Chapter 47

Ch 47 -- Fer vs. Gryphon

"We'll soon be entering Gryphon territory." Fer's words gave me a shock.

We're finally at the Gryphon territory. I don't want to enter it.

"Keep the Barrier up solidly." I beg Fer.

"Yes I know. Don't worry."

I'm going to worry anyway. They're Gryphons after all.

* * * * *

We're well into Gryphon territory now. We haven't seen any trace of Gryphons yet. I wish we could go all the way through the Gryphon territory without seeing them at all.

On the third day a Gryphon appeared at last. A single Gryphon landed in front of us with a great beating of its wings. I was struck speechless. Honestly the sight of it nearly made me wet myself.

Anyway the Gryphon looked like a really big deal. It had the head of an eagle and the body of a lion and it was even bigger than Fer.

Suddenly this giant Gryphon kneeled down and bowed its head.

"Fenrir-sama, please, do this"

"Wh- what, it can talk?" I was surprised because I thought the only monster that could speak human language was Fer. Sui can use Telepathy like Fer because of her Contract with me but she can't talk. But this Gryphon can talk...

"Gryphons can't normally use human languages but this one is special and of high intelligence."

"Oh, that's why."

"This Gryphon and me and the Ancient Dragon can speak human language fluently." Fer explained.

I see.

"As he said, human words, only I" So this Gryphon is the only one that can speak human language.

"Flock leader, to become, trial, I must, fight me, please"

Huh? The Gryphon wants to fight Fer to become the leader of the Gryphons?

"Mighty, Fenrir-sama, fight, everyone, me, accept." So everyone in the flock will accept him as their leader if he fights a Fenrir. The Gryphon's got some guts, hey?

"Very well, I'll be your opponent, but I won't go easy on you." Fer said.

"Understood"

Sui and I got off Fer's back and moved clear. As I got off I whispered "Don't kill him, hey?" in Fer's ear but the only response was a shrug. I can't help but wonder if that Gryphon was going to be OK? If it comes to it we can use some of Sui's Deluxe High-Grade Potion but we've only got one PET bottle's worth. That might not be enough for such a large Gryphon.

"Sui, can you make more High-Grade Potion?"

"Nnnn, easy-"

I got another PET bottle out to make more of Sui's Deluxe High-Grade Potion, just to be safe as Fer and the Gryphon faced off against each other.

"Right, let's go." said Fer.

At Fer's words the Gryphon spread its giant wings and flew up into the sky. From its wings high above countless black things like arrows descended. Fer dodged them like he was dancing. When I looked I saw the "arrows" fired by the Gryphon were feathers. A large volley-ball-sized stone struck by a feather was shattered into tiny pieces.

*Wow, that's amazing...*

It was Fer's turn to fire magic at the Gryphon high above. A small tornado formed around the Gryphon, spinning it around and around in the wind. The tornado seemed to have a cutting edge -- I think that magic is the most powerful version of Wind Cutter -- and the tornado was coloured red with the Gryphon's blood. The Gryphon's really in a bad way.

"H- hey Fer, that's too much-"

"Hmmmph-"

The tornado collapsed and the Gryphon crashed to the ground. I immediately went to the Gryphon's side and sprinkled it with Sui's Deluxe High-Grade Potion.

"I told you to take it easy on him, didn't I?" I said to Fer. There are limits, you know. That kind of tornado, don't use it just because you want to show off.

"Nnnn..." The Gryphon opened its eyes.

"Hey, are you OK?"

"Aaah..., wounds..."

"I think the cuts are healed up where I sprinkled this potion but does it hurt anywhere?"

"Human, medicine... expensive"

"Don't worry about that. Is everything else OK with you?" The Gryphon's body was covered with blood, even its pure-white wings.

"I'm fine, sorry."

Huu-, it turned out good. It looks like Sui's Deluxe High-Grade Potion worked perfectly. It did take two PET bottles worth to do the trick though.

"Nothing, so easy, to lose, ..." The Gryphon hung its head dejectedly. It seemed the Gryphon didn't expect to match up to Fer but he didn't think he would lose so easily. The Gryphon is a boss-level character, one of this world's greatest Demonic Beasts after all and Fer beat it by magic while it was flying around... Fer's really something special, isn't he?

Oh, hello? I noticed something when I looked at Fer.

"Hey, you did manage something. Look at that." I pointed at the shoulder of Fer's foreleg. Fer's white fur had a slight tinge of blood.

"It's a wound from the Gryphon's first attack. It's not much to inflict on a legendary Demon Beast like a Fenrir but it's a solid hit, isn't it?"

"Nununu, it's annoying even if I say so myself."

The Gryphon raised its head after hearing Fer's words.

"I, I, Fenrir-sama..." The Gryphon made a loud cry and looked up into the sky. Scores of Gryphons were flying towards us.

"Uh, waah...!"

One Gryphon was intimidating enough, scores of them were another matter entirely. Or should I say, totally terrifying.

The Gryphons landed behind the one that Fer had fought with. I couldn't look.

"I, the leader, am recognised"

Is that so? That's good I think.

"Fer-sama, thank you, very much"

Yeah yeah, keep going.

"Human, here, take"

The Gryphon plucked some feathers from its wing and passed them to me. Apparently they were payment for treating his wounds with Sui's potion. Gryphon feathers are valuable, it seemed.

"So, human, you can, pass here, be eaten not"

I'm happy and terrified at the same time. Gryphons eat people but they're not going to eat me.

Hearing that I'm never going to come this way again!

"Can we go now, Fer?"

"Yah, let's go." I put Sui back in my bag and climbed aboard Fer to away from this place quickly. The annoying Gryphon sent a loud cry after us.