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Emir: "…"
I hurriedly checked on his status.
[Samael Entrial] [Magic Knight Lvl 31]
'Yep, that's the enemy admiral general. Even a fool could deduce that after seeing how Dorian Aranis is approaching this position. God, didn't we have a deal? I swore to you that I would repair the Solitary Temple in exchange for a truce, but you come and throw the enemy's ultimate weapon at me as soon as you get the chance. Why don't you just throw a few lightning bolts at me? Why do you have to carry out such devious plans? Do you hate me that much??!!'
"Hm? There shouldn't be anyone in this place. What are you doing here? did you get lost?" Samael asked in confusion.
But despite appearances, Samael spoke to me casually as if we didn't belong to different armies and we weren't enemies.
"You'd better back off a bit, would you-.... Hm?" He started to say something but then narrowed his eyes.
'Ah, damn it.'
Since my life is in danger, my talent for reading gazes is sharper than usual. In other words... I read that gaze perfectly!
'Activate Profile [Agility]!'
'Sword Breathing Style!'
*Sla…*
In the fraction of a second, his sword cuts through the air at high speed.
My profile, along with the skill, temporarily grants me a perception equal to the ability to stop time, and thanks to that... his sword stopped just centimeters away from my neck.
"Didn't your parents teach you any manners?! First you salute, then you draw your sword!"
'I have never met someone capable of murder in just a blink of an eye. What if you had made a mistake and murdered the wrong person? Don't deaths weigh on him?!'
Because of the hatred and danger, my adrenaline made pain much less intense. Moving at this speed should have had a huge side effect on my body, but my survival instinct suppressed all feelings.
That's why I managed to evade his attack perfectly, and not only that, but my current stance will allow me to quickly move away from him once time returns to its natural course.
*...ash*
When time returned, so did the sound.
Without a second thought, I made use of my agility to escape him.
Samael Entrial: "!!!!"
'- He dodged it!'
According to the map, Samael remained static on the spot. He still can't assimilate that I was able to dodge his attack.
'- But this ratifies my suspicions. No one who conceals his identity with a magical object is ordinary!' Samael shifts his stance and gathers mana in his sword.
"Half-Moon blade!"
Emir: "!!!!"
'This damn magic knight! You're proud to bully a 15-year-old! Because, you know, that's my age!'
I gritted my teeth and stopped time around me again.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
'Sword Breathing Style!'
The more my body parts are in motion, the greater the pain. I can hear how some of my bones rattle from the friction and how my muscles tighten from the overexertion. But my will to live is even greater, and my survival instinct has turned off my sense of pain again.
When time returned to its natural course...
*Swosh*
I was in the air, narrowly dodging the mana blade.
"I'll remember this, damn old man!!!"
Our distance was too great; He surely couldn't cast that magic again. And even if he did, I would no longer need to take the risk of activating the Agility profile in conjunction with the Breathing skill, since with a little effort I could easily dodge it.
*Smile*
But his smile gave me the creeps.
He activated his skill again, and I looked at the mana blade approaching me. Then I understood... This magic has an attraction effect! The distance between us isn't enough to completely evade it!
'Damn Old Man! You...! You force m-...!!!'
''Haa....''
At the very moment I made my resolution, a sigh was heard very close to me.
'How strange. I see no one near me on the map.'
The next second, the blade of mana that would have cut my foot was deflected millimeter by millimeter.
The attraction effect disappeared without a trace. My body continued to move in the air, and the magic continued its path under me. The mana blade impacted in the distance after I fell to the ground.
'- Did my attack miss??! Was it because of that man or...?' Samael felt surprised at the sudden events.
From the look on Samael's face, I know he had nothing to do with it. And it's logical. Just a few seconds ago he tried to assassinate me, so why would he change his mind the next moment? The only answer is...
The man who sighed is the one who helped me.
"I'll remember this, damn old man!!!" I shouted again.
It would be rude of me not to return that voice's kindness; and as it seems that his owner wants to remain hidden, that's why my expression and tone of voice toward Samael reflect hatred and a thirst for revenge, insinuating that the whole situation before was due to me.
Without wasting any time, I got up from the ground and escaped without looking back.
Samael Entrial: "..."
According to my map, Samael remained in place until Dorian arrived, then their dots moved frantically on my map. This is the only way I can describe their movements because not only were they fast, but their exchanges were fierce, not to mention the variety of magic they used to attack each other.
Once I got far enough away, I could finally sigh.
'Good! This time I'll go straight towards the military division of archers to avoid any more obstacles getting in the way-....'
"Golden Archer, that was a magnificent feat. To be able to survive the attack of a Magic Knight is a feat worth counting; for that reason, I will send a group especially for your protection. The enemy formations have changed, and we will change accordingly; wait here and be prepared."
Such words were heard directly in my ear without any magic object as an intermediary. This voice is very different from that of the man who sighed, but at the same time it sounds familiar to me.
"Who said that?"
"Look behind."
As I direct my gaze to look behind me, a certain Magic Knight waves his hand cheerfully.
Emir: "..."
'Fuck you very much, Dorian Aranis! Stick that order where it fits you best!'
Of course I swallowed the curse. So, even though I just wanted to get back to the other archers to shoot from a safe place, I had to wait in this damned place.
Some time later, the group of soldiers assigned to protect me arrived.
"Having to protect you is the worst thing that has happened to me this whole day."
Emir: "..."
I didn't need to look back. I immediately recognized that tone of voice. Yair's group is the one in charge of protecting me! I feel more secure fighting alone!
As if that wasn't enough, it started raining minutes later...
'This must have a logical explanation; let's think. It's most likely due to the constant use of magic. The temperature went up and down so many times that the weather was influenced by this change, causing the clouds to form and it to start to rain. Fuuh... After diverting my attention a bit, I feel calmer. Well, it's time to face the harsh reality.'
"I don't know if you're the worst thing that's happened to me today, but you're in the top 3 on the list. I can tell you that much." I said with confidence.
Yair: "..."
'- You replied 5 minutes later!'
After the initial salute, Yair commanded his men to change formation, and as a result, I found myself in the rear while he and his minions found themselves forming defensive lines around me.
Although I hate to say it, he is doing a good job.
Both armies completely changed their formations while we remained in place. If before they performed the tactic of attacking and then retreating, they are now 8 points focused on attacking and 2 on retreating.
The most visible evidence of this is that, when viewed from the air, the armies quickly began to spread out in a line, and there is no longer a military division behind them that can support them when needed.
Something important to emphasize is that the rear army is slowly moving closer to the battle front.
The worst weakness of this formation is that the wounded will appear more frequently, and in order to cushion the increasing loss, the soldiers stationed in the rear will be the ones who replace them.
Although Alessia and the three annoying beauties are in a safe place, if the battle drags on for too long... At some point they will also be called.
"Haa..." I sighed.
Yair: "?????"
'Well, I created this identity to prevent my name from being recognized. But it seems that for the first time in my life, I will have to try my best wholeheartedly. Though after this, the days of the Golden Archer will surely be counted.'
"In about 10 minutes, this place will become the new front line. Get ready!" Yair shouted to his men.
"Yes, captain!"
Time passed quickly until the screams and the bloodbath were only a few meters away from us.
With that, I shot the first arrow.