“When my healing services are needed, I’ll pull back. I definitely won’t push myself or anything like that. I never planned on doing more than my part, anyway.”
“…Alright. Please be careful, okay?” Galeo replied seriously.
…Although he’d lost his head a bit earlier, he was nevertheless the leader of a caravan. It looked like those merchants that traveled between cities were actually quite reliable when it came down to it.
“—Well then, any time now.”
“Yeah.”
“…?”
Despite the vagueness of Suimei’s words, Lefille nonetheless replied without a second thought. She took up a stance once more.
While Galeo was trying to puzzle out the meaning of this incredibly short exchange, the magician girl suddenly shouted.
“Everyone! They’re almost here!”
Just as she finished speaking, the forest trees’ leaves began to rustle. The sound of the wind andsomething passing through the trees strengthened the already nervous tension.
An adventurer, seeing Galeo glance around, and realizing that he hadn’t yet understood that the battle was about to begin, called out.
“Hey, Galeo-san! Hurry up and hide, the battle’s about to start!”
“R-right! Best of luck in battle!”
Galeo jumped in response before escaping to where they were to hide like a fleeing rabbit.
Afterward, the guards made their respective preparations.
Lefille, however, broke formation and advanced.
It looked like she, once again, planned to take care of it all by herself.
“Hey, Lefille.”
“Don’t worry. This time, I plan to intercept them right here. Suimei-kun, when the time comes, please support me.”
“Not a problem, but how do you want to coordinate things with the others?”
“That, hmm—”
A one man show again?
Just as that thought crossed his mind again in confusion, Lefille walked out where everyone could see her and abruptly turned.
In a grand, exaggerated gesture, she plunged her sword into the ground.
The loud sound and unseen pressure turned all eyes to her.
Then—
“…I’ll be the vanguard! Everyone else, form up into a defensive formation and take out any Mazoku that get past me!” Lefille declared loudly, her actions meant to boost the morale of those who had begun to lose themselves to the fear of the Mazoku’s numbers.
Her voice almost seemed a tangible force as it resounded throughout the area.
Her voice, like rolling thunder, and her fearless, majestic aura was a match for any general.
Even if not a word was heard in reply, this definitely didn’t mean that the silence was because they looked down on Lefille’s resolve-filled words. On the contrary, the former pervasive, dark atmosphere had already lightened considerably.
Having been infected by the young woman’s atmosphere, their frantic running and shouting had already stopped. A remarkable, high-spirited mood settled upon them, and a nervous, excited energy filled them instead.
…So this is her talent, the so-called charisma in action.
Just as Lefille displayed this surprising ability, she suddenly turned to the west.
At the same time, something flew out from the forest depths – that was without a doubt, Mazoku.
A piercing cry sounded.
“T-they’re here!” someone cried out.
Still flying, the Mazoku reached them in an instant.
Suddenly, just as the Mazoku approached, Lefille dashed forward to meet them, accelerating nonstop before leaping into the air.
“HAAAAAAA!”
—Before the other guards could even react, Lefille had already taken the lead in attacking the enemy.
Her blade flashed. With a single slash of her sword, longer than she was tall, three of the attacking Mazoku were sent flying.
As they touched down on the ground, Lefille and Mazoku faced off against one another.