The sheriff turned to Kebi again. "Let's head back."
"Head back? No, I'm not going back. I'm going to protect Miss Xiya and kill these drowners, without needing a witcher to lift a finger."
"Do you really not understand? These drowners may look ordinary, but they're not something ordinary people like us can handle," the sheriff urged. "Just come back with me."
"I'm no ordinary person, Uncle O'Neill. I'm a man who's about to become a knight!"
The sheriff pointed at Kebi, then helplessly lowered his hand. "Have it your way, then. But you can only fight the drowners from a distance with that shortbow you're carrying. Understood?"
"The grand master has already agreed to promote me to knighthood early because of my outstanding results. I'll prove my strength with the sword in my hand. They're only drowners. Hmph!" At this, he smiled disdainfully.
Hearing this, Dick realized that the sheriff and Kebi had known each other for some time. He said little, merely looking at the squire with a broad smile.
"Do you have something to say, witcher?" Kebi found his gaze baffling.
"Here's the thing, Sir Knight. There are two drowners over there. How about we take one each?"
"Hmph. I might even take care of the drowner next to you while I'm at it."
Dick did not argue. Instead, he turned toward the apprentice sorceress on the other side. "I may need your help in a moment. You see those two drowners too, right?"
"Of course I do."
"And drowners usually don't come in pairs alone. Their nest may be underwater. More drowners will come out of the water soon, and I'll need your help."
"I'd like to help, but I'm only an apprentice sorceress. Aside from a few tricks, I've barely mastered any spells. How am I supposed to help you?"
"Then what spells can you cast now?"
"Lightning Strike Spell."
Delight welled up in Dick's heart. "Very good. You've actually mastered an offensive spell like that."
"But..." Xiya's cheeks flushed slightly.
"But my Lightning Strike Spell is nowhere near that of a real sorcerer. It can only paralyze drowners, not kill them."
"Paralyze them? That's perfect." Dick smiled.
"Huh?" The apprentice sorceress tilted her head slightly. She did not understand why the witcher before her had suddenly become so happy.
Does my lack of strength really make this temporary partner so happy?
There must be something seriously wrong with him.
To Dick, the apprentice sorceress's Lightning Strike Spell really was excellent:
Once lightning paralyzed these drowners, he could kill the monsters with his own hands and gain Energy Points.
By a fortunate accident, this apprentice sorceress really did make a good helper.
"Should I start reciting the incantation now, then? It'll take about half a minute for the spell to take effect."
"Start now."
At his words, Xiya looked solemnly toward the riverbank, pressed her palms together, and began rhythmically chanting in a language Dick could not understand.
Reassured by this, Dick was just about to briefly discuss things with Kebi so they could work together to eliminate the drowners.
Suddenly, the sheriff beside him shouted, "Kebi, come back!"
He turned his head, only to discover that the squire had already run several dozen meters away with his longsword raised.
Unexpectedly, to prove his courage and show off before the girl he loved, the squire shouted, "For the Order of the Falcon! For the honor of knighthood! For Miss Xiya!"
He charged straight at the drowners.
He covered the hundred meters in an instant.
Disturbed by Kebi's commotion, the drowners turned with hoarse cries and lunged at him, brandishing their sharp claws.
Seen from a distance, the drowners had seemed thin and small. Aside from their hideous, terrifying faces, they had not seemed frightening.
But up close, Kebi finally realized just how tall and imposing these drowners were.
He himself was already a little taller than the average person, yet he fell far short of these drowners.
And the long nails of these two drowners were like razors, gleaming in the sunlight.
Together with their open mouths, their exposed fangs and the slime between them, their vicious, reddened eyes stared fixedly at him.
For an instant, the squire felt a chill shoot up his spine to the crown of his head.
Clenching his teeth, he struggled to change his slashing stance into a guard. With a clang, one drowner's claws struck the blade, producing the sound of iron striking stone. The tremendous force sent Kebi staggering, and he landed on his backside on the ground.
The drowner on the other side leaped hard, pouncing like a vicious dog.
Kebi had only just absorbed the force of the blow when he saw the monster drawing ever closer. It was already too late to block with his sword. In that moment of crisis, his mind went blank:
The grand master was right. We knights have to work together to fight these monsters. A lone knight poses next to no threat to them.
Filled with regret, he could only stare blankly at the pouncing drowner, seeming to see the sight of himself being disemboweled.
Whoosh!
The sound of something cutting through the air came from behind his ear. A six-inch bolt struck the drowner squarely in the shoulder, checking its movement.
Another whoosh immediately followed as a second bolt shot over, striking one of the drowner's eyes and sinking completely inside, leaving only its tail trembling slightly.
Dick inwardly counted himself lucky. Hitting a target several dozen meters away with novice-level [Bow and Crossbow Shooting] was already quite good, and his second bolt had even struck a vital spot. He could only say that the gods were watching over this squire to keep him alive.
Dropping the short crossbow in his hands, he immediately rushed forward. If he reloaded now, the young knight might lose his life right here.
He also noticed bubbles rising in the river because of the sounds of their fight.
It seemed the drowners underwater had been drawn by the fighting. There was no telling how many monsters would appear in a moment.
Dick ran swiftly toward Kebi. As he drew close, he leaped hard, vaulting over the young squire slumped on the ground, gathered power in his left hand, and thrust his palm out.
A cone-shaped, translucent storm-Mental Shock-surged from his palm, swept through the air, and struck the other pouncing drowner squarely.
The drowner's body instantly froze. Seizing the opportunity, Dick drew the silver sword from his back in midair, turned halfway around, and swung with all his might.
A flash of sword light passed, and a deep cut appeared from the drowner's left shoulder to its right waist.
Then the cut slowly split open, red blood spreading within it before it began spurting wildly the next instant.
The drowner howled in agony, but in the next instant, he was released from his pain.
Dick turned his blade again and swept it horizontally.
This strike beheaded the hideous, ferocious drowner outright.
Trembling, Kebi struggled to prop himself up. He felt that all his earlier courage to fight the drowners had vanished, leaving his whole body utterly weak.
He spoke somewhat awkwardly. "Thank you, witcher. Earlier, I..."
Before he could finish, Dick interrupted him. "It's not over yet. Hurry and run back."