NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27
TL: Yuki
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They are still out of sight No wait
Vultures!
What appeared were large Vulture-like monsters, and there were three of them.
The reason they were outside my detection field was that, of course they aimed for the carriage from above.
Flying along the highway high in the sky allows them to avoid obstacles, making their attacks quick.
Intercepting!
In response to my warning, Michelle-chan and her parents shoots arrows towards them.
Still, aiming for Vultures flying in the sky is not an easy feat. The more they aim upward, the more the difficulty increases after all.
I and Finia was standing in front ready to intercept the three approaching birds.
Guuuaaaaa!
Along with a strange screech, they descent with their talons aimed at us. I swing my katana matching up the attack.
The weapon called a Katana has a much thinner and lighter blade compared to a normal sword.
The blade was specifically made to greatly increase its sharpness, and to compensate for its light weight is its tremendous killing power.
Even with my current strength, I could swing it with enough power to kill.
While dodging to the bare minimum, I aimed at a part that has lighter amount of feather well, thats what I intended, but.
With my current speed, I was not able to properly hit it.
Tsk!
Nicole-sama, please withdraw!
I dont think Ill be able to!
Answering back to Finia, I prepared for the next incoming attack from the Vultures.
Because I focused on training with melee attacks, Michelle-chan who was behind me was not able to properly train fighting in close ranged attacks.
If we are talking about her father, then he is not well versed in battles like this.
Right now Im standing in front of them luring the Vultures, but if they draw the attention of the vultures, then things might become a bit complicated.
Because Finia was only have knowledge about self-defensive techniques, shes not able to cope up properly with the attacks from the vultures.
Luckily, the vultures are only using straightforward attacks.
We should be able to deliver an attack if we wait for a chance.
The Vultures dive down once more to attack
I hold my sword in a straight stance and wait. Making sure to put all of my weight on the katana, I prepared for a forward strike.
A vulture approached me who was in a stance and aimed its talons towards me once more.
Waiting for the last moment to dodge its talons, I made sure to put all my force in hitting the vulture as I dodge its attack.
After the exchange, the vulture fell down to the ground.
Thats one down. Theres still two more to go.
It would be great if they continued this way, but they probably would change tactics. Even if they are bird-brained, they would still be able to remember attack patterns and change it depending on the situation.
Well, if that did happen they all I could do is come up with another plan.
One Crimson, One Azure, One JadeEndure Like Strong Steel!
Its a technique to strengthen my yarns.
Jade represents distance, one is means zero distance. With this effect, I can strengthen both myself and my equipment.
Just like what I have experienced earlier, my current agility is not enough to catch up to the vulture.
Thats why I plan to receive its attack in full to slow it down, even if its attack hits, it wont be a fatal one.
And because of that, I need someone who will strike at that moment.
One Crimson, One Azure, Two Jade, Three Gold. Unleash and Improve the Power of Bows
This time I added an enhancement to Michelle-chans bow. Because the Distance between us is a bit far, I needed to add extra magic power to activate it.
But this time, I properly adjusted it, its not the same as that time where I clumsily used magic power and exhaust myself.
Probably provoked by the flow of Magic Power, the vultures started their assault once more.
This time, its one for me and one for Finia.
I took off my jacket and covered my hands with it.
This will be used as a cushion in order to receive the vultures attack.
Needless to say, it is impossible for childrens clothes to completely block the attack. It easily penetrated the jacket and damaged my arm.
Guuu!
I clenched my teeth from the severe pain and made sure to prevent it from releasing its means of attack. But if its a newcomer in a battlefield, they might just release it immediately.
But none of that matter right now. The talons that got stuck in my hold was harder to remove than it expected.
With my lightweight body, it was possible for the vulture to actually lift me up.
But I have also prepared methods to stop that.
These vultures are probably aiming to gather some food.
And even one with the lightest weight should be good enough for them.
That why, it will assume that it would be good if it just lifted the light meal stuck on its talons.
Nicole-sama!?
Seeing me slowly being lifted to the sky, Finia raised her voice in panic.
She was about to rush towards me and pull me down, but before that happened, the other vulture attacked her which stopped her attempt.
Its fine, you know. If you came over here, then my calculation would be completely in disarray.
The vulture did its best trying to lift me as high and fast as possible. But suddenly, it stopped ascending.
I was held down by a thread that was tied to the carriage.
It was the Yarn that I reinforced earlier. I tied this to the carriage in order to hold down my body.
The vulture was confused and didnt understand what happened making it stop its movements for a moment.
Using that gap, I pierced my blade at the base of its wings delivering as much damage as I could do. But since Im only using one hand to attack, it was not really that effective.
However, that ok. My attack was only a bonus as to what the real attack will be.
Thats because during that moment, an arrow pierced through the skull of the vulture which was delivered by Michelle-chan.
Strengthening the attack power of the arrow, it easily pierced through the hard skull of the vulture.
And as a result, the two of us are now falling down from the distance it ascended.
Even the earlier attacks were not really that meaningless.
Also, although the height of the fall is not that high, I dont know if my body could withstand it.
As a measure to at least break the fall, I pulled out the katana and pulled the vulture close in a tight grip. I then aimed the corpse to the ground using it as a cushion.
Guha
The impact from falling squeezed out air from my lungs.
My body especially my right hand hurts, but its not painful enough to immobilize me.
Thats because most of the impact was received by the vultures body during the fall.
The impact was successfully reduced and I was able to survive the crash landing. However, its not yet time to feel relieved. There is still one more and is currently fighting against Finia.
Looking at how their battle goes, Finia using her daggers was able to properly block the attacks of the vulture in a defensive parry.
During those moments, Michelles Father hits it with arrows steadily doing minor damages.
Doing it this way, they will probably be able to defeat it before I join the fight.
Rather than that, I think the situation would end up getting worse if I suddenly join the fight.
As a human resource, Finia is still quite capable as a servant of Heroes.
Although I did train with Michelle-chan as a specialist but not as good as her, I still had my knowledge and fighting experience carried over from the past me to help.
After a while, the last vulture was finished off by Michelle-chan with a headshot immediately killing it.
Nicole-sama, are you alright!?
Un, Im alright
Thats only what you are thinking! Please let me examine your hand!
Immediately after the vulture was killed, Finia rushed towards me to check on the damage I received.
There were tears falling from her eyes and probably a mix of anger and self-loathing was causing it.
Ahh, to let you be hurt like this Nicole-samas pure skin
While leaking a coarse voice, she applied medicine on my arm and wrapped it in a bandage.
As a half elf, she has a deep understanding of herbs and their effects.
A wound like this would not be considered deep, but with this degree, it might probably leave a scar.
If only I was more useful, I would have been able to prevent it Uhhh
No, its okay, you know
Please dont do that again! That way of fighting dangerously! If you dont, then I will really be sad and cry!?
Ack, fine, I will definitely be troubled by that
Looking at Finia who is crying and not knowing if its from anger or sadness, I decided to never again do something that would make her be this worried.