Chapter 41: Guardian Deity

While Sibyl confronted the grand crocodile, Diller raced up the great bell tower’s stairs. At last, he reached the great bell said to be the town’s guardian deity.

A massive chain secured the top of the bell to the tower. Diller studied it, released a long breath, and raised his sword. Mana dwelled within the blade.

“Crimson Flash!”

A sharp, flame-clad slash struck the chain holding the great bell in place. The crash of colliding metal echoed throughout the tower.

Diller’s skill was Magic Swordsman. He possessed an aptitude for fire magic. His fierce blow gouged a chip from the chain.

“Damn it, one strike isn’t enough. If I don’t hurry, the boss is going to die…”

Though growing impatient, Diller tightened his grip on his sword.

The contingency plan Sibyl’s group had prepared in case the bomb failed was to crush the grand crocodile beneath the great bell. To do that, someone had to buy time below. They would have to keep the monster directly beneath the bell while facing the very real possibility of being crushed by it as well.

It was an extremely dangerous plan.

Diller sensed he might not finish in time by himself. As if trying to drive away his anxiety, he swung his sword at the chain again.

Then footsteps came racing up the stairs below. Diller tensed, but when he saw the person emerging from the stairwell, he released a deep breath.

It was Eve.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Diller.”

Though pain twisted her face, Eve smiled.

“You…”

She was clearly badly injured. Even climbing the stairs must have been agonizing.

“Sibyl’s fighting down there. I can’t be the only one taking it easy, can I? We’ll strike together!”

“Right!”

They raised their swords at the same time.

“Wind Bullet—Vint Patrone!”

“Crimson Flash!”

Their attacks harmonized so perfectly that no one would have believed it was their first time fighting together. Wind and flame intertwined, transforming into one mighty blow.

The sound of the chain shattering rang out.

◇◇◇

My ears didn’t miss the faint metallic crash overhead. I couldn’t leave this spot now.

I thrust my sword into the small part of the creature’s mouth I could see. The instant the pain weakened its bite, I yanked my hand free and clung to the top of the grand crocodile’s body.

I have to buy even a little more time!

Apparently finding me irritating, the grand crocodile thrashed its body to throw me off. But I clung on as though my life depended on it—because it did.

“That bomb hurt you badly, didn’t it? You’re awfully weak now.”

Perhaps the taunt worked, because it began thrashing even harder.

Diller… Hurry, please…

The strength was gradually leaving my arms. I was reaching my limit.

Then a tremendous crash sounded overhead.

The great bell is falling.

I understood it instinctively.

I’d been mistaken. It was true that I wasn’t some hero capable of defeating the grand crocodile by myself.

But together with everyone else—if I fought alongside my companions—then we could win, couldn’t we?

I asked Metis.

『Can we defeat the grand crocodile?』

『Yes.』

Despite the extreme situation, I smiled. Metis hadn’t lied after all.

That meant this battle was ours!

“Sorry, but I don’t plan to die with you!”

I raised my sword and drove it with all my strength into the grand crocodile’s remaining left eye. The blow made its gigantic body buck violently, hurling me through the air.

“Ah…”

My eyes captured the beautiful great bell as it fell.

In the next instant, it struck the grand crocodile directly. The impact sent the bell’s beautiful chime ringing throughout Delcour.

It was the lovely song of Delcour’s guardian deity striking down the town’s enemy.