“Dammit, their movements are getting better.”
I faintly hear someone whisper.
Yes, the shadows are moving better than before.
“Back row, stand further back. But vanguard, hold your ground and draw their attention. Don’t let them go to him.”
Says Argo as he goes around and moves in front of a shadow that was going towards Naoto.
I don’t know if the shadows are trying to get rid of enemies getting close to the magic circle, but Naoto and the one holding the shield stop, and take position as Argo instructs.
And once the path to the magic circle is secured, they dash towards it, with us stopping the shadows that react to them.
I dodge their attacks while dealing damage, but I have to make sure not to actually take them down. Judging by what happened before, I guess we can take down a few before it becomes a problem, but maybe that condition changed after their movements became better.
And so, we only deal damage, and buy time by taking advantage of the way they slow down when they regenerate.
Meanwhile, Naoto has reached the magic circle, so he stops, activates his skill, and swings his sword hard.
The moment it hits the magic circle, black mist appears that pushes the sword back, like it’s protecting the magic circle.
He stops for a moment, but it looks like he puts more strength into it, because the sword starts shining brighter.
But then, as if drawn by the light, the shadows start ignoring us and moving towards Naoto. They don’t even care if we attack them to slow them down, they just keep heading towards him.
Do they fully see Naoto as a threat that has to be eliminated?
“We’re retreating temporarily.”
“Hang on a little longer. I’m on to something.”
Naoto yells back to his escort.
Then he says the name of some skill, and the path is covered in a bright light. It’s like it has physical properties, because it repels the shadows trying to get close.
“H-hey.”
I’m surprised to see it, but feel shocked when I see the shadows disappearing.
If they disappear, that’s going to happen again.
But just as the shadows are swallowed by the light and everyone is picturing the worst case scenario… Nothing happens.
“Save them!”
Yells Naoto, as we’re all braced, and we all do as he says.
We break the doors, and inspect the chains binding them.
I feel something that resembles magic energy, but Guilford says we can break them, and I trust him.
And after taking the elves from the cells, we move out.
“They’ve got them.”
Says Naoto’s escort, and he responds with a very pale face.
“Then get away from here too.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know what will happen when I stop the skill, so tell everyone to get as far away as possible.”
He says as he peeks this way. When our eyes meet, I get what he wants to do.
“Chris, sorry, but once you get to the stairs, illuminate the passage with Light magic.”
I say before I approach Naoto.
“That’s a pretty crazy plan you thought of.”
“…It’s just something that popped into my head. And because I know you have the means to get away.”
Getting away instantly with Transfer…
“And do it quickly if you can. This is pretty rough.”
Yes, I can see the shining light coming from his sword getting gradually weaker.
I see the light that serves as a signal that they’ve gotten away from here, so I grab Naoto’s shoulder, and use Chris’ light as a marker to jump there.
Argo and the others are surprised when we suddenly appear in front of them.
I almost crash into Chris too, because I misjudged how much strength to put in it, but I just barely stop.
Then I hear a loud sound of destruction behind me. And then, I feel something weak and small fluttering.
“Let’s get out of here after we heal them.”
Says Argo, and everyone nods.
First I give Naoto a mana potion and a stamina potion. I don’t know if he used MP or SP.
It doesn’t look like he wants to drink them at first, but in the end he gives up. And he looks surprised when he starts drinking them.
“No way. What is this taste…”
He whispers.
I forgot all about it, but this world’s potions don’t taste good. I kind of think that wanting potions that heal you to also taste good is kind of asking for too much, but they really do fit the expression ‘good medicine tastes bitter’.
After going up the stairs, we check on their condition.
They look exhausted, but their lives aren’t in danger.
“What do we do about this mask?”
Asks Argo as he reaches towards the slave mask, but stops.
Argo and his party look puzzled, so I explain what it is.
“How could they do that?”
Everyone looks angry.
“But what do we do?”
“I don’t know what will happen if we force it out, so… Let’s just bind her for now.”
“You’re really going to do something that cruel!?”
Argo protests, but we can’t have her be controlled and attack us.
We could overpower her if that happened, but we might end up hurting her.
“I see… All right. So how do we take this… Slave mask off?”
“We don’t really know either. But we still have someone we want to save, and then we’ll look for a person that might know how to save her.”
Mia might have been able to do it if she was here, like she did with Kaede.
“Someone who might know?”
Asks Argo.
“This country’s king.”
I answer.
Join my patreon to support me and read ahead.
Thanks for the treat.