"Phew, seriously. —Luna-chan, are you okay?"
The intimidating atmosphere from moments ago vanished. Eleonora-san returned to her usual gentle demeanor and called out to me.
"Yes. Thank you for helping."
"You're welcome. —Um, Luna-chan… I'm really sorry to ask right after what happened, but there's something I need to request from you."
It seemed Eleonora-san had come outside specifically to ask me for help. She spoke hesitantly, clearly reluctant.
"If it's something I can do, please tell me anything."
I answered with as bright a smile as I could manage.
She had just saved me.
Besides, no matter how unreasonable the request, if it was within my power, I intended to do it anyway.
"Thank you. —There's no time, so I'll keep it short. I need you to head to the west gate right now."
"West?"
I echoed her words.
She had seemed so hesitant that I expected something far more difficult.
"Yes. Originally we didn't assign high-rank explorers to the west because only a recently opened beginner labyrinth is there. But just now we confirmed the presence of a water dragon on the west side."
"!"
Water dragons are counted among dragon species alongside earth and fire dragons.
In the southern Great Labyrinth, they inhabit the 92nd floor. They resemble enormous serpents.
They can move freely through the air and are covered in hard scales, making them extremely difficult for even A-rank explorers to defeat.
If such a monster attacked the thinly defended west gate, the damage to the city would be catastrophic.
"—Understood. I'll head to the west gate immediately!"
After replying to Eleonora-san, I cast [Agility Up] on myself and ran toward the west gate.
'Wait! Do you understand your current condition!? The usual Luuko might manage, but right now you—'
'I know! But I have to do this! Once this crisis ends, I'll be captured anyway. If that's the case, a little recklessness doesn't matter!'
I cut off Titania and stated my resolve.
I appreciated her concern, but this was non-negotiable.
As a hero, as an S-rank explorer's duty—I would defeat the water dragon!
◇
The area near the west gate was utter chaos.
The gate had already been destroyed, and about ten monsters had entered the city.
Even from a distance, the massive water dragon slowly approaching lowered morale drastically. The explorers already at the gate were faltering even against weak monsters like goblins and orcs that had arrived first.
Civilian evacuation wasn't complete either. Soldiers and rookie explorers were still guiding people, creating total pandemonium.
"Kyaaaaah!"
A woman's scream rang out. I looked over—an orc was swinging its club downward.
(—I won't make it…!)
I hurriedly began constructing a spell formula, but realized I was too late.
If this continued…!
"You won't!"
A girl with red twintails thrust her left hand toward the orc and shouted. The orc's movement stopped abruptly, as if blocked by something.
"Any monster that hurts people—die!"
A girl with reddish-beige hair stepped between the frozen orc and the woman. She sliced the orc apart with dual daggers, turning it into a magic stone.
(Those kids are Orun-san's…)
They were Orun-san's disciples I had met on the third day of the festival.
As expected of his students—their movements were far too polished for rookies.
"Are you okay? If you can move, leave this area and head to the guild!"
The blond boy helped the woman who had nearly been attacked to her feet, immediately cast [Heal], and sent her away.
"Huh? Ah! It's the Seirei big sis!"
The girl who defeated the orc noticed me and called out.
"It's been a while. You're rookies, right? Please leave this place immediately."
From their movements just now, I could tell their skill level was quite high.
But they were still rookies—and Orun-san's disciples.
If anything happened to them, I couldn't face Orun-san.
"But in this situation, running away—"
As the boy tried to protest, I constructed multiple spell formulas and poured mana into them all.
I cast [Heal] on the injured nearby and [Fire Javelin] on the monsters—sweeping away every monster that had entered the city.
"Am-Amazing…"
"I'll handle this place, so it's okay. —Everyone here, retreat! I will defeat every single monster coming to the west gate!"
I shouted to everyone present to withdraw.
(The distance to the water dragon is closing further, but it seems to be underestimating us—its movements are leisurely. At this range it won't launch a proper attack yet. —First deal with the second wave of monsters, then defeat the water dragon. After that handle the next wave. It's extremely difficult, but not impossible.)
I planned the sequence and felt confident I could achieve it. It would require considerable recklessness.
"No way! Big sis, you're really tired, right? If you keep fighting in that state…"
The reddish-beige-haired girl—Caroline, if I remembered correctly—seemed to sense my condition.
How did she know? Was it showing that clearly in my expression and demeanor?
"It's okay. I have a chance of winning."
"But…"
"Then how about we divide roles?"
When I reassured her, Caroline still seemed unconvinced. That's when the boy—Logan—made a suggestion.
"Divide roles?"
"Yes. We can handle ground monsters. So please take the water dragon in the sky."
"…"
Their help was genuinely appreciated, but still…
"It's not just the kids. We'll fight too! You're Luna Flockheart from the hero party, right? A hero showing up is reassuring! We were about to give up, but now we'll fight again!"
His words spread rapidly. Light returned to every explorer's eyes.
"…I'm a member of the hero party that may have caused this incident. Can you really trust me?"
I knew asking this wouldn't help, but the words slipped out.
The earlier explorers' actions had hurt more than I realized…
"Of course!"
"!"
"You rushed here. You defeated monsters and saved us. That's fact. Why doubt you now!"
"I… see…"
Warmth spread through my heart.
I had thought every explorer hated me.
That I had no allies left…
But the people here believed in me. They said they would fight alongside me.
Then I must respond to their feelings.
"—Understood. Lend me your strength. I will defeat the water dragon. May I leave the ground monsters to you?"
"Leave it to us!"
"We'll fight too~! But no overdoing it, or Master will get mad, so we won't push too hard!"
Orun-san's disciples would join the battle.
They might get scolded just for participating, but all three had serious eyes.
Eyes fixed straight ahead on their goal—just like Orun-san.
They probably wouldn't listen even if I told them to stay back.
Time was short, so I decided to accept their help.
'Titania, there's something I'd like to ask.'
'I decided to help with this incident. What is it?'
I called out to Titania, who was still nearby. She responded immediately.
'Could you support these children?'
'These kids?'
'Yes. Even if using your power causes me to die, please absolutely protect them. I beg you.'
'…Sigh. Fine. I have things to say, but we'll talk after you come back.'
'I'll listen to your complaints properly afterward. Once this is over, we'll have plenty of time.'
After finishing with Titania, I called to Caroline and the others.
"Understood. Lend me your strength too. But no recklessness, okay? If you overdo it, I'll tell Orun-san."
"Ehh!? So we won't push too hard…"
"Fufu. —The second wave of monsters is coming. Let's protect this place together!"
"Ooh!!"
◇
"Spirit Magic—[Induction]!"
When I activated my original spell combined with my ability, pale blue orbs of light floated around me.
"Pretty…"
"These light orbs draw monster aggro. Think of them as decoy defenders."
[Induction]—simply put—makes monsters mistake the light orbs for magic stones.
With high probability, monsters will be drawn to them.
"As expected of a hero… Drawing monster aggro with light orbs…"
"Then I'll go defeat the water dragon. I leave this place to you all."
After telling everyone, I approached the west gate's outer wall and called to Sylph.
'Sylph, let's do that. Will you lend me your power?'
'Eh!? For real!? Yes yes!!'
Sylph agreed enthusiastically to my proposal.
She was very cooperative today—thank goodness.
Without borrowing fairy power, I couldn't pull this off in my current state.
'Please create an updraft.'
'Got it~!'
I jumped near the outer wall. An updraft rose from below, carrying me swiftly to the top.
Beyond the wall stretched open grassland.
Monsters approached from the ground, but the explorers below were handling them well—using [Induction] effectively.
They wouldn't fall into the same desperate state as before.
Orun-san's disciples also avoided pushing too far forward.
The ground seemed safe to leave to them, so I focused on the water dragon flying in the sky.
It drew steadily closer until it finally entered my range.
'Sylph, here we go!'
While constructing the spell formula, I called to Sylph.
'Tear it to pieces~!'
Sylph said something violent while interfering through me.
(Guh… as expected, the earlier battle took a heavy toll. This is tough… —But I was prepared for this!)
A tornado formed directly beneath the water dragon—created by Sylph—and rapidly grew, engulfing the massive creature's entire body.
A tornado on a scale and power incomparable to the high-grade [Cyclone] assaulted the water dragon.
"Spirit Magic—"
I murmured while gathering thunder spirits around the water dragon overhead and pouring massive amounts into the constructed formula.
"—[Tempest]!"
[Mjolnir] rained down from a gigantic magic circle, striking the water dragon directly. Lightning crackled everywhere.
—but it didn't end there!
The thunder mixed with Sylph's wind blades, creating countless lightning-wreathed blades that shredded the water dragon.
Attack magic has six attributes.
However, combining multiple attributes into one attack spell has never been achieved.
Countless magic researchers tried and failed.
But by borrowing Orun-san's knowledge and using spirits, I completed a pseudo-compound-attribute spell.
Still, in my current state I couldn't handle it alone—one attribute required borrowing fairy power…
The power of [Tempest]—combining Sylph's out-of-standard [Cyclone] with my maximum-power [Mjolnir]—surpassed other high-grade spells.
But the opponent was a deep-layer monster.
This one strike wouldn't finish it.
When the storm-like tornado cleared, the shredded water dragon let out an enraged roar.
"Haa… haa… haa…"
'Sylph, can you deliver the finishing blow?'
'I can, but are you okay, Luna?'
'I'm fine. Don't hold back.'
I had already reached my limit, but I wouldn't die.
I no longer had the energy to construct high-grade spell formulas, so I had to rely on Sylph.
'Got it. —Then get squashed~!'
"…Guh…"
Exhaustion forced me to sink to the ground, but a ferocious downdraft struck from above the water dragon, slamming it into the earth.
It didn't stop there. The water dragon was flattened completely—then turned to black mist and dissipated.
"! [Rock Wall]!"
To prevent damage to the city from the descending wind, I sealed the gate with an earthen wall.
'Yay! Super satisfied!'
'Sylph, thank you very much.'
Looking down at the city, with the water dragon gone, the explorers' morale surged. Monsters fell one after another.
For now, the west gate should be safe.
I could no longer move.
The other gates would have to be left to different explorers.
While basking in that sense of accomplishment, a massive sound rang out from above the city.
We had heard similar noises repeatedly since Orun-san and Oliver-san began fighting, but this one was even louder.
With nothing more I could do, I turned my gaze toward the source—
"…Eh…"
◇◇◇
Right after Luna defeated the water dragon, the battle between Orun and Oliver also reached its conclusion.
"…"
"…O…li…va…"
Blood dripped from the corner of Orun's mouth. A mana-formed tail from Oliver's waist had pierced his abdomen.
Even so, his eyes remained alive, fixed straight on Oliver—but his eyelids slowly drooped.
Finally losing consciousness, Orun still refused to let go of the now-black sword that was no longer a magic sword—perhaps his last act of defiance.
But the wound was fatal. Death was only a matter of time.
Here, victory and defeat between Orun and Oliver were decided—
—or so it seemed.
The supposedly unconscious Orun suddenly opened his eyes wide.
"Where… —Ouch!"
Upon regaining consciousness, Orun showed signs of not understanding the situation, but winced at the pain in his abdomen and looked down.
"Oof… yeah, that hurts…"
Though his face twisted in pain, he muttered casually even after realizing his body had been pierced.
Orun casually touched the tail piercing his abdomen with his left hand. The mana suddenly vaporized into golden smoke and dissipated.
Then the massive hole in his abdomen visibly regenerated—as if time were rewinding.
Even his tattered clothes returned to pristine condition.
"Phew… that hurt."
Orun muttered casually while standing in midair without [Mana Convergence] footholds.
At Orun's bizarre atmosphere, Oliver backed away.
Sweat beaded on the brow of Oliver—who until now had shown no emotional fluctuation.
"So? What's the situation here?"
Even now, Orun's tension-free demeanor gave a younger impression than his usual self.