Chapter 17 – The Spear That Pierces, the Nation-Melter

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　――Help me.

　The man repeatedly shouted that to us.
　He seemed so flustered that he hadn’t even noticed who we were.

“Please…”

　Slumping down, the man dropped to his knees.
　I could understand his feelings.
　Even though this was the shallow part, it was still relatively deep inside.
　Even if we were to return to the entrance and call for help now, it was highly likely that time had already run out.
　Since he chose to hide in a hole, it was obvious that no one here could take on that earth dragon.

　The situation had become a race against time.

　……But.
　Even if I understood the man’s feelings, to be honest, I couldn’t care less.
After all that weird entanglement, expecting that very person to come to my aid was just too opportunistic, wasn’t it?
Glancing over at Ati, I saw she shared my sentiments—her glare toward the man said it all.

“…Sorry, but—”

　I reached out to tap his shoulder when――

“Please…! Among our comrades, there are some who are parents! If that guy dies, if his parent dies…”

　――My hand froze.

　Labyrinth, death, children, parents.

　I felt a spark begin to smolder inside me.
　Deep within my mind, at the very core of my being, a small flame was ignited.
　And then, in an instant, it flared up.

　Before I knew it, I was listening.

“――Where are you?”

　The trivial concerns of someone else.
　Especially the nitpicky issues of a person who’d been complaining.
　Yet the combination of words uttered by this man struck a chord with me.

“Y–you’re going to help me…?”
“I’m asking, ‘Where are you?’”
“Sorry… over there”

　The man, head bowed, pointed in that direction.
　I stared intently in that direction,

“Ha, Harold-sama?”
“It seems there’s someone who’s keeping a child waiting. Honestly, those guys really piss me off, but if that’s the case, I have no choice but to go. …I’m going to use my trump card, so please take care of me once I’m downed”
“A trump card, you say? – W–wait a minute!”

　Leaving the perplexed Ati behind, I dashed off.

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　After running for a while, I caught sight of the earth dragon.
　It was lying prone in a slightly open area, intently staring at one spot.
　The object of its gaze was a hole.
　It was fixated on that hole.

　Surely, the remaining four of us were hiding in that hole.
　And the earth dragon was probably waiting for them to come out.

　(For a monster of that magnitude, there’s no way it would simply be waiting, helplessly confined in its hole. If it wanted to, it could easily drag us out. …But perhaps that wouldn’t be nearly as interesting.)

　The carelessness, conceit, and arrogance typical of the mighty—
　the earth dragon embodied exactly that.
　However, that worked to my advantage.
　It hadn’t noticed me.
　And that was a huge opening.

　I halted my sprint and assumed a throwing spear stance.
　I tensed every nerve and muscle in my body, beginning to draw in power from a dimension entirely separate from this world.
My father, who had taught me this technique, had said it was a power distinct from the magical energy used in sorcery.
　The technique I was about to unleash was incredibly potent—so potent that the recoil on me was tremendous.
　I felt as if every bit of flesh in my body were being torn apart, with my brain nearly dissolving and my eyes turning bloodshot.

　I forced this power―― Next Power―― into my short spear.
　As the short spear grew hot, its tip and shaft began to melt, and the liquefied substance dripped onto the ground.

“――【The Spear That Pierces: Nation-Melting Aradvar】！”

　The released spear surged forward like black-purple lightning, melting the surrounding walls, ceiling, and even the space itself.

“Gyaah……”

Even so, the earth dragon notices 【The Spear That Pierces: Nation-Melting Aradvar】.
However, it isn’t a technique that can be dodged the moment it’s seen.
By the time I released it, it was already too late.

“……Ah”

The contest ended abruptly, its conclusion sealed before it even began.
The 【Spear That Pierces: Nation-Melting Aradvar】 I released carved a massive hole right through the center of the earth dragon’s body, and on the opposite wall, it etched an endless breach.
It was undoubtedly my victory.
However—the cost of using it was steep.
Blood dripped from my ears and nostrils.
Blood tears welled up from deep within my eyes.
My organs convulsed, and my limbs felt frozen, refusing to move.

I collapsed and… lost consciousness.

※※※※

A soft touch grazed my cheek.
Noticing it, I regained consciousness.
The first thing I saw upon opening my eyes was Ati’s face.
It seemed I had been given a lap pillow by Ati.

“Harold-sama… have you awakened? I was about to follow after you, wondering what on earth happened…”

With a face on the verge of tears, Ati gently embraced me.
I felt a softness unlike that of a thigh.
I almost started thinking something odd, but managed to suppress it.

I slowly got up and checked my condition.
There didn’t seem to be any severe aftereffects, so I appeared to be okay.
However, though I was unharmed, I had certainly acted recklessly.
I undoubtedly made everyone worry terribly.
Even if it struck a nerve, from now on I’ll take a moment to calm down and think things through.

“…I’ll be more careful next time. I won’t just rush out suddenly. By the way, were those people alright?”

I asked about their condition.
They seemed to be fine.
Ati slowly nodded, and five men emerged from behind cover.

“…Upon closer look, you were the onii-chan from that time. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“I’m really sorry for acting so weird back then. Thank you.”

The men all expressed their gratitude to me.
I won’t mention that they only just realized it was me.

As I exhaled deeply, one of the five approached me.
He was a man with a tear-stained, puffy face, wiping away his tears with his arm.

“Thank you… I—I thought I wouldn’t get to see my child again, and, ah, I really thought I was as good as dead.”
“…You should quit dangerous work and get a normal job.”
“I’ll do that… I really will.”

He whimpered while crying, sniffling continuously.
Well, if everything turned out fine, then that’s good enough for now.
I switched my thoughts and looked at the fallen earth dragon.
Since I managed to take it down, I decided to salvage the parts that looked sellable.
When it falls, it makes a lap pillow.