How to Cross the Desert (7)
Thus, the next day arrived. Before we knew it, the long episode was nearing its end. We trudged across the desert, our bodies weary. As we walked without letting our guard down, Legia beside me suddenly muttered.
"......It's strange today."
The desert was unusually quiet. By this time over the past few days, we would have already been attacked three or four times, yet nothing happened today. Not even a single scorpion—the creatures we had grown sick of encountering—could be seen.
"Th-this is the first time the desert has ever been this quiet."
"Doesn't it feel off? This isn't a place we should be able to cross so easily...... It's like the calm before a storm."
"Let's use this chance to recover our strength."
"Good idea. We're not far from our destination anyway."
I answered them while pretending not to know anything. This was the pattern of the final wave. At least during the day, no attacks would occur. Instead, once the sun set and night fell, the last wave that would decide the outcome would begin. Enemies on a completely different scale would likely swarm us.
'At this rate, it'll be tough.'
The difficulty of this episode was high to begin with. Originally, it was meant for someone who had built up experience at the academy and reached the level of top assistant. In our current state, we would probably be thoroughly crushed.
'I came here for Legia's growth...... but maybe this was too much.'
The summoner's abilities remained silent. There were no signs of awakening, so it seemed difficult for a while. Well, it wasn't something to rush anyway. Just like I had said before, I trusted Legia. Even if not this time, there would be plenty of other opportunities. From the start, just securing the reward item would have been enough to break even. The protagonist had suffered enough over the past few days, so I planned to handle the finale myself.
We walked through the quiet desert.
"......"
Time flowed peacefully. The day passed quickly. Before long, the sun that had been high in the sky dipped below the horizon, and the sky filled with dark shadows. At last, pitch-black night descended upon the world.
Just as we were sleeping according to schedule, a scream suddenly rang out.
"Y-young master!! Wake up......!"
It was Legia's voice, who had been standing watch. I rose as if I had been waiting and looked around with a leisurely gaze. Only the pitch-black desert surrounded us.
Kiiiiiik!
Kirrrk-!
Crack, crack......!
It wasn't just dark. The ground writhed with grotesque noises. Countless scorpions covered the sand entirely. They swarmed from all directions, blocking every possible escape route. It was a scene of utter despair.
"Young master! Hurry!"
The coachman cried out urgently.
"So this is as far as we go......"
The old man loaded his crossbow with a hollow voice.
Shrrrng-.
Amid the chaos, I drew a sword. I muttered quietly so no one could hear.
"Finally, the last part."
Now, at last, the finale had arrived.
***
Kiiiiiik-!
As if on cue, the scorpions poured in all at once. It was a wave with no trace of hope. They ground everything in their path to dust. We had to hold our meager remaining ground and fight a desperate defensive battle with everything we had.
Flames sparked endlessly in the darkness.
"Hup......!"
Clang!
Thud-!
Monsters charged mindlessly. I parried the surging stingers roughly. Each clash sent out a sharp burst of sound. I tried to seize the initiative with fluid movements, but it didn't seem to matter much. The overwhelming numbers showed no sign of decreasing.
Slash-!
I cleanly bisected one small fry. Before its corpse could even roll, the next ones rushed in. It had been this pattern all along. Kill one, and ten came. Kill ten, and a hundred followed. As I sighed at the maddening sight, a shout came from behind.
It was the old man's voice.
"Duck!"
Ping, chrrrrrrk-!
I dropped low the moment I heard the signal. Immediately after, dozens of arrows spread like buckshot passed over my head.
Kwaaaang-!
The scorpions' bodies were mercilessly crushed. I quickly retreated and spoke to the old man reloading his crossbow. It was a light joke.
"That was a fine attack. If you do that ten thousand more times, it might end."
"Unfortunately, these are the last arrows I'm loading."
"I see."
Thud-!
I drove my sword into a scorpion falling from above. Seeing even winged variants appear, it seemed mid-tier monsters had all been drawn in as well. I shook the blood from my sleeve.
"I'll go again."
"I'll cover you."
"Y-young master! They're coming from behind......!"
We fought with everything we had. The snake-like sword tip cut down enemies on all sides, while the old man's crossbow spewed arrows and fire without rest. The coachman also continued supporting us, shaping the battlefield. We seemed to have held out admirably. We had far exceeded the time I initially expected.
"Huu......"
Of course, that changed nothing. It only delayed the inevitable end. In the end, we were surrounded by scorpions, battered and broken. I quietly looked around. Both of the others had collapsed to the ground. The crossbow lay discarded in the sand—the arrows had run out. The sword blade, once sharpened from shadows, had lost all its edge. It wouldn't even cut a piece of wood now.
"Well, well...... Unfortunately, this seems to be our limit."
I let go of the sword as well. Thud. The fallen black fragment sank into the sand, then scattered into dust. Now we had no means of resistance left.
I caught my breath.
'I wanted to test my limits until the very end.'
Judging by the protagonist's condition, this was it. Legia was curled up, sobbing. I dropped to one knee and met her tear-filled green eyes. The girl was trembling.
"Miss Legia."
"Y-young master."
"It's all right now. It's over."
"I-I'm sorry. If I had done just a little better, because of me, you two......"
"Shh."
I covered her trembling lips. I took Legia's hand and gently stroked her head, as if soothing a frightened child. It was to calm her emotions.
"You've done more than enough."
"B-but......!"
"Remember what I said a few days ago? I always trust you, Miss Legia."
"......"
I carefully wiped away the tears welling in her eyes. Her shoulders shook pitifully. I smiled softly.
"That trust hasn't changed."
"......"
"It was true until now, and it will remain so from now on."
The girl looked up at me blankly. She bit her lip as if thinking something. I wanted to comfort her more, but the rampaging scorpions made it impossible to continue. Grotesque screams filled my ears.
Kiiiiiik-!
Kyarrrk!
Kuaaaak!!
A pitch-black storm surged forward. The monsters bared their fangs, craving slaughter, and charged at the children. Thousands of scorpions rippled like a wave. Just as we seemed about to be swallowed—
A low voice brushed past my ear.
"......Ephri."
Immediately after, a streak of light fell from the sky.
"Ugh......?!"
Piiiiiiii-!
A ringing sound that numbed my eardrums. As I blinked at the sudden flash, I spotted something enormous soaring through the sky. Its wings were vast enough to cover the entire area.
"That is......?"
The words slipped out unconsciously. It was because of its magnificent appearance. Graceful wingbeats, a massive body, a tail lined with spikes, and flames flickering with every breath. It was clearly the summon I had seen during the entrance exam.
"......A wyvern."
Kuoooooo-!!
The divine beast roared thunderously. The entire desert trembled. It opened its jaws wide and unleashed what it had been holding inside without restraint. It was the so-called dragon's breath.
Kwaaaaa-!
Following the overwhelming firepower, the densely packed scorpions were swept away in an instant. The blue flames dyed the area brilliantly, erasing everything without leaving even a trace of ash. In the time it took to close and open my eyes, over thirty percent of the scorpions had already been annihilated.
I looked to the side.
"Haa, haa......!"
There was the girl, panting heavily. Her pink hair was damp with cold sweat. Legia clutched my hand tightly, tears streaming down her face as she smiled. Her slender frame swayed.
"Miss Legia."
I quickly caught her collapsing body. Even while cradled in my arms, the girl gazed only at me. Her eyes were filled with joy and affection.
"I-it...... worked."
Legia murmured with difficulty. Her smile shone more brilliantly than the dragon's breath.