A user was attacked by Basilisks with poisonous fangs.
Sharin ran into the rising pillar of fire, and I followed, holding my shield in one hand.
“Die!”
The older sister, instead of her sister who was maintaining a barrier, swung her hand, and countless thorns sprang from the ground, attacking Sharin. Naturally, she dodged them by leaping to the side. At that moment, another Basilisk charged with a dagger in hand. This is bad; if things continue like this, I’ll be killed in one blow.
I leaped onto the crawling Basilisk and held it down. The opponent noticed my presence and spun its body to counterattack. I instinctively spun in the same direction and dodged a blow. From there, the enemy writhed left and right, trying to shake me off. I was tossed around by the mass of powerful muscles, barely clinging on.
Furthermore, the enemy grabbed my arm to block my attacks. If things continue like this, my arm could be broken when it spins. However, if I let go, I would create an opening.
In this situation, I had no choice but to commit and attack. I released my left arm, which had been around its shoulder. I let the momentum carry me away from the enemy’s back. My right hand was still held by the opponent. My wrist bent at an unnatural angle, sending a searing pain through me. Nevertheless, I pretended not to notice and landed on my knees, sliding on the ground.
I put strength into my scraped legs and, with my left hand, grabbed my right hand, which was still held, and pushed it in. No matter how skilled a warrior the opponent was, they couldn’t fight against the power and inertia of two arms.
I thrust my sword in as if striking from the opposite direction of the enemy’s movement.
Putting my entire weight behind it, I twisted the Enchanted Sword into the enemy’s shoulder. The opponent desperately tried to stop it with their other hand, but they couldn’t resist the electric shock, their body spasmed, and they collapsed.
“Hah, hah, I… I did it.”
However, the opponent was still trying to get up somehow. The muscles were only temporarily spasming; they were not dead. Complacency is dangerous.
The moment I thought that, I was caught by a thick serpentine tail. I hadn’t noticed; this is bad, I’m going to die. I was squeezed with vice-like strength, and the air was instantly forced from my lungs.
“Guh…”
I wanted to cry for help, but I couldn’t make a sound! A cold blade was at my throat. Was I going to be killed without even seeing the opponent’s face? The Basilisk’s body swayed, and at the same time, the restraint was released. I was… saved. Taking a deep breath, my lungs, which had been constricted, ached sharply.
Looking up, Veronica was standing there. She always helps me; I’m grateful.
“Hey, kid, get a grip.”
“Haa, thank you for saving me.”
“No need for thanks. More importantly, they’re trying to escape.”
What? I turned to look at the sisters, and Sharin and Piyo were pushing them to retreat. Furthermore, the other warriors seemed strange. They weren’t fighting anyone and seemed to be panicking on their own. Suddenly, I saw mice swarming on their backs. They were flattened, and maggots were writhing in them… It was Lauren. I don’t want to know where she got them, and I’m glad she’s not an enemy now.
“But why are they making such a fuss over such mice? They’re certainly creepy.”
“Mice carry infectious diseases. If you get bitten, it’s serious. Plus, there are fleas and ticks.”
Just imagining it sent a shiver down my spine. I also heard that in the past, they ravaged crops, and human history was a battle against mice.
I see, so that’s why they’re at a disadvantage and trying to escape. Well, if they disappear on their own, it’s a blessing for us.
“Haa, we managed to get through it.”
“No, it seems that kid’s companion has been captured.”
Huh? The young White Horn man who had collapsed earlier? I remember him saying he was a companion of White Horn or something. Were they trying to lure us out using him as bait? That means there were others there originally, right? Did they intentionally leave him behind?
“W-wait, my companions…”
A young man hobbled from behind, trying to chase after them. The Basilisk sisters, with wide-open mouths, laughed at him.
“Hahaha, we killed your companions! Isn’t that obvious?!”
“W-why would you do this? What did we ever do to you?”
“Like I said before, it was an order.”
An order from whom? I could guess, but…
“Dark Elves? I hear they’re in cahoots with Bicorn too. It’s probably from that connection.”
“Hoh, you know a lot for just a traveler.”
“Nonsense is pointless, let’s go.”
Urged by her sister, the younger one also disappeared into the forest. I feel sorry for the young man, but he’ll just have to give up on his companions. Charging into the Basilisk’s nest would only lead to them being annihilated. I’m just glad he was able to be saved.
“U-uu, n-no…”
Pitiably, the young man collapsed to the ground.
“Hey, kid, do you want to at least retrieve your companion’s corpse?”
“Huh? Are you going to help me?”
Veronica said that, but did she have a good plan? The young man looked up at her, clinging to any hope.
“I expect to be rewarded.”
Before hearing her plan, Veronica ignited her wings and approached the enemy from behind like a jet.
