c165: Blazing Forest

I wake suddenly in the depths of night.
I couldn’t answer if asked why.
Only, my heart is racing.
If I’m to believe that which could be called a premonition, this isn’t the time to be asleep.
Especially with the world in a huge situation right now.
I promptly switch from loungewear to my equipment.
The night is unpleasantly silent.
For now I quietly exit the house.
With that which is called the depths of night layered upon pitch darkness, visibility is at its worst.
Even for me who has the eyes of an elf, this isn’t darkness where I can move without care.
I’ll try circling the perimeter of the village for now. If there’s nothing, that’s fine.
I walk carefully while watching my steps.
I suppose I’ll be able to move a little more freely, once my eyes have adjusted.
I walk for a while but, as expected there isn’t anyone’s presence.
It’s quiet.
Quiet, to the extent that it hurts my ears.
There isn’t even the sound of crying insects.
……Is this not strange.
To say there’s no sound at all in a forest like this is, actually abnormal.
Nature doesn’t make a sound, abnormal.
It really is unnatural.
My heart rate starts to quicken once again.

「――Is that Alice-san?」

I went stiff at the sudden voice.

「Fuaa……You……surprised me. Sitra?」

When I focused my eyes, there was a girl standing like a revenant a little in front of me.
I hadn’t noticed her with my focus on my feet.
No, in reverse, Sitra did well to notice me first.
I walk over feeling relieved and, Sitra was fully equipped and even held her staff.

「I was surprised. You did well to tell it was me at that distance didn’t you?」

Even though even I couldn’t see it.

「Fufu, since it’s not the case that I see with my eyes. Day and night? That distinction is lost on me」
「Isn’t that fairly impressive?」
「That might be so」
「It is so」
「Is that so」

The Sitra who has trouble distinguishing night from day is tilting her head.
Perhaps the only difference for Sitra is that night is the time for sleep.

「More importantly, what is Sitra up to? At such an hour」

Saying that, I was a little afraid so I’m reassured to have Sitra here.
Pure darkness is scary.
This is human instinct.

「I saw something, not good. No, I thought I saw it so, I’m confirming it」

I had a premonition but, if you say Sitra saw it with those eyes, I can’t ignore this any longer.
On that note, this child, is she not afraid?
Isn’t she very courageous?

「If you don’t call your comrades, at a time like this」
「Everyone-sama, was asleep so. Thinking of what comes after this, it’s important we restore our stamina.」

We can’t do anything if we get taken out here though.
Being chinchy is no good, absolutely.
Well, I couldn’t bear to wake the convalescent Silvi-chan though could I.
It can’t be helped, just in case.

(――Ilya, Ilya)

Just with Ilya, who’s connected through our pass, I can convey my intent even at range.

(Nn……ojou, sama……?)
(Pardon doing this so late at night okay? There’s something strange about this situation. Wake everyone up. But, I’d like to not wake Silvi-chan but……)
(Understood. Silvi-sama will, have my protection.)
(Un, thanks Ilya. If you’ll protect her, that can reassure me more than anyone you know.)
(I’m honoured, ojou-sama. May you find fortune ahead)

Talking to Ilya somehow, warms my heart.
But it would make me happy if Ilya also felt the same.

「Everyone’s coming soon so, Sitra, let’s go around and inspect the village’s state ahead of them」
「It’s true, everyone-sama is waking aren’t they. How did you do that?」

I suppose my Ilya network is impressive.
On that note, the Sitra who knew that isn’t a normal person either is she.

「Well, it’s a hidden technique for just me and Ilya」
「I’m deeply curious――――Alice-san」

Sitra’s voice shifts.
She has a clear battle posture.
Her newly made monk staff rings out, as Sitra gazes into the darkness.
I take stance beside her.
I don’t see anything, no really.
I question Sitra with a sidelong glance and, she’s clearly waiting with her gaze fixed straight ahead.
For this, I’ll rely on Sitra.
I focus once again on the darkness Sitra gazes into and, a smallish light blinks.

――I reflexively dodge.

The me in combat mode already has her body clad in lightning.
Supposing whatever surprise attack, I’ll react at the speed of light.
How’s that, you’ve made a big mistake if you thought you could get the jump on me!

「Violent from the get go aren’t you!」

I glimpse behind me and, fire rises in the village from the attack just now.
This is bad, if I dodge then by dodging this problem is!
What an attack to use in a forest. It’ll be a huge issue if the fire spreads.
Is it that guy from before?
This isn’t the time for leisurely preparations is it.

「Why do you, involve unrelated people!」

Sitra steps one pace in front of me.

「Whatever sort of reason you trample down other people, I won’t accept it!」

We’re able to resolve ourselves as those standing on the battlefield.
Faced with an unknown enemy, I won’t falter by even one step.
Having crossed these battlefields isn’t for show is it.

「Sitra, don’t step out rashly. Calm down okay」

However much she’s distracted, Sitra is a saintess, shouldn’t she focus on healing.
Don’t go out in front.

「No Alice-san, I shall take on all of the enemy’s attacks. So, I leave offense to you」
「Wha?」

The state of the battle moves, leaving me in surprised confusion.
The next strike of light comes.
I can’t tell if it’s of physical or magical class but, it’s a given to avoid it if it’s an attack.
Even so in this world there are tank roles like Ilya’s.
That delicate figure that’s even smaller than I am stands before me.
――The light, struck.

「Ka……hha」

Sitra’s body that seems light as a feather whirls through the air.
Blood flies from that body.

「What recklessness!」

I went pale.
Sitra stops me from approaching with her hand, as she stumbles forward.

「……This is, my way of fighting」

When I come back to myself the surrounding area to include myself shines with a kind faint green light.
Area Heal!

「……I haven’t fallen you know, I absolutely will not fall」

This child is, absurd!
This is what’s known as, healer tank!
She doesn’t have Ilya’s level of defensive ability but, does she intend to completely recover immediately after the attack lands!
Something like, that which is unlimited recovery so long as her life isn’t taken, this is that sort of thing!?
But doesn’t it hurt!?
There was so much blood from the attack that just landed……
I’m confident my will would break from a single attack……I don’t like pain.

「Si, Sitraa……it hurts to watch」
「Don’t mind it」

It seems the onlooker’s will will break before the actual person’s.
What a hero.
If it’s come to this, there’s nothing for it but for me to promptly bring down the enemy and end this.
This isn’t the time to be waiting around in shock.
The lighting provided by Sitra’s area heal is enough.
I confirm the black armour before me.

「I’m depending on your support, Sitra!」
「! Leave it to me!」

I step in with my right foot.
At max starting velocity while clad in lightning. My top speed from zero.
It feels like my body is being wrenched apart from the violent inertia.
Gugigii……! Clench teethh～～!
Finish this with the first strike!
I step in close in an instant and, lay my hand on the black armour.

「Fulll power!」

At this point, I have no hesitation.
If it really were『you』then, you shouldn’t have dyed your hands with such murders up till now.
Therefore, the black armourthis one isn’t!

「――Lightning・Impact!」

A single flash.
I feel the response as the black armour and everything within is burned away.
The black armour crumbles, with a violent fit.
The throat cries.
Crouching down, I place my hand on the fallen black armour’s helmet.
I softly remove the helmet and, what’s there inside is――nothing at all.

「Emp……ty?」

Inside, there’s nothing in it.
Living armour?
No, but yesterday’s enemy didn’t have that sensation.

「Alice-san, it’s still coming!」

I raise my head to Sitra’s voice.
I can see the writhing black armour well, by the village’s fire.
Their number……however many, I can’t count them.
In any case a lot.
All at once there’s light in the hands of such black armour.

「Wai――」

This isn’t a problem of if I can dodge or not!
Sitra goes forth in front of me again.
Sitra’s light body is trampled through like a sandbag by flashes of light.
Stray bullets burn the village, the forest catches fire.
Even for just the rays directed at the village, it really was impossible even for the Sitra who tried to receive everything with her body.
Light stabs through Sitra’s outstretched hand.

「AAAAAAa」
「Youu, worthless doll!!!」

It’ll start fires in the same way if we attack from here, there’s nothing for it but close combat!

「You are――」
「――Too full of yourself」

From left and right the black armour is, trampled in place by two human figures that appear in an instant closing in with incredible force.
The knight on one side, the admired onee-sama known as Maria-san’s sword with magical light shreds countless armours clearing them in an instant.
The reliability of my allies calms my nerves……I’ll leave that to them then.

「Sitra, are you okay?」

Her pierced hand, quickly recovers with her own heal.
Or rather than that, her area heal cures everyone within the village perimeter.
Without intending to yield even to an unforeseen accident, a light of salvation that approaches perfection.

「I’m, okay……more importantly if we don’t put out the fire. No matter how much I heal……being burned alive is」

I came to with a start.
This fire, if we don’t check for people in need of rescue……
I turn around while thinking that and, a pink cloud began to descend upon the village.
As I flash back to a nostalgic memory, a sharp pain runs through my heart.

(――I have no excuse, ojou-sama. I couldn’t stop Silvi-sama)

Is that so, that’s so isn’t it.
Ice magic.
The one who uses it in this party is, my convalescent daughter then.

(……Un, maa, it’s like children to go overboard)

Would it be okay to praise her or best to be angry……
That’s the duty of the adults who create a situation where such can’t be avoided, isn’t it.
The village fire is put out in an instant.
But, the flame blazes up energetically from deeper in the forest.
Past the village, in the place where we’re headed after this.
This seriously can’t be made light of.
It’s a forest fire.
Even if we put out the fire in the village, the forest itself is done for.

――Zuun, zuun.

I can hear a rumble of a sort that shakes me to the core of my body, coming from that direction.
Further in than this elf village, that is to say, what’s there is Ilya’s hometown.
In short――

「――Dragon」

A black dragon that seems to subsume even the dark of night, rises up, lit by blazing flame.