Chapter 181: Everyone’s Resolve and Substitute Reinforcements

"Everyone, those guys are coming again."

Looking at the depths Gargoyles are two... no, there are some behind too so four.

They flew this way literally.

"Kuso!"

Heinz cursed and prepared his sword and shield.

Ovnil also prepared his axe silently.

From behind Fine’s voice chanting magic can be heard.

But at this rate it is a losing battle.

This is probably their base so they will come out one after another.

"Someone should go call for help."

Beata said that as if speaking my thoughts.

"Someone, who!"

Heinz yelled at Beata while looking forward.

There might still be Giant Rats in the waterway so it is too dangerous for one of Heinz and the others to return alone.

If so...

"Hiiro, you return and call reinforcements."

Beata said that to me.

I am happy they trust me this much even though we just met.

They are trying to leave something they cannot leave if they do not trust to me alone.

But...

"No, that is no good. You all alone cannot face that number of Gargoyles."

I said honestly though it was harsh.

Even three people could not defeat one Gargoyle.

If four of them attack at once...

If I pull out annihilation is certain.

But that said returning with one or two people while Giant Rats attack is also dangerous.

They understood that so they tried to have me return but facing the Gargoyles is far more dangerous.

Therefore...

"You all return together. I will hold them here alone."

"That is dangerous!"

"That’s right! We cannot leave you alone!"

At my words Beata and Heinz shook their heads.

"But... that is the only way."

"Umu."

Fine and Ovnil contrary to Beata and the others agreed with me though looking pained.

"Fine!" "Ovnil!"

Heinz and Beata shouted accusingly.

"It’s frustrating but we cannot be their opponents. Far from it we would be a hindrance even fighting with Hiiro. I thought that seeing earlier."

"Umu."

At Fine’s explanation Ovnil nodded looking bitter.

"Decide quickly!"

Rita shouted.

The Gargoyles are right there.

"...Got it. We will come back immediately... don’t die."

"Of course."

While glaring at the Gargoyles I raised my left hand answering Beata.

Heinz patted my shoulder.

"Let’s go!"

Then everyone ran back the path they came.

Now then, from here I will let no one pass.

I prepared my somewhat unreliable partner.

That time I had the magic-granted katana Shiranui.

But now what I hold in my hand is an ordinary broadsword.

I hope it holds.

Well I have no choice but to manage combining magic too.

While thinking that I delivered the first stroke to the attacking Gargoyle.

...

I dodged the Gargoyle’s hook claw and swung the broadsword.

The Gargoyle dropped its right hand and lost balance.

"Water Arrow."

There I immediately drove in magic.

The Gargoyle blasted apart together with its companion behind.

This is the sixth.

One stage settled but further Gargoyles can be seen in the depths.

For now until reinforcements come like this...!

I felt a presence behind, turned swinging my sword... and stopped.

There a familiar person was frozen with a surprised expression carrying an iron hammer.

"Priestess Birga..."

Birga wearing full plate unsuited to her child-like small body was there.

"...Do you treat those who come to help like that? And..."

Birga’s expression gradually grew severe.

Then she raised the iron hammer.

"I have not permitted you to call me by name!"

Birga yelled with a bright red face while swinging down the iron hammer.

The opponent was the Gargoyle behind me.

At the same time I also turned and mowed the second Gargoyle sideways.

Birga’s opponent crumbled to pieces.

But my opponent though there were cracks in its torso attacked me with hook claws as if nothing happened.

I received that with the broadsword.

As expected Gargoyles have bad compatibility with swords.

Reluctantly I chanted the Water Arrow spell.

Then Birga swung down her iron hammer on the Gargoyle confronting me.

The Gargoyle became pieces and crumbled away.

That kind of striking weapon has good compatibility huh.

"Fu, no good."

Birga shouldered the iron hammer on her shoulder with a smug face and sneered.

That is exactly an impudent child.

But she looks like a child too and I am not so much that my blood rushes to my head from such a thing...

"Water Arrow!!"

I was apparently not mature.

Apparently the magic power amount was too much and water about the same size as my head appeared and flew faster than sound.

With this much amount it seems to take time to evaporate from friction.

The shockwave of the Water Arrow I put my whole strength into crushed not only Gargoyles but even the ceiling, walls, and ground to pieces.

"Uo!" "Kyaa!"

Then our footing also started crumbling.

I immediately hooked the fingers of my right hand on the wall and grasped Birga’s hand with my left.

Instead of Birga the broadsword I was holding fell.

Fortunately fully equipped Birga was not that heavy.

...For me.

"Are you okay?"

I called out to Birga.

Birga slowly turned this way.

Tears had accumulated in those eyes.

"H-help... please..."

In a hoarse voice Birga said to me.

Her body was also trembling abnormally.

I tried to have her climb up using me but... it seems impossible.

I can wait for help like this but Gargoyles can fly so this situation is extremely bad.

Is there something I looked around.

The front passage is almost gone.

The back is blocked by rubble.

Below is... how many meters is it? Here.

The ground is far below.

Then above?

Looking up part of the ceiling had collapsed but there seems to be a passage above that.

There should be fine.

I swung Birga left and right.

"No! Stop, stop! Hii!"

Birga wailed but I ignored.

When I built momentum I threw Birga up.

"Iyaaaaaaaaa..."

Birga’s scream flew trailing.

...Alright.

There is no dosun sound and it does not crumble so she apparently landed softly for now.

Then I also swung myself building momentum and jumped toward the hole in the ceiling.

Then I jumped over the hole and landed cleanly.

Beside was Birga sitting on her ass crying egu egu.

"■△×☆◎▼○◆□~!"

When Birga saw my face she wailed something.

She was apparently quite scared.

"Sorry."

Here I apologize honestly.

I certainly made her have a scary experience.

...Or rather the fundamental cause was me.

...

Now, what to do.

The way back is blocked.

How it is, the path above that does not seem connected to the underground passage.

The same path continues far ahead.

The opposite direction too.

Anyway the underground passage path is blocked so there is no need to stay here.

Let’s try returning the direction we came.

I called out to Birga who seemed to have lost the strength in her legs and sat on the floor.

"I think to go to the other side, how about it?"