Chapter 60
The next day arrived like that.
The long episode was already entering its final stages.
We crossed the desert dragging our tired bodies.
As we walked without letting our guard down around us, Regia suddenly muttered beside me.
"...It's strange today."
It was especially quiet.
If it had been like the past few days, there would have already been three or four attacks by this time, but today nothing had happened.
Even the scorpions we had encountered to the point of boredom couldn't be found, not even a small tail.
"Th-The desert being this quiet is a first."
"Isn't it strange? This isn't a place that can be passed so easily... It's like the dawn before a storm hits."
"Let's store up energy while we can."
"Good idea. We don't have much left to the destination anyway."
I responded to them pretending not to know.
It was the pattern of the final wave.
At least during today's daytime, no attacks would occur.
Instead, when the sun sets and night comes, that's when the final wave determining the conclusion begins.
Probably enemies of a different dimension in scale would swarm.
'It'll be difficult if we go on like this.'
In fact, the difficulty of this episode was high.
Originally, it was a level that could be challenged only after gaining experience at the academy and securing the position of head teaching assistant.
Probably in the current state, we would be thoroughly trampled.
'I came in for Regia's growth... but was it too much after all?'
The summoner's ability was still without any news.
As there were no signs of awakening in particular, it seemed it would be difficult for a while.
Well, it wasn't something to rush anyway.
As I said last time, I believed in Regia.
Even if not this time, there would be many opportunities.
From the start, it was a profitable business just to collect the items that came out as rewards.
The protagonist had suffered in various ways over the past few days too, so I was thinking of resolving the end at least.
We walked through the quiet desert.
"......"
Time flowing peacefully.
The day passed quickly.
Before we knew it, the sun that had been high in the sky set beyond the horizon, and the sky was full of dark shadows.
The pitch-black night had finally fallen on the world.
As we were sleeping following the set schedule at that time.
"Y-Young Master!! Wake up quickly...!"
Suddenly a scream was heard.
It was Regia's voice who was keeping night watch.
I got up as if I had been waiting and looked around with a leisurely gaze.
Only the pitch-black desert existed around us.
Kieeek!
Kirruk-!
Crunch, crunch...!
It wasn't just appearing black because it was dark.
The ground writhing along with grotesque noises.
There were so many scorpions that they covered the entire sand.
The creatures swarming in all directions were surging while completely blocking our retreat.
It was truly a desperate scene.
"Young Master! Hurry!!"
The pilot shouting urgently.
"Is this as far as we go..."
The old man loading his crossbow with a dejected voice.
Shing-.
Amidst the situation dyeing with confusion, I drew a sword.
I muttered quietly so as not to be heard.
"Finally the last."
Now it was the finale.
***
Kieeek-!
Scorpions pouring out all at once as if by agreement.
It was a wave without even a trace of hope visible.
They ground up everything existing around them.
We had to wage a desperate defensive battle while holding the thinly remaining ground.
Sparks flew incessantly into the darkness.
"Hup...!"
Clang! Thud-!
Monsters charging mindlessly. I roughly deflected the rushing poison stings.
An intense bursting sound erupted at each moment of collision.
I tried to take the initiative with elegant flow, but it didn't seem very meaningful.
The overwhelming numbers weren't resolved at all.
Slash-!
I cleanly bisected one small fry.
Without even time for that corpse to roll on the ground, the next ones rushed in en masse.
It had been this pattern since earlier.
Kill one and ten come.
Kill ten and a hundred come.
As I was sighing at the nauseating sight, suddenly a shout was heard from behind.
It was the old man's voice.
"Duck!!"
Ping, swoosh-!
I ducked as soon as I heard the signal.
Right after, dozens of arrows spreading like shotgun pellets passed over my head.
Boom-!
Scorpion bodies mercilessly crushed.
I quickly retreated backward and spoke towards the old man reloading mana.
It was a light joke.
"That was a splendid attack? It seems it would end if you did it ten thousand more times."
"Unfortunately, these I'm loading now are the last arrows."
"Oh no."
Stab-!
I stabbed my sword into a scorpion falling from the air.
Judging by winged variants popping out, it seemed mid-level magical beasts had all swarmed in too.
I shook off the blood staining my sleeve.
"I'll go once more."
"I'll cover you."
"Y-Young Master! They're coming from behind...!"
We fought with all our might.
The snake's sword tip cut down enemies in all directions, and the old man's crossbow spewed arrows and fire without rest.
The pilot also continued support while creating the battle environment.
It seemed we endured quite admirably.
We exceeded the initially expected time by far.
"Phew..."
Of course, that didn't change anything.
The predetermined end was just postponed.
In the end, we had to be surrounded by scorpions in a mess.
I quietly looked around.
The other two people were both sitting collapsed on the ground.
The crossbow was now rolling on the ground.
It seemed the arrows had run out.
The sword blade I had forged sharply with shadows was now in a state with all its teeth gone.
It probably couldn't even cut a piece of wood like this.
"My, my... Unfortunately it seems impossible to go on any further."
I let go of the sword in my hand too.
Thud. The fallen pitch-black fragment stuck in the sand, then soon scattered becoming a handful of dust.
With this, we had no means of resistance left.
I caught my breath.
'I wanted to test the limits until the end.'
It seemed this was as far as we could go judging by the protagonist's condition.
Regia sobbing while curled up.
I knelt on one knee. Then I met gazes with her wet green eyes.
The girl was wavering.
"Miss Regia."
"Y-Young Master."
"It's alright now. It's all over."
"I-I'm sorry. If only I had done a little better, because of me you two......"
"Shh."
I stopped her lips letting out cries.
I held Regia's hand.
Then I gently stroked her head as if soothing a frightened child.
It was to calm her emotions.
"You did well enough."
"B-But...!"
"Do you remember what I said a few days ago? That I always believe in Miss Regia."
"......"
I carefully wiped away her welling tears.
Shoulders trembling pitifully.
I smiled gently.
"That faith remains."
"......"
"It has been so until now, and will continue to be so."
The girl looked up at me blankly.
She bit her lip as if thinking about something.
I wanted to comfort her more, but I couldn't continue speaking due to the rampaging scorpions just then.
Grotesque screams dyed our ears.
Kieeek-!
Kyarruk!
Kuaaaak!!
A storm surging pitch-black.
The monsters bared their teeth and rushed towards the children, craving slaughter.
Thousands of scorpions rippled.
Just as it seemed we would be swallowed like that.
A quiet voice brushed my ear.
"...Efri."
Right after, a streak of light fell from the sky.
"Ugh...?!"
Beeeep-!
A ringing sound deafening the eardrums.
As I blinked at the suddenly flashing vision, soon I could discover something huge flying in the sky.
Wings large enough to cover the entire vicinity and more.
"Is that...?"
I unconsciously let out a self-mutter.
It was due to the splendid appearance.
Graceful wing beats, huge body, tail covered in spikes, flames blazing with each breath.
It was clearly the appearance of the summoned beast I had seen in the entrance exam.
"...Wyvern."
Kuooooo-!!
The divine beast roaring magnificently.
The entire desert vibrated.
It opened its mouth wide and spewed out the contents it had been holding inside without hesitation.
It was the so-called dragon's breath.
Boom-!
Following the overwhelming firepower, the densely gathered scorpions were swept away at once.
Blue-burning flames dyed the area brilliantly.
It erased them without leaving even a handful of ashes.
Just blinking once, over 30% of the scorpions had already been annihilated.
I looked to the side.
"Haa, haa...!"
There was a girl panting.
Pink hair wet with cold sweat.
Regia was smiling with tears falling while tightly holding my hand.
Her slender upper body swayed.
"Miss Regia."
I quickly caught her collapsing body.
Even in the state of being held in my arms, the girl was shining her eyes only towards me.
Pupils wet with joy and affection.
"I-I... did it."
Regia muttered with difficulty.
Her smile shining more ecstatically than the dragon's breath.