Chapter 198
Even as I said it, I couldn’t believe it.
An arrow?
There was no time to process the shock. More arrows came raining down in rapid succession, faster than I could blink.
My body stiffened instinctively at their speed—reacting before my eyes could even track them.
While I froze, my companions sprang into action. Every arrow was deflected, clattering uselessly to the ground.
“Everyone take cover! Magic isn’t working!”
“Magic isn’t—? How……?”
At Killis’s shout, Reno’s voice trailed off in disbelief. I shared his confusion.
Just moments ago, magic had been fine. What changed?
“Forgive me, Your Highness.”
A shimmering green light enveloped me, lifting me into the air. My feet left the ground, and I gasped—though I’d experienced this before, the sudden weightlessness still startled me.
Reno’s spirit deposited me safely onto a nearby tree branch, then wrapped around me protectively.
A few arrows flew toward me, but hitting a high branch proved difficult. Those that came close were effortlessly batted away by the spirit.
From this vantage point, I could observe the situation more clearly. My heart still pounded from the near-death experience, but…….
‘Panicking won’t help.’
I quickly opened my inventory.
‘It works. Thank goodness.’
I’d worried the inventory might be blocked too, but it was fine. I pulled out the bow and arrows I’d packed just in case.
I knew I should avoid using the inventory around Killis, but this was an emergency…….
‘He probably can’t see what I’m doing from here anyway.’
Convincing myself, I knocked an arrow and peered below. The campfire illuminated the immediate area, but beyond that—
‘I can’t see a thing.’
The forest beyond was pitch black. Shooting blindly would be pointless.
I lowered the bow and refocused on the fight below.
Isaac was busy shielding Killis and deflecting arrows, while Reno gradually advanced, cutting down projectiles as he moved.
Despite their skill, both were close-range fighters. Endless arrows from a distance were overwhelming. Reno’s spirit could turn the tide, but he seemed intent on using it solely to protect me.
‘If this continues, things will only get worse.’
How could I help?
Without visibility, the bow was useless. If only Killis could use magic…….
‘Wait—when exactly did his magic stop working?’
I retraced the sequence.
Killis had used magic to light the fire earlier.
Meaning, it worked until the arrows struck. Then he suddenly couldn’t.
That implied the attackers had a way to nullify magic—
‘Is it the arrows?’
I studied the first arrow Reno had deflected. Embedded in the ground, it looked ordinary.
‘I need to check it properly.’
It was lodged high up in a tree, so I couldn’t go over and confirm it myself. But there was no guarantee that the spirit would catch me if I jumped down on my own. Reno’s attention seemed entirely focused on the forest.
It was during that uncertain moment, when I couldn’t even ask Isaac or Killis for help and could only keep staring at the spot where the arrow had struck.
‘Huh?’
Just as I hesitated, the arrow shaft glowed blue.
I’d seen that glow before. It had always helped me. A strange certainty settled over me—this time would be no different.
“Isaac! Killis!”
At my shout, they looked up. I pointed urgently toward the arrow.
“That arrow! Pull it out! I think it’s blocking magic!”
They exchanged words, then Killis darted behind a tree while Isaac rolled swiftly to the arrow and yanked it free.
A blue barrier flared around us.
“It works!”
Killis exclaimed excitedly. Though he didn’t specify, the sudden shield spoke for itself.
My hunch had been right.
Relief washed over me, but the arrows kept coming. Yet with magic restored, the tide turned instantly.
Killis unleashed a barrage of spells. Floating orbs of light illuminated the area, followed by blue streaks shooting toward the attackers like retaliatory arrows.
“Wow…….”
It was breathtaking—though for our enemies, it must have been terrifying.
With the area lit, Isaac and Reno charged into the forest. Now I could see figures hiding among the trees.
I raised my bow again, drew the string, and released.
The arrow struck someone’s shoulder.
“Agh!”
A sharp cry rang out.
I fired again, aiming for the shadows. My practice paid off—the arrows flew true.
I wasn’t landing clean hits, but the chaos was enough.
Between Killis’s magic and my arrows, the onslaught dwindled.
Isaac and Reno pressed the advantage, cutting down foes with brutal efficiency.
Once the skirmish ended, I stashed the bow back in my inventory.
“They’re finished.”
Reno announced as he and Isaac returned. He stretched a hand toward me.
“Come down, Your Highness. I’ll catch you.”
I knew his spirit would soften the fall, so I leaped without hesitation.
True to form, I descended slowly—only to land squarely in Reno’s arms.
He did this on purpose.
His grinning face confirmed it. Not that I minded, but really—was this necessary?
“Reno, put Her Highness down. You’re getting blood on her clothes too.”
Blood?
Puzzled, I finally noticed the metallic scent clinging to them. Reno sighed.
“You could’ve said so before I caught her.”
“Didn’t want to distract you mid-catch.”
“……?”
Still confused, I studied their exchange until Reno set me down. He grimaced at my legs.
“Ah, it got on you after all. My apologies.”
“What did?”
“Blood. Hard to block every splatter.”
“Oh…….”
Now I saw it—faint crimson stains on my pants and robe. Their clothes were far worse, half-soaked in it.
The reality hit me belatedly.
They killed people. Actual people…….
“Your Highness?”
“Huh? Y-Yes?”
“We’ll handle the rest. Go change. Duke Yelpen, could you fetch fresh clothes? For us as well.”
“Of course.”
Killis retrieved new outfits from his pocket. Numbly, I accepted mine.
As I moved behind a tree to change, my foot crunched on something brittle.
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