Welcome to the Special-Grade Guild! ~ The Beloved Elf Poster Girl Soothes Everyone’s Hearts ~
Chapter 132

132. Blood

“Whoa, p-please let go! Martinelshiela-dono!”

“Ugh…!”

“Please stop! Everyone!”

Nika-san, Gil-san, and Kron-san were all restrained by Mara-san and the other High Elves. They might not be suited for battle, but it seemed difficult to break free from the advanced magic of several High Elves. And they were the ones who’d helped us. We couldn’t just attack them. They hadn’t expected to be restrained by their allies, so they’d all been easily captured.

“I’m sorry… We can’t disobey. But maybe it’s a blessing that he didn’t give any violent orders…”

“No, it’s our fault for letting our guard down!”

“But this is… not good!”

Of course, the High Elves meant no harm. Everyone had apologetic looks on their faces. It was all because of the curse. And that’s why Gil-san and the others looked so frustrated. His fists were clenched so tightly that they were bleeding…!

“Ugh, Meg…!!”

And now, with no one to stop me, I was slowly walking towards Schelmelhorn. No, I don’t want to go… Stop! My feet!

“Hmph. It took a while to get through those troublesome procedures… but whatever. I’ve finally obtained it.”

And finally, I exited the barrier, into Schelmelhorn’s grasp. I was frustrated. So frustrated! I couldn’t forgive myself for being so powerless…! A single tear rolled down my face.

“To foresee the future, control the monsters, gain the power to manipulate the world. The world will finally be mine, and I… will become a god!”

What is he talking about!? That power isn’t yours! And he thinks I’ll obediently obey, obey… Ugh! If it weren’t for this curse…!

And you can’t become a god just by ruling the world. How pathetic.

“But for that to happen, I need the current Demon King to step down.”

“!?”

Step down…? Could he mean…

“If you’re not willing to step down on your own, I’ll have to kill you, Demon King.”

“You won’t!”

Kron-san struggled against her restraints. But she couldn’t break free. What do we do!?

“Don’t worry, it won’t be immediate. I’ll have him rampage a little longer, tire out the world. And I don’t want those flies buzzing around, trying to rescue this child, it’s annoying.”

Schelmelhorn said this, then lifted me into the air with wind magic, and started moving. W-Wait! Where are we going?

“Meg! Megggggg!!”

Gil-san was shouting. No, I don’t want to go! Gil-san! Gil-san!!

I was starting to think that it was over. And then, a roar that shook the earth echoed.

“Zahariash-sama!”

Following Kron-san’s gaze, I saw the large dragon, the Demon King, clad in deep blue scales, breathing fire. Dragon breath! And it was heading straight for… for me!? I’m gonna die! I’m gonna diiieee!!!

“Tch, how annoying! To interfere!”

I’m glad Schelmelhorn is so strong. Only in this moment, did I feel that way. Because the wind surrounding me intensified, becoming an incredibly strong barrier.

“His consciousness is flickering! He’s trying to rescue Meg-sama. But… it doesn’t seem like he can hold on much longer…!”

What!? He’s doing this for me, the Demon King…? Thank you! He saved me from being taken away. I’m incredibly grateful for that!!

“Tch, how troublesome.”

Schelmelhorn was clicking his tongue! It’s buying us time, in a way. I suddenly felt a floating sensation. O-Oh? I was blown quite high into the air. And then we stopped. I guess he didn’t want to injure me, and it would be inconvenient to have me nearby. I could see the battle clearly. Whoa, how scary! Ah, the dragon Demon King was looking this way, is he going to breathe fire again!? No! I’m unharmed because of the wind, but it’s still scary!

“Meg!!”

After the flames subsided, I heard Gil-san calling out to me. As expected of Gil-san, he’d managed to break free from the restraints. He immediately transformed into a large black eagle and tried to fly towards me. But—

“Naive.”

“Guh…!”

Schelmelhorn got on Gil-san’s back—and plunged a blade of wind into him.

Gil-san, coughing up blood… Eh? Wait, no way!

“Gi-Gil-shaaaaan!!”

Snapping out of it, I screamed his name. Get out of the way, wind! It’s in the way! Let me go to Gil-san…! I struggled against the wind barrier, but my small fists couldn’t even make a sound. No, no, Gil-san…!

“W-Wait… for me… Meg…!”

“Hmph, how resilient.”

Gil-san, bleeding from the base of his wings and beak, was still trying to stand up. Schelmelhorn created another blade of wind.

Please stop. You don’t need to save me. I’ll do whatever you say!

“Uooooohhh!!”

“You little…!”

“Gah!!”

Nika-san, who’d transformed into his beast form and forcibly broken free from his restraints, trying to stop Schelmelhorn, bit into his arm. But he was easily blown away by the blade of wind, a spray of blood erupting.

“Nika-shan…!”

“I’ll restrain you! Ahhh!!”

“How annoying.”

Kron-san, still restrained, created a flood. Trying to wash away Schelmelhorn. But with a flick of his wrist, it transformed into a tornado, engulfing Kron-san, the Demon King, and the High Elves who’d been restraining her. They were all blown away.

Their power was overwhelming. Gil-san, Nika-san, even Kron-san, they were all strong individuals, but… Schelmelhorn had easily blown them all away.

“I’m not done yet!”

“Nuh…!”

But they weren’t giving up. I’m sure none of them had given up. Gil-san reverted to his human form and slashed at Schelmelhorn with his sword. The red blood flowing from his back was burned into my eyes.

“…It seems I have no choice but to deal with you first.”

“You think you can? You’re just garbage.”

Their swords clashed, their movements too fast for me to see. The trail of blood Gil-san was leaving was the only proof that he was still okay. Even with such a serious injury, he was holding his own against Schelmelhorn, his attacks relentless. And he didn’t seem to have been hit, but… his previous wound was too deep!

Kron-san and Nika-san, battered, had returned. They were dealing with the countless monsters, while occasionally restraining the Demon King, who was rampaging in his dragon form. Even for a novice like me, it was obvious that we were losing.

“There’s so much… blood…”

I could only watch, from above. My tears, flowing uncontrollably, blurred my vision.

“I don’t want them to… hurt each other…!”

Even without asking Shou-chan, I felt like I could hear their screams, how they were in pain, how desperate they were.

I hate war. It’s scary. It’s painful.

Is there anything… I can do…?

—There is.

A tear fell onto my knee. I slowly looked up at the faint, delicate voice, and then—the world changed.

“Eh…?”

A pure white world, completely silent. Eh, what happened? Gil-san? Where is everyone?

I looked around, but all I could see was this endless white space, and me, sitting here. …No, someone was coming from over there. That was…

“Meg…?”

She had no expression on her face, but she was definitely making eye contact with me, and she slowly held out her hand then stopped before me.

Did she have something… she wanted to tell me…?

I gently placed my hand on hers.