NOVEL NEXT Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: Flash
Chapter 58: Flash
Moving behind Zamza, I wait for the right moment. I try to steady my breath. Looking around cautiously, I grip Pink in my hand. My hands are sweaty with tension. Pink looks displeased. Everyone seems puzzled by my actions.
“I’ll attack with my hidden trump card! It’s a secret only for now!”
At the moment the black wolves’ attacks pause, I jump out from behind Zamza. Pink opens its small mouth with a relieved expression.
“Pink, I’m counting on you.”
A dazzling flash violently cuts through the darkness. It’s the first time I’ve seen Pink’s power at night. The intense light burns deep into my eyes. Everything in front of me disappears in the light, leaving me blind. My face feels hot from the intense heat wave coming from ahead. Silence dominates the surroundings. Gradually, my vision returns. Everyone is looking at me in astonishment. Pink seems to have already returned to my pocket.
“Did it decrease a bit?”
“Uh, yeah…”
“Bonus, were you… a noble?”
“A noble? No, not really.”
“But what you just did… that was magic, right?”
Azir says something incomprehensible about nobles and magic. It seems there are still aspects of this world’s common sense that I’m completely unaware of.
“To be honest, I’m not sure, but well, it’s fine for now.”
“Well, that’s true. At any rate, a significant number of black wolves disappeared. But there are still some left to defeat. Let’s try to put as much distance between us and them as possible for now.”
Now that I’ve used Pink, we have no means to counter Kidanakemo anymore. But at this point, there’s nothing we can do.
“Got it. Let’s run.”
Everyone seems to have regained their composure for the time being. Kane seems to have given up on thinking, shaking his head. Mil is on her knees, vomiting. She must be really at his limit. Zamza is surprisingly not surprised. On closer inspection, he looks shaky, perhaps simply lacking the composure to be surprised. Should we take a short break?
Then, we hear another howl. Tension returns to everyone’s faces.
We continue running, but the howling doesn’t seem to be getting any farther away. If anything, it feels like it’s getting closer. Everyone’s exhaustion is reaching its limit. Even if we engage with the black wolves again, we need to rest our bodies, even if just a little.
“It’s no use, let’s take a break.”
Azir suggests taking a break. Kane’s complexion is quite pale. He sits down, breathing heavily with a pale face and vacant eyes. Upon closer inspection, not only his arms but also his legs are injured, and the bleeding is severe.
“Bonus, leave me behind.”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
“No, it’s fine. I used to be a mercenary too. I know this is the end.”
“If I carry you…”
“It’s okay, Zamza. I used to be a mercenary too. I’m getting older and my stamina is declining. I tried to live a stable life in the village, but deep down, I’ve always wanted to die like a mercenary on the battlefield. I fought with all my might for the sake of everyone in the village. So this is fine. You understand, right?”
“Yeah, but I don’t want to let a hero who saved the village like you be eaten by black wolves.”
“Mil, can I entrust this to you?”
“I don’t want to!”
“You’re a former mercenary like me and a villager. Will you be the one to give me the final blow and be a living witness to tell everyone in the village?”
“Understood…”
Azir and Zamza stare silently at the two. I can’t do anything.
Kane died. I feel death closer than when I almost died myself. Despite not feeling cold, my body feels as if it’s freezing. Mil, who was so brave, is now sobbing like a child. The black wolves’ howls continue unabated. A heavy sense of despair creeps into my heart.
“They’re coming!”
“Get ready! It’s a funeral fight, Mil!”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
The black wolves caught up with us again. Azir immediately switches gears. He’s truly a top-notch mercenary. Pink should have burned quite a few of them, but the wolves keep relentlessly chasing us. However, thanks to the clear weather, we can see our surroundings clearly. For now, they’re still attacking us in small groups. I try to emulate Mil’s strategy with Zamza and join the fight in a supportive position alongside Azir. Surprisingly, staffs have a fast attack output, making it easy to harass the enemy. This way, I can assist without getting in Zamza’s way. Maybe we can hold out a little longer…
But as time passes, the black wolves continue to increase steadily. Terrifyingly, we can hear howls coming from our direction. Are we surrounded? Azir, who had maintained his composure until then, looks troubled. It seems the situation is getting dire. I turn around and see the shadows of black wolves closing in. About four of them. After observing them for this long, I’ve mostly figured out their movements and attack patterns. However, that doesn’t mean I can deal with them. I focus on dodging their attacks. But one of them is persistent. Despite hitting its nose with the staff, either because its power was weak or for some other reason, it won’t let go. I kick its belly multiple times, but it still doesn’t release its grip. We’re all busy dealing with the black wolves attacking us. We can’t expect any help. The black wolf clinging to the staff looks at me with yellow eyes, as if mocking me. Suddenly, I realize another black wolf is closing in from behind. We’re trapped. And our only weapon is still stuck.
“It’s over…”
My strength drains from my hands. I almost collapse to my knees. But suddenly, the resistance I felt from the staff disappears abruptly. The head of the black wolf staring at me rolls off.
“Gyaaaah!”
And in the next moment, along with a familiar voice, a black mass jumps at me.
“Aaaah, Kuroooo! I’m glad you’re alive, oh, I’m so glad…”
“Gyagyagyagaaaa!”
I can’t stop crying as I hug Kuro. But it seems I’ve reached my limit of fatigue. As I try to shift my weight to fall backward, Kuro and I are effortlessly lifted up by strong arms.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Bonus.”
“Shiro! Are you okay too?! Oh, Gisella too! I’m so glad…”
Everyone is covered in blood, and the two oni’s clothes are torn, leaving them half-naked. But their aura is as usual. Just pure joy. The restraint I’ve been holding back is suddenly released, and I feel lighter. Gisella also clings to everyone with a somewhat embarrassed but happy expression.
“I want to go back to the hideout soon. I want to relax with everyone.”
“Gyagyagyagaa!”
“Yeah, let’s go back.”
“I’ve never been to the hideout!”
“Sorry to interrupt the fun, but let’s put some distance between us for now.”
Marie seems to have joined us without us noticing. She efficiently wipes out the black wolves that were stuck to Azir and the others. We’re all a mess, but emotionally, we feel relieved. Even if things get worse from here on out, I feel like I can endure it. And ultimately, if we’re going to die, it’s better to die with these guys. It seems Zamza has finally relaxed too. Seeing our safe comrades, he looks very happy. We’ve somehow made it this far. We’ll survive till the end.