"Harbinger of the end, O pristine white snow."
As the beautiful melody rang out, a massive emerald-green magic circle appeared beneath Riveria's feet.
This was the opportunity Bell had created through his manipulation. Once the Female Body Type monster's anger faded and she began viewing Ais and the others as the greater threat, she would undoubtedly turn her attention back to them and order all the monsters to attack the vanguard.
They would only get one chance.
Riveria refined her immense magic power, letting the emerald-green magic dance through the air.
"Divine Light • Voyage (Argo's Ship)."
Bell chanted his Ability-Granting Magic, wrapping himself in a swirling gale.
This was merely [Ariel] being used to increase his speed, so the wind itself was not particularly strong.
There were simply too many new monsters and too many tentacles belonging to the [Demi Spirit]. Most of the party had already charged forward, leaving only a handful of people at the rear of the battlefield. Dealing with the approaching monster horde with so few people would not be easy.
So Bell decided to make himself the bait and reduce the pressure Riveria would have to face.
"Blow with the wind before the twilight.."
Riveria closed her eyes and focused entirely on chanting her Magic, entrusting everything else to the boy.
"Alicia, if any Virga get close, aim the magic swords at them. Leave the remaining Viola monsters to Ryuu."
Bell issued his instructions with precision.
"B-but there are so many monsters..."
Alicia frowned.
The magic swords were highly durable, and they had plenty of them, but that was still nowhere near enough to match the sheer size of the monster horde.
"It's fine. I'm the one they're targeting. Once I leave, the monsters will change direction and follow me. You'll only have to deal with the stragglers drawn here by the Magic Power."
Bell explained the situation.
Ahead of them, countless monsters ignored Ais and the others, trampling across the ashes as they rapidly closed the distance.
"I understand... I'll do my best!"
Alicia tightened her grip on the magic sword, the fear disappearing from her golden eyes.
"Cranel-san, leave this place to me. Please be careful."
Ryuu also drew her katana, preparing to use its sharp blade against the Viola monsters, which were resistant to blunt attacks.
"Mm. Lefiya, climb on."
Bell said nothing more and crouched slightly.
"...Huh?!"
The moment Lefiya saw his posture, countless embarrassing memories flashed through her mind.
Despite her shock, she still clutched her wand and climbed onto the boy's back.
Without offering any explanation, Bell pushed off the ground and sprinted toward the wilderness on the left side of the floor.
"Lefiya-san, chant the Barrier Magic!"
Carrying the golden-haired elf on his back, Bell raced across the wilderness. The wave of monsters that had been rushing toward them changed course along with him, veering toward the left side of the battlefield.
"I wish upon the name of Wishe!"
Lefiya began chanting without the slightest hesitation.
She had no idea what the barrier was supposed to protect them from, nor did she understand why Bell needed to carry her on his back.
She had already mastered Concurrent Chanting. Wasn't being carried like this rather strange?
Lefiya was full of questions, but her heart fluttered with affection and her trust in him had already taken root. Following Bell's instructions, she devoted all her concentration to singing her love song.
It did not take long for Lefiya to understand one of the reasons.
The answer was simple. At her speed, there was absolutely no way she could keep up with Bell.
The wind howled around them. Viola monsters lashed out with their tentacles and lunged with their fangs, but none of their attacks could reach the pair.
Bell deliberately maintained just enough distance to make the Female Body Type monster believe the other monsters could still kill him, keeping her attention firmly fixed on him.
That speed. That courage.
Even with the [Requited Love Bond] skill, Lefiya was certain she could never pull off something like this.
"Closing light, the freezing land."
Riveria continued weaving her Chant.
She could clearly tell that Bell had deliberately made himself the bait to protect her.
Encouraged by their feelings of love, the other elf girls were also fighting their own battles.
The katana sang the Astrae Serenade. Ryuu stood in front of Riveria, sweeping aside the several Viola monsters drawn toward them by the immense Magic Power.
Flames erupted as Alicia swung her magic sword. In the pauses between attacks, she nocked arrows and fired them with deadly precision at the cores of the Virga.
On the left side of the wilderness, Lefiya's clear, melodious voice blended with the rushing wind, carrying the raw freedom and passion of love itself.
"Blizzard, the three severe winters..."
Riveria did not allow the frost Chant to end there. Instead, she immediately connected it to a fire Chant.
"The flame will soon be released. Creeping war, unavoidable destruction."
Chant Connect.
This was a technique unique to Riveria.
She could connect her Chants together, allowing her three categories of Magic, attack, defense, and healing, to each unfold across three stages. In this case, the Magic Power of [Wynn Fimbulvetr] had already accumulated and was now being poured into the second-stage fire Magic, multiplying its destructive power several times over.
"The horn of battle sounds aloud, the cruelty of conflict will envelop all."
Riveria felt the fluttering in her heart. The melody she had once known so well was now mingled with the exhilaration of being in love.
Only a short time had passed since she confessed her feelings to the boy, yet Riveria could already feel how much her love had changed. Like flowers welcoming the arrival of spring, it had transformed dramatically after nothing more than a touch of morning dew.
When the storm of flames descended and Bell's prediction saved everyone's lives. When white light intertwined with emerald-green radiance and the boy's Magic Power poured into her body. When Ais, shaken to her core, recovered her resolve because of him. When Bell accomplished what Riveria had wanted through a completely different approach. When the boy willingly turned himself into bait...
Their time together had been exceedingly brief. These were nothing more than scattered memories, fleeting fragments that vanished in the blink of an eye. And yet, without Riveria even realizing it, her love had already blossomed to a degree she could scarcely imagine.
"Come, crimson flames, the ruthless inferno. You are the avatar of hellfire."
Riveria understood why her feelings had changed so much.
Ultimately, it was because her relationship with the boy had gone from something vague and undefined to that of lovers who had openly confessed their love for one another.
Her own sense of purity still resisted taking their physical intimacy any further, but now that their relationship had changed, things that once would have left her unbearably embarrassed had entered the realm of what she could accept.
The boy's Magic Power had seeped into both her body and mind, and that unique sensation still lingered inside her.
At that moment, desire was born within the innocent elf princess, while the experienced Nine Hell herself willingly opened the door to the forbidden.
"Sweep completely, bring a close to the great war."
Riveria did not know what the future would bring.
Could the chasm of desire ever be filled?
Where did the forbidden door lead?
The only thing Riveria knew for certain was that she was jealous of Lefiya. Even something as simple as holding Bell's hand stirred a dark pang of jealousy within her.
And as for the boy's other lovers, the ones who could naturally welcome his warmth whenever they pleased, Riveria found that she could not bear even imagining it.
How was she supposed to release these feelings?
The rebellious elf princess had already given her the answer.
Riveria, however, pretended not to know.