Chapter 383: Save the Apkallu?

“T-Then, here I go!”

“Umu, I shall head out as well.”

After Arte spoke a single word and sent her puppet running, Panamera also began moving to a location where it would be easy to use magic.

“Now then, I’ll…”

Feeling slightly guilty for having the easiest position, I quietly operated the ballista and readied it. Since we weren’t at a distance where I could guarantee a kill, I started with the Wood Block bolts.

“I’ll get the next bolt ready!”

Till, who had nothing else to do, said that while hugging spare bolts in both arms.

“Thanks. That helps a lot.”

“Yes!”

Her enthusiastic reply was wonderful. While aiming with the ballista, I followed the monster whale with my eyes. Its movements were fast, unbefitting its enormous body. No, if it were only the size of a small fish, its movement distance would be small, but because it was so huge, it felt incredibly fast.

However, aiming with the ballista was easy.

“…Around here!”

I aimed slightly ahead of the monster whale and fired. The bolt, along with the sound of cutting wind, hit—or should have hit—around the back of the monster whale’s head. It was so huge I couldn’t tell exactly what happened. However, there’s no doubt that I at least grazed it.

“I’ve prepared the next bolt!”

“Whoa, thanks! You’re fast.”

“Heheh.”

When praised, Till puffed her chest out proudly. It was cute how quickly she got carried away. While I was smiling at that, Arte’s puppet reached the sandy beach.

“T-The magic beast’s movements have changed!”

“Ah, you’re right.”

I nodded at Arte’s words and checked the monster whale’s movements. My attack must have hit after all. The monster whale twisted its body and changed direction. I thought it was looking for the opponent who had attacked it, but it immediately turned its face toward us.

“Whoa, sharp!”

Since I was busted in an instant, I immediately fired the next bolt. If it was coming straight at me, it was actually easier to hit. I fired the bolt aiming right for the dead center of its massive body. The firing sound of the ballista and the sharp sound of the bolt cutting through the wind overlapped, and the bolt flew instantly toward the monster whale.

However, unbelievably, the monster whale twisted its body as if shaking its head to the right, attempting to dodge the bolt. Naturally, because it was too massive, the bolt hit the edge of its torso, but even so, it would only be a light injury.

“That’s bad… it has good reflexes.”

“Lord Van! The next bolt is ready!”

“Ooh, fast!”

“Leave it to me!”

While I was having that exchange with Till, the monster whale came out of the sea, successfully landing half of its body on the shore. Panamera was preparing her magic a short distance away, but that momentum might be dangerous.

“Arte! Can you stop its movement!?”

“Y-Yes!”

When I asked Arte, the puppet immediately kicked off the ground with its sword raised. Diving vigorously toward the monster whale, the puppet swung its sword.

Naturally, it had a wider reach than a bolt, and its speed was quite decent. Apparently, the monster whale couldn’t completely dodge this blow, and the puppet’s sword slashed the edge of its mouth. Putting aside the sharpness of a Van-branded greatsword, it seems that monster whale isn’t as hard as a dragon.

Having been grazed by two bolts and having received the puppet’s sword on its body, the monster whale shook its body and let out a roar that resonated in our stomachs. Pure rage and killing intent could be felt from the roar, and my body involuntarily stiffened. It was the same for Arte and Till; they froze, gasping for breath.

During that time, the monster whale slammed its tail fin against the ground and soared into the air. It was an impact almost like an earthquake. Seeing that, I recognized the threat of a large magic beast once again.

If a regular chivalric order or mages who take time to chant fought it together, it would undoubtedly turn into a disastrous scene of many bodies. If that monster whale attacked Tribute, the town would definitely be destroyed. In the end, they might be able to subjugate it, but even so, the damage would be enormous.

But it was different here.

Arte’s puppet, which wouldn’t easily fall, handled close-quarters combat, and a ballista capable of piercing even city walls fired bolts from long range. And the strongest fire mage was standing by.

“You’ve chosen the wrong opponent, magic beast! Fire Javelin!”

I could only see her back, but it was like I could picture Panamera’s smiling face in my mind.

Despite the monster whale soaring into the sky, Panamera’s magic was activated, and a huge spear of fire was launched toward the monster whale. It was slower than a ballista. However, in mid-air, it couldn’t be dodged.

The monster whale’s massive body shook violently in the air and was engulfed in fire. When it fell to the ground in that state, it rolled while slamming its tail fin against the earth in agony. If it were a regular magic beast, I would have Arte’s puppet deliver the finishing blow, but the opponent was that monster whale. Because it was rampaging and moving violently with its massive body, Panamera’s position was still within a dangerous distance.

Since Panamera, who was watching from close range, also felt this, she was hurriedly evacuating toward us.

Watching that from the corner of my eye, I gave instructions to Arte and Till.

“Arte, stop its movement with the puppet! Till, I’m sorry, but please change to the iron spear bolts!”

“Y-Yes!”

“Understood!”

The two immediately sprang into action at my instructions.