I realized immediately that Eva's words were being broadcast by the Guild com rooms. Presumably, the mode for continent-wide disasters had somehow been activated, and she was transmitting to every single Guild branch at once. Whether she knew it or not, Eva was seeking help from all adventurers, who back in their Guild branches were currently moaning, fighting, drinking, and in a general state of frustration and panic.
A girl was out there asking to be rescued from a sea dragon, and none of them could help her. For all those in the profession of adventurer, nothing could be more shameful or disgraceful. It was an adventurer's mission to help those who needed it. They felt tortured and maddened by their helplessness.
That, in turn, filled me with a sense of relief. In a world where a family of idiots fought among themselves for the emperor's throne, there were also dozens of men and women who felt distressed and helpless upon hearing the pleas of a random young woman. Their sentiment was reassuring.
So, representing all of the adventurers out there, I entered the com room and replied, "Hang on. I'll be right there."
As I spoke, I created a transfer crack inside the branch office. It connected to another Guild branch on the empire's southern border.
"Here we go, Prince."
"Very good. We must not neglect the petitions of a young woman in need."
I then stepped into the crack, and immediately stepped out on the far side.
The others all looked stunned, but without stopping to pay them any heed, I created a second transfer crack that connected to the Albatro branch and immediately stepped through again.
Upon arriving in the half-demolished branch office, my gaze met Eva's from where she was kneeling on the floor.
"Who are you?"
"Silver, SS-class adventurer from the Adrasia branch of the Adventurers' Guild. I'm here to accept your request."
Eva gave me a wide-eyed look, then burst into tears. It was easy to see how scared she must have been.
"You did well. Now you have to get somewhere safe."
"O-okay... But my brother..."
"What about your brother?"
"He said he had to try to help and went to the castle."
That didn't bode well.
By that point, Trau and his bodyguards had managed to catch up. From the look of it, they'd rather enjoyed the transfer.
"Well, well! So this is the southern region. Your transfer magic is most remarkable, Silver."
"Enough blathering. Hurry up and give permission to use the holy sword."
"I'm afraid that isn't quite so simple. There is no point in delivering my permission if Lady Elna is not present to hear it."
"Then we'll have to go somewhere she'll notice us."
When I exited the Guild branch office hoping to find such a place, I was thrust into the pandemonium occurring outside.
Most of the buildings around the harbor were destroyed, and there was a gigantic dragon in the water.
"That thing is enormous. Are you certain you'll be able to defeat it?"
"It'd be a tough fight doing it by myself."
As we were talking, a sphere of water emerged from the sea dragon's mouth.
It was huge. Crazy huge.
"That's the biggest one so far!" Eva cried out.
I started preparing some defense magic. Something that size landing on the heart of the city would be worse than catastrophic, especially when you considered the number of residents that hadn't yet evacuated.
I had to do something to divert the sea dragon's attention. As I was thinking, a voice rang out from the highest floor of the castle.
"Leviatano! Over here!"
It was Julio. He was apparently using a magical voice amplification tool.
His hands also held the magical tool that had been used to subdue Leviatano in the past.
Leviatano was likely attacking Albatro due to the fear of being put to sleep again and to get revenge for its previous subjugation. Knowing that, Julio had chosen the most effective way to provoke the sea dragon and draw its attention to himself. He must have been prepared to die for the sake of protecting the residents still in the city.
Leviatano shifted its gaze to look at Julio, then spoke. "There it is. I've been searching for the cursed tool that put me to sleep. It seems to have already lost its power, but I won't take any chances. I must destroy it."
The already huge water bomb forming in its mouth kept growing, transforming into something even more massive.
That looked disastrous. I continued preparing my defense magic while simultaneously opening a transfer crack in the air.
"Reckless young whippersnapper. I shall reward your courage by letting you perish without suffering," Leviatano threatened, then fired the super-sized water bomb toward the top floor of the castle.
At the same time, I slipped through the crack and transferred right in front of Julio.
"Father, Mother, Eva...please forgive me..."
"You can apologize when you see them in person," I chided Julio, who stood there awaiting death with his eyes shut. Then I deployed my massive, defense-magic spell. It was a shield.
The blue and silver bulwark appeared in front of the castle, ready to confront Leviatano's water bomb.
"This shield is the great shield of God. Its name is known by all. It is synonymous with protection. It was created for the protection of all who are weak. Hence, even God cannot destroy it. Hence, the shield is invincible and impenetrable. Its name...is Aegis."
The instant I spoke the shield's name, it began to glow. Leviatano's super-sized water bomb was destroyed effortlessly. Julio collapsed in shock and awe at the sight.
A worried Eva came rushing through the transfer crack a moment later.
"Julio!"
"Eva..."
"Thank god you're all right! I thought I'd lost you! Everything's okay now. They came... Help came!"
"Help...?"
"I believe you are the prince of the Grand Duchy of Albatro?"
"Y-yes... I'm Julio Di Albatro."
"I'm here from the Adventurers' Guild. Silver, SS-class adventurer. And this—"
"Traugott Lakes Aadler, Fourth Imperial Prince of Adrasia. At your service."
Trau had also transported through the crack. He introduced himself in a dignified manner, but his gaze remained fixed on Eva. Apparently the pretty, teary-eyed girl scored fairly high in his book.
I wanted to give him a good smack, but my current status as Silver rendered that impossible, so I made my point verbally instead.
"Your Highness. Do your job."
"Ahh, might we not spend a few more minutes gazing upon this beautiful young woman? I assume your shield will hold, will it not?"
"Keep this up and I'll hurl you outside the shield."
"I'd rather you didn't... Ah well. I suppose I will fulfill my princely duty," Trau finally submitted and reached for the magical voice amplification tool Julio had been using. It was at that point that he looked at the young prince for the first time.