Goal!

　Sarasa and the rest of my friends walked past me.

　The momentum was too much for me, and I rolled straight into a Zutenberg.
　The one who immediately got up was Cecil.
　Rowan, holding his head.
　And Sarasa, too, fished out her glasses and looked at me.

　I grin.

'672, you've passed.'

"...and...


　Yay!


　At that moment, his friends jumped up.
　Cheers echoed through the dungeon.
　In the distance, the howls of demonic beasts overlapped.
　It sounded as if they were blessing us.

　The time trial from the dungeon entrance to the entrance of the sealed area.

　At last, Sarasa and the others fell below the passing line of 700 beats.
　I thought they would surpass it someday, but it was faster than I expected.
　They must have continued to train even without my knowledge.
　Needless to say, it was all about hard work.

'Congratulations, gentlemen,'

　It was Sheila who praised him.
　She was waiting by my side for her friends.

'Thank you, Sheila. But I'm not sure I can be honestly happy about it.

　Actually, the time trial.
　Sheila was also measured.
　The result was 572.
　Sheila was 572.

　Sheila's strength is quite impressive, as I felt during the national competition.
　Her sister's own talent, of course, but seven years of tireless training, even though she had been brainwashed, had shaped Sheila's strength today.
　It would have been a dark time for her.
　But it wasn't all in vain.

'Well, Lacelle, now we can explore together.

　It was Sarasa whose eyes lit up.
　She was apparently looking forward to exploring the sealed area with me.
　Her eyes were getting a little hot.

''Yeah. Let's work together.''

Yeah!

Good. I'll go in as soon as I get some rest, and then I'll see how my strength and magical powers are.

No objection!　We can move now.

Me too!

　Cecil & Rowan duo raised their hands.
　Sarasa also squeezed her fist and nodded.

'How's Sheila?'

No problem!

　She shook her beautiful blonde hair and her sister nodded.
　Everyone is full of motivation.

　The upcoming Nine Dragons Cup.
　I thought that the key to victory was this party I was leading.
　The entire bottom line is improving well.
　Some students have already appeared who can even do a triple boot.

　However, there were probably some irregularities that couldn't be dealt with by themselves.

　In other words, it's the ace class of each school.

　It's easy for me and Sheila to crush the first and second place.
　However, if it takes time to crush our heads, it's possible that we could crush the entire team.
　At that point, we don't want to lose our momentum.

　In other words, I knew that the best third-ranked player would determine the outcome of the game.

　The cornerstone of this would be either my party or the Chairman's party.
　However, I plan to have Chairman Vael turn to the defensive side.
　This is because the ice attribute, which she is good at, is more suited to defense.

　Naturally, the key to the offensive will be Sarasa and the others.

　I've been trying to make my students stronger, but I've also been working tirelessly to raise the party's bottom line.

　I immediately entered the sealed area with my party, my companions and the party in charge as instructors.
　However, we can't just hit a bunch of monsters out of the blue.
　If it was just a black hound, I wouldn't have to raise a single eyebrow anymore, but my opponent wasn't a D-ranked demonic beast or anything like that.

　There are real monsters here.

　I led the way into the back.
　The soles of my shoes are immediately submerged in water.

''The terrain is just as I've heard.

'Oh..... This water noise is tricky.

I'm fine.

　Sarasa activates her magic.
　The eyes behind her glasses flashed with a blur.

　[Future vision]

　I don't need to explain.
　Sarasa's initial equipment magic.
　It's the magic that can see into the future.

　Ever since she met me, Sarasa has been training to increase her magic output and amount of magic power.
　Thanks to that, her 【Future Vision】, which was incomplete, has been able to be activated completely.

　Now, it was a weapon that represented the party and helped her friends.

　Eventually, Sarasa unlocked her 【Future Vision】.
　Pointing to a single hole.

''Seventeen beats later, the Sahagin Tempest will come.

　Cecil and Rowan gasped when they heard that.
　I asked calmly.

'How many are there?'

Twenty. But there were five more from the other hole in time...

　This time he pointed behind him.

　He would try to use the time difference to cut off the retreat.
　If you're a high-level demon beast, you have the wits to know that much.

''Alright. Sheila, use your ice attribute magic to plug the hole.

　I pointed to the hole in front of me.
　Sheila didn't say anything, but she believed me.
　Without a moment's pause, I activate my magic.

　[Frozen prison]

　It's the Chairman's 18th magic.
　The moment it was activated, ice ran from under her feet.
　It blocked the entrance to the hole in front of her.
　It was quite thick.
　No matter how much of a B-ranked demonic beast it would take a long time to shatter.

''All right. We've got them all stopped. Let's take out five of them first.

　I turn around.

'That means we're going to have to do this alone, right?

If you need help, I'm here to help you, Rowan.

　I shrug my shoulders.
　Of course, I have no intention of doing that.

"Brother, where's Sheila?

Sheila should stay downstairs, the three of us will be enough.

Oh. You're good!

　Rowan struck the cuirasses in his hands.
　He made a high-pitched sound and came to the front of the party.
　Cecil also drew his sword from its scabbard.
　Sarasa squeezed her bow and took aim.

　Rowan pricked up his ears.
　But there was no sound.
　The water field is the domain of the Sahagin Tempest.
　He could move through the water without sound.

　Sarasa's signal was the key.

'They're coming!

　Pepe Pepe!

　The strange sounds of the Sahagin Tempest rang out.
　The ones that appeared were five of them.
　As per Sarasa's [Future Vision].

　That she quickly activated her magic.

　[Demon Beast Scanning]

　It's a spell to find a hexenbiest's weaknesses.
　I'll make sure of it.
　As soon as I saw it, I quickly shot the arrow I'd been drawing in.

　Fast.

　It's as if it's approaching the Sahagin Tempest that appeared as if it were a whirlwind.

　Sukon!

　There was a pleasant sound.

　Below the horns of the Sahagin Tempest.
　Penetrates just about midway between the horn and eyebrow area.
　Stunning.

　Sarasa's basic ability is still low compared to Cecil and Rowan.
　However, he must have used 【Sharpening】 and 【Hardening】, as well as 【Object Acceleration】 to the arrows with his best friend's hands beforehand.

　In addition, sniping at a weak point.
　Five of them turned into four of them in an instant.

　I don't know what the hell happened.
　The Sahagin Tempest was clearly confused from the first move.
　It was Cecil who leapt out of the way there.

　Magic activation.

　[Sharpening]
　[Hardness increases]
　[Weighting]
　[Gigantic]

　Easily put the quadruple activation into actual battle.
　The sword that Cecil held was enlarged.
　The one that appeared is a large sword that looks like it could even make a dragon strike.

　He swung it down with force.
　It sliced through the Sahagin Tempest vertically.
　The demonic beast's blue blood gushed out.

''Cecil-chan!　Back!

　Sarasa's cry echoed.
　He activated [Appraisal] and read the movement of the demonic beast.

　Cecil stiffens for a moment.
　It's after swinging down the super-heavy weapon.
　It would take time to disarm the magic and to raise it.

　But Sarasa expected it.
　Therefore, there was still a few beats of time lag before the Sahagin Tempest could attack.
　Cecil activates his magic once more.

　[Lightweight]

　He changed weight and lightly swung the great sword.

''Uryaaaahhhh!

　Cecil nudged away.
　He cut off the body of the Sahagin Tempest that was just approaching.
　With a huff, the upper half of the demonic beast's body slashes through the sky and flies away.
　It would be impossible to escape death.

　The red-haired dwarf tribe rampaged around with a flourish.

　The Sahagin Tempest swarmed at Cecil.
　I attacked behind it.

　But--.

''Olaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

　Spunkunk!

　Rowan's fist thrusts into that lumpy skin.
　He himself has not been granted any magic.
　It's a fist in its bare form.
　However, the well-trained strike lightly exceeded the blow of an ordinary [Warrior].

　Furthermore, the armor in his hand was pre-loaded with 【Blacksmith (Blacksmith)】 magic.

　[Increase in hardness]
　[Object acceleration]

　With those two, Rowan's blow was doubled.

　The results of the [Warrior], who couldn't use magic, paid off.
　The B-ranked Sahagin Tempest's stomach was pierced.

　Geez, spitting out blood, Sahagin dies.

　Rowan looked at Cecil and grinned at him.

'You're not home behind me, Cecil.

I was just putting on a show for you.

Oh, hello there...

　You're breathing perfectly.

　The next thing you know, you're down to (the rest of) one.
　Then, the horns of the Sahagin Tempest glow.

　It's a lightning strike.

　Currently, there's no way for the three of us to protect it.
　They will have to be prepared for the damage.

　Should we go in to help........

　Just when I thought that, Rowan shouted.

''You two, get back!

　Both Sarasa and Cecil obeyed his words honestly.

　Rowan raised his hand.
　Instantly, the Sahagin Tempest's lightning strike explodes.

''Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　Rowan kneads his magic.
　No, it might be quicker to say runaway.
　The magic power around him is raging.
　It's like a storm.

　Then, the thunderbolt that was released bends.
　As if to avoid Rowan, it was flung into the surroundings.

　I raise the corner of my mouth.

　Sahagin Tempest's lightning strike also uses magical power.
　Rowan is preventing it by letting its power run amok.
　A B-ranked demonic beast's lightning strike.
　However, as long as they used magic power, Rowan would not be able to get through.

　The next moment, the sound of the wind being cut could be heard.

　The base of the glowing horn.
　An arrow pierced through again.
　The fatal blow that struck a weak point easily stopped the breath of the B-ranked demonic beast.

　The last Sahagin Tempest also crumbled down.
　The horns, which were glowing slightly, sank darkly as if to blow out the fire of life.

　I turn around.
　Sarasa was frozen in the stance in which she had fired the arrow.

'Amazing, folks,'

　Sheila was impressed.
　Unleashing the magic she had been concocting.
　Apparently, she was thinking the same thing I was.

　I clapped my hands and admired them.

　The three of them were also surprised.

'You're able to move better than I thought you would.

'Yes. I was expecting to be more nervous.

Yeah. You're good as always.

　Sarasa felt the response, too.

'I'm sure that must have come from long training.

Cultivated?

Confidence.

"!

'Pride is not good, but confidence is necessary in becoming strong. But it's not something you get by wanting it.

　Time cultivated through training.
　That strength.
　Since I've done this much, I must have become this strong.

　That confidence made Sarasa and the others stronger.
　As a result, they were able to fight even high-ranking demonic beasts without being intimidated.

''Confidence........ Hey, is there a time when even Lacelle doesn't have confidence?''

Yes.

Yeah. Surprising...

But that's not a bad thing.

..........

　When you are unsure of yourself.

　It's probably because you instinctively know

　I know instinctively that I'm stronger than I am.

　And I'm hoping for it.
　Because that presence will take Lacel Singh Stark to greater heights.

　I raised the corners of my mouth.