The Wrong Hero

Chapter 74 - Unstoppable Force

What followed after Itsuki's idiotic decision was a string of swearing, followed by more threats, and a general atmosphere of severe displeasure. The situation was bad, but at least it wasn't "two Guardian Beasts at the same time" bad. Ren, thankfully, didn't go down that path like in the spinoff.

"We must go after Hero Kawasumi at once!" Mirellia declared.

"Who's closest?" Motoyasu asked the group.

"You are, Hero Kitamura." Mirellia said. "Take Hero MacRory and his dragon with you."

"We'll need someone to cast a speed spell, too." Dante said as he came back over.

Plans were quickly made. Based on the reports they received on the Spirit Tortoise's trajectory, they should arrive in about two days. There was nothing they could really do about Itsuki, but they could still delay the beast. Hopefully.

The three of them quickly made their way outside to where Lilith was waiting. Dante and the mage cast their spells before they all climbed on, with Dante donning one of his penguin kigurumis. While it wasn't likely they'd run into trouble on the first day, it was better to be prepared.

"Portal Spear!"

With Motoyasu's skill cast, they set out. With all the buff spells and her own size, Lilith would have been able to carry even more without breaking a sweat.

They flew through the air for a short while before Motoyasu broke the silence.

"This is pretty bad, huh?" He casually asked, sitting directly behind Dante. The mage sat at the back.

"More than a little." Dante answered as he looked over his shoulder.

"I mean, Itsuki's going to get all those materials to use first!" Motoyasu complained.

"Motoyasu, this isn't a game." Dante didn't bother yelling, at least not louder than necessary to compensate for the wind. He knew it didn't really matter.

"Yeah, yeah." The spear wielder waved him off.

This wasn't a problem that could be ignored. The obvious loss of life notwithstanding, the Spirit Tortoise was headed toward Melromarc, just like in the books. It wasn't a straight path, going by major towns and such on the way, but that's where it was going.

Part of Dante didn't particularly care, at least no more than any other location. His soon-to-be marriage to Malty was political, not that he had anything against most of the royal family. Morally speaking, Melromarc and Siltvelt were two of the places that he wouldn't mind letting get hit on principle, with Zeltoble joining them. Unlike Zeltoble, however, both countries now had villages set up either by him or for his family. Both were in lands he now controlled and he wasn't about to let the people in his care suffer needlessly, especially after what most of them already went through.

The relative silence hung in the air for a few minutes more before it was broken once more.

"So, listen, I know you take all this more seriously..." Motoyasu began. "But, do you mind if I break the tension a little?"

"...Sure." Since he couldn't change Motoyasu's mind about this world, he'd settle for having his mood improved.

"Why are you wearing that?" He asked.

"It's good armor." Dante told him.

"Yeah, but...why?" Motoyasu pressed.

"It's the best I have available that isn't being worn by someone else." Dante elaborated.

"Couldn't you have gotten something else, even if it's more basic?"

"I'm having armor made, though the timeframe is a bit close." Dante said. "Besides, you saw that armor I wore at the banquet, right? Was that really so much better?"