Just as we’re about to reach the capital…
“M-monsters nyanne!”
Yells Nekoko.
I guess we didn’t see them because it was on the other side of the hill.
In the grassy field in front of us… A large mass of shadows that looks like a black stain starts moving.
This field is near the capital, and since there isn’t any water being diverted here for agricultural use, it’s become a grazing field… The monsters are probably after the livestock left here to graze.
(Are those… Chimera?)
I recognize those peculiar silhouettes even from a distance.
A fire-breathing lion’s head, eagle wings that allow them to soar through the skies, a snake’s tail with a deadly poison…
They are man-made monsters, built with the strongest parts of various monsters.
Are those the same as the ones the mages had under their control a week ago in Almana’s underground dungeon?
After the dungeon collapsed, I started quietly taking down the monsters that came out of it, but… I guess I missed some.
“W-why are those dangerous monsters here nyanne!? W-we gotta run nyanne!”
“…No, it’s too late for that.”
The chimera have already set their eyes on us, and are running this way.
Normally, big carnivorous monsters don’t go around in groups like these, so they don’t have to share their prey, but… They’re being well led.
(We have about ten seconds before they make contact.)
It won’t be a problem if we have that much time.
“You might as well show us the results of your training, El.”
“Eh? Ah… Y-yes! Got it!”
El nods, and her magic energy becomes feathers of light that flutter around her.
And then, a majestic bow and arrow of light appear in her hands.
“Here it goes! Triple Flash! (Flash bullet Ⅲ)”
The arrows of light are fired into the sky, and form shining streaks as they turn into shooting stars. The arrows reach the chimera right in front of their eyes, and… They flash as they burst.
“…!”
The chimera flinch and stop dead in their tracks.
El takes advantage of this opening to formulate another magic circle.
“Then…! Fourth Sanctuary! 《Protective Sanctuary Ⅳ》”
This time, a big magic circle shines below the wagon, before becoming a wall of light that repels the monsters trying to jump at us.
“Yes! I used magic without an invocation item!”
“Nice going, El. Your training’s showing results already.”
“Hehehe~.”
I pat El’s head, and she smiles broadly.
“Maybe now I’ll be helpful to you.”
“Yes.”
“This is not the time to be flirting nyanne! Even with a barrier, we have nowhere to go nyanne! It’s only a matter of time until they get us nyanne!”
El smiles in front of Nekoko as she panics.
“It’s all right, Nekoko.”
“N-nyanne…?”
“Don’t forget, Chrom is here.”
Says El as I jump down from the wagon.
“C-Chrom nyanne!? What are you doing nyanne!?”
I hear Nekoko’s screams behind me as I silently draw my sword and step outside the barrier.
I’m sure I must look like a stupid prey, as the chimera watch me exit the barrier without resistance. Their eyes seem filled with gluttony as they look at me.
(…I guess I don’t have to worry about what’s behind me, since we have this barrier.)
El’s specialty is light magic, which rules over things like flashes, sanctuaries, regeneration, etc.
Basically, it’s not made to be used offensively, meaning… Now’s my turn.
“‘Haste, Seventh Speed’.”
I chant… And the world stops.
The petals falling from the cart, the monsters jumping towards me… Everything floats slowly in the air.
Only I can walk at my normal speed through this world.
Overwhelming speed.
It’s one of the strengths of time magic.
Being faster doesn’t increase offensive or defensive power, but no one can keep up with my speed.
I kick the ground, and…
“‘Release Acceleration’.”
I sheathe my sword, and the world goes back to its normal speed.
“W-what are you doing nyanne!? That’s too dangerous nyanne! Come back nya…!”
I hear Nekoko’s panicked voice behind me, but I answer with a smile.
“No, it’s all right.”
I turn my back to the chimera.
“It’s done.”
The next moment, blood sprays out of the chimera as they collapse.
“Nyanne!?”
Nekoko is dumbfounded.
I don’t really want people to know about time magic, but… I guess I can pass off acceleration as just a physical strengthening spell.
I go back to the cart, and El rushes towards me.
“Chrom! Are you all right?”
“Yes, that much is no problem.”
“Those monsters… That much… Nyanne…?”
Nekoko’s mouth opens and closes as she struggles to get the words out.
I think she has a question in mind, but can’t quite put it into words.
“C-Chrom, what… Are you nyanne…?”
“Eh? El’s childhood friend.”
“The childhood friend I’m so proud of.”
“There’s something weird about you two nyanne…”
She’s not wrong.
Originally, I should just be the childhood friend of a hero.
Just a supporting character in the tale of the hero Elluna.
“Fufun. Do you get how great Chrom is now, Nekoko?”
“Nya… I’ve never seen someone who betrays their own smell like this nyanne.”
Nekoko says while shrugging.
“B-by the way… What about those monster corpses nyanne? I smell some really high quality materials there nyanne.”
“That makes sense. They were selectively bred by the Sorcerer Association.”
In my previous life, I was a part of the Sorcerer Association too, so there were times when I also used chimera.
They’re not just strong fighters, they were made to have good materials for experiments too. They should be good to eat as well.
“You can take them if you want.”
“F-free of charge nyanne?”
“Sure. It’s unhygienic to just leave them anyway, and it would bother other people. If you can leave the road clean, go ahead.”
“You’re a god nyanne!”
Nekoko’s tail wiggles.
Afterwards, we help her load the materials into the cart.
“Triple Pure! (Purification Ⅲ)”
El takes the opportunity to practice using magic by using her purification magic to remove the smell and dirt.
As for the parts of the chimera we don’t take with us, Nekoko’s giant cat gobbles them up.
“Nyanne nyanne~♪. This is going to bring lots of money nyanne~♪. Thank you Chrom nyanne~♪.”
Nekoko says as she looks at the clean road and wipes sweat off her brow.
I’m just glad she’s happy, but…
“…”
“What’s wrong, Chrom?”
“Nothing…”
I evade the question while looking at the chimera corpses.
(…That attack didn’t feel natural.)
I realized this as we took them apart… Their stomachs were empty.
That means they didn’t attack the grazing livestock.
And yet, they ran right towards us as soon as they saw us. It’s like they were instructed to do so.
Also…
(These… Aren’t the same chimera that were in the dungeon.)
It makes sense. Those chimera were guarding the dungeon’s narrow pathways. These ones didn’t have the necessary maneuverability, and their wings would just get in the way.
(Then where did they come from…?)
No, that should be pretty obvious.
I look at what’s in front of me, the streets of the royal capital Ende.
One thing stands out as being taller than the surrounding buildings.
The tower of the Sorcerer Association.
If someone is using a long-distance sight spell, they should be able to see what’s going on here from the tower.
If that’s the case…
(Are they after me…)
I’ve been crushing their plots ever since I came back to the past.
Destroying their underground base in particular must have drawn a lot of attention.
(Was this attack… To make sure I was the one who defeated those mages?)
If so, they succeeded, and the real attack should start now.
“Fluffy fluffy~.”
“Ah, not the base of the tail nyanne! That costs money nyanne! Ah… Aahh!”
I peek over at Nekoko and El, who are peacefully playing around.
I don’t want to let anything hang a cloud over those smiles…
(…I need to focus.)
I clench my fists, as the royal capital Ende stands before us.
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