Chapter 16 – In Order To Live
“I, don’t actually think, blessing is unnecessary.”
Midnight.
Sheto said, after the meeting in front of the small fire was over.
“But… When listening to you, it sure sounded like you wanted to fight without it?”
“…Maybe. But divine vessels. Can break, stolen, lose. If you rely on them, you will be weak, when without them.”
‘That’s true. We had little choice at first. But the defense, attack and break arts enchantment can be used easily and flexibly. And they cannot be taken away. At worst, you can fight with an enchanted tree branch, or just your flesh.’
Sheto nodded.
He was starting to understand. What it was that he needed in order to survive.
“I want. Power to live. Something that can’t, be taken away.”
‘Power to live…’
“And so, I won’t rely on divine vessels and blessings.”
Because he was weak. In order to beat those who were strong.
“Will think of ways to win without.”
He could not stop thinking. That was the way forward.
‘Oh, dear. And I went through so much trouble to be able to give blessings.’
“I’m sorry. But…thank you, Salia.”
“And, you want me to participate in this reckless plan now…”
“Sorry, Fi.”
“Wuff.”
“Thank you, Guto.”
In the firelight, Sheto looked at each of them and bowed his head.
“Sorry. I need your help.”
‘That’s fine, Sheto. But Fi and Guto are my ‘blessing’ too, you know?’
“Huh!?”
“And so they can also be taken away.”
“Uh…but…”
There was an awkward silence. But he could smell that the goddess was happy.
‘It’s fine. I understand what you wanted to say. And I’ll let you do things your way.’
Salia smiled at the silent Sheto.
‘In order to live.’
The Star Wolf cut through the air, and Sheto’s vision blurred. Even though he and Fi were quite light, he was equipped with armor and his quiver. And so he was surprised how fast the wolf still was.
They reached their destination in no time.
However, there was something new that drew his eye.
The fallen swords that the Heroes had left behind. They were now piercing the ground between the trees.
“Fi! I’m counting on you!”
“Woaah! Don’t be so rough!”
He saw that the young dragon rolled on the ground and stopped in front of the swords. And then while riding on Guto, he pulled out one of the swords.
“Guto. Change direction!”
It was a simple blade. As his vision swirled, he saw the golem coming towards him. As well as the flying wyvern.
“Go!”
With his left hand, he clutched the wolf’s mane, and with his right hand, he held the sword against his shoulder.
“Wyvern! Tail Needle!”
While hovering in the air, it swung its tail, unleashing a rain of needles. But the wolf ignored this as it ran underneath and towards the golem’s thick left leg.
“Arghhhh!”
As he let go of the mane, he jumped off of the wolf’s back and swung down with the sword with both hands.
“Gggggg!”
He felt the impact through his arms. With the momentum of the wolf, and all of the strength in his body, as well as three layers of blessings, he carved into the surface of the golem. And then he landed on the ground in a roll.
“Woah!”
After hitting the ankle, the blade shattered. Fragments of mithril shot out like an explosion.
“Golem! Punch down!”
The golem’s fist slammed down between its legs.
Sheto quickly grabbed onto the wolf’s neck, and a moment later, he was riding on its back once again as it dashed away.
“Good! Go!”
They rushed away from the golem and back to the forest of swords.
This plan was devised through Fi’s information and Salia’s advice. It was almost ridiculously simple.
‘The break arts should be effective on the golem as well. It will erase any magic cast on it, and make it possible to destroy it by using the power of attack and defense.’
‘But even if you could get through its defenses, wouldn’t you only be able to deal a little damage?’
‘And that is where Guto comes in. Can you do it?’
‘…Wuff.’
‘Charge attack on the dog. Use mobility for hit and run tactics. But even if you’re a small target, you’ll be out in just one hit, you know?’
‘But, no other choice. I will do it.’
Chip away at the golem’s magic energy and attack it with weapons that had been blessed. Along with his strength and the charge of the wolf.
“Wyvern! Tail Needle!”
The silver rain fell. The Star Wolf dodged it desperately while running.
Sheto then pulled out an arrow and then sat up straight.
“Tsk!”
The pressure on his legs was worse than he thought. Still, he managed to maintain that posture as he unleashed an arrow into the air.
“GAAAARGHH!”
The blessed arrow scratched its neck. The wyvern shook its head with irritation.
He could not shoot with much accuracy. Still, as long as his lower half was secure…
“Woah!?”
Guto jumped to the side in order to avoid the needles, and Sheto was thrown forward into its mane.
“Guess, can’t just shoot while riding!”
A long time ago, there had been a strange hunter in his village who would do this. However, he had a special saddle. But Guto had no such thing on him.
“Sheto! Use this!”
Fi hurled another sword at him. This one was wide and heavy. It would be more burdensome, but Guto did not slow down.
The golem was in front of him now. And though it was rather slow, its strides were so big.
Still, the white beast ran, and Sheto lifted up the sword.
“One more hit!”
This time, just as the wolf ran through its great legs, Sheto jumped, kicking off of Guto’s back.
“AGGGHHHHHH!!”
A wide swing. It carved away at the inner thigh on the left leg, and the impact caused the golem to shake a little.
“Over there, wyvern! Fire Breath!”
An attack that relied on trusting the golem’s defense ability. Its mouth opened wide in front of Sheto.
Still, the hunter thought. Kill. In order to live.
His left hand went to his bow, and his right hand pulled out an arrow.
The body came swooping down. He pulled the bowstring. Fire filled the wyvern’s jaws. And then the blessed arrow pierced through the air.
“Gaaaahhhhh!”
It pierced deep into the side of its jaw.
Explosive flames burst in the air, dying the sky red.
“Guto!”
As he sat back down, he could feel the impact. Still, the tough wolf accepted its rider.
“Turn around! Go under its legs!”
Sheto was looking at the sword that he had dropped. Guto ran. Sheto jumped off the wolf’s back and grabbed the blade and swung it.
Like an axe in a tree trunk, it tore into the right leg. Without even stopping to confirm it, he ran for the third sword.
“Sheto! Here!”
The next blade was thin and beautiful. As he caught it, the giant golem’s shadow hung over him as it stood straight.
“Golem! Use Meteor Strike to destroy the swords!”
The golem raised both of its hands above its head, and then swung down, as if to shatter the earth into rubble.