I Became a Raid Boss

A strike that encapsulated his entire life.

Eric’s strike pierced through the dense Magi surrounding Kana and reached her.

‘…Could I do it again?’

No, it was impossible.

Eric shook his head.

He had charged forward with nothing but the single thought that he must reach her, and when he came to his senses, he had succeeded.

How he used his swordsmanship, how he managed to reach Kana—

Even Eric, who had delivered the strike, couldn’t comprehend it.

“…Hah!”

Even if it was a miracle born of repeated coincidences, if he could land a blow once, he could do it again.

The greatest realization was that his limits didn’t end here.

Of course, the price he paid was not insignificant.

“Gasp… Huff… If you have the strength to laugh…! Couldn’t you come down and run yourself, huh?”

“Sorry. I’m out of strength.”

“Ugh…!”

The first price was that he had exhausted all his strength after entering a state of complete focus, leaving him without the energy to lift a finger.

Eric hadn’t expected this outcome, thinking it was the end for him, but thanks to a subordinate who realized his state and carried him away, he managed to survive.

Swish!

“Ahhh! The captain’s gone mad!”

“…Ack! Don’t scream in my ear! Huff… You sure can move those fingers for someone who claims to have no strength left!”

“Oh? You think I’m lying, kid? Look at this arm and tell me I’m full of strength!”

“Ugh, move your orc leg out of the way. I can’t see where I’m going!”

“What? Orc leg? Orc leeeeg?!”

“Is that really important right now?! Just do something about that, quickly! Whoa!”

Sensing danger, the man instinctively threw himself to the side.

He almost fell from the sudden change of direction while running, but he managed to regain his balance.

In the end, his decision was the right one.

Crackle!

The black Magi swept through the spot where the man had just been standing.

Dark, jagged marks remained on the ground, with traces of Magi slowly rising from them.

Without time to catch his breath after narrowly escaping death, the man continued to leap away from the attacks that came from behind.

Kana, who had previously refrained from attacking first or responding aggressively, shifted her attitude the moment Eric’s sword struck her.

Now, Eric was fleeing from Kana, who unleashed a torrent of Magi with her deadened eyes.

This was the second price Eric had to pay.

In truth, it wasn’t so much a price as it was a way to fulfill his goal of luring her away.

But seeing how the Magi continued its furious rampage, splitting dozens of trees without losing momentum, he felt no sense of accomplishment.

Glancing back.

“Hm.”

Eric, still carried on his subordinate’s back, looked behind them.

Fortunately, Kana’s walking speed wasn’t much different from before, so she couldn’t catch up to them as they fled at full speed.

This allowed the man to dodge her attacks.

“If the captain were in her right mind, this distance wouldn’t even matter. Lucky, huh?”

“If she were in her right mind, we wouldn’t need to do any of this in the first place!”

“…Oh. That’s a smart point.”

If Kana had heard this, she might have clapped her hands, remarking that she’d chosen a loyal subordinate.

“Go right.”

But instead of applause, what fell upon them was Magi.

Following Eric’s instructions, the man turned without question.

Guided by his instincts and Eric’s directions, the man managed to escape the forest successfully.

Far in the distance, they reached an open space where the horizon stretched wide. Catching his breath, the man asked Eric:

“Do you really think this will work?”

“Of course! It’ll definitely work.”

“Ah, as expected, Captain, you always have a plan.”

“Well, if it doesn’t work, we all die. What’s the big deal?”

The man’s expression instantly turned cold.

Of course.

I was a fool for even trusting a guy like this for a moment.

‘Should I just drop him here and escape on my own?’

While the man was seriously contemplating this, Eric spoke.

“Kidding. It’ll definitely work.”

“Yeah, sure. Of course, it will.”

“…You little—”

Eric glared at the man with his sharp eyes.

How dare he show such insolent behavior toward a superior like the sky!

‘Back in my day, such behavior wasn’t even imaginable. He dares challenge a superior like me?’

It’s the end times.

They say a frog forgets when it was a tadpole, and Eric clicked his tongue as he looked down at the man carrying him.

He wanted nothing more than to get up and scold him, but…

Unfortunately, Eric was in no state to move without the man’s help.

‘…Ugh! If only I had my strength.’

Eric, with a tear trickling down, spoke with a trembling voice.

“…Ahem. If I’ve treated you poorly before, I apologize.”

“…What’s this about all of a sudden?”

“I just thought that in times of crisis, we should stick together closely.”

“I’ve said it many times before, but if you have the strength to talk nonsense, then get off my back. It doesn’t feel great carrying a big guy like you.”

“…Hey! You think this is fun for me?! I hate this too, you know!”

“Well, then you can get down!”

“I can’t! I don’t have the strength!”

Though Eric couldn’t remember ever being particularly unfair, he figured that subordinates might have felt differently.

Worried that he might be abandoned, Eric gained confidence from the man’s reaction that he wouldn’t be left behind.

…Even if the look of utter disgust made him feel a bit sour.

Just a little.

…Really, just a teeny-tiny bit.

“I honestly don’t trust it.”

“What?”

“That guy. If it was possible to trap her in this open space, we could have done it sooner. Why drag her all the way here? Doesn’t it seem strange?”

“Since when have those wizards ever done things that made sense? Why are you being so picky?”

“…True. You’re right about that.”

Because he’s a wizard.

That single word was enough to convince the man.

The disdain for wizards, which began with Kana, spread to Eric and then to others through him.

“And you can trust that guy.”

“…Captain, did you eat something strange? Or did you brush against the Magi…? Ugh, it’s my fault. I should have protected you better…”

“Quit the dramatics.”

Eric tapped the man with his leg, which had regained some strength.

“That guy is the most skilled wizard I’ve ever seen.”

“…Aren’t you a former member of the Crimson Knights?”

“That’s right. So?”

“So, then… Is he from the royal court as well?”

“Hey, isn’t your tone getting a bit too polite?”

“What? Oh, no, don’t accuse me. When did I ever do that? I’m not the kind of person to disrespect strangers like that.”

“Yeah, right.”

The man’s words flowed smoothly as if his tongue was coated in oil, making Eric roll his eyes at the flattery.

“He’s not a royal wizard.”

“Hey, what’s this? I got all tense for no reason. Next time I see him, I’ll…”

“He’s even more than that.”

“—I’ll treat him to Ordo’s special products until he’s stuffed.”

Even just comparing their status, the wizard who came to see Eric was in a league of his own compared to a court wizard from the Grasis Kingdom.

The Arka Empire, ruling over the Ardina Continent.

How could someone known as the Sage of the Arka Empire be compared to a court wizard from a small country?

Having witnessed the magic he wielded on the battlefield firsthand, Eric knew that such a comparison was impossible.

‘…What’s his real intention?’

But suspicion remained.

Why would someone of such skill and status suddenly appear and offer help?

How he knew was secondary; his true intentions remained a mystery.

‘Maybe he’s using us as a shield.’

Beyond Ordo, if you head further east, you reach the Empire’s territory.

‘If the Captain enters the Empire’s territory like this, it’ll cause a huge uproar.’

Though Eric didn’t particularly like the Empire, he didn’t think the sight would be pleasant.

Crack!

As Eric pondered, the trunk of a tree at the edge of the forest snapped.

With a loud thud, the dust settled, revealing the figure of a girl.

Even though she was at a considerable distance, Eric could tell that her pink eyes were locked onto him.

“I’m not into clingy girls.”

“So, are you saying you’d be interested if she weren’t clingy?”

“…You little—”

Are you trying to send me to my doom?

Eric unconsciously glanced around and, realizing that no one else could hear their conversation, let out a sigh of relief.

“Listen closely. My type is a woman with a fantastic figure, where everything is just right—not some plain little kid like her.”

The moment he finished speaking, Kana’s gaze sharpened, glaring at him. It was probably just his imagination.

The man barely listening to Eric’s excuses bit his lips in frustration.

“Will this really be okay?”

“What now?”

“That person… She seems to know you, Captain.”

“….”

Eric fell silent.

Since she blatantly called him “Captain,” he didn’t think she’d miss the connection.

After a moment of silence, Eric spoke up.

“It better be.”

Even if it wasn’t okay, he couldn’t just leave things as they were.

“She’s relentless enough to chase me to the ends of hell, so what can I do? Her persistent nature hasn’t changed a bit, then or now.”

They chatted as they slowly retreated backward.

Kana followed, steadily advancing toward them.

As she reached the center of the clearing, scattering her dark Magi—

“…!”

Flash!

A hidden magic circle in the clearing suddenly emitted a blinding light.

Sensing the unsettling Mana from the magic circle under her feet, Kana’s eyes narrowed fiercely, and the Magi surrounding her expanded rapidly.

But the magic circle completed itself faster than Kana could react.

With intricate geometric patterns, the circle finished, and a massive silver barrier rose in the clearing.

The man, watching the scene with his mouth agape, muttered without realizing it.

“…Did we—”

Boom!

“Wah?!”

“Ugh!”

Before he could finish, the barrier shook with a deafening noise.

The ground trembled so much that the man lost his balance and fell over.

Eric, who had been riding on his back, also tumbled to the ground.

“Ouch, my back…”

Eric, clutching his back and groaning, sprawled out on the ground.

Unlike the relaxed Eric, the man, with a tense expression, kept his eyes fixed on the barrier.

“…Is it over?”

“Probably.”

Even after that, the barrier shuddered several more times, accompanied by sounds like something being torn apart. But it held firm in its place.

Only then did the man, finally relieved, collapse onto the ground.

—

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