A few seconds later, me and Narsena had reached the front of the herd of demonic beasts, one step ahead of them.
Being in front of us, I feel more intimidated by the sheer number of demonic beasts in front of us.

It was better than the mutated Hydra.
It's a feeling that hasn't changed even now that we're closer.

...... but I couldn't envision a future where I could handle so many demonic beasts and defeat Rich, who was trying to activate his magic.

That said, if we don't stop this magic, the labyrinth city will certainly be crushed.
There is no other way but to defeat Rich.

I inspired myself and slashed at the orc in front of the herd.

''Move!''

Unlike the hobgoblin, the orc reacted to the dagger's movement.
It lifted its thick arm and tried to shield the kryptonite from the dagger.
However, the momentum of the running dagger was only futile before the momentum of the swinging dagger, and both arms ended up flying off their heads.

''Gasp!''

As I catch the head of the orc flying to the edge of my vision, I'm convinced that this orc is just as enhanced as the hobgoblin.
At least, the orcs up until now were unable to react to my slash.

However, the strengthened Orcs were not difficult enemies either.

In the past, I might have had some difficulty with them, but for me, with my powerful body enhancements, they are not an opponent to be trifled with.
I feel a little relief as I avoid attacking the next orc.

...... but soon that leeway vanished.

''......!''

Gaga!

The orc that attacked next also reacted to my attack and protected its neck with its arm.
Just like before, the orc's arm ended up flying in the air, but the dagger didn't slice through his neck.

''Koros!''

A moment later, one of the orcs beside me, perhaps thinking I've exposed an opening, attacks.
A thick arm as thick as a log is waved at me, trying to rip my body off, but I avoid the attack by bending down right before it.

This time, the orc who swept off his arm exposes a huge gap, and I stab my heart while standing up as if leaning against the orc's body.

''Shh!''

The strengthened orc was even alive with a dagger piercing its kryptonite.
It desperately stretched out its arms and tried to resist.

Ignoring it, I kicked its body away, forcibly pulling the dagger out of the orc's body and turning around and slicing off the head of the orc that was about to attack me with one hand.

Looking at the demonic beasts who were upset by the killing of their companions in an instant, I was once again convinced.
If it's an opponent of this orc's level, I won't be blindsided by it.
It's the same with Narcena and Zeke-san as well.
But after battling with the orcs, a certain thought in my mind has become stronger.

The thought that it's impossible to get through this orc crowd and kill Rich in a short period of time.

"...... Kook!

I wouldn't lose just by fighting, but if I could get through this many in a short amount of time, it was a different story.
The orcs were definitely reacting to my movements, and I couldn't overwhelm them like the hobgoblins.
Unlike the hobgoblins, they don't have weapons, but the orcs have a strength that cannot be filled by such things.
As a result, the battle with the Orcs will definitely cut into our precious time, and I twisted my face in frustration.

''...... At least, if it's a great sword.''

Recovering from the upset, I cut off the arm of the orc that had attacked me with a dagger.
However, this dagger is by no means a crude product.
On the contrary, it is an excellent product that could be called a quasi-magic sword grade.

Even so, in the current situation, the dagger clearly lacked the annihilation power of the dagger.
While slicing through the neck of an orc, I reaffirm that thought.
If it was a large sword, it should have been able to bury this orc with a single blow, no matter if it was defended by an arm.

''Chocomacato!''

I bit my lip as I avoided the orc's fist as it struck me from behind by moving to the side.

Furthermore, that wasn't the only problem.

'......!'

The orc's fist snatched at my shoulder, despite the fact that I thought I had dodged it.
It was then that I noticed the difference between my image and the actual movement of my body.

I am now able to move much better than when I used to use a combination of magic and qi to strengthen my body before.
That's why I didn't realize it, but I still haven't been able to completely control my physical strengthened state.
Yes, I currently couldn't have a body that moved too much.

I'm not going to be able to get to Rich with my current state of mind.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it happen.
I thought that those two might be able to do something about it.

It was a naive idea.

"Huh!

Narsena had been toying with the orcs that tried to surround her with fast movements, taking out orcs many times their size with a single blow.
It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get the most out of your newfound skills, it's also a matter of when you'll be able to get the most out of your newfound skills.

...... Despite the fact that, under the circumstances, a frustration that couldn't be hidden appeared on Narsena's face.

It is true that Narsena, who has the skills of a martial artist, boasts an immense ability against individual enemies, and the corpse of an orc lying at her feet proves this.
However, the martial arts skills are not the kind of skills that can annihilate many people with overwhelming firepower.

Narsena would also find it difficult to reach Rich.
Narsena also understands that on her own.

On the other hand, Zeke-san too, the situation was never good.
Zeke-san among us has the slowest movement speed, but he is the only one with a great sword, and that too with a demon sword, a weapon with high annihilation power.
...... but due to the fact that the ogre was directly trying to suppress Sieg-san, he wasn't able to make use of that annihilation power at all.

''Gaaaah!''

GAAAAAAAAA!

Zeke and Ogre each shouted a heroic cry and took the lead.
Perhaps because they don't have weapons, Ogre is clearly inferior to them.
Even so, the match is not so immediate, and there is no way to rely on Sieg-san in this situation right now.


I wasn't optimistic enough to hold my hopes up yet, seeing the state of these two people.
I decided that I was the only one who could defeat Rich in the current situation, so I made up my mind and jumped at the orcs.

''Whoa!''

Minimize evasion and focus on attacking with stronger body strengthening.
Even though the orcs are defending themselves, I forcefully smash my head with my body strengthening and break the arms and legs that have been attacking me and advance my legs.
As a result, the wounds on my body are increasing rapidly, but little by little, I'm steadily moving forward.

The orcs in front of me a bit more should have been weakened by the magic power sucked out of them by the rich.
If we get to that point, the situation must be far easier, believing that.

''──!

...... But that was the time limit.

The orc's head is visible from the orc's head, Rich's magic circle.
I'm forced to look at it, which suddenly released a strong light and magic power, and I'm forced to understand that the tactical grade magic is only a short time away.

I'm not going to be able to get the tactical grade magic completed in just a few hours.

"d*mn it, d*mn it!

Desperately wielding his dagger at the orcs, he tries to move forward somehow.
From behind them, the sounds of battle were noisier than before, as Narsena desperately tried to move forward.
...... but it was clear that it was only a futile scramble.

Knowing this, we scratched our feet desperately.

Even if the magic is unleashed, we will still be safe near Rich.
I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a surefire way to do some serious damage in the labyrinth city.
The people of the city, especially those without combat power, will almost certainly die.

So there was no way I could give up.
Wounded and covered in wounds, I flailed about trying to move forward.

''Move it!''


As if to ridicule my actions, the magic circle emitted an extra-large light.


It was then that a light voice out of place sounded from above my head.


''Zeke, it looks like you haven't been able to handle the magic sword at all yet.



............ Huh?

In the next moment, the shining magic circle felt a shift, as if it had been sliced cleanly by something.

Before you can understand what the gap is, an enormous amount of magical power gushed out and all the beings present here, including the magical beasts, stopped moving.
Then, in the midst of all that attention, the magic circle shimmered all the more strongly, and then collapsed.

''Onoreeye! Onoreeeeeee!

After a beat, I'm brought back to my senses by Rich's screeching voice, and I finally understand.

It's a good thing that the owner of the earlier voice has torn through the magic circle.
It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

With a sense of relief, he looked up above his head and saw a man floating in the air, wearing full body armor and swinging a great sword.
Short blonde hair and threadbare eyes with glasses.
The man's appearance has not changed from a few years ago, and I open my mouth in a daze as I realize who he is.

'Mr. Ronald, sir? Which, why are you here: ......?

We were dumbfounded, not knowing why he was one of the top-notch adventurers in a place like this, but Ronald-san smiled briskly at us.

'Hey, long time no see, you two. There's a lot of things I want to talk about, but we'll talk about them later. Anyway, for now, you'd better hurry up and run from there.

The swelling magic and chills, which I noticed just when Ronald-san told me that.
I'm not sure if it's Rich's magic again, so I turned my gaze with a tense expression toward the magic, and my eyes fell on a woman with bright red hair.

...... Oh, so that's what it is.

We won't have to deal with these demonic beasts ourselves anymore.
Understanding this, I raise my voice to Narcena and Zeke-san.

''Hurry back!''

The confusion still hadn't left Narsena's and Zeke's faces as they were surrounded by orcs, but they tried to back away in response to my voice.

'Korose! Nigusna!

But at the same time, following Rich's instructions, the magical beasts that had been frozen in place began to move.
Narsena and I used our physical strengthening to immediately open up the distance between us and the orcs.
However, Zeke, who was in the middle of a battle with the ogre, was not in a position to move immediately.
I sensed something was wrong and tried to go to Sieg's side immediately, but before I could, Narsena was moving.

"Get away!

GA!

Narcena's fist slammed into the raggedy back, causing the ogre to stiffen up.
Without overlooking the opening, Sieg's magic sword cut both sides of the ogre's body.

''I'm sorry, thank you!

Let's hurry up!

The two men, who were running with all their strength, immediately opened up the distance between them and the orcs who were coming from behind them, and that's when the roaring sound came out.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.
It was also of such power that I didn't even have to think about what was happening to the magical beasts caught in that explosion.

And yet, that magic magic didn't involve us, who are in a position to be quite close to the magical beasts, and it showed the high level of skill of the person who initiated it, the top-notch adventurer Laruma.

''...... That's really outrageous, Master.''

For a little while, we were stunned and could only look at the place where the swarm of demonic beasts had been until now.
What brought us back to our senses was our master's voice, which we couldn't afford.

''Foolish disciple, I'm going to the guild now. Explain the situation before we arrive.

Okay, I understand.

Master is in an unusually serious mood, and I manage to answer that despite being overwhelmed by it.
He took one look at me, and while I was floating in the air, Master opened his mouth with a bitter look on his face.

''I'll explain myself along the way as well. Right now, we're heading to the guild anyway.

What does the state of that master show us?
Now I still didn't understand: ......