by Ennki Hakari
A bright red light erupted from the magical symbol, followed by a massive wave of hot air and a pillar of flame shooting straight into the cloud-filled sky.
A black shadow appeared in the middle of the pillar, a beastly roar erupting from the flames. The air reverberated with a pressure wave that rippled through the castle and out into the town.
Once the pillar of flame dissipated, a five-meter-tall demon stood in its place.
He looked almost like a cross between a demonic lion and a bull, with a mane of fire and two twisting horns growing out of his forehead, the latter giving off a dark, eerie glow. His upper body was covered in bright red, glowing scales, as if he were wearing a breastplate fresh from the furnace, while his lower body—consisting of two half-human, half-bull legs—was bare.
The demon opened his mouth to reveal rows of vicious-looking fangs. He let loose a blast of flame.
“Wh-what is that, Arc?!”
Ariane’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
This was one of the skills I’d learned from the Summoner class. It allowed me to call forth a demon—in one of several different colors—to assist me for a limited amount of time. However, while I could generally indicate a target, after that, the demon was free to act however it pleased.
Ifrit was an early-level summon who generally preferred physical attacks, though he could also use fire magic. However, a summoned demon’s power was also supplemented by the magical ability of the Summoner, allowing me to use Ifrit against even high-level monsters like a hydra.
Ariane, apparently never having seen a summon in her life, kept repeating the same question over and over.
I wasn’t quite sure how to explain it. “Well, it’s kind of like…umm…like I called a monster over from another world. Or something.”
Ariane didn’t seem satisfied with this answer. “This isn’t real, right?! I’ve never seen this kind of spirit magic in my life!”
I turned toward the hydra, who was still rampaging through the castle grounds, its five heads keeping a wary eye on the new challenger.
Ifrit, picking up on the silent command I’d sent to commence his attack, let loose another roar, sending bouts of fire into the sky. He bared his claws and charged.
Two of the hydra’s snake-like heads raised up, opening their mouths and shooting out beams of white light.
Ifrit deftly dodged these, lunging toward one of the hydra’s necks with his flame-covered claws. A moment later, the head fell to the ground with a thud.
“Gyshaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
The hydra let out an angry roar, stumbling backward to protect its severed neck.
But Ifrit didn’t let up on. He vaulted over the hydra, grabbing ahold of its long, monstrous tail.
One of the hydra’s heads swung around and attempted to take a bite out of Ifrit, but the demon’s armor-like scales held strong, preventing the teeth from sinking in. He seemed unfazed by the hydra’s bite and let out another roar as he began spinning the hydra around, his grip firm on its tail. The hydra’s massive body lifted into the air, looking almost like a toy as Ifrit slowly picked up speed.
The hydra’s body smashed through buildings as it spun, reducing everything it hit to rubble. The few remaining soldiers ran for their lives to escape the castle grounds.
I didn’t recall ever seeing Ifrit fight like this in the game.
“H-hey, hold on a minute! Make him cut that out!”
Ariane didn’t seem too pleased at seeing Ifrit unleashed like a destructive tornado.
I bowed my head in apology.
“Unfortunately, there’s really nothing I can do until he disappears, which should be in five minutes.”
Honestly, I really hadn’t expected this to turn into a monster brawl like you might see in a movie. I was worried the damage could easily spread out into the town before Ifrit was finished with the hydra.
Just then, however, a familiar voice called out from behind us.
“Arc! Ariane! Are you okay?”
I turned around to find Chiyome, dressed in her ninja garb.
“We’re fine. And yourself?”
“Everything’s all right on my end. That hydra appeared a short time ago near the western fort before tearing its way through the walls and smashing apart the castle.”
Chiyome began giving a brief report of what had happened on her end, but she stopped suddenly, directing her gaze toward the battle between Ifrit and the hydra.
“Where did that fiery demon come from?”
I didn’t have time to answer before Ifrit let go of the hydra’s tail, sending it flying at almost unbelievable speeds. It crashed into the top of the castle wall and bounced over it like a rubber ball.
I heard a loud crash outside the castle walls, followed by a loud metal clang, like someone had just struck a bell. The ground shook and, a moment later, the whole area was filled with a massive plume of dust.
Ifrit dashed forward and dove over the wall, pursuing the hydra.
This was definitely not good.
“We need to follow them! Hold on!”
After making sure Chiyome and Ariane both had their hands on my shoulders, I focused on the top of the crushed castle wall and teleported. A moment later, we were standing atop it, with no guards in sight. I looked down into the town below, only to find that one of the Hilk church’s bell towers had fallen over, nearly destroying the entrance.
Three of the hydra’s heads were sticking up out of the debris, roaring loudly and glaring at something. I followed its gaze to Ifrit, his mane of fire beginning to swell.
The town was in a state of panic. Residents poked their heads out of windows, screaming as they caught sight of the carnage in front of them.
Ifrit let loose an immense roar as its mane of fire turned white hot. A ball of flame flew out from it like a shooting star, straight at the hydra. All three of the hydra’s remaining heads opened their mouths and shot back beams of white light.
When the shooting star and the beams of light collided, a massive explosion rocked the town, sending up a cloud of dust that reduced visibility to practically nothing. This was followed a moment later by another explosion and a loud, booming shockwave. A pillar of fire shot into the air, a vortex of dust and debris forming around it.
Ifrit, floating in the midst of this pillar, which seemed to extend from hell itself up into the heavens, glowered down at the tragic remains of what had once been a church. In this brief moment of serenity, the demon faded away, as if he had never been more than an illusion.
That…hadn’t turned out quite as well as I’d hoped.
Chiyome and Ariane gaped as smoke and flames licked up from the wreckage of the church. The wind carried with it the smell of roasting meat and the panicked cries of the townspeople, audible now that the thunderous din of the battle had died.
“Well, at least it looks like the hydra was taken care of.”
“Kyikyiiiii!”
I brought my hand across my forehead as if wiping away sweat and let out a deep breath. Sensing that the danger was finally over, Ponta made its way up from my neck back to the top of my head.
Ariane plucked the fox from its perch and pulled it close to her chest, speaking in a cold, flat tone.
“Let’s get you away from that dangerous thing.”
Ponta looked confused at this.
“Kyii?”
Chiyome looked at Ariane, who was busy glaring at me, and tried breaking the tension.
“So, wh-what’s our next step?”
After staring at each other in silence for a moment, Ariane and I both sighed and spoke at the same time.
“Back to Lalatoya?”
“We should head to Lalatoya.”
I looked at the pile of rubble that had once been a church before staring up into the gray-cloaked sky. I would need to be a lot more careful using summoning magic from here on out.
The rain began falling even harder, as if hoping to drown out the screams echoing throughout the town.
>
Epilogue
Lalatoya was an elven village located deep within the Great Canada Forest.
The village elder lived in a three-story house that was an amalgamation of a tree and a elf-made structure.
Past the entrance was an open hallway, at the center of which a large pillar ran straight up through the ceiling. The door-lined hall ran around the outer perimeter of the house.
The first floor had stairwells on either side, the top of which opened into a large room that served as the dining area and kitchen. At a large, wooden table in the center of this room sat Glenys, Ariane’s mother.
Glenys was a dark elf like Ariane, as evidenced by her amethyst skin and snow-white hair, which she wore tied back in braids that hung over her shoulders.
Ariane sat across from her mother, with Chiyome and me seated beside her. Ponta was under the table, wagging its large cottony tail around cheerfully as it munched away at a dried apricot-like fruit Glenys had prepared.
Chiyome was the first to speak. “I apologize for coming here unannounced.” She hung her head, her black cat ears folding close to her head.
Glenys just smiled at the young girl. “It’s nothing really. After all, Arc’s the one who teleported you straight into town.”
When I’d used Transport Gate to take us away from Leibnizche and return us to Lalatoya, I’d accidentally taken Chiyome right to the village elder. Bringing an outsider into an elven village without permission was a serious offense. But there really was nothing for Chiyome to apologize for—it was all my fault.
I bowed my head as well. “I apologize, Glenys. I will be more careful from here on out.”
“Please do. However, since our guest this time is one of the mountain people, I think it’ll be fine to grant our approval after the fact. We’re both unwelcome as far as the humans are concerned, so I guess that gives us something to bond over, huh, Chiyome?”
Glenys gave a sly grin and brought her hand up over her mouth at her own gentle teasing. Chiyome looked unsure how to respond.
Ariane lifted the white cup in front of her and took a sip of tea. “When will father be back?”
“He left for Maple the same day you two headed off to the Revlon Empire. He hasn’t been back since, though he did send a message. Anyway, why don’t you tell me what happened?”
Ariane explained all that had happened in Leibnizche. Glenys listened in silence, then let out a slow, controlled breath.
“So, the five elves who’d been brought there were no longer in town, and we don’t know where they were taken?”
“Correct. The town is also in a complete state of chaos right now after what happened with the hydra. We’ll need to give it some time before we start looking for new leads and…”
Glenys waved a hand to stop me.
“That won’t be necessary. It’s already been decided to table the rescue operation. Thank you, Arc, for your services.”
Ariane stood, the table shaking as Ariane pounded on it, fixing her mother with a steely gaze.
“Just what are you saying?! You want to turn our backs on the remaining five?!”
Glenys shrugged. “We’ve been hearing some unsettling rumors about the East Revlon Empire. If you have no further leads, then there’s no sense in continuing to put yourselves in danger out there. This decision came from Maple, so take it up with them if you have any questions.”
Ariane slumped her shoulders and sat back down. She looked unconvinced, and averted her gaze, her hands clenched tightly atop the table.
Chiyome looked back and forth between Ariane and her mother, as if to try to gauge the situation.
Glenys spoke again, her voice taking on a more cheerful tone. “Besides, we have a new assignment for you. We’ll need someone to guide Arc to the spring near the Lord Crown as his reward for aiding in the rescue operation. We’d like you to do that.”
I’d joined Ariane as a mercenary, and the payment offered for my assistance was a trip to a spring near the tree known as the Lord Crown. This spring, which had originally been mentioned to me by Elder Dillan, was rumored to be able to lift any curse. As such, it just might be able to cure me of whatever kept me looking like a living skeleton.
Ariane stirred in her seat, her face a mix of emotions.
Before I had a chance to say anything, however, she let out a heavy sigh, a melancholy smile gracing her face.
“Of course. Arc has been a great help in this mission.”
“If you tell me where it is, I’m sure I can get there on my own.”
The thought of having to part ways with Ariane saddened me, but I didn’t want to cause her any more trouble by making her accompany me all the way to the spring.
Ariane looked incredulous. “Arc, you’d never be able to find it. Not with your sense of direction.”
That stung, but I could hardly disagree with her.
Glenys clapped her hands together, a wide smile on her face.
“Then it’s settled! You may run into the Dragon Lord, in which case, your only chance to negotiate is if an elf accompanies you. It’s a rather unique place, and the route there is treacherous, so I want you to be careful, all right?”
I remembered them mentioning something about the Dragon Lord before. But I put thoughts of it aside for the time being.
“So, where is this spring located?”
“The Lord Crown is north of Lalatoya, in the valley between the Furyu and Hyoryu mountain ranges.”
Before Glenys could explain any further, Chiyome stood up from her chair, a look of shock plastered across her face.
“Miss Glenys, do you know the route to get there?!”
Glenys was visibly surprised at this sudden outburst, but she nodded all the same.
“I, um, yes. The Furyu Mountains, as the name implies, are full of Furyu wind dragons. Crossing them is no easy task. However, there’s a vast basin off to the northwest where the Karyu and Furyu ranges meet. There’s a cave there that will take you under the mountains.”
“Can… Can you take me with you?” Chiyome clasped her hands together and pleaded with Glenys, her eyes locked on to the older woman’s.
A look of uncertainly washed across Ariane’s face.
“What business do you have there?”
“Remember back in Kaysehk, when I said I had a request for Arc?”
I nodded.
“I was hoping you’d help me find the way to the land between the Furyu and Hyoryu mountains. Hanzo’s hideout was located there, and I thought your teleportation abilities might come in handy.”
Glenys looked deeply intrigued by Chiyome’s story.
Ariane arched an eyebrow at me.
Apparently, our party of three would continue for the foreseeable future. My heart welled with excitement at the thought. However, I tried keeping this in check, and instead focused on taking a sip of tea. It was only then that I realized I was still wearing my helmet. I set my helmet on the table next to me and lifted the cup again.
Chiyome let out a loud gasp, instantly springing to her feet.
“You’re undead?!”
Oh. Right. I hadn’t told her about my body yet. She may have been shocked, but I was starting to feel rather casual about the whole thing.
***
Houvan was located to the southeast, between Olav, the capital of the Rhoden Kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Limbult, serving as a center of trade between the two.
Countless tents had been erected in the land around the city, serving as temporary homes to nearly three thousand soldiers.
In the largest of these sat Sekt Rondahl Karlon Rhoden Sahdiay, first prince of the Rhoden Kingdom. He sat in a chair so luxurious that one might almost forget he was in the middle of the wilderness. He looked well and truly bored as the officer in front of him delivered a report on the casualties suffered in their efforts to dispatch the haunted wolves along the road.
Tall and handsome, and impeccably dressed in an elaborate military uniform, Prince Sekt waved a hand to
dismiss the officer before running his fingers through his light brown hair.
Another man entered the tent in the officer’s place.
Everything about this new man’s appearance gave the impression of a soldier, from his muscular body, to his uniform, to his immaculately trimmed mustache. Even his stark silence and curtness added to his stern appearance.
The man’s name was Cetrion du Olsterio, lieutenant general of the First Royal Army. He was the son of General Maldoira du Olsterio, who had once overseen the Third Royal Army, though he’d killed his own father during the confusion in the capital a short time ago.
Lieutenant General Cetrion approached the prince and took a knee, looking pointedly at the other men in the tent.
Prince Sekt waved his hand in the same well-practiced gesture he’d used to dismiss the officer. He and the lieutenant general remained silent until the tent was empty.
“Is it urgent?”
Cetrion glanced around again, to make absolutely sure they were alone.
“I just received word from the lord of Tiocera. The men sent to retrieve Yuriarna’s body couldn’t find anyone matching her description.”
Sekt’s eyes went wide in disbelief. “That’s…impossible! Kaecks reported on the success of his mission and delivered her necklace to me! Maybe… Maybe her body was eaten by some monster roaming the forest?”
“There were some signs of monsters scavenging the bodies, and we were able to confirm the identities of several of the guards and bandits. However, both Yuriarna and her carriage were nowhere to be found.”
Cetrion kept his voice low and steady, his eyes respectfully averted from the prince.
This only seemed to annoy Sekt further, even though he knew Cetrion was simply doing his job. He turned his gaze away, clenching his teeth.
“Send an urgent message to the capital and demand an explanation from Kaecks! And tell Lord Tiocera to double his efforts and do a more thorough search of the area! If Yuriarna is still alive, things will become quite troublesome indeed.”
“At once, your Highness.”
Cetrion stood and quietly left the tent.
After watching the lieutenant general depart, Prince Sekt pounded his fist on an armrest, fuming over the position he found himself in. He grumbled out loud to no one in particular.