Kays Translations

Chapter 71: The Guiding Magic User

　I stared speechlessly at the red-black Undead Slime blanketing the arena. It was larger and more widespread than the mass I had seen in northern Ziemeld, engulfing even the spectator stands.

　Even knowing that being swallowed wouldn’t kill someone immediately, the sight was eerie and terrifying. Panic would solve nothing, however. Faced with a threat of this scale, we had to remain calm and assess the situation.

“For now, let us buy enough time to devise a plan.”

　With that, Father Sydney stepped down from the driver’s bench. He and another priest raised their hands, and an ivy-shaped light appeared before them as a wide-area barrier spread outward.

“Oh? What’s that?”

“What’s going on, something under my armor is glowing…?”

“Hmm, something’s strange…”

The mercenaries, the Black Knights, and Mr. Dolph all exclaimed in surprise.

　At the same moment, thin, membrane-like light enveloped each person nearby.

“Seems like it’s this thing, this is what’s glowing,”

　One mercenary pulled from beneath his leather armor the collar Gilbert and I had made, complete with ivy-shaped buttons and embroidery.

“How fascinating! Our barrier magic is being divided and transmitted through the buttons and embroidery, creating a separate barrier around each of you. What a fortunate discovery!”

　Father Sydney smiled in admiration. Gilbert and I stared at each other, mouths open. We had thought we were merely making a wish, but perhaps a blessing had truly been granted.

“If we had known this would happen, we should have made some for the Beresford knights as well…”

“We didn’t have enough time…”

While we were saying such things, Father Sydney smirked.

“No, this greatly reduces the burden on the clergy. It’s reassuring enough!”

“Now only the weapons remain. To think iron eaters would appear here. We should have coated everyone’s weapons in advance…”

Mr. Dolph muttered thoughtfully. Hearing this, I suddenly remembered something and asked.

“Would it be difficult to obtain rust-preventive oil now? In my southern hometown, we used grease extracted from sheep’s wool.”

“Wool grease, hmm? It’s perfect for preventing rust, but I doubt we can return to town and obtain enough in time…”

“Then I suppose it’s our turn.”

　Barbara, who had come to the driver’s bench to survey the situation, turned and smiled brightly.

“Can you manage it, old woman? There are quite a lot of them.”

“It’ll be fine. I’m no longer alone.”

She hummed as she said, then returned to the cargo hold of the carriage.

“Let us show them the true power of a guiding magic user.”

　Barbara slapped my shoulder with a delighted expression.

“I told you before, did I not? Anyone who bears a selfless blessing is a magic user. Those with especially strong powers of amplification are called guiding magic users. Here stands my finest disciple—and the strongest guiding magic user I know.”

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“Your finest disciple? Flora, since when?”

Gilbert exclaimed in surprise. I was surprised too.

　—But if it was true, if there was something I could do for everyone now…

“The prayer I placed on the pot was, ‘May the food never run out until everyone is full.’ The prayer I placed on the sewing machine was, ‘May the things made with it help someone.’ A guiding magic user serves as a beacon for blessings, and prayer can shape their effects to some extent.”

　Barbara took my hand and seated me in the middle of the wagon. She removed from the wall the Goddess statue made by the children in the artisan village and placed it before me.

“Now, Flora-chan, let’s cast a spell together.”

　I straightened my posture and took a deep breath. At the edge of my vision, I saw Chelsea, who had accompanied us in the wagon, looking thoroughly confused.

“Chelsea, you pray too. Someone precious to you must be here, and we must hurry. Gilbert, you too! Everyone else who’s free, please join us. Blessings grow stronger when combined, and there are so many people to protect.”

Barbara-san smiled and called out to Gilbert, Chelsea, the clergy, and everyone peeking out of the carriage windows. Then, she sat in front of me.

“The guiding marks are already in place. Modifying the handles was worthwhile, was it not?”

　Her words reminded me of the nonslip covering we had fitted to everyone’s weapon handles.

“Now imagine coating every weapon with the wool grease you mentioned. You may pray just as you always do.”

“Yes…!”

　Chelsea hurried over and began praying before the Goddess statue. I felt Gilbert sit beside me.

　I clasped my hands, closed my eyes, and prayed that everyone I loved would remain safe and that we would lose no one.

The world behind my closed eyelids was filled with a soft, gentle light, and I felt a warm breeze.

“Yes… it seems to have worked.”

At Barbara-san’s words, I opened my eyes, and everything inside the carriage was the same as usual.

But from outside the carriage, I heard the surprised voices of the mercenaries.

“Hey, check this out! This is awesome!”

　Outside the window, a mercenary raised his club and swung it vigorously. Lionel drew his sword and stared at it speechlessly. Every weapon gave off a faint light.

　The same was true of Goliath’s spare weapons, which he and the Black Knights distributed among the Beresford knights.

“Excellent. The iron eaters should no longer consume them. I shall call it the Goddess’s Rust-Proof Coating!”

“…Are you really sure about that name…?”

　Gilbert laughed weakly beside the roaring Dolph. Gilbert’s battle axe had already been glowing, so I could barely tell the difference. When I shifted the tanned leather wrapped around its blade, however, the light beneath was brighter than before.

“As for whether it has the same effect as the holy sword… I guess we won’t know until we fight.”

“I think it does to some extent? Look closely, there’s a small ivy relief floating on it.”

“You’re right! Uh, in this case, what is it? A holy… club?”

　Their relaxed exchange lasted only a moment before Lionel stepped forward.

“This is reassuring. Everyone, divide into groups and begin. We’ll split between the spectator stands and the arena.”

　At his command, the Black Knights and the Beresford knights ran toward the spectators being swallowed by the Undead Slime.

　Without horses, the mercenaries would have to pull our wagon by hand. Since it couldn’t climb the steps, we would inevitably be responsible for the arena.

　Above all, the largest mass of Undead Slime lay there. So did Kevin—and surely Elliot.

　My shoulders tightened as I tried to suppress my anxiety. Gilbert came to my side and offered a gentle, wordless smile.

Just that alone made it surprisingly easier to breathe.

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