𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟕: 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥

“That’s not it, Asuka! Always move with the wizard’s line of fire in mind!”

“Okay!”

Stopping her zigzagging, Asuka begins to approach the kobolds in a large circle.

In response, I draw a circle in the opposite direction.

For just a moment, the kobolds are confused about who to target.

And in that moment, Miliaria has enough time.

Our wizard is not so soft as to let an enemy who has stopped moving on the battlefield escape.

“Magic Missile!”

Magic bullets spurt from the wand and hit their targets one after another.

The kobolds are thrown into confusion by the unexpected attack. Some are barking in the wrong direction like mad dogs, some are crouching down holding their heads, and some are standing still, not knowing what to do.

In any case, it’s a great opportunity.

“Let’s go, Asuka. Don’t fall behind.”

“Roger that! Nel-san!”

Asuka and I attack from both sides of the enemy group.

This is the basics.

First, break them with long-range attacks, then the close-combat group charges in.

If we clash when the enemy is in a solid defensive position, even if we win, we will suffer damage.

The worst thing to do is what Asuka and the others did before, where someone acts as bait to lure out the enemy.

We’re not an army, so we can’t fight in a way that accepts some damage as part of the calculation.

Damage directly reduces our combat power, and we can’t conscript to make up for the loss like an army. Moreover, who would follow a strategy that assumes someone will be sacrificed?

Whether we win or retreat because we can’t win, the way of the adventurer is to avoid casualties.

“They’re breaking! Miliaria!”

Realizing the difficulty of the battle, or rather, simply scared, the kobolds begin to flee.

“Yes!”

Miliaria fires magic at their fleeing backs one after another.

This is to seal their defeat.

When shot from behind, they instinctively run away.

But even in such a situation, there are those who struggle to do something. This is the same for monsters and humans.

“Meisha!”

“I understand.”

The target to break the situation is the wizard with the highest firepower. If we can crush that, all that’s left is the swordsman, so there’s still a chance for the kobolds.

Even if it’s a very small one.

Predicting that they would move like that, Meisha easily takes the back of the kobold running towards Miliaria.

And then, a well-aimed blow from her mace.

The kobold dies, scattering blood and brain matter.

“May this filthy monster be guided to the supreme god’s side.”

She offers a short prayer, then sends long-range healing to Asuka, who has accumulated a bit of damage.

Her role is the middle guard, connecting the front line and the rear organically.

It’s a modest role, but if it doesn’t function properly, neither the vanguard nor the rear guard can fight with peace of mind. It’s an important position.

It’s a role that suits Meisha, who can handle melee combat and support with magic.

If she could also command, I would be completely unnecessary.

・・・

『”ᴀᴡᴇʙsᴛᴏʀɪᴇs.ᴄᴏᴍ” – ᴅɪsᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴘᴛɪᴠᴀᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴏғ ʟᴏᴠᴇ, ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴅᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ɪɴᴅᴜʟɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴛʀᴀɴsʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs ᴡɪᴛʜ “ᴅᴀɪʟʏ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇs” ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴄʟᴜsɪᴠᴇ ᴀᴄᴄᴇss ᴛᴏ “ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs”.』

・・・

“Let’s toast to the completion of the request!”

“Cheers!”

The three girls hit their mugs against the wooden mug I held up.

The firewood in the bonfire crackles.

It’s a victory party.

Not in a tavern in town, but in front of our clan house.

The alcohol is bought, and the food is made by me.

Even if it’s a party, wasteful spending is prohibited.

Don’t call it stingy. We’re actually poor. Our adventurer clan, Hope, is.

Especially since the three girls eat a lot, how much would it cost to eat out?

Especially Meisha.

If left alone, she will eat forever.

Why she doesn’t gain weight is probably one of the seven wonders of the world.

“Mei’s nutrition goes to her chest!”

Asuka laughs, “Kyahaha!”

Her face is already red.

She’s the most energetic girl, but she’s not strong with alcohol.

She can get cheerful with just one mug of ale, so she’s a bargain.

By the way, Mei is Meisha. It’s a nickname that Asuka calls her. Similarly, Miliaria is called Mili.

I’m called Nel-san, or Mother Nel.

I’m not really convinced about the latter.

Do I really seem like an Okaa-san?

“We’ve become able to defeat more than thirty monsters without any problem. We really have it, don’t we.”

Miliaria, with a skewer of beef in her hand, snorts in satisfaction.

She’s getting a bit cocky.

But it’s not unreasonable, since we’ve been winning consecutively and she’s the one with the most kills.

“It’s because we’re fighting in the plains and on the roads. We’re fighting in situations that are advantageous to us.”

I admonish her, being careful not to be too harsh.

Not just Miliaria, but Asuka also prepares to listen.

They’re really good kids.

The remaining one is just eating.

She only took a sip of the alcohol at the beginning. After that, she’s been eating non-stop.

She doesn’t participate in the conversation, just continues to eat single-mindedly, with complete focus.

“The fact that we still have visibility and that we fought in an open area are the reasons we won. Of course, there are many other factors, but these two are significant.”

The two of them nodded in agreement.

To be frank, monsters that come in droves from afar are not scary at all.

Whether you throw stones or shoot arrows, there are countless ways to repel them. Unless there’s a desperate difference in power, like ten to one.

“The scary thing about monsters is their surprise attacks. Suddenly stabbing from the darkness. That’s what’s scary.”

I explain, using gestures.

The night is not the domain of humans.

That’s why people fear the darkness, and why we keep the fire burning like this.

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