The Returnee Wants Peace

‘Ugh!’

When a magician with already weak physical strength becomes the target of a boss monster, there aren’t many things they can do.

Dodge desperately.

Run away.

Endure with a barrier.

Whoosh!

A hemispherical golden barrier formed from Rosha’s outstretched hand. A chilling sound rang out as the water dragon’s teeth collided with the barrier’s surface.

Fortunately, she managed to block the attack, but the water dragon didn’t slow down at all.

-Hahaha! Got you well!

It felt like her body was floating as if riding an amusement park ride that goes up and then falls.

They were shooting straight up vertically!

The color of the water around them brightened in an instant, and with a splash, the sky started to become visible.

“Rosha!”

Unable to withstand the dragon’s speed, Froy’s hand slipped away midway. Noticing this, the water dragon grinned and shouted.

-Die, you insignificant creature!

In an instant, they were high in the sky.

The dragon that had brought her to an altitude where the entire lake could be seen at a glance was now moving away.

Normally, humans can’t fly. Moreover, since flying goes against the laws of the world, it was quite a difficult area even for 7th stage magicians who could perform miracles.

‘At this height, it’s certainly difficult.’

However, Rosha had something she believed in right now.

Because she had just seen a bird with blue flames flying from beyond the clouds.

“Just trust me!”

Koko, who had flown like an arrow, caught Rosha’s collar with his talons curved like an eagle’s.

It was an impressive feat to catch her while she was falling with increasing acceleration, but…

“Ugh!”

Unable to withstand the weight, they were dragged down.

“Oh my, why are you so heavy!”

“What? I’m fine for my size, you know?”

“Tch, I’m as light as a feather so I can’t exert much force!”

Well, it wasn’t wrong that Koko was as light as a feather since his body was made of magical power inside.

At that moment, something like a transparent floor touched her feet.

At the same time, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her up.

“That was surprising.”

“…For me too.”

I didn’t expect you to appear so quickly.

Koko, who had been flapping his wings and panting, clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

Regardless, Rosha stared blankly at the man standing comfortably in midair as if it were ground.

Now that she had caught her breath, his wet hair and clothes came into view.

Whoosh-

She summoned a small fireball to heat the surrounding air, ignoring his gaze that had a strange air to it.

Instead, she checked the blue window that had been occupying part of her vision for a while.

The battle with the water dragon begins!

-The water dragon’s scales have high physical resistance. Aim to increase damage by destroying specific parts!

-If you don’t neutralize the water dragon during certain patterns, an annihilation skill will be activated.

-If you don’t defeat the water dragon within an hour, it will enter a berserk state.

Indeed, the battle with the water dragon was already in full swing around the lake.

Seeing a small circular gauge above the water dragon’s head, it seemed that was probably the berserk meter.

“Seeing that attacks are getting through, it seems the invincible state has been lifted. That round circle is quite intuitive too.”

“Yes, that’s true…”

In the previous world, there was a lot of talk about such elements being borrowed from game systems.

Back then, she didn’t know much about games, so she thought it was fine if it was convenient, but now it’s a bit different.

‘It feels unpleasant, like we’re being played in someone’s palm.’

Anyway, fortunately, people were carrying out the battle with the water dragon smoothly.

“Team 1, forward! Support the front lines!”

“Magician unit, prepare linked magic!”

The combatants moved in unison at the command center’s orders.

Nardil and Cassis could be seen charging at the water dragon with swords drawn, though it wasn’t clear when they had come out of the lake.

Amidst the lights of supporting magic beautifully decorating the battlefield, Lysithea was providing emergency treatment to those in critical condition by infusing them with life force from the rear.

Moreover.

“Imperial Knights, charge forward!”

Now that she looked, even Emperor Illien of the Empire was present on this battlefield.

It was very encouraging that the Empire’s highest commander and a prophet who gazed into the future had appeared on the battlefield.

Moreover, she even joined the command center and directly coordinated the positions of the teams.

“Uwaaah!!”

Thanks to this, the morale of the imperial soldiers had skyrocketed to the heavens, and they were truly burning with fighting spirit.

Watching the battle progress smoothly like interlocking gears, Rosha began:

“The situation is better than expected. We don’t need to join urgently.”

“These are soldiers who have been trained countless times overcoming trials. Unless something unusual happens, the front line won’t collapse for a while.”

Froy, who replied briefly, paid more attention to the knights he had brought even on the battlefield.

To mention it now, he hadn’t participated in this trial alone.

There was an imperial order for nobles to bring their knights to help, so he had brought the knights of the ducal family to join the battle.

“…”

Warmth could be felt in his gaze.

Though still lukewarm, there was definitely a difference compared to before.

‘Froy has changed a lot too.’

In a good direction, of course.

At that moment, perhaps having succeeded in neutralizing it, the water dragon staggered greatly and collapsed to the ground.

It was clearly a time to pour in attacks for anyone watching.

However.

-You, you ant-like creatures!

With a faint black energy, the water dragon stood up as if nothing had happened and swept its tail around.

Despite having collapsed once, it seemed even more full of strength.

‘…This is strange.’

Froy, who had gone through many trials, also seemed to think something was off and looked around.

Then he soon discovered it.

The suspicious movement of the Barcel Duchy side, secretly slipping out of the command center and entering the forest near the lake!

“We should follow, right?”

“Of course.”

Froy suddenly grabbed Rosha’s hand and moved towards the forest.

* * *

While the battle with the water dragon was in full swing at the lake, there were surprisingly many people in the forest.

Now that she looked, it seemed all the core forces of the duchy were here.

“Be careful.”

Froy, who had spotted a path strewn with thin branches, lifted Rosha up and stepped on the air.

They easily passed over traps of entangled thin wires and pits covered with leaves.

‘I’ve always thought this, but Froy’s ability is too unfair.’

It was vaguely understandable why his combat philosophy didn’t rely on swords or magic.

After being carried like a doll for a while.

“…have you thought enough about it?”

A small voice was heard.

Hiding their bodies in a suitable place and peering through the leaves, they could see two people conversing about ten steps away.

One was Count Ainbert, the commander of the Barcel Duchy.

And the other one was…

‘It’s the guy I saw three years ago when settling things with the Emperor.’

He seemed to be the companion of the magician they had captured earlier, and the ‘mercenary’ Froy had mentioned.

The mercenary continued speaking while handling his sword.

“If we miss this opportunity, it’ll be difficult in the future too. The imperial Emperor has come to the battlefield just in time, and everywhere is in chaos. Isn’t killing the Emperor in this gap what the duchy wants?”

“Lower your voice! And… certainly that’s true, but do you have any good ideas?”

No matter how chaotic the situation, openly assassinating the Emperor would also cause problems.

But the mercenary, as if he had a prepared method, rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a flute.

“If you blow this flute, it will hasten the water dragon’s berserk state.”

“…What?”

“How to use it is up to the count’s discretion.”

A flute with faint black energy rising from it.

Somehow, it felt like it had a power similar to the water dragon’s black orb.

Suddenly, Hajin’s words came to mind.

-Why did the water dragon’s yeouiju turn black? We need to start from here.

-I think those who tainted the yeouiju are in ‘paradise’.

The vague speculation from back then was coming closer than ever before.

They had to stop this here before something bad happened.

Thinking the same, Froy whispered in her ear.

“You should save your strength as you have places to use it. I’ll handle this.”

It was true, but Froy’s breathing was unstable as he had also used a lot of power dealing with the water dragon.

However, he immediately composed himself and moved to a different spot.

And right after that.

Whoosh!

Starting from his fingertips, the air split in a straight line, turned gray, and then burst into white.

That white line had precisely pierced through one arm of Count Ainbert, who was holding the flute.

“Aaargh!”

With a scream, the flute that bounced off fell near Rosha.

She moved stealthily towards it, worried that someone might get their hands on it.

Fortunately, they were too focused on Froy who had suddenly appeared to notice her presence.

At that moment, the mercenary quietly began:

“You, it’s that guy. You were quite famous on our side.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think you’re that guy who handles space, who was helping the woman with a wanted order from paradise. Am I wrong?”