I'm going to follow them from the back of the line, even if they have more friends - even if I'm not, I wonder if that's what I'm going to see most in my life from now on.

　Even though this formation would take supportive defense, even though they're small fry for Elitia, I can't bring myself to let Igarashi-san and Theresia take that muscular Fang Orc's attack - I'm going to have Elitia help me test the damage! I'm not comfortable with that. If the defenses of Elitia and the other members are too different, I can't refer to them.

(I can't set up Elitia's ranks if I'm just accompanying her as a guest. Even though there's some risk to her skills, I'd like to 'support' her if possible, but...)

　How much strength does a level 8 swordsman have? If it's about 80 as a number, then 5 points of recovery is not much - is it? Even though he couldn't recover a great deal in an urgent situation, he would still be able to recover fully after an eight-minute break, so it would be almost permanently useful.

''You can't get through there without getting in sight of the Fang Orcs I'll sweep them away.

　Then Elitia makes her own decision to go ahead and take down the Fang Orcs. I know she feels responsible for Misaki, but this is not delicious.

(.........hmm?　(But that doesn't mean you have zero experience.)

　If you look at the information about the party, you'll see a yellow circle and a black circle underneath the name, in addition to strength and magic power. This seems to be an experience value, and the experience value slowly increases as you defeat monsters. The black circles are painted yellow as you accumulate experience points, and the level of the game seems to increase as 10 of the circles turn yellow.

　For the sake of convenience, we'll call these experience balls 'bubbles'. Even if Elitia defeats an enemy in guest status, it's about a tenth of a bubble, but it's a subtle amount of experience. Members who are lower level than me are even more so, and Theresia has very little experience in her. It's not that mercenaries don't get experience, though, so I'm sure it will eventually go up.

''Arihito, can I give you the orc's fangs now that I've accumulated them?　I'm only selecting and cutting out the high-quality tusks, but that's a lot of them, as expected. I'll give you what I redeem later, you're the leader of the party.
Oh, yeah I'll keep it then. I'm full of them too, though.
How much is a fine oak tusk worth?

　Igarashi-san will ask me what I want to hear. Elitia thought for a bit before answering.

''In the eighth ward, it's about three silver coins. In the upper wards, they wouldn't be usable as material and people wouldn't collect them, but in this ward, I don't think it would be any cheaper than that.''
'That's delicious I'll let you pack it in as much as you can. It's not that bulky.

　Ten fine oak tusks and three gold coins. With this, I can see reaching the purchase price of the mercenary ticket.

''Elitia, after we find Misaki.......or maybe tomorrow. Will you stick around here with us again?
Well if we save her, we'll have to start over.

　She is in a hurry. But she also knew it would take time for Suzuna to grow up, and she seemed to be suppressing her feelings.

　I hope they'll find her soon, but if Misaki is moving around looking for us too, it would be nice to be able to spot her from a distance.

　--But what I heard instead of her appearance was.

''--No........tha, help me, help me, someone!

　A scream that ripped through the silk, unimaginable from that laid-back tone.

''Misaki-chan........ah.........''

　Suzuna also thought the voice was Misaki's, apparently. However, she was speechless when she saw the direction of the voice - a huge shadow that floated in the far distance.

''What........is that.......''

　Up until then, he shouldn't have been able to see such a figure. But now, I can certainly see a humanoid shadow, with a physique large enough to look up.



　Misaki's position was finally recognizable. She was bound and deprived of her freedom, lying in the grass as if she was a sacrifice or something offered to a giant orc.

''Oh, that thing... it's going to appear on the second floor of the first labyrinth...?''
Someone is going to put us on the hook for defeating them...!

(-this is what they were talking about...!)

　The higher level searchers have their baggage with them. That's what the men I saw in the tavern were saying.

　If it wasn't for Misaki, they were going to kidnap Suzuna and have Elitia defeat the 'named' that they had made appear. To have them defeat the demon that their level couldn't reach and take away their harvest.

　--probably with a way to neutralize her in some way after Elitia defeated the orc named, as well. Even now, they are probably watching this situation somewhere in this hierarchy, hiding signs of it.

'--You guys stay there!　If I were alone, I could at least have an orc named after me...!
Elitia, wait!

　A group of Fang Orcs was about to attack the motionless Misaki. There was no time to think about saving her, she knew that the only way to save her was to defeat the orcs.

''-- Scatter your guts, Orcs!

　Current Situation

　Elitia's "Sonic Raid" is activated
　Elitia's Blade Rondo activates, and six Fang Orcs are hit.
　Eliminate six "Fang Orcs".

　'Sonic Raid' is probably an instantaneous acceleration skill - more powerful than 'Accel Dash', and the distance it can travel is much longer.

　Elitia instantly approaches the Orcs and flings her sword in a flurry of white blades. That skill, which is more powerful than the "Slash Ripper" and can attack dense enemies, does exactly what she said it would do, shredding and scattering the bodies of the orcs into four pieces.

　--But the moment I was bathed in that return blood. It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with them.

　The current situation◆

　Elitia's "Berserk" is activated.



　I can hear Elitia's suffering voice.

　That's the problem she was having - a skill unique to her that is probably activated by being bathed in return blood.

''Elitia-san........!
"Rear, you can't leave her alone!　That big orc, no matter how strong she is, is one person...!

Don't come here!

　Suzuna and Igarashi-san are conquered by Elitia herself, not the other way around.

　Berserk--if you mean the mad warrior (Berserk), Elitia is in a state of extreme excitement right now. Even if her attack power and so on increases, she may not be able to discern the surroundings.

(That's why you told her to not form a party and keep her at a distance.......but.......!

　Because she tried to carry it all on her own. That named and the group of orcs, she tried to take care of everything.

　-- but we could get Misaki involved even if we were far enough away. But we can't catch up to them at a distance with a sonic raid and stop Elitia.

'I will save her I'm not... I'm not a murderer... I'm not a murderer...' ...!

　The spearhead orc is defeated, and the other orcs are frightened - but the named one is unfazed.

　Elitia cuts in front of the huge body that is shaking the ground and coming at me.

　--I run my gaze over to the license and shout, knowing it's too late.

''Elitia, that guy is........!

　The demon you encountered

　★ Juggernaut: Level 5 Physical Disabled in Combat Drop: ?

'--Aah!

　Elitia screams and leaps at the huge mountain of orcs.

　--and the sword she swung out. Unable to scrape the orc's skin, it slid across the surface and was swept away.

''Huh........!

　The orc's 'named' - juggernaut's roar was completely different from the Fang Orc's, too loud and too intense.　

''Kuhhh........!

　Current Situation

　Juggernaut activates "Brutal Voice" → "Elitia" is temporarily paralyzed.
　Juggernaut captures 'Elitia'



　It was a desperate attack. Elitia, who had defeated the Fang Orcs without a fight, screamed as the giant Orcs caught her.

　The orcs on the ground are gaining momentum and try to rush at Misaki.

　--if she doesn't open the treasure chest. If she had acted carefully, she could have avoided this situation.

　I don't want Igarashi-san, Theresia, or Suzuna -- I don't want them to die.



　As it was, Elitia would be squeezed. There was no way the juggernaut's hands would be able to twist and crush a human.

　If she was told to run, she was told to use the escape scroll Suzuna had in her possession. I can do that now, I should, there's no way I can beat that monster.

　But if I escape - both Elitia and Misaki will lose their lives.

　A fierce anger at that rises up. I can't allow that to happen, I can't allow that to happen.

''I can't run away when I'm told to run away...!

　Current Situation

　Alihit's Blaze Shot activates and hits the Juggernaut.
　The "Juggernaut" is burning.

Uggh...!

　He shoots a blaze shot at the juggernaut's face. Even if the physical invalidation is disabled, the flames will still pass through - just like that idea, the huge body that wasn't even frightened by Elitia's sword shakes, and the strength in her hand is released.

''Kuch...!

　Current Situation

　Attack of the Juggernaut → Elitia is evaded

　Released, Elitia turned herself around before falling to the ground and avoiding a juggernaut blow that slammed into her from above her head. It was fortunate that the effects of the temporary paralysis wore off quickly, but it seemed that her non-dominant arm was no longer able to be used.

　Even though he was considered a level 5, the ability of 'named' is not as good as the numbers say. It's a fact, though I hate to admit it, that level 8 Elitia has been pushed to the brink of death.

''Igarashi-san, Theresia, Suzuna. If there's nothing you can do about it, leave me and run.
It's impossible for me to do that!　I'd like to finish........
Please ... listen to me. I'll do anything I can to get you home safely I promise.
I won't run away until there's nothing I can do about it. So let me stay.
Suzuna-chan....

　I don't feel alive in front of such a monster - Suzuna is really a kid with a lot of liver at the last minute.

"...Suzuna, keep the escape scrolls ready to use at all times. You have to promise me that.

　We can't fight the Juggernaut. The mere act of getting close enough to it will kill us instantly - but Elitia can avoid the Juggernaut's attacks. That means we can create a chance to attack.

(Supportive defense isn't going to be useful against a juggernaut like that... but a supportive attack...)

Elitia!　Come join my party, it's only temporary!

　Even when you call out to her, Elitia doesn't respond. She evades the juggernaut's attack once, twice, and is looking for a time to counterattack -- is this due to the effects of 'Berserk' or is she not trying to escape of her own volition?

　--No. She is guiding Misaki so that the attack won't hit her.

''I can't help Misaki at this rate!　Listen to me, please!

　She screams at the top of her voice. Even so, Elitia doesn't look back - she can no longer continue to avoid the attack.

''Eritia-san........please!　Please listen to Mr. Aricht!
You don't... you don't want to die like that, do you!

　Suzuna and Igarashi-san shouted. Even so, their voices couldn't reach them--that was the moment I almost gave up.

　◆The current party ◆

　1: Aricht *◆$□ Level 2
　2: Kyouka Valkyrie Level 1
　3: Suzuna Priestess, Level 1
　4: Elitia Carth Blade Level 8.
　5: Theresia, Rogue, Level 3, Mercenary.

He's in... this...!

　My support can be used against Elitia. As long as the range of the Blaze Shot is within reach, the effect can be reached even from this far away...!

'Elitia!　Use your big guns ... and we'll assist you!

　Even if physical attacks are disabled. If the damage is fixed at "10 points", it's possible...!

Haaaah...!

　Elitia activates 'Sonic Raid' with her remaining magical power. Her figure disappears, and the juggernaut's large blow cuts through the sky.

　--and the next moment. A rain of slashing blows rained down towards the Juggernaut's entire body.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Elitia's "Blossom Blade" is activated.
　The first level hits the Juggernaut. No damage. Support damage 10
　The second level hits the Juggernaut. No damage. Support damage 10
　The third level hits the Juggernaut. No damage. Support damage 10

　A series of super-fast attacks launched while Sonic Raid was applied. It's a beautiful, but also a fiercely powerful secret technique.

　The invisibility of the chase by "Support Attack 1" also passes through opponents who are physically disabled. Is the physical attribute and the non-attribute separate - either way, you have no choice but to bet on this strike.

(Say... please... please...!)

　Current Situation

　The Juggernaut has been hit at the 16th level with no damage.
　Defeat the "Juggernaut".

　The giant body shakes and stops moving. The juggernaut collapses, and the fleeing orcs are caught in the middle - and.

''Ha, ha........''

　Eritia appeared in front of the juggernaut she had defeated, thrusting her sword and falling down herself. But I hadn't forgotten that I still hadn't lost my mind.

'Theresia, Igarashi-san!　Get me an Elitia cover!　There's still another enemy nearby!

　The one who was quicker than anyone else to notice was Theresia. Three men who appeared at a slight distance away - each with a ranged weapon, aiming at Elitia.

''Tch ... you could have just turned a blind eye to them!　Don't regret it, kid...!

　I guess the guys are underestimating us, thinking that we just beat the juggernaut with Elitia's skills. But as long as they can see us, we're not going to let them do us any good.

　Their level may be higher than ours, but we can never lose...!

You've got my back!
"Yes!

　The men's ranged weapons - the small bows are defended by Theresia and Igarashi-san's ready shields. In the next moment, Igarashi-san's Thunderbolt and my Blaze Shot are released, hitting the two men.

''Guh!''
Ugh!
Hah!

　Igarashi-san continued to push forward and thrust his spear into the air - the men managed to take it, but the support attack blew them away and they were stuck in place. They were probably level 2 at best, if the fixed damage of 10 was shaved off at once and the shock made them stretch out.

　There was only one person left - a man who seemed to be the boss, who was showing some leeway.

　TE TEH, d*mn it........!

　Theresia, who had fleshed out the boss with "Axel Dash," unleashes a slash. When I jumped away from that blow and avoided it, I aimed and chased it down.

''--Eat it!

　Current Situation

　Arihito's attack hits a Bergen.

I can't...

　I didn't miss my aim with the sling, but it seemed to be a bad spot to hit, and Bergen fell to the spot. It's not a high-powered sling, but is it a critical one? When I approached and checked, it seems that an iron bullet had hit his chin.

　Igarashi-san looked at me and had a face like he was unable to speak. Surviving, that in itself is like a miracle - more than the joy of victory, it's a soul-deepening weakness.

　I looked back and saw Suzuna looking at us. She hadn't been able to join the battle yet, but it would all be coming. I nodded and urged her to go to Misaki and Elitia.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Aricht's 'Support Recovery 1' is activated → Elitia's health is restored.

　At the thirtieth second, the first recovery occurs. I thought more time had passed, but apparently my senses were too sharpened and the time just felt too long.

''...Igarashi-san, Theresa. I'm glad you're safe. Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.
You, my dearest son I was so absorbed in my work that I didn't know what to do.
..........

　We walked away, relieved to see that we were safe from each other. And then we went to Elitia, who confronted the juggernaut and defeated it.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　After the battle, Elitia's Berserk is released.