Defected Dark Healer’s Rise to Wealth
“──Gyahahaha! Did you see that look on Marrow’s face?!”
While speeding through the forest at high speed, Urklow burst into loud laughter.
“That guy’s definitely going to focus all their forces on us.”
“Indeed. If that’s the case, it’s quite fortunate.”
Riding securely on Urklow ‘s sturdy back, I nodded in agreement.
The operation I proposed seems to be proceeding smoothly.
──If we were to name this operation, perhaps something like the <Boomerang Strategy> would be fitting.
Urklow would run around the enemy’s territory widely, disrupting the elf forces. While buying time doing that, we’d advance the construction of our base in the rear.
Since we’ve successfully drawn Marrow’s attention directly, it’s unlikely we’ll receive a concentrated attack on our under-construction base.
“Kiwi, how’s your mana holding up?”
Brushing aside bushes while running, Urklow asked.
“You healed me quite a bit on the way here, right? Can you still keep this up for a while?”
“No problem. I’ve calculated everything to return to the rear base with some leeway remaining.”
Though not completely carefree, there are no oversights either.
However, it’s true that my consumption rate is quite fast this time.
All due to the battle with the Albino Elf.
Continuously dealing with the Great Sanctuary and repeatedly healing Urklow ‘s damages has already taken about half of my mana.
But,
“Our current strategy isn’t prolonged combat but rather Hit & Away. Even if Urklow takes momentary damage when attacking, he won’t be continuously hit, so my mana consumption isn’t too severe.”
“Hah, that’s good to hear.”
“If anything, thanks to the centrifugal force when Urklow fights, my arms might give out before my mana does.”
“Gyahahaha! When that happens, I’ll carry you like a baby!”
“Heh, I’d rather you didn’t.”
I couldn’t help but smile lightly at Urklow ‘s boisterous laugh.
We were relaxed enough to exchange light banter.
But we absolutely couldn’t let our guard down.
──Whoosh!
The fur on Urklow ‘s back stood on end.
“Something’s coming!”
Urklow made a large leap to the side.
Immediately after, where we had just been running was showered with fine particles of light like rain, which then exploded, brightly illuminating the dark forest.
“Kiwi, hold on tight! Time to get serious again!”
Gwun!
Urklow ‘s posture lowered as if sinking into muddy ground.
Then he suddenly cut through the air in front.
In a single bound, he covered over a dozen meters in an explosive sprint. The surrounding trees seemed to blur backward from the sheer speed of Urklow ‘s super-speed running.
Amidst all this,
“──Did you beasts truly think you could escape God?”
That deep male voice struck my eardrums.
Immediately after, Zaban!
The earth dramatically peeled up as if a wave had risen from the ground.
Everything within sight – trees, bushes, rocks – along with us, was blown away.
“Ahh…”
From the shock, my hands slipped from Urklow ‘s back.
Lightly, my body floated in the air.
…Hmm, even though he’s rotten, he’s still a Sage.
In that instant of thought, I reached that conclusion.
Most likely, the voice belonged to Marrow. Though I don’t know what technique he used, he caught up to Urklow and attacked from the side.
“Landing… I’m not good at that.”
In mid-air, I folded my knees up to my stomach and covered my head with both hands, tucking in my chin.
Then I fell.
“Fugh!”
I can’t possibly make a clean landing to absorb the impact, so I resigned myself to falling on my side and rolled along the ground with momentum – Goro Goro Goro!
Finally stopping when I hit a tree with my back.
“Painful…”
Though staggering, I somehow managed to stand up.
…Hmm. But it’s alright. No major injuries.
I wasn’t battered by rocks or trees that were blown away with us, and since I didn’t try to awkwardly land on my feet, nothing’s broken.
A stroke of luck in misfortune, as they say.
“But for the Sage to chase us personally… that was unexpected. Is Urklow alright…?”
“That’s none of your concern, Dark Healer.”
The same low voice came from behind me.
I turned around.
“You’re going to die here without a fight.”
What my eyes caught was an elven man – Marrow, the Eastern Sage.
It was my first time seeing him, but there was no mistake.
Not only was he wearing a white robe with intricate designs, but the golden glowing <Sword of Light> in his hand undoubtedly surpassed known holy techniques, reaching divine levels.
Its blade mercilessly aimed to slash diagonally down from my shoulder.
Just before that, Zo Zo,
The shadow at my feet writhed.
Like a snake undulating, it instantly slithered into Marrow’s chest –
Clang!
“What…!?”
Marrow’s eyes widened in surprise as his body was knocked flying backward.
Instead, appearing in front of me was a hooded zombie.
The Zombie Thief who had been hiding in my shadow had swung a knife held in reverse grip aiming for Marrow’s neck.
“You… you inferior creature!!!”
However, despite the attack, Marrow suffered no fatal wound.
Just as with the Albino Elf, Marrow himself evidently had countermeasures against physical attacks.
“How dare you repeatedly try to touch God with your filthy hands!!!”
While recoiling from the Zombie Thief’s attack, Marrow wildly swung his Sword of Light.
It became an energy slash that cut the Thief diagonally. Immediately, an unprecedentedly massive <Divine Flame> erupted from the large wound, threatening to engulf the entire body. However,
“Most intriguing. So he attached Holy Healing to his slash?”
Right after, my full-powered Dark Heal enveloped the Zombie Thief. Purple light flowed through the shadow connecting me and the Zombie Thief, countering the red Divine Flame.
“Tch, Dark Heal… how detestable!”
“Hmm, but I don’t understand attaching Heal to a slash. So the cause of the Divine Flame isn’t necessarily limited to Heal…?”
“What are you muttering about!”
“But you know, the intensity of the Divine Flame is too strong. My Dark Heal can’t keep up with extinguishing it.”
Surprisingly, the holy power suggested by the Divine Flame was several times greater than the special Heal used by the kingdom’s Holy Maiden with the True Scripture Book.
Even that casual slash contained such immense power.
“Hmph. How presumptuous of an inferior creature to try to extinguish my flames.”
As I continuously poured mana into the Zombie Thief to keep neutralizing the Divine Flame, Marrow stood before me again. Looking down at me with murderous intent,
“How dare you touch me twice, and even dared to use Demon Lightning…!”
He raised his Sword of Light and declared,
“For daring to lay your filthy hands on me, deeply regret, repent, and then die –”
“Don’t you dare bully my comrade Mab, you bastard!!!”
“Wha-!?!?”
Crash!
A silver shadow jumped in horizontally from the front, making a heavy sound.
Urklow , wounded in multiple places, kicked Marrow’s face and sent him flying sideways.