Published: September 10, 2025
※Corrected typos on 2016/9/13.
※Partial corrections made on 2016/8/20.
This is Satou. My senior once said that trust is like a domino effect. The way it builds up gradually by enduring stress, yet can be easily destroyed by a single mistake, is similar.
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“As expected, airships are fast.”
“Father, isn’t it extremely reckless for the lord and his heir to both enter a dangerous zone simultaneously?”
Participating in the operation to reclaim Targenkomii City, currently under monster control, are my comrades from Team Pendragon, Count Muno and Orion-kun, Lord Zotol who has regained his status as a knight, and the Kobold siblings accompanying us.
That aside, Orion-kun has been arguing seriously with Count Muno for a while now.
“It’s not reckless. Since Satou-kun and his companions are with me, it’s safer than anywhere else.”
“Are you entrusting us—?”
“That’s right! It’s no problem because Pochi will knock them all down in a flash!”
In response to Count Muno’s confident words, Tama and Pochi struck a poised stance.
Orion-kun gave his father a frustrated look, then stormed out onto the deck with heavy footsteps.
He probably wanted to warn his father that if I had ambitions, I would let the monsters kill them both and seize the territory.
It’s an impolite thought, but being cautious like Orion-kun is the normal reaction.
Still, I prefer Count Muno’s unguarded trust.
“Master, flying-type monsters are approaching from ahead.”
“Master, may I have permission to intercept?”
Upon Liza’s report, Nana leaned forward eagerly seeking permission.
Opening the map, I could see countless monsters closing in on the airship.
“Alright, permission granted. Arisa, please initiate with fire magic.”
“Okay!”
“Master, I—”
“Lulu, please take care of sniping with regular ammunition.”
“Yes!”
“Mia, prepare the Garuda.”
“Got it, leave it to me.”
As Count Muno tried to go up to the upper observation deck with everyone, I stopped him.
For watching, the front glass of the cockpit offers the best seat.
Orion-kun, who had collapsed on the deck, was carried inside by Tama and Pochi.
A swarm of monsters blackening the sky like a dark cloud was visible.
Though they were mostly weaklings, making them less threatening, the visual effect was impressive. It might haunt my dreams.
“Th-that’s an incredible number…”
“Oh, brother!”
The Kobold siblings were terrified watching the approaching monster horde.
Understandable.
Such a vast swarm resembles a cloud of flies or locusts and is quite unsettling.
“N-no way. Lord Pendragon! Why are you grinning!? Turn the ship around quickly! There’s no way we can win against such a massive horde!”
—Grinning? That’s rude.
Since the Behemoth incident, Orion-kun had been fearful of me, but it seemed the immediate threat had overridden that, and he bit at me desperately.
“It’s okay. Arisa is here.”
“What can a mere talkative little girl like her—”
Orion-kun’s words were cut off.
He was probably startled by the flash of blazing flames streaming through the window.
Arisa’s ultra-wide-range advanced fire magic incinerated the swarm of monsters.
Truly embodying the phrase “Disinfect the filth!”
It was a bit flashy, but since even the Guild Master Selbira could easily perform it, it should be fine.
I restrained from using spatial magic and the forbidden fire magic Arisa recently learned.
“Master, did you see that? Arisa-chan looked so cool!”
“Yes, of course. Don’t hog all the attention though.”
Through the speaking tube, I responded to Arisa’s call for praise, warning her not to get too carried away.
Orion-kun, who watched beside me, was frozen with his mouth open, but Count Muno complimented her casually as usual, “Arisa’s magic is amazing.”
Arisa’s strike just now had burned most of the weak monsters, and the rest mostly retreated back into the city.
The few monsters that came closer were shot down one by one by Lulu’s sniping and the beast girls’ demon blade cannons.