Boku wa Chiisana Maou-sama

The sun has already fallen and outside is wrapped in the dark.
Dirkhert went to the garden of the Village Chief’s house and sat under a tree. Chocola, Tart, and Pudding worriedly followed after Dirkhert and sat around him.

「…… Is everyone all right?」

When he lifted Chocola and checked it, he noticed that Chocola’s hand is slightly torn. Similarly, Tart’s tail and Pudding’s ears have been stretched by all the pulling, and the st.i.tches are slightly loose.

「Fu, fueeeee……」

Dirkhert tightly embraces the three animals and sheds large drops of tears.

「Sorryyy, Dirk, couldn’t protect you…… uwaaaan」

The three animals ponpon clap on Dirkhert’s shoulders to show him that they are all right, but there’s no indication that Dirkhert will stop crying.
While the three were exchanging silent glances trying to figure out what to do, a wolf’s howling and people’s cries resounded from a little far away.
Because the crying Dikrhert haven’t noticed yet, the three pikopiko move their hands with all their might to grab his attention.

「Fue, wh, what is it……?」

Finally, Dirkhert noticed that the three animals are trying to tell him something. He wiped his tears and looked at the three animals. Then, the three point at the same direction together.

「Is there something over there?」

He seems to have finally noticed while standing up. His eyes open wide and he stares to the direction of the noise.

「Everyone…… is fighting……!」

Dirkhert returns to the Village Chief’s house in a hurry, enters inside and tightly shuts the door with a lock.

「Dirk-kun, what happen, why are you so hurried?」

While being asked by Lilia, Dirkhert confirms that the door are tightly locked, and he silently watches through the door’s window.

「Everyone is fighting monsters. There is a chance of some separating from the pack」

When Dirkhert says that, the inside of the Village Chief’s house immediately becomes tense. Even the boys from a while ago, tremble in their mother’s arms.

「Young master, is that true?」

Dirkhert nods to Tris’s question and summons his favorite staff.
He approaches the door and searches for presence.
Dirkhert’s expression is so serious that even a fragment of his usual childish appearance can’t be seen.

「…… It’s okay for now. Therefore, I will set a barrier at once, okay?」

Ton, he hits the floor with his staff, and deploys a large magic circle which envelops the whole house.
Although called a barrier, it can’t repel the monsters. It just makes the house a bit more durable. Still, there’s a big difference with the barrier deployed.

「A barrier this wide in an instant……? Young master, just who are you……?」
「Who……?」

Dirkhert makes a blank expression and tilts his head.

「Dirk is Dirk, you know? Magic you see, it is my speciality」

It’s not on the ‘speciality’ level. Even the nation magicians can’t form a barrier this big instantly without a chant. And yet, Dirkhert accomplished it so easily.

「It’s okay, Dirk will protect everyone」

When confidently declaring, Dirkhert tightly clenched the staff in his little hands.