【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 46: The Old Man's Wall, Maximum Output

“Master Baldo, I will draw out my magical power and [Fighting Spirit] to their limits. Shall I leave the timing of activation to you?”

“Yeah, understood.”

I walk over to Milene and take her hand.

She looks at me, her gaze soft yet filled with tension.

This must be her first time extending the [Barrier] over such a large area.

Milene is smart.

She’s rapidly calculating the amount of remaining magical power, how much more [Fighting Spirit] can be incorporated, and the synchronization with the magic circle.

But she’s also driven by something opposite to all that.

Her tragic past, having witnessed her parents killed by monsters, fuels her desire to prevent such tragedies as much as possible.

That sentiment has been her driving force in aiming to become a saint.

So right now, her mind must be a mix of practical concerns (anxiety) about whether she can extend the [Barrier] to Fridania and emotional resolve (determination) to make it happen no matter what.

I squeeze Milene’s hand firmly and speak.

“Don’t worry, Milene. It’ll work out.”

“Master Baldo… Yes!”

After a brief silence, Milene gathers her [Fighting Spirit] and magical power.

Well then…

If my disciple is putting in this much effort—

As an older man, I must give it my all, too, as if my life depended on it.

“Liena! Go all out! Tell everyone around to cover their ears!”

“Yes! Wait, you mean you haven’t been going all out until now…?”

Muttering something, Liena proceeds to relay my words to everyone else.

Whooooooooooooosh.

I take in as much air as I can.

From my body’s core, I start churning up my [Fighting Spirit].

—More!

Normally, this would be sufficient.

But—

—Not yet!

I layer on fresh [Fighting Spirit] from the depths of my body onto the [Fighting Spirit] already flowing through me.

Double, triple, multiple layers. I make it denser.

I will use all the [Fighting Spirit] I have.

—Up to the older man’s limit.

Responding to my fighting spirit, [Fighting Spirit] is so churned up it begins to overflow from all over my body.

“Alright! Milene! Activate the [Barrier]!”

“O sacred wall, receive your blessing!

————————Enhanced Holy Barrier Plus Holy Shield!”

From Milene’s raised holy staff, sacred light scatters in all directions.

The older man follows suit—

“Saaaaaaaaaaaaay—!”

I loudly shout as I release [Fighting Spirit] from my body.

Compared to Milene’s activated [Barrier], it’s insignificant, but it’s the older man’s full power.

“This is…”

Milene looks in astonishment at the [Barrier] expanding in all directions.

My [Fighting Spirit] is pushing out the sacred light. The wall of light is rapidly accelerating.

“Huuuu…”

“Milene, you did well.”

I offer words of encouragement to Milene as I watch the wall of light extend from the church.

“Heh, thank you, Master Baldo. We’ve activated the largest [Barrier] to date. We can extend it to Fridania at this speed in just a few hours.

Breathing heavily, Milene’s eyes gleam with the satisfaction of a job well done.

She did work hard.

The effort and unwavering spirit it took to get her this far is immeasurable.

“Whoaaa—Master Baldo, Milene—the wall of light is flying off at an incredible pace!”

Liena runs up, her eyes wide with amazement.

The [Barrier] is developing smoothly.

I’m counting on you…

Reach Fridania.

◇◇◇

◇Swordsaint Alesia’s POV◇

Several hours have passed since the masters headed to the church.

“Alesia-sama! More monsters are surging from the rear—around a few hundred! And they’re all large ones!”

Captain Natol of the local defense force reports.

Monsters have emerged from the great forest due to a large-scale Stampede.

However, they can only advance further. Milene’s [Barrier] is preventing their entry.

“Truly a testament to the Holy Maiden’s [Barrier]. It doesn’t let any monsters through.”

“Yeah… indeed.”

I give a half-hearted response to the captain.

Something feels off.

Certainly, Milene’s [Barrier] is strong. There’s no sign that the monsters can break through.

However… they’re just piling up there.

Milene’s [Barrier] is a wall of holy magic; monsters should want to keep their distance from it.

Moreover, they should normally return to the Great Forest if their advance is halted. That’s what the masters have said before. Recently, the monsters emerging are mostly large—meaning if these are the ones at the rear, nothing should stop them from returning.

Why do they stay here?

The monsters are causing a massive jam in front of the [Barrier].

According to the communications from defense lines across various areas, the same phenomenon is happening everywhere.

Is there a reason they can’t return to the forest? What’s going on?

—Thud!

Suddenly, the ground shakes.

—Thud! Thud!

The inn… the earth… is shaking!

“Wh-Wh-What is that?!”

The captain and his men collectively point at something emerging from the great forest.

So that’s why the monsters aren’t returning to the forest…

Is it this thing?!

ROAR!

An unbelievable roar vibrates the surrounding air.

A dragon with eight heads and a massive shell—far larger than the one we just repelled.

“Whoa! It’s a dragon!”

“Is… is that Yamata no Shinryu?!”

Yamata no Shinryu? A mythical-class monster?

The colossal dragon began to attack the [Barrier] ferociously with its vicious claws and eight heads.

Cracks began to form in the [Barrier], albeit small ones.

“Damn… it’s trying to break the [Barrier].”

This is bad. If it breaks through here… the amassed monsters will surge en masse into the royal capital of Natol.

And this massive dragon will, too…

Above all else, the precious inn entrusted to us by the master would be ravaged.

Drawing my holy sword, I raise my voice.

“Sera! We must hold this position at all costs! Defense troops! Give it your all! Consider that there is no way back!”

“Of course! Protecting your inn is Sera’s role!”

I raise my holy sword and amp up my [Fighting Spirit]. Sera also assumes a battle stance, swinging her giant mace around.

The faces of the defense troops… no longer seem lively.

It can’t be helped. They’ve seen such an overwhelming monster, after all.

GROOOOOOAAAAAAA——!

What is that?!

“Alesia-sama! It’s preparing for its breath attack! All personnel assume defensive positions!”

All eight mouths are widening, and an intense light seems about to burst forth from within.

The air quivers with electricity.

I haven’t even been hit yet, but I already feel like I’m being crushed…

GROOOOAAAAARRRR——!

Eight flashes of light rain down upon us.

Ugh…

—What?

For some reason, those flashes didn’t reach us.

Instead—

A roaring sound rushes past us from behind at an incredible speed.

—A wall!?

What was that…?

Gyaga? Gyaagggaaaaaaaahhhhh…

The massive wall effortlessly blew away the eight-headed Yamata no Shinryu.

The eight breaths of light, its massive body, everything—

All the other monsters were also sent flying high into the sky, colliding with the expanding wall of light as they fell and getting repelled. They were sent far off into the distance like playthings, bouncing back and forth before disappearing from sight.

This scent…

Ah… it must be the Master… he saved us again.