The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
Iris’s attack made the corridor collapse, and several Gigabrands and other demons were caught up in it.
But that was only part of them.
More than ten Gigabrands were still intact, their heavy footsteps echoing as they chased after us.
Their bodies are large.
Because there are so many of them, when they move together their movement is inevitably restricted.
Thanks to that, they couldn’t catch up, and we were able to put some distance between us bit by bit.
I’d like to make a clean getaway like this, but—
“Rain, this is bad!”
Luna, who was flying nimbly through the ruins using levitation magic, cried out in something like a scream.
When I reacted and looked back,
“…Are you kidding me.”
From another passage, still more Gigabrands appeared.
I thought we were almost clear…
But that hope was instantly smashed—
“Damn it.”
This is the kind of moment when I should stay calm, but a curse slipped out anyway.
I could feel my mind being cornered.
This way of fighting.
This method of pressure.
It must be one of Altera’s strengths.
I’ve never crossed blades with her, so that power is unknown to me… but she thinks quickly, and I understood she’s a tough opponent you can’t let your guard down against.
“Fireball — Multishot!”
I concentrated several fireballs on one point in the ceiling and detonated them.
The ruins rumbled and collapsed.
It didn’t cave in entirely, but it seemed I’d managed to bring down enough of the ceiling to narrow the path.
But this was only buying time.
I thought we might somehow escape if we just ran, but right now even that seemed unlikely.
We need to do something…
If we don’t come up with a plan to slow them down, they’ll eventually catch up.
If that happens… it’s over.
“Lord Rain. May I be allowed to take care of this place?”
Iris, flying alongside me like Sora and Luna, spoke up.
“Have you got something in mind?”
“I will hold them off. If I do, then Lord Rain and the others will be able to retreat to a safe zone—”
“Denied.”
“…I haven’t finished explaining yet.”
“Denied. That kind of thing’s not allowed.”
“So please let me speak. If I act as the rear guard, Lord Rain and the others can escape safely—”
“You’re not just some rear guard, are you?”
“…”
Iris probably wasn’t thinking about merely stopping the enemy.
She’s clever.
No matter how exceptional a heavenly being she is among the strongest kind, there’s no way she could take on more than ten of the Four Heavenly Kings at once.
She might put up a good fight… but the eventual outcome would be death.
There’s no ending other than annihilation.
I suppose Iris has accepted that.
She must have considered it thoroughly and decided there’s no other way.
Still, that’s unacceptable.
I won’t allow someone to be sacrificed.
“We all escape. Not a single person will be left behind.”
“But, Lord Rain. That is—”
“It may be naive… but I don’t want to give up. Even if it’s disgraceful or pathetic, I’ll struggle to the end.”
“…Goodness, you are hopeless.”
“But that’s what Rain is.”
Tania, who had been listening, grinned.
Sora and Luna agreed we should do that.
“…However.”
If we keep going like this we’ll be checkmated for sure.
So we have to make a move.
What do we do?
How should we proceed?
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