What If the Strongest Villain from the Original Story Became the Protagonist's Ally? - Chapter 32 - Trial, and Iris's True Power

“Y-Yuu-san!? What is this monster!?”

I managed to return near the village with good timing. From what I could see, all the monsters near Iris had been defeated.

Now she should be able to fight this giant crocodile.

“Um… what was it again? It’s the result of something called synthesis experiments. Iris should try fighting it now.”

“Don’t skip the explanation! I mean, couldn’t Yuu-san just defeat it…”

“Think of this as tough love for Iris. Fighting strong enemies is necessary for growth too.”

“That strong enemy—or rather, the strongest human is right in front of me, isn’t he?”

“I’m just a teacher, after all.”

Stop complaining and do your best, Iris-kun. It’s no exaggeration to say the village’s fate rests on your shoulders.

I kicked off the ground and moved back, switching places with Iris.

Naturally, Iris, who was closest, became the monster’s target.

“Guruaaaaaaa!”

“Wait!? You’re going to explain everything to me later, Yuu-san!”

Iris flowed magical power through her entire body and swung her sword. However, Iris was powerless against the monster’s charge.

Her sword was deflected, and Iris herself was blown away.

She bounced off the ground, mowing down trees as she rolled.

Since she’d been circulating magical power, she probably didn’t take much damage, but even Iris couldn’t easily damage that crocodile.

—This might require her trump card?

“Ow ow… what is that monster, it’s ridiculously hard…”

“It’s an individual that had cells from multiple monsters transplanted into it. It’s overwhelmingly stronger than normal monsters.”

“Come to think of it, you were saying something about synthesis experiments. What does that mean?”

Iris, who had stood up, asked while glaring at me. Even if you make that face, it’s not my fault. The one who did it was that gray-robed old man.

The old man who had jumped down from the monster looked at Iris and laughed.

“Kakaka! Iris Rune Aldnoa really is here! What fortune, what fortune! If I kill you here, it will be more than enough of an achievement!”

“Who are you?”

“An Empire scientist, I suppose.”

“Empire…!?”

“Correct. You figured it out well.”

“Doing something this big and knowing about Iris too. The only possibility is the Empire. Besides, you’ve been submitting synthesis experiment proposals for a while, haven’t you? I know about those too.”

It remained faintly in Yuguram’s memories. I didn’t remember the name, but there were synthesis experiment proposals that came up regularly. Rather than proposals, they were application forms saying things like “I’m going to do these wonderful experiments so give me more budget.”

Yuguram had ignored them. Because they contained many uncertain elements.

The fact that experiments could proceed this far meant someone other than Yuguram was lending a hand. Someone who could move large amounts of money. Plus, someone who could proceed in secret.

For example—like the First Prince.

“Y-you! Why do you know about that…”

“Well, I wonder why. I have no obligation to tell you, but did you think everything could be hidden well? I don’t know if it’s at the First Prince’s instigation or not, but… you got too carried away. Don’t think you’ll return to the Empire alive.”

“Guh! Monster! Hurry up and kill those two! Absolutely don’t let them escape!”

“Guruaaaaaaa!”

The giant crocodile let out a roar.

It approached Iris while shaking the ground. In response, Iris absorbed even more magical power from her surroundings to enhance her physical abilities.

But—

“! Still… my attacks won’t go through!”

Iris’s blade could only manage to thinly slice the monster’s epidermis.

Iris was certainly excellent. Her talent for refining magical power and controlling it was quite high.

But she had to gradually pull in magical power from her surroundings after all. She was no different from other humans.

If she could draw out vast magical power from within her body like Yuguram, the story would change, but as long as she couldn’t do that, it would be impossible for her to defeat that monster in her current state.

—If she stayed as she was now, that is.

“Hey, Iris~”

“Wh-what is it! As you can see, I’m busy right now!!”

I called out to Iris, who was fleeing by kicking off the ground while being chased by the monster.

She was quite irritated that her attacks weren’t getting through.

To her, I made a suggestion.

“Even if you try hard, it seems difficult for the current Iris to get attacks through.”

“I know that! I’m aware!”

Oh, scary scary. A really threatening voice came out.

“So I have a proposal…”

“What is it!?”

“—How about trying to summon a spirit?”

“What!? Why do you know about that!?”

Iris opened her eyes wide and looked at me despite having an enemy in front of her.

I smiled broadly inside my mask and—

“Well, I’m a fan.”

—gave an appropriate excuse.

Of course, she—

“That’s not a reason!”

—retorted, but—

“Come on, come on. You won’t get anywhere like this. Try going all out.”

I continued pushing my suggestion.

“………..”

After showing signs of thinking for just a moment, Iris took great distance from the monster. Stopping there, she said—

“—I understand. As Yuu-san says, I can’t win like this… It’s been a while since I’ve gone all out!”

The ground beneath her feet began glowing green.