I was halfway up the mountain when...


Run away, miss!　I can't deal with 'Dark Bear' yet!
Can you leave my old man and run away?

　The girl held her sword at the ready.
　She shielded the wounded old man behind her back and glared at the enemy in front of her.

　It was just before dawn when her carriage reached the foot of the mountain.
　She took the mountain road with the old man to explore the mountain before it was unpopular.

　They should have moved according to the map.
　But the path suddenly broke off. The two of them got lost and went straight into the demon's habitat area.

''That bastard. What do you mean 'safe mountain with no demons'? Even the map is bullshit!
We've got to get through this now!
I will be your shield. The young lady will practice her magic.

　The old man stood up, using a long-handled axe as a staff.
　His left arm was badly wounded. He had been caught by surprise by the "Dark Bear".
　The magic stopped the blood, but it would take time for it to heal completely. But that time is not available.

''Guoaaaaah!

　The bear, twice the size of an adult, stands up on its hind legs.
　The demon's eyes were straight, capturing the old man and the girl. There was no way they could escape.

''──The root is the crucible of heat. Similar to the lava that comes out of the earth, the breath of burning heat is shown here.

　The girl begins to draw a crest in the air, remembering the spell she learned.

'I will buy you time to chant, young lady. I won't let you pass here!　Lord Bear!

　The old man swung his axe.
　There was a hard sound, and the blade bit into 'Dark Bear's' arm.

''Geeeaaaaah!
Now!　Get away from me, old man!
Yes!
''Flame-God's Bullet Chain (Efreet Bullets)!

　Multiple flames were created around the girl.
　All at once, they rushed towards the 'Dark Bear'.


It's working, miss. Keep it up and finish it!
Yes!

The merit of "Ancient Magic" is also in its continuous shooting power.
　As long as the 'path' of magic power is passed through the spell, the same magic can be released in rapid succession.

''Vuuuuuuuuuuuut!　Woo-hoo!''

　Flames were created one after another, burning up the 'Dark Bear' in front of me.

"That was a close call. ''That was a dangerous moment...''
Shut up, Grandpa!

　The girl listens carefully.

''────Vu-ooh-ooh. Vu-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o'

　I heard a bark. And close.
　The girl re-read the parchment in hand.

''This mountain has a rating of A. Zero demons. If there were any, there were a few low-level demons. Safety rating of AA, perfect for an exam room. It's a great place for testing. You're welcome to visit us at any time' - that's what it says.

　However, the 'Dark Bear' is a danger level C demon. Only an adventurer of intermediate level or higher can fight it.
　The place where there is more than one such thing is not a safety level AA.
　That's why I came here with just me and my grandfather...

Mentor!　Come on. I'm going to get out of here. You'll be cured by running...
Miss!

　The trees on either side shook.
　What appeared were two even more huge 'dark bears'.
　They raised their arms towards the girl, their eyes glowing with anger.

''Kook!

　Gargantuan!

　The claws that were swung down were swept away with the sword. But the bear's power could not be extinguished.
　The girl rolls on the ground and stops when she hits a tree.

One of the 'dark bears' is heading towards the girl and the other is heading towards the old man.

''........gaha!''

　The girl coughed involuntarily as she tried to cast the spell.
　When she fell, she hit her chest. No voice. Magic, I can't use it.

'Miss!
No.
"Guoaahhhhhh!
I still have some things I need to...

　As if to drown out the girl's screams, the 'Dark Bear' swung a huge claw down.



　Its claws cut through the sky.



''There are a lot of demons in this backwoods. You can't use it as an exam room.''
What...

　The next thing she knew, she was flying through the air in the arms of a boy she didn't know.
　He was a small boy. His hair was black. The color of his eyes was also black. He was probably about the same age as the girl.
　This boy was the one who rescued her.

"....the ancient magic of 'Boosted'?　But ... how amazing ...

　He ran over just before the attack of the 'Dark Bear' hit, and jumped holding the girl in his arms.
　I can't believe it──, the girl thought.
　The girl and the old man guarding her, not even the "dark bear" noticed his approach.
　Even though the "Body Enhancement (Boosted)" of the "Ancient Magic", there is no way it can achieve such speed.

''Oh, thank you. You are!''
This is the breeding season for 'dark bears' at this time of year. I try to stay away from Nawabari, too. Best to run away as soon as you see them.
"...what?　Ah. Yes.........
Well, if you've pissed off 'Dark Bear' this much, it's too late.

　The boy lowered the girl to the ground and held his dagger at the ready.

'Not this one. You guys take care of the old man over there.
"Gee-gee!

　As the boy calls out, four bats appear from the forest and head towards the 'Dark Bear'.
　Don't tell me........do they want to fight?

Dark Bear' is an intermediate class. On the level of danger, it's a five-level C class.
　It's a level where a girl and her old man can barely fight. Regardless of how many bats are attacking them...


　Go!


"Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　The "Dark Bear" staggered as it took a bat's body hit in the jaw (chin).
　Further to the temples and the ears.
　The bats continue to attack the dark bears with tremendous speed.

''Guh-ooh-ooh-ooh!

The body of "Dark Bear" fell to the ground.


'....Gah!　Gaaaaaah!''

The dark bears are moaning and bleeding from their heads.
　The bats' wings and claws are like sharp blades. They easily slice through the body of the dark bear protected by its thick fur.
　The reason they don't attack the body is because the old man is attacking it with his axe.

''How. This is delightful!　I can't believe I'm fighting with bats!
Amazing. The bats are coordinating with my grandfather...

　The girl watched the scene in front of her, stunned.
　She stepped back just as the old man finished swinging his axe and charged at the same time he finished swinging it.
　The wounded 'Dark Bear' is unable to even stand up.

''Can you still use your magic?''

　Suddenly, the boy murmured.

''Could you do the fire magic again?
"Ha, yes. There's still some magic left in it, so if we reboot the 'path'
When I tell you, shoot me.

　The boy runs out with a dagger in his hand.

''───Vanish!

　The girl screamed involuntarily.
　I couldn't catch his movements.
　It's still too fast for a "body enhancement (boosted)".
　It's not possible to produce this kind of speed with the level 1 'ancient magic'.

"...the root is the crucible of heat.

　The girl begins chanting her magic as the boy instructs her to do.

'Gua?　Guaaaah!

'Dark Bear' looks around to the left and right. The demon has not been able to get a hold of the boy's position.
　The boy turned around to the blind spot at high speed and thrust a dagger into the back of the "Dark Bear".

''Ggaa!''
...it's over.

　The boy pushes the dagger into the demon's body.
　But it's shallow.
　The dagger can cut the flesh of the "Dark Bear", but it can't reach its heart.

(Movement stopped. ''While we're at it!''

　When the girl was about to activate her magic.

It's already there. "Freeze!
"Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck!

Blood gushed out of the Dark Bear's chest.
　With a sharp, icy blade.

　The girl understands in an instant. This is normal magic of the ice system.
Dark Bear's body hair is strong. It prevents both fire and ice to some extent.
　So the boy wounded the 'Dark Bear' and shot ice magic into it.

''Huh?　Then you don't need my magic...?
No, 'Dark Bear' is very much alive.

　A boy kicked 'Dark Bear' in the back and flew away.
　As it was, he waved his hand at the girl.

'Just in case you need to finish it!　So that you can clearly see where you're going to defeat it with ancient magic!
'Yes, sir!　Activate! ''Flame God's Bullet (Efreet Brow)!''

　When the girl invoked the Ancient Magic, flames flew out and consumed the dying Dark Bear.

''You old man there too!　Dick and the others are away from that one, and the flames go to the other one, too!
'Oh, oh.' 'Geez!
''Hey there. Fire magic for the surviving 'Dark Bear'!
Oh, yes.

　As she is told, the girl continuously activates her magic.
　She sends flames flying at "Dark Bear" who was fighting the old man.

　The "Dark Bear", which was bleeding from its head and torso, was unable to avoid the magic.
　It was bathed in flames all over its body and collapsed.