Chapter 5: Brief Victory (Patreon)

On the north side of the industrial district, wind cut through the gaps between broken smokestacks.

The air after the rain was still damp, the sulfur smell left by the Flame Stone explosion mixing with the scent of charred wood and rust, clinging thick in everyone's throat. The factory's outer walls had several gaps blasted through them, exposed steel frames jutting toward the sky like a row of broken bones.

The residents had already been led by the rescue teams to a temporary camp.

But the fighting wasn't over.

Artorias crouched behind a collapsed stone wall, fingers pressed to the ground. Back in human form, he looked like an ordinary boy now, his black hair striking against the smoke, his red eyes fixed on the street corner ahead, still hidden behind black smoke.

Blood was seeping again through the bandages under his cloak.

He'd noticed it.

A dozen or so footsteps.

Someone stepping through standing water. Someone crunching over rubble. Someone else dragging a shoe-sole across metal flooring, the friction almost inaudible.

The enemy was closing in.

"Ais."

Artorias spoke in a low voice.

The blonde girl stood not far off, longsword already drawn. Her pale blue combat outfit was darkened with soot, a shallow scrape along one cheek.

She turned to look at him.

"How many?"

"Fourteen."

Artorias closed his eyes, held his breath, and sorted through the sounds around them one by one.

"Eight in front. Three on the rooftop to the right. Two to the rear left. And one who hasn't moved—breathing very lightly. Probably preparing magic, or a Flame Stone."

Ais nodded slightly.

"Where's the Flame Stone?"

"A few meters to the rear left. There's a collapsed wall in between."

"I'll head there."

"The ones in front will block you."

"Then tell me where they are."

The exchange between them was as clipped as if they'd coordinated a thousand times before.

Artorias opened his eyes.

"The three on the left rooftop will shoot first. Front line, closest to us, is a Beast Human with a two-handed axe. Second row, two elves—they might be about to cast magic."

Ais tightened her grip on the hilt.

"Got it."

She pushed off, her form bursting out from behind the stone wall.

Almost the same instant, the twang of bowstrings sounded from the roof.

"Now!"

The moment Artorias's warning left his mouth, three arrows tore through the smoke.

Ais didn't slow.

She shifted left—the first arrow grazed her shoulder, the second was flicked away by her sword's tip, the third passed through her hair and buried itself in the brick wall behind her.

Using the momentum of her charge, she stepped onto a cracked stone slab and leapt.

Her target was the Beast Human warrior in front.

The Beast Human bared his teeth and roared, his two-handed axe crashing down from above. Ais tucked her legs in midair, the axe blade grazing past her boot sole. Then she landed at his side, her silver blade slicing along the outside of his arm.

His armor split open.

His wrist was struck precisely, and his hands went limp at once.

Ais spun, driving her sword's pommel into his stomach.

His massive frame toppled backward, crushing a stack of crates.

"One."

She called out the count.

Artorias's voice followed immediately.

"Second one on the right is about to loose an arrow. The elf in the back row on the front side is chanting."

Ais didn't look up.

She swept her blade low along the ground, carrying it sideways with her forward charge. The Amazon soldier rushing at her hastily raised her blade to block—the clash of steel numbed her arm.

Ais twisted her wrist, knocking the woman's weapon aside with the back of her blade, then grabbed her shoulder strap with her other hand and flung her aside.

The Amazon crashed into her comrade.

The two of them rolled away together.

Straight ahead, the elf's spell had already finished forming.

Flame condensed in midair.

"Ais, above your head!"

Artorias's warning reached her.

The girl tilted her face up.

The flame magic had already closed to within a few steps of her. She didn't retreat—instead she stepped forward and swept her longsword upward.

A streak of golden light pierced straight through the fireball's center.

The spell was forcibly split in two, the halves sweeping past her on either side. The heat wave tossed her long hair and painted her cheeks with firelight.

"The magic—it was cut apart?"

The Evilus elf's face went slack with disbelief.

Ais was already in front of him.

The pommel of her sword struck his chest.

The elf flew backward and slammed into a wall.

Beside him, another mage tried to begin chanting again. Artorias immediately picked out the irregular flow of mana.

"Left elf, ice-attribute magic in three seconds."

Ais turned and rushed left.

"Three seconds is enough."

She was fast enough that he had no chance to change targets.

First step, dodging a short arrow fired straight at her face.

Second step, landing on a broken stone platform.

Third step, and Ais was already in front of the elf.

His incantation was only half-finished when her silver blade pressed against his wrist, forcibly cutting off the gathering of mana. The elf let out a muffled grunt and dropped to his knees.

Ais didn't press the advantage against the one on the ground.

She turned back toward Artorias.

"Any more?"

"The three on the right rooftop are retreating."

"They're running?"

"One of them went to the rear left."

Artorias suddenly frowned.

"The one carrying the Flame Stone is about to ignite it."

Ais changed direction instantly.

She didn't chase after the retreating archers. Instead she cut between two fallen stone pillars and ran toward where Artorias had pointed.

Adi caught sight of this.

She'd been standing guard beside the black-haired boy, ready to deal with an attack from the right rooftop. But seeing Ais change course without a moment's hesitation, something odd flickered through Adi's mind.

The blonde girl hadn't even asked Artorias if he was sure.

And Artorias hadn't repeated himself to explain.

He gave his judgment, and Ais believed it.

The two of them had only met for the first time today.

"Adi, watch out!"

Artorias suddenly reached out and grabbed her arm.

A short blade swept past behind her, its tip slicing off a few strands of black hair.

Adi swung her sword back, deflecting a second strike, then spun and kicked the attacker's knee out from under him.

"I saw it."

"You hadn't a moment ago."

Artorias said it with complete seriousness.

Adi blinked, startled, then reached up and flicked his forehead.

"Don't use that tone."

"What tone?"

"The kind you'd use to remind someone who just made a mistake."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Adi looked away.

She meant to say more, but a rumble came from behind the warehouse.

Boom!

Flame burst up through the cracks in the ruins.

"Ais!"

Adi spun around at once.

The blonde girl had already reached the rear left.

The Evilus officer carrying the Flame Stone had just raised the stone when he found Ais standing before him. She didn't swing her sword at his body—instead her blade tip caught the Flame Stone first, flicking it out of his grip.

The Flame Stone flew into an abandoned well in the distance.

The blast was muffled by the well's walls, throwing up nothing more than a dull shockwave.

The man gritted his teeth and drew a blade.

Ais turned her body, deflecting the strike with precision. His strength pushed her back half a step, her boot soles scraping two marks into the slick ground.

Just as he moved to press his advantage, Artorias's voice came from behind.

"Old injury on his right shoulder!"

Ais instantly changed her point of attack.

Rather than clashing head-on with the longsword, her blade slid along the edge of his weapon toward his right shoulder. He tried to draw his blade back to defend, but the old injury slowed his right arm by a half-beat.

Her pommel struck his shoulder joint hard.

The longsword dropped.

Ais kicked the weapon aside, then struck his stomach with the flat of her blade.

He doubled over and dropped to his knees in the dust.

"Don't move."

The girl stopped her blade tip in front of his eyes.

"You've lost."

The man panted heavily, but a flicker of malice crossed his eyes.

His left hand, hidden beneath his clothes, was reaching for another Flame Stone.

"Ais, his left hand!"

Artorias's warning arrived almost the same instant as the man's movement.

Ais twisted her wrist.

A silver flash, thin as a needle.

His sleeve was sliced cleanly open, and the Flame Stone pinched between his fingers flew into the air. Ais caught it and turned, dropping it into a nearby iron bucket full of rainwater.

Only then did the man realize he'd never once truly avoided the girl's blade.

Every strike Ais made had held back.

But she also hadn't given the enemy any chance to strike again.

"How... how is this possible..."

He stared blankly at his disarmed weapon.

Behind him, the Evilus soldiers had all fallen.

Three squads had been rendered combat-ineffective in under fifteen minutes.

The remaining enemies, seeing the tide turn, began retreating out of the industrial district.

"They're running."

Adi came to Artorias's side.

"Two on the left, moving north along the pipes."

Artorias looked at Ais.

"Should we chase?"

Ais stood holding her sword, unmoving.

It was a simple question.

She could catch them.

They were wounded already, and not fast.

But Riveria's order pressed clearly in her mind.

Do not leave the group.

Do not pursue on your own initiative.

Ais looked back.

The residents were still being evacuated, the wounded needed escort, and the fire from the earlier explosion wasn't fully under control. If she chased after them, the gap she left behind might give the enemy an opening.

"Not chasing."

Ais sheathed her sword.

"Protecting the residents first."

Artorias nodded lightly.

"That's for the best."

Adi glanced sideways at him.

"Are you evaluating her decisions now too?"

Artorias blinked.

"I just think she made the right call."

"I know."

Adi quickly looked away.

The faint irritation that had just started rising in her was cut off by the wail of an injured resident.

"Healer! Someone's pinned under a slab here!"

Adi turned at once.

"Artorias, confirm how many people are still inside."

"Two."

He walked quickly toward the collapsed factory building, his body swaying slightly from pain. Adi reached out and steadied his shoulder.

"Slow down."

"I can walk."

"I know. Slowing down and not being able to walk are two different things."

Artorias didn't argue.

He crouched near a gap in the rubble and closed his eyes, listening carefully.

"One person on the left, breathing rapidly. Another further inside, probably unconscious."

Ais came to the broken wall and studied the structure around it.

"Dig from here?"

Artorias shook his head.

"No good. There's a loose iron frame above. Touch it and it'll keep collapsing."

He pointed toward the rear right.

"There's a gap over there—sound's carrying through. Go in from that side first."

Ais crouched to check the width of the gap.

"I can fit through."

"There's water on the ground inside."

Artorias warned.

"There might be an electric magic stone under the stones on the left. Don't touch the blue fragments."

Ais nodded, sheathed her longsword, and turned sideways to squeeze into the ruins.

Adi looked at Artorias.

"How did you know that was an electric magic stone?"

"I heard a faint buzzing just now."

"Do you often do this kind of thing in the Dungeon?"

"Before, my hearing wasn't as sharp as it is now."

Artorias looked down at his own hands.

"After I turned into a white rabbit, my ears seemed to get more sensitive. Even back in human form, without actual ears, I can still hear certain things."

Adi was quiet for a moment.

"Then be careful about it going forward too. Hearing danger doesn't mean your body can dodge it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

As they spoke, a faint knocking sound came from within the ruins.

Ais had found the first victim inside.

"Found someone."

Her voice carried through the gap.

"Arm's pinned."

"Don't move it yet."

Artorias spoke up immediately.

"The beam on the right is load-bearing. Shifting the big stone on the left will make the ceiling sink."

Ais froze.

Adi hurried to call the other rescuers over.

"Bring support beams and rope! Don't move the stones directly!"

Several adventurers rushed over and fixed supports at the positions Artorias indicated. Ais stayed inside the ruins, using her blade's edge to pry away the rubble pinning the victim's arm.

Her movements were far slower than in battle.

Before every shift, she'd first glance toward Artorias outside.

"Can this move?"

"Yes. A little more to the right."

"This one?"

"Wait—there's a hollow space underneath."

Ais froze at once.

Outside, Adi listened to the two of them talking, and that odd feeling rose in her again.

Ais followed her commands closely too, but her responses to Artorias's warnings were especially quick.

As if the two of them had fought together many times before.

Adi looked at the black-haired boy beside her, utterly serious and completely unaware of the shift in the mood, and sighed inwardly, helpless.

Never mind.

Saving people mattered more right now.

She looked up to check the fixed supports, and once satisfied there was no danger, joined the others in digging out the exit.

Before long, the first victim was carried out of the ruins.

It was a boy, around ten years old.

His left arm was crushed, but he was still conscious. Seeing the adventurers gathered around him, he anxiously grabbed hold of Ais's scabbard.

"Sis, are you here to save us?"

Ais looked down at him.

"Mm."

"You're an adventurer?"

"..."

"Then you must be really strong."

Ais didn't answer.

Artorias crouched beside the boy, checking over his injuries.

"You'll be sent to the treatment tent soon. Hang in there."

The boy nodded, still gripping Ais's scabbard tightly.

Ais glanced at her sword, then at the boy.

"I'll protect you."

She said it with utter seriousness.

The boy finally showed a flicker of relief.

Adi watched the scene and gave Artorias's shoulder a light pat.

"You're in charge of carrying him to the tent."

"Me?"

"Of all the things you can do right now, this suits you best."

Artorias looked at the boy, then reached down and picked him up.

The boy wasn't heavy, but the effort sent a sharp pain through his stomach. Artorias winced, then quickly adjusted his grip to hold him steady.

Ais walked alongside them.

Her hand stayed on her sword hilt, her eyes sweeping over every shadow around them.

"No one on the right rooftop."

Artorias said.

"Two residents ahead. No enemies behind."

"Mm."

Ais replied.

"The path ahead is safe."

"You don't have to repeat it every time."

"I know."

"Then why keep saying it?"

Artorias thought about it.

"So you know I heard it."

Ais was quiet for a moment.

"Understood."

The two of them kept moving.

Adi walked a little further behind, watching their back-and-forth exchange, and suddenly this scene felt familiar to her.

Artorias was in charge of catching danger.

Ais was in charge of dealing with it.

There was no extra discussion between them, no competing for credit. One spoke what he heard, and the other believed it and acted.

This kind of trust was simple.

Which made it all the more solid.

"Adi."

Artorias suddenly turned back.

"You're too far away."

Adi startled slightly.

"I'm keeping an eye on you two."

"Why?"

"To make sure you're not hurt."

She answered naturally enough.

But when she noticed Artorias still watching her, her gaze drifted slightly aside.

"Besides, you're the injured one right now. You can't leave my sight."

Ais turned back too.

"Adi worries about you a lot."

"I know."

Artorias nodded.

"She's always worried about me."

The tips of Adi's ears went faintly red.

"Enough talk. Get the victim there faster."

Artorias carried the boy onward.

Ais walked beside him and suddenly spoke up.

"Adi's really strong too."

"Of course she is."

Artorias answered.

"She's protected me many times."

Adi's steps faltered.

That remark completely dissolved the faint unease she'd felt a moment ago.

Artorias hadn't forgotten Adi's constant presence at his side just because Ais was stronger in battle. To him, Ais was a comrade fighting alongside him, while Adi was the one who had protected him all the way to this point.

That was enough.

She fell back into step with them.

"The tent's right ahead."

Adi said.

Artorias handed the boy over to the healers.

The boy kept a tight grip on Ais's scabbard even as he was carried away.

"Sis, will you keep protecting this place?"

Ais looked down at him.

"I'll come back."

"Really?"

"Really."

The boy let go.

Ais watched him carried into the tent, then turned back toward the industrial district.

There were still enemies there, and residents yet to be found.

"Ais."

Artorias stood beside her.

"Cries for help, coming from the left."

The girl nodded.

"Let's go."

Adi held her sword across her chest.

"All three of us together this time."

Ais glanced at her.

"Fine."

Artorias nodded too.

The three of them advanced deeper into the ruins.

In the distance, an Evilus silhouette flickered across a rooftop. Ais drew her sword first, Artorias raised his head to confirm the position, and Adi placed herself between the two of them, sealing off any flank that might open up.

The understanding formed at their first meeting hadn't faded with the end of the battle.

It was taking shape, again and again, through every call and response.

This understanding didn't mean they'd become true companions yet.

But in a fractured Orario, being able to turn your back to someone you'd only just met was, in itself, a precious beginning.

Silver light flashed across the ruins again.

Artorias's voice followed right after.

"Above, two of them!"

Ais stepped up onto a broken wall.

"Got it."

Adi swung her sword forward.

"Don't leave my sight!"

Dawn over Orario was still dim.

The residents' anger hadn't faded, and the Evilus siege hadn't lifted. But within this stretch of ruins, three figures moved forward side by side.

One in charge of hearing danger. One in charge of cutting it down.

The other in charge of guarding both their retreats.

They hadn't turned the tide of the battle just yet.

But in this industrial district, where the enemy had unexpectedly retreated, they'd bought the survivors more time to keep living.

And for Orario, in this moment, that was already enough to call a victory.