Chapter 10 - Unexpected Development

"Won't you please join the hero party I'm forming? I'm asking because you're so strong."

The current situation was actually quite embarrassing. The protagonist would become a hero in the future and the strongest in the world, right? To be praised by such a person is like...

It was as if someone who would graduate top of their class from Harvard and win a Nobel Prize, being called a once-in-a-generation genius, was praising you just for graduating from Seoul National University.

This power is actually the hero's power too.

Moreover, my power was ultimately just a fragment of the power Tigna would possess. It felt very strange to have the protagonist looking at me with such sparkling eyes. I might create some embarrassing memories if I act arrogant here.

"What do you think? Won't you join? I may not be much now, but my potential is incredible."

Anyway, the protagonist was currently trying hard to persuade me to join her party. Of course, my answer was obviously a refusal.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that."

What hero party…?

I gently avoided Tigna's hand and conveyed my refusal.

"Why? Don't refuse."

Of course, the protagonist persisted tenaciously. In fact, Tigna was quite bothersome to people she had decided to make her companions. Levia also joined her party for this reason, and it was difficult to shake her off with ordinary words.

But there were magic words that could make even someone like her give up.

"I'm sorry. I have a child."

"A child?"

"Yes, I have a child. So I can't go on a journey."

"What???"

The protagonist showed a reaction like she hadn't expected this answer. Well, having a child was quite an unexpected response, wasn't it? Tigna seemed quite shocked.

"I see. It can't be helped then. Ugh..."

It seemed I managed to persuade her somehow. She wasn’t an unreasonable person who would insist on forming a hero party with someone who had a child. Tigna seemed to consider it a few more times with a regretful expression, but eventually appeared to give up.

"But you'll help when it's absolutely necessary, right?"

"If the situation allows."

"That's good enough!"

I planned to help, anyway. I swallowed up the Spirit Sword, so if I didn't help her, the world would be destroyed. Anyway, the conversation with Tigna ended this simply.

"Let's depart quickly. The magic beast is still out there."

"Yes...!"

Tigna and I moved on again. Now we need to deal with the alpha of the wolf magic beasts.

***

After walking for about 30 more minutes, we finally arrived at the ridge we had set as our destination.

"Let's prepare."

"Yes."

A place exuding an eerie mana, the wolf magic beast would surely be here. Tigna and I drew our swords, took our stances, and prepared to fight the wolf-type magic beast. And at that moment.

"Awoooo!!!!"

A sharp howl echoed from deep within the mountains. The surrounding trees shook, creating an atmosphere as if the entire forest was tensing up. And finally, the giant wolf-type magic beast revealed itself.

Its size was almost as big as a house. It had an overwhelming presence, completely different from ordinary wolf-type magic beasts. Two glowing red eyes and remnants of black magical energy flowing throughout its body.

It was an existence incomparable to mere beasts. Tigna gripped her sword tighter, her expression tense. But I was different.

Well, with the Spirit Sword, it should be one hit.

Honestly, I wasn't particularly scared. It was just an early-stage boss, wasn't it? While it was true that this was a boss the protagonist struggled greatly with, in the context of the entire work, it was ultimately just a stepping stone.

With my current self, it should be settled with one Magic Release.

"Magic Release..."

Let's end this quickly and go rest. 

As I was thinking this and slowly gathering magic at the tip of my sword, Tigna suddenly blocked my way.

"Um, please don't step in."

"Huh?"

It was an unexpected statement. Tigna looked at me with resolute eyes and said, "I want to handle this alone. Is that okay?"

I looked at her for a moment. The sword in her hand was trembling slightly, but her eyes were firm.

Face it alone?

I was stunned by Tigna's words for a moment, but there was nothing particularly wrong with it. In fact, wasn't this a better situation? I was also internally worried about interfering with Tigna's growth.

"Alright."

"Thank you."

I readily agreed and lowered my sword. Tigna smiled slightly and began to face the wolf-type magical beast alone.

Let's watch for now.

I found a suitable spot and began to observe the two of them. Soon after, the clash began.

"Grrrr."

"Haah!!!"

The magic beast with its massive body. Tigna with her quick movements. The first collision was rough.

The magic beast kicked off the ground, closing the distance in an instant, and Tigna barely twisted her body to avoid it. She swung her sword simultaneously, but couldn't penetrate the beast's thick fur and solid muscles.

As expected, it won't be easy.

The magic beast immediately counterattacked. Its large front paw swung, and although Tigna tried to block it with her sword, she was thrown back towards a tree due to the strong impact.

"Ugh!"

Tigna got up, gritting her teeth. Her arm seemed numb, but she didn't look like she was going to give up. The magic beast charged again, and this time she began to respond properly.

A flashing sword strike grazed the magic beast's side, and red blood splattered.

Still, her sword skills are indeed innate.

But the magic beast didn't stay still either.

With a strong roar, it released mana from its entire body, then suddenly kicked off the ground and charged at her again. Tigna raised her sword high, trying to read the magic beast's movements while concentrating as much as possible. The critical moment had come.

It's over.

She drew out her last remaining strength and swung her sword vertically downwards. In that instant, the magic beast's movement stopped. And a moment later, its large body staggered and fell to the ground.

"Huff... huff..."

Tigna looked at the fallen magic beast, breathing heavily.

"How was that? I'm quite strong too, right?"

"Yeah."

I nodded as I watched Tigna smiling brightly at me. 

Good. You did very well. 

With this, the protagonist has dealt with the magic beast.

Just as I was about to catch my breath...

"Awoooo!!!!"

Suddenly, the wolf got up again. And it started running down the mountain as if going berserk.

"What? Why is it getting up suddenly?"

The protagonist looked quite bewildered. And for good reason—hadn't she definitely finished it off? She was shocked to see the wolf getting up again and heading towards the village.

This is really maddening.

And I felt the same way. I didn't know it would get up again like that either. This wasn't in my knowledge.

If I had to guess, in the original story, it fought the protagonist twice, so it had no strength left. Did it still have strength remaining? Considering that mana didn't completely disappear even after death if it wasn’t fully depleted, it would make sense for the wolf to get up again and go berserk like this.

Of course, this is just my speculation.

"This is bad. That's towards the village..."

"Yeah..."

Anyway, the current situation was extremely urgent. The wolf was running towards the village. It was probably rushing there to consume the villagers and convert them into magical energy.

Because if it didn't do that, it would die.

I absolutely can't let Levia’s sister die.

I ran at full speed. Having come this far, I couldn't let the wolf harm Levia's sister. I had no intention of letting her fall from grace.

"Master, please infuse as much mana into my legs as possible."

[Got it.]

After borrowing mana from the Spirit Sword, I ran towards the village at full speed. Hoping I wouldn't be too late, I chased after the wolf hard.

"You...!!! Don't touch the villagers!!! I... I will definitely stop you from doing that."

Fortunately, I was able to arrive just in time. I saw a young girl facing the giant wolf. She looked exactly like Levia, but seemed younger.

That child must be Levia's younger sister, Ravia. She was desperately spreading her arms, trying to protect the villagers.

"Grrrr!!!"

The wolf recognized Ravia as prey. And it lunged to devour the prey before its eyes. In this critical moment.

"Magic Release."

Kwaaah—

I was able to protect Ravia safely.

"Huff... Am I... alive? Eek..."

The girl who had just sensed her impending death was surprised to find herself alive. And she was shocked again seeing the fallen wolf's corpse. While she was still dazed, she noticed me.

"Um...? Mister? Thank you for saving me."

"It's nothing. Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No, I'm fine."

Ravia didn't have any particular injuries. I had saved her safely. Just as I was thinking how fortunate this was...

"Ravia...!! Ravia...!!!"

Someone was running towards us from afar. It was Levia.

"Sister~"

"Ravia. You're alive..."

The two sisters embraced each other. I watched them and let out a sigh of relief.