Otome Game no Heroine de Saikyou Survival [WN] - Chapter 167.6
“Hold on!”
Ron shouts as the balloon basket slowly descends.
The hot air balloon was able to fly away without being hit again by the Earth Dragon. However, it was damaged when it was hit by debris from the first attack, and by the time it was a few dozen kilometers away from the town, it reached its limit and began to lose altitude.
“…Aria…”
Elena muttered her name as she held onto the edge of the basket.
Why did she do that? Why did she go alone?
Finally, Aria called Elena [friend]. Because of the difference in their positions, she knew she should not have used that word, no matter how much she wished to do so.
The smile on Aria’s face the last time she saw her emergeed in her mind.
Was that Aria’s…Alicia’s real smile, or was she forcing a smile on me because it was the last time? Was it a false appearance of her usual one…?
(No, no.)
Both were the real Aria. That was probably the smile she was showing to her real friend.
Not because it was the last time. Aria was alive, and there was no way she would break her promise to Elena and die.
“…I would never forgive her if she died.”
The sadness that had been in Elena’s eyes was gone, and there was a strong light and a hint of anger in them.
Aria went to such lengths to keep Elena alive, and she would definitely not die, and she would never forgive her if she did. Elena was determined to save Aria, and she would not allow it if she died, even if it meant going to the Khalfaan Empire, contacting Claydale, and using everything she had to save Aria.
That was why Elena vowed to survive, even if she had to bite down on a rock to do so.
“Ron, please give directions!”
“Lena…”
“I’m not depressed anymore. And, you can call me Elena.”
“…okay, pull that rope over there…”
Chaco and the children’s frightened faces regain a hint of color as Elena, who had been depressed before, started to move.
But that did not make the situation any better. The altitude of the balloon was still unstable, and without their two best crew members, they were unsure if they could handle the danger.
“Ron, there’s a monster in the sky!”
“At a time like this!”
Two Giant Crows were approaching from the sky. The giant size of these monsters made them Rank 3 in danger level, but as long as the balloons were able to survive, they were not that much of a threat.
However, in their current state, they did not know how long even the monster leather balloon would be able to endure, and Elena, who could attack, could not use her magic properly on the shaky foothold. If even one of the ropes connecting the basket were to be cut while holding out, it would be difficult to make a soft landing, and repairs would not be possible.
[gueeeeeeeeeeeeee!]
“Kyaaaah!”
One of the Giant Crows attacked the balloon and the cage shook violently. As the ground surface neared and Ron struggled to at least land it safely on flat ground, another one of the Crows finally lunged at the ropes.
“–[Hurricane]–“
At that moment, a level 4 wind magic was unleashed from somewhere, tearing apart the Crow that lunged towards them and was blasted across the sky.
Elena marveled not so much at the level of the magic, but at the skill with which the range-based magic had repelled only the Giant Crow without shaking the balloon.
Everyone was so surprised that even the other remaining Giant Crow stopped attacking, and then a jet-black beast leapt at the Crow, which had lost altitude, like a gale, and dragged it down to the ground as if tearing it apart.
“Oh, we’re falling!”
Ron, who had regained his senses, shouted, allowing the balloon to land on the soft sandy ground.
But it was hardly a soft landing, and both the balloon and the basket tipped over, but thanks to that, the children fell to the sand and only suffered a few scratches that made them look surprised.
“Is everyone all right?”
“Yes, we’re fine…but…”
Everyone nodded at Ron’s words. No one was seriously injured, only bruises and scratches. The woman who was wearing a hood and seemed to have just released the magic called out to us.
“You guys, you don’t seem to be hurt.”
Chaco and the children exhaled when they heard her kind voice, which sounded like an adult woman.
“Thank you very much. But… you?”
The woman, who chuckled at Ron and Elena, who still looked slightly alarmed, removed her hood to reveal her true Dark Elf face.
“I’m looking for someone. Have you seen my peach-blonde, unsociable apprentice?”
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Also check out my other novels: Reincarnated into a Game as the Hero’s Friend, Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear, and A Girl Who Was Told “You Have No Talent” Turned Out To Be A Talented Monster