The griffon, drained of all its strength, was about to crash onto the ground with a loud thud—until a magical barrier appeared to stop its fall.
A moment later, Ivy, having regained her weight, along with Shannon, who had descended via the barrier, came closer.
Shannon put her hand on her sword, preparing to finish the griffon by driving it into its neck...
“Mi!”
“Please wait!”
“Hmm... understood.”
Ivy stopped her. I wondered what she planned to do with the nearly defeated griffon... and then... wait, what!?
Incredibly, Ivy began casting a healing spell on the griffon! And not just any healing spell—a high-level one that heals wounds in an instant! What could she be thinking?
“Hold on, Ivy, why are you suddenly using a healing spell—wait, is that... high-level?”
“Is that...”
“Yeah, I don’t want to believe it either, but it’s a high-level healing spell. Really, is she a turtle? No way, she’s got to be a dragon in the shape of a turtle.”
Oh, no, everyone who witnessed it, both Shannon up close and the second-tier adventurers from a distance, instantly recognized what was happening! The healing magic that had been mere rumor was now proven true in front of these experts! Using such powerful healing magic on an injured griffon... what’s going through your mind, Ivy?
“Mi.”
Ivy, who had somehow grown even larger, was now big enough to press down on the griffon’s body with one of her feet.
“Graaah!”
“Mi.”
The griffon thrashed its legs desperately, trying to escape, but Ivy’s leg, heavy as an iron pillar, kept it firmly in place. Ivy stayed completely still, as if silently commanding it to stop moving.
“Hey, Bruno, can you explain what’s going on?” Shannon asked, leaning closer to me in confusion.
Because she can’t communicate with Ivy, Shannon had asked me for clarification several times throughout the battle. Usually, I could answer, but... even I wasn’t sure what Ivy was up to now. She hadn’t told me.
“...She said not to move. I think she’s about to do something with the griffon.”
“Isn’t it dangerous or... something?”
“I don’t think so. Ivy isn’t the kind to do anything risky.”
“I see. Well, I guess we’ll just have to trust her.”
She sounded casual, but Shannon’s gaze was fixed intently on Ivy and the griffon. Maybe she was preparing for a fight with Ivy, just in case. Shannon’s face was tense, probably bracing herself for anything.
...Ivy’s not some battle-hungry maniac, so there’s no need to worry. I explained that, but it seems Shannon isn’t entirely convinced. I suppose being an adventurer means being this cautious.
“Mi, mi-mi.”
“Graah.”
Ivy continued pressing her foot onto the griffon’s belly. It almost seemed as if they were exchanging words... but strangely, I couldn’t understand a single thing she was saying. This was the first time that had happened.
Maybe Ivy didn’t want me to hear what she was saying to the griffon? Has she been using magic to communicate her thoughts all along?
“Mi-mi.”
“Graah, graaah!”
And, wait a second, it almost looks like Ivy’s having a full conversation with the griffon.
Can monsters communicate with each other, or is Ivy just special?
As Shannon and the others held their breath, Ivy finally lifted her foot off the griffon.
“Mi-mi.”
“Graah, graaah!”
They exchanged a glance, and a bright light burst forth! A line of indigo-colored light, the same shade as Ivy’s, connected her to the griffon.
The blinding light faded before I could fully close my eyes, and left standing there as if nothing had happened were Ivy and the griffon.
Ivy came running toward me, her body shrinking as she floated onto my shoulder.
“Mi.”
It’s okay now, she assured me. The griffon would listen to her from now on.
The griffon then followed Ivy’s back and approached us.
“Graah.”
[From today, I’m Ivy’s underling, just so you know.]
...Wait, did I just imagine that?
“Graah, graaah.”
[And as Ivy’s family, that puts you above me. Pleased to meet you from now on.]
...I must be hearing things. I’ve been pretty sleep-deprived lately...