You gazed at the sky.

The Witch of the West was looking down at you and your companions with a very displeased expression.

The pointed hat, hooked nose, and face with black mushrooms growing on it were the very definition of a witch, but she wasn’t riding something like a broomstick.

She didn’t seem to need a broomstick. Several golden monkeys were skillfully intertwining their bodies to form a chair for the witch.

《Truly disagreeable children.》

The witch’s single eye rolled wildly, sweeping across the ground.

Despite her speaking from high up in the sky, you had no trouble hearing her words properly.

Monkeys wearing necklaces shaped like eyes were all relaying the Witch of the West’s words.

《You’ve certainly turned my beautiful garden into a wasteland. It’s truly no different from a swarm of rats.》

Half-listening to the witch’s lines, you pondered.

You were considering whether you could smash the Witch of the West’s head now, as she seemed about to start rambling on about various things.

The conclusion was “it would be difficult.”

You had been constantly examining the angle for throwing spears, but the Witch of the West seemed to be wary of you as well, with the golden monkeys surrounding her continuously blocking the line of sight.

If they were ordinary monkeys it might be different, but when homunculi who could deflect even decent sword energy with their bare bodies deliberately acted as meat shields, even you had no way around it.

Suddenly, the “shooting sword energy” that Kalidahs had shown you flashed through your mind, but you soon shook your head.

You had tried it a few times after fighting in the martial arts tournament, but it wasn’t a very efficient technique for you to use.

It lacked power to use against strong opponents, and it was too inefficient for dealing with small fry.

It seemed to be the type of technique that needed a special mana property to exert its full power.

While you were pondering, the conversation continued.

《Are you feeling triumphant just because you blocked one attack? I can drop rocks like that as many times as I want.》

“Then why don’t you do it instead of just talking?” Dorothea sharply retorted to the Witch of the West’s words.

Her blue eyes swept over the remnants of the attack she had just deflected.

She eyed the mindlessly thrown rock mass with sides about half the length of a soccer field.

“If you could drop something like that over and over again, you could have just kept following us and dropping them from the moment you first discovered us. The fact that you didn’t do that and sought other means shows your limits, doesn’t it?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests that it’s just the typical multi-phase boss battle!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that a game where the final boss spams instant-kill moves from the first stage is crappy game design!]

Dorothea didn’t react to your words. She seemed to be treating them as nonsense.

You felt slightly regretful, having only said what you thought was common sense.

After a moment of silence in response to Dorothea’s words, the Witch of the West finally spoke.

《What an impudent wench. No wonder that woman took you as an apprentice. However—》

The witch’s single eye turned towards Franka.

《You might be fine, wench, but my foolish former disciple doesn’t seem to be in such good shape.》

“Ugh. Stop talking nonsense! I’m perfectly fine!?”

Franka angrily rebutted the words directed at her, but it was obvious to anyone that her complexion wasn’t good.

It seemed she had overexerted herself quite a bit while creating the wall just now.

As if seeing through that bluff, the Witch of the West burst into hearty laughter.

The golden monkeys also giggled as if responding to their master.

《Foolish children, let’s see how far your arrogance will take you.》

After saying this, the Witch of the West flew towards the castle.

It clearly looked like she was temporarily retreating to regroup.

Dorothea frowned.

“We can’t give her time to recover! If we leave her alone, she’ll use that technique again!”

The gazes of you and your companions turned to Franka.

There was still some distance until they would reach the Witch of the West’s castle, and Franka’s ability was most suitable for movement.

Dorothea approached Franka, who was unable to move easily.

“Mana depletion?”

“Yeah, so what!? You think everyone’s a monster like you?!”

Franka reacted irritably, as if feeling humiliated, but Dorothea didn’t seem particularly angry.

“What if I give you my mana?”

At the very calm tone, Franka also answered in a slightly softened voice, “It still won’t work. The nature of the mana itself is different, so I can’t use it right away. The catalyst only responds to my mana.”

“Tch, is there no other way?”

Mana had different properties depending on its use and the constitution of the person containing it.

While there were things like simple body enhancement or basic sword energy that weren’t affected much by mana properties, there were also techniques or magic that needed dedicated mana, like how your sword energy projection was less efficient compared to Kalidahs’. Franka’s alchemy seemed to be the latter.

Having lost your means of transportation, all that remained were your sturdy legs.

Having made your decision, you slung Dorothea and Sophia over your shoulders.

“Hey, you, wait.”

Dorothea struggled for a moment, but you firmly shook your head.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says this is faster!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he’s lost mana from the recent battle, so please replenish it during the move!]

“Oh my, wouldn’t it be better to leave me behind? I don’t think I’ll be of immediate help.”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says he’s entrusting Sophia with the care of the human companions as the movement will be rough!]

“Ah, I see.”

Sophia seemed to understand your words immediately, as she emitted white holy power from her body.

After confirming that the holy power’s protection had settled on Dorothea—and incidentally Franka—you started running with all your might.

Magic beasts that had gathered while you were stalling for time blocked your path, but you didn’t care.

Thud!

You stepped on the head of a werewolf that was thrusting its stinking maw towards you and leaped.

Avoiding an arrow from a centaur-like being flying from the side, you rotated your body sideways once and landed.

Like an American football player clutching the ball and rushing for a touchdown, you endlessly ran forward, avoiding all sorts of obstacles, using them as footholds, and occasionally blasting them away with your body.

The two held by you without any shock absorbers would receive considerable impact, but that was what the protection from the holy power was for.

Thanks to this, you could rampage to your heart’s content.

It seemed Dorothea shouted something and bit her tongue, but that much could happen even while eating, so it couldn’t be called a life-threatening crisis.

Franka, for her part, followed your rush while being protected by her two homunculi, and you finally reached the front of the castle.

There was the minor problem of the castle gate being firmly closed, but you didn’t care.

Doors were meant to be opened when knocked, after all.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests barrier activation!]

You felt like you heard some intense cursing, but your master was indeed a capable witch.

After confirming that a circular barrier had formed centered on Dorothea’s staff, you rushed towards the door while expelling mana backwards.

Crash!

The castle gate shattered spectacularly under the blow that combined the momentum of your charge, your body weight, and mana expulsion.

Entering the castle interior, you put down the two people and nodded with satisfaction.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ praises himself for successfully scoring a touchdown safely!]

“Safe my ass!!”

Dorothea’s staff struck your head.

It was a power that could boast of being the strongest ever.

Perhaps thanks to the holy power wrapped around her body, she poured out angry nagging with her tongue that had been bitten not long ago.

“Are you trying to kill people on purpose!? Who in the world uses defense magic as a battering ram, you crazy bastard!!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ puffs out his chest saying such a person is right here!]

“Is that something to be proud of!? If you’re going to open the door anyway, you could have just used the Key of Opium! Are you saving the sacred treasures to make soup!?”

“Ah,” you seemed to lightly exclaimed.

Honestly, you had completely forgotten about the existence of the Key of Opium.

In fact, it wasn’t very useful unless you were a thief.

While you were having this argument, Franka and her familiars also entered the castle a bit later.

Looking at the enemy forces continuing to pour in through the broken castle gate, Dorothea said to Franka, “You stay here. This guy wrecked it a bit, but it’s better to deal with enemies coming through the broken gaps than fighting on open ground. When you recover some mana, block the door completely with alchemy.”

“You’re telling me to just guard your rear?”

“Then do you want us to stay here and block these guys while you go cut off your old master’s neck?”

“…Fine, I’ll do it.”

Although she looked quite displeased, Franka eventually nodded.

She seemed to acknowledge that Dorothea’s judgment was correct.

Watching the two monkeys defeating enemies trying to come through the broken door gap, you started climbing the castle stairs.

It was a similar situation to the first fight with the Witch of the West, but there were differences.

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that unlike the previous castle, this castle has no minions!]

“She probably had no intention of letting us into the castle in the first place. Her words about not wanting to destroy the castle twice were probably sincere.”

“The scale of the castle also feels smaller compared to last time.”

As there was no combat, your steps climbing the castle were unhindered.

“By the way, where on earth is Adel?”

To Dorothea’s question, Sophia answered, “Ah, about that, it’s this way. I saw her captured through a window. She wanted to show off executing me, so she brought me close enough for us to see each other. It was fortunate that Elphaba didn’t examine me closely.”

“…Looks like you’ve been through quite a lot, too.”

Dorothea seemed to be pondering whether to target Elphaba or rescue Adelaide first, but while clicking her tongue, she chose the latter.

“It would be troublesome if she gets caught up in the battle aftermath defenseless or taken hostage. Franka talked about the pride of a Great Witch, but how can we trust that?”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it’s okay to honestly say you’re just worried!]

“Shut up.”

The place they reached following Sophia’s guidance was a wall.

Dorothea showed a suspicious reaction, but Sophia’s attitude was firm.

“This is the right place. I remembered the location from outside.”

You didn’t hesitate.

You thrust your sword into the wall, confirmed that there was an empty space of a certain size beyond the wall, and then cut out a square shape.

To prevent the cut wall from falling inward and crushing Adelaide inside, you finessed the cut wall outward, revealing a space that looked like some kind of laboratory.

“Huh?”

Adelaide, who had been wearing an anxious expression while tied to an examination table, widened her eyes upon seeing you.

Tears slightly welled up in her bright violet eyes.

“S-Sir Knight! Miss Witch! Miss Sophia!”

[The ‘Tin Knight’ evaluates that while an emotional reunion isn’t bad, the outfit is a bit radical!]

[The ‘Tin Knight’ advises that while he’s a gentleman so it’s not a problem, it’s better to refrain in front of others!]

“Huh? Ah, aah!”

There was a slight commotion with Adelaide’s face turning bright red and Dorothea sighing and hitting your head, but you were able to successfully rescue Adelaide.

After retrieving Adelaide’s clothes and equipment that had been stuffed in a corner of the laboratory, you proceeded to the rooftop without stopping this time.

And finally, the moment you opened the rooftop door and reached it.

As if waiting for this moment, hundreds of golden spears brilliantly shining with mana fell towards you all.

Boom!

The mana contained in your shield was released, blowing away about half of the incoming spears.

The remaining spears also failed to penetrate the double barrier deployed by Adelaide’s sword and Dorothea and Sophia.

《Hmph. It seems you can at least receive a greeting.》

The Witch of the West, Elphaba, said.

The golden monkeys around her, the winged homunculi, all opened their mouths to relay her words.

No other magic beasts were visible.

There were only homunculi.

But the newly regrouped party didn’t let their guard down.

Even though they had reduced their numbers quite a bit through the battles so far, there were still many homunculi accompanying the witch.

That number was roughly 200.

Moreover, the largest and seemingly strongest one among them was even wearing the Belt of Amaryllis that had been missing from Adelaide’s equipment.

《Get out of my beautiful garden, you rats!》

[The ‘Tin Knight’ shouts to hand over fame, money, items, and above all, an enjoyable battle!]

***

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