Chapter 9: Guild Master Emma ②

If it was that unconventional man, then maybe…

While her thoughts raced, Emma herself could only stare at the Fenrir, utterly dumbfounded.

Before long, the Fenrir averted its gaze from Emma, staggered to its feet, and disappeared into the forest thicket.

Faced with a threat to its life, it had no time to deal with a little insect…

Perhaps that was what the Fenrir thought.

In any case, it was a stroke of luck for Emma.

No… if she were to think of the town, perhaps Emma should have given chase.

But the strength had completely vanished from her legs.

Even on the verge of death and grievously wounded, the Fenrir still projected an unnatural, oppressive aura.

In other words, even in this state, the Fenrir still had enough power to overwhelm Emma.

That was why Emma couldn’t move.

Only after the Fenrir’s form had completely vanished, and several minutes had passed, did it feel as though the paralysis gripping Emma had finally broken.

She remained rooted to the spot.

It was a state utterly unbecoming of the woman known as the “Frenzied War Princess,” said to be the closest to becoming an S-Rank Adventurer.

However, her opponent had been a divine beast.

That Emma would find herself in such a state was, perhaps, unavoidable.

How many warriors on this entire continent possessed the sheer nerve not to flee when faced with a divine beast?

In fact, the town adventurers accompanying Emma had all fled at the mere sound of the Fenrir’s roar.

They were, for what it was worth, adventurers hand-picked from the town’s guild.

There’s no way a Fenrir is actually out here.

The adventurers, who had all thought this, had been full of bravado at the start.

One of them, a C-Rank Adventurer… a man calling himself Mighty Sword,

“Leave it to me. With my Mighty Sword, even a Fenrir… heh heh…”

…he’d said, all while leering at Emma.

Honestly, he was such a hopeless man that Emma was overcome with the powerful urge to punish him on the spot.

However, she prioritized the practical judgment that more fighting power was better, just in case,

and had somehow managed to endure him.

But… faced with an unearthly howl from a great distance, those same adventurers vanished in the blink of an eye.

In the end, only Emma remained.

Therefore, even if Emma had been unable to do anything before the divine beast, the very fact that she stood her ground instead of fleeing could be called a testament to her sense of responsibility and her strength.

Yes, Emma had unquestionably shown the pride of a Guild Master and a former A-Rank Adventurer.

But… her actions that followed would be somewhat… no, quite difficult to explain.

After slumping to the ground, Emma muttered to herself in a daze.

Again… was I saved by him… by Shuzo-san…?

But… even for Shuzo-san, against a divine beast…

Is he alright…?

I can’t just stay here.

I have to find him…

And so, Emma tried to stand up.

But… she couldn’t.

It was because a certain scent had just tickled her nostrils.

It was… the scent of Mikami.

Lying there was one of Mikami’s personal belongings…

It was the undershirt he must have been wearing.

Emma picked it up and brought it closer.

Faced with that scent, Emma was driven by a fierce desire.

By the time she realized it, Emma was pressing what must have been Mikami’s worn undershirt to her nose.

Oh… Shuzo-san… why won’t you return my love…?