Derick, Castorice, and Sefride on the Swing

"Don't worry, the money will be yours," Derick said to Cipher without a second thought.

"Derick, where will you get the money?" Cipher looked at Derick in surprise.

Is he planning to live off Castorice?

"Aglaea will give it to you," Derick said, pointing towards the Blade of Condemnation in the sky.

"I just saw that huge weapon, as the battle between the cloaked weirdo and Nikador intensified, the light within it grew brighter and brighter. I feel like it's accumulating energy through the fighting. If we step out now and take Castorice away, wouldn't that interrupt the energy accumulation?"

Hearing Derick's words, Cipher also looked towards the Blade of Condemnation, noticed the situation, and her expression changed.

"Damn, looks like I really will have to go ask that tailor woman for money later. This Blade of Condemnation, it's pointing right at Okhema." Cipher grabbed Derick's hand, "Derick, let's quickly get Castorice out of the battlefield. I'll hold onto you, then you quickly enter the field and pull Castorice out."

"Okay, let's act quickly now."

Derick looked extremely impatient.

"I know you care about Castorice the most." Seeing Derick's reaction, Cipher couldn't resist pinching his cheek. Then she squatted down, grabbing Derick's ankle before he could react.

Before Derick could respond, Cipher flipped him over. She then produced a very long grappling hook, shot it towards a high point in the arena, securing it tightly. Cipher wrapped the other end of the rope around her own ankle, pushed off the ground with both feet, and flipped upside down as well.

Cipher, hanging by her ankle with the rope, grabbed Derick's ankle, suspended in mid-air. Cipher channeled energy, swinging the two of them towards the battlefield like a pendulum.

Cipher and Derick had been concealed by her abilities before. Their sudden appearance instantly drew everyone's attention.

Especially Castorice; fighting Nikador, she sensed Derick's presence appear and was both shocked and overjoyed.

Derick, he finally appeared, she hadn't come in vain.

In her moment of distraction, Nikador swung His spear at Castorice. The attack was almost upon her before she reacted.

She quickly dodged backward.

Cipher and Derick's swing also arrived at this moment. Seeing Castorice's reaction after Derick appeared, Cipher, while holding Derick, complained to Castorice:

"Castorice, even if you're lovesick, pay attention to the situation!"

Castorice and Derick ignored her complaint, their eyes meeting. Castorice stretched out her hands, and Derick reached out to grab hers.

Their fingers intertwined, and the momentum of the rope swung Castorice up as well.

"Let's go!" Cipher pulled harder, and the three flew towards the high platform beside the arena. During their flight, she threw a bottle towards the Flame Reaver.

Boom—

The three slammed into the platform wall.

Castorice hit the wall first, with Derick pressed against her chest. Cipher was on the outside, quickly bracing herself against the wall with her limbs.

What should have been an intimate sandwich situation was ruined by Cipher's frog-like pose, leaving only a comedic atmosphere.

Making sure her limbs weren't touching Castorice, Cipher finally relaxed.

Quickly getting down from the wall, Cipher patted her ample chest and said, still shaken, "Phew, that was almost fatal! No way, I need to ask that tailor woman for more money when we get back."

She glanced sideways; Trianne was staring wide-eyed, her small head about to shut down.

"What, what on earth just happened..."

Trianne muttered to herself.

Castorice reacted now; although she hit the wall hard, she wasn't significantly injured. She pulled Derick behind her, shielding him.

Reunited with Derick again, Castorice's anxious heart finally settled. She shielded him behind her, not wanting him to disappear from her side again.

Castorice shot Cipher a fierce glare, then looked back at the arena: "What should we do next?"

Although extremely annoyed with Cipher, since Derick was back, Castorice felt temporarily reassured. The biggest problems now were this newly appeared enemy and Nikador.

Everything else could wait until the problem was solved.

"What to do? Just keep watching the cloaked weirdo and Nikador fight." Cipher looked at the current battlefield with a grin. At the same time, she didn't forget to give Castorice a provocative glance.

Protect him, go ahead and protect him. I'm the demigod of thieves; even if you keep protecting Derick, I can find a chance to steal him away.

Cipher's gaze returned to the battlefield.

The attack she had just thrown was meant to attract Nikador's attention. Nikador turned His gaze back towards the Flame Reaver. Swinging His spear, He attacked both the Flame Reaver and Mydei.

"Should we go save Mydei?" Derick asked Castorice and Cipher, looking at Mydei who was now in a relatively weak position in the three-way melee.

Castorice summoned her scythe again, preparing to join the fight.

"No need, don't go. I believe that guy will get out of the battlefield soon," Cipher stopped Castorice.

And at that moment, Mydei also reacted on the battlefield. Taking a spear thrust from Nikador and a slash from the Flame Reaver, his entire body crashed towards Derick's side.

Mydei landed heavily beside Trianne again.

"Little Mydei..."

Trianne glanced over worriedly.

"Lady Trianne, you know this guy's situation. Just like Derick, even if he suffers fatal damage, he'll die for a bit and then recover," Cipher said nonchalantly from the side.

Castorice couldn't help but retort, "You really are annoying when you talk."

She wouldn't speak like this to others, but with Cipher, she really couldn't hold back.

Cipher looked completely unfazed, a hint of delight even showing in her eyes.

This Castorice, she actually showed anger. This is a good thing. The more emotions she has, the less she'll want to fulfill her duty.

Derick saw Castorice's rare display of anger and quickly squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Castorice also knew the current situation. With Derick's gentle gesture, she averted her gaze from Cipher.

Looking at the ongoing battle and the constantly charging Blade of Condemnation, Derick spoke:

"We should still try to resolve this situation. That greatsword, it's pointing towards Okhema. We must find a way to deal with it here."

_____

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