“For now, you all stay back,”
I couldn’t involve students in the fight, no matter what. I made the three of them step back a bit. Meanwhile, the argument between Brian and Amur continued.
“You’re noisy. You’re a Puppet Master, right??? You want your husband to take the Celestial Rank, but he doesn’t even want it. Look at his unenthusiastic face!”
“Ah! You brat! Don’t you dare call me that! And don’t you dare say my husband has no intention! I’ll burn you!”
“Yeah, yeah. Can you burn me? I’ll cut your throat the moment your magic peaks.”
“Ugh. Are you the type to swing a blade at weak women?”
They were unreasonable people. They berated each other so obscenely just to fight me. Benga, called by Amur, stood in front of Brian, glaring at him. Brian didn’t flinch, but instead, he spoke to me with a face full of desire.
“Hey, Celestial! Which one do you want to fight?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter to me…”
“Come on, don’t say bad things. Choose me. If it’s me, I’ll show you my strength without killing you, so you can swap. You can’t do that with this big guy who’s all about power.”
“What!? My husband can control his strength properly!”
It was beyond a mere argument. Maybe it’s better if…
…
The adventurers were engrossed in their heated argument. Among them, a man who had been staring at me all along noticed a girl. Her lack of distinctive features could be considered her feature. Stealthily, a man moved away from me, heading towards the students a bit farther. Just like taking a stroll. No one noticed his inconspicuous, peculiar behavior.
“Hey, you two. The pointless talk is over.”
Muttering, but his magically laden voice reached everyone’s ears clearly. Just with that voice, one could tell he was no ordinary person.
“K-Kimishima!”
“Sensei…”
What’s going on? When I turned towards the voice, a man had Kimishima in a chokehold from behind, a knife at her throat. Kimishima’s face twisted in fear at the suddenness of it. Damn it. Of all people…
It seemed I wasn’t the only one who didn’t notice. Even Spellsess looked flustered, staring at the man.
“That Celestial belongs to us. Give up.”
“What’s your intention, b*stard!”
“What intention? Are you stupid? It’s about him fighting us, that’s the story.”
“To fight…”
Suddenly, from the thickets of the forest, human presence emerged. There had been no signs of human presence until now… What’s going on?
And then, from the forest, a burly man and a skinny, wiry man emerged, wearing lascivious grins on their faces.
“Well done, Bodick!”
Bodick said gleefully, but the man holding the knife to Kimishima’s throat responded with a blank expression.
“Hey, Jiggit! Were you actually paying attention? This girl noticed us.”
“No way. That’s impossible! I was definitely on guard, big bro.”
“Hmm. So what about this girl? Is there something about her?”
“Eek!”
“Hey, stop it!!!”
Bodick yanked Kimishima’s hair from behind. Kimishima let out a cry, but then immediately clenched her mouth shut, staring at me.
With her determined gaze, even as the knife was pressed against her throat, I, too, started to panic, but then I calmed down and composed myself.
…It’s alright. I will definitely save her.
But these guys are starting to relax among themselves.
Hey, let go of Kimishima!”
“Alright. Sensei. But in return, you’ll fight my big bro.”
“What did you say!”
“You’re popular, huh? But only one person can switch places with a Celestial. If it’s a matter of priority, we’ll have you hand her over.”
Those words made Brian snap.
“Don’t say whatever you want! I have nothing to do with that girl. I’ll do it my way.”
“Sensei! If you’re going to fight them first, don’t resist. Just get killed as is. If you resist, this girl will die.”
“Damn it!”
“Stop… you filthy scum!”
Even if they actually killed me without resistance, it wouldn’t result in a swap with the Celestial. Brian and Amur, who knew that, fell silent. It’s frustrating, but there was a point in holding Kimishima hostage.
“Sensei, I’m fine.”
Kimishima, still calm, stared at me.
Is there something…?
I scanned the surroundings as if probing. Nishina and Sakuragi seemed calm, as if waiting for something. Perhaps there was something in common among the three of them.
Kimishima, with the knife against her throat, looked a little pale but bravely kept her eyes on me.
But… it’s my fault for misreading the situation. It’s no good… I can’t let Kimishima get hurt.
I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.
“I-I get it. I get it, so please stop. Just fight that guy, okay!”
“Yeah, but if the swap doesn’t happen, then this girl will be gone. You have to be serious.”
“Yeah, I know. But… even if that guy dies, don’t complain, alright?”
“Die? Gordon?? Hahaha! Are you stupid?! Just because you happened to become a Celestial, you’re getting cocky! You’ve shown me your strength. There’s no way you can beat big brother Gordon, even with some miracle.”
Strength… I see. These guys must have thought they could take me on, seeing how I fought the High Orc without resorting to my sword skills. Kimishima wasn’t taken hostage to stop resistance; rather, they wanted me to resist seriously.
But… as for this Gordon guy. But Kimishima…
Even if I were to kill Gordon, that would still put Kimishima in danger.
I glanced at Nishina and Sakuragi.
They were still staring at Kimishima. They must be thinking of a way to help her.
“Hahaha. Sorry about this!”
Gordon approached us with a face already assured of victory. I had already focused my consciousness on the sword, ready to draw it at any moment.
“Well, do your best. But still, why did my little brother end up like this?”
“Little brother?”
“Talking about Carton. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten.”
“…I see, so you guys are from the Disaster Clan.”
“That’s right.”
The conversation between Gordon and me drew everyone’s attention. But my focus was on Kimishima. It seemed Nishina and Sakuragi, and even Kimishima herself, were doing the same.
At that moment, I felt Kimishima’s arm’s ring-like object squirming, and vines began to grow gradually. Bodick didn’t notice it, his attention still on our conversation.
…I see. Is this it?
Gordon approached menacingly. As Gordon swung at me, Kimishima’s vines tightly entangled Bodick’s arm, which was holding the knife.
“What the!! You!!”
I quickly realized it was Kimishima’s resistance, but Bodick’s arm was solidified by Kimishima’s magic-laden vines.
“Don’t underestimate me!”
As expected of a seasoned adventurer. Bodick immediately tried to catch the falling knife with his left hand.
But…
Sakuragi’s laser-like magic pierced through his left hand trying to catch the knife.
“Ugh!”
I comprehended the sequence of events in compressed time. At the same time, my body started moving. Like in slow motion, the knife fell towards the ground. I gripped the earth with my feet and kicked out.
I won’t forgive this.
Gordon’s not my priority. What I have, what I can do. The fastest blade.
Indeed, Sakuragi’s light magic was fast. With the same speed as my initial movement, I shot through Bodick’s arm. Slowly, Bodick’s face contorted in pain.
With each step, an oppressive layer of air hindered me. But when I broke through it, there was nothing to stop me. With a sound like “Pan!” I slipped past Kimishima. As I turned back, I drew my sword.
That speed left only a slight resistance.
Sheathing my sword, I grabbed Bodick’s now-lighter body with my left hand and pulled him away from Kimishima.
In that momentum, I pulled Kimishima, whose balance was disrupted, close to me.
“Sorry…”
“What are you saying? Having a prince rescue a girl in distress is every girl’s dream, you know?”
“No, I’m not a prince, you know?”
“Hehehe.”
I held Kimishima’s shoulder and glared at Gordon.
