episode_0118

Gryphons are strong.

Usually, it takes two well-trained knights to catch one griffon.

“I never thought it would turn out like this…”

Gryphons are big.

It can easily snatch not only a person but also a horse.

“Is this what the Gryphon’s Nest means…”

So you can’t catch a griffon?

no. possible. This is assuming that the opponent you are dealing with is a well-trained knight, and that there is only one griffon in front of you.

So, can a person catch a griffon if there is not just one griffon?

“How many of them are there? … !”

well. You don’t know that. Because griffons don’t usually travel in groups.

I swallowed dry saliva and looked up at the sky. There are six gryphons that can be described as gigantic. And, there were over a dozen things that were only visible as shadows flying above them.

Even if the knights Hermel brought were high-ranking knights among the elite, their number was five.

Assuming that Carter, the knight commander and spirit knight, fights two at the same time, and even if the remaining knights fight one each, there are 10 left.

“This… … . Can I step back?”

“It will be difficult. But don’t worry. Even if it means risking our lives, we will protect the princess and princess.”

Because the situation had become like this, it became impossible to even say that Ceria was out there.

No matter how important friends are, is it worth fighting against them and risking the lives of five knights, a princess, and a princess? If you do it wrong, everyone might die, right?

No, absolutely not.

From the perspective of the articles here. If I tell you that we need to save someone right now when our lives are in danger and that someone is right in front of us, you will see me as an incompetent leader who can’t even properly weigh lives.

Even if they are people who have little to do with me, if this kind of noise starts to come out, it is certain that there will be people who will bite the bullet.

‘… … Should I use it?’

After thinking for a moment, I chewed my lip and lowered my gaze.

Can not be done. In this situation, if I use enough curses to get rid of those griffons, the issue of being competent or incompetent becomes nothing.

Now that a major incident has already occurred at the Academy due to a curse, would they use such a large-scale curse? And now that the sun is still up? Without even a single casting to serve as a medium?

[――!!]

Can not be done. At least not now. The overturning must be done when all the chess pieces are on the board.

I can’t afford to be suspicious. Even if it means giving up on Seria… … .

“Damn… … .”

Hermel, who was standing right next to me, looked at me, startled and trembling at the harsh words that came out without my knowledge.

“Charles… … .”

“It’s okay. Because I was expecting this to happen… … . First, let’s back away slowly. Seria… … . I can’t help it. If you do this wrong, you will all die.”

“… … If Charles says so. huh. I will follow.”

Who is the king and who is the vassal… … .

After briefly brushing away the random thoughts that came to mind, we slowly began to retreat, led by the knight holding the bow.

But even for a moment.

Grrr… … .

And a sound like scratching the neck. We had no choice but to stop as we heard a sound right behind us.

“I don’t think I have any intention of letting you go easily.”

“I can’t help it… … . Get ready to fight.”

Carter said that and lightly gestured with his chin, and the knights began to move slowly accordingly.

The two knights with great bows stood next to Hermel and me, and the knight with a halberd and a knight with a flail and shield turned around and faced the gryphon blocking the retreat.

“Kaitz, Eve. Move first.”

“”Yes.””

At Carter’s command, the knight holding the great bow put an arrow as large as a sword on the bowstring and began to slowly pull the string.

Squeak, squeak――

Every time there was a squeak, the griffons tilted their heads, and some of them flapped their wings and let out a warning cry.

“You can shoot anytime.”

“Goal.”

Carter glanced back, nodded, and pulled out a sword from his waist.

Grumbling――

“Kites, your target should be the wing of the nearest griffon on the right. Eve, you aim for the eyes of the griffon on the left and shoot.”

He said that and folded his hands in front of his chest.

Slowly, like back then, the air began to gather. The gryphons who felt this roared at once.

――!!!

A noise so loud that it made my head tingle――no, binge drinking.

The griffon’s cries ran through the valley as if resonating, and Hermel and I covered our ears with one hand, frowning at the unfamiliar, terrible noise.

But the knights didn’t care at all and started fighting.

“Now!!”

As soon as Carter’s order was given, the two archery knights fired their arrows. The arrow flew out with a sound like hitting a thick iron plate.

Kait’s arrow went straight into the wing of the flapping Griffon, but Eve’s arrow went into the front foot of the Griffon, which was startled and raised its body.

――!!

“Wind here!”

As soon as the starter word to call the spirit came out of Carter’s mouth, a light wind wrapped around his body, and a strong gust of wind blew through the valley.

The pebbles on the floor floated up, and several griffons that were trying to fly up to fight in earnest lost their balance and fell headlong to the ground due to the wind that was strong enough to tear away the walls of the valley.

Starting with that, Carter rushed forward and shouted as he drove his sword into the chest of the griffon, which was unable to put down its foot due to an arrow stuck in the sole of its foot.

“Princess! Princess! Run away as soon as the gryphons behind you are cleared!”

“Are you telling me to run away now!? I can fight too! Me too――”

“No!! Our mission is to protect the princess! It is not time for you to return yet!”

Carter shouted and plunged the knife into the gryphon’s joint, twisting it and taking off one of its legs.

The griffon, whose legs were taken away, was able to flap its wings, but once again lost its balance and fell down due to the fierce wind blowing. Carter immediately plunged the knife into the griffon’s eye.

Thanks to the meticulous workmanship, the griffon whose foot was cut off trembled and died. At the same time, Lemoir’s voice was heard from behind.

“Processed!!”

“Go! Hurry before my mana runs out!!”

“Carter… … !”

Hermel cried and called Carter’s name, and Carter made eye contact with Hermel for a moment and then turned his back.

Seeing that stern appearance, Hermel bit his lip and lowered his head, and the two knights who had taken care of the gryphon behind him came over and lightly grabbed Hermel and my arms.

“Princess! You have to go!”

“Carter… … !! Carter is dying!!”

“The captain’s magical power will run out in the next two minutes! You have to go now!!”

I read extreme helplessness and self-blame in her eyes. I felt sad and hopeless.

‘I failed to protect it again.’

“The captain’s sacrifice must not be in vain!!”

Hermel shed tears.

The moment you see it.

“Princess! Princess――you too… … ?”

Suddenly

It sounded like something was breaking inside me.

* * *

Lemoir, who held Charlotte’s arm to evacuate her, was startled and trembled at the horrifying chill that rose up through the hand holding Charlotte’s arm.

“Charlotte, princess… … ?”

Charlotte just looked at Hermel quietly and did not say anything despite Lemoir’s words.

However, Lemoir, who was standing right next to Charlotte, reflexively flinched at the deep darkness in her eyes.

‘You cowered? I? I, who was appointed a knight after countless battles, was overwhelmed by the energy of the academy students?’

Lemoir swallowed dry saliva and blinked. But he soon came to his senses and tried to pull Charlotte’s arm.

“Let go.”

Just one word.

Lemoir, who was completely crushed by that one word, inadvertently let go of his hand, and Charlotte, whose arms were free, turned in Carter’s direction without saying a word.

Then, he slightly opened the arm holding the halberd and positioned the blade diagonally.

‘Are you sure you’re going to fight instead of run away?’

As soon as his thoughts reached that point, Le Moir, who came to his senses again, could not bear to grab Charlotte’s arm due to the pressure he felt earlier, so he walked up to her side and shouted.

“Princess Charlotte! It’s not possible! For that number of gryphons, you need at least ten ordained senior knights! The heart understands! But now is the time to step down!!”

Did her cries reach you? Charlotte relaxed her arms and looked west.

Could it be that another griffon has appeared!? When Lemoir turned his head in surprise, all he could see was the sun going over the ridge.

“Ah, yes… … . Here, it was a valley.”

“What are you saying… … .”

As soon as she finished speaking, the sun passed over the ridge, casting a dark shadow over the valley.

“It’s sunset.”

A black energy exploded around her.