Life as an Adventurer with the Banished Marquis' Daughter - Chapter 43: The Exiled Marquis' Daughter and the Magical Wilderness, Part 6

Chapter 43: The Exiled Marquis’ Daughter and the Magical Wilderness, Part 6

Damn it. There’s a hole in my clothes.

I twisted my body in mid-air and managed to land on my feet. I could smell the grass burning from the friction.

Before I could see it, I felt the ground tremble as the Forest Dragon charged towards me. Just one moment of carelessness, and this is what happens.

I shuddered to think how much my master would have scolded me. 

Damn it, another hole in my clothes.

I resolved to take a hit to buy time and fully regain my stance. With my body in an awkward position, I prepared to strike the charging Forest Dragon on the snout. Ugh, I hate this.

“Helping my husband in his time of need is a wife’s duty.”

Even with my enhanced hearing, I barely caught that voice amidst the noise of the charging Forest Dragon. A fireball suddenly flew from above, hitting the Forest Dragon’s head.

I desperately dodged as the off-balance Forest Dragon tumbled towards me.

Barely had I thought I was safe when the Forest Dragon’s roar echoed. Its mouth was shredded from its own Breath explosion, its eyes were burnt and clouded, and a third of its head was smashed, yet the Forest Dragon was still alive.

It was unbelievably tough. Even though its healing had slowed, surviving with a third of its head gone seemed unfair.

Ah, but three minutes feels so long. Actually, I think it’s already been more than three minutes, hasn’t it? 

Just as I was thinking this, a timely voice rang out.

“Ready!”

As I thought, “Finally,” I also realized it was faster than I expected. Anyway, I needed to regroup with Erika first.

“Shall we go then?”

Before I could finish the thought, Erika was already standing beside me. She brushed her hair aside and smiled at me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Are you ready?”

Before I could respond, the Forest Dragon roared, glaring at us with one eye that had regained its light. I heard Shara’s almost panicked voice.

“I’m ready, but it’s too far! Too far!”

Since we’d been moving around, there was now a distance of about forty steps between Shara and the Forest Dragon.

“I’m going to stop its movement now. Be ready!”

I said this as I swung my sword down on the charging Forest Dragon’s snout. I was venting my frustration about the holes in my clothes—clothes are expensive, you know. It was a very personal grudge-fueled strike, but the sword cut cleanly.

The Forest Dragon’s upper jaw crumpled. Blood and drool splattered everywhere, but Erika gracefully moved aside to avoid it.

Even though I had pushed my body enhancement to its limit, Erika’s sword strike appeared as a blur to me. 

The Forest Dragon’s right foreleg flew through the air.

The Forest Dragon stumbled but managed to stay upright on its three remaining legs. Instead of collapsing, it twisted its body and aimed its tail at us.

I stepped between Erika and the tail, which was as thick as a carriage, and struck it with my sword. Despite the damage I had already inflicted, this blow felt the heaviest yet.

Grimacing at the numbness in my arm, I watched Erika rush towards the Forest Dragon’s hind leg. I thought she would cut off its ankle, but her sword aimed for the base of the leg, the thigh.

A single slash severed the leg, which was clearly thicker than Erika’s sword. How did she do that? I wondered as I dodged the falling Forest Dragon, which lost its balance and toppled towards me.

“Now!”

I shouted as the Forest Dragon began regenerating its leg, bubbling flesh starting to reform. Amazed by its rapid healing, I called out. 

At that moment, Shara’s voice echoed as if she had been waiting for this.

“Pierce and crush! Lux Lance!”

The spell, unique to chant magic, was declared and came to life.