Hajime and co who had just witnessed an unexpected situation hurried to chase Dahlia.
Although, there was no need to use the compass to give chase.
「Uhhhaa, these guys're really going loud~」
Because the mowed down trees and branches, along the impromptu animal trail from the gouged land were showing them the way.
On top of that the thunderous sounds and tremors and roars hadn't been changing position since some time ago. They were resounding intermittently from around 300 meters ahead. Most likely they had stopped moving.
Nana was observing those while spontaneously letting out her impression. Liliana narrowed her eyes at some of the destruction.
「There are signs of destruction by fire here and there. Looking from the scale...either the huge beast or the flying dragon has the ability to use fire...?」
「That's obviously the work of Rathalo*-san nano!」
「Rath, eh? What is that? Myuu-chan?」
The location wasn't that far away, so Hajime and co were chasing normally on foot. Yue was applying sublimation magic on everyone to raise their physical ability so they were moving quite fast.
Of course, both Myuu and Remia were being carried by Hajime on his arms acting as their chair.
Remia had also gotten her base physical ability improved through the apostleification to her flesh, but similarly to Shizuku and others who had also received the treatment, the main purpose of the procedure was "improvement of physical endurance", "improvement of recovery ability", and "eternal youth".
Even though their combat and movement ability had improved, it didn't mean that they had gotten accustomed to it immediately. They were different from Kaori who possessed an original apostle body and learned the apostle's technique by tracing the accumulated experience inside its flesh.
In regard to Remia, it would be a bit unreasonable to tell her to run as fast as the other inside this sea of trees with extremely bad footing, so she was being carried like this.
...Aiko too was a bit shaky with her steps (furthermore, it looked like she was looking at Remia a bit jealously) but, Tio seemed to be helping her out unobtrusively.
Though Remia herself was looking very embarrassed for being carried in the same way like her daughter.
She looked very cute blushing while gluing her body to Hajime with her arms around his neck. And so, it was righteous.
Perhaps that thought inside his heart was plain to see. Remia puffed her cheeks as though to say 「Really dear!」 and clawed his cheek. Hajime-san's smile widened even more.
Recently Remia's popularity had greatly improved at the neighborhood too because of how intimate she had become with her husband. She often got teased by other housewives about it.
「Goshujin-sama! I doth not mind thy flirting but we almost arrived!」
「What now Hajime-san! Are we going to assist right away?」
Tio and Shia who had good eyesight seemed to have caught sight of a part of the battle unfolding deep inside the sea of trees.
「Now then, it's unclear whether they need our assist or not...if they have other objective than defeating the monsters, we'll just end up getting on their way.」
「This might not be the situation to act so leisurely like that you know?」
「It's fine Shizuku-chan! We can just revive them if anything happen!」
Leave it to me! Kaori said with a guts pose. Yuuka sent an exasperated gaze to Kaori for her view of life and death that was as light as balloon.
「That kind of worldview like Dragon Ba*l isn't good. There's nothing better than not dying in the first place.」
Yuuka unusually made a tsukkomi using a certain manga as example. It was a recent development of her learning about the worldview of earth people getting massacred or annihilated quite frequently only to be revived in the end because of something or other, and her emotion getting messed around by emotional fierce fighting followed by the next fierce fighting.
Yuuka had been busy with helping her family business or sometimes doing Magical Girl Yuuka-chan, but she actually had been diligently absorbing subculture information since quite some time ago.
Why? It would be boorish to ask that question. Of course, the person herself also never told anyone about what she was doing. It was like a secret hobby for her.
Perhaps her guard was down because it was in the middle of trip? She let it slipped out unconsciously.
Kaori sensor reacted. *Gurin* Her gaze turned toward Yuuka with only her face turning around. Scary──Yue too. *Gurin* Only her face turned toward Yuuka while her body stayed still. Scary-. Yuuka averted her face away *Gurin* with all her strength.
Her eyes met Hajime~.
...When he was little, he started training because his father forced him. When he realized he was practicing "Kamehame*a" wholeheartedly at the garden. The times he performed "Fus*on" over and over with his father. And then the pain of jamming his finger...
There was a ton of memories. There was no way Hajime didn't love a masterpiece among masterpieces that was renowned even all over the world.
The name of such work came out from the mouth of his friend who never even uttered the word ma of manga until now. Obviously he was happy of that.
There was a surprised expression for a moment. Then right after that, as though in exchange of giving a thumb up, Hajime's face lit up like an innocent young boy.
Yuuka who got a faceful of that let out a strange voice 「Nn-」 and casted down her gaze. Then, she stumbled. She almost dived on the ground face first before Kaori who was sporting a strangely warm smile supported her...
Noboru's face was turning exasperated watching that chain of event. Even so he suggested a compromise followed by Taeko.
「Then, how about we hide nearby and observe the situation so we can jump out anytime?」
「We might need perception blocker. Monster having sharp senses is the staple after all.」
Guess that's fine for now? Hajimeasked with his gaze at the surrounding. Shia also nodded in agreement. She was still feeling a bit disoriented, so a part of her also wanted to observe the "current" Dahlia for a bit.
「Yue. That cliff top, think you can do it?」
「...Nn, leave it to me. Everyone touch each other.」
Yue stopped walking and moved her finger to touch Myuu's cheek while also squishing the pokeable looking cheek──
She mistakenly poked and rubbed Remia's cheek. She caused Remia to redden even more while giving instruction.
Just like Yue ordered, everyone touched the people beside or behind and in front of them. It was to connect themselves to Yue even if indirectly.
Atsushi was the one closest to Hajime's back and he offered a hand to Yuuka, at the same time Yuuka went out of her way to take several steps forward and touched Hajime's back. It was entertaining how both of them said 「Ah」 awkwardly.
Nana placed a hand on Yuuka's shoulder with an expression that was half sympathetic and half amused. Her other hand took the hand of Atsushi that was suspended in the air.
Right after that, everyone's field of vision changed. It was Yue's instant teleportation "Divine Existence" that didn't need to use "gate".
Hajime and co moved to the cliff top just as intended.
The whole group peeked below. A fierce battle was unfolding at an open space around a hundred meter below.
「Uhhaa, that's practically real Monha* down there!」
「R-Ryuu-kun, you're high-tensioned. Well, you often played that game even at home.」
Thunderous sound, roar, and then angry shout.
The dragon with red-tinged scale was rampaging mightily. In respond, the men who seemed to be warriors equipped with various type of huge weapons were facing it without falter.
Looking closer, the creatures that looked like large dog were also equipped with weapons. They were attacking from every direction with those weapons to support their warrior partners.
At some distance away, the gigantic beast with white fur and emerald green scale was writhing after crashing on the base of a large tree. Its eyes were swirling so it looked like it wouldn't stand up anytime soon.
The collision must be pretty hard looking from how a part of the large tree got smashed in radial shape.
It was then, something flew in front of the eyes of the flying dragon.
The excellent eyesight of Hajime and co confirmed that it was a fist-sized insect that resembled a rhinoceros beetle──immediately, powerful light burst into being.
──GUA!?
「「Gua!? My eyes-, my eyeees-」」
「No, we're far away from there. It's not that bright.」
Taeko's calm tsukkomi was treated as a passing wind. After all Atsushi and Noboru's reaction was just setting the mood guised as duty.
Setting aside the high-tensioned boys, the dragon fell on the ground and caused a tremor. The warriors immediately leaped at it as though this was just what they had been waiting for.
Even though they had Hyahha appearance, their movements were definitely polished with "martial art" in them.
「Ah, Dahlia-san!」
Quite near to the huge beast, a maid who looked completely out of place in the battlefield was standing.
It was Dahlia. She had golden hair and blue eyes that showed her royalty lineage like Eric. Her elegantly beautiful face hadn't changed. She hadn't changed at all even after five years of time had passed. No, rather, her look made even they wondered, had her beauty got even more refined than before?
That Dahlia was pointing her left arm straight toward the flying dragon with a severe expression.
That arm was equipped with something like a bowgun similar like the other men. From there, a bug like the one that emitted light before this──the bug (?) flew out.
「Papa! Is that flash bullet just as expected nano!? She used flash bullet nano!?」
「It looks like the bug is used just as is but, maybe!」
Myuu pointed with her face turning bright red from excitement. Papa too was watching with sparkling eyes as though his childlike innocence was returning.
Dahlia was reloading something into her left arm while raising her voice.
「Waldo! Please cut its tail quickly! That's your role!」
Ryuutarou, Atsushi, Noboru, and then Hajime and Myuu nodded their heads up and down while humming 「Nnn~~」 in great admiration.
「Sorry village chief! Honey please! My tank is empty!!」
「I don't have time to combine-. Use mine!」
The skinhead & eyebrowless large man was using his large axe to support himself while breathing hard *Zee haa* and yelling. In respond Dahlia-san took out something like a bamboo tube from behind her apron and threw it.
「「「「Nnnnuーーーー!」」」」
Hajime and co groaned in even greater admiration.
「What's with everyone since just now? Certainly that monster look strong but, it's not that different from monster, and there are even some spirit beasts that look similar...」
「Ai-chan, that's not it. This is, it's that. Like a fan when they're experiencing new attraction in theme park that's based on their favorite title──it's something like that.」
Kaori-senpai, an understanding wife who had diligently studied subculture several years earlier than Yuuka explained with an expression like a loving mother who accepted everything.
Yue and co too, previously Hajime had strongly recommended to them Monha* is great you know~ so now they were only looking at Hajime and co with warm eyes.
By the way, Yue and co too had played the game somewhat to keep Hajime company, but in the end it was only Myuu who ended getting absorbed with the title that she could be called a fan.
Apparently, the fight in the game just made them irritated. Even though I can beat it in one hit, even though I can do this in reality..., perhaps it was the dilemma unique to actually strong people.
Also, Myuu was a dual blades user. She could even reproduce the dual blades motion in real life using her favorite short swords "Muuramasa & Kotetsuu".
In any case, what was more important was the hunt (?) before their eyes.
「I'll lure the lightning horned beast! Bring down the flame poison dragon at the meanwhile!」
「Wha-, you alone village chief!?」
「That's reckless-, princess!」
「Yes, I know! However, there's no way we can't allow this "turf disturber" to get away! It might affect the ecosystem in the worst case-. We can't allow these two years of investigation to be wasted-」
The huge beast that seemed to be called as lightning horned beast stood up even though it was shaky on its feet.
At the same time Dahlia took the weapon on her back.
It was something that wasn't on her back when she was clinging on the lightning horned beast. Most likely she dropped it before clinging on the beast and one of the men collected it.
The weapons opened at both sides *Kashun* in an arc. That large object that seemed to be made from iron──it was a bow. Dahlia pulled out an arrow from the quivers that she equipped on two spots, her waist and back.
Her motion as she loaded the arrow was like flowing water. That was just how smooth and practiced her movement was.
Dahlia's posture was already beautiful from the start as to be expected from a girl who was raised as a duke's daughter. Her gallant figure with a bow raised was projected like a painting that was drawn by a famous painter.
──oOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONN!!!
The lightning horned beast howled. The air trembled like it was electrified until the cliff top where Hajime and co were at. Aiko, Liliana, and Remia screamed 「Kyah」 and blocked their ears from the roar.
They could feel rage, excitement, and pride of the beast from that roar.
「We will subjugate the "turf disturber"! Boss of the west, "Tranquil Thunder"! I beg you, please pacify your anger and return to your own domain!!」
Dahlia also didn't lose in respond. She didn't break her posture even while grimacing from the roar's pressure and shockwave. She yelled back with a loud spirited yell.
The lightning horned beast returned a glare to that as though to say 「Impudent」. The next moment, it took a powerful step forward.
The distance between Dahlia and it was erased in an instant. Huge claws that were as large as a human kid each mowed forward.
「Dahlia-san-」
Shia unconsciously let her voice escaped. She leaned forward she was about to fall from the cliff.
Dahlia five years ago was an expert in spirit art. However, it was only limited to assist type art like support or healing. She was a typical rear guard.
It was already shocking just seeing her using a bow...but that anxiety only lasted briefly.
Dahlia smoothly dodged the wicked claws. She bent down and rolled once. That motion was also like a flowing water. There was even a beauty in that motion where her maid uniform's skirt didn't become a hindrance at all.
Without pause Dahlia immediately got on one knee and re-aimed her bow.
As though it had been decided right from the beginning, the lightning horned beast's head came to the optimal location.
「Shih!!」
The arrow was fired. It directly hit the head as though it was sucked to there. Right away,
──GUAH!?
*DOONN* A thunderous sound exploded. Perhaps the arrowhead was filled with something. Or perhaps the arrowhead itself was special. It exploded at the same time with it hitting.
The lightning horned beast staggered from the impact. The scales protecting its forehead were smashed and crumbled down.
The beast turned toward the small opponent with a gaze that was filled anger that could only be described as boiling fury but...
「「「「O-oo!!」」」」
The boys led by Ryuutarou let out astonished voices reflexively.
That was because Dahlia already nocked three arrows at the same time. No, she was firing. It was an eye-popping rapid quick shot.
The lightning horned beast had no leeway to dodge. ──No miss. And then explosions. This time the scales on its neck were blown away. One arrow hit a horn and blasted the surface.
──GAAAAAAAAAA!!
Perhaps because of pain, or perhaps because of rage, the lightning horned beast roared while swinging its long tail like a whip.
But, it didn't hit Dahlia. Because she had been taking distance even before the lightning beast started moving as though she had predicted that movement. In addition, she was already nocking the next arrow.
「「「S-so cool...」」」
Those were Myuu, Yuuka, and Suzu. Nana and Taeko too were clearly thinking the same from their sparkling eyes even though they weren't saying anything.
She was already a beautiful maiden who was overflowing with grace. The figure of such woman facing a huge beast with a sharp face and readying her bow gallantly was so beautiful even the same sex couldn't stop from holding their breath.
「Hohou, those guys over there also art not bad. They really cut off the tail.」
「As expected of long sword, great job long sword. That Mohican fellow, he's a comrade-」
「Dammit, why! Why ain't there any lance user!」
「That skinhead old guy's axe also isn't bad! I guarantee it as an
The fight versus flame poison dragon was also impressive enough. The long sword user with Mohican hair called Waldo had impressively severed the wicked thorny tail from the middle.
In exchange he seemed to have gotten hit by poison. He retreated from the frontline with pale face, but he then drank something and gave a thumb up so it looked like he was fine.
Ryuutarou looked vexed that there wasn't any lance user. Noboru who was using axe himself cheered.
──GURUOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
A terrific roar boomed. Hajime and co who were temporarily watching the flame poison dragon immediately returned their gazes as though they had been slapped.
「「「「「UOOOOOOO!!」」」」」
Those weren't the roars of the warriors. Those were the roars of Hajime and co + Myuu. Peak excitement! That was the atmosphere they had.
It couldn't be helped. After all the lightning horned beast was shining.
*Crackle crackle* It was making sound like the very air was crackling and bluish white electricity covered its body.
「B-beautiful...and above all else-, so damn cool...Jinoug*-san-」
「Umm, Hajime? Are you crying?」
「Shh, Shizuku-chan. Let's keep quiet. That's Hajime-kun's favorite monster...」
Apparently. Myuu was looking kindly at her father who was shedding emotional tear. Myuu understand nano, she was patting his shoulder as though to say that.
Yuuka looked a bit creeped out and said.
「But, it's just a lookalike and not the real thing...」
「...Fuh, if Hajime thinks it's the real thing then it's real. Yuuka, I can't recognize you as fellow wife yet like that.」
「You're too much of a Nagumo supremacist! Or rather, f-fellow wife...g-geez, don't decide that on your──」
「Everyone, you all are getting too carried away desu! Dahlia-san and the others are in the middle of fierce battle right now-」
Shia got angry. Quite seriously at that. Well of course. Her friend was in the middle of fight that might took her life.
Hajime and co apologized 「Ah, yes. Sorry...」. They were still emotional, but they certainly realized that they had been acting too much like casual audience.
Ahead of their gazes, the lightning horned beast charged forward while radiating electricity to every direction. Dahlia evaded with a leap that would be impossible for most human.
「W-what's that just now!?」
Even though she's a rearguard like me, that's just impossible! Aiko unconsciously made a tsukkomi.
「Is that...snake? And a large, hummingbird?」
Shia said with Tio nodding.
「Looks like it. The snake coiling on her right arm let out a tongue that extended abnormally long. Just like a chameleon. That tongue then coiled around the hummingbird-like bird hovering in the air...no, it was glued on the leg? After that the tongue contracted in high speed and allowed Dahlia's body to perform something like a super jump.」
Myuu and Hajime and co were over reacting 「Don't tell me she's using environment creature!?」「Just like aerial insect action!?」「So it's both World and Rise huh!」「Really Dahlia-oneesan, that's just greedy nano!」.
As expected they couldn't stop their tension from rising even after getting scolded by Shia.
Even while that was going on Dahlia fired her arrow midair and landed with a splendid roll. She then quickly fired her next arrow as soon as possible.
The rapid fire that targeted the pivot foot of the lightning horned beast who was trying to restore its balance magnificently led it to the result of the beast tumbling.
Dahlia seemed to see it as a great chance and took a deep breath. She straightened her spine and lifted up her bow and arrow. It was just like the stance of kyudo.
「Ah, wait, behind behind!」
The one who spoke out anxiously was Kaori. The other people were also feeling the same. After all something like a bee holding liquid on its belly was approaching Dahlia from behind.
「No, it might be fine desu.」
The one who responded like that was Shia. Even though she should be the one who was panicking the most and her rabbit ears were twitching, she calmly stopped Hajime from pulling out Donner.
The bee lookalike that was the size of a baseball ball looked like it stabbed Dahlia's shoulder. At the same time, the pinky of the hand that was holding the bow──looking closer it was wearing a ring──was tapping rhythmically on the metal.
Right after that, *gugugu-* the bow was drawn powerfully. Dahlia's lips were pressed tightly on each other. It looked like she was gritting her teeth strongly. Combined with her slightly trembling arm, it could be seen from the side how she was putting her whole strength into her draw.
Looking carefully, the arrow itself also looked thicker than any of the arrows before.
That arrow was fired toward the lightning horned beast right after it stood up until the limit.
Sure enough, it was a powerful and speedy attack that couldn't be compared to anything from before. *GAANN* Thunderous sound like metals colliding together resounded.
「「「Partial destruction here it comesssss!!」」」
Ryuutarou, Atsushi, and Noboru shouted. Just as they said, one of the lightning horned beast's horns was snapped from the middle and blown away.
「So that isn't just an engraving but a living thing!」
「Papa! What do you see nano!?」
「Dahlia's bow. There's a spider sticking on the handle part. Most likely that thing is adjusting the bowstring's tensile.」
「Ah, could it be she sent signal from the her pinky's tapping?」
Hajime and Shizuku's hypothesis was right on the spot. Aiko said 「That bee lookalike, could it be doping?」, then Kaori said 「That wording is a bit bad but, is it something that temporarily increase her strength?」 in agreement.
The lightning horned beast's electrification was dispelled perhaps because its horn was snapped, but its fighting spirit wasn't weakening. Rather it became even fiercer. The flame poison dragon wasn't reflected on its eyes at the slightest anymore.
It looked like it was designating Dahlia as a clear enemy instead of just a mere obstacle.
It attacked with a horrific fierceness.
Dahlia endured the fierce assault with excellent martial art and bowmanship and by borrowing the help of various creatures.
She constantly continued to move to the optimum position using the combination of the large hummingbird lookalike and the elastic sticky tongue of the snake to dodge, dodge, and dodge like action movie scene using anchor wire.
In case she couldn't make it even with that, or when her movement got predicted and she almost got hit just as she landed, a small animal that looked like porcupine would suddenly leap out from the grass and vibrated all of its needles, generating a horrific high-pitched sound that made the lightning horned beast flinched.
「Felyne-san!? Is that Felyne-san nano!?」
「M-my my-, Myuu! Calm down for a little! Look, you're going to fall-」
Myuu got so excited and leaned forward too much that Remia mama had to hug her from behind. Just as she said, there were several creatures that looked like cat carrying equipment though they weren't wearing any clothing, who would distract the lightning horned beast with superb timing.
An insect that looked like pillbug with wings would fly from who knew where and gushed dust around Dahlia, giving her figure protective coloration that made it very hard to see where she was.
There was also something like sleeping gas. A creature that looked like earthworm would flew out from the ground and spewed out gas that made the lightning horned beast's consciousness hazy even if only briefly.
「...Those aren't, coincidences aren't they?」
Liliana murmured in confusion. The animals moved in a way that was just too convenient for Dahlia. It couldn't be helped. It looked like the forest animals were helping Dalia by their own initiative.
「Perhaps, she's controlling them by clicking her tongue to make
Shia's rabbit ears were in really good condition today too. The Hell Bunny-Ears Ears (Shia's naming) didn't miss even the slightest sound despite the thunderous sounds of the battlefield pounding the eardrums.
「Dahlia is the one making the sound?」
「Y-yes. It looks like there're a lot of variations but, she's doing it this whole time.」
「I see. However, I hath the feeling that calling it control art a bit unsuitable now that she hath lost the spirit art. This art──」
「...Nn. It's "technique". Something similar like teaching dog to sit or give hand.」
Genuine admiration was oozing from Yue's voice.
Just how much effort and perseverance she had put in to train all those animals. Setting aside the hummingbird lookalike, snake, and cats, they had never heard of something like teaching bugs to do trick.
「S-she's truly an environmental creature user nano!」
「In a sense, she's like the upgraded version of Suzu ain't she-」
「Ryuu-kun?」
Certainly, Suzu was employing insect-type monsters to the degree where she got called with a title like the Insect Queen, so Dahlia could be called her comrade in a sense.
But, naturally the difficulty level was in a different dimension when comparing Suzu who used age of god magic to employ insects and Dahlia who manually trained insects to do tricks.
Certainly, Dahlia might be an upgraded version in a sense. Dahlia could also use other animals than insect normally.
Although, calling another woman "upgraded version" in front of your girlfriend was unacceptable. Suzu's mood nosedived to rock bottom. She glanced at Ryuutarou coldly before averting her gaze wordlessly.
「Ah, t-that's not what I mean Suzu! What I said just now──」
Ryuutarou noticed that Suzu's reaction was her being quite mad for real and he tried to explain himself in panic, but before he could,
「Ah, this might be bad desu-」
Shia yelled. At the same time she leaped down the cliff without anyone being able to stop her.
「O-oi, Shia!」
「...Mu? Could it be she used "Future Sight"?」
It seemed that was the case.
Dahlia used every trick in the book to hold back the lightning horned beast. She fought splendidly.
But, in the end it was just "holding back". Currently everyone watching couldn't help but say that there wasn't any sign she would be able to defeat the beast by herself. Just like Dahlia herself recognized that it was "reckless" for her to face the beast alone.
That was just how much the lightning horned beast's movement was still as energetic as the start. Its remaining horn was also starting to be enveloped in electricity.
In contrast, Dahlia was starting to breath hard. Sometimes she would drink something from a bamboo tube, or calling a bee of different color to inject her. Most likely it was also healing her but...
As expected, the game world and reality were different.
It was different from the game's monster where damage was calculated as number and it would die when its HP was reduced to zero. Dahlia lacked a decisive attack. Also, she would die instantly if she got hit even once.
That fact must be more than enough to whittle her stamina and mental strength just from ten minutes of fighting.
It wouldn't be long until Dahlia's limit arrived.
In fact, that moment had come. She became too focused from losing her composure. She was only looking at what was in front of her.
「Chiefff!!」
「Tsu!!?」
An extra-large mass of flame approached Dahlia. It was an attack that was the seriously wounded flame poison dragon fired in desperation. It was an accidental attack that ridiculed the effort of the men who moved out of the way of the firing line.
Dodging was──
The colors of the world faded in Dahlia's eyes. The approaching mass of flame. Her sluggish body as though it was underwater.
And then, at the corner of her sight there was the lightning horned beast's horn being enveloped in even brighter light.
She knew. That was the sign of directed lightning strike about to be fired.
A place to escape...was nonexistent.
Dahlia was convinced of that within her extended awareness. She tried to duck behind her bow to at least use it as a shield.
Instantly, she heard. That voice. A voice that was lovely but manly. The voice of the hero who she looked up to more than anyone.
「SHAORAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」
The voice that was filled with piercing fighting spirit, accompanied with shockwave descended from above.
It crushed flat the mass of flame and lightning strike like they were just a joke. The ground several meters ahead of Dahlia sunk together with a thunderous sound.
It looked like the work of Yue's gravity magic from the side. But it was actually a monstrous feat done with only the shockwave from a swing of a war hammer. Perhaps it should be called as Shia-style gravity magic (physical)?
「A, a...」
Dahlia fell flat on her butt. Of course, it wasn't because of fear.
It was because of mental impact and delight because the "one day" that she had been dreaming for had descended "now" before her eyes.
*Step* Shia performed a heroic landing with Vire Drucken resting on her shoulder. She then slowly stood up and looked back over her shoulder.
And then,
「Sorry to have kept you waiting, Dahlia-san!」
She grinned.
Hajime and others thought. Especially Myuu and the boys, they completely thought.
((((P-Perfect...it's a perfect scene of hero's entrance!!!))))
They thought with incoherent excitement. Dahlia-san was playing her part as the best heroine!
「...Kuh, that woman. Taking the heroine role without even asking permission from me-. But, Shia...so cool-」
「Yue is biting handkerchief in frustration...」
「HAH!? In other words, Yue-san is the villainess, while Dahlia-san is the true heroine!?」
Kaori looked disgusted and Liliana's eyes were sparkling from the delusion of the future development. Setting them aside,
「...Shia, sama?」
「Yes, Dahlia-san. It's me desu! Long time no see!」
「...」
Dahlia couldn't continue speaking with her mouth closing and opening like a fish seeking for air. It looked like she was completely shaken up from the reunion that was just too sudden and dramatic.
The male warriors were also startled by this. After all an unknown bunny eared girl suddenly came down from the sky and smashed the monsters' attacks. It was natural for them to be struck dumb with astonishment.
Of course, the monsters didn't give a damn about that.
Two roars.
Their sure-kill move was shut down. As though they couldn't bear that fact, the two monsters fired the same attack once more. Their target was naturally Dahlia──no, it must be Shia in this case.
「Mu, excuse me, Dahlia-san!」
「Fuwaa? Fuwaa!? Y-, y-y-y-, you mustn't, Shia-sama! To do something like this so suddenly in our reunion! I'm happy but there's the proper steps for this-」
Shia lifted up Dahlia in a princess carry and quickly withdrew from that spot. Explosion and thunderclap roared at the area where they were at just a moment ago.
It was a terrifying destructive power. A part of the ground was turned into glass.
And then Dahlia-san was turning red and saying something. The figure of beautiful and gallant princess just now had gone away to somewhere. She was curling into herself to the limit inside Shia's arms.
「...What's that reaction」
「Yue, don't look over here with scaaary serious face like that.」
「Highlight! The highlight in your eyes is vanishing, Yue! Lit it up!」
Yue-san pointed at Dahlia. Her face was serious. Absurdly so.
Hajime soothed her 「Perhaps, she's just too confused because the reunion is too dramatic」 with twitching expression. Kaori was pleading in her Kaori way, Regain the light in your eyes! You're falling into the dark side!
Putting that aside, at Shia side where she beautifully dodged & landed.
「Dahlia-san, perhaps it's not needed but──」
「Dahlia always need Shia-sama degozaimasu-」
Her habit was still going strong. Dahlia-san strongly insisted by tightly clenching both her hands in front of her chest. Shia narrowed her eyes nostalgically seeing that and she chuckled.
Dahlia-san reddened even more. She fidgeted shyly. ...The lightning horned beast seemed like it wasn't entering her eyes anymore.
「Then I'll assist. Is it fine if I defeat both of them?」
「Ah, no! Just the flame poison dragon──the flying dragon over there please! For the beast just neutralize it if possible!」
「Leave it to me, dessu!!」
The lighting horned beast leaped at the same time with Shia's reply. It launched an assault at Shia with a single jump.
The male warriors came back to their senses even though they still didn't understand what was going on, but they showed hesitation for a moment, whether they should face the flame poison dragon or support Shia...
Naturally, the winner of this battlefield was already decided.
「Lie down!!」
It became clear in an instant that it wasn't a warning toward allies.
Shia also jumped toward the jumping lightning horned beast while swinging up Vire Drucken.
It was a perfect uppercut. Perhaps it would be fine to call it not Shoryuke*Rising Dragon Fis* but ShoryutsuiRising Dragon Hammer.
The jaw that was filled with wicked fangs was forcefully closed shut. Several of the fangs snapped and scattered out.
The lightning horned beast didn't even have any leeway to scream. Because its consciousness was gone the moment it was hit.
Its eyes rolled back until only the whites were visible. Also the next moment its body backflipped several times in succession midair like a joke. It then crashed on the ground and became completely limp. It was a dynamic "lie down" (forced).
「N-no, way...」
「W-what the hell is that...」
「Dream? Am I dreaming?」
The male warriors froze once more. Their eyes snapped wide open as though they had even momentarily forgotten the flame poison dragon behind them.
Perhaps its instinct warned it. The flame poison dragon didn't even glance at the frozen men and leaped up.
And then its jaw opened up. It wasn't going to fire another mass of flame. It was planning to fire an authentic "dragon's breath".
「Shia-sama!」
「Of course I see it!」
The breath was fired. Scorching flame approached to turn everything into ash.
And so, she called out a red giant ball with a *pop*.
「Lukewaaaarrmm, desuu!!」
The war hammer that was swung with one hand hit the red ball. The large ball was turned into a red cannonball at the same time with a thunderous sound.
The metal ball with diameter of two meters blew away the breath attack right from the front as though to say, Your puny flame isn't much! Then the ball kept going until it hit the flame poison dragon's belly.
It didn't stop there and kept going until hitting the large tree behind it.
──GAH, aA, Gee
That was the flame poison dragon's death throes.
Shia pulled back the large ball with the chain that was connected to it, then she stored it back into her treasure warehouse.
*Gigigi-* The large tree was making creaking sound as it fractured. It fell to the ground together with the flame poison dragon whose stomach was caved-in in the shape of iron ball.
The place was filled with silence and stillness.
The men were dumbfounded, while Dahlia was entranced.
「Now then」
Shia twirled her war hammer and rested it on her shoulder. She then turned a radiant smile toward Dahlia who was still carried in her arm.
「Once again, long time no see desu, Dahlia-san. I come to meet you ♪」
「Haua!?」
Dahlia fainted. For some reason she looked super happy, smiling like she had gotten invited to heaven. Her head dropped powerlessly.
「Eh? Dahlia-san? Dahlia-saan!? What's wrong-, Dahlia-saaaaaaaaaaaaann!!」
The flustered Shia sent out a rescue request 「MedicKaori-san! MediiiiicKaori-saaaan!」.
Hajime and others looked at each other. Myuu represented everyone's feeling and asked the question.
「Guilty? Or, not guilty?」(TN: Myuu asked the question in English)
Of course, the answer was obvious.
「「「「「「Guilty!!」」」」」」
Was cajoling people the hero's nature?
In any case, Yue-sama started warming up because the cajoling rabbit had to be given a little bit of TALK.