Chapter 51
Commander Zachary stared at me, smiling serenely, with an expression of terror on his face, then shouted.
"F-Fia! You suddenly look like a messenger from hell!!"
"Oh, please, stop making such baseless accusations. I'm just an obedient rookie knight. I've been staying quietly out of the way, just as you ordered, haven't I?"
"Like hell you have! A merely obedient knight wouldn't threaten a Knight Commander with a smile!!"
Commander Zachary shouted back at me.
"Threaten you? Please don't say such alarming things. I was only trying to encourage you with a smile."
"Fia, you've reminded me of my days at the knight academy!! We had a bald, musclebound instructor, and he was just like you. His knowledge and skills were leagues above ours, and he'd spur us on with a terrifying smile—but it was basically blackmail. With a smile like the Demon King of Hell, he'd pile impossible assignments on us one after another! Every time, we'd go through a battle where we barely survived by the skin of our teeth, thinking, 'We're going to die!' This chill running down my spine is exactly the same!!"
"...A bald muscleman? You think I look like a bald muscleman? H-ha, ha... Go ahead and fight to your heart's content!!"
I raised my left hand toward the sky and lowered the level of the concealment spell.
The cage surrounding the familiars became visible, but only from directly below.
...Yes, I'm perfectly calm. He's a Knight Commander, after all. He has every right to say whatever he likes to a rookie knight.
And I have just as much right to freely control my magic!
The Dreambird had tried to attack the familiars several times, but seemed to realize that an invisible cage was blocking it, and continued flying around the cage in frustration. The moment the cage passed directly overhead, it suddenly became visible.
It must have realized at a glance that it wasn't something it could break through.
With an irritated cry, the Dreambird left the familiars behind.
Then it flapped toward the knights.
The archers and mages, freed from the illusions, seemed to have regained their composure and began attacking the Dreambird again. They seemed to have learned from their earlier experience, moving closer to increase their attacks' power and focusing on fire magic, which had proved the most effective of the spells they'd tried.
That's right. This monster is troublesome because it creates illusions, but other than that, it's nothing special.
Its gentle, fluttering flight makes its path hard to predict, but it hits hard when it lands.
They're impressive, figuring out how to take it down after just one battle.
...But a certain commander who said I looked like a bald muscleman is another matter.
No, this isn't personal. I'm speaking purely as an objective observation. ...No, that's a lie. It's completely personal. But since I have the chance, let me say it anyway.
As the commander, it's important for Zachary to keep an eye on the whole battlefield. But his attack power is exceptional. It would be such a waste not to make full use of it.
At the edge of my vision, the Dreambird descended, tracing its distinctive, gentle curve through the air.
That's right. To create its illusionary space, the Dreambird has to fly at varying heights as it draws a circle.
Since there's a pattern to how it varies its altitude, it's possible to predict where it will fly at its lowest point.
So if Commander Zachary could read its path, subtly position himself along its predicted course, then step in at just the right moment, his attack should be strong enough to defeat it in one blow.
...But maybe it's impossible to read that path the first time you see it.
Oh, no, no. Commander Zachary is so capable that I keep expecting too much of him!
Still, it's true that we should defeat it as quickly as possible.
The Dreambird isn't particularly strong when it isn't creating illusions, but it knows that too, so it usually appears alongside other monsters. It's rare—and fortunate—that one has appeared by itself this time.
And we're lucky that the whole team can focus on taking down a single monster.
Though perhaps that's normal in this era, when the number of monsters has apparently declined.
But...
"Three new monsters have appeared! They're approaching from the seven o'clock direction!!"
The scout shouted.
That's right. Now that the monsters in the forest are ranging outside their usual territories, it's entirely possible we'll encounter one monster after another.
Standing between the Saints and the monsters, I turned my gaze toward the seven o'clock direction.
Two boar-like monsters and a deer-like monster emerged, pushing their way through the tall, thick grass.
"T-Two Violet Boars and a Flowerhorn Deer!!"
The knight closest to the seven o'clock direction shouted.
The Violet Boars were one thing, but a Flowerhorn Deer was a B-rank monster said to require thirty knights to defeat.
Our squad was already facing a B-rank monster. We were certainly getting some good training!
"Two B-rank monsters at once... We're done for."
I heard a knight mutter under his breath.
No, no, we're not done for. That's a bit dramatic!
Commander Zachary can handle monsters like these.
Besides, if things get rough, there are allies nearby, right?
...Just as I thought that, I heard a rescue whistle from the east.
Wasn't Deputy Commander Gidion's squad to the east? Wait, were they calling for help?
...As I tilted my head in confusion, I heard the same sound from the west.
Commander Quentin was to the west, right? Don't tell me they were asking for help?
"Damn it, what a cursed day! There's a limit to how many monsters can gather at once! And those two calling for backup means they're really in trouble!!"
Commander Zachary shouted loudly, sounding panicked.
...But I couldn't help tilting my head in confusion.
What kind of monster had appeared for them to request help?
With Commander Quentin's attack power, he should be able to handle any monster up to B-rank. Deputy Commander Gidion should be able to defeat his opponent too, given enough time.
More importantly, Commander Quentin had an A-rank griffin. What was going on?
As I considered that, it suddenly struck me.
Wait, could Commander Quentin be under attack from a monster of A-rank or higher?
Zabiria confirmed my unpleasant suspicion.
"This is bad, Fia. A dragon's appeared on the west side. And there are two of them."
Wha—! Two dragons, of all things!!
"Hey, Zabiria. Dragons are S-rank, right? The standard is a hundred knights to defeat one. Isn't that a bit of a problem?"
"Hmm. I can handle most dragons, though."
"Oh, how reassuring! By the way, what kind of monsters have appeared where Deputy Commander Gidion is?"
"One deer and one boar."
"You mean a Flowerhorn Deer and a Violet Boar? Then they'll be fine. ...Even if we leave them alone!"
I shouted toward Commander Zachary.
"Commander Zachary! Deputy Commander Gidion has encountered a Flowerhorn Deer and a Violet Boar!"
"Huh? H-hey, how do you know that?!"
He answered with a question, but I ignored it and told him only what I wanted him to know.
"But we're in no position to spare anyone, so let's have them handle it themselves. Please let them know that with the rescue whistle."
"O-okay!"
Commander Zachary agreed, though his expression showed that he hadn't quite understood.
"Also, Commander Quentin has encountered two dragons! He needs help, so I recommend that we join him immediately!"
"D-dragons?! And two of them?! Hey, that's bad!!"
"Exactly. To join him right away, I'd appreciate it if you swiftly took down those boars, deer, and bird."
"Damn, there you go again, handing me an impossible assignment! You bald muscleman number two...!!"
What?
...It seemed that Commander Zachary was so confused by the attacking monsters that he'd mistaken a rookie knight offering a mild suggestion for the demon instructor from his school days who used to force impossible tasks on him.
Damn you, Commander Zachary! I fumed, even as I chanted a spell.
"Body Enhancement: Double Weight!"
I cast a weight-increasing enhancement spell, which would normally be used on myself or an ally, on the Dreambird.
Startled by its suddenly heavy body, the Dreambird gave a cry, then began beating its wings faster.
But there was nothing it could do. It flapped desperately, but couldn't maintain its altitude and kept sinking lower and lower.
―――Ah, I've intervened.
I felt bad about depriving them of the chance to learn for themselves, but I was worried about Commander Quentin's squad, so I decided to step in for real.
To make up for it, I left the final blow—and the credit for the kill—to Commander Zachary instead of taking it myself.
"Commander Zachary, we don't have time. Please finish it in one strike!"
"You really don't show any mercy, do you...!!"
Commander Zachary complained, but rushed toward the Dreambird at full speed, drew his sword, and cut it down with a single stroke.
For a moment, I was spellbound by the brilliance of Commander Zachary's strike, which felled the Dreambird in one blow.
Come to think of it, Commander Zachary uses a two-handed greatsword. It's unusual, but it suits him.
Then I looked at the spot where Commander Zachary had originally been standing and murmured, "Impressive."
That spot was near the point in the Dreambird's flight path where it swooped lowest.
To read the Dreambird's path in that short time... Commander Zachary really is amazing!
"Excellent work, Commander Zachary!"
Pointing west, I shouted to Commander Zachary.
"Let's go help Commander Quentin! We'll trust everyone here to handle things!!"
"Huh?! F-Fia, are you in your right mind?! There's still a B-rank Flowerhorn Deer here! These knights aren't equipped to handle it on their own!!"
Commander Zachary cared so much about his subordinates that he seemed reluctant to leave the monsters behind and go.
Ngh, I understand how you feel, but the dragons are many times more dangerous. We should withdraw for now and prioritize them. But Commander Zachary is in charge.
I bit down hard on my lip in frustration, but there was no other choice.
Even though I felt defeated, I shouted to the knights of the Sixth Knight Order and the Monster Knight Order who were facing the Flowerhorn Deer and Violet Boars.
"Everyone from the Sixth, you've learned how to take down a Flowerhorn Deer, haven't you? We ate that delicious meat together, remember?! Now it's your turn to make sure I get to eat that meat!"
"F-Fia, that's a downright threat..."
One of the knights shouted back, but I pretended not to hear.
"But I know when to give up, too. If you decide the meat isn't well-marbled enough and want to save it for next time, cut off its antlers. If you break off even one, the Flowerhorn Deer will run away. You can break an antler right away if you strike it from the side!"
"F-Fia, you deliberately left that information out last time, didn't you...?"
"H-hey, you're starting to look more like a messenger from hell than a savior..."
The knights muttered fearfully, leaving me with no choice but to hang my head dejectedly.
Once a monster has faced humans and escaped, it becomes more cunning and wary.
So unless there's a very good reason, letting one escape is dangerous. It leaves a heavy burden for the next group of hunters to deal with.
That's why I didn't want to tell them how to let the monster escape, but there was no other choice.
In my estimation, even if Commander Zachary left right now, checked on Commander Quentin, then came back, every knight here would hold out without a single casualty.
I think so, but Commander Zachary cares so much about his subordinates that he can't move unless he reduces the risk even further.
Of course, there's no guarantee we won't encounter even more monsters, and I'll do as Commander Zachary ordered. I'm an obedient rookie knight, after all!
I pulled myself together and looked up at Commander Zachary.
"All right, now there's nothing left to worry about! Let's go to Commander Quentin!"
"O-okay!"
Then I turned back to the knights once more.
"Everyone from the Monster Knight Order, a dragon has appeared where Commander Quentin's squad is! We're going to help, so please lend me your familiars!"
"D-dragons?! You can't be serious... Is the commander all right?! O-of course you can borrow as many as you want for the commander's sake!"
"I'll lend them, but the familiars won't listen to you! Those familiars have been flying around up there on their own, not even listening to us, their contractors!!"
No, they're just following my instructions. They're very clever familiars.
―――I thought that, but I knew the value of silence, so of course I didn't say it aloud.
"Thank you for your permission!"
As I thanked them, I dispelled the magical cage protecting the familiars.
Then three monsters descended from above, while two monsters on the ground moved toward me in sync with them.
"Huh? W-what is..."
"Th-they suddenly headed straight for Fia... H-hey..."
The knights raised surprised voices, but I didn't answer. It would waste time, so I took off running.
At the same time, Zabiria soared into the sky, as if understanding what to do.
Without a word, Zabiria seemed to understand and flew straight toward where Commander Quentin was.
Right, only Zabiria knows exactly where they are, so please lead the way.
As I headed toward Commander Quentin with Zabiria leading and Commander Zachary and the familiars following behind, I heard the knights shouting after us.
"R-rather than a messenger from hell, isn't F-Fia a legendary monster tamer?!"
"Hey, why are they more obedient to Fia than to us, their contractors?! They just went and followed her on their own!!"
...They called me a legendary monster tamer, but I had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
But it's a hundred times better than being called a bald muscleman!!