「……Has it stopped?」
Seated on the coachman’s seat, I slowly scanned the surroundings. Filoé, who had been clinging tightly to my right arm, exhaled and relaxed her grip. She still wouldn’t let go.
Earthquakes occasionally occurred in Wigarlus, but this one felt a bit different. The tremor lasted only a few seconds, and it wasn’t very strong.
It reminded me of something.
For instance—right. When a thoughtless adventurer recklessly unleashes an area explosion spell.
“Is there a battle happening…?”
Once we pass through the Rimani Forest, the Elpida Orphanage awaits. Could it be that, following the ‘Purple Slime,’ another troublesome monster has attacked?
“We should hurry. Filoé.”
“Yes, leave it to me!”
“Redelia, use 【Flash Thrust】 to clear the path. There’s not much forest left. Just charge ahead.”
『Awawawa!』
“What’s wrong?”
『I-I’m sorry. I’m not used to situations where the ground keeps shaking… but since it’s your command, Master! I’ll charge in like the trash bin I am!』
“I’m counting on you.”
The tree in front of us was blown away by Filoé’s 【Flash Thrust】. Immediately, Redelia accelerated as if propelled forward.
As I listened to the powerful hooves of the horse and the sturdy wheels, I suddenly recalled what Redelia had said earlier.
—The ground is… still shaking?
Hadn’t the earthquake already stopped?
The view opened up.
The white building of the Elpida Orphanage came into sight.
My bad feeling was spot on. Several bird-shaped monsters were attacking the orphanage.
Near the orphanage, a group of adventurers appeared to be fighting desperately.
Why are adventurers—no, there’s no time to question it now.
“Redelia!”
『Y-Yes!』
Though her voice was pitiful, Redelia’s charge was real. The iron carriage raced forward, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The monsters and adventurers alike noticed us.
I shouted to an older adventurer, who had just slashed one of the monsters.
“Are there any children left in the orphanage!?”
“I don’t know! We just arrived ourselves! Can I leave it to you!?”
Fortunately, the adventurer had a level head. He quickly understood our intention despite our sudden appearance.
“Please hold this ground for a while!”
“These monsters are nothing to worry about! Go ahead!”
Taking him at his word, we charged Redelia forward.
I focused my eyes. The bird-shaped monsters were ‘Spirals.’ Their sharp beaks and talons, like those of eagles, were a threat, but their level was only 10, not too high.
If we had a way to shoot them down, we could defeat them.
“Isto-san! I’ll go too! I’m fully recovered!”
Filoé, holding her Enestea spear, puffed out her chest beside me. I roughly tousled her hair.
“Hold on a little longer. Let me know as soon as you spot the children.”
The orphanage drew closer.
From Redelia’s crystal, I created several thin, short iron rods. There was no time to worry about appearances.
I grabbed one rod and took aim at the closest ‘Spiral.’
“Skill, 【Long Throw】!”
I threw the iron rod. My aim wavered slightly due to the shaking ground, but it still pierced the base of the creature’s wing, causing the ‘Spiral’ to fall to the ground.
Even I could defeat them. The effect of leveling up was clearly showing.
“Isto-san, that was amazing!”
『Awawawa, I’m sorry, Master! My failure to stabilize the shaking caused your aim to—after all, I really am a useless trash bin…!』
Neither Filoé’s praise nor Redelia’s self-deprecation mattered right now.
We charged into the orphanage grounds.
No children were visible in the yard. Several ‘Spirals’ were repeatedly kicking at the stone-tiled roof with their legs.
“You’re like debt collectors! It’s disgusting!”
I hurled more iron rods in quick succession. The monsters fled into the sky.
Taking advantage of the moment, I approached the front door. But it was locked from the inside. Of course, it was a natural precaution. Filoé and I called out loudly, but there was no response, and there was no sign the door would be unlocked.
I climbed back onto Redelia and circled the building.
“Isto-san, over there! The director’s room!”
Through the window Filoé pointed at, we could see the children huddled together. Unlike the other rooms, this one had iron bars on the windows. That made sense—it seemed the room could withstand the ‘Spirals’ attacks better.
We didn’t have time to leisurely circle around to the entrance.
“Filoé, get the children as far from the window as possible. Redelia, when I signal, charge in.”
Filoé jumped off Redelia and ran to the window. She gestured and shouted for the children to move to the opposite wall.
She sprinted back, shouting, “It’s clear!” and leaped back onto the coach.
“Redelia! Do your best!”
『Awawawawa!? ‘Do your best’ is impossible for someone like me, me, me, me, it’s absolutely impossibleee!』
Charge.
I trusted Redelia’s strength. She had knocked down numerous trees on our way here. A wall or two wouldn’t be an issue.
Sure enough, with perfect angle and force, we created a hole in the wall with minimal damage.
“Everyone, this way! Hurry!”
We prioritized getting the youngest children into Redelia first.
The last one was a boy named Narg. Judging by the sword he was gripping tightly, he had probably been trying to protect everyone as the eldest.
I had to give him some credit.
“Narg, where’s Director Gabi?”
“Well…”
He bit his lip in frustration.
“He… left us behind and ran away, saying, ‘You can be the sacrifice.’ I was in shock, and I couldn’t stop him…”
Filoé extended a hand to him.
“Come, you too.”
She gently guided the boy into Redelia.
I knew we didn’t have much time.
But I couldn’t move for a moment.
Because I was so furious, I felt like my blood vessels were about to burst.
“Gabi… that bastard…!”
I screamed with all my might.
“Go get eaten a hundred times in hell!”
