I Became a Mountain Tiger in a Fantasy World

< Chapter 22: Heroic Spirit >

Lia stiffened at the sharp pain she felt at the nape of her neck.

‘W-what’s this?’

She raised her hand to cover her neck. The heat was intensifying, as if her hand was burning from the growing warmth. Then, she shuddered and checked her palm.

There was a distinct bloodstain. As she saw the round moon and the spear engraved beneath it, only one thought came to her mind.

“Young Lady?!”

The soldier who was supporting her flinched and stepped back.

“This, this is…!”

“Ricardo, stop!”

Raymond shouted something, but she couldn’t hear him. All eyes turned towards her, fixated on the ‘brand’ etched on her nape.

‘Ah, ah…’

Lia sank to the ground without realizing it. It was judgment. Divine judgment had been cast upon her.

Now, all that remained was to accept her death. At that moment, Lia understood why the monsters had attacked.

‘It was because of me?’

What should I do? What can I do now?

“Ahhh!”

“Run! Damn it, damn it!”

“Do not retreat! Protect your comrades! Do not break formation!!”

Terrifying screams and explosions erupted all around. The sound of something being pierced, of being cut. The chilling noise of fabric tearing apart.

The pungent smell of blood filled the air, making her ears ring. The surroundings blurred and she felt too dazed to think straight.

‘Where is this place?’

“Young Lady!! This way!”

Raymond urgently shouted, pulling her wrist. Lia bit her lips as she felt the warmth of the two beings she held close.

“Kiieeek!”

A bat-like statue flew in front of them, blocking the way. A gargoyle? Why was a monster that was supposed to dwell deep in the Verdant Grove here?

Clang! Clang!

The steel-like creature’s skin didn’t show a single scratch from the soldiers’ attacks. The soldiers’ faces grew pale as their blades broke uselessly.

“D-damn it!”

“Fall back! Hold out until Sir Raymond arrives… Ugh!”

“Brad…!”

Lia instinctively called out the name of the soldier pierced by the gargoyle’s claws. Brad gritted his teeth and quietly smiled at the young lady.

“Run, run…! Escape!”

“Puhaaa!”

Those were his last words.

Lia stood there, her mouth agape, while the soldiers rallied together in fury and tightened their formation.

“Young Lady! This way…!”

Lia was pulled along by Raymond, but she shook her head.

“Why, why…!”

Why are you choosing death to save me?

She wanted to ask that. At the same time, a deep sense of despair washed over her.

‘People are dying because of me.’

What should I do?

Father, where are you? What am I supposed to do?

“Argh! Fall back!”

At that moment, another gargoyle appeared on the opposite side of the phalanx formed by the soldiers.

Raymond, after dealing with the attacking monsters, faced the gargoyle alone.

“Ray, Raymond…!”

“Young Lady! Listen carefully!”

“Wha, what…!”

Raymond explained about the underground passage of the White Castle, its exit, and where she should go.

In his urgent voice, Lia shook her head, tears streaming down her face.

“Raymond, what are you saying…!”

“Young Lady, you know it well.”

“Keiiiek!”

As his sword scattered shining aura, the massive body of the gargoyle fell.

Simultaneously, another abnormally large gargoyle lunged at Raymond, and he shouted urgently.

“Hurry! Go!”

“Ah…!”

Lia despaired.

Even though she knew she had to get up and run, her feet wouldn’t move.

‘If I run away…’

Everyone would die.

What would I gain by surviving alone?

Do I really have to abandon them all, just to save myself?

‘Why, why on earth…’

Why did so many people have to sacrifice themselves to save someone marked like her?

She couldn’t understand.

Consumed by despair, Lia prayed.

‘If there is a god…’

Please, please save us.

“Graar!”

At that moment, Lu-deus, who had been in her arms, growled fiercely and dashed towards the gargoyle facing Raymond.

“Ru, Ruby!”

“Fere!”

And then, a miracle happened right before her eyes.

* * *

“Rrrrgh…!”

At first, it was a faint sound.

However, as Lu-deus took each step forward, the resonance grew louder and louder, eventually filling the surroundings with an eerie tremor.

“Agh, aagh!”

Just as the gargoyle’s claws descended and fear shadowed the soldiers’ faces, Lu-deus’ body was momentarily engulfed in a dark shadow. Was it an illusion that something massive flickered above the shadow cast by his small frame? As the presence that pierced through the shadow took a step forward, Lia’s pupils dilated in shock. At the same time, a deafening roar that reverberated through the air filled the space.

“Roar━━━━━━!!”

The ferocious roar of a beast echoed powerfully. Heads turned, movements halted. All eyes simultaneously focused on one point.

“W-What the…”

“What kind of monster is that…!”

Ferocious fangs and powerful, rippling muscles. Everyone’s lips quivered at the beastly presence that shook their chests. Even the strong knight Raymond felt the tension rise at the appearance of this being.

The beast, which had been growling with its body lowered, soon let out a roar and lunged at the gargoyle.

“Kiieeek!”

“Rrrrgh!!”

“No! Lu-deus!!”

Lia screamed. She had seen the mark inscribed on Lu-deus’ egg. She knew better than anyone what was about to happen.

“Kiyaaak!”

As Lu-deus pounced on the gargoyle, the surrounding monsters started to converge on him.

Clang!

Sparks flew. Lu-deus’ claws bounced off the gargoyle’s hard skin.

‘No! No!’

There was no way he could win. Even a broadsword forged by a blacksmith couldn’t pierce it. How could a mere monster’s claws succeed?

However,

Rip! Crack!

The claws that initially bounced off soon embedded deep into the gargoyle’s torso. As the gargoyle screamed and wildly swung its nails, Lu-deus climbed onto its back and bit down on its nape.

What kind of being was a gargoyle?

A creature renowned for its robust defense, to the point of having the term “physical immunity” applied to it. To defeat it, one needed more than just aura manipulation; a knight who had reached the level of a Sword Expert, forming sword energy, was required.

Even someone like the knight Raymond, who had achieved that level, struggled against the gargoyle.

Crunch!

Lia’s eyes captured it vividly.

Lu-deus biting down on the gargoyle’s nape, exerting force on its massive body.

That beast, with a strength no human could muster,

Crunch, crack!

bit the gargoyle’s head clean off.

Everyone was speechless, simply staring at him in awe of his overwhelming power.

Thud.

The headless gargoyle collapsed limply, and Lu-deus let out a mighty roar.

“Roaaar!”

At the appearance of a predator of a different caliber, all the monsters and beasts cowered.

With that tremendous roar, his emotions were conveyed to Lia for the first time.

「The ‘Unidentified Being’ cries out for you to rise and fight!」

“……!!”

***

Though the roar was loud and commanding, the situation wasn’t actually that favorable.

‘Damn, I thought I was going to lose all my teeth!’

Who would have thought that suspicious hunk of stone would be this tough?

If I hadn’t poured all my ferocity into my bite, I would have become a toothless tiger.

Still, despite the strain, I had definitely gained something.

“Rrrrgh!”

I tore through the monsters converging before me, glaring at them.

【Ferocious Grimrock Lv.40】

【Crude Gargoyle Lv.30】

【Broken Soul Imp Lv.30】

Incidentally, the dead gargoyle was known as Grimrock.

If Raymond hadn’t wounded it with his sword, it would have been an impossible opponent to defeat.

“Rrrgh!”

“Kiieeek!”

But even after dealing with Grimrock, there were still too many gargoyles and imps left.

The crude, hornless ones attacking first were likely due to some machinations by the Demon Lord.

That petty Demon Lord!

If you’re a Demon Lord, act like one and show some hubris!

This world has no decency. Going all out to trample on the weak like this.

The Demon Lord probably intended to bury us here.

But things won’t go as you plan!

‘It’s about time for a reaction.’

I waited anxiously.

No matter how you looked at it, it was impossible for Raymond and me to handle all these enemies alone.

We definitely needed Lia’s help now…

At that moment, the awaited voice gently reached my ears.

And I realized.

She was a far stronger presence than I had anticipated.

“Raise your swords!”

The voice rousing the half-defeated soldiers amidst the endless swarming monsters.

It was the voice of a girl who had once been fragile and delicate.

She poured out the resentment from her heart, raising her staff high.

“Rise! Soldiers of Bloodmoon…!”

Radiant brilliance began to gather at the tip of her staff.

Clad in that radiance, she stepped forward boldly and shouted.

“Look! At the demon’s brand engraved upon my neck!”

“M-My Lady!”

“No way…!”

She no longer hid.

Because she had realized what she truly needed to do at this moment.

“Are you afraid?”

At the young girl’s question, the soldiers remained silent.

The girl stepped forward with firm strides and spoke.

“I am not afraid.”

Her voice, imbued with magic, echoed clearly within the chaos of the White Fortress.

[The mark of the demon means that the Demon Lord is targeting me.]

[That means the divine is protecting us.]

Where there is light, shadows fall.

And where darkness settles, the sun will eventually shine.

The soldiers watched her with wide eyes as her voice resonated in their ears.

She, wrapped in dazzling radiance, shouted to the soldiers.

[Raise your swords! Sons and daughters of Bloodmoon!]

“Raise your swords!”

[Fight back!]

“Let’s fight back!!”

[The divine that will drive out the monsters here is none other than us!]

[Soldiers, take up your weapons and protect this land with your lives!!]

“Protect!!”

The brilliance gathered in Lia’s staff burst forth, and her voice rang out across the battlefield.

[In the name of Bloodmoon!!]

“In the name of Bloodmoon!”

With the soldiers’ roaring shouts, the pouring radiance filled the surroundings.

I could feel the immense wildness surging through my entire body along with that radiance.

「’The Potential Existence’ realizes its own will!」

「’Blessed Pearl of the Sea’ moves towards the truth!」

「’Truth-Seeking Magician’ exhibits heroic spirit!」

「’Communion’ responds to the heroic spirit!」

「Due to ‘Communion: Heroic Spirit,’ the physical abilities of allies drastically increase!」

…

Even without the flashing messages before my eyes, I could feel the power of the magic Lia had unleashed.

“Growl!”

We, enveloped in the surging radiance, clashed with the monsters.

The army, filled with the conviction to protect this land, tangled with the monsters.

Whenever the shining brilliance soared, the monsters were helplessly swept away.

The soldiers of Bloodmoon steeled their resolve as they saw the beast and the young girl who slaughtered the monsters ahead of them.

“Charge! Charge!”

“We will protect Bloodmoon with our hands!!”

That day, a new history was written at Bloodmoon.

Due to the demonic brand engraved on Cordelia Beatrice, a hero was born.

And,

…

「Significantly influenced the awakening of ‘The Potential Existence.’ Gained Karma.」

「’Truth-Seeking Magician’ has regained ‘Hope’ through you.」

「Obtained Hope that shines in the dark.」

I could take one step closer to the goal I desired.