In the end, La Velyu seemed to be finished with the damage dealt. After checking the surroundings, she left the village using flight magic.
While flying low, both Belial and I heard shouts, screams, the sound of swords clashing, and explosions mixed with laughter and magical detonations from a street far before Renant.
“Something’s happening…!?”
Quickly lowering my altitude, I headed toward the source of the sounds.
“It’s likely a bandit raid. It seems to be a rather large group.”
As we advanced a little further, we reached a point where we could see a carriage under attack.
A large group of armed bandits appeared to be raiding a carriage with a crest on it. The enemies were closing in on a carriage adorned with gold designs, and many of the guards appeared to be injured, bleeding, and lying on the ground.
Perhaps there was a summoner among the guards as well, as a lion-like beast was growling, trying to intimidate the bandits. However, it too had been injured, looking pitiful.
“Do it! But don’t lay a finger on the girl! She’s merchandise, after all!!”
“…”
Killing people so easily… and on top of that, she’s ‘merchandise’?
My heart pounded so hard from anger that it hurt. My hands were trembling with excitement, yet my thoughts seemed to be turning a deep shade of blue.
“Miss! Please escape!!”
The door of the expensive-looking carriage with the crest opened, and three knightly men were shouting. The horse had an arrow lodged in it and was lying on the ground, unable to move the carriage. There were also signs of damage from wind magic on the carriage itself.
“Ruppen…! What will happen to me… what will happen to me!?”
A girl around Alesia’s age appeared, crying uncontrollably. Her legs were shaking, and she seemed unable to stand on her own.
The sudden ambush had completely overwhelmed the guards, cutting off their means of transport. A larger group of men was charging toward them, yelling in strange voices. It was no surprise that even women would be trembling in fear.
The bandits laughed as they killed anyone resisting them. It was a horrific sight. Almost all the uninjured soldiers were gone.
“…Heaven’s light, Earth’s wind, the source of life rooted in the earth. O source of life, grant us blessings. Grant me the power to protect and heal. Protect all life, protect them…”
In response to my chant, white light rose from the ground in the designated area, forming into a wall.
“What is this!? A protection spell?”
The bandits struck at the faint glow with their swords, but they were instead repelled, and their weapons were shattered and sent flying.
“If my prayer reaches, show the power of the shield! Consolator Mule!”
I cast my own defensive magic, which included healing effects, and looked up at Belial standing beside me. By the way, this magic protects against physical attacks and adds healing effects, but it doesn’t protect against magical attacks.
“I beg you, Your Excellency!”
I dropped to one knee in front of him, bowing my head.
“…You may speak.”
“I humbly request that you capture every last one of these vile men! I cannot let such people go free. I wish to assist those in need of protection!”
“Very well, Iriya . But you…”
Belial moved. I felt a surge of relief, thinking it was all taken care of, but then he gave me a half-smile that seemed to express disbelief.
“Isn’t this a situation where you should be commanding with a spell? Why do you show such deference and act as though you are one of my subordinates?”
“Eh…? Now that you mention it, that method could work… right?”
It was embarrassing when I thought about it. As a summoner, my behavior seemed a bit strange.
Perhaps it was because, during the days of the Egdoarm Kingdom, the noble court magicians scolded me for not showing proper respect, calling me barbaric and such. Whenever I became angry, I would forget to be overly polite, which only made things worse.
Additionally, when I was young and learning magic from Belial’s subordinates, I was constantly told to show respect by calling him “Your Excellency,” which became a habit.
After all, commanding the King of Hell was probably harder than annihilating bandits.
“Heh… You never tire, do you? But know this, dealing with this many is no easy task.”
“Ah, yes. I agree, as per our contract.”
Before I could respond, Belial disappeared in an instant.
I gathered my thoughts and ran toward the battlefield.
The people who were being attacked had no idea what was happening with the newly-formed wall of light and were frozen in place. Even so, the three knights stood guard, preparing to defend the girl, with their hands on the hilts of their swords.
“We will assist!”
I shouted just one sentence before running past the girl’s carriage.
“Y-you are…!? What is this?”
“It’s my defensive magic. Please don’t worry!”
“…Wait, aren’t you a mage? We need to reorganize our formation, cut this magic, and go on the offensive…”
I didn’t have time to listen to the knights’ words and ran away, leaving them behind. I moved swiftly through the gap in the barrier to provide support for those beyond it.
The battlefield had become chaotic, and it was difficult to even separate the people near the carriage.
The remaining uninjured guards began to make their own decisions and joined the fight, realizing that the barrier only blocked incoming threats and not those going out.
In front of me, a man with an injured leg sat on the ground, and a bandit raised his sword to deliver the finishing blow.
“Rise up, O air, and become a fierce wind to scatter my enemies! None shall stand before you! A whirlwind that engulfs all, charge forth and race across the battlefield! Coudou Van!“
As I chanted the wind-element attack spell, a vortex of raging winds swept through, and the man, along with his raised sword, disappeared into the distance. Those behind him were also knocked down or blown away by the wind pressure.
“Ah, I think I might have used that spell a bit too hastily…”
Even those who seemed to be allies were exposed to the wind pressure.
“Sorry… but you are…”
I spread both hands to the sides and began a new incantation.
“Blazing flames dance upon the board. Even iron becomes a flowing river. Fire thrives, but the sin of man sinks.”
I brought my hands together in front of my body and struck once. The magic began to heat up as I firmly focused on the target.
“By the heat of destruction, become the pillar of the sun and show the way! Lava Flare!“
Suddenly, several columns of fire rose up. The bandits who touched the pillars writhed in pain as they clutched their wounds.
“Why is there suddenly fire! It hurts, damn it…!”
“Is that woman a guard too? A magician…!”
“Hey, kill her! Do it quickly!”
Amidst the chaos, the bandits, still confused, were unable to comprehend the situation. Meanwhile, Belial swiftly scattered the enemies, leaving only a few standing.
With his fiery sword, made from the power of his own flame, one swing was enough to defeat the bandits who had little training. He skillfully manipulated the flames, and the fire spread as if it were a fuse, attacking the bandits.
Walking gracefully through the flames and dispatching enemies, he truly resembled the king of fire.
As I looked around to see if there was anyone else in need of help, a black shadow suddenly appeared before me.
“…You fool! You left it to me, so stay out of the way!”
“Belial-dono.”
The arrow froze in front of his raised hand. It had been aimed at me. His red hair swayed as Belial turned his face toward the direction from which the arrow had been shot. His piercing gaze struck the enemy.
“I’ll return this.”
The arrow changed direction and, wrapped in fire, flew back toward its original owner in an arc.
When it hit the tree trunk, a brief scream was heard, and a person fell to the ground.
The situation was resolved far faster than I expected.
I began tending to the wounded. While healing magic doesn’t have the same potency as offensive spells, I had potions, including Elixirs.
Still, those who had died couldn’t be brought back. I regretted arriving too late…
The people inside the protective wall were probably recovering, and since the girl looked like a noble, I decided not to use the recovery staff this time. I didn’t want to attract attention.
I entrusted the potions to the guards and focused on healing the gravely injured.
Just as I began treating them, one of the knights who had been guarding the girl came toward me. The others were either providing aid or checking on the situation with the carriage, or capturing the bandits.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, we were able to protect the young lady. And to think you’re even treating the wounded…”
“I was just passing by. Please, don’t worry about it.”
I hoped the situation wouldn’t get blown out of proportion when suddenly, the sound of a horse’s whinny and the sound of hooves grew louder.
“Irene! Are you safe?!”
The one who appeared, riding a pure white horse, was the captain of the town’s defense force, Sieghearth. A young knight with golden-brown hair, green eyes, and a pale, well-proportioned face.
Dismounting, Sieghearth knelt before the girl to check for injuries. Then, he stood up and gazed into the tear-streaked face of the girl.
He embraced her, as if to confirm her safety.
“Brother…! But you were supposed to be sick…?”
The girl clung to him, crying. So, they were siblings. It seemed like he had come to visit her while she was ill, but it was good to see that he had recovered.
The knight who had been standing near me nodded and explained.
“That man is Lord Sieghearth, the third son of Viscount Hegstett, and this is his sister, Lady Irene.”
…What? A viscount?
