Chapter 20:

Technique

Sentenced to Babysit

The elf was very agile, running left and right, dodging obstacles with ease. The clumsy knights, on the other hand, smashed through anything that got in their way.

Meanwhile, Issei considered what to do once he faced the snake. Its speed was too great for a direct confrontation. Perhaps there were three of them, they could distract it, but it would be too difficult to coordinate; they didn't know each other well.

I could use that technique. Maybe I can't do it with my left hand yet, though. Aaah, damn it, I don't know what to do.

The technique Issei was thinking of was very complicated, and he'd never tried it with his left hand. He'd even learned it from demons. A secret, forbidden technique.

Undecided, Issei chose the most feasible option, but one with a low probability of success: a pincer maneuver.

<Shirou, let's try a pincer maneuver. Stay away from me on the left. Sylphiette, you stay high in the trees and cover us.>

<Understood!>

<Okay!>

The three of them got into position and ran in the direction of the enemy. Once they spotted a goblin camp, they all stopped. They tried to make as little noise as possible.

The snake was talking to a goblin, and it didn't look happy at all. It checked behind it, knowing they would chase it.

The enemy camp was in a small valley filled with thin-trunked trees. The chances of victory had dropped even further. The large knights would never have been able to launch any attack in such a claustrophobic place.

Crack!

The coachman stepped on a branch, and the noise echoed throughout the forest. He was discovered, so Issei ducked to avoid being seen as well. He wasn't abandoning his friend, he was using him as bait.

The snake ran toward Shirou with all four swords in hand. At that moment, Issei lunged at the snake from the right.

The serpent threw one of its swords in the knight's direction, but an arrow deflected the blade. Then more arrows rained down from the left.

A rain of arrows rained down on them, and boulders flew. Sword-wielding goblins rushed after the serpent.

When they were chased away, the knights hadn't managed to grab their armor in time. They only had their swords.

If that rain had hit them, it would have been the end for them.

Issei closed his eyes. He remembered the lessons he'd learned in the past. When he was little, he admired the royal knights. Each had a secret technique, some knew how to combine flames with the sword, some used wind, some earth.

Issei, who had spent a long time at the castle with Prince Kazuma, remembered a technique a royal knight had shown him.
In his entire life, he'd never been able to perform it well, especially with his left hand, but there was no other option.

Issei, with his eyes closed, moved the sword in an almost robotic manner. The gestures were clear and precise. Then he opened his eyes, shouted something, and pointed his sword at an angle. The blade grew very long and fanned out. This was the protector knight's technique: a defensive technique that deflects any blow.

Everyone stared at the sky in disbelief. No one had ever seen anything like it.
The royal knights rarely used their techniques, and few had ever seen such beauty. Issei, however, had even learned this technique.

The knight who taught it to him never thought he would ever be able to use it. Yet Issei made a miracle come true.

Issei cheered, the arrows disappeared, as did the boulders. But the battle had only just begun.
Still confused by what had happened, the snake remained still, staring at the sky. The coachman, with a leap, snatched a sword from the monster.

Sylphiette didn't let herself be left behind. She didn't know any secret techniques, but she was very skilled with the bow.

The snake stopped complaining about everything they did to it, remained silent, and attacked. Its serious look put fear in Issei's eyes.

Monsters with this level of intelligence are always a problem, but this is on a whole other level!

The scaly monster forced the coachman back, striking him repeatedly. Shirou was covered in wounds, bleeding from his arms and legs.
If they didn't hurry, Shirou would die.

Issei ran as fast as he could toward the snake, showing off all kinds of fast techniques, but the snake was simply too fast. It held its own against both knights.

Issei shouted at the elf. That technique always worked in every situation he found himself in.

For Issei, the snake's head was too high, so he had to rely on Sylphiette. She shot an arrow straight at the snake's red eyes. The arrow hit the target, then fell to the ground, as if it had hit a wall.

Issei's eyes widened, unable to believe his best strategy had failed miserably.

The coachman couldn't hold out much longer. The goblins were now close. The three were about to be cornered.
If even those little monsters had gotten in the way of the fight, they would have lost.

<Shirou! Can you hold out a little longer?>

Behind them, however, something moved. A strong wind blew toward them. Issei and Shirou were swept away; something had hit them.

<What's happening?!>

Issei couldn't open his eyes; the wind was too strong. A figure next to him was waving what looked like a sword. The swinging of the sword was almost hypnotic; the knight recognized the movements immediately.

The child's figure turned toward him, smiling.
Then he returned his attention to the snake. The prince had managed to use the technique Issei had shown him earlier: the Tornado of Blows.

The snake was surprised; it didn't think anyone could use such techniques, much less a child.

When the wind died down, the snake was covered in wounds. Issei didn't hesitate to give it the finishing blow.

The knight lunged at the snake.

The snake picked up an object and looked at it in admiration, completely ignoring Issei.
With a powerful slash, the knight severed the snake's head. Green blood sprayed from its neck. The monster's body fell to the ground with a resounding thud.

<Josuke! How did you use that technique?! It's so difficult, I don't even know how to use it...>

Josuke laughed.

Issei couldn't believe it; a tear fell from his eyes and he hugged the little boy. But some noises behind them were bothering them.

All four of them grabbed their weapons and began wiping out the goblins. Blood flew everywhere. Between fights, Josuke vomited, Issei laughed, and the others busied themselves with exterminating the little monsters.

Issei ordered a retreat. If they stayed to defeat every single goblin, night would fall. If they didn't collapse first.