Chapter 207 - 207. The Fleeing Sam-Aim and Fam in Pursuit
I burst out of the restaurant, chasing after Fam's back. Even though night had completely fallen, this corner of the red-light district called Crystal Garden was brightly lit by an excessive number of torches. Like insects drawn to light, the flow of people had increased, and I couldn't tell which way Fam had gone.
"Fam!"
I shouted loudly, and people turned to look at me in surprise. I glimpsed a light blue haori weaving through the gaps in the crowd. It seemed like she was running toward the entrance of the Crystal Palace. I also started running toward it, but was caught in the wave of people and couldn't reach her.
"Damn it."
I kept chasing after her, colliding with people several times to avoid losing sight of her. Finally, I broke free from the crowd to find myself in front of the square pyramid pedestal containing the dungeon's teleportation circle. Fam had lost sight of Sam-Aim and was frantically looking around her surroundings. I rushed up to her and grabbed her arm.
"She definitely came this far. Where's Sam..."
She continued searching for Sam-Aim's figure, panting heavily. "...It's because she didn't want to meet me. She's definitely been caught up in something bad!"
"That's not necessarily true, is it? You ran away from an old acquaintance, didn't you!"
I remembered the night she fled from a person from her hometown in Heiron. Maybe Sam-Aim had fled for the same reason? No, I wished that was the case.
"Back then, I had you, Master. You chased after me and caught me. Sam needs someone to do that for her too."
She thought that was her duty. She stared at me. Her eyes seemed to be burning red from the torchlight.
"Does it have to be now?"
"Yes, it has to be now."
"You want to find her no matter what?"
"Yes, no matter what. I have to hold Sam's hand."
Seeing her nod, I pulled her hand. The platform with the dungeon teleportation circle was slightly higher than the surroundings. I climbed the stairs. It might be difficult to find Sam-Aim in this crowd, but at least from here, I could see the surrounding area. We didn't go inside but stood in a position where we could overlook everything. I waved my hand.
"Goddess Summon!"
At the same time as my shout, the surroundings were enveloped in a rainbow shimmer. When the shimmer disappeared, the feet of the people in the street stopped, and their gazes turned upward to what was floating above our heads. There, sitting on a spear, was Racshell with her long, golden hair and shimmering rainbow cloak.
"R-Racshell-sama is here..."
"A god has descended."
"So the rumors that she descended on the cathedral were true!"
Murmurs rose from the crowd. Some stood frozen, others trembled with emotion, and others knelt in prayer; their reactions varied greatly.
"Hear ye! These are the words of a god. No one move a muscle! Not even an inch! Those who move will receive an arrow in their chest!"
I shouted, and the crowd quieted and stopped moving.
"Fam, search for Sam-Aim."
"M-Master, I-I, I can't do much of anything..."
"Shut up! You said you'd do anything. Hurry up and find her and secure your friend!"
She had been fidgeting with her fingers, but as if resolved, she clenched her hands tightly. She turned her gaze to the crowd in the plaza. That's when it happened. One person was moving to leave the frozen crowd. I could see white dog ears and tail. Sam-Aim had been hiding and blending into the crowd.
"We found you!"
At the same time as Fam shouted after finding Sam-Aim, Racshell raised her hand. The space distorted, and an arrow was fired. A scream echoed through the crowd as the arrow struck Sam-Aim in the calf, causing her to fall. The crowd watched in shock as blood spread across the cobblestone floor.
"W-Why did you..."
I hurriedly glanced at Racshell. My heart raced, and I felt the blood in my veins turn cold.
"You said you would shoot anyone who moved. I thought this was enough to satisfy your feelings, Mash."
Her cheeks puffed out slightly. But now wasn't the time to worry about her mood.
"Fam! Carry her to Maira!"
"B-But..."
"Quickly!"
"In this situation, I can't possibly leave you alone, Master!"
She was worried that I would lose magic and collapse from the Goddess Summon. There was no one else here besides me and her. As she hesitated, someone was coming towards us from the crowd.
"Moe! Racshell, he's an ally."
I was worried if Racshell would snipe him, so I glanced at her.
"I know. I wouldn't shoot an ally."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
Her hand hovering to cast another spell was concerning, but Sam-Aim was more important now.
"Fam, Moe's here, so it's fine. Hurry and get Sam-Aim!"
As she was about to descend the stairs, an arrow pierced her back with a whoosh. For a brief moment, her body seemed to float in the air. I reached out to grab her, but I wasn't in time. She was tumbling down the stairs. Marmie, who had already started ascending, reached out with both hands to catch her. She managed to hug Fam’s body, but couldn't support her weight, and they both tumbled down together.
"Fam, Moe!"
"...I-I'm okay."
Marmie, who was pinned by Fam, crawled out and stood up. But Fam was listless and unresponsive. Marmie shook her body. Blood, spilled by Fam, spread across the stone floor. Despite my rapidly pounding heart, I felt the blood in my body grow cold. I turned back towards Racshell.
"Why did you shoot Fam too?"
"It wasn't me. Mash, calm down. You have an enemy."
As I turned my gaze to the direction of the arrow, that was the moment. The sound of wind cutting through the air echoed again, and a sharp arrow pierced my side. A wave of pain ran through my body, and I felt my consciousness slipping away in an instant. I reflexively kneesled to the ground. But I couldn't fall here. I strained all my strength to lift my head. A man, readying another arrow, came into view through my hazy vision. Long black hair framed his face, and distinctly long ears poked out from beneath it. An elf. He seemed to be aiming at Marmie this time.
"Racshell…"
Responding to my words, she raised her hand. Dozens of arrows were fired toward the man. However, the arrows were deflected by a magic barrier that appeared in front of him. The expressions on my and Racshell's faces subtly twisted.
"N-No way, Racshell's arrows?!"
"It's a Special Skill."
Racshell pointed to the man beside the arrow-constructing elf. There was a small figure, facing away from us, crouching down and clutching their head. Their trembling figure made them appear to be a child.
"Are there barriers that nullify divine power?"
Until now, no enemy had ever retaliated against us after Racshell was summoned. Their will would be captured by her charm, rendering them unable to fight back. To stop her attacks, deflect her charm, and even create a barrier that would allow her allies' attacks to pass through.
"Mash, Special Skills are a part of divine power."
"Then, my spear—"
"Killing everyone would be easy. I could break that barrier if I put out that much energy. But Mash, you said you don't want to involve those around you, right? And would you like to rip out the surrounding buildings too?"
If Racshell killed them with her spear, there was a risk that Sam-Aim, if she was a slave, would die due to the command of being loyal to her master.
While I was hesitating, the elf man fired another arrow. The target was not me, but Marmie again. She noticed it and raised her wand high. A magical defense barrier appeared before her. However, the arrow easily pierced the barrier she created.
"Moe!"
In that desperate moment, a shadow jumped out from beside her, deflecting the arrow. It was Tursa, the commander of the One Land family knights. He glared at the elf man with sharp eyes and stood protectively in front of Marmie.
"Why is Tursa here…"
In the meantime, Petra appeared from the crowd and hurried up the altar steps, standing in front of me with her mallet at the ready. Furthermore, Maira and Mizuki were also rushing up the steps.
"Petra, you weren't supposed to come back?"
"It's due to a secret agreement with Lady Mariana and Lady Catalina. The three families are to protect you."
The elf man stopped his attempt to fire another arrow, lifted the small figure crouching beside him, and began to retreat quickly.
"Clovis Leafclout…"
Petra muttered as she watched him leave. No one chased after him. They simply watched him disappear from the square. I realized I'd forgotten about Sam-Aim in the midst of the battle and looked in the direction where she had been, but she had disappeared as well.
"Tch…"
Although she didn't show any tears, Fam was crying. I had no regrets about summoning Racshell for her sake. However, Mariana had told me that it would be difficult to negotiate her transfer as there were individuals who could become enemies. I had to be wary. Now, my strings of tension snapped. I couldn't support my body anymore and fell forward. However, I didn't hit my head on the floor. Someone had caught me. The ground had been stained red with my blood before I knew it.
"Mizuki, Maira. Please, get Fam first…"
As I spoke, my vision blurred, and my surroundings went dark.
"Mash, hang in there!"
I didn't know whose voice it was. I was being carried by someone, but I couldn't tell whose hands they were. Their hands were strangely warm. My own hand touched theirs. 'Maira, please, help Fam.'
My voice didn't come out. Instead, a lukewarm stream of blood emerged.