Guardian (2)
lan was carrying a member who had lost one of his legs. Beorn took his place, who was unconscious and limp.
"I saved him from being dragged away by a monster, and his leg was in that state. I was a little late because I was giving him first aid. I apologize."
"..."
For something like that, it feels a bit too
late...
Now was not the time to be arguing. They were on the verge of being crushed to death by a rock thrown by a monster.
Marquis Astrod nodded.
"Let's deal with it first."
"I will do it."
"Beorn and I will join you."
As Marquis Astrod and Beorn stood up, Ian let out a small sigh.
Marquis Astrod answered firmly with a look of disapproval.
"The opponent is a high-level monster. Even the commander can handle it alone. We must not forget that we are now in the monster's front yard."
Anyway, the current commander was the Marquis. When Ian stepped down, the Marquis Astrod gave orders to the remaining members.
"As soon as you rescue the wounded, return to your unit immediately."
Now that Ian was back, there was no reason to continue the strategy of running away like a rat and wasting time.
Marquis Astrod, along with Ian and Beorn, quickly approached the superior monster.
"Let's neutralize it first and then attack together. Beorn and I will distract the monsters."
"No, you don't have to do that."
Ian untied the bag he was carrying on one shoulder. Beorn's eyes widened at the sight of a mine emerging from it.
"Huh? Are there any mines left?"
"I didn't install it from the beginning."
"Huh? Why on earth... Ah!"
A smile spread across Beorn's lips as he found the answer on his own, confident that he could subdue the monsters without the help of Ian's mines.
lan, who had assembled the mine in an instant said calmly.
"Now let's take him down."
Marquis Astrod and Beorn smiled and crossed their hands.
As Ian climbed on top of them, the two bounced a few times and then lifted themselves up with all their might.
lan, who had been launched into the air using his elasticity, threw a mine at the monster.
Puck!
The landmine flew past and hit the monster's eyeball, exploding with a dull sound.
"Waaaaaaaa!"
The startled monster missed the rock and fell backward. Three people rushed at the crouching monster.
Of course, the eyeballs didn't burst. The weakness of the higher-leveI monsters wasn't so weak that they could be destroyed with small mines or something.
When Beorn and Marquis Astrod threw the remaining mines at the monster, the creature's wrists burst into dust with a loud explosion.
It didn't matter that it would regenerate soon anyway. As long as the bastard fell, that was fine.
As expected, the one who was supporting the floor with its hands tilted to one side.
Boom!
Ian jumped up, stepping on the arm of the monster who had fallen sideways, dust flying.
Only then did the bastard start waving its good hand wildly, but its movements were too slow to catch Ian.
Ian finally reached the bastard's shoulder and leaped strongly. He floated in the air under the moonlight and descended with his sword pointed downward.
Crang!
The silver sword was deeply embedded in the eyeball, which had not even been scratched by the mine.
At that moment, all of the monster's actions stopped as if it had frozen. Then, cracks began to appear in the monster's eyes, centered around the sword.
Ugh. ugh-.
In an instant, a foul-smelling black liquid gushed out from the cracks that spread throughout its body.
Within moments, a chunk of rock fell down with a thud. The superior monster disappeared without a sound.
"Phew."
lan landed lightly on the floor and let out a deep breath.
Marquis Astrod and Beorn, who had been watching the situation without even blinking, also breathed a sigh of belated relief.
“Ha...”
They had faith in Ian's skills, but they were nervous because a high-level monster was his opponent. They were so relieved that he was dealt with more easily than they expected.
Beorn, who had been looking at Ian with a proud face, tilted his head.
Ian, a knight through and through, didn't pick up the sword that had fallen on the floor and left it there. Something was strange.
"Commander? Why are you doing this?"
"I think it's dislocated."
"Yes?!"
“Tsk.”
Marquis Astrod clicked his tongue at Ian's answer as if he had expected that.
Honestly, who can defeat a high-level monster with a sword? It's like trying to break a rock with your bare hands.
Because it was Ian, it ended in dislocation. If it had been a normal person, it would have been impossible. It probably wouldn't have succeeded in the first place.
"Let's get back quickly."
Ian picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground with his left hand. The agents approached the three who turned around. They were carrying the agent Ian had rescued and the agent who had been crushed by the tree.
A deep furrow appeared between the eyebrows of Marquis Astrod.
"I clearly told you to come back?"
"We were wondering if there was anything we could do to help you... Sorry!"
The heart is noble, but in the military, orders are absolute. What help can they possibly give him? Marquis Astrod's expression turned cold.
"Do you think the captain's words are funny?"
"No!"
"As soon as we get back, we'll assemble at the parade ground."
"All right!"
In fact, Marquis Astrod was secretly happy.
No one will ever know how happy he is that the crew is safe and that not a single person has died.
He feels like he's finally put down the burden he's been carrying around.
It was funny when he thought about it. It had nothing to do with the unit members he lost in the operation 30 years ago.
Anyway, it was thanks to Ian. It was good that he didn't refuse to let him join.
Marquis Astrod grabbed Ian's shoulder, thinking to himself.
"If there's anything you want, just tell me. I'll grant you one thing, no matter what."
The Marquis of Astrod, who had been guarding the hierarchy to the point of being tiresome, had now returned to being his friend's father, Ian snickered.
"Are you sure?"
"Then, speak comfortably, as long as you don't ask for my daughter. I'll listen to anything."
"..."
At that moment, Ian's expression darkened slightly, and the ground shook violently.
Is It another earthquake? Everyone stopped walking at the strangely familiar vibration. The member who was being carried pointed to the back.
"I... I..."
The agent's gaze followed the trembling fingers.
Not far away, three newly emerged high-level monsters were stretching.
That wasn't all.
Above the heads of the towering figures, black flying monsters flew around, and mid-level monsters kicked and whipped the slow-moving Iow-level monsters.
It didn't seem like they were simply rushing out to get rid of the intruders. The number was simply too large for that.
Beorn muttered seriously.
"It's strange. Doesn't it seem like full-scale preparations for war?"
Suddenly, Marquis Astrod raised his head.
He didn't notice it because of the heat rising from the ground, but the snowfall had already weakened.
The snow that had been fluttering like flies quickly decreased and soon disappeared from view.
"The eyes..."
The snow that was supposed to fall for a few days stopped after four days.
He lowered his head again and looked at the monsters.
As the formation became more and more complete, the second future vision that Millenia had shown came to mind.
They were now preparing for a second battle.
A silent sigh escaped from Marquis Astrod's mouth along with his breath.
'Why? Why was it brought forward by three days?'
No, that didn't matter.
The main camp was completely unaware of this. They were only now completing the trap for the higher-level monsters.
In that state, would it be possible to prevent a surprise attack by a monster?
'It's impossible.'
If they were very lucky, it might be possible. Either way, the fact remains that a huge number of people would die.
"Commander, inform the Commander-in-Chief. They are preparing for a second battle."
"Beorn, did you hear that?"
"... Yes?"
Beorn's eyes widened. Marquis Astrod's gaze hardened.
"Commander, return immediately. This is my order as commander."
"The guerrilla operation has already ended. Now, Your Grace, you must follow my orders."
"Ian!"
The Marquis grabbed Ian by the collar.
"You punk! Are you planning to die here? What are you going to do, a guy who can't even lift a sword!"
lan smiled faintly.
It was a smile that reassured the other person but strangely seemed sad.
As Marquis Astrod paused with an unknown premonition, Ian grabbed his hand and gently pulled it away.
Then he walks alone towards the enemy lines. No one can stop him from his unexpected actions.
"What are you doing... Ian, stand right there!"
It was at this moment that Marquis Astrod, who was looking at Ian's back with amazed eyes, was about to hurry and follow him.
First, the flying monsters that discovered Ian began to swarm him.
He couldn't even tell how many there were.
The dark night sky seemed to be filled with fluttering wings, and before he could do anything, they surrounded Ian.
"No!!!"
"Your Grace!"
Beorn caught Marquis Astrod, who was about to charge forward without even thinking about what to do.
"Let go of this! If this continues, that guy will die!"
"Something is strange!"
"What?"
"Look at that!"
Beorn pointed to the monsters.
Now that he thinks about it, the guys who should have torn Ian to pieces and left were still there, protecting Ian.
There was something strange about that sight.
'Their body why is it getting smaller?'
No, it wasn't getting smaller. it was disappearing.
Slowly, from the tip of the wing.
Turned into ashen dust.
A scratchy groan escaped from Marquis Astrod's throat.
"The Protector..."
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