Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Infinite Variety 3

When all the members came to, we commenced the return that would decide our fate.

Even in war, retreating was the most damaging.

Much less when over half of the people are injured, in a situation where abnormalities are occurring. Honestly, everyone surviving now would be up to a god.

Greg-sama supported the two with the largest builds. Gilbert was with one, and Ruda supported the lightest member, a girl.

As he could help in battle, I used up all the mana of 『Healing Hope』 on Rodolph so he could walk on his own.

He used his spear like a walking stick, and step by step we slowly advanced.

Tino remained vigilant as she took the lead.

With no power or stamina, I was complete baggage. But I had the highest level though.

Rodolph looked like he was going to pass out at any second now, but he spoke clearly.

“In the event that the Boss comes out, I’ll be your shield. I’ll buy you a little time.” “We’re not going to abandon you.”

“My friends lives... please. Somehow, take them to Zebrudia, I beg you.” That voice held strong regret.

Hunters required luck even greater than their own strength.

A certified high level genius that disappeared before you knew it, it was a common story.

I’m not sure what they came to do in this place, but it seems like they were prepared well enough.

You could only say they had indescribably bad luck.

This task would be difficult. Even without crossing paths with the Boss with it’s whole face covered by bones. If we just encountered the Silver Wolf Knights it would be tough to keep everyone alive.

Rodolph would have a stronger understanding of this fact than me. And in that situation, the most exhausted rescue subjects would be the first to be abandoned.

A certification of Level 5 wasn’t just for show.

Those eyes had surely seen the deaths of many companions and friends up till now. To his words that were filled with heroic resolution, Tino flippantly replied.

“Don’t worry. It’s not a problem as long as Master is here.” Isn’t that dependability extreme? All I can do is run away.

The 『Dark Wings of the Night Sky』 were for one person only. But, if you pushed

yourself really hard you could fly while holding another person.

Luckily Tino had a petite build. In the worst case, I’d abandon the boy Gilbert and the others, as well as the rescue targets, and fly away with only Tino.

Of course, after coming this far everyone should return alive. I intended to exhaust myself doing my best, but I wasn’t going to mistake my priorities.

Rodolf looked at me in silence and inclined a bow to me. However, I’m not a god, so I can’t do anything about your prayers.

As we walked down the narrow path, Roldolf talked about his first bout. “We remained alive because – he was surely just playing with us.”

“He was playing?”

“They held a sword. Dreadfully skilled. If they were serious, everyone, they would have been killed immediately.

That guy, he injured us, then left us alone. I’m afraid that most likely, they wanted

to weaken us, torturing as before we were killed. Either that, or they were leaving us to starve to death.

Cruelty, intelligence, and power, they were all abnormal.”

The scraps that he came out with held unbelievable content. The boy Gilbert also had a grave expression.

Phantoms that were deeply and densely filled with Mana Material became strong.

Intelligence. Power. Equipment. In low rank Shrines, the Phantoms are little better than beasts. As they become higher ranking it wasn’t rare for ones to hold intelligence to the degree that they understood human speech.

But clearly, this Shrine didn’t originally have such an existence. Rodolph continued.

“I..., have entered a Level 6 Shrine only once. In the middle of it, I had to run back home, but the Phantom I met this time – exceeded that. I’m certain of it.”

That’s ridiculous.

This used to be a Level 3 Shrine. Even if something like a change in environment occurs, it’s unimaginable that the degree of difficulty would double all of a sudden. A more powerful Phantom may be produced through a mutation, but I hadn’t heard of a gap that wide before.

“It’s unbelievable...I know. But, I...saw it.” Those words however, were bloodcurdling.

He may have fear after being defeated, but to say that much to the person that came to help you.

That’s definitely an encounter I want to avoid.

It wasn’t likely Tino could win. Damn it, I should have waited for Ark after all.

Since a while ago, over and over again the sound of howling could be heard. Each time I thought my heart was going to freeze.

Since it echoed within the narrow passageways, there was no telling how far it was.

“That guy was... tiny. The half faced Knights, not even half their height. The average size of the half-face knights – it was far away from that.”

“....Is today, an unlucky day, I wonder?”

Greg-sama breathed out a very deep sigh. I truly was of the same opinion. As I thought, it looked like he would be a good drinking buddy.

Only if we could both survive and return safely though.

Rodolph had also come here, and was defeated by some Phantom.

He defeated who knows how many of the Knights wearing the half skulls. And after mostly finished with his exploration, he was attacked when he was about to return.

It was an unpopular request. If we hadn’t come, they clearly would have run out of strength.

The man Gilbert was supporting muttered deliriously. “Rodolph is... for my sake, in this place-“

“...Don’t speak. Helian.”

Apparently Rodolph’s team had it’s own set of circumstances.

That kind of talk would be depressing under normal circumstances, I didn’t want to hear it now. I shrugged and softly pointed out.

“Well, let’s stop that kind of talk there. You can continue back at the capital. “R-...Right...”

“As expected, Master... is a god.”

If I was a god I would drop lightning on this Shrine and burn it to nothing. Matching the pace of the rescue subjects, we proceeded slowly.

Were we about halfway back? Around then Greg-sama’s eyebrows distorted. He said what everybody was thinking even if they didn’t say it.

“Oi, isn’t this bad?” “...What’s going on?”

The boy Gilbert also looked uneasy.

The frequency of the echoing howls of wolves had increased from a short while ago. At first they stopped after echoing out, but now it was rare for it to be silent.

I didn’t know what was happening, but obviously something was.

Of the 17 Safe Rings, there were only six remaining. In other words, when the seventh attack came I would die.

I had few useful Relics on me. There were a few chains and Shot Rings, but they wouldn’t do anything more than keep enemies grounded.

After that was a Relic that could stock Mana. But with the amount my Sister put into it, the surrounding area would be crushed flat, so it was a last resort.

Only one shot could be used. In the first place it was assumed to be used against strong Level 7 Phantoms, so it was a bit dubious.

Hm, am I in trouble? Did I mess up with my choice of Relics? Everything was beyond expectations.

It was beyond expectation that there would be Phantoms that Tino wasn’t a match for in this Shrine, and it was beyond expectation that the rescue targets were alive. That the boy Gilbert and the others had persevered was something good that was beyond my expectations. But outside of that everything else had been bad.

To make matters worse, I lost a Relic. It’s terrible.

Continuously complaining in my thoughts, Tino came to a stop ahead of me. “......M-Master. Something... big is coming.

Her expression when she looked back, the shock that had been fleeting on her face was the most anxious I’d seen from her up to now.

It really stirred up my desire to protect.

From her words, the boy Gilbert and the others instantly prepared for battle. He dropped the person he was supporting and came close to the wall.

Rodolph’s rugged face had sunk into a cold sweat, and he raised his spear.

Reluctantly, I reached out my hand and put it on Tino’s back, to take the vanguard position.

Even I have a little bit of pride. “M-Master!?”

“It’s dangerous, so fall back.”

It can’t be helped.

Now, I’ll show you the strongest human missile.

.

Actually, the amount of Mana remaining in the 『Dark Wings of the Night Sky』 is a bit suspect, but there should be enough for one hit.

The enemy also shouldn’t be thinking that someone would plunge into them at a recklessly fast speed, so the first attack should hit... I think.

Before I struck armour, but if a miracle occurred I could take out their head.

Of course when I hit them, my lives would be reduced by one. But for this occasion it’s unavoidable.

I had excessive anxiety, but conversely my heartbeat was calm. After one round it seemed to have gone flat. Was there such a thing?

Straining my eyes, I glared in front of me.

And, within the vague dim lighting, from a bend in the path – it appeared. “-...”

Rodolph gasped. From around the corner, just the way he told, there was a human size figure with it’s face covered by a human skull.

Roughly half the size of the Silver Wolf Knights, about the same as me. The pressure I felt from it’s body wasn’t like the Wolf Knights from before.

A figure that far more resembled a human being than the Wolf Knights.

From the sides you could see wolf ears growing, but the shape of the head and hair were like a human being.

In it’s hand it clasped a black sword – slowly dragged behind it. “What’s with... that guy.”

Gilberts voice cracked. His body was shaking.

It’s a Phantom that even I could tell the difference in rank. He probably understood the difference even better.

Then, as if to corner us, another figure emerged.

Compared to the other it looked kind of comical, a smiling skeleton was attached to the small figure.

They were lightly dressed and wore no armour, but they had metal boots that covered their legs up to the knees.

In the hand of the skeleton that approached with light steps, was a Relic I recognised... the one I dropped somewhere 『Silent Air』 was grasped in their hands.

I reflexively rubbed my eyes, and fixedly stared at them. “There are... two!?”

“This... C-Cry – what do we do?”

Greg and Ruda let out voices of despair.

However the one with the biggest reaction was Tino.

A tragic voice that seemed like she would burst into tears at any moment, she clung to my arm.

It wasn’t like the other day when she was acting like a spoiled child, it was from fear.

“!? M-Master... this... help me Master, it’s all over. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best. I’ll do anything. Please just forgive me this time. Please help me”

“!?”

Tino that was always showing a cool exterior had become like this. Gilbert, the other temporary party members, and Rodolph were dumbfounded.

Then, the grinning skeleton slowly moved it’s head in our direction, and turned towards me.

The eye sockets held darkness deeper than the wolf knights, the warped mouth formed a smile while at the same time seeming to grieve at the world.

I didn’t have any idea what was happening. I couldn’t believe it.

I stroked and rubbed Tino’s head to try and soothe her as she clung to me. Leaving everyone in the depths of despair, for the time being I just said what I was thinking.

“Hmm, it’s little Liz-chan.” Why are you in this place?

Translator notes:

-So if you’re reading this novel you probably already know the following about Japanese culture, but it won’t hurt to repeat it in case there’s someone that doesn’t know.

Japanese culture has different degrees of respect through bowing. (The degrees are literal, 15, 30, 45, 70 – those are all degrees of bow).

Cry talks about performing ‘dogeza’, and it’s basically grovelling or begging for your life. He claims it’s his great skill, when in reality it’s something seen as disgraceful. (Although there is the contradiction of people having the ‘courage’ to do something so ‘cowardly’.)

-He calls Liz – Lizchanyan. Chan and Yan are basically the same thing from a google search, so it seems to be a double cutesy honorific to me.

Perhaps yan is a way of twisting jan(janai?). So he’s saying ‘Isn’t that Liz-chan?’