112: He really was waiting for this, too.

The lake’s water was flipped over and dumped on us.

That was my thought when hit by the hydra’s attack.

Right, a massive flood surged like a raging torrent, sweeping everything on the ground clean away.

"Gurgle gurgle—!"

Thanks to Eva’s defensive magic, we barely held back the force, but the tightly packed soldiers and adventurers were churned around in the water—messy business.

...Would be handy to wash laundry like this.

Felt like we’d been churning for ages, but probably only a few minutes passed before the water attack finally settled.

The first high-rank adventurer to move immediately started identifying those who couldn’t move.

"Guh—! Huh—! Huh—!"

"Over here! He’s not breathing!"

"Soldier over there too! Where's the priest?!"

"He's got a head wound! Bep!"

"No good! Not enough priests!"

Healing priests and mages were swamped, rushing from one injured to the next.

In that chaos, the giant thorn dome that had been shielding us vanished.

Gyagaaaaaah!

The hydra finally noticed we weren’t dying, and let out a furious roar.

Raidock spat and barked orders at the adventurers.

"Anyone who can move—form a defense line! Use every damn thing you've got—keep that neck from getting close! Protect the ones who can't move!"

"Oy!!!" "Oy!!!" "Oy!!!"

High-rank adventurers answered instantly. They’d buy us time somehow.

But healing potions were gone. And they don’t fix choking. What now!?

"Leave it to us!"

Next to move were the lizards.

They’d been slow to rise—probably not from choking, but from dizziness.

Julara took the lead, pulling soldiers and adventurers from near-death.

“Push air into their mouths! If that fails, press hard on the chest! Don’t press on the belly!”

Shururu was giving orders to humans.

A method no one had ever seen—forcing air through mouth-to-mouth—but it worked instantly. One by one, adventurers and soldiers coughed, then staggered back to their feet.

They were all tough types to begin with. Once breathing returned, their bodies would handle the rest.

“Who knew a trick like this existed?”

Living by the water, of course they’d know this. Good to have!

I looked around to help, just as I spotted Eva lying on the ground.

All soaked through, giving off some weird kind of… glow.

No way. No way. No way!

She pushed herself that hard—no way she’d survive without a drink, even at her rank.

I glanced at Jurala and Shururu, checking their method.

So… first, blow air into her lungs through mouth-to-mouth?

Mouth-to-mouth… No, no, no!

This is medical treatment!

I’m saving a life here!

I look for Camille and Marilyn, but Camille’s with Raidock up front, and Marilyn’s with the frontline healers.

God, I wish Leifan were here right now!

“T-This is just treatment, okay!”

For some reason, I’m speaking in a weird, overly serious tone, slowly leaning in toward Eva.

Her clothes stick to her skin—her chest shape… gah, gah, gah!

Huh. She’s actually slimming down in a good way!

My vision swims. Can’t help but stare at the wrong places.

No time for that!

I shake my head, slap my cheeks, pump myself up.

Just push air into her lungs—nothing more.

Shove those wicked thoughts in the trash. Copy Jurala’s method. First, pinch the jaw. Clear the airway?

I lean in closer, pressing my face against Eva’s mouth!

Then—

A faint breath brushes against my neck.

Gyaaah!

Ticklish!

“Ah, Craft-san…”

From a little distance, where he’d been treating her, Bep speaks up, awkwardly.

“She just passed out from mana depletion.”

“…Huh?”

I stare blankly, flipping between Bep and Eva.

“Craft-san. First thing’s first—check for spontaneous breathing.”

Bep offers that advice with a faint, wry smile.

Hooohhhhhhhhhhh!

W-What the hell?! So embarrassing!

◆

Thanks to the lizardmen under Julara’s command, we managed to regroup—but the situation was getting worse.

Three hundred of Zaid’s soldiers were mostly down, unable to move.

Once water gets into the lungs, that’s usually how it goes.

They’re not adventurers with physical abilities beyond ordinary people.

Compared to adventurers, their power is low—but their coordination and response speed to commands are top-notch. Until now, they’d served well as guards for our rear unit, including me and Zaid.

Even a massive hydra hesitated when faced with a wall of three hundred spears.

In that moment, the adventurers would press forward and drive it off.

But now, that shield protecting our rear was gone—and most of them were just a burden.

Still, I don’t blame them.

They were definitely pushing past their limits to protect us.

"Damn it! You lot! What're you cowering for! Get up! Get on your feet!"

Zaid shouts with surprising energy.

(Heh... turns out he's tougher than he looks.)

Compared to adventurers, he's weak—still, he seems stronger than an average soldier.

The officer-looking man desperately tries to explain the situation to Zaid, but gets ignored.

"Adventurers are back on the front line, aren't they!?"

"Zaid-sama! A man who nearly drowned doesn't recover that fast!"

"You're moving, aren't you?"

"I'm... I'm the captain of the soldiers!"

Somehow, the captain feels pitiful.

This world's brutal—there's always a clear gap between strong and weak.

The adventurers from Goldendown—aside from Raidock and the others—are all top-tier. Comparing them is pointless.

"You can't just stand there and do nothing! The line breaks if you do!"

"...uh..."

Zaid's yelling nonsense, but he's not wrong.

If these soldiers keep dropping out like this, we're finished.

This is bad...

Thanks to Raidock fighting hard, we've avoided deaths so far, but if this keeps up, we're all dead for sure.

"Damn it...! We don't have enough strength! Not enough strength!"

I shout to the sky without thinking.

Strength... or at least, magic power!

Just for a second, my spirit wavers.

From deep within the long beast trail made by Hydrala, a clear, strong voice rings out.

"Come to the gleam of my sword!"

The voice echoes so loud, it sounds like it's right beside us, though it's coming from far away.

And the moment I heard those words, a strange sensation—strength flooding back into my body.

"Support magic?"

Around me, the soldiers who'd been collapsed on the ground were starting to rise, confused but moving.

Group support magic... no, something with a similar effect. This is it!

"Good job holding on! Raidock!"

A roar cut through the air, and a massive man with crimson hair charged in, swinging a white greatsword as tall as his own frame like it weighed nothing.

Of course. Van Vain.

Without hesitation, Raidock unleashed his technique at one of the heads he was pinning down.

"Divine Breath-Enwrapped Sword!"

It was a fierce strike, dealing deep wounds to the hydra. But not quite as powerful as Raidock’s full technique—enough to wound, not finish. The remaining four heads blocked the follow-up, and in the gap, the hydra healed itself.

But thanks to that move, the vanguard had regained their footing, and the rearguard were rising again, thanks to Van’s support technique.

The problem was… Van being here.

"Van! Kyle’s—!?"

"There! Rear guard, regroup! I’m falling back with you!"

Far off, I could see Kyle’s main force forming up, and I let out a breath of relief.

Seems like Van’s only going to land one strike, then rejoin us in guarding Kyle.

I wanted Kyle to run, sure—but he wasn’t the type to abandon Maina.

Maybe it’s naive. But that’s what made Kyle good.

"Van! The rendezvous point—behind this side, near the big tree!"

I pointed toward the tree where Maina was hiding.

"Got it! I’ll regroup with Kyle first, then move together!"

Then I noticed Zaid gaping at Van.

“What’re you dawdling for, Zaid?! Get your squad together!”

“W-What!?”

Zaid’s eyes widened at the sudden command from the red-haired man.

“Who do you think you are?! I’m the second son of Lord Bairoroad, Zaid Gandar von Bairoroad—”

“Who do you think I am, huh!?”

Van barked.

“Wha…? Ehh…?”

Zaid’s face went pale in an instant.

Yup.

Van’s probably some high-up noble. Probably a lord-level guy.

Serves you right.

“No questions! Move, Zaid!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Zaid turned, shouting orders to his men.

“Everyone, move out!”

We’d already been slowing Raidock and the others down. We left the hydra to them and joined the main force.

We were quickly led to the main camp, where they were already lined up in battle formation.

There, Kyle was waiting, grinning from ear to ear.

“Craft brother!”

“Kyle!”

Kyle ran over, spotting Zaid behind Van.

“Zaid elder brother! You’re safe too!”

“…Kyle?”

Zaid flinched at the sight of Kyle’s face.

“Long time… damn it!”

Kyle stepped forward, careless and eager. For a split second, Zaid almost smiled—then his face twisted.

“Hmph! Still alive, are you?”

“Elder brother…”

Kyle’s face fell, but something felt off. There was something strange about Zaid.

But right now, Maina was what mattered.

“Kyle! I’m sorry to cut in, but I need to meet up with Maina, she’s hiding somewhere!”

“Yes! Please give your orders, brother!”

I scan the surroundings.

Not just Van, but Leifan too—among the private troops led by Alphard, and Kyle.

"Alright! Cut straight through Raidock!"

Taking a wide route would be pointless against a Hydora that moves unnaturally fast through marshland. Scattering our forces would only be riskier.

Support Raidock, but we’re breaking through here!

"Insane… but I’ll protect Kyle-sama—go ahead, give it your all!"

Alphard, who hadn’t gotten a chance to act, thumped his chest.

"...Don’t say you had no part."

"Sorry."

Now, time to rescue the princess!

Main event! \(^o^)/

Coming in single volume 3, on the 28th!

It’s almost here!

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