【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 42: Milene's POV- The One Who Saves Milene

GUGOOOOOOO!

GUGOOOOOOO!

GUGOOOOOOO!

A dragon so immense it covers the entire church, its body encased in a shell like a turtle’s, and with each step its thick limbs take, the ground trembles as if the capital city is shaking.

It must have traveled underground from the great forest. My “Barrier” cannot cover beneath the ground. Of course, it might fend off ordinary monsters to some extent due to its holy properties… but this dragon is far from common… Ugh…

It’s undoubtedly SS-ranked…

“Dr-Dragon!”

“Don’t falter! All hands, draw swords! Start chanting magic!”

The escort knights charge at the Dragon Turtle.

Their arrows, magic, and spears strike the massive beast but seem to have no effect as the Dragon Turtle begins to trample the surroundings.

“Haa…haa…I, I must go too… If the magic circle is destroyed, the ‘Barrier’ will vanish…”

I cast support magic on the knights… Holy attack magic on the dragon… Healing magic on the wounded…

Despite my determination, my body shrinks back, and my breathing becomes ragged. My staff, slick with sweat, almost slips from my hands.

I can’t even chant a spell.

I’m terrified of monsters.

Just looking at them paralyzes me. My mind goes blank, and I tremble uncontrollably.

Monsters devoured my parents before my eyes. It was an overwhelmingly traumatic event for a young girl.

That’s why I worked hard to use “Barrier”. With it, I wouldn’t have to face monsters – for a simple reason.

This reason transformed into a desire to prevent the same tragedy for others. It’s one of the reasons I aspired to become a saint.

But…

A saint is supposed to confront any adversity.

Yet, there’s something I can’t face…

“Whaaa!”

The children from earlier!

What are you doing? Run away!

I tried to shout, but no words came out.

The three children stood frozen in fear, huddled together. Unsurprisingly, that monster’s size is enough to immobilize anyone, especially children.

What am I doing…

This would make Master Baldo laugh at me.

I clench my fists, take a small breath, and try to calm my trembling body. I gather as much “Fighting Spirit” inside me as possible and kick off the ground…

I rush to the children and spread my arms to shield them from the monster. The Dragon Turtle, unfazed, swings its massive front leg down.

“Holy wall, protect us from calamity! Holy Barrier Shield!”

The ” Barrier ” repels the monster’s claw with a sharp clang.

“Whaaa! Saintess-sama!”

Phew… I just made it.

The children are crying vigorously. They’ll be fine.

I managed to deploy a makeshift “Barrier” large enough to cover the three children and myself. Although I’m using a lot of magic and “Fighting Spirit” on the larger barrier, I can maintain this smaller one easily.

It won’t be broken so easily.

Under normal circumstances…

The Dragon Turtle, frustrated at being blocked by the “Barrier,” lifts its three heads high and roars deafeningly.

Unconsciously, I step back, but I can’t retreat now. I force myself to step forward, refusing to be intimidated.

“Hah――!”

I infuse more magic and “Fighting Spirit” into the “Barrier” to maintain it.

“I won’t let you break this ‘Barrier’!”

The Dragon Turtle turns towards me and roars. One of its heads opens its mouth wide and lunges at me.

The monster’s jaws clash against the “Barrier” with a dull thud.

No, no, no!

Despair and fear escape my lips.

That mouth… The one that tore my parents apart…

The thing I fear the most…

My trembling reaches its peak. Tears uncontrollably stream down, soaking my robe.

The Dragon Turtle’s ferocious teeth gradually break through the barrier.

Is this the end for me?

I’ve faced many fears as a saint but never succeeded.

Something tugs at my sleeve.

Ah… The little angels. They look so frightened.

They must be scared by the terrified look on my face.

Something small falls from the hand of one of the little angels.

An anpan.

Baldo Master… yes, you’re right.

I return the anpan to the child’s hand, wipe my tears, and slap my cheeks.

“Pull yourself together, Milene! What did you learn from Master Baldo?”

I take a deep breath, circulate as much “Fighting Spirit” as possible throughout my body, and increase my magic power…

“Come at me, Dragon Turtle! I will protect these children at all costs!”

“Fighting Spirit” and holy magic power mix, strengthening the weakening wall with layers of new light.

The Dragon Turtle’s teeth are pushed back by my “Barrier.”

First, to escape this dire situation!

“Holy wall, be blessed with thickness! Augmented Barrier Plus Holy Shield!”

The “Barrier” thickens, completely repelling the Dragon Turtle’s teeth.

If it moves away for a moment…

The Dragon Turtle concentrates magical energy in its mouth.

No way! Is it going to breathe fire?

At this close range?

This is bad! I don’t have enough magic power to withstand a dragon’s breath. I’ve already used most of it on the expanding “Barrier.”

Is this the end for me?

At least I can save these children!

I hug them, covering them with my body.

Just as I think the breath’s flash will engulf us…

A thunderous sound! Not breathe, but one of the Dragon Turtle’s heads flies through the air, cleanly severed, and thuds to the ground.

I look up…

Ah… Master Baldo, you’ve come.