NOVEL NEXT chapter 36
36. The True Nature of the Resistance
The hired men fled like rabbits when the Guild was in peril,
caught in traps.
Wide turned his gaze to the Guild,
“Looks like we just made it in time…?”
He was perplexed to see Guildia in tears.
This woman, a heroine who had fought on equal footing or better against Elg and Gora,
why was she crying?
There was no time to ponder such things; the Iron Golem began to move.
“It’s moving! Prepare the artillery!
Everyone else, enhance your bodies and get ready!
The traps may have decreased, but the chances of them still being there are high!
Do you understand?”
“““Ohhh!!!”””
The Resistance responded vigorously and prepared to face the Iron Golem.
Then Wide faced Guildia.
“Guildia, you have business with the Great Sage, right?”
Upon hearing this, Guildia nodded, stifling a sob.
“I see, then let’s fight together.”
—
Wide casts a healing spell on Gildia.
Suddenly splashed with water, Gildia turns around,
and as the wounds heal before his eyes, he stares intently at Wide.
His eyes, like lead pellets, glisten with tears, and his eyelids are swollen.
“…What reason do you have for helping me?”
Wide ponders for a moment before responding.
“I don’t know. I just thought this was the best course of action.
That’s all there is to it.”
Wide averts his gaze from Gildia and faces the Iron Golem.
“The remnants of the Iron Golem scattered around—those were your doing, right? So taking down the remaining four should be a piece of cake, right?”
Wide says this with a hint of provocation.
In response, Gildia retorts defiantly.
“There’s one condition.”
Wide raises an eyebrow in suspicion.
“What is it? No going back to the cell, I hope?”
“Not at all. When you fight, I want you to follow my orders.”
Wide thinks for a moment before answering.
“Got it. Just so happens, I’ve been struggling with unfamiliar commands myself. But if we’re doing this, no one dies.”
Gildia stands up, aligning himself with Wide.
“Listen up, everyone! From now on, Gildia will be in charge of commands! But make sure to follow them closely!”
““Huh!?””
A chorus of surprised voices erupts.
“All units! Aim for the joints of the Golem! Avoid getting hit! I’ll deliver the finishing blow!!”
““Whoa?!””
Everyone, though shaken by the sudden buffs and precise orders, begins to move.
“Impressive, Warden.”
Wide teases.
“Right now, I’m the Chancellor.”
Gildia replies.
◇◇◇
The sound of iron destruction roars from afar.
“It seems like they’re safe over there; we need to stay sharp too.”
Aira and Gora dash through the forest, acutely sensing the magical energy approaching from the front.
“Ah, the Great Sage seems to be up ahead, but that magic and thunder are really clashing like fools…”
Gora shudders at the thunderous noise and flashes of light.
“That’s just how it is; they’re going up against the Great Sage.”
Aira agrees.
“Still, I hope Elg is okay…”
As Gora voices his concern,
“Daddy!!”
Eg reacts to Elg and calls out.
“No, he’s not here yet, okay? Just relax there for a bit.”
Gora tries to soothe him, but Eg leans forward, sighing in exasperation.
“Old man, we’re getting close; sorry, but with such strong magic, I can’t see the future. Even if I could, it would only be two or three seconds ahead.”
“That’s enough; we’ll save Elg.”
“Yay!”
Eg also agrees.
Just then, a particularly loud flash of lightning and thunder draws their attention.
Through the gaps in the forest, they see a kneeling man and the Great Sage.
“Just as I thought, it’s Rainer, and he’s lost, huh?”
However, Rainer says something to the Great Sage, who turns toward a house that must have been scorched by the earlier strike and lifts something up.
“Daddy!”
Eg tries to leap out, but Gora hurriedly holds him back. He covers Eg’s mouth, but his fingers get bitten.
“Ugh…!”
Not understanding the situation, he endures the pain with sheer will.
“Hang in there; it’s really bad from here on out…”
Aira, perhaps using her foresight, remains alert to what’s about to happen.
And then, a dark, foreign magical energy begins to overflow from the Great Sage.