The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 37
Chapter 37: The fat aristocrat is prepared to die
The young girl that Mikel had been protecting lifted her staff, even as her body remained half-buried in debris. She incanted in the magical language used to manifest ancient miracles in modern times.
The incantation coalesced into water. Starting as a small sphere, it grew until it was as big as a human head and then transformed into the shape of a sword.
The sword pointed towards the troll, and then it flew.
Mitrof watched everything from beginning to end. She was undoubtedly an excellent magician, with a seamless connection between her incantation and the activation of the spell.
However, the magic sword of water missed the troll as it swung the arm that held the “scarlet bear” like a club, knocking the sword aside.
Grace reacted instantly, taking aim at the open area created by the troll’s movement and firing an arrow, which struck the troll’s neck with precision.
“——What kind of a troll is this!”
Grace spat out her words. Mitrof was also shaken.
The troll grabbed the arrow just before it pierced its neck. Its reaction was surprising and unexpected for a clumsy troll.
Once again, the magic water sword flew towards the troll. Even that was dodged. The troll aimed at Mikel and the others in the rubble while throwing away the arrow it had grabbed.
“There’s no choice but to go,” Mitrof said, clicking his tongue.
He ran towards the rubble. The debris was mixed in different sizes, making it difficult to go straight. However, he had to protect Mikel and the others.
“Over here, troll!”
Mitrof yelled at the troll from the top of the rubble, trying to draw its attention. But he soon realized the futility of his actions.
The troll had been watching Mitrof from the start. Its behavior in attacking Mikel and the others was just to lure Mitrof into this place.
The troll had set a trap to fight in a favorable position. Mitrof gritted his teeth. He knew there was no time to turn and run away, even after realizing the trap.
The troll let the “scarlet bear’s arm” hang limply. Sharp and transparent claws, like glass crystals, grew at the end of its arm.
The sharpness of those claws should not be underestimated.
With the strength of a troll, just grazing it could result in being sliced in two. In this precarious location, it is impossible to land a decisive attack.
However, is it possible?
Mitrof places his rapier diagonally in front of him and shifts into a half-body position.
He places his weight on his back foot to be able to retreat at any time instead of on his front center of gravity when stepping forward.
Ignoring Mitrof’s posture entirely, the troll charges in, kicking up rubble. Its upper arm swings down in a high arc, but Mitrof avoids it by sliding down the slope.
The sharp claws of the scarlet bear cut through the rock. Mitrof sees the smooth cut—a terrifying sight. He clenches his left fist tightly.
The leather gauntlets covering his forearms can handle goblins, kobolds, and fangs, but against a troll, they are no longer a shield—both the gauntlets and the rapier in his right hand are so unreliable and precarious that he feels insignificant.
Still, there was only one thing he could do, move forward and thrust his sword.
Therefore, Mitrof lifted his foot, stepped forward, and thrust his rapier.
He aimed for the troll’s lowered right arm. However, the troll avoided it. Mitrof’s thrust was too slow to hit his target.
It was a foothold. He lacked decisiveness on the debris, and his center of gravity was shaking. Mitrof’s heavy body and lack of muscular strength made it impossible for him to stand firmly there. Therefore, his sword was dull and useless.
During the gap between Mitrof and the troll, Grace’s arrow flew without missing its target. This time, it was not grabbed. However, the arrow aimed at his face had landed on the troll’s left arm. Although it pierced through his arm, it didn’t seem to cause any pain or itch, as if he were attacked by a bug.
Mitrof caught a glimpse of Canule out of the corner of his eye. She quickly crossed behind the rocks and made her way to Mikel and the others. She dug out the rubble and earth that had buried the bodies.
Mikel and the young magician he protected were finally free. However, Mikel seemed to have lost consciousness and was unable to get up. Canule carried Mikel over her shoulder and held the young magician close as they moved toward safety.
For now, they have successfully rescued the two of them. But there were still two others somewhere beneath the rubble, and finding them might prove difficult.
Mitrof had been biting his lip when he suddenly heard his name called sharply.
Startled, he bent down just as the troll threw a piece of debris at him. Rocks and stones of various sizes filled his vision.
He crouched down, protecting his face with his gauntlet.
The impact felt like being struck repeatedly with a hard rod. The intense impact made his left arm go numb and caused a sharp pain to shoot through his left thigh.
Despite this, he managed to stay standing. The debris missed him.
When Mitrof looked up, he saw the troll swing the Scarlet Bear’s arm in front of his eyes.