Before long, the rain had ceased.
Warm light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the grassy plains.
This very same field, which had been used as Sara-chan’s magic training ground until recently, was in a terrible state, covered in blood, mud, and the remains of the dead.
Truly, it was a battlefield.
Amidst this scene, the only sound that echoed in the absence of the rain was the sound of Emmy feasting upon the corpse of the Queen.
It was the sound of tearing flesh, slurping blood, and crunching bones.
For Emmy, this battle had almost exhausted all her strength.
She had depleted both her physical strength and magical reserves to the absolute brink. And her victory had been grasped on thin ice.
In order to regain the lost energy, Emmy’s body unconsciously began to consume the corpse of the Queen.
The Queen’s body was also a source of significant magical power.
And so, once again, Emmy’s physical transformation progressed. Inevitably bringing forth the pangs of hunger. But well, there was no avoiding it.
***
… Huh!?
I, Emmy-chan, will be 7 years old soon!
Before I knew it, my hands and the area around my mouth were all red, and I was devouring the corpse of the Queen!
Oh, wait?
I remember defeating the Queen with attacks using thorns, and then repeatedly striking her with [Magic Strike], but…?
<Given that you were at your limit, your consciousness was hazy, so it’s not surprising that you don’t remember. After defeating the Queen, you kept eating her corpse continuously. Your body craved energy, prompting your instinctual predatory behavior.>
I- I see…
That sounds right.
I surveyed the grassy plains that have become the battlefield this time.
Countless Topopoloks’ corpses were scattered here.
The gentle and warm sunlight seeping through the gaps in the clouds feels out of place.
… I won, huh.
<… Yes.>
Unconsciously, strength leave my body and I slumped down.
As expected, this time was truly tough.
Well, actually, this time was tough TOO, I guess?
Using the Queen’s corpse as support, I gazed at the sky, lost in thought.
… Omake-sama, I-, Sara-chan, my friends, I protected her.
<… Yes. Amazing, Emmy. You did so well… you really persevered.>
Ehehe.
<I’ll be honest… I thought many times. It’s impossible, we can’t win.>
Oh… that might’ve been the case.
Geez! Omake-sama, you were so negative!
<… Normally, one’s spirit would be broken. It was that kind of battle. However, you didn’t give up.>
Ehehe…!
Omake-sama, you’re praising me so much, aren’t you?
<You truly, truly are magnificent, Emmy. Truly, you are…>
…?
<… Oh, it’s nothing. In any case, good job… I might have used some harsh words along the way. I apologize, Emmy.>
Oh, no worries.
I mean, even I told Omake-sama to “shut up,” so I’m also sorry…
<……….>
……….
<… For now, Emmy. Shall we return to the mansion?>
Yeah… That’s right, Omake-sama.
Let’s report to Baron-sama.
I’ll let him know I defeated a~ll the Topopoloks’ herd!
<Ahaha… Yes, indeed. In the end, the situation was resolved without waiting for reinforcements from Baron Marz, right?>
Checking the mansion with [Magic Sight], it seems like the barrier hasn’t been restored yet.
For the time being, the stampede has been warded off.
If I convey that, Baron-sama and the others can continue their work with peace of mind.
Also, I have to go see Sara-chan.
I need to tell her that everything’s okay.
… Thank you for worrying about me too.
Just thinking about it made me happy.
My heart felt warm.
I was able to protect my friends.
It made me really proud.
A blissful feeling.
I stood up and started walking towards the mansion.
My steps were still a little wobbly.
My mind was a bit light-headed, absentminded, and there was a pleasant sense of fatigue.
Occasionally stumbling, I walked step by step, careful so I didn’t slip in the mud.
After this, I definitely want to spend the whole day sleeping.
I think that’s allowed, right?
I’m really, really tired.
… was unprepared.
I was, at that moment.
Wrapped in exhaustion and weariness, I couldn’t help but be unprepared.
That might be what happened.
Anyway, I couldn’t respond.
To the unexpected situation, that suddenly arose.
*flash*!!
When I walked towards the mansion, on my back…
In the distance behind me.
Suddenly, an intense light descended.
There was no sound. And it was not a thunder.
If I were to put it into words, the light I felt on my back was power itself.
Incredibly concentrated magical power.
It happened suddenly.
Without any warning, it poured down.
… Onto the corpse of the Queen.
“!?”
I involuntarily turned around in surprise.
And once again, I’m shocked by what I see.
It was standing up.
The corpse.
The Queen’s corpse that I was sure I had defeated.
It was impaled by thorns, tattered, and her bone between the right arm to the shoulder was visible because I ate that part.
Yet, despite being in that state.
It stood up.
“Gi.…..Gi, Gi……”
It sounded like the sound of rusted machinery, and convulsed two, three times.
It gathered strength in both legs. And then.
It started running at full speed!
<What!? No way!? This- Could it be…!?>
What!? What is it!? What’s happening!?
I instinctively tensed up.
Channeling the tiny amount of my remaining magical power into my body, [Body Enhancement]!
However, the Queen paid me no attention.
Just like that, it passed by my side.
Huh?
I stood there dumbfounded, stunned.
And cold sweat perspired.
The direction the Queen was sprinting towards at full speed.
Where Sara-chan and the others were. Where Baron-sama and the others were. It was the mansion.
Not good!
Not good! Not good! Not good-!!
I have to do something to stop it!
But by the time I think about that, it was already too late.
Zugaan!!!
With a deafening sound like that, the Queen rammed into the mansion.
Due to its colossal size, the upper half of the Queen, including her head, broke through the second-floor windows and protrude into the room.
That room… I was pretty sure that room was the study. Where Baron-sama and the others were supposed to be working on restoring the barrier.
While still feeling lightheaded, I started to run towards the mansion.
Before long, the rain had ceased.
Warm light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, illuminating the grassy plains.
This very same field, which had been used as Sara-chan’s magic training ground until recently, was in a terrible state, covered in blood, mud, and the remains of the dead.
Truly, it was a battlefield.
Amidst this scene, the only sound that echoed in the absence of the rain was the sound of Emmy feasting upon the corpse of the Queen.
It was the sound of tearing flesh, slurping blood, and crunching bones.
For Emmy, this battle had almost exhausted all her strength.
She had depleted both her physical strength and magical reserves to the absolute brink. And her victory had been grasped on thin ice.
In order to regain the lost energy, Emmy’s body unconsciously began to consume the corpse of the Queen.
The Queen’s body was also a source of significant magical power.
And so, once again, Emmy’s physical transformation progressed. Inevitably bringing forth the pangs of hunger. But well, there was no avoiding it.
***
… Huh!?
I, Emmy-chan, will be 7 years old soon!
Before I knew it, my hands and the area around my mouth were all red, and I was devouring the corpse of the Queen!
Oh, wait?
I remember defeating the Queen with attacks using thorns, and then repeatedly striking her with [Magic Strike], but…?
<Given that you were at your limit, your consciousness was hazy, so it’s not surprising that you don’t remember. After defeating the Queen, you kept eating her corpse continuously. Your body craved energy, prompting your instinctual predatory behavior.>
I- I see…
That sounds right.
I surveyed the grassy plains that have become the battlefield this time.
Countless Topopoloks’ corpses were scattered here.
The gentle and warm sunlight seeping through the gaps in the clouds feels out of place.
… I won, huh.
<… Yes.>
Unconsciously, strength leave my body and I slumped down.
As expected, this time was truly tough.
Well, actually, this time was tough TOO, I guess?
Using the Queen’s corpse as support, I gazed at the sky, lost in thought.
… Omake-sama, I-, Sara-chan, my friends, I protected her.
<… Yes. Amazing, Emmy. You did so well… you really persevered.>
Ehehe.
<I’ll be honest… I thought many times. It’s impossible, we can’t win.>
Oh… that might’ve been the case.
Geez! Omake-sama, you were so negative!
<… Normally, one’s spirit would be broken. It was that kind of battle. However, you didn’t give up.>
Ehehe…!
Omake-sama, you’re praising me so much, aren’t you?
<You truly, truly are magnificent, Emmy. Truly, you are…>
…?
<… Oh, it’s nothing. In any case, good job… I might have used some harsh words along the way. I apologize, Emmy.>
Oh, no worries.
I mean, even I told Omake-sama to “shut up,” so I’m also sorry…
<……….>
……….
<… For now, Emmy. Shall we return to the mansion?>
Yeah… That’s right, Omake-sama.
Let’s report to Baron-sama.
I’ll let him know I defeated a~ll the Topopoloks’ herd!
<Ahaha… Yes, indeed. In the end, the situation was resolved without waiting for reinforcements from Baron Marz, right?>
Checking the mansion with [Magic Sight], it seems like the barrier hasn’t been restored yet.
For the time being, the stampede has been warded off.
If I convey that, Baron-sama and the others can continue their work with peace of mind.
Also, I have to go see Sara-chan.
I need to tell her that everything’s okay.
… Thank you for worrying about me too.
Just thinking about it made me happy.
My heart felt warm.
I was able to protect my friends.
It made me really proud.
A blissful feeling.
I stood up and started walking towards the mansion.
My steps were still a little wobbly.
My mind was a bit light-headed, absentminded, and there was a pleasant sense of fatigue.
Occasionally stumbling, I walked step by step, careful so I didn’t slip in the mud.
After this, I definitely want to spend the whole day sleeping.
I think that’s allowed, right?
I’m really, really tired.
… was unprepared.
I was, at that moment.
Wrapped in exhaustion and weariness, I couldn’t help but be unprepared.
That might be what happened.
Anyway, I couldn’t respond.
To the unexpected situation, that suddenly arose.
*flash*!!
When I walked towards the mansion, on my back…
In the distance behind me.
Suddenly, an intense light descended.
There was no sound. And it was not a thunder.
If I were to put it into words, the light I felt on my back was power itself.
Incredibly concentrated magical power.
It happened suddenly.
Without any warning, it poured down.
… Onto the corpse of the Queen.
“!?”
I involuntarily turned around in surprise.
And once again, I’m shocked by what I see.
It was standing up.
The corpse.
The Queen’s corpse that I was sure I had defeated.
It was impaled by thorns, tattered, and her bone between the right arm to the shoulder was visible because I ate that part.
Yet, despite being in that state.
It stood up.
“Gi.…..Gi, Gi……”
It sounded like the sound of rusted machinery, and convulsed two, three times.
It gathered strength in both legs. And then.
It started running at full speed!
<What!? No way!? This- Could it be…!?>
What!? What is it!? What’s happening!?
I instinctively tensed up.
Channeling the tiny amount of my remaining magical power into my body, [Body Enhancement]!
However, the Queen paid me no attention.
Just like that, it passed by my side.
Huh?
I stood there dumbfounded, stunned.
And cold sweat perspired.
The direction the Queen was sprinting towards at full speed.
Where Sara-chan and the others were. Where Baron-sama and the others were. It was the mansion.
Not good!
Not good! Not good! Not good-!!
I have to do something to stop it!
But by the time I think about that, it was already too late.
Zugaan!!!
With a deafening sound like that, the Queen rammed into the mansion.
Due to its colossal size, the upper half of the Queen, including her head, broke through the second-floor windows and protrude into the room.
That room… I was pretty sure that room was the study. Where Baron-sama and the others were supposed to be working on restoring the barrier.
While still feeling lightheaded, I started to run towards the mansion.
