We encountered Behemoth.
I managed to escape its stomp, but…
If we leave it alone, the plants on this desert island will be stripped right down to the roots.
“Shouko, I’m counting on you.”
When I spoke, Shouko closed her eyes, focusing intensely.
“Yep! Mmmmmm~ Here—Hi-ro!”
With the sheep, it had appeared in an instant, but this time was different.
Black lines appeared as if space itself were cracking. The lines were jagged like lightning bolts, their movements shifting and changing every moment.
Suddenly, the black lines split apart left and right. It was as if a gate was opening.
Was it connected to a different dimension?
From the gate emerged a fluffy four-legged beast with wings.
Its wings and fur were gray. Its sharp eyes and raptor-like head gave off a cool aura.
It was the fluffy griffon Shouko had envisioned.
They said his name was Hyrlou.
“Hyrlou! Sorry for jumping in without warning, but please give Sousuke a hand!”
Nobiko, her master, made the request, and Hyrlou nodded silently in acknowledgment.
“Nice to meet you, Hyrlou. Straight into it, then: everyone in combat roles except me needs to get onto Hyrlou.”
Hearing my instructions, Mikron of the Black Dragon descended closer to the ground so that the others could dismount more easily.
”…Do you really plan to draw Behemoth’s attention alone, Sousuke?”
Chiyu asked, sounding worried.
We had outlined the general strategy in the white void, but perhaps seeing Behemoth for the first time had made her anxious.
“Behemoth has a habit of chasing the nearest target. It’s best if I keep its attention on me at all times and lure it to a place where there are no nature spirits and no classmates.”
“But, but Sousuke-kun, that’s way too dangerous!”
“Yes, Takano-kun. At least let the teacher join us—”
”…It’s so we can focus the attack on the teacher as the main attacker and Fukami. You understand, don’t you?”
Terina seemed to understand.
But she seemed uneasy within, her gaze lingering on me with a look of concern.
“It’s dangerous for Healer Chiyu to stay near me while I’m the target. Even if I take a hit, as long as she stays safe, she can heal me.”
”…Mm. I won’t let you die. Not ever.”
Chiyu squeezed her small hand into a tight fist.
“I believe in you.”
“I’ve got the hang of deploying multiple barriers, so I’ll support you too, Sōsuke.”
“Yeah, buying those few seconds is a huge help.
Just make your own calls on when to move.”
“Okay, you got it,” Seirei replied with a smile.
”…Understood. Let’s take down Behemoth quickly and show Mr. Sōsuke that his efforts were worth it.”
“Y-Yes… that’s right. And since Ikuo-san’s dangerous role only lasts for a short time if we defeat the monster quickly, it’s fine…”
It was sweet that Fumiho worried about me as my lover, and that Miss Luminas didn’t want to put her students in the line of fire as their teacher, but I had no intention of passing this duty off to anyone else.
Their eyes hardened, showing they had made up their minds.
“Micron, you’re going to have to stick with me on this one. Sorry about that.”
Micron turned its head toward me, looking like it wanted to say something but only held my gaze.
“Instead, they said, ‘Actually, it won’t work without me!’”
Mikosho translated, laughing.
“That’s right, Mikron is a reliable one.”
As I stroked her black fur, Mikron narrowed her eyes in contentment.
I wanted to keep petting that fluffy texture forever, but things weren’t that simple.
“Alright, let’s go.”
We split into two groups here.
“We’re absolutely going to the sea together, okay!”
Was it Mikosho’s version of encouragement, or perhaps a prayer that everyone would be able to reunite safely?
“Right. I need to think up some beach house-style menu items.”
Shiine followed suit.
“I shall help as well.”
“I can’t wait! Sōsuke, if you die before having these beautiful girls to yourselves in their swimsuits, that’s a total loss!”
“Wh-What about beach volleyball, huh?”
Lowa. Junme. Genchu too.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.”
Mikosho looked like she was about to cry for a split second, but then broke into a dazzling smile and gave Mashiro the signal to depart.
The girls who had ridden on Mashiro departed, leaving behind the combat unit.
From among them, only I continued to pilot Mikuon; the remaining four boarded Highrow.
Come to think of it, what gender is Highrow?
But that isn’t something to be worrying about right now.
Mikuon floated up smoothly, and Highrow flapped its wings as they each took to the sky.
I needed Behemoth to spot me, so I moved closer to its eyes.
I had Highrow fly above the elephant’s back.
Then, my gaze met with Behemoth, which was munching on the forest with a crunching sound.
Upon noticing me, it dropped the trees it was holding in its trunk with a thud and stared at me.
Our eyes locked for a few seconds.
In an instant, it swung its trunk like a whip toward us.
Something sliced through the air with a sound amplified hundreds of times over Bad’s swing.
“Mikuon!”
All I could do was trust Mikuon.
It flawlessly dodged the elephant’s blow.
It was as if a leaf, unable to resist the wind, was being violently spiraled upward.
Riding lightly atop Microton’s soaring back, I shouted out.
“This way! You want to crush those with the ‘Right of Return,’ don’t you?”
I didn’t know if that provocative remark had landed, but his body began to turn toward me.
Without changing course, we flew off toward an area devoid of people or trees—the coast. Or rather, it was Microton doing the flying.
“Tempest Blade!”
“Hya-heyah!”
Swarms of sharp wind blades and spears of light and heat struck the Behemoth’s back. It was magic from Fukumou and Mr.
Luminous.
But human magic was terribly fragile against his massive frame.
The attacks connected, but it didn’t seem to deal significant damage.
Still, we had no choice but to keep firing.
Fortunately, my MP wasn’t running out, whereas his HP inevitably would be.
That said, there was always the possibility of our own HP reaching zero as well.
Even so, taking on a role like this—had I somehow changed during my time on that desert island?
Anyway, we headed toward the sea.
The Behemoth’s movements seemed occasionally hampered, likely due to Setsuna erecting a barrier to impede it.
I certainly had good luck with my companions.
“Let me give this a try.”
Using the Craft Ability, I combined the rocks previously gathered.
Forming them into a Boulder, I aimed using the placement function and deployed it above the Behemoth’s head—placing it there.
It was a dropping attack often seen in isekai works when a human with storage magic gets involved.
As if a corner of a mountain had been sheared off, a massive rock suddenly appeared in mid-air and fell.
The Boulder struck the Behemoth’s head perfectly, but its thick hide apparently absorbed the impact, as the beast remained unharmed.
Though it paused for a moment, it let out an irritated roar and resumed chasing me.
Just before the rock rolled back to the ground, I stored it away.
“Even if it only has the effect of irritating it, that’s enough.”
Besides, if I kept doing this, maybe eventually it would manage to deal some damage.
I once again deployed a Boulder aimed above its head.
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