Chapter 68 "Fissure"

Rick Pov

　The black robe in front of me slowed down and stopped as we entered an open area.

　I stopped too and pulled out the sword at my waist.

　"Let Sania go."

　The black robe tosses Sania aside.

　This guy....

　I was about to go ballistic, but I regained my composure and readied my sword.

Be calm. Don't mistake my purpose.

My goal is to save Sania.

If possible, I want to capture this guy, but if that's not possible, just get rid of him.

Besides, the longer it takes, the more advantage I'll have.

Gervas should be heading for the exit of this alley by now, and with all this commotion, the Holy Knights will notice and come here.

　I'm not going to force him down, but I'm going to buy time. That will lead to saving Sania.

　The black robe slowly draws his sword.

　"Wha!?"

I noticed that the black robe suddenly appeared in front of me.

　A flash of a side cleave from the left.

I quickly caught it with my sword and kicked him in return.

The black robe jumps backwards and avoids it.

　I follow up. A slash to the right from a stab.

　The stab was further back and avoided, and the right was passed over with a twist of the body.

　No problem. I was right.

I swung my sword out of my body, and without turning my body around, I threw a kick.

　Black Robe tried to move back and duck, but he hit the wall and was unable to move back.

　A direct hit.

　He felt the blow, and from the feel of it, he was not wearing any kind of armor.

I tried to pull my leg back for a further strike, but my leg was caught between his armpits.

......shit.

　The next moment, my vision was filled with a wall and a shock.

　As soon as I recognized that I was swung around and slammed into the wall, I was impacted in the stomach.

　I was kicked away.

　Rolling on the cobblestones, the taste of blood and dust in my mouth.

　"Gaha."

　The black robe slowly walks toward Sania as if to show her off.

　Damn, Sania...

　I punch my shaking legs and stand up.

　The black robe takes one look at me and returns the sword to its sheath.

　What? I thought, and then I was kicked in the stomach.

Before I can crouch down holding my stomach, he grabs me by the hair and punches me, then launches a knee to my jaw.

As soon as his hand left the grip on my hair, he punched me further in the middle of my face.

　My nose was flooded with something warm.

　After that, I was punched and kicked again and again.

　Damn it! You're going to torture me to death.

　Kicks fly at me where I fell down.

　I desperately cling to my legs.

　I need to buy some time. I have to somehow persist until Gervas arrives.

　The black robe drops its fists again and again, trying to pull me off, but I hold on regardless.

　I hear something that sounds like a tongue lashing, and at the same time my body is blown up and slammed against the wall.

　Magic, damn...this is not good.

　The black robe is holding out its hand to me.

　He's trying to finish me off. I have to do something.

　I try desperately to raise myself up, but my injured body won't listen to me.

The palm of his hand that is pointed at me starts to glow thinly.

　Is this it?

　I stare desperately at the black robe, trying to resist at least a little.

　"Haaaaah!"

　"!?"

　The black robe quickly extinguishes its magic and falls back.

　The next moment, something white fell from above with a roar.

No, that was a white armor...or was it a Temple Knight?

Seeing that the knight was holding a drawn sword, he must have attacked from above.

　Anyway, I am saved.

　My strength drains from my body.

The Temple Knight took one look at me and turned his face to his black robe.

　I can't see his expression because he has his visor down, but his body is trembling slightly.

　"You!"

　The voice sounded familiar. Is this the voice of Instructor Sherifa?

The instructor shouts like a roar, closes the gap at once, and unleashes a slash from the upper level in a straight line.

　The black robe is cut off, unable to dodge.

　Blood sprays in the air.

　The instructor did not stop and fired a follow-up attack from below, tracing the trajectory of the first blow.

　This one was dodged.

　The black robe throws the sword at the instructor, then scoops Sania up with his foot and holds her in his armpit.

The instructor parries the flying sword and switches from slashing to stabbing, aiming for the black robe's shoulder.

　The instructor was one move too late, as he had already parried the sword.

　Before the thrust hits, the black-robed figure disappears as if melting away.

　Magic!?

"I won't let you get away!"

　The instructor shouts, and at the same time, the armor glows. That is the "white light" ability of the white armor.

The effect is to prevent the activation of magic.

　The figure of the black robe that was about to leave the scene is brought into relief by the light.

　"There..."

　As soon as the black-robed figure was caught, something like a black ball flew in front of the instructor's eyes.

　"What!?"

The instructor quickly covered her head with her arms. A moment later, the ball explodes.

　Smoke filled the surrounding area. A smoke screen.

　Coughing, I search for the black-robed figure, but I can't see him.

　The instructor magically dispersed the smoke, and soon my vision was restored, but the black robe was nowhere to be seen.

　"Damn!"

The instructor punched a nearby wall, then shook her head lightly and turned to face me with her face visor up.

　"Rick, are you okay?"

　"Yeah...somehow."

　The instructor looks uncomfortable.

"The girl from earlier..."

　"I know her.

　"...... Sorry."

　The instructor looks down.

　I couldn't blame the instructor.

　She was standing in front of me, and I guessed she was defending me against an attack before the smoke screen restored my vision.

　"No..."

　In this case, I was the one to blame.

If I hadn't been there, the instructor would have been able to concentrate on the black robe.

　"Rick!"

I heard a voice behind me and turned around to see Refia running toward me.

　I wondered if she was all right.

"Refia. I'm glad you're okay."

"You look... terrible over there. By the looks of it, Sania is..."

　"Sorry."

Refia shook her head and said not to worry about it.

　"I came rushing in. I'm sorry. I didn't have enough power."

　"Instructor! You came."

　Refia's expression brightens, but the instructor's is dark.

"Speaking of which, what happened to the Gervas who went ahead of you?"

"If it's me, I'm here."

Gervas walked from the other side of the road from which Refia had come.

　"Gervas! Are you okay?"

　"I'm fine. I'm sorry, but I had a black robe on my side, too. I couldn't get to you."

Looking closely, I see that he has numerous scratches on his armor and his great sword is chipped in several places.

"Gervas, Refia, the man who kidnapped the child escaped. Have you seen them?"

"Huh? Instructor? Why are you...?"

　"We'll talk later. Which way did he go?"

　Gervas was a little surprised to see the instructor, but quickly answered the question.

"He came over here. I also saw that he was holding Sania. I tried to stop him, but..."

　"I understand. I'm glad you're all safe."

　"Instructor..."

　"Give me a minute and I'll report first."

　Before I could open my mouth, the instructor took out a magic stone for communication from her pocket and reported the current situation.

　When she finished her report, she said, "Let's talk while we move," and started to walk away.

　We followed her.

Along the way, the instructor briefly described the events leading up to the point where she came in to help me.

While patrolling with two colleagues, they saw a suspicious black-robed figure and tried to stop him, but he started to run away, so they decided to chase him.

　The instructors went up to the top of the building in pursuit of the black-robed man.

　"In the end, they got away."

The instructor muttered to herself in self-mockery.

　"It's your turn now. How did you get into that situation?"

　I was to speak on behalf of the group.

I couldn't tell her much about what had happened because all I knew was that I had gone to pick up Sania, who had been kidnapped by a black robe in front of me and that we had gotten into a fight in an alley.

　"I'm going to go back to the academy to treat you first. Gervas, Rick, your wounds are deep. And Refia..."

　"I'll be fine."

It was true that Refia was almost unharmed.

　"The guy I fought seemed to be trying to buy time, so he didn't attack me aggressively."

　Refia added, "Thanks to you, I was almost unharmed too."

　"I was only able to get away with it thanks to my armor. I'm still hurting here and there from the bruises and stuff."

　Gervas put his hand on his shoulder and frowned, as if he was in pain.

"Instructor. After we're done, we'll come back and join the search. You don't have to count us as part of your force! At least let us search..."

　"......, you don't seem to be willing to stop even if I tell you not to. I understand. You will accompany me tomorrow. Just follow my instructions..."

　"I understand! I will definitely follow your instructions."

I nodded vigorously.

　"I'll take credit where it's due. Of course, I'll be coming with you."

　"I'll go with you, and I'll see to it that you two don't drag the instructor down with you. Besides, I won't let that dagger-wielder get away this time."

　After that, the priests at the school cast a healing spell on me, and we broke up to get ready for tomorrow.

　I headed home with heavy steps.

　I had to give a painful report to Angie-san.

　At first, the instructor had said she would go, but I couldn't give in on this one.

It was my fault that Sania was taken away without warning. If only I had been a little more persistent....

　Regret was swirling around in my mind.

If only I had been stronger, if only I had been more resolute, if only I had taken action when I first heard what Gervas was saying.... It makes no sense now, but my frustration with myself was growing and I just couldn't stop it.

　The sun was setting and the road was darkened by the approaching night.

　As I walked down the road with heavy steps, I felt a huge crack in my daily life.