Ch.60How to Cross the Desert (7)

And so the next day arrived.

Before we knew it, the lengthy episode was approaching its end.

We dragged our tired bodies across the desert.

As we walked while maintaining vigilance of our surroundings, Lezia, who was beside me, suddenly muttered.

“…Today is strange.”

It was unusually quiet.

In the past few days, we would have been attacked three or four times by now, but today nothing had happened.

Even the scorpions we had encountered to the point of exhaustion were nowhere to be seen, not even a tiny tail.

“T-this is the first time I’ve seen the desert so quiet.”

“Isn’t it strange? This isn’t a place we should be able to pass through so easily… It’s like the dawn before a storm hits.”

“Let’s use this opportunity to conserve our energy.”

“Good idea. We don’t have much left until we reach our destination anyway.”

I responded to them pretending not to know.

This was the pattern of the final wave.

At least during today’s daylight, no attacks would occur.

Instead, when the sun sets and night falls, that’s when the final wave determining the outcome would begin.

Probably enemies of a completely different scale would come rushing in.

‘This will be difficult if we continue like this.’

The truth was that this episode’s difficulty level was high.

Originally, it was a level that one should only attempt after accumulating experience at the Academy and becoming qualified enough to secure the position of head teaching assistant.

In our current state, we would likely be thoroughly crushed.

‘I entered this for Lezia’s growth… but was it too much after all?’

There was still no sign of the summoner’s abilities.

Since there were no indications of awakening, it seemed it would be difficult for a while.

Well, it wasn’t something that needed to be rushed.

As I said before, I believed in Lezia.

Even if not this time, there would be many opportunities.

From the beginning, just collecting the items that came as rewards would make it worth the effort.

The protagonist had suffered enough over the past few days, so I was planning to resolve the final part myself.

We walked through the quiet desert.

“……”

Time flowed peacefully.

The day passed quickly.

Before we knew it, the sun that had been high in the sky set beyond the horizon, and the sky was filled with dark shadows.

At last, pitch-black night descended upon the world.

It was then, as we were sleeping according to the set schedule.

“M-master!! Wake up quickly…!”

Suddenly, a scream was heard.

It was Lezia’s voice, who was on watch duty.

I got up from my spot as if I had been waiting for this, and looked around with a leisurely gaze.

All around us was only the black desert.

Kiiiiik!

Kirruk-!

Kaduk, kaduk…!

It wasn’t just appearing black because it was dark.

The ground was writhing with bizarre noises.

There were scorpions, so many that they covered the entire sand surface.

The creatures swarming in all directions were closing in, completely cutting off our retreat.

It was truly a scene of despair.

“Master! Hurry!!”

The pilot shouted urgently.

“Is this as far as we go…”

The old man loaded his crossbow with a dejected voice.

Sreung-.

Amidst the chaotic situation, I drew a sword.

I muttered quietly so no one would hear.

“Finally, the last part.”

At last, it was the finale.

***

Kiiiiik-!

The scorpions poured in all at once, as if by agreement.

It was a wave that showed not even a glimmer of hope.

The creatures ground up everything that existed around them.

We had to fight a desperate defensive battle, holding onto the thin space that remained.

Sparks flew incessantly into the darkness.

“Hnngh…!”

Chaeng! Tung-!

Mindlessly charging monsters. I roughly parried the barrage of poisonous stingers.

Intense explosive sounds erupted with each collision.

I tried to take control with elegant movements, but it didn’t seem to make much difference.

The overwhelming numbers remained unresolved.

Seogek-!

I cleanly bisected one of the mob creatures.

Before its corpse could even roll on the ground, the next ones rushed in.

This pattern had been continuing for a while.

Kill one, and ten more come.

Kill ten, and a hundred come.

As I sighed at the disgusting sight, suddenly a shout came from behind me.

It was the old man’s voice.

“Duck!!”

Ping, chwarruruk-!

I ducked as soon as I heard the signal.

Immediately after, dozens of arrows spread like shotgun pellets passed over my head.

Kwaaaang-!

The scorpions’ bodies were mercilessly crushed.

I quickly retreated backward and spoke to the old man who was recharging his magical energy.

It was a light joke.

“That was an impressive attack! If you could do that about ten thousand more times, we might finish this.”

“Unfortunately, the arrows I’m loading now are my last.”

“Oh dear.”

Pook-!

I thrust my sword into a scorpion falling from the air.

Judging by the appearance of winged variants, it seemed that even mid-level demonic beasts had all gathered.

I shook off the blood staining my sleeve.

“I’ll go in once more.”

“I’ll cover you.”

“M-master! Something’s flying in from behind…!”

We fought with all our might.

The snake’s sword tip cut down enemies in all directions, and the old man’s crossbow spewed arrows and fire without rest.

The pilot also maintained support and created a combat environment.

We seemed to have held out admirably.

We had lasted far longer than I initially expected.

“Hoo…”

Of course, that didn’t change anything.

The predetermined end was merely postponed.

Eventually, we found ourselves surrounded by scorpions, in a complete mess.

I quietly looked around.

Both of the others were sitting on the ground.

The crossbow was now rolling on the floor.

It seemed the arrows had run out.

The blade that had been sharply forged from shadows now had all its teeth gone.

In this state, it probably couldn’t even cut a piece of wood.

“Well, well… unfortunately, it seems we can’t go on any further.”

I also let go of my sword.

Pook. The black fragment that fell embedded itself in the sand, then soon turned to dust and scattered.

With this, we had no means of resistance left.

I caught my breath.

‘I wanted to test the limits until the end.’

Looking at the protagonist’s condition, this seemed to be as far as we could go.

Lezia was whimpering, her body curled up.

I knelt on one knee and met her gaze with her tear-filled green eyes.

The girl was trembling.

“Miss Lezia.”

“M-master.”

“It’s alright now. It’s all over.”

“I-I’m sorry. If only I had done better, because of me, you two…”

“Shh.”

I stopped her tearful lips.

I took Lezia’s hand.

And then, as if soothing a frightened child, I gently stroked her head.

It was to calm her emotions.

“You did well enough.”

“B-but…!”

“Remember what I said a few days ago? That I always believe in you, Miss Lezia.”

“……”

I carefully wiped away her gathered tears.

Her shoulders were trembling pitifully.

I smiled gently.

“That belief remains.”

“……”

“It has been that way until now, and it will continue to be so.”

The girl looked up at me blankly.

She bit her lip as if thinking about something.

I wanted to comfort her more, but I couldn’t continue because of the rampaging scorpions.

Bizarre screams colored my ears.

Kiiiiik-!

Kyarruk!

Kuaaaak!!

A storm of blackness.

The monsters, craving slaughter, bared their teeth and rushed toward the children.

Thousands of scorpions surged like waves.

Just as we were about to be swallowed up.

A low voice brushed past my ear.

“…Efri.”

Immediately after, a beam of light fell from the sky.

“Ugh…?!”

Piiiiiii-!

A ringing sound that made my eardrums go numb.

As I blinked at the suddenly flashing view, I soon discovered something huge flying in the sky.

Wings so massive they could cover the entire area and more.

“What is…?”

I unconsciously muttered to myself.

It was because of its magnificent appearance.

Graceful wingbeats, enormous body, a tail covered in spines, and flames that blazed with each breath.

It was clearly the form of the summoned beast I had seen during the entrance exam.

“…A wyvern.”

Kuooooo-!!

The divine beast roared powerfully.

The entire desert vibrated.

It opened its mouth wide and spewed out the contents it had been holding without hesitation.

The so-called dragon’s breath.

Kwaaaaa-!

Following the overwhelming firepower, the densely gathered scorpions were swept away at once.

The blue-burning flames brilliantly colored the area.

It erased them without leaving even a handful of ashes.

I had only closed and opened my eyes once, but already more than 30% of the scorpions had been annihilated.

I looked to the side.

“Haa, haa…!”

There was a girl gasping for breath.

Pink hair wet with cold sweat.

Lezia was holding my hand tightly, crying and smiling at the same time.

Her slender upper body swayed.

“Miss Lezia.”

I quickly caught her falling body.

Even while in my arms, the girl’s eyes shone only for me.

Eyes wet with joy and affection.

“I-I… did it.”

Lezia murmured with difficulty.

Her smile was shining more brilliantly than the dragon’s breath.