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Chapter 16

I stood in front of the magic circle.

There should be a cave beyond the wall. And inside it, a portal that spewed out monsters.

There was no real need to find the portal itself. As long as we reported the cave’s location, the Imperial Knights would take care of the rest.

I should head back and tell them where the cave is. That way, we could return to the city even a day sooner.

Yes! No sleeping outdoors!

Just as I was celebrating internally, Theodore—who had followed behind—carefully examined the magic circle.

“What is this magic circle?” he asked. “It looks like some kind of illusion spell.”

Theodore shifted his gaze to me.

“You know how to dispel illusion magic, right?”

“Well, um…”

I scratched my cheek awkwardly.

“I don’t know how to use that spell.”

“What?”

Theodore stared at me in shock.

“Aren’t you Cyprian’s disciple?”

“Yes.”

“The greatest mage in the Empire is your master.”

“That’s right.”

“Then why can’t you use magic?”

“…Good question.”

“……”

Theodore looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, like he’d just met the world’s biggest fool.

What can I do? My mana level is only one.

Aside from being charming, I’m completely useless.

Anyway, my role ended here. Dispelling illusion magic was Lowell’s job!

I casually placed my hand on the magic circle.

“It’s fine. We can just call my master! This level of magic is nothing for him—”

At that moment, the magic circle beneath my hand began to glow blue. The solid wall rippled like the surface of water struck by a stone, then blurred as if losing its substance.

A moment later, where the wall had been, the quiet entrance to a cave revealed itself.

The cave exuded a chilly atmosphere, as if rejecting unfamiliar visitors.

I stared at it in a daze.

What?

Why did the magic dispel?

Theodore seemed just as flustered.

“How did you do that? You said you didn’t know how to dispel illusion magic.”

“I don’t know. I just touched it…”

“Who would create something like this here? And what were they hiding inside…?”

The cave was far deeper and darker than I had expected.

Then Theodore shouted at me, his face stiffening.

“Danger—!”

In the darkness, red eyes flashed.

Before I could even draw a breath, their owner lunged at me with its jaws wide open.

A damp, hot breath reeking of foul stench washed over me. Dozens of sharp teeth charged straight toward me—

Suddenly, my body was lifted into the air. Wrapped in someone’s arms, I tumbled deep into the cave.

With a thunderous crash, stone dust sprayed across my face. I was battered from all sides, dizzy from the impacts.

When the rolling finally stopped, everything around me was pitch-black. I couldn’t see anything.

All I could feel was the cold touch of metal against my cheek, arms wrapped around me, a warm hand on my shoulder—and the sound of a man’s ragged breathing.

As my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, my surroundings began to take shape.

Theodore was right in front of me. He was holding me tightly, breathing unevenly.

“Theodore…?”

“Haa… Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

Hmm. I think I’m fine?

I wiggled my arms and legs to check. Since they moved normally, it didn’t seem like I was injured.

But Theodore was holding me so tightly I couldn’t move properly.

“I’m okay, so could you let go? I can’t move.”

“Oh—sorry.”

After clearing his throat, Theodore released his arms.

Free from him, I brushed the dirt and dust off my clothes and asked,

“What was that just now?”

“A wyvern.”

Frowning, Theodore pulled out a torch. As the darkness receded, the shape of the cave slowly came into view.

A sloping pile of rocks caught my eye. Somewhere above it, faint light was seeping in.

That light must be coming from the cave entrance.

So… did we fall to the bottom of the cave?

Falling from that height and coming out unscathed—if it weren’t for Theodore, I, without even armor, would’ve met one of two endings.

Either I’d become a small, precious snack for the wyvern.

Or I’d roll down those rocks and end up as a bloody mess.

Both were horrifying.

I turned to Theodore.

“Thank you for saving—”

“It’s too early to thank me.”

Theodore drew his greatsword and took a combat stance.

As he fixed his gaze on the top of the rock pile, a chilling monster’s cry echoed through the cave.

Before long, the wyvern revealed itself.

A body covered in scales, massive wings, a form reminiscent of a dragon.

Though smaller than a dragon, the wyvern possessed a similarly overwhelming presence.

Gripping the rock with its thick, sharp claws, it slowly descended the cliff face.

All the while, its gaze remained locked on Theodore and me—like a relaxed predator closing in on its prey.

“Stay back.”

Theodore stepped in front of me. Gripping the sword’s hilt, he frowned once more and murmured a prayer.

“In nomine luminis arde.”

The blade, infused with holy power, glowed red. Provoked by the light, the wyvern spread its wings and roared.

“Kerrrrrk!”

Theodore charged.

When the wyvern swung its foreclaws, his sword flashed like a streak of light, knocking the claws aside.

In one fluid motion, Theodore twisted his body and drove toward the wyvern’s flank.

The wyvern snapped its head around, baring its fangs—but without even pausing for breath, Theodore slashed horizontally.

“Kehk!”

Struck hard, the wyvern staggered.

Not missing the opening, Theodore leapt at it again.

Planting his foot on the wyvern’s back, he vaulted up onto its head. Raising his greatsword high, he drove it down.

“Kiiiiiiek!”

The wyvern screamed in agony, thrashing violently to shake him off.

The more it struggled, the deeper Theodore forced the blade into its skull.

“Kerrrrrgh!”

With a final death cry, the wyvern collapsed heavily to the ground.

I stared blankly at Theodore’s battle.

I’d felt it before when he defeated the basilisk, but—slaying such a massive monster so effortlessly. Alone.

His reputation as the youngest-ever commander of the Holy Knights clearly wasn’t due solely to his abundant holy power.

Theodore climbed down from the wyvern’s corpse. As he approached me, drenched in the monster’s blood, he suddenly staggered.

“…!”

I rushed to his side and supported him.

“Are you okay?”

“Haa…”

He gasped for breath. It didn’t take long to realize that the blood he was bleeding wasn’t only the wyvern’s.

Deep claw marks tore through his armor. Through the twisted gaps, red blood seeped out, slowly trickling down his clothes.

Seeing the unmistakable signs of injury, my mind went blank and my hands began to tremble.

“…You’re hurt?”

Still catching his breath, Theodore gave a strained smile.

“Actually, my arm broke when we fell into the cave.”

“What…!”

I remembered his pained expression before fighting the wyvern.

He fought that thing with a broken arm?

My chest felt heavy.

If he hadn’t saved me, he wouldn’t have been hurt this badly. Pushing himself while injured must have led to this severe wound.

Overwhelmed by guilt, I scolded him without thinking.

“Are you stupid? You have healing abilities! You should’ve healed yourself before fighting! Hurry and heal yourself now—!”

“Unfortunately, I can’t use healing magic on myself.”

“What…? That’s ridiculous!”

“Hah… Yeah. I’d like to complain about it too.”

As if he couldn’t hold out any longer, Theodore leaned his back against the cave wall.

I stared at him, stunned. The paler his face grew, the more anxious I felt.

Think.

What should I do?

What else could I do?

There was only one thing to be done.

Looking straight at Theodore, who was breathing roughly, I spoke in a firm voice.

“Take it off.”