I explain the situation to Xellos, thinking that maybe he can do something about it too, but unfortunately, he’s also a complete amateur when it comes to medicine.
But apparently Merlin is good with that sort of thing, so she might be able to help.
“So, do you know where Merlin went?”
“To the river. She said she was going to hunt there while Tiltue watches over her.”
“I see, got it.”
We don’t know when she’ll be back, so we head towards the river. If she’s not there, we’ll just come back.
And if we happen to miss each other, Xellos will tell her what’s going on and I’m sure she’ll wait for us.
We made this road recently, so the path to the river is pretty clean. That said, we have to keep fixing it, because the monsters from the forest keep messing it up…
“By the way, you can feel presences, right? Then we don’t have to worry about walking past her.”
“Hm… Merlin kind of disappears between the presences of the monsters in the forest…”
“Then look for the Bahamut kid that’s with her.”
“Ah… You’re right.”
Not many people on this island are as powerful as Tiltue. And also, normal monsters run away when they feel Tiltue’s presence, so there’s probably a blank area…
“Uh? I can’t find Tiltue’s presence.”
“That means she’s hiding it on purpose.”
“What… Ah, is it so Merlin can train?”
Tiltue stands on the top of this island’s ecosystem, so there won’t be any monsters around her.
And since Merlin can’t train like that, she purposefully erases her presence.
“It’s kinda strange for an ancient dragon to do somethin’ for someone else.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. Might makes right for them. They follow people stronger than them, but never the other way around. So…”
I guess times changed.
She whispers, sounding a little lonely, and I feel the experience coming from her that contrasts with her youthful appearance.
“From my point of view, it feels like growth.”
“I guess you’d think that.”
Tiltue wasn’t good at that sort of finicky stuff, but she learned for Reina and the others’ sake.
Suzaku is right, she did change. But I think it’s a good change.
“Ah, there they are.”
We come out of the forest, and see Merlin and Tiltue near the river.
And facing them, is a giant snake with legs.
I don’t remember ever seeing this one, but it looks weaker than an emperor boar.
“A basilisk?”
“I feel like I heard that before. Is it a dangerous monster?”
“It’s not all that strong, but… It’s got a pretty powerful magic eye. People it looks at can’t move.”
Yes, it turns people to stone or something.
“…But doesn’t that make it really strong?”
“It’s not like it works on me or the divine beast people. But a human that level…”
Merlin is staring at the basilisk, and not moving.
Maybe she’s already suffering from its effects.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, the basilisk leaps at Merlin.
If she really did get caught by the magic eye, she’s in danger!
I pick up a rock, and I’m about to throw it, when Suzaku grabs my arm.
“Suzaku!?
“Calm down. If she really was in danger, the Bahamut kid would do something’.”
“Ah…”
Yes, Tiltue is right next to Merlin.
If divine beasts aren’t affected by the magic eye, it stands to reason that she’s immune too.
“Enough already. I also have my pride as one of the seven great mages!”
Merlin yells, and swings her arm.
At the same time, a very thin line of water cuts at the basilisk.
“Ooh!”
“Eh? That’s a pretty interesting use of magic.”
“She wasn’t able to beat a monster like that before…”
Merlin has gotten stronger since arriving here too.
Reina also hunts monsters with Luna and others that she couldn’t beat before. Everyone’s growing.
“Hn?”
The basilisk was cut in two, but it’s still wriggling.
The upper half is gradually approaching Merlin, who has her back turned to it.
“Watch out!”
It attacks Merlin with force that you wouldn’t expect from a monster that was cut in half.
Merlin also notices it, but by then, the basilisk has its mouth open widely and is about to pierce her with its fangs.
“How naive! On an island that can kill you at any time, there’s no way I wouldn’t have at least one countermeasure!”
The basilisk pierces Merlin.
Or at least it seemed like it would, but Merlin’s body is covered with an azure water that blocks the attack.
“Geez. This island’s monsters really are something else, being able to move after being cut in half… But it’s over!”
The water covering Merlin wraps around the basilisk, and turns into a ball that traps it.
It desperately tries to get away, but it can’t use its full strength when it’s only the upper half anyway.
After a while, a lot of foam comes out of its mouth, and it stops moving. I guess it was completely choked to death.
“Hmph, and that about does it.”
“Ooh…”
Merlin lifts her hair to strike a pose, and looks cool, like she can really take care of business.
I start clapping without thinking as I approach her, and she looks a little embarrassed.
And when she sees Suzaku next to me, she turns pale.
I guess someone who really is among the strongest still inspires fear in her.
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