Chapter 35
"This way, Reiji!"
Rikila-san seized my arm and pulled me along. We went tumbling sideways at tremendous speed, and flames raced in a straight line through the spot where we'd been just moments before. Even though it was morning and the sun was already out, everything grew brighter still—and then it felt as though my eyes, unable to keep up with the change in brightness, had gone dark.
The stone pavement scorched by the flames was glowing red, and parts of it had melted into a sludge.
(If a human being took that head-on, wouldn't they turn to charcoal in an instant...?)
I hurriedly tried to get up—but my knees gave out.
"Huh...?"
I couldn't put any strength into my legs?
My joints wouldn't move, as if they had been broken.
(Why? How!? Could this be because... I'm scared...?)
At last, I understood.
Until now, perhaps I'd thought of this as someone else's problem. The dragon was a symbol of calamity, but it had nothing to do with me, and surely some powerful person would fight it and defeat it. It might happen right near me, but I wouldn't be involved. I was reincarnated, after all. I'd help out, but it was up to the people of this world to do their best—
I'd had that thought somewhere in my heart even when I taunted the dragon from the rooftop. That's why I had been able to act so boldly.
But the dragon had breathed fire with the clear intention of killing me.
Only then did I realize that the dragon was real, and that its killing intent was directed at me.
"Run! It's coming again, Reiji!"
"..."
"Leave the rest to the old man and us! ...Hey, are you listening!?"
My legs were trembling, and I couldn't stand up.
The dragon opened its mouth once more—when suddenly—
"Hyaaah!"
Josef-san approached and brought down his two-handed axe. The blow bit into the dragon's scales, sending up bluish-white sparks.
"Damn, it's hard as hell! I put everything into that hit, and it only left a scratch!?"
"Disperse the magical power in its scales, Josef!"
"How do we do that!?"
"Hit it with every spell you've got!"
The adventurers who could use magic heard Josef-san and Dantes-san's exchange and unleashed their spells all at once.
Various spells—red, blue, yellow, and so on—struck the dragon directly. They inflicted no wounds, but the magical power clinging to its scales dispersed, exposing the yellow scales beneath.
With weapons in hand, the adventurers rushed in and slashed at the areas where the magical power had vanished. The scales repelled blow after blow with their natural hardness, but several attacks managed to split them, and red blood dripped from the dragon's hide.
"Stand up, Reiji-kun."
"Ah..."
I was pulled to my feet, supported under both arms. The soft swell pressing against the back of my head would normally have made my heart race, but I didn't have the room to think about such things now.
When I turned around, Non-san spoke with a serious expression.
"Rikila-san, I'll take Reiji-kun."
"I'm counting on you."
Meanwhile, the dragon shook itself in annoyance, then swung its tail around like a whip, sending the adventurers flying. Josef-san nimbly jumped, while Dantes-san held his greatsword diagonally like a shield, deflecting and weathering the tail's blow.
...Those two were in another league.
The members of the Eternal First Star, who had reached Gray-Silver rank, joined the attack as well. They were a cut above the other adventurers, but they couldn't match Josef-san and Dantes-san.
"Let's get to safety, Reiji-kun."
Rikila-san leaped—the force of the jump was unbelievable. After rising about two meters, Rikila-san used the dragon's hind leg as a springboard and leaped again.
"Hyaaah!"
The dragon was about to breathe fire when a kick from the side sent its face flying, causing the attack to fizzle out.
But its face was as large as a car. It glared and fixed on Rikila-san as its target—
"Reiji-kun!"
I was shaken by the shoulders. Non-san—normally so gentle—was radiating tension.
"Let's get away. We'll only be in the way if we stay here."
"...Yes."
That's right. If I stayed here, I'd be nothing but a burden. Worse, Dantes-san might get hurt protecting me.
Turning my back on the battlefield, I ran off with Non-san.
Non-san had worked as a cleric, but the clergy in this world seemed to regard physical stamina as practically essential, so she could run as well as—or better than—me, who cheated with 【All Creation】.
Looking around, I wondered whether the buildings' windows were shut despite it being daytime because people had taken shelter inside. I thought getting farther away would be better than hiding inside, but I didn't have the leeway to urge them to do so either.
A shrill, trilling whistle sounded here and there, presumably signaling an emergency. Soldiers from the domain were directing the people fleeing down the streets.
——What happened?
——It's a monster bigger than a house.
——Where the hell are we supposed to run?
——How should I know? Just get as far away as possible.
Many people were running with pale faces, and we were swept along with them.
"...Reiji-kun, listen carefully."
There, Non-san stopped, bent her knees until she was at eye level with me, and gripped both my shoulders.
"Go straight from here, then turn right at the second intersection, and you'll find the Adventurer's Guild. Keep going straight after you turn. We came this way together, so you remember the way, right?"
"...What about you, Non-san?"
That meant we would be parting ways here.
"I'm going back. Many people must be hurt, so I'll do what I can."
"But—"
"You've done your best, Reiji-kun. From here on, this is an adult's job."
Non-san gave me a bright smile.
(What did she mean—adult?)
Non-san was the same age I'd been before I reincarnated: sixteen. Since the Adventurer's Guild allowed registration from age ten, it wasn't unusual to start working at ten in this world, and by twelve, people normally worked and received wages every month.
At sixteen, you were a full-fledged adult. No one would complain if you drank alcohol.
(If Non-san was an adult, then so was I.)
Even if I told her that, she wouldn't believe me now; besides, unlike Non-san, I had no idea what I could do by returning to the battlefield.
But.
Even so.
Non-san, the hand you have on my shoulder is trembling.
"I'm coming, too."
At my words, Non-san drew a sharp breath.
But she—
"No."
She pulled me close and hugged me tightly. It was the most painful embrace she'd ever given me.
"Let me say just one thing. I was glad you'd come, Reiji-kun... but not for the reason you think."
"...The reason?"
"Father had actually given up on treating his petrification. We'd been told that even a top-level healing mage from the Kingdom of Light Heaven Knights might not be able to cure him."
"..."
I had suspected as much.
There had been times when I felt Dantes-san had accepted dying as inevitable. Even during this dragon incident, he had charged forward without hesitation. It wasn't as if he had something in this city he wanted to protect, the way Josef-san did. He had no reason to fight.
"Father had been so full of life ever since Reiji-kun came along. He even said, 'That boy has a good memory. He's worth teaching.' You know? I was happy too. Having Reiji-kun around made me feel as though Father had found a 'reason to live.'"
Non-san pulled away from me, tears welling at the corners of her eyes. Ah—so that's it. Non-san had steeled herself as well. She was returning to the battlefield to provide treatment. That meant going back to a place where she might die at any moment...
"I'm sorry, Reiji-kun. I was using you."
"...Please keep using me."
Non-san stood up.
"Turn right at the second intersection. All right?"
She didn't answer me.
She ran off. Non-san had gone back to give Dantes-san even the slightest chance of surviving.
"I'll be waiting at the Adventurer's Guild! I'll keep waiting for all of you, forever and ever!!"
I wanted to punch myself for being unable to say anything else.