Published: September 6, 2025
It seemed there was a secret strategy to break through Shutzelia's shield, so the knight apprentices of Ehrenfest, each holding their magic tools, charged out to keep Dunkelfelger at bay.
Inside the shield remained only four of us: myself, Judith, Eijerdoll, and Brynhildr. Wilfried also said, “In times like this, the lord candidates should be the first to act,” as he took up his magic tool and stepped outside. I thought that his eagerness to lead everyone was definitely inherited from Foster Father.
“I will definitely protect you.”
I watched with reassurance as everyone left the shield, and my hand touched one of the medicine tubes at my waist—the one containing the extremely bitter healing potion.
…What should I do?
If possible, it would be better to restore my mana. Having mana increases what I can do, so at least I’d feel safer. But I’ve already taken the gentle healing potion, and its effects haven’t even worn off yet. Taking the extremely bitter healing potion on top of that is risky—it would be an overdose. As Richarda and Hartmut strictly control the dosage, I can’t just gulp it down because I need mana.
…If I exceed the dosage on my own, Lord Ferdinand will definitely get angry.
Considering I am continuously using mana to maintain my mount and the shield, I’m not sure if the current recovery speed will allow me to withstand all of Dunkelfelger’s attacks. Given my remaining mana and recovery rate, I want the extremely bitter healing potion, but if my mana increases too much, it might cause problems like during the dedication ceremony.
…I’ll save it as a last resort.
I don’t even know if the secret strategy to break the shield will be effective. I’ll wait and see how Dunkelfelger acts. I gently withdrew my finger from the tube and turned my gaze beyond the shield. A fierce battle was about to begin there.
“Gooo! Scatter them!”
“Don’t let them get close!”
From both Ehrenfest's and Dunkelfelger's camps, mounts dashed toward a spot near the center. The blue cloaks charging forward formed a single large mass, while the brightly yellow ochre cloaks spread out around them in stark contrast.
“Lady Rosemine, I’ll support everyone too.”
Judith, holding the magic tool she received from Brynhildr, stepped slightly outside the shield and hurled the magic tool toward the group of Dunkelfelger’s knights. To avoid harm to Ehrenfest, she threw a high-level magic tool at the still-distant Dunkelfelger forces.
“Dodge!”
The blue-cloaked knights, running together over land and air, noticed the incoming magic tool and scattered in all directions. Almost no one was hit by the exploding magic tool on the ground, and Dunkelfelger’s knights quickly regrouped.
“All-out attack!”
At Wilfried’s command, the Ehrenfest knight apprentices spread out and threw magic tools from all directions.
Explosions rang out around the arena as dust rose. One by one, Dunkelfelger’s knight apprentices were knocked off their mounts or repelled by the impacts. Still, their momentum toward Ehrenfest’s camp did not stop. Centered on Lartalk, they weaved, scattered, and regrouped repeatedly as they pressed toward Ehrenfest’s position.
“Lartalk!”
Restiraut’s voice rang out. At the same time, Lartalk’s sword began to glow with a complex, rainbow-like hue. It was a powerful technique that emitted a large amount of mana, often used by Ferdinand to slay mighty demonic beasts. The shockwave alone carried enough force to be a formidable attack.
It was aimed at me. Blood drained from my face in an instant.
“Are you sane!?”
I heard Wilfried’s shout, and I wanted to agree with all my might. Desperately gathering the recovering mana inside me, I hastily began reinforcing Shutzelia’s shield. I had never faced such an attack myself.
…I’d die! If I took that head-on, there’s no way I’d survive!
It was a much smaller light than the one Brother Cornelius showed two years ago during the ditter with Dunkelfelger when he killed a demonic beast. Considering Lartalk’s fighting style, he should be able to produce an even bigger light, so it was likely somewhat restrained. Still, it was far from reassuring.