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Chapter 10
Christian looked up at Amel, who was riding her broom smoothly through the sky.
From a distance, she looked like nothing more than a delicate noble lady. He wasn’t the type to judge people by appearances, but that was still the impression she gave at first glance.
Whether she was strong or weak was another matter, but the Emperor’s intentions were suspicious. Even if she could produce healing potions, they were still consumables—hardly a replacement for a priest.
This wasn’t the first time the Emperor had treated Belérophon unfairly. Christian was already so used to the Emperor’s “torment” that it was becoming exhausting.
So he really intends to keep harassing us to the end…
With that thought, he swung his sword. A monster rushing out of the forest was cut down instantly.
“Gyaaah—!”
“Kreeegh!”
The Pegasus Knights quickly cut down the lesser monsters pouring in from all sides. They hadn’t even entered the Rift territory yet, but the number of monsters was already abnormal.
Christian immediately sensed this wasn’t an ordinary Broken Rift.
“Don’t fall back! They’re just slightly numerous—nothing different from what we usually face! Stay calm and aim for their weak points!”
Amel was watching everything from the sky.
Finally, my chance to shine.
She stopped her broom midair, reached into her pouch, and pulled out a glass bottle. The liquid inside shimmered with an eerie pale light.
Calculating the monsters’ movement path, she threw it.
Crash!
The sound of shattering glass made everyone—including Christian—turn toward it.
It was a rare sight: a witch’s potion being used in combat.
“Whoa…”
“T-that’s a witch’s weapon…”
From the broken bottle, thick thorny vines burst out, writhing like living creatures. They coiled around the incoming monsters, binding them tightly.
The monsters struggled, but could not advance.
But it wasn’t only the vines that stopped them.
Above them, Amel calmly floated on her broom, looking down.
“Keek…”
The monsters trembled under her gaze, unable even to break free.
Christian observed her carefully. As he would need to report her performance to the Emperor, he had to evaluate her properly.
I didn’t notice this back at the castle… she actually has presence.
Amel’s sharp, slightly upturned eyes and small lips usually gave her a refined, almost cute impression.
But now, that softness was gone. She looked sharp, even commanding.
Without realizing it, Christian thought:
I may have underestimated her.
He gave a small laugh and snapped the knights back to attention.
“Focus! While their movement is restricted, eliminate them!”
“Yes, sir!”
The knights immediately resumed their assault, turning the restrained monsters into easy targets.
“Wow… they’re already gone.”
Amel, watching from her broom, was impressed.
She had only thrown the potion a minute ago, and already the battlefield was clearing.
Feeling a bit restless, she reached into her pouch again.
I can’t just stand around.
Another group of monsters was approaching. Without even checking what she had grabbed, she threw another bottle.
But—
The moment it hit the ground, light flared.
And then flames erupted.
“GRAAAH!”
“KIEEEK!”
The monsters were engulfed instantly—but so was the air around her. The fire surged upward dangerously close to her altitude.
“Eek!”
Startled, Amel jerked her broom away in panic. Witches, especially, were notoriously afraid of fire.
She lost her balance. Her grip slipped.
And she fell.
No training for landing. No recovery technique. Falling from a broom meant death.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
But instead of pain—
Something caught her.
A strange force supported her body, and then a solid warmth beneath her.
“…You.”
She slowly opened her eyes.
“Y-Your Highness?”
Christian’s face filled her vision.
His arms were under her—one supporting her back, the other beneath her legs.
“!!”
Flushed, Amel immediately sprang out of his arms.
“…I’m sorry. I acted without thinking. I was just trying to catch you so you wouldn’t get hurt.”
“Ah… n-no, it’s fine. I should be the one thanking you… for saving me…”
She turned away quickly, pressing her burning cheeks with her hands.
Her heart was racing uncontrollably.
This is insane. If I was already in his arms, I should’ve stayed there—why did I move?!
But if she had stayed any longer, her heart might have exploded.
It wasn’t the same as before. This time, he had initiated the contact himself.
And her heartbeat showed no sign of calming down.
