Arauto-5

"Are you okay? Let me help you with your shoulder."

As Ian said that, he took hold of my shoulder. Mr. Roll also hurried over and lent me his shoulder.

Since the bovine monster had stopped moving, we decided to retreat as a group while we still could.

We ran through the forest, quickly putting distance between ourselves and the swamp. After a little time had passed, I began to regain strength in my legs.

I still can't use magic, but I think I can walk on my own now.

"It's okay, Ian. I should be able to walk on my own soon."

"Yeah, that was incredible. Just now, it felt like lightning struck. So that's what magic can do?"

He asks, sounding excited.

I don't have the strength or the time to explain in detail, so I just nod in reply.

As we talk, we emerge from the forest and reach an open area, catching up with the group we had initially fled from.

A carriage was waiting at the edge of the forest, so we figured we'd be able to escape by getting in it.

...But no, it was still a monster, wasn't it? How it managed to do so—whether through some unknown method or simply sheer strength and stamina—wasn't clear. Yet, from behind, it was approaching at an unbelievable speed.

Only Ian happened to notice it in time. No, by the time Lieutenant Roll and I realized what was happening, the sheer speed of the creature had already brought it dangerously close behind us.

It must have been a sudden development.

Ian shoved me aside... instead, Ian was the one thrown off balance.

Ian flying past my eyes... his severed arm separating from his body.

I couldn't comprehend what had happened, and remained frozen for a moment.

The monster roared again, turning its gaze toward us.

Captain Roll swung his greatsword and charged at the beast.

The monster seemed to have taken significant damage from the lightning, and with that blow, its horn was shattered.

We couldn't stay frozen forever.

No more hesitation—grabbing Ian and his arm, I dashed toward the carriage.

The monster remained rooted in place, glaring at us. Upon closer inspection, its eyes appeared damaged as well.

"The situation's dire—let's get out of here, now."

With a shout from Roll, everyone began moving, and the carriage started rolling, carrying me, Ian, and Roll.

The monster remained in place without moving.

Though I'd normally want to press the attack given the extent of the damage they've taken... Ian's treatment comes first.

He steps inside the carriage and observes Ian's condition. Unconscious, blood gushes from one arm, and his complexion is clearly unhealthy.

Few in the research team can wield healing crystals, and most are only capable of basic first aid.

The rest are already tending to the younger team members who are injured.

I must use the healing crystal quickly! I pull it out and begin treatment.

But the crystal's glow is weak. No surprise—my magic essence was completely drained by that previous powerful technique.

I'd like to wait for my magical essence to recover, but I don't have the luxury of time.

A fierce headache strikes.

No room for hesitation. I continue using the magic stone without regard.

A chill runs through my body, and a sharp, grinding pain spreads across my entire frame. The headache is by far the worst.

On the other hand, the healing magic stone glows intensely, blood stops flowing, and the wound begins to close.

Ian's consciousness still hasn't returned.

Increase the output further... Come back! You're the one who's supposed to inherit the family home!

Continuously increasing the output. The carriage is filled with blinding light. No one notices, as everyone is staring at Ian. His eyes, while using the magic stone, flicker strangely—alternating between lighter and darker intensities...

How intensely was he concentrating? He didn't even notice when someone called out to him.

Taro, you've had enough. You're looking pretty pale.

It was Ian's voice.

Having heard that voice, she felt relieved and then passed out immediately.

By the time I realized it, two days had passed. When I woke up, Riruka and Coil were peering at me with worried expressions.

You okay, Taro?

Riruka gently speaks to me. Amid my drowsy consciousness, I ask her questions: How many days have I slept? What happened afterward? And how many people have died?

Just in time, Roll, the squad leader, answers my questions.

In the end, I’d only been asleep for about a full day. After I lost consciousness, I managed to escape back without being pursued by the monsters. Since then, however, the whereabouts of the monsters remain unknown.

Ian had survived his injury, though he had lost one arm, and the news was delivered that four of the younger members of the expedition team had perished.

"So, the four couldn't be saved...?"

"Don't trouble yourself over it. They died in violation of orders. In fact, I should be grateful that you saved Ian."

"That's simply what I could do."

Roll, the squad leader, spoke matter-of-factly, gazing at the cloudy sky where light and darkness ebbed and flowed.

"I plan to have Taro join the extermination team as soon as he recovers. We've lost a few, but thanks to that, we now know the creature's patterns. We'll need to prepare for its ability to hide in the marshes. We must strike while the damage you inflicted on it still lingers."

With that, Roll Captain exited the room.

"So we're finally going to fight a monster."

"Is that right? This is Rilka's first time fighting a monster, then."

I replied, lying on the bed.

Rilka won't be participating in the combat. If she does, it'll only be treating wounded soldiers from the rear. But this time, I've heard elite troops have gathered from the entire Arasooto.

No chance for her to get involved.

Still, she could feel the intensity of the approaching battle, and seemed uneasy.

"It'll be fine. There are plenty of allies this time, so it shouldn't be too bad."

"Still, some people might die, right? Some already did during the last survey, and Taro came back completely worn out."

"Ugh, that's embarrassing. Yeah, this time, don't pass out—come back conscious. How about that?"

"Promise!"

"Yeah, I get it."

"I should probably make you promise that too."

Coil, who had been silently listening until now, spoke up.

"Making a young woman cry—now that's quite the sin on your part. Here, take this."

He handed over several sheets of paper. On them was a report about a bovine monster.

"How... rather, how did you even get this?"

"What? It's simple. This country isn't united as one. Beyond the guilds and the government, there are countless individuals who dislike that monster, each seeking to exploit the situation for their own advantage in various ways."

While desperately forcing my sluggish mind to work, I think.

"So, there were others besides us who were observing or had investigated beforehand, is that what you're saying?"

"In a nutshell, that's about right. I think the guild master also understood that much."

Coil strongly emphasizes using what we now know to devise countermeasures and take actions that increase our chances of survival. It's truly invaluable.

Also, regarding that lightning strike, it might actually have been observed by many people. If we manage to defeat the monster, we should probably leave quickly without lingering.