It’s Ko-Fi’s Supporters’ chapter (13/52), enjoy~
Part 4
The next morning. Perhaps it was because the morning sun was strong at that time, but there was no sign of the raven butterfly.
“Hey, Ain-kun. What do you use that magic tool I gave you last night for?”
“It’s a secret. I’ll tell you when the time comes to use it.”
“…I have a bad feeling about this.”
Roland let out an exasperated voice.
“All right, boys! Let’s just get to our destination and get out of this stupid situation!”
“Hey, why are you in charge? Good grief… even though His highness is here.”
“I don’t mind. Batz has helped us a lot already.”
“Oh? You know what you are doing, right, Ain! Well, let’s work hard today!”
With Batz in the lead, the four of them proceeded to walk in the same formation as yesterday.
Let’s do our best; we have to go home and find Dill as soon as possible, said Ain inwardly. Ain was so focused on this, but the words that Batz said, “This stupid situation,” kept popping into his mind.
(…This stupid situation. That’s true, and… there’s no way Warren-san didn’t think of the dangers.)
It’s no exaggeration to say that he is the most intelligent person in Ishtalika; he should be able to anticipate the unexpected. If there were a shadow of a raven butterfly, for example, he would undoubtedly have heard about it, and this field trip would have been canceled, or another location would have been chosen.
Ain muttered, “Hmm,” with a sigh, at the current situation where something does not fit together. He can’t get rid of the uncomfortable feeling that’s burned into his brain.
“Hey, Ain! What are you doing standing there?”
“O-oh… sorry, sorry, I’m coming.”
──This third day is supposed to be the last day of the field trip. But Ain could not immerse himself in such a mood and left with a lump in his heart.
──Today’s journey was much smoother than the previous ones. The four of them found hope in their hearts, wondering if they were closer to their destination than they thought since the last part of this field trip would be flat.
“…Geez. I don’t ever want to go on a field trip like this again.”
“Batz was right. As for me, I hope I never have to do it again.”
“That’s true… But I thought I’d work out a little when I got home.”
The reason the atmosphere was a little more relaxed was because they hadn’t heard the raven butterflies yet today. Although this made Ain somewhat suspicious, he felt fortunate that they had not encountered it and continued to walk.
But that was only for a short time.
“…Batz.”
Ain sensed a presence approaching.
“Oh. The fog was a little thicker than before. I guess we were targeted, see there.”
He tried to go back, but the fog was too deep. With no choice but to move on, Ain closed his eyes and used his senses. In particular, he used his ability to search for signs of magic stones and began to pay attention to how many raven butterflies were coming in.
“H-huh…?”
He sensed the presence of another magic stone mixed in with the presence of the raven butterflies.
(Heh… so that’s what it is.)
There were no shadows or figures, but Ain gave a small chuckle.
The presence of another being, different from the raven butterfly, belonged to a person he knew well when he probed carefully. For the first time in days, he laughed from the bottom of his heart.
“Roland, Leonardo! Follow Ain and me!”
They start to hear the sound of ─ KikiKiki ─ from afar. It’s the sound of the raven butterflies about to pounce on their prey.
Run, run, run! The four of them ran, following Batz’s voice. The direction they were headed was in the direction they thought their destination would be, and they needed to get to a place where they could at least fight.
However, there was no sign of such a place in sight…
“Leonardo!”
“…What is it? Your Highness!”
“Can your barrier prevent poison, too?”
“P-poison? I believe it can prevent it for a dozen minutes or so! But why…?”
“That’s a relief to hear! Hurry up!”
Leonardo couldn’t understand why he was asked about the poison, but he didn’t have time to think about it. Leonardo and Roland followed Ain and Batz in the direction they were running in a desperate attempt to escape.
In the end, they were unable to escape from the raven butterfly, and it was several minutes later when they arrived at a place that Batz had chosen as an easy place to fight.
As soon as they arrived, Ain said to Leonardo in a loud voice.
“Leonardo! Hurry up and… use your barrier, please!”
“Wait, Ain! Even if we put up barriers here, we will only be attacked again once the barriers are lifted!”
Batz disagreed with Ain, saying that it was a foolish way to buy time.
“I know what you’re saying, Batz! But I’m counting on you, Leonardo!”
“…Very well!”
Leonardo then sat down and began to prepare to spread the barrier. From afar, numerous raven butterflies were flying. With Roland and Leonardo behind them, Ain and Batz prepared to intercept the raven butterflies.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but… Leonardo, hurry up! It won’t be long before we can protect you!”
“Yeah, I know!”
Eventually, several raven butterflies fly in front of Ain and Batz. If there are only a few of them, they can manage it. Ain stabbed them while Batz was cutting at them.
However, a large swarm of raven butterflies rushed in immediately, and Batz was attacked in the gap.
“Guh… D-damn it…!”
“Batz? That’s──!”
Batz who’s body began to go numb, collapsed helplessly. Ain defeated a raven butterfly with his sword, but a moment later, it seemed that he was in a desperate situation.
“I’m sorry! For taking so long…!”
The area was surrounded by white light, and Leonardo’s barrier was activated.
The barrier spreads around them, forcing the swarm of raven butterflies out of the way and giving them a chance to survive the desperate situation that threatened their total destruction.
“Batz! Are you okay?”
“…My body is tingling… but I’m fine. Good grief… I’m a man, but I almost had to have an egg laid on me.”
“…But, Ain-kun. Do you have any idea what you’re doing when you suddenly ask Leonardo to extend the barrier?”
“I do. But, the chance is fifty-fifty.”
But if it doesn’t work, then…
(I think I’ll have to ask for help from that person… who has blended in with the rest of the crowd by eliminating any presence.)
As Ain muttering inwardly, he also sat down on the ground.
“Your Highness. I was confused by the sudden request for the barrier… but what on earth are you planning to do?”
“I’ll give you a good explanation, but I need to take a break first. I’m really tired…”
Ain had an idea. This is a move that could hopefully wipe out the swarm of raven butterflies.
“You should drink some water! Thank goodness I brought plenty yesterday.”
“Sorry, Roland… Puhah. If it weren’t for this situation, this water would be delicious.”
He drank the water that was handed to him and took a breath.
“I’ll use the disposable magic tools that Roland made yesterday.”
“Hey, wait, Roland. What did you give to His Highness?”
It’s not something dangerous, is it? Leonardo asked.
“Don’t look at me with such a scary face… It’s a simple thing. It’s just to preserve the surrounding air, and it’s just a little bigger than what’s on the market.”
“That’s fine then, but… Ain, what are you going to do with it?”
“That’s a secret. But don’t worry.”
The three of them just wondered as Ain didn’t explain the details. However, Ain’s expression is very serious, and one can clearly see that he is serious.
“Your Highness. Is there anything we can do?”
“It’s fine as long as Leonardo maintains the barrier, okay?”
“I-is that all?”
“Hey, Ain. It’s like you’re working alone…”
“That’s right. This method can only work if I’m alone. So I’ll do it alone.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not going to let you do something so dangerous…”
“Don’t worry, Batz. You told me yesterday that it would be effective.”
“Huh? I told you that…?”
Without answering the question, Ain looked up at the top of the tree.
“Oh my, there are so many of them. It’s a little creepy.”
As Ain looked up at the large tree beside them, he saw a swarm of raven butterflies perched, waiting for their prey to come out.
“…It’s not a sight I want to see much of.”
Ain agreed and went straight to work, stretching his arms and legs in preparation. After looking over the faces of the dumbfounded three, he said in his usual cheerful tone.
“Well, I’ll take care of it. ──Alright. I’m going then.”
“Your Highness…? What do you mean you are going?”
“I’ve decided. I’m going to defeat them…!”
After gaining some momentum, Ain ran and exited the barrier.
It’s possible to come out of the barrier from the inside, but it is impossible to affect it from the outside. Taking advantage of that characteristic, Ain jumped out of the barrier with great force.
──Your Highness! Ain! Ain-kun! The three worried voices reached him.
“Good gracious, I’ll be sure to speak to Dill later… Dill may not be the one who came up with this idea, though!”
Ain runs while muttering. He moved away from the barrier where the three of them were.
The accumulated fatigue will soon make him lose his breathing, but thinking about the people who set up this commotion made him feel that he would never want to rely on them.
──Ain then stood up on his knees and shouted in a high-pitched voice.
“The self-destruction that doesn’t hurt the parties involved must be strong, don’t you think…!”
And, before the raven butterfly attacked, he took out a round object from his pocket. It’s a magic tool for trapping air that Roland made. It’s easy to use. All you have to do is throw it on the ground and break it.
“It will work on you too, right? If that’s the case… suck on it, and fall to the ground!”
As soon as he threw it on the ground. Roland’s special magic tool shattered with a sound like breaking glass, and with a light shockwave, a grayish yet purplish air was scattered around the area.
“If you can endure the miasma, then try…!”
Batz also said. The miasma is also effective against raven butterflies. The moment they came into contact with the released miasma, the raven butterflies all began to twitch unsteadily at the same time.
Not long after that, all the raven butterflies fell to the ground powerlessly.
“──Alright.”
The only thing left to do was to talk to them.
The aftermath of the victory is very special because it was won by a way of fighting that only he could do. He raised his arms and signaled his victory to the three people watching from a distance.
Thanks for the chapter
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