Chapter 92

The next morning, our subjugation squad was in front of the Drain Dryad again.

The forest was still dimly dark as the sun had just risen. Normally, at this time, the birds would have started chirping, but strangely, the area was as quiet as if all life had died out.

Next to me, Felix muttered solemnly.

“Even so, a monster that can’t be attacked unless certain conditions are met…”

“Yes. Haven’t you heard of it?”

“I apologize. I am not aware of it.”

“No, my bad for not remembering right away. Who would have thought it’s exactly like a game gimmick…”

“A game, you say?”

“Ah, no, it’s nothing.”

Last night, I remembered something during my conversation with Felix.

When I fought the Drain Dryad in “Change the World,” it wasn’t enough to just physically attack.

Fire magic had also been effective. In the game, there were four tree-like objects around the Drain Dryad. And unless you destroy those objects, your attacks will not reach the Dryad. It’s a common trick in RPGs.

Before fighting, you have to destroy the floating spheres on both sides, or your attacks are repelled. But it’s such a common gimmick that… or rather, I had excluded the possibility yesterday that such a commonplace game system is reflected in reality.

“Vice Commander Felix. As planned, first we’ll cut down the surrounding trees all at once, right?” The members of the Black-winged knights group were each stationed at their designated spots.

In front of each vibrant tree around the Drain Dryad stood a group member, not with a weapon for combat, but with a hatchet in hand.

Everyone held their breath and watched Felix intently.

Where Felix and I were standing is right in front of the Drain Dryad. Like yesterday, if the Drain Dryad awakens and goes into an attack stance, we would likely be the first to be targeted.

Felix nodded to the member who had asked the question and then turned a worried gaze towards me. However, he was not making such a face because he doubted my words. He was genuinely concerned about me.

“Felix, don’t worry about me, I won’t be a hindrance like yesterday.”

“……Understood.”

Felix nodded reluctantly.

Despite his words, it was clear that he was not completely convinced.

…Well, even I understand that someone as scrawny as me would be better off taking a position in the rear.

But hey, when Felix says he’ll stand in the most dangerous position “so that he can buy time for the members to escape if something happens”, just standing here brings an incredible amount of pressure!

After all, Felix, or rather, my role this time as the assistant, is to be prepared for such a situation. It’s impossible for me, who planned this strategy, to fall back to the rear.

I’m here to assist. I came to assist Felix, so I can’t just be positioned in the rear alone.

“So, Takumi, never leave my side, okay?”

“Yeah, I understand. No matter what happens, I’ll be by your side.”

Even without being told, I’d never leave Felix’s side!

With that resolve, I nodded back to Felix. Then, he seemed to soften his lips with a pleased expression.

However, that was truly a momentary thing, and I might have been mistaken. When I looked back at Felix’s face, he had an expression of determination and fighting spirit, and he looked around at the surrounding members.

“Alright, everyone! The first squad will start by cutting down the surrounding trees. Make sure to synchronize!”

“Ha!”

At Felix’s command, everyone tightened their expressions simultaneously. And then the time had come.

“Alright, begin!”

With that order, the first squad swung their axes into the trunk in front of us simultaneously.

With the sharp blows of axes by the battle-hardened knights, a tremendous sound echoed through the forest. Despite the early winter, the trees, which still bore vivid leaves, shed a rain of leaves over our heads under the impact of the axes.

“―――Alright, next!”

While one strike was not enough to completely break the trunk, the trees weren’t that thick. One or two more hits should suffice. Felix promptly gave further instructions to the members without missing a beat.

Then, that moment arrived.

“O… ohhhhohhhhh…..……!”

“They have come, the Drain Dryads…”

At that terrifying voice, everyone swallowed their saliva with a gulp.

But there was no fear on their faces. Felix was as calm as ever, too.

“Everyone, don’t panic! Remember your groups from the briefing, you have your assigned partner by your side, right? Then, one side, use the earplugs!”

Following Felix’s instructions, each member of the group, in the pair they had been assigned, one of them put in the earplugs that had been distributed.

This was to counter the Drain Dryads’ howling skill.

The howling of the Drain Dryads can induce a state of panic in those who hear their roar with a certain probability. Therefore, the knight order formed pairs and only one person in each pair used earplugs as a countermeasure. If one does not hear the howling roar, then the howling skill is not to be feared. However, if everyone were to wear earplugs, it would interfere with the transmission of commands, so they decided that only one person per pair would use them. This way, if one of them were to succumb to the howling, their partner could use an elixir to cure the state of panic.

I put on the earplugs just like everyone else. Because I was paired with Felix.

With the earplugs in, the surrounding sounds became inaudible all at once.

Yet, I could still hear Felix’s voice, perhaps because he was raising it so loud, though muffled, it reached my ears.

“Alright! Next, the second team, use the elixirs!”

As Felix raised his voice, he gave instructions to the members with hand signals.

The first team successfully destroyed the surrounding trees with their hatchets, cutting down the wood. Following Felix’s instructions, the second team, gathered around the Drain Dryads, immediately scattered elixir towards the roots.

“Oooooh… Ohhhhhhhhh!”

“Wow, this is…!” 

After all the surrounding trees were broken, the change in the Drain Dryads that had been sprinkled with the elixir was remarkable. The shiny green leaves withered and dried up in no time. The female body that had grown from the trunk also dried up and cracked at a rapid pace. It’s working way better than yesterday, we did it!

“Ooo… ooooh…”

The Drain Dryad, which had the appearance of a beautiful woman, had now transformed into the image of an exhausted old crone. As the first team finished clearing the trees around the trunk, they threw a fire cocktail. The breaking sound rang out, and flames began to catch onto the trunk one after another. Following that, the second team drew their swords and struck at the Drain Dryads in succession.

“O, ohhhhhhh!”

The Drain Dryad, slowly lifting its face, turned the empty two holes that were its face towards Felix and me. If it had eyes, perhaps it would have been glaring at us.

The Drain Dryad let out its most intense scream yet.

Even to my ears, plugged as they were, the sound came with a tingling vibration.

Yet, the skill of Howling failed to activate. Looking around, none seemed to have fallen into panic.

Thanks to the ceaseless assault by the members, it was evidence that the Drain Dryad was significantly weakened.

“Felix!”

With what seemed like its last burst of strength, the Drain Dryad lifted a particularly large tendril. It swung down at the scattered members, attempting to strike them. But—before my voice could even reach out, the attack never reached the comrades. A sword, sparkling like a shooting star, cleaved through the outstretched tendrils in an instant.

“Annoying to the very end, aren’t you!”

Felix, having sliced through the tendril, pivoted and weaved through the subsequent strikes with agile movements. Diving into the Dryad’s reach, he kicked off the ground and plunged his sword towards the now elderly human-like torso. 

With a sharp thrust right above where a human’s heart would be, the Drain Dryad let out a gasping scream. Without hesitation, Felix kicked off the ground again, unleashing another slash at the Dryad.

“Haah!”

Felix’s sword severed the Dryad’s neck.

In an instant, the Drain Dryad stiffened completely. And then—

[………… Guaah ]

With a feeble voice and a final slump of its head, the Dryad’s remaining tendrils also fell powerlessly to the ground.

“Felix!”

I ran to Felix, who had fallen to his knees, panting heavily. Removing the earplugs, I offered my shoulder to help him stand.

“That was a splendid blow. The Drain Dryad has been successfully subdued.”

Supporting the still-breathing heavily Felix, I looked up at the Drain Dryad.

The Drain Dryad, finished by Felix’s final strike, had completely lost the solemn grandeur it once had, now nothing more than a giant withered tree.

From the human-like part, dry wooden chips continued to fall, and with the nose and lips now completely gone, it no longer formed a face. The trunk and roots were devoid of moisture, and the massive tendrils extending from the trunk began to dry out rapidly, making a cracking noise. The leaves that grew from the tendrils also withered, falling down upon our heads.

Felix looked up at the Drain Dryad, and then, as an afterthought, stared at me.

I nodded to Felix, and he beamed with pride.

“Everyone did great! It’s our victory!”

Felix looked around at the group members, raising his right hand and declared loudly. Hearing the victory cry, the members’ faces lit up with joy as they congratulated each other by patting each other’s backs in celebration.

This was the first successful subjugation of a Drain Dryad in the country, so naturally, everyone was excited.

“Takumi…”

As I happily observed everyone, Felix called out my name in a whisper. Looking up, I saw Felix smiling softly at me, his forehead slightly sweaty. “It’s all thanks to your advice. I really appreciate it.”

“What are you talking about? Felix, that last attack was spectacular. Not only that, but the fact that no one was injured is all thanks to your excellent leadership.”

When I said this, praising him, Felix smiled a little shyly.

“Yes, I’m proud that we could complete the mission without any casualties. And more importantly…”

“And what?”

“For the first time, I was able to protect you, Takumi. Not just preventing you from getting injured… When others get hurt, you always look so sad. Being able to fully protect you is what I am most proud of,” he said, his smile blossoming like a rosebud. Faced with such a smile, I felt my cheeks grow hot.

…Felix, how can you be so handsome, seriously!

But with that line, it sounds like you charged at the Drain Dryad alone just to prevent me from getting hurt…

…Hmm, well, that’s…

After talking with Gazelle the other day and all that happened yesterday with Felix, I’ve come to realize… I’m more important to them than I thought…

Why didn’t I notice it before?

Maybe I’m denser than I think?

…Well, anyway!

They’ve said so much to me.

Until now, I’ve been vaguely thinking about returning to my original world—but it’s time I come up with a proper answer.

Not just for me, but for their sake too.

***