261: You know, with friendship, you can believe in success.

Trying to shove Nizhegg into the giant crate filled with Trimochi, but just before impact, the snake-lizard bastard shifts angle.

If we keep going like this, only the big crate will scrape past the massive body and get destroyed.

The angle change wasn’t much—just a little, maybe two—but given Nizhegg’s speed and distance, that small adjustment is enough.

If my mind hadn’t been speeding up, all of it would’ve been a blink.

To stop the worst, Raidock, Persia, Nobuna, and Chiyome leap out.

Whoa, whoa! You think you can dodge that kind of momentum!?

It’s hard enough to dodge sideways—now you’re facing it head-on!?

No, believe it. They’ll do it.

Persia went in first.

"Don’t think you can stop my charge! 'Reversing Heaven and Earth'!"

A charge-and-strike maneuver while mounted. Like those two knights in a lance tournament, passing each other and striking mid-ride.

But can you actually pass at that angle?

If the enemy shifts just slightly inward… ah!

That’s it. Nizhegg adjusted his charge path by a hair—barely more than 0.1 degrees.

That was enough for him. Persia’s massive frame was grazed, and her lance arm was blown clean off.

“Persia!”

But Persia still had one arm left. She swung it hard, slamming into Nizhegg.

“Unarmed technique! ‘Fist of Mighty Strength’!”

More relief than shock at seeing a sword skill used barehanded—she was already putting distance between herself and Nizhegg, the impact wave pushing her back.

Tebasaki was hurt bad too, but I saw Persia pull out a Healing Potion, so I forced myself out of consciousness. As long as you're alive, you can fix anything!

Thanks to Persia, Nizhegg’s path shifted just slightly toward me.

At the same time, the other three. Raidock, Nobuna, Chiyome—flying.

Chiyome and Nobuna straight ahead. Raidock to the side.

Mizuhō’s duo soared high, but still reached near Nizhegg’s head. If we stayed like that, we’d get crushed in the charge!

“Show ‘em the spirit of the Mizuhō warrior!”

“Got it! Annihilation (Distraction) Knife (Strike)!”

“One eye’s mine! Infinite Snow Moon Flower—Infinite Blizzard!”

Their twin, devastating attacks blew off one of Nizhegg’s eyes.

But the cost was high.

They scraped past Nizhegg’s head, slamming their bodies into his back, over and over.

Both covered in blood, their backs torn open near the wing roots, flung like ragdolls and smashed into the ground.

Not moving. Not even a twitch.

Damn it. Stay alive.

Marilyn should be throwing healing magic right now. That’s all we’ve got.

But they took something vital from Nizhegg. Distance. With one eye gone, the snake-lizard lost its sense of it.

Right then.

"Carry your comrade’s will—shatter everything! Rock Break Phoenix Claw Smash!"

Raidock twisted his body and unleashed a sword technique of impossible power.

The hit landed on Nuzhegg’s face—bigger than any damage he’d taken before. It looked like Raidock could’ve finished him if he’d kept striking the same spot. But in an instant, the face of that snake-lizard bastard, moving at blinding speed, vanished from Raidock’s line of attack.

I thought Raidock would get caught too, like Nobuna and the others, and take a massive hit. But barely, he twisted his body just in time, barely escaping the explosion—but no room to press the attack.

Still, something had changed. Thanks to Raidock’s strike, the angle of Nuzhegg’s movement had shifted, just slightly, in tune with Persia’s timing.

And finally—Nuzhegg was charging straight at me.

Eva, beside me, gasped.

“Uhh!”

Yeah, terrifying. I was shaking, my guts turning to ice. But I’m not letting my comrade’s sacrifice go to waste!

"I've got this. I'll protect you, sister."

"Count on me."

Nizhegg was furious—decided to crush us, the nearest things in reach. One remaining eye locked onto me, pure hatred.

No way that snake-lizard bastard could change course now.

"Now!"

At my shout, Camille shoved Eva aside and rolled sideways.

The tengu behind me swung the yatsudé fan overhead and brought it down.

"Gluggh!"

The impact hit my back like I was being torn apart. I was flung backward. This was no ordinary attack.

Even as I flew, pain like being wrung out by a giant hand, I managed to keep my eyes on the snake-lizard bastard.

Just in time!

Nizhegg slammed straight into the center of the massive cube filled with trimoji.

The moment the thought-acceleration wore off, I spun like a dead leaf in a flood, slammed straight into the ground.

Lost consciousness for a split second, but nothing compared to what Persia took. Told myself that, then poured a Healing Potion on myself and managed to get moving.

Nizhegg kept charging forward, already past the edge of the plateau.

Checked on the others.

Jitarou and Solal were fine—both had veered off the main path.

Evah and Camille avoided it somehow. Scrapes and bruises, probably, but already healed. No issue.

Persia, though—lost her main arm, lance and all. Tavasaki lost a wing too. Both injuries were barely sealed, but she couldn’t fight anymore.

As long as she’s alive, that’s all that matters. I’ll just threaten that bastard Van, who’ll be emperor one day, and steal some elixir if I have to.

Nobuna and Chiyome are hurt bad too. Nizhegg slammed them into his back again and again—any ordinary human would’ve been scraped clean, every scrap gone. But they’re high-tier Mizuho warriors, so of course they’re still breathing. Still, they’re in pieces, barely hanging on.

But the wounds on the outside? They’re bad enough. Probably internal damage too. Marilyn’s rushing to treat them, but they’re not even able to sit up.

Right now, Marilyn’s in the middle of a cluster—Nobuna, Chiyome, Persia, Tavasaki, Leifan, and Jitarou. Leifan and Jitarou must’ve carried Persia and Tavasaki here. For now, at least, we’re safe.

Now, what about the real issue? What’s become of Nizhegg?

I spot the snake lizard doing a U-turn at the edge of the plateau—confirmed through the "Far Sight" spell.

Trimochi’s glued to him from face down to the base of the wings. Too bad he didn’t choke on it. I’d been hoping for that. Just a little.

But even though Trimochi’s covering him up to the wings, as planned, the little wings still flapped without slowing down at all.

Higher muscle strength than I expected!

The viscosity of Trimochi wasn’t enough to lock the wings.

After all that sacrifice!

I grit my teeth.

Think!

I’m a former mage. A alchemist, right?

That’s it— I’m an alchemist. I can use alchemical magic.

While I’m thinking, Raidock, Eva, Camille, and Solar gather around.

Raidock turns his gaze on me.

"What now?"

"Buy time during their attack. This time, I’m stopping that guy’s movements."

"Got something in mind? But too many of them are frozen. How’re you gonna get through this?"

"Only one way—just dodge once."

"Then why didn’t you do it earlier?!"

"Didn’t have the right setup for it then!"

"…Right. So we just get through it once, huh?"

"Yeah. …Eva."

I call out, and Eva looks my way.

"Yes?"

"You stick with that group over there. If Niedhag goes their way—"

I lay out the plan.

"Can you handle it?"

"Y-Yeah, I can."

A high-tier mage like Eva? No big deal. Timing’s less tight than last time.

Now I pass the plan to the rest of the team.

Raidock let out a dry chuckle.

"Another reckless plan."

Camille narrowed her eyes at me.

"Craft, you gonna die?"

"Wouldn’t happen. ……I’ll figure something out so I don’t."

"……huh."

Eva snapped her head up.

"Then let’s swap roles! You’re the one who should survive!"

"Aw, appreciate the sentiment, but only an alchemist can do this. I’ll take the sentiment, though."

Maybe he wants the alchemist alive for Kyle’s sake. But this job—only I can do it. No need to hesitate.

Raidock slapped my shoulder.

"Live. Succeed. Then leave the rest to us."

"Got it. Leave it to you."

Our fists clapped together.

Alright. This time, really, it’s over, Nezhegg!