19 Episode 18 Triumph and Determination (1/2)

Go back in the direction you came from. Just look for trees felled by metal lizards, or the ravaged ground. You won't get lost.

Now that I'm close to the spot where the Metal Lizard found me, I start to climb up the hill.

Just then, a large number of Gargons appear ahead. They're coming towards me. They're a little too far away to be caught by the tentacles.

You put more magic into the rock spear and pierce its head. Although I used the same amount of MP as before, the spear pierced deeper than before and still shattered.

Thinking that this would only hurt the corpse unnecessarily, I decided to reduce the power next time.

As he ran further, five more pig-like creatures appeared, and he hit the nearest one with his sword and killed it.

Then, the remaining four pigs run away. I'm disappointed, but there's not much need to kill a demon on its way to the other side of town, so I put its corpse in the item box and start running again.

After another five minutes of running, a pack of Green Wolves arrived ......, but they bypassed me and ran away.

I'm not sure if it's because I'm tired or because I'm wasting my time.

Well, to be honest, I'm tired, and it's nice not to waste time fighting. I'll just keep running.

The oncoming monsters all avoided me, so there were no more battles.

I finally arrived at the village about 20 minutes after defeating the Metal Lizard.

”Kaede! You're alive!

Sally comes running up to me. I want to tell her not to kill me without permission.

I want to tell her not to kill me without permission. ......, I'm alive as usual, but please don't kill me without permission.

The other adventurers say that the demons started retreating a long time ago, and the adventurers returned to the village, but only Kaede hasn't come back!　The other adventurers said that they saw someone who looked like Kaede running deep into the forest!　What are you doing?　I was worried about you!

But I was told to fight as far forward as possible to gain enough distance to retreat. ......

I don't remember saying anything like that. I just said that I wanted you to fight in the front line. I didn't ask you to commit suicide by going out there alone.

”Yeah, .......

I don't remember if he said that or not, but I do remember him saying that.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

Suspected: ....... Well, actually, it's probably my fault.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's a good idea.

”Oh, you encountered a Metal Lizard?　We need to get some wizards together quickly, but there aren't enough of them in this town, so we need reinforcements. ......

We'll need reinforcements from .......” ”Oh, ......, we defeated it, but it was a Metal Lizard. Hello?

Huh!

Looks like it's back from the dead.

I already killed the Metal Lizard. I think that's why the demons retreated.

Apparently, for a demon, its information network is quite fast. I've been running from the time I defeated the Metal Lizard to the time I got here, and it was quite a distance, but you managed to complete your retreat before I got here.

I'm sure you're a wizard with a sword. You can use fire magic, too.　I'm sure you can use fire magic, but can you use wind magic?

”Wind magic?

I don't remember using any such thing. In the first place, the spell I created to use wind magic was not wind magic, but pressure magic and perception magic.

”Yes, didn't you burn it with flames from above while floating with wind magic?

I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out.

I don't know what you're talking about. There's no way you can make a hole in a Metal Lizard's armor. It's not a Metal Lizard, it's another demon, isn't it? Where's the body?

Uh, it's in the item box. Here.

Then you place the corpse of the Metal Lizard out of the way near the gate from the item box.

”Oh, that's probably a real Metal Lizard. Where the hell did you get ...... from?

You said item box, my item box is a bit large.

I'm sure you're not the only one.

Sally's eyes are wide open as if they are about to fall out.

”'A little' big'? I see. Okay. But there doesn't seem to be a hole, is there?　...... Yikes!

He can't see the hole, so he jumps on the metal lizard's back and puts Sally down.

I'm not sure what to do.

I point to a neatly circular hole in the Metal Lizard's back.

I've never heard of a spell that could open such a thing. And please don't lift it without permission.

Sally's face turns red. Are you scared?　I wonder if she was that scared.

I'm sorry. But you understand now, don't you?

”Yes. I understand you're something other than a wizard. And please don't put me down. I'll climb down myself.

With that, Sally begins to climb down the Metal Lizard's back toward its tail.

I'm sure you've heard of it, but I'm not sure how much magic it consumes.

No, it's more like a lot. Even a fire wizard's magic power will run out. So, usually, you need about ten C-rank or higher wind and fire wizards each, and fire the whole shell. The armor is strong, but the inside is very weak. If they were also strong inside, they would be A-ranked, but since they are fragile inside and have no way to attack in the air, they are B-ranked.