The Answer Is Up to You (5)

With Kagami, whose strength stood head and shoulders above the rest, the battle that had seemed endless was finally drawing to a close. The enemy’s numbers were steadily dwindling, and nearly everyone there could now see the end in sight.

“Just a little longer! Keep it up, everyone! Don’t push yourselves too hard... If you think you can’t go on, fall back at once!”

“Hah... Don’t make me laugh! Who says I can’t go on? I’ve still got plenty left in me!”

With the finish line in sight, the adventurers’ spirits rose even higher at the thought that the battle would soon be over and victory assured. But no amount of enthusiasm could hide how worn out their bodies were. Proof of that could be seen in the many adventurers breathing heavily, their faces drawn with exhaustion.

The mages fighting with healing and attack spells had already run out of magic, while those holding the front line were just barely hanging on with their own healing items. Those who had run out of magic and could no longer fight were making trips between Salmaria and the Atros Wasteland to bring back more supplies.

Even healing items had their limits. Using them repeatedly made them less and less effective, until eventually the adventurers had no choice but to leave the front lines. Many had already withdrawn, leaving those who remained to fight a desperate battle. After coming so close to believing all was lost, they could finally see the finish line. Of course the adventurers’ spirits were soaring.

“Menou-chan... Are you all right? Tch... Can you keep going?”

Even those as powerful as Takako and Menou were no exception. Menou had already exhausted her magic, and was now fighting the monsters hand to hand, back-to-back with Takako.

“But I’m impressed, Menou-chan. You know your way around hand-to-hand combat, too. We might make good rivals.”

“Don’t joke about that, Takako-dono. My skills are merely makeshift. It’s only because I’m a demon that I can put up a decent fight unarmed. I’m nowhere near your level.”...