The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 37

Chapter 37: Fire in the Wind (Aria’s Side)

“Ugh!”

“Kyaa!”

I slashed at the tentacles closing in on Sister Philia and, as if seizing that opportunity, used magic flames to block the tentacles approaching from behind.

Sister also tried to assist with magical tools, but she had no combat experience and had never been on a battlefield. She was being targeted because of me, so I had to focus on protecting her.

I considered whether I should attack, but the Black Widow’s agility surpassed mine. If I tried to defeat it alone, I would leave Sister behind, and she would likely be killed.

I couldn’t catch the Black Widow with the means at my disposal, but protecting Sister while doing so seemed nearly impossible.

“Aria-chan, I’m fine…”

“I absolutely refuse!”

I blocked the Black Widow’s attacks while interrupting Sister’s words. I was cautious, but I desperately tried to think of a way to get through this.

(If only I could attack faster than the Black Widow’s movements…)

Only one method came to mind, but it was something I had never tried before and something I couldn’t do alone.

(But…)

As I caught the Black Widow’s legs, the image of Berg’s back floated in my mind. Berg, who had single-handedly defeated the Chaos Crusader, a being of overwhelming strength…

That image shattered the slight despair that had been building inside me. I hadn’t fulfilled my promise, and I couldn’t claim to be as talented as Sister and the others. Berg was a shocking figure to me.

There were people who recognized my efforts, who were willing to teach me even when we couldn’t meet, and dear friends I wanted to help even if I couldn’t see them. Yet, with my mediocre swordsmanship and magic, I had never had anything to be proud of.

So, I imagined. Since I had imagined something that didn’t exist in me before, I could create it now.

What I imagined was Berg’s fighting form, a strength that wrapped in the wind, a storm raging like a hurricane. Even if I couldn’t reach it yet, I wanted to be like that…

“Ruskdite!”

In response to my voice, Ruskdite gleamed. Simultaneously, the flames approaching me spiraled around me, enveloping me completely.

I clad myself in swirling flames, and the burning wings on my back spread out like wings. When I stomped on the ground, the flames erupted from my legs. The flames that spewed from my legs scorched the ground, and the wings on my back burned the surrounding air, transforming me into a streaking meteor.

The flaming blade, enveloped in my flames, pierced the Black Widow’s face with eight eyes. With the momentum of the strike, the blade sliced through the Black Widow’s body and incinerated it completely.

As the Black Widow turned into a magic stone, the tension left my body. The transformed Ruskdite, now in the form of a magical creature, supported me.

“Heh, it seems you’ve learned to wield your own power to this extent.”

“Ruskdite…”

“It’s not exactly a reward, but I’ll take care of the rest. I’ll help you save your sister and the humans you care about.”

“…Please.”

With that said, I lost consciousness…

—

“Um… who are you?”

“I’m one of those who have made a contract with Aria. You call us Rare Drops.”

“Rare Drops with their own will and bodies?”

“I wasn’t defeated like Berg or that Emperor person… Hm?”

Suddenly, I sensed a powerful presence. One was the Emperor’s lion-like aura, and the other…

“…It seems to have gone beyond expectations, Berg.”

As I spoke, a smile appeared on my lips…