Published: January 24, 2026
If it’s a demonic beast, I can attack without hesitation!
“[Fire Arrow]!”
The released flaming arrow pierced through the leg of the demonic beast.
The moment its movement stopped, a greenish trail streaked across its vital spot.
Carol, activating the magical tool on her earrings, was enveloped in a flickering green aura like flames, with a magic circle glowing in her eyes.
“Any demonic beast that lays a hand on this girl—I'll kill them all.”
Carol’s voice was low, trembling with anger.
Sparks of green scattered at her feet.
Mana swelled, and the air trembled.
“Carol, here they come!”
“I know!”
Carol raised her twin swords against the approaching humanoid demonic beasts.
Leaving only a green trail behind, Carol weaved through the demonic beasts at an incredible speed.
The beasts in her path vanished back into the black mist and dispersed.
I finished off the demonic beasts left by Carol with attack magic.
Log and Sister Ruera were each fighting as well, and the number of demonic beasts gradually decreased.
“All right, just—”
The moment I saw the end in sight, a dull sound echoed from behind.
“—! Sophie!!”
Turning at Carol’s shout, I caught a small shadow at the edge of my vision.
It was the girl who was supposed to be asleep.
Inhaling the black mist, she trembled painfully, her eyes completely dyed in darkness.
“...!”
That small body lunged at me with beast-like speed.
For a moment, I hesitated.
In that instant, a sharp claw wrapped in death came rushing toward my chest.
(This is unavoidable...!)
“Not if I can help it!!”
At the same moment I shouted, a giant shield intervened between me and the claw.
The sound of metal screaming echoed throughout the facility.
“Sophia! Get back!”
Pushed by Mr. Derrick’s angry voice, I instinctively stepped back.
Beyond my vision, the girl still groaned painfully and swung her claws down like a beast.
“...Why is it like this...!”
My trembling voice slipped out.
She was supposed to be asleep—this child.
I never wanted to hurt her.
I had come to save her.
Seeing through my hesitation, Mr. Derrick turned around and shouted.
“Sophia, this isn’t the time to show 'I want to save you' feelings.”
“...!”
“It’s life or death.”
He said firmly, shield raised.
“The chance to save someone only comes to those who stand. So—don’t fall. You want to be on the side that saves, right?”
Mr. Derrick’s words struck sharply in my chest.
“Derrick, stop her movement!”
Ms. Aneli’s voice rang out.
“Got it!”
Mr. Derrick completely halted the girl’s movements with his shield.
Ms. Aneli had already finished constructing her technique.
“—[Rock Bind]!”
As Ms. Aneli cast the magic, the rock beneath the floor rose, restraining the girl’s body as if enveloping her.
“All right—ugh, what a hassle with all these crawling pests!”
Ms. Aneli glared as demonic beasts charged toward the girl.
“—[Fire Javelin + Multi-Focus]!”
Waving her staff, Ms. Aneli drew a multitude of magic circles that covered the girl.
(That many magic circles deployed so far away...!?)
Normally, magic circles are deployed near the caster.
If the distance is far, the technique becomes unstable and mana inflow becomes difficult, risking failure.
The [Amplification Chain (Raise Repeat)] I learned from Mr. Orun also deploys magic circles away from the caster, but that’s possible because mana inflow occurs automatically.
Even when Mr. Orun fought the black dragon a year ago to protect us, he had to set the technique in place while moving.
But now, Ms. Aneli is drawing multiple magic circles simultaneously at positions far away from herself.
—With impossible precision and an impossible number.
This is the true power of an explorer who served as a rear attacker in the hero party...
Moreover, considering that all of these were enhanced by Mr. Orun’s [Instantaneous Ability Surge (Impact)], their destructive power is incomparable to mine.
“Everyone, turn to charcoal!”
As Ms. Aneli snapped her fingers, the mana dwelling in each magic circle flared up all at once.