Chapter 11: Clarice Lampard
After crying for a while, we decided to introduce ourselves.
We had embraced instinctively, but coming back to our senses, we felt embarrassed and were now sitting facing each other. However, the tears wouldn't easily stop.
『I'm Fujisaki Yuuto, 20 years old. Here, I'm Mars Bryant, 7 years old.』
『I'm Ayanokouji Aoi, 20 years old. In this world, I'm Clarice Lampard, same age as you.』
『Just to confirm, you're that convenience store clerk, right?』
『Yes. You're the person who tried to save me then, aren't you?』
『I couldn't save you completely, though.』
As we spoke in Japanese, Clarice's father and the woman who seemed to be her mother watched us with surprised faces.
There was still so much I wanted to talk about with Clarice, but I didn't want to arouse any more suspicion, so I switched to the language of this world.
"I apologize. My emotions were running high from the battle with the goblins, and I became so happy that someone understood the language I just learned that I started crying. My name is Mars. I am seven years old."
I thought my explanation was incoherent, but they seemed to go along with it.
"A-Ah, I was just surprised that you suddenly started crying with my daughter. I'm Grey Lampard. Behind me is my wife Elna, and my daughter Clarice."
"I am his wife, Elna. Thank you so much for saving us."
"I am Clarice. Lord Mars, if you have time, may I speak with you?"
I nodded at Clarice's words, but Grey looked like he was wary of me. It was likely the wariness of a father thinking someone might do something to his daughter. It showed a little on his face.
"Clarice, is it alright if Father talks bit first?"
"Yes, Father."
"Lord Mars, I don't believe you are a child from around here. Where did you come from?"
"Yes. I came from the dungeon city of Ilgusia. It was formerly the Count Carmel domain."
"Hmm? I've never heard of such a city. I don't know Count Carmel either."
"It is a new dungeon city established further west of Almeria, the dungeon city in the southwest of the Kingdom of Barcus. I believe Count Carmel has been promoted to Margrave, however..."
"The Kingdom of Barcus?! ...I see. This city is the dungeon city Granzam, located in the east of the Kingdom of Zarcam. I don't know if you are aware, but our Kingdom of Zarcam and the Kingdom of Barcus to the west are currently at war... However, we owe you a debt for saving us..."
Hearing Grey's words, the atmosphere became tense.
"Standing around talking isn't ideal, so why don't we talk at our house? It might cause trouble if people around here overhear. Also, if Lord Dameze finds us, we'll likely have issues again... For Clarice's sake too... right?"
Elna interjected to smooth things over.
"You're right. Lord Mars—no, Mars-kun. Even if you are from an enemy nation, you are our benefactor, so I would like to offer you proper hospitality. Well, as much hospitality as the Lampard family can provide."
"Thank you. I would love to hear your stories, so please."
We headed to the Lampard house while trying not to be noticed. On the way, I tried appraising Clarice.
【Name】 Clarice Lampard
【Title】 —
【Status】 Human / Commoner
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 7
【Level】 1
【HP】 15 / 15
【MP】 2 / 428
【Strength】 7
【Agility】 7
【Magic】 14
【Dexterity】 8
【Endurance】 5
【Luck】 20
【Unique Ability】 Barrier Magic G (Lv 0/5)
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship C (Lv 2/15)
【Special Ability】 Archery B (Lv 0/17)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic C (Lv 1/15)
【Special Ability】 Holy Magic A (Lv 5/19)
First, I was amazed by her overflowing talent. One A, one B, and two Cs—that's incredible.
Her Unique Ability, Barrier Magic, is Level 0. This means she either hasn't realized she has a Unique Ability, or like me, she knows but can't manifest it. Actually, I've tried to use Lightning Magic several times, but it just won't manifest.
Her Swordsmanship being Level 2 likely comes from her past life's experience. Her stance on that rainy day was beautiful.
Upon arriving at the Lampard house, I heard various stories from Grey.
The situation in Granzam, about Count Beetle, about Baron Dameze, and about Clarice.
Naturally, he didn't tell me much about the Kingdom of Zarcam.
I also talked about myself and Barcus. About my family, and how a dungeon that only spawns goblins recently appeared in Ilgusia too.
I didn't want them to think I was lying, so I didn't reveal that I had cleared the dungeon. After all, no one would believe a seven-year-old child could clear a dungeon, no matter how strong.
I also hid the fact that I could use magic. Though, being a reincarnated person, Clarice might have figured it out.
"So monsters are appearing abnormally not just in the Kingdom of Barcus, but in the Kingdom of Zarcam as well. And similar dungeons are forming in both countries... In a few years, a Dungeon Saturation might happen in Ilgusia too... I have to let Father and the others know quickly."
"This is no time to be fighting a war. It's always us commoners who suffer."
Grey started muttering. At that moment, Clarice spoke up.
"Father, may I speak with Mars as well?"
Oh, she dropped the honorifics. Dropping formalities early makes it easier to get close, so I welcome it.
"Ah, you're close in age, so it might be good stimulation. Do as you please."
"Then let's go to my room."
Now that Grey's wariness toward me had dissolved to some extent, he gave his permission. Clarice pulled my hand and led me to the room on the second floor.
I glanced at Grey and Elna, and they looked surprised.
Well, naturally. You'd normally think we'd talk right there.
But I wanted to talk just the two of us as well, so I decided to let Clarice forcefully drag me along. As soon as we reached the room:
"What happened after that? I mean after we were struck by lightning?"
Clarice asked as we both sat on the bed.
For me, who looks like a child but has the mind of an adult (?), this is a bit too stimulating.
Well, we're both physically children, so nothing is going to happen, but still...
I told Clarice everything I could remember about the conversation with the Demi-God. I didn't mention my abilities, though.
I asked Clarice about the Boundary World, but she said she received almost no explanation and didn't know about Unique Abilities.
Come to think of it, the Demi-God said his clones would handle the other two besides me.
That implies the convenience store robber is also in this world.
I had completely forgotten about that.
I conveyed this to Clarice, and we decided to act so as not to be exposed as reincarnated people... forbidding Japanese in front of others unless absolutely necessary.
As we were talking, it suddenly became noisy outside the window.
It seemed the fourth wave had arrived.
Clarice and I watched the battle unfolding in the city from inside the room. Still holding hands.
From the moment Clarice took my hand to invite me to her room, while we talked on the bed, and even now, we were holding hands.
Outside, the knights had surrounded the dungeon and were holding back the goblins.
The fourth wave was also composed of Hobgoblins and Goblin Mages, but the difference from the third wave was the sheer number.
It seemed goblins were still pouring out of the dungeon, and they were overflowing rapidly.
At this rate, the knights wouldn't be able to contain them. If the battle line was breached, the city would be overrun.
The residents were prepared to flee, though they hadn't started running yet.
Watching the scene, strength returned to Clarice's hand.
Since this was an enemy nation, I wasn't intending to get actively involved in this battle.
I thought it would be enough to kick them aside if the Lampard family was in danger.
However, it was different for Clarice. It's only natural to want to help the people she's lived with when they're facing such a terrible fate.
"What do you want to do?"
I asked Clarice, who was gritting her teeth.
"Obviously... I want to save them! Of course I want to save them and not abandon this city!"
"Then let's go save them."
"But Mars, you're from an enemy nation, right? I don't really understand right now, but wouldn't it be better for your country if things stayed like this?"
"For my country, I suppose it would be better if Granzam were overrun by monsters. But Clarice is here. I couldn't protect you until the end back then, but this time, I will protect you until the very end. I just said that on the spur of the moment, but I intend to keep my word."
At those words, Clarice hugged me with tears in her eyes.
Thinking back on it now, what kind of line did I just say? Was that like a pickup line under the suspension bridge effect? I could feel my face getting hotter and hotter.
"Thank you."
When Clarice said that, I released the embrace and went out of the room. Grey and Elna were there.
I had anticipated it to some degree, but they must have been eavesdropping.
"It seems the fourth wave has come. I'm going to go stop it."
"Are you sure? It might turn into a major incident. If that happens, I don't think we'll be able to take your side, Mars-kun."
"I'm prepared for that."
Saying that, I dashed out of the house with Baron Dameze's sword in my right hand.
Pushing through the residents who were frightened by the fourth wave and preparing to flee, I headed toward Count Beetle, who was commanding the knights at the front line.
The residents cheered as I passed. Some even called me "Sword Saint."
The Count was desperately commanding the battle line that looked like it would collapse at any moment.
Behind the Count was Baron Dameze, preparing to flee by himself.
He was probably planning to claim he participated if the fourth wave was contained, and ready to run at any moment if things got dangerous.
I arrived at the Count's side, receiving expectant gazes from the residents.
"Count Beetle, may I join the fight?"
As I said that, Baron Dameze cut in.
"You bandit! I'll execute you!"
Screaming, he slashed at me with a sword he must have picked up nearby.
What a prominent idiot.
I dodged Dameze's attack and, just like before, knocked him unconscious with a palm strike to the chin.
Seeing this, the Count said,
"Who are you? Isn't that sword Dameze's? Either way, I cannot allow a child to participate in the war. I will deal with your punishment for lese-majesty later, so wait there!"
"Count! That child is the one we spoke of earlier!"
"Sword Saint! Please defeat the goblins!"
The residents backed me up against the Count's words.
No one was worried about Dameze or took his side.
"I see, it's you... In that case, I'm sorry, but can I count on you?"
"Understood. I will invariably subjugate them."
The Count must have received reports and thought, No way could a child do that, but confused as he was, he spoke politely. I headed to the front line, which was on the verge of collapse.
☆☆☆
The front line had reached its limit.
Knight Commander Blair couldn't retreat, even though he was injured.
Retreating meant only leaving the injured and residents behind.
The adventurers had all received treatment from the previous battle and couldn't join this fight either.
He already knew all they could do was become human shields to buy time.
However, Blair desperately rallied them.
"Just a little longer. Just a little longer and the Sword Saint from earlier will come! Endure until then!"
Even as he said it, it felt empty.
According to reports, a child had defeated over three hundred goblins alone, but there was no way that could be true.
It would be impossible unless one was a top-ranking Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Zarcam or a C-Rank adventurer or higher.
As he was thinking that, a subordinate on his left was hit by a Goblin Mage's 《Earth Bullet》 and incapacitated.
They were out of potions.
If he didn't retreat, he would die in less than a minute.
But they couldn't retreat.
This is it, he thought. The line will break here, and the city will be swallowed by monsters.
A Hobgoblin came to finish off his subordinate on the left, laughing as if looking down on them. Blair was fully occupied fighting the Hobgoblin in front of him.
Just as he tried to at least watch his subordinate's final moments...
The head of the Hobgoblin in front of his subordinate went flying.
He couldn't comprehend the situation at all. He froze for less than a second.
When he regained his senses, his subordinate, who should have been heavily injured, had his wounds healed.
He wasn't fully recovered, but the wound was no longer fatal.
Even more surprisingly, the head of the Hobgoblin in front of Blair himself had also gone flying.
☆☆☆
I've taken down all the dangerous ones.
Confirming the battle situation, I released 《Sylphid》 and began slaughtering the goblins without rushing.
This time, the goblins were densely packed, so it only took about three seconds to kill one.
The faces of the goblins, who had been wearing cruel smiles just moments ago, twitched in fear.
Even goblins with low intelligence must have realized they had turned from predators into prey. After all, I am a Goblin Slayer.
"Alright, this is the last one."
Defeating the last one, I looked around to see headless goblins scattered everywhere.
Voices of joy erupted from the residents all around; some even started dancing. I could even hear shouts of "Long live the Sword Saint!"
The knights seemed relieved as well, but they couldn't rest yet as they had to transport the injured and settle the confusion.
Count Beetle came up to me and stated his praise loudly.
"You did well! Sword Saint Mars! Granzam has been saved by you! Leaving Baron Dameze aside for later, I wish to discuss your reward and future matters! Is that alright?"
The residents were once again jumping for joy at Count Beetle's words.
"Yes. However, I have a question. Will a fifth wave come?"
"I don't know about that. It's rare for a Dungeon Saturation to occur at all. It should definitely stop if the dungeon is conquered... but there are rumors that just diving into the dungeon can stop it. Either way, in this situation, I can't send anyone in. If we were to send anyone, it would have to be C-Rank adventurers or higher, or the knights. To conquer it, we'd need a high-ranking B-Rank party... Well, it's not appropriate to discuss this here, so could you come to the Guild Master's room in the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Understood. Also, could you please return this sword to Baron Dameze later? I borrowed it without permission..."
Saying that, I handed the sword to Count Beetle. As I followed him to the Adventurer's Guild, Clarice came running up to me happily.
"Thank you. Saved by Mars again."
"I decided I'd save Clarice this time, after all."
Count Beetle seemed to have heard this conversation, and so Clarice also decided to go to the Adventurer's Guild.
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