He was strong.
I trembled before the black shadow standing before me.
Lukewarm sweat trickled down my cheek.
My heart pounded painfully fast.
It’s my own fault for saying it, but my magical power is immense.
I believe my talent might be the strongest in the world.
I’ve fought Imperial mages several times before, and I felt I couldn’t lose to anyone in a magic battle.
And yet——.
“Does someone like this exist in this world…!”
I couldn’t muster the confidence to win against the calmly standing black shadow.
Was it the sea breeze blowing in from the coast that made me feel chilled, or was it something else…?
“────”
The enemy, muttering some incantation, raised a hand towards me.
What was launched from it was a sphere of black magic, about ten meters in diameter.
“Aegis Sphere!”
I immediately deployed a defensive field.
A barrier of magic that repels all spells.
“Useless.”
The corner of the shadow’s mouth curled up, and I felt like it gave a sly smile.
The barrier collided with the black sphere, distorting as it couldn’t withstand the impact.
The barrier was then crushed and shattered into countless particles of light.
“Kuh… Air Road!”
I hurriedly cast a high-speed flight spell and moved away from the spot.
It was a close call.
Immediately after I flew away, the black sphere impacted the ground.
It silently crushed and pulverized the surrounding area.
All that remained was a giant crater.
If I had been even a moment slower to escape, not even a shred of my body would have remained.
That was a spell of terrifying power.
“You dodged well. I was thinking of crushing you with super gravity.”
The shadow said, chuckling.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you coming…?”
Was that smile a provocation, or mockery?
But I didn’t even have the luxury to feel anger.
I’m going to be killed——.
A wave of desperate premonition caused sweat to pour from my entire body.
“You’re holding back unconsciously…? You have a stronger power, don’t you…?”
The shadow was right.
“I won’t hold back.”
Saying so, it thrust its hand towards me again.
A black radiance imbued its palm.
Is it going to shoot that same thing again?
“If I don’t do it… I’ll be done for.”
I swallowed hard.
I’ve never killed anyone before.
But I’m not so saintly as to think I’d rather be killed than kill someone.
Above all, I want to live.
I want to live a long time and spend time happily with Claire and the others.
Ordinary, peaceful, happy times——.
So I can’t die.
I have no choice but to fight.
With resolve, I thrust out both my hands.
I had never used this against a human before——.
“Go——! Photon Blast!”
With a roar, I unleashed a wide-area destruction spell.
The strongest magic, capable of annihilating even an SS-class monster in a single blow.
A pale blue flash scorched the air as it shot straight forward.
“……Hmph.”
The black figure snorted and casually swiped its right arm.
A colossal torrent of magic surged from it——.
“Wh—!?!”
It effortlessly nullified the Photon Blast.
“No way——”
I stood there dumbfounded.
I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
I licked my lips, which had become dry without me realizing it.
“How am I supposed to defeat this guy…!”
——Then, I suddenly woke up.
“Ah, huh?”
I slowly sat up in the bed of the inn that served as my temporary home.
“It was a… dream?”
I was drenched in sweat all over.
My heart was still pounding.
It hurt my chest.
I exhaled deeply.
“——No, wait a minute.”
I suddenly realized.
What just happened was too real to be just a dream.
Something similar seemed to have happened before——.
“……That’s right, when I was in the village!”
I exclaimed.
Just before I had my first experience with Claire, I had a similar experience.
On the night of the festival, I dreamt that Claire performed fellatio on me——.
The following night, it actually happened just as I dreamt.
It wasn’t just the situation; it contained information I couldn’t have known at the time, a true precognitive dream.
“So does that mean something like what just happened will occur in the near future?”
Facing an unprecedentedly strong enemy.
Perhaps, today——.
If the mage from the Empire I’m going to fight today is that opponent.
My whole body shivered.
“……Yeah, it’s just a dream.”
Yes, let’s leave it at that.
I’m just overwrought before the war with the Empire.
——Yesterday, after finishing the sex ritual with Claire and Racine, I received a report from Lil as I left the temple.
The Magatsu Empire’s invasion of the Aisha Kingdom——.
We were immediately summoned to Headquarters, where we received orders from Ashe.
The invading Imperial forces crossing the sea towards Aisha are to be intercepted by the Slayer——.
They were expected to arrive this evening.
And our departure for the intercept point was this morning.
“Good morning, Abel.”
As I entered the Knight Order Headquarters, Lil ran up to me.
Her sparkling golden hair and clear blue eyes.
Her delicate, androgynous beauty that made her look like a girl.
And her ears, pointed like knives.
“You’re early today.”
Lil greeted me with a refreshing smile.
“Yeah, I just couldn’t sleep for some reason.”
…It was because of that strange dream.
“Huh? You’re not in your usual knight’s uniform today?”
Lil was wearing a leather cuirass over a grass-green tunic and a cloak.
A large knife hung from her waist.
She had a much more Elf-like aura than usual.
“Yes, this is what I wear for combat missions.”
Lil explained with a smile.
Her expression was refreshing, as if she weren’t about to go into battle.
“The assembly is in the courtyard today, not the office. Let’s go together.”
“Ah, that’s right.”
I almost went to the office out of habit.
We walked together towards the courtyard.
“Are you nervous, Abel?”
Lil’s sudden remark made me jump.
“I-I’m not nervous!”
Damn, I stammered.
“Your face is tense.”
Lil chuckled with an innocent smile.
Hmm, was it that obvious from my expression?
“I’ve fought against mages who attacked the village, monsters, and strange people several times before, but this is my first time in a war-like situation like this.”
Honestly, I was a little nervous.
I also felt anxious.
Fighting in groups is completely different from what I’ve experienced before.
There might be many casualties.
Both from the enemy and our side.
“But if we don’t fight, many more people will suffer, or even die.”
Lil stopped walking.
The smile disappeared from her face.
From a gentle, handsome youth, her expression turned into that of a determined warrior.
“To draw a sword and fight for those we must protect—that is what a knight is.”
Her voice held no hesitation or fear.
Only a hard, strong will, like steel.
“You’re so admirable, Lil…”
I was genuinely impressed.
It’s said that people’s true colors show in emergencies.
Although she usually looks like a refreshing, handsome youth, and sometimes a bit effeminate—at her core, she is a knight filled with a sense of duty.
“I experienced a war against Dark Elves once in my hometown, but this is your first time in a group battle, Abel. It’s natural to be nervous and anxious.”
Lil has a surprisingly difficult past, huh?
“But you’ll be fine, Abel. I’m sure you’ll drive out the Empire and protect everyone. You have—that strength.”
“Lil…”
“You’ve fought the Empire many times and protected many people, right? So I’ll say it again and again. You’ll be fine, Abel. This time too, with your power, you can—no, you *will* protect the people of the Kingdom.”
Lil’s refreshing voice somehow instilled courage in me.
My chest felt warm.
Was it fighting spirit, or a sense of duty?
I was grateful to a comrade who gave me such positive feelings before the decisive battle.
“……Thank you, Lil.”
I thanked her, and we started walking again towards the courtyard.
——When we reached the courtyard, the other members had already arrived.
“Good morning, Abel, Lil. Veronica still hasn’t returned, but everyone else is here.”
Ashe looked at Lil and me with a dignified expression.
Claire, a female knight in armor.
Racine, in Almelis’s monastic robes.
Dita, in her usual knight’s uniform.
And Ashe herself, also in her knight’s uniform, but wearing a black robe over it.
I was also in my usual knight’s uniform.
“The enemy is advancing towards Beryl Coast. Our mission is to temporarily establish a defense line with the Fourth Squad and the Seventh Squad to stop them. We absolutely must prevent them from entering the Royal Capital.”
Ashe began the briefing.
“How many enemies are there?”
“One mage, and about a hundred of their familiars.”
Ashe answered Claire’s question.
“Just one…?”
I couldn’t help but furrow my brow.
“The Empire’s strategy is generally to attack with a small, elite force. One or a few mages lead a unit of familiars, demi-humans, or monster legions to quickly capture a stronghold—”
Come to think of it, the one who attacked the village and the one who attacked Rashka City were both just one mage.
“Even if it’s just one, a powerful mage has the strength of a company or even a battalion. And they have familiars too. Do not underestimate them.”
The opponent is one person.
And a powerful mage, huh.
The dream from this morning flashed in my mind again.
“For the formation, Claire and Lil, who are sword users, will be in the vanguard. I and Abel will be in the center. Racine will support everyone with holy magic.”
Ashe stated the plan matter-of-factly.
“Dita, you will remain here. Cooperate with the aerial mages of other squads to defend the skies above the Royal Capital.”
“………… (Nod)”
Dita nodded.
——Ashe gave a few more minor instructions, but the overall plan was very simple.
To establish a defense line with the Slayer and stop the enemy from invading the Kingdom.
I had imagined something more like a strategy simulation game, with complex formations in a group-vs-group battle.
But in reality, it would be a battle between small, elite forces.
It would be closer to individual combat than group combat.
In fact, ordinary soldiers would stand no chance against the Empire’s mages and their subordinate monster and demi-human armies.
Only those with magical abilities, or top-tier warriors, could confront them.
Since the number of people capable of standing on the battlefield is extremely limited, the combat would naturally take this simple form.
“——That concludes the plan. Dita, stay here. The rest of you, come with me. Conveyances are prepared outside.”
Ashe concluded, and we left the courtyard.
——As we walked along the path leading to the gate, someone tugged at my sleeve.
I turned around to see Claire holding the sleeve of my knight’s uniform.
I stopped and looked at her.
“……Claire?”
There was no reply.
As I wondered, I suddenly realized.
She, who was normally so feisty—her face had turned pale, and she was trembling.
