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Episode 40
Retrograde (3)
The ash-haired woman opened her mouth with a leisurely smile.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“… … .”
“Now, kid. Make your choice. Are you going to fight us, or are you just going to give up and surrender?”
Riley stares at the woman without saying a word.
She communicated telepathically with me in a quiet voice.
‘Your Majesty.’
[why.]
‘I told you that when I was little, I read fairy tales written by my Uncle Robert.’
[uh.]
That’s what it was.
‘There was a book called ‘Amy the Con Artist’ among the fairy tales I read that left an impression on me.’
Riley continued with a faint smile.
‘Shall I tell you how Amy cheated in the story?’
[Good.]
I was just wondering.
I wonder how much trash that fucking garbage fairy tale was.
“Phew… … .”
As soon as Riley finished speaking, Riley started acting.
She sighed deeply and muttered with a look of abandonment on her face.
“… … Take it.”
“what?”
“Here, take this golden golem. I don’t think our team will need it anymore.”
The statement that the Golden Golem was not needed was tantamount to declaring that this second test was to be abandoned.
“oh.”
The woman who heard those words showed a surprised expression. As if she had never expected such a development.
“Unexpected? Grandpa Theobald warned you that you would fight back no matter what.”
“… … .”
“Well, what is it… … .”
The ashen-haired woman continued speaking, glancing at the scene unfolding behind her.
“… … If you still want to fight after seeing this, you’re just crazy.”
Hundreds of colorful, man-eating flowers.
And the shadows beneath it all.
I think Riley felt overwhelmed by the force of those summons.
“Okay, it can’t hurt to have some extra cores.”
“… … .”
“Now, hand over the golden golem.”
“Ugh, squeak… … .”
The golden golem began to grumble as if it understood the conversation that had just been had.
“Stop. Stop it and go over there.”
“Kkiing… … .”
After hesitating a few times, the boy eventually trudged towards the other person at Riley’s command.
The ashen-haired woman greeted the golden golem with a bright smile.
“Ouch, cute kid. It’s okay! Come here quickly! Sister will love you!”
I was observing the scene silently and asked Riley a question.
[Hey, Riley.]
‘yes?’
[So what exactly is this scam?]
Riley answered.
‘People don’t show any fear towards creatures weaker than themselves. I’m going to take advantage of that psychology.’
[……huh?]
‘Look carefully.’
After speaking, Riley turned her gaze to the golden golem.
She recited in a quiet but firm voice.
“Mr. Toby.”
“Golreung.”
“Go and bite it hard.”
And the very next moment.
Crunch─!
The golden golem, which had been walking slowly, jumped up as if it had been waiting and bit the finger of the ashen-haired woman.
“Whoa! Aaaah!”
The ashen-haired woman began to scream and tremble in unexpected pain.
hiatus.
A very small gap was visible.
It was just a momentary gap, but it was enough.
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Riley didn’t miss the opportunity and ran towards it.
Magical power surged between his palms.
At the same time, a proper magic missile was formed.
Wheeeeeeeek──!
An attack half a beat faster than a normal spear.
A highly concentrated projectile of magical energy flew in a bizarre trajectory toward the ashen-haired woman.
“… … Wait, Dorothy!”
The green-haired man, who realized the attack too late, immediately used defensive magic.
Hwaak──!
Is it because I’m embarrassed?
Or was it because they underestimated the simple attack called “Magic Missile”?
The man created only one “Mana Shield”.
It was a basic form of defense without any application or modification of the technique.
[You let your guard down again this time.]
Well, it was great news for us.
The simpler the shape of the shield, the less time it takes to dispel it.
Riley sent her magic power up to her brain.
Time slowed down.
Everything seemed slow.
The combination of her monstrous kinetic vision and her “thought acceleration” caused Riley’s world to move in slow motion.
In that slow world.
Riley secretly cast Dispel.
Dismissal─.
Just before the Magic Missile is blocked by the opponent’s defense.
“… … !”
A defensive barrier that disappears the moment you think you’ve blocked an attack.
The man’s eyes filled with shock as he witnessed the sight.
It seems that he never expected that a low-ranking “Novice” wizard would succeed in dispelling it in such a short moment.
“……shit!”
Phew─!
But is a veteran really a veteran?
Despite having little time to react, the man threw his whole body into pushing the woman away.
[oh.]
It was an improvisation that was objectively praiseworthy.
The shield disappeared, and the magic missile narrowly missed the ashen-haired woman’s side.
If the man had not pushed her, she would have suffered a fatal injury to her abdomen.
The face of the woman who barely escaped with her life turned pale.
“Oh my god, this is crazy… … !”
She rolled around on the dirt floor and looked up at Riley.
“Hey, you punk! How can you launch a surprise attack in such a cowardly way!”
“why?”
Riley answered calmly.
“Are we knights? Are we seeking a fair fight?”
“… … .”
“Or is there a law that says wizards can’t make surprise attacks without me knowing?”
“… … What, what?”
The face of the ashen-haired woman, who had just heard back what she had said, turned red and blue.
Regardless, Riley continued with a relaxed smile.
“You gave me the choice between surrender or fight?”
We made our choice a long time ago.
Maybe the moment I was asked that question, I had already made my choice.
“I will fight back.”
“… … .”
“And I will win.”
Riley paused for a moment to catch her breath and glared at the other person.
“So come on, you rascals.”
“This, this, this… … .”
As has been said countless times, wizards have a very strong sense of pride.
I can confidently say that there is not a single person who would remain silent after being called a sloppy magician right in front of their face.
Especially if the guy making that noise is a wizard of a lower level than you.
“This, this, this… … .”
The ashen-haired woman’s face gradually turned red.
Hmm, let’s see.
Judging by her expression, it looks like she’s going to swear even more harshly than Becky did last time…
“You son of a bitch! Come at me! Come at me! The lowly bastard succeeded in a surprise attack and now he’s completely dismissing us as water!”
bingo.
That was correct.
The ashen-haired woman who had nearly died fell for Riley’s primal provocation so easily.
Soon after, she lost all sense of reason and began to attack indiscriminately.
Kwakwakwa──!
“Damn it, Dorothy! Please calm down… …!”
As if swept up in that connection, the green-haired man reluctantly unleashed an attack that he was not prepared for.
I laughed as I watched the crude attacks.
Composure was the most basic virtue of a wizard.
Because magic with emotions has such an obvious attack path.
I looked at the plants flying haphazardly toward Riley and confirmed to myself.
[I won.]
* * *
“Hey, Arpel! Do your best! Why is that damn thorny vine not working!”
“That, that… … .”
if.
If only really.
What if Crombel Stingwood’s vision magic had advanced during the 300 years I was asleep?
I’m sure the battle would have been tough.
The power of the vision magic created by the Archmage was that great.
But what if, on the other hand, vision magic had made no progress at all during those 300 years?
“… … I, I’m so frustrated right now!”
The enemies can never defeat us.
As if to prove my thoughts, Riley was fending off her opponent’s attacks one by one with flashy movements.
“Oh, really… … !”
Attacks that don’t even graze the collar.
“… … Give me some!”
The ashen-haired woman was already running low on magical power before the battle even began, having used “Shadow Movement.”
Moreover, the injuries sustained from Riley’s surprise attack continued to bleed.
A situation where one’s concentration is depleted, both physically and mentally.
The shadow plants were becoming more and more sluggish with each passing moment.
The ashen-haired woman posed no particular threat to us at the moment.
In fact, the only people we had to worry about were the green-haired Stingwood descendants over there.
[… … .]
okay.
If we continue like this, we will have the advantage.
To gain the upper hand against veteran magicians who have reached the middle ranks.
I could feel inside that Riley had grown tremendously over the past six months.
but…….
‘It’s dangerous.’
As I said before, this battle was no ordinary battle.
‘I don’t have enough time.’
Time attack.
We have to get through those two as quickly as possible.
Even if we get through those two, if we can’t join up before Becky loses her life, it’s our loss.
As Riley said, there was no time.
So now.
This is where we have to make a decisive move.
Cookies, cookies, cookies──!
I saw flower stems flying towards Riley.
Most of them were rose-family flowers, and their stems had sharp thorns.
[Riley.]
I spoke to Riley, who was narrowly avoiding the plants.
[There is only one way to instantly break the link between a wizard and his summons. Do you know what it is?]
Riley nodded.
As expected from a Retemis, she knew how to break the links of summons.
‘You must directly strike the summoning wizard, so that he loses consciousness.’
[that’s right.]
It was the same accurate answer as always.
Rest, rest rest rest─!
I avoided the thorns and flower petals flying towards me like blades. I used my magic to cut through the paths I couldn’t avoid.
That’s how it progressed.
from now on.
More and more, going forward.
“What, what! No, how on earth is that possible!”
Plants passed precariously across her body.
“Wow, a wizard can use such movements?”
As the ash-haired woman said, this was definitely not the kind of movement a mere wizard would display.
But is Riley a normal wizard?
A move learned over decades in the Thieves’ Guild.
And even the evasive moves that I had practiced while sparring with the Death Knight in Lich’s hideout for half a year.
All of those experiences came together and were shining in this moment.
Woof─!
It wasn’t just Riley’s extraordinary physical abilities that were put to use.
Path-Finding.
Literally, finding a way.
But what we are looking for now is not the actual ‘road’, but the ‘path’ through which magic flows.
Read the flow of magic.
By reading the flow.
Find out in advance where your opponent will attack.
Sasak─!
A single flower stem made of shadow passed over Riley’s body just in time.
“No! I was definitely aiming for the blind spot… …!”
Vision is just a tool for feeling the world.
That’s why I surrender my whole body to the sensation of magic.
Ssak, ssak─.
Riley closed her eyes.
My vision darkened.
But for some reason, even in the pitch-black world, the path of the attack flying towards us was clearly visible.
Sasak──.
Avoid.
Approaching.
slowly.
But it doesn’t stop.
Steadily.
Sack─.
Closer, towards the man controlling the plants.
Flash─!
Riley opened her eyes, which had been closed.
“What, what… … !”
Right in front.
Dark green eyes appeared.
His eyes were filled with astonishment.
He too was so focused on controlling the plants that he didn’t even notice our approach.
absence.
hiatus.
Gap.
And Riley never, ever misses an opportunity like this.
Woof─!
One blow.
That one was enough.
Kwaaaaang───!
Riley’s fist, charged with magic, struck the man in the face.
* * *
Gooooooo──.
Dust rose from all directions.
In the gap, Riley was breathing heavily.
[are you okay?]
“… … .”
My brief question.
Instead of answering, Riley nodded weakly.
Judging by her rapid breathing, the superhuman concentration achieved in a split second must have worn her down considerably.
“… … .”
Covered in dust, Riley looked around in silence.
All the giant flowers had lost their strength and were withered.
Of course, the shadow plant that had lost its subject had also long since disappeared into the ground.
Swish─.
Riley turned her head.
On the other side, the shadows of two wizards were visible.
A man with dark green hair.
And the woman with gray hair.
They were all unconscious and lying on the ground, and judging by their appearance, it seemed like they would not come to their senses for some time.
Swish─.
I turned my gaze again.
Behind the withered flowers, Olivia appeared.
She was still crouching, muttering something and shivering.
There were some minor scratches, but that was it.
It seems that he managed to survive the battle.
“Kkiing… … .”
A golden golem lay collapsed next to Olivia.
The guy’s heart was pierced.
Judging by the shape of the wound, it seemed to have been struck by a shadow plant.
Sloppy─.
Riley wordlessly reached into the guy’s wound and pulled out the core.
Soon the creaking sound died down.
[… … .]
okay.
The battle is over.
We won, and our opponent lost.
“Phew… … .”
But Riley wasn’t satisfied and struggled to drag her tired body along. Her heavy footsteps dragged on the dirt floor.
Although the battle was over, our work was not over.
It’s not too late.
You must help Becky as she continues her battle with Garon Theobald.
The location had already been identified through pathfinding. It was the moment when Riley was about to hurriedly take steps toward the battle site.
“… … !”
Towering─.
At that very moment.
Her eyes widened.
[what’s the matter.]
“… … .”
Riley was speechless.
And I soon found out why.
Woof─.
[……ah.]
Becky’s energy was cut off.
She was no longer detected by Riley’s Pathfinding.
It must have been a faint sensation just a moment ago… … .
“That’s about it.”
The very next moment a low voice was heard.
It was a familiar voice.
We could immediately tell who the owner of that voice was.
Swish.
Riley slowly raised her head.
The figure of Garon Edward von Theobald appeared.
He opened his mouth and looked down at us with a forlorn expression.
“Rebecca Duncan is dead.”
“… … .”
“So, your test ends here.”
