Fun Territory Defense of the Easy-Going Lord

【Talga】

The Marquis’s words—to call Baron Van—aroused various emotions, but the immediate priority was leaving this place.

“L-Lord Talga! The Earth Dragon is almost here…!”

I nodded silently at the warning.

“The distance is too close. We won’t be able to escape unless we land some kind of blow.”

I said this, turning my gaze to the approaching Earth Dragon.

“Gather everyone and run toward Centena. And take care of His Excellency.”

After instructing them, I lifted the Marquis’s semi-conscious body with one arm and placed him on the knight’s horse. After quickly securing the knight and the Marquis together, the knight pulled his chin down with a grave expression.

“…May fortune be with you. Centena needs Lord Talga.”

“I know.”

With that brief exchange, the knight spurred his horse to run. Wasting no time in seeing him off, I began my incantation. This was the absolute limit. If the Earth Dragon used its breath now, my death would be confirmed.

“…Rufus the Black-Crimson Earth Dragon. This is the worst.”

Identifying the type of Earth Dragon that appeared, I couldn’t help but let out a cynical laugh. Earth Dragons are known for their sturdy build, but slow speed is the conventional wisdom. However, the Black-Crimson Earth Dragon is slightly different. Its form is closer to the Forest Dragons that inhabit deep woods. While it certainly cannot fly, it is fast and agile for an Earth Dragon. And its breath, though narrow in scope, possesses the high destructive power characteristic of Earth Dragons. The only mitigating factor is that it lacks some of the characteristic toughness of other Earth Dragons.

“…Earth Spike (Tsuchi no Yaribusuma).”

The moment I unleashed the magic, countless earth spears, each about the size of a human torso, lined up in front of the Earth Dragon, forming a wall. Since Earth Dragons are rugged, it is difficult to fight them with Earth Magic. At best, I could only hope to slow its movement.

As expected, the Earth Dragon was slowed somewhat, but it immediately pounded its thick arms down, crushing the earth spears.

“Bad match-up, but I can’t help it… Rock Wall (Ishi Kabe Lockwol)!”

I shouted the magic, and this time, a wall over five meters high appeared in front of the Earth Dragon. It was a simple magic, purely focused on making the wall thick and sturdy, with no clever maneuvers.

However, this should buy us a little time.

Just as I felt a momentary sense of relief, an explosion occurred nearby. I thought it was a cannon, but I realized the scale was too small.

“Black metal…!”

I quickly spun around and saw that a group of cavalry had charged out from the forces approaching from the left and right. Ten, no, nearly twenty cavalrymen were moving to block my escape route.

Furthermore, deeper inside, I saw cavalrymen pursuing the retreating Marquis and his escort.

“This is going to be tough…!”

I bit down on my back teeth, suppressing my intense frustration. I could taste blood in my mouth as I desperately tried to think of a way out.

In the meantime, I steered my horse and began moving, cutting down one rider who had strayed from the group. Black metal bombs were thrown, exploding continuously around me.

There’s no option but to risk my life and charge through. I quickly settled on that conclusion and spurred my horse into a full run.

The explosions from the cannons were constant, but I’d figured something out by now.

The cannons cannot be used effectively to chase a fleeing target. They are likely too difficult to aim accurately. Most of the shots had been completely off the mark.

If anything, the more terrifying weapon here is the black metal, which can be used close-range for guaranteed effect. Or the Adult Dragon’s breath.

“…Tch! I can’t catch them…!”

I was able to dodge the black metal bombs thrown by the cavalry as long as I kept riding hard. However, it seemed I wouldn’t reach the Marquis in time for a rescue.

As I frustratingly followed the backs of the Marquis and his escort with my eyes, I spotted a large knight riding toward them.

His black mantle, identical to the Marquis’s, fluttered, revealing the golden bull crest.

“Lord Stradale…!”

Seeing Stradale ride up at a timing that seemed almost calculated, I couldn’t help but shout. But the most astonishing event was yet to come.

Stradale, who had rushed in diagonally ahead of the Marquis and his escort, charged straight into the cavalrymen closing in from the rear. Is this a suicidal charge? That was the momentum he carried.

However, the result was different. Although Stradale was riding his horse at a full gallop, he managed to decapitate the oncoming cavalrymen. The time of intersection was only momentary. In that flash, the heads of five riders rolled on the ground.

Stradale continued charging toward me without losing momentum.

“I will provide assistance.”

“I am grateful.”

It was a brief exchange, but I felt our intentions connect completely.

Stradale must be the right hand of Marquis Fertio through and through. He intends to risk his life to hold the enemy back and protect his master.

Watching Stradale gallop through the continuous black metal explosions, I felt a stab of envy toward the Marquis. No, more accurately, envy for the relationship between the two of them.

“Earth Spike.”

I cast my magic, dividing the cavalrymen. Stradale instantly understood my intention and quickly finished off the nearby riders.

Cannon fire and black metal explosions were going off everywhere, yet Stradale did not stop. He expertly controlled his fearful horse, cutting down rider after rider.

“That’s enough.”

I called out to Stradale after the last remaining rider retreated.

“Understood.”

Stradale replied, quickly turning his horse back. Behind him, the Earth Dragon, having climbed over the stone wall, appeared. We had bought more time than expected, but whether we had enough time to escape was still doubtful.

“…I’m afraid all I can do is delay them.”

“That is sufficient. I shall confuse it and crush one of its eyes.”

“…Are you serious?”

I asked, wondering if he had the composure to joke around when facing an Earth Dragon. But Stradale nodded expressionlessly and charged toward the Dragon.

This sudden action stunned even me. I hastily began my incantation, but simultaneously, the Earth Dragon opened its mouth and postured to release its breath. I might not be able to avoid this.

Just as I thought that, I saw Stradale throw something. Something burst suddenly at the Dragon’s feet.

“Black metal…!”

When did he even acquire that? Or did he have it from the start? No, that doesn’t matter now. A perfect opportunity had arrived.

As expected, the Dragon’s face turned toward Stradale. It had chosen which threat was greater. But that decision was too naive.

“To stand there with your mouth wide open is rather vulgar… Rock Pike (Ishi Yari Rock Pike).”

Immediately after I cast the spell, a gigantic stone spear materialized in front of the Dragon’s mouth and stabbed into its upper jaw. Even for an Earth Dragon, the inside of its mouth cannot maintain the same hardness. While it likely didn’t pierce completely, the impact must have been enough to interrupt the breath.

A violent, deafening roar echoed, and the Dragon shook its head violently. The stone spear shattered into fragments from the impact, but in that moment, Stradale had galloped past the Dragon’s side.

“Shhh!”

I could hear the sharp exhale of breath even from here. I saw that the sword Stradale swung had slashed the Dragon’s arm. He probably didn’t sever the bone, but the fact that he wounded it with a sword was astonishing.

In its rage, the Earth Dragon swung its arm and tail, trying to sweep the surroundings, but by then, Stradale was already out of range. It was a magnificent display of unified horsemanship and combat.

“Rock Wall!”

Confirming the Dragon had momentarily stopped moving, I activated the magic I had been chanting. A gigantic wall appeared between us and the Dragon, finally giving us a chance to retreat.

“This is far enough…! Retreat!”

“Understood!”

I gave the order to retreat, and the confirmation came back. Immediately after, the upper part of the newly formed stone wall was destroyed with a roar. Countless large fragments, the size of a man’s torso, flew toward us, and several closed in on me. I twisted my upper body but wasn’t fast enough. A sharp impact struck my right shoulder, throwing me from my horse.

I tumbled several times across the ground, finally collapsing face down.

“Ugh…”

I let out a painful groan and propped myself up on my elbow, raising my head. Unluckily, I must have been hit by a direct cannon shot. The upper part of the stone wall, which I had made so thick, was shattered, and I could see the Earth Dragon placing its forelegs atop the debris.

The moment I saw that sight, my vision felt like it was dyed black with despair.