Rostock

We teleported to Rostock, a major city in the north.

The Adventurers Guild's branch here had been informed of the plan, and it had also been monitoring the Spirit Turtle.

However, Rostock, where we arrived, was deserted.

I set up a teleportation gate near the branch, but there was no sign of anyone around, and I couldn't see anyone inside the branch either.

"Have they already evacuated?"

"For a city of this size to complete its evacuation so quickly... The lord must have been preparing for this for some time. It could also mean he didn't trust my power, but it was a wise decision."

Orihime praised the lord's decision despite her apparent dissatisfaction.

It certainly was wise, and a bold decision.

I couldn't imagine that a lord like that would leave the city without leaving anyone behind.

I floated into the air and looked out over the entire city.

Then I spotted a mounted knight corps, ready for battle.

They must have noticed me as well. They hurried over to us.

"I see a knight corps. They're coming this way."

"How thorough. They must be here to guard against bandits and report when reinforcements arrive."

I nodded at Elna's words.

The knights soon appeared before us.

However, they questioned us warily.

"State your name."

"Silver, an SS-rank adventurer belonging to the Imperial Capital Branch of the Adventurers Guild."

"An adventurer..."

One of the knights wore a bitter expression.

It clearly contained a hint of loathing.

From that, I guessed the Thunder Vanguard had caused some trouble. So adventurers really had been involved in the sudden collapse of the barrier.

"Silver-dono. Our lord left us behind to explain matters to the reinforcements. However..."

"You can't trust adventurers? Then explain it to the prince. What happened?"

I cut in before he could continue and glanced toward Leo behind me.

We didn't have time to waste here.

"I am the Eighth Imperial Prince, Leonart Leaks Adler. Will you explain it to me?"

"Y-Your Highness!? Please forgive our rudeness!"

The mounted knights immediately dismounted upon recognizing Leo.

Leo addressed them gently.

"Don't worry about formalities. Explain what happened."

"Yes, sir! This city's Guild branch had been monitoring the Spirit Turtle trapped within the barrier. According to what we'd been told, it was supposed to hold for several more days, but some adventurers tried to take advantage of this opportunity to subjugate the Spirit Turtle. They provoked it, causing the barrier to collapse..."

"What happened to those adventurers?"

"Apparently, the Spirit Turtle's attack blew away all the adventurers monitoring it, including a large number of them. Some of the survivors immediately returned to the city to report what happened, and the lord decided to evacuate the people, taking only the bare minimum of belongings."

"I see... How is the Spirit Turtle?"

"It doesn't seem to have moved since blowing away the monitoring party. However, its eyes, which had been closed until now, are wide open, so it is definitely active."

Leo furrowed his brow at the knight's report.

Leo hadn't grasped the situation either. Unlike me, he hadn't been told about the plan.

Even so, Leo quickly switched gears.

So he could do what needed to be done.

"Even if the city has been evacuated, the smaller villages shouldn't have finished evacuating yet. We'll go around checking on them. I'd like you to deal with the fighting afterward, Silver."

"Of course. But what will you do if the Spirit Turtle starts moving?"

"Please focus on holding it back as much as possible. We'll evacuate as many people as we can in the meantime."

"That is fine, but the monsters throughout the north must be moving after sensing the danger. This area is already dangerous. Evacuating the people while protecting them will be extremely difficult, you know? If you're holding it back, the Fairy Princess-dono and the Hero will have to devote themselves entirely to the Spirit Turtle. As will I, of course."

"That's why I came with the knights. You don't need to worry about us. Let me ask you something in return. This could also be seen as a failure on the part of the Adventurers Guild. Can you make amends for that failure?"

The knights looked startled by Leo's words.

It was unmistakably a provocation.

Even for a prince of a nation, provoking an SS-rank adventurer was going too far.

But Leo surely knew that. He had still chosen to provoke Silver so that Silver would focus on the Spirit Turtle.

"Hmph... So you've made light of us. I don't call myself an SS-rank adventurer for nothing. We are called SS-rank adventurers because we are an absolute force in battles against monsters. I'll return your words about not needing to worry right back to you. If this is a failure on the part of the Adventurers Guild, I'll settle the matter by subjugating the Spirit Turtle."

"I see. Then I'm relieved."

"Are you sure you'll be all right? If you came to save the people only to slink back with your tail between your legs, your reputation will suffer."

"That won't be a problem. If I cared about my life, I wouldn't be standing here. The same goes for the knights. You shouldn't underestimate the Imperial Knights."

With that, Leo mounted his horse and drew his sword.

And then.

"Set out! Don't forget! This is a battle to evacuate the people! Save as many lives as you can!"

At Leo's command, the knights drew their swords and responded.

Every one of them was a seasoned fighter who had come here knowing the risks. Their morale was incomparable to that of ordinary knights.

"Lead the way!"

"Yes, sir!"

Having said this to Rostock's knights, Leo put them in charge of leading the way.

Then, at the very end, he looked toward us and muttered a single word.

"I'm counting on you."

I wasn't sure whether he was addressing me, Elna, or Orihime.

Was he speaking to all three of us, or just one individual?

However, each of us gave our own answer.

"You may leave it to me!"

"Got it."

"Of course! Take care too, Leo!"

Receiving three entirely different answers, Leo gave a small laugh, then spurred his horse and rode out of Rostock.

After seeing Leo and the others off, Elna and I exchanged glances and floated into the air.

We intended to head straight to where the Spirit Turtle was being monitored.

However, Orihime complained from below.

"I caaan't fly!"

"...So she says."

"Then perhaps staying behind would be best?"

I had been indirectly suggesting that Elna carry her, but Elna's response was curt.

I sighed in exasperation, descended, and held out my hand to Orihime.

However, Orihime apparently wasn't satisfied with that.

"How are you planning to carry me?"

"By grabbing your arm."

"But that will hurt!"

"Endure it."

"Enough! I am your client! I will not permit you to treat me so roughly!"

Saying that, Orihime swiftly moved behind me and wrapped both arms around my neck.

In other words, she was riding piggyback, but to anyone watching, we must have looked incredibly ridiculous.

"Get down, Fairy Princess-dono."

"This is fine! It's quite comfortable! Let's go!"

With that, Orihime ordered me to set off without waiting for my agreement.

Since she stubbornly kept insisting that she wouldn't get off, I gave up and floated into the air with her still clinging to me.

Elna, who had been waiting in the sky, gave me a mocking smile.

"What a shame. You were looking so cool just a moment ago. Do you realize how ridiculous you look right now?"

"Shut up."

"What do you mean, ridiculous!? Silver has become my horse! You should be honored!"

"I'll drop you right here."

"Why!?"

Exasperated by Orihime's genuine surprise, I headed with Elna toward where the Spirit Turtle was likely to be.

We didn't need anyone to guide us there.

There was an unbelievably powerful magical presence nearby.

This was definitely bad.

It was more powerful than any monster I had ever faced.

Even with Elna and Orihime here, I might not have the luxury of paying attention to my surroundings.

If I focused on the battle, I wouldn't be able to support Leo.

Hopefully, he would retreat without pushing himself.

"That's a tall order."

"What are you talking about?"

"Never mind. Hold on tight. I won't catch you if you fall."

"Oh! Fast! Fast! This is fun!"

With Orihime carrying on beside me, I couldn't seem to maintain any sense of urgency.

Still, she was the continent's strongest barrier user.

She would be useful.

Otherwise, there would have been no point in bringing her along.

As I thought that, I grabbed Orihime's feet, which were about to slide off, and adjusted her balance.