”

“It’s fine. Rebecca isn’t the type to question my decisions. Besides, we’ll be relying on you in the future, won’t we?”

“…Pardon? Aren’t you traveling with Rebecca now?”

“I was planning to, but Rebecca said she wants to stay at Leike territory for a while.”

That troublemaker is coming to Leike territory again?

Barely hiding my horrified expression, I composed myself and adjusted my posture.

“Rebecca’s presence is essential to the rest of the group. Come to think of it, if it weren’t for her, Rio wouldn’t have recovered from his injuries so quickly.”

“I share the same thoughts as you, but it seems impossible to change Rebecca’s stubborn mind. I’d like to ask for your help, even if just for a few months.”

A FEW MONTHS!!??

Even a few days would drive me crazy, and now I have to keep her for months?

Haaa…

She might not cause trouble like Luna, but it still feels like holding a bomb.

However, I had no grounds to refuse.

I nodded as I received “Moranas’s Magic Stone” from Serion Lykus’s hand.

“Alright. But I’ll head to Leike territory first.”

“…What? You’re leaving first?”

“I have someone I need to meet on the way. If Rebecca comes with me, there might be friction with my acquaintance…”

Seeing the logic in this, Serion Lykus also nodded and stood up.

“Then I’ll let Rebecca know separately.”

“Thank you.”

Creeeeak-! Clunk-!

After seeing Serion Lykus off, I returned to the bedroom.

And looked at “Moranas’s Magic Stone” placed on the wooden table.

“I should do what needs to be done.”

I immediately placed “Moranas’s Magic Stone” on my palm and grinned.

“Absorb!”