Chapter 377 - Chapter 14: Hot Spring Ruins Investigation ③
Both in Nakanohara and on the mountain, the first battle was a snake. A snake is strong even for a D-rank, so I probably won't be able to defeat it with a single Holy Lance. Even [Over Flow] might be impossible. Besides, it coils around you. Even if I've made my body hard with magic, I'll die if I suffocate. After all, the opponent is poisonous. If I'm bitten, I might die from even a slight scratch. Moreover, for some reason, snakes know our position even if we hide our presence with magic. I can't just hide and attack. I have to fight and win.
There's a door at the end of the passage. When I activate Sense Living, a single red image floats in front of me, not too far away. Since its shape is long and thin, it must be a snake. Behind it, diagonally to the right, multiple red images are clustered together. In other words, after the snake is a beast-type monster. It's probably a kind of wolf. There's nothing to the left or right of the snake's room. Whether I should go from the left or the right is a point of hesitation.
The result of Fiona's reconnaissance was, as expected, a snake. I have a strategy meeting with Fiona.
"I'll be the decoy. Snakes attack from the front, right? If I'm fluttering in front of its face, it'll definitely be distracted. Escape in the meantime. I'll catch up later."
Fiona said something kind, but I told her I'm a monster exterminator and I'll do what I can, then had her return to the crystal.
When I open the door, there's a wide room like the ones before. It's dim, but not impossible to see. The snake is in the back. Since the door to the next room is on the opposite wall, I have to drive the snake into a corner.
"Light!"
I move to the left and illuminate the snake with Light.
The snake, which had been flicking its long tongue shuru shuru, disliked it and began to flee to the right. Since it's holding its head up, the area around its heart is wide open.
I succeeded in slowly driving the snake into the corner just like that. The snake is coiled up, keeping its head high. As usual, it's flicking its long tongue in and out with an expressionless face.
It's from here.
I deactivate Light and settle the match. Since the snake is holding its head up, it will close the distance in an instant by the length of its standing torso. I carefully keep my distance so as not to enter its range. I don't thrust out both hands, but poise them in front of my chest, betting on a single shot. Likely, after I fire one shot, it will pounce.
"Holy [Over Flow]!"
The light intersected and enveloped the snake. Among the Magic Reflections I had cast on myself, I had curved the second one in front of my body. By doing this, I could concentrate the light of the [Over Flow], which is normally released in all directions, to the front. If it failed, I had intended to distract it with Light again, but I was able to hit it successfully. Its movement stopped and its head fell to the ground, so I fired two Holy Lances to finish it off. With this, I have a prospect.
I call Fiona out, and the two of us high-five.
"From here on, for the weak ones, I'll just thrust my hands forward or raise them above my head, and for the strong ones, I'll poise them small in front of my chest; if I release [Over Flow] like that, I think I can manage even alone."
"Isn't that amazing, Jeanne! Advanced is incredible!"
The scary one is the final Fenril. I should be able to manage the others.
Going straight is efficient, Alex had said. In other words, there are strong enemies. Naturally, I avoid the straight path and choose the left room where there was no reaction.
According to Fiona's reconnaissance, there's nothing there, so I decided to enter and just pass through.
There are doors in the front, left, and right. There's one in the front, many small ones on the left, and about a dozen beast-sized ones on the right. Multiple ones might be weaker individually, but even with my back to the wall, it would be troublesome if I were attacked from three directions. I'll go with the single one in the front. Fiona's reconnaissance result was: ants on the left, wolves on the right, and a frog in the front.
"It's gray... or rather, a mud-like color. It has bumps on its back. It was in the back, but it was just sitting there without doing anything. Honestly, I didn't know where it was looking."
"As usual, then. Was it even more expressionless than the snake?"
"An expression like it's half-asleep. Have you fought a frog before, Jeanne?"
Actually, I haven't. However, I know they're strong enough to swallow a scorpion whole.
"I'm sure ordinary frogs extend their long tongues to catch bugs. I've seen them floating in ponds. I think boys used to catch them often."
For some reason, boys like frogs and tadpoles. Most girls dislike them. Well, they're better than snakes, though.
In any case, if I'm attacked with a long tongue, there's no way to block it. When I saw one in the cave where the Demon Lord lived before, it jumped and fled when I illuminated it with Light. Since it probably can't see me, I have no choice but to move around while hitting it with Holy Lances.
Since the strategy was decided, I had Fiona return to the crystal and entered the room where the frog was waiting.
The frog is sitting in front of the door in the front. It must be because the door I entered moved. It's looking this way with its usual expressionless face. Although there's distance, it would be dangerous to stay near the door, so when I changed my position, the frog turned its direction.
This guy, just like the snake, just hiding my presence with magic won't work... it's looking this way...
The frog crouched down.
When it croaked geko geko, rain started falling around the frog. It's a downpour.
Could it be Shower? It would mean it can use mid-level water magic.
The frog is kicking the ground with its back legs, digging into the wet ground. It would be a relief if it just made a pond and lurked there, but it's probably not that easy.
Fortunately, since the opponent is leisurely making its base, I tried searching the surroundings with Sense Living. There are multiple on the right, multiple small ones on the left, and in the front, the frog is digging a hole so I can't proceed, but there's one beast-sized one. Apparently, it's better to defeat the frog and proceed to the front.
The frog seemed to have finished making the pond, and it's looking this way with only its face, with two eyes popping out, showing from the muddy water.
I've already proven in the sea snake battle that Holy can't easily defeat enemies in water. If the frog is doing this knowingly, it will be quite a difficult foe.
That frog, when it croaked geko geko, flew muddy water with incredible force. It's Clump Water. Moreover, it's larger than my height. We've done plenty of attacks with water manipulated by Clump Water in the Class of 175. We've even made an Orc faint. Although I've made my body hard, I can feel pain. If I faint from the pain, that'll be the end; I'll be swallowed whole.
When I hurriedly dodged to the right with a side jump, it flew past and then slammed into the wall with a bashan. It croaked geko geko and a second shot attacked. This time the speed is a bit slower. It's making it so it can follow me even if I dodge.
I was running to escape, but at the moment it came right behind me, I dodged it by side-jumping to the right instantaneously. The mass of muddy water, after passing by, went up and turned around, and came to attack again.
This is bad; if it becomes a battle of endurance, I'll definitely lose.
While running around, I look at the frog; it remains expressionless. As usual, it's an annoying fellow. Even if there were a frog spirit, I have no confidence in getting along with it.
When I fire a Holy, it croaked geko geko and put out one front leg to create a water wall. It's using two Clump Waters at the same time.
Damn! Despite being a frog!
It chanted the first Clump Water with its mouth.
Wait? Wait a minute?
Could it be that all the beast-type monsters are releasing magic from their mouths?
Thinking about it, this is the first time I've seen one raise a front leg to release magic. In other words, except for strange fellows like the frog, they all have their front and back legs on the ground because they aren't hands. The most powerful attack besides magic is a bite. Could it be...
While I was thinking such things, the muddy water caught up. I hurriedly jumped to the right and escaped. I temporarily distance myself from the frog.
"Fiona! Come out!"
Fiona, who came out, was surprised, but when I explained it was like this and that, she understood. Just like that, we split into two.
The frog seemed to have turned its attention to Fiona, who flew over its head for a moment, but it only tilted its face. At any rate, since it has a face with eyes popping out, it might be able to see even like that. Since it's expressionless, I don't really know.
"Jeanne! It's okay!"
Fiona called out, so I can finally counterattack. I run toward the frog with determination. The muddy water naturally follows me. Using the effect of the Cat Stone, I accelerate and at the same time, I fire a Holy Lance at full power.
The frog manipulates the water wall with its front leg, but it doesn't matter. The Holy Lance aimed at Fiona, who was above and behind the frog, flew over the water wall, was reflected by the Lindwurm shield Fiona held with Magic Reflection cast on it, and pierced the back of the frog's head. Just like that, I continue with a second and third shot, right hand, left hand. Furthermore, I went down on all fours, and when I created an image of biting the frog, I succeeded in releasing magic from my mouth.
It took a bit of effort, but I successfully defeated the frog. I am a priest who uses advanced magic, after all. I hit the back of its head with four Holy Lances—full power, one each from my left and right hands, and the one released from my mouth—from what could be called a blind spot. According to Fiona, the match was almost decided with the first shot, and the subsequent three shots hit the frog that was just floating with its arms and legs spread, but it's important to make sure to deal the finishing blow.
"That last shot, where did you release it from?"
"From my mouth."
I feel like Fiona's gaze is somewhat lukewarm, but those who do things differently from others often have few who understand them. It can't be helped.
"I thought about it from the monster's perspective. Then I could do it."
Jennifer-sensei said that the Headmistress released magic from her mouth while biting a monster. Surely, she must have created the image of biting, just like me. In her excitement, she must have actually bitten it.
"You were just like a cat that's fighting. Even the incantation was like a growl. It's fine to release magic from your mouth, but please, don't become a magic beast."
Fiona, I don't think that'll happen.
After practicing several times, I was able to release magic from my mouth without going down on all fours. I didn't think the image of biting was important. I was surprised when I first heard it, but the hint was hidden in Jennifer-sensei's words at that time. Eleanor-sama said it before. That the truth might be in the ground at your feet. Exactly, the truth might be hidden within everyday life.
"Hey, are you okay? You've been practicing releasing magic from your mouth and muttering strange things for a while now. Could it be you fell and hit your head?"
Fiona was worried about me.
"Sorry, sorry. I'm fine. I was just thinking about the quest for truth... no, about the applied use of magic."
"Hmm."
She's looking at me out of the corner of her eye. It's rare for the well-bred Fiona.
"Come to think of it, Fiona, you can use arts, right?"
"Eh, well, yes."
She can attack with will-o'-the-wisps, lightning, and stone throwing.
"Do you release them from your hands?"
"Well, yes."
"Why don't you try releasing them from your mouth?"
"Eh? Why? Me?"
Please don't make such an openly disgusted face.
"Because, if you merge with me, I'll have four hands and two heads. We can release a total of six rounds of magic and arts in a short time."
"T-That's true. Um, I-I'll think about it. Well then, since we're out of time, I'll go on reconnaissance. It's the front, right?"
"Ah, wait a minute."
For some reason, she tries to go in a hurry. Did I say something that strange? I have to ask the Queen of the Demon Realm next time.
"Listen, I'm thinking of going to the right and facing wolves or Chat-Palu... wildcats. That sort of thing."
"Is it okay? If they attack all at once... ah, if you have your back to the wall and are facing three directions, you can release magic in three directions with both hands and your mouth..."
"That's right. With Holy Lance, you can narrow the direction, and you won't point it at your own body, right? It'll be fine if we merge. That's why I recommend releasing arts from your mouth to you too, Fiona."
"Um, that's true. If it's just both hands, it's fine. Can we do releasing magic from the mouth another time? I don't even know if I can do it."
That's true too. Besides, for the well-bred Fiona, releasing it from the mouth seems to be something she has resistance to. Well, maybe I was the one at fault for releasing magic while on all fours.
"It's fine. Then, shall we merge? Um, you can release will-o'-the-wisps, lightning, and stone throwing, right?"
"Yeah. But they're on par with basic magic. Will it be okay?"
"I see, I wonder?"
"But I think I can move your left hand, Jeanne, and take aim."
I see. That's good. It might be impossible to take aim in three directions at once, let alone two. Originally, the left hand isn't my dominant hand.
"Then, I'll attach the shield to my left hand, so please handle the defense if anything happens. I'll face the front and the right."
"Understood. Then, after I scout, I'll merge with the left half of your body."
The reconnaissance result was Chat-Palu. Their movements are faster than wolves, and their jumping power is also amazing, but we should be able to do it.
We merge and I have three hands and two heads. Since Fiona's head is coming out of my shoulder and facing right, the left hand growing from my back will have its palm open above my head, but that's fine in its own way. It's not quite six consecutive shots, but it's four consecutive shots with accurate aim. Moreover, since there's the Cat Stone, the movement speed will also be faster by the amount we merged. Let's leave the left hand to Fiona and try it.
The six of them were no match for us now that we could fire four consecutive shots. Fiona fired one lightning, and I chanted three times each in the order of mouth, left, right, and we defeated them in no time.
"W-We did it. We defeated monsters."
Fiona, who had been doing nothing but reconnaissance until now, is also excited.
Fiona used the lightning art and also attacked.
Without missing the aim, it hit and paralyzed the opponent's right front leg.
"Aiming for the leg, you're quite something."
"Thank you. His Excellency and the Madam taught me. When there are multiple opponents, it's better to use an art that stops the vanguard first rather than a powerful art."
Ho ho, she's being taught good things. The members of the Class of 175 also used that kind of usage as their main method when they could only use basic magic. Of course, Paul-san taught them.
"Alright, if we go straight from here, it's the central route where we can earn efficiently, so shall we earn together?"
"Yeah!"
Now that it's come to this, I'm concerned that we haven't defeated the wolves whose movements are slower than the Chat-Palu... I think Alex called them gray wolves... We returned and easily defeated the seventeen wolves. The wolves were weak at E-rank, and they seemed to be paralyzed by Fiona's lightning. I have her deal the finishing blow to one of them.
"W-We did it, I was able to defeat it with just my art?"
"That's right. You'll be praised by the Queen. Maybe you'll learn an art on par with mid-level magic."
"Mid-level?"
Fiona is eternally seventeen until she ascends. Maybe she can even surpass the Queen of the Demon Realm.
"Really? Me, surpassing the Madam?"
"If you work hard. For now, it's just a story that there's a possibility, like whether I'll surpass the Headmistress or not."
"What should I do? Even if surpassing her is impossible, I want to become stronger."
"Receive the teachings of the Queen or the Lord... let's see, when we're in Nakanohara and the time matches, shall we do monster extermination together?"
"Yeah, I'll try!"
The point is the Fenril. Assuming I deal the finishing blow, if she can deal damage to that fellow, there's a possibility of mid-level.