I'm running really fast, being careful not to break things like roofs and poles. I'm chasing after some magic energy that looks like emerald light.
And then, I see it.
There's some kind of barrier that pushes people away, and when I cross it, I can't feel anyone's presence.
In the middle of it all, there's a light that's as gentle and warm as a mother protecting her child. I tilted my head under my armor at the sight of a figure.
Is it Lisha, and who else? That big fiery demon is definitely an enemy.
Lisha is probably using the magic of the light veil. It reminds me of the magic the Saint I know uses.
The fiery creature on the other side is most likely a spell used by demons. It's very powerful, and I don't think many people can use magic that strong. I'm worried because I can't see the demon who's using the magic, but I'm more curious about the woman with Lisha.
She's wearing a suit, and her magic energy feels like she's probably a human from Earth. The barrier that keeps people away is different from Asteris', so maybe there are magicians on Earth too.
I had thought it was possible, but I never really believed it.
While I'm thinking about all this, the fiery demon breaks Lisha's light veil.
Oh no.
I gather strength in my legs, jump into the air, and quickly position myself between Lisha and the danger, slashing my sword.
But instead of cutting through the demon, I just scatter the flames around it.
The creature's hollow eyes in the flames stare at me. It's probably created by the same demon who create the fire dog from before, but it's much stronger.
I realize I'm not as sharp as I used to be. My skills, strength, and even my sense of how to use my sword have all deteriorated. If my old friends saw me now, they'd probably laugh.
Being away for almost three years has taken its toll.
While I'm thinking about all this, I hear a soft voice.
"Why...are you..."
I turn around and see Lisha, exhausted from using her magic, and a woman protecting her.
Honestly, I can't believe I came here when I said it was impossible. I also want to know who this woman is to Lisha. There are so many things I want to ask.
But for now, I have something to deal with.
I look back at the fiery demon behind me.
At first glance, it looks like a human made of flames, but the magic is very complicated. Making inanimate objects move on their own is already hard, but this magic does it with flames.
The more powerful the fire magic, the harder it is to control. Making it look like a person and move on its own from a distance is something only a few skilled magic users can do.
It's been a long time since I felt the presence of a strong person since coming back to Earth.
—Roarrrrrrrrr!
The demon roars again and raises its fist. Flames shoot out from its fist, coming straight at me.
I still don't know how much power should I use, and it's hard to judge. But I focus my magic into my armor and block its fist.
With a loud noise, the demon's fist is pushed back, and its burning body stumbles.
Oh? My cloak flipped over when I raised my arm too forcefully. This is why taking a break is scary. A small mistake like that can cause a lot of damage in the city.
I continue to control my magic and take a step forward.
Just that makes cracks in the road and the air around me rumbles.
—Roarrrrrrrrr!
The fiery demon roars again and charges at me.
The body was burning with even more intensity than before, and the tightly controlled fists were glowing so brightly that they seemed almost impossible to see. The mighty arm of the demon was approaching with the power equivalent to a meteor striking the earth.
In response, I faced it without taking a defensive stance, approaching it in a relaxed state. As my sword's tip reached the range of the demon's side, I swiftly lifted my sword.
Slash.
The powerful upward strike easily sliced the demon's torso in two. The flames it had stored scattered in all directions.
Before the shockwave could spread to the surroundings, I retrieved my sword. I pointed the tip, which had been aimed at the sky, directly toward the ground.
Silver light leaked from the gaps in my armor, and the geometric-patterned sword erased all the magic that had constructed the demon in an instant.
Even the flames, which had been on the verge of exploding, were drawn into the silver flash and extinguished by the ruthless blow of the sword.
What remained afterward was a cityscape shrouded in silence, with just the three of us.
When I looked back, the woman who had shielded Lisha before was now looking up at me, her mouth opening and closing as if she were struggling to breathe. Maybe it was because of the lack of oxygen due to the flames? No, it was more like I was being treated as if I was a stranger, and it was making her flustered. Despite being quite attractive, her clothes were burnt all over, and her right arm bore a painful-looking burn.
And there was Lisha.
Lisha was still suffering from magic exhaustion, which should have made it very difficult for her to remain conscious. Magic is a combination of the source of life and the power that fills the world. When it runs out, physical abilities decline significantly, and consciousness becomes hazy. It's a different level of exhaustion from simple fatigue.
Despite her inability to stand in this condition, Lisha stood with her back straight, gazing at me with a serious expression. She truly deserved to be called a saint.
Now, in my current state of using magic, I couldn't speak. But I couldn't just remove my armor with a stranger present, so there was only one thing I could do.
"..."
"What are you going to do with this child?"
As I approached Lisha in silence, the woman, appearing somewhat flustered, bravely asked, seemingly determined to protect Lisha. No, she must have been seriously injured too. I admired her spirit for not hesitating, but it was still too reckless.
I gently placed my hand on the woman's shoulder as gently as possible, considering that she might be injured. The moment my hand touched her shoulder, she flinched slightly, and I couldn't help but feel a bit hurt inside.
"Ah."
And then, I picked up Lisha, who was still limp. Lisha's surprised voice sounded strangely seductive. Is she really underage?
The woman, who had been gently seated without any resistance, stared at me and Lisha in bewilderment.
"Uh... who are you..."
"..."
I didn't respond to the woman's words and simply nodded my head. I didn't know the whole situation, but I could tell that this person had been genuinely trying to protect Lisha. I hoped there would be a chance to properly thank her.
With Lisha in my arms, I jumped up right there. In just a few seconds, we passed through the barrier that kept people away, leaping into the shadows to avoid the moonlight.
While racing through the early summer night sky, I was lost in thought about what to do next when Lisha suddenly tapped my chest.
Startled, I looked down at Lisha, who was moving her lips earnestly.
"Ah, um, the clothes you bought! I left them over there!"
"..."
I couldn't express my feelings as I quietly turned back to retrieve the clothes Lisha had left behind, making sure not to be seen by the woman.
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