Thanks to Lauren, I was able to land a blow on its leg by chance.
I surveyed the entire field once more. It was no use, I couldn’t think of anything. I didn’t know how to attack with the remaining members, and more importantly, any attack would be met with a counter. I couldn’t just lash out carelessly. Besides, I had to rescue Karubene, who still had a sword stuck in him. Would someone act as bait to draw it away? Arachne’s strong threads had backfired.
Behind me, Lauren was stomping her feet in distress.
“W-what do we do, we have to peel it off.”
“Lauren, can you do it? How do we get the threads off?”
“Y-yes, well um, it snaps at a certain point, but the sticky part is that…”
It seemed to be panicking, its spider forelegs flailing. This wouldn’t do. Should we temporarily cease fighting? The longer this dragged on, the more Karubene’s life would be in danger. Just then, a laugh was heard, as if mocking such worries.
“Kukuku, I never thought that stabbing me would shock an elf woman. I thought I’d die laughing, but you do have a human heart.”
Karubene said sarcastically in his distress.
“Hey, Brother, what are you doing? It hurts?! Hey, don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet? This is our chance, hurry up and push this sword from behind!!”
Karubene’s genuine scream echoed through the forest. While I was hesitating, she, who was in the most critical situation, hadn’t given up fighting. That desperation made my eyes burn. That’s right, I must not give up until the very end.
“Lauren, go retrieve Cecilia who flew off. Nina, we’ll flank it. Sharin, you come in later. Philiana, I’ll leave Karubene to you.”
As if hearing my voice, Nina slid across the ground towards Gadou. Against the foe who had assumed a posture, she used her long tail to surround him, toying with him. An attack from diagonally above. Gadou countered it with an open-handed strike. Though his upper body recoiled, he used his remaining tail to bind the enemy’s body. Gadou was temporarily restrained with one hand raised.
But this would only last for a moment. That leg I stabbed earlier, if the muscles were numb, that would be its weak point. I grabbed Gadou from behind, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and putting my entire weight on him to make him recoil. As I stepped to avoid falling, I felt a slight slackening of his strength. In that opening, I switched my dagger to an inverse grip, aiming the tip towards the enemy’s neck.
Gadou’s extended hand, trying to stop me, grasped my wrist. This was the moment a fish finally bites the bait. Repeated attacks and restraints had dulled the calm martial artist’s judgment.
I threw the dagger I was holding towards Sharin, who was coming up behind me. Even from behind, I could see him tracking the thrown dagger with his eyes. The next moment, an electric shock coursed through my entire body, and I was blown away in pain. Nina also released her tail and hastily retreated.
Turning back, I saw a man’s back trembling uncontrollably. However, even as electricity coursed through his body, Gadou pushed Sharin away and pulled the dagger from his own stomach. With a dry clatter, the sword fell to the ground. Only the ragged breaths of everyone could be heard.
With a thud, a heavy sound echoed, and in the darkness, Gadou fell to his knees.
