The Protagonist's Party is Too Diligent

What lay beyond the open door was a device I had never seen before.

It was only natural I hadn’t seen it in the world I came from—but even in this world, I had never seen anything like it.

At the top of a small, spiral-shaped column, there was a disc resembling a compass, but it didn’t seem to actually be a compass. After all, it lacked the needle that should have pointed in a direction.

Vivid lights in a multitude of colors ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) circled the strange device as if forming a shape of their own.

From the open door, I could feel wind blowing.

No, actually, it probably wasn’t real wind. The hair of the girl standing in front of me wasn’t moving, and neither were the feathers still clinging to my body. The sensation of wind had likely just been something I felt.

My body was recovering.

The sensation I interpreted as “wind blowing” was, in truth, the feeling of my wounds healing, one by one.

From the point on my chest where the light had touched me, all the way to my back—rapidly.

Color returned to the feathers that had dulled, and the deep gashes between them vanished as if stitched shut, leaving no trace behind.

The rough tumors that had sprouted on my skin disappeared, and the pus that had oozed from neglected, festering sores stopped as each one was healed.

I had no idea what that device was.

But one thing was certain—it wasn’t using any kind of ordinary magic. I didn’t know much about magic, but I could feel it in my gut.

Strength returned to my legs, which had nearly given out.

The body I’d been barely managing to hold upright now stood firmly planted on the floor.

“......”

I savored the sensation for a while. It was the first time in years I had felt such peace.

There was no chain around my neck. No iron bars to imprison me.

I looked down at the girl in front of me.

Was she about to ask something of me?

Would she ask me to stay by her side and fight? Tell me I was now an ally because she had saved me?

Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded helping out a little. Of course, if she tried to force me to stay, I was ready to resist with everything I had again—

But the girl said something else entirely.

Just as I was looking down at her, she calmly looked up at me and raised a hand, pointing down the long corridor.

“Go.”

She didn’t seem to expect anything from me. As if it was the most natural thing in the world, she simply pointed and said it.

“You are free.”

Free.

A right supposedly granted to all humanity. Of course, there were plenty of places where that right wasn’t respected. There were those who imprisoned and tormented others—some even killed them.

And I wasn’t even human.

Even in this world, griffons seemed to be revered creatures. Judging by how high the expectations had been from those who imprisoned me, that much was clear.

But even so, I was still just a beast. That must have been why they did those things. I had never been given the same rights as a person to begin with.

That must be why they felt no guilt in doing what they did to me.

“......”

I walked forward.

I didn’t know what this place was. There were no windows in the corridor, and on the path that led here, I’d seen the corpses of many beasts.

Likely remnants of the battles that group had fought to reach this place.

Was that healing device something the girl had brought? It seemed likely. The people who had placed all those beasts along the path to block intruders wouldn’t have left a healing device right in front of their own room, giving the enemy a chance to recover before entering.

“......”

After a few steps, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.

I quickly turned around. Without thinking, I spread my wings wide, then folded them back in.

How long had it been since I could move every joint in my body without restriction? It made sense that my control would be off.

She might have been startled watching me, but the girl looked up without even flinching.

She really had come through the jaws of death.

She didn’t look that old, and yet... she already seemed like an adult.

I stared at the girl. If I had been capable of making facial expressions, I would have been smiling.

I bowed my head.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Would anyone even recognize that gesture, coming from a griffon?

Still, I wanted to offer my thanks.

Even if I didn’t know her true motive, she had released me from captivity and healed my body. The least I could do was show this much gratitude.

In my field of vision, I saw the girl lift the hem of her skirt slightly with one hand and bow in return. I didn’t know the etiquette of nobles in fantasy worlds, but her bow looked absolutely perfect.

I raised my head.

Then turned around.

And ran forward.

The air that had stood still now rushed against my body. A sense of freedom I had never felt before.

There wasn’t a single ache as I moved. The sensation of my feet striking the ground, the air flowing into my lungs—it was beautiful.

I let out a loud cry, and a sharp, soaring screech echoed through the halls—just like the cries of birds of prey in westerns.

The complex paths didn’t matter. Neither did the size of the doors.

My body, now unhindered by anything, could power through them all.

Even when knights like the ones who had once imprisoned me appeared before me, I just kept running.

The arrows and swords that came flying couldn’t cut through my feathers and bounced off uselessly. Spells fizzled the moment they touched my body, as if they had never been cast.

The soldiers who collided with my charging body screamed as they were sent flying, and those trampled underfoot were torn apart by my claws.

I didn’t want to kill anyone.

That thought had been what kept me going all this time, but the idea that they might be dying because of my body... wasn’t strong enough to stop me now.

These were the ones who forced me to keep living when I wanted to die.

They were the kind of people who had been fighting to the death against kids who weren’t even twenty years old.

I genuinely didn’t care if a few of them died.

So I just kept running—forward, forward—ignoring everything in my path.

And then—

A gust of air, fresher than anything that had ever filled my lungs before, hit me in the face.

I charged up the last staircase, crashing through both the door and the wall as I burst outside, and a soaring ceiling came into view.

Was this a cathedral? Brilliant stained glass filled my vision. Bathed in moonlight and starlight, it glowed radiantly despite the night.

“—Hah...!”

I heard someone gasp.

Looking down, I saw two distinct groups of knights.

One group wore the exact same armor as the ones who had imprisoned me. The other wore armor that was less ornate by comparison.

At first glance, I’d assumed they were from the same faction, but on closer inspection, the two sides were standing in opposing formations.

So they’re enemies.

I leapt on the spot.

And I trampled a few of the ones who were probably affiliated with this cathedral.

Those who tried to get up were flung high into the air by my front legs. I spread my wings wide and let out a cry.

A piercing, majestic screech—fweeOOooO!

Both sides froze, seemingly overwhelmed.

With wings fully extended, I took to the sky.

I never studied law.

Was this instinct as a griffon?

With all my strength, I soared upward—crashing straight through the image of a nameless woman painted into the stained glass—and flew out into the sky.

Higher, even higher.

Even though I was flying through the cold night air, I didn’t feel cold at all.

Below me, the city sparkled.

The lights of streetlamps, the fires glowing inside homes—this world was aglow.

Cold air filled my lungs.

Relishing the sensation, I circled the city once.

Freedom.

A perfect freedom, one no one could take from me.

I cried out again and again, flying through the sky, savoring that freedom for a long, long while.

*

Eventually, I landed in a field somewhere.

Enjoying freedom had been nice, but the thoughts that followed weren’t nearly as pleasant.

So... now what?

It wasn’t like I’d fallen into the world I knew, and it’s not like I had any particular desires in this one either.

Revenge? Eh, too much of a hassle. The people who tormented me had already been beaten to a pulp by that girl anyway.

Especially that priest—his arm had been blown clean off.

Honestly, I felt like giving the girl a high five. Though with our size difference, that probably wasn’t feasible.

Hmm.

If that girl, Sylvia, was still fighting someone... maybe I could lend her a hand?

Well, yeah, most of the enemies are human, so if I suddenly jumped into the middle of things, it’d probably freak everyone out...

"......"

Alright.

In that case, let’s at least go take a look. If things get messy, I can just fly off.

Of course, not right this second.

Flying takes more energy than I expected.

After soaring around for a while, I’d gotten hungry.

First things first—I should find something to eat. Let’s fill my belly.