I Reincarnated as the Mob Flame User Destined to Die in the Early Stages of the Game, but When I Cleared the Event Before the Protagonist, the Heroines Followed Me

Chapter 37 – Mission: Rescue Claire

“Here, nyaa!”

We quickly found Claire with Alicia’s guidance.

“Claire!”

“Intruders!”

Two enemy soldiers raised their weapons, but Alicia and I easily defeated them.

I pressed Claire’s chained restraints against the wall and began breaking the chains with my mace.

“I have the key, nyaa.”

With the key she took from the soldier, Alicia released Claire from her bonds.

As expected of a scout.

“I’ll remove the slave crest from her dantian.”

The slave crest became smaller due to Estelle’s magic, but a little bit still remained.

“Hah… Hah… I’m out of MP.”

“Drink this potion, nyaa.”

Claire was weakened, and though she talked with Alicia and Estelle, her voice was too faint to hear clearly.

While the potion had its healing effect, it seemed her stamina was depleted before her wounds.

Monsters and soldiers were closing in on this room.

Strange…

Even though the castle gate was destroyed and a melee fight broke out, the security here is too tight.

There are too many enemies.

“Take care of Claire. Heal!”

I casted Heal on Claire just once.

Then, I went out of the room and closed the door, ready with my mace and shield.

My MP is low.

I’ll reserve what little magic power I have left for healing.

I continued to fight without being able to use fire magic.

A female soldier swung her sword at me.

As usual, I used my shield to stop it and hit back with my mace.

Bang!!

I stopped another orc’s attack with my shield and slammed it with the mace.

A Black Wolf bit me from behind, but I didn’t move and repeated the same movements.

The door to the room was opened, and an enemy soldier tried to enter, but I knocked her down with my mace.

It seems like everyone is under orders not to let Claire be taken away.

Instead of attacking me, they aimed for the door and broke it down.

I kept striking with my mace as monsters and enemy soldiers poured into the room.

After confirming that Claire was still in the room, the enemy shifted their target to me.

I fought with my shield and mace while being surrounded.

Alicia also fought, but she was unable to come forward to protect Estelle and Claire.

I was tired and my body felt weak, but the power of my attacks wasn’t diminished as much as I thought.

[Mace LV increased from 47 to 48]

In the past, I used to swing my mace every day until I couldn’t swing it anymore and defend with my shield until I couldn’t raise my arms.

There are more ways to use the shield. Don’t think of the shield and mace separately. Think of them as one in both your right and left hands.

I remembered. I’ve learned a lot from Old Man Zes.

Perhaps because I was feeling tired, I remembered that time.

I’ve been taught some important lessons by Old Man Zes.

As if recalling his teachings, I repeatedly used the shield and kept striking with my mace.

[Shield LV has increased from 40 to 41]

[Mace LV increased from 48 to 49]

[Shield LV has increased from 41 to 42]

I tried catching my breath.

“Pant, pant. That’s all of them.”

“Pant, hah… That’s right, nyaa…”

I was out of breath and my vision was a little blurry.

Estelle ran out of MP, and Claire still hadn’t recovered.

Alicia also seemed tired and wouldn’t be able to fight for much longer.

“Let’s retreat.”

“Yes, that seems wise. Let’s temporarily retreat.”

Claire looked at me.

“…Gett, thank you.”

Claire still didn’t feel well.

I guess that being captured and having the slave crest used on her must have taken a toll on her body.

We walked towards the exit of the castle while giving instructions to the soldiers to retreat.

In the hall before the exit, there were Hero Dust and Kugutsu.

He was trying to leave the castle, ignoring his ally soldiers.

“Where are you going?! Leave Claire alone!”

“Claire, Alicia, and Estelle are mine!!”

Kugutsu and Dust glared at me and yelled.

Those words unsettled the soldiers.

They were consumed by the sheer madness and power of the two of them.

“Ignore Dust and leave the castle! The Hero Dust sacrificed Claire and ran away! I’ll do the same to him!”

That’s what I said as I tried to leave the castle.

“Gargoyles! Block the exit! Order all familiars! Seal the castle exit!”

With Kugutsu’s words, the stone gargoyle statues displayed in the castle began to move and solidify the exit.

Furthermore, monsters gathered from outside and blocked the exit of the castle.

“You have nowhere to run!”

“Hah! Don’t worry! I’ll defeat Kugutsu! Everyone, watch and learn from my skill!”

“Hoo, you’re the one who will be defeated! And Claire is mine. I’ll give you the sight of a Hero’s defeat.”

At Kugutsu’s signal, the surrounding attacks ceased, and both sides divided into two to watch the duel.

If I had enough MP, I would shoot Exfire at the group of monsters, but I don’t have any MP right now.

In knightly duels, the melee stops, huh? In modern warfare, the battle would never stop.

I had the urge to burn all the monsters with Exfire, including Kugutsu and Dust.

Damnit! If only I had more strength!

“Claire, Estelle, and Alicia are all mine!!!”

“Claire already bears my slave crest.”

“You bastard!!! What have you done?!!”

“Kukukuku! It’s your fault for being so slow.”

Kugutsu and Hero Dust seemed more inclined to exchange insults than to fight.

I wondered when they would actually start fighting, but I decided not to say anything.

The battle, which had been in a state of melee, came to a halt, and everyone watched the progress of the battle.

Honestly, I was relieved. I decided to sit down and watch the fight.

I want to get rid of as much fatigue as possible.

When I looked around, everyone was exhausted.

If everyone could rest even just a little, they would likely be able to move much better.

No one said anything as everyone watched the mounting battle between Kugutsu and Dust.

◇

“Kukukuku! Seems like you still don’t get it. Let’s settle this in battle, shall we?”

“Hah! Don’t regret this! I’ll make you understand!”

They began to move…

I wished they’d continue their banter a bit longer.

Only this time, Dust’s mental problem was working in our favor.

No, in the first place, if Dust hadn’t done anything unnecessary, we would have been able to attack in an advantageous situation, and I wouldn’t have had to use two of my Exfires on the gates.

Now that I think about it, when I was playing the game, I hated Kugutsu the most out of the Six Imperial Generals.

Other than Kugutsu, the others were knight-like and had much more charm.

Seeing Dust and Kugutsu on the same wavelength made me think they might have something in common.

I don’t really care who dies, but I guess I’ll root for Dust this time.

Well, the ideal outcome would be if they take each other out.

It would be convenient if Dust died without me getting my hands dirty.

Well, to be honest, I’d like to bash Dust with my mace… At that moment, the battle started.

“Gargoyles! Attack!”

“You coward!”

Eight Gargoyles attacked Dust.

“What are you talking about? Gargoyles are powered by my crest magic. In other words, they’re part of my ability… I guess the Hero’s power is weak after all. Though, it seems that he’s unusually fast when it comes to running away.”

Struggling against Gargoyle’s claw attack, Dust managed to avoid fatal injuries.

Then, the moment Dust stepped on a different colored floor, the ground exploded.

“Arrghhhh!”

“Kukuku, I forgot to mention that, but that’s the trap crest.”

Dust took a step.

“That’s the electrocution crest.”

Zapp!

“Arrrghhh! Fight me properly!”

“I am fighting! With my crest magic! Why don’t you try moving me even an inch? I haven’t budged an inch!”

Dust was attacked by the surrounding Gargoyles, but suddenly he shouted at us.

“You guys! Stop just watching and fight!!”

Dust’s bad habit was showing.

Initially, he’d bravely try to fight alone, but as soon as he felt his life was in danger, he’d drag everyone else into it, trying to ensure his own survival.

But no one stepped forward.

I also watched without saying anything.

Dust has turned all the soldiers here into his enemies.

He got Claire, who was respected by everyone, caught by the enemy. It was a fatal mistake.

Also, everyone is tired.

Dust, didn’t you say you would fight?

Then fight until the end.

“I was wary when I heard you had the power of a Hero, but this is all you can do? Activate trap crest!!”

A crest appeared from the wall and magic bullets were fired.

Fire, ice, and lightning erupted from the floor and attacked Dust.

Dust collapsed, unable to move.

Kugutsu’s eyes scanned around before finally stopping at Claire.