The cold night breeze against my body gradually cooled me down.

　If that stupid woman was still fighting the golems on the road, then she could just slap me on the cheek and force me to bring her back. In that case, you can just slap her cheek and force her to come back. The problem is if she had reached the boss.

　The boss of the Prolin dungeon, Mithril Golem, was famous for being a "first-time killer".

　After a difficult battle with the Golem, you finally reach the boss, and what stands there is a monster that looks even bigger than the Golem. Everyone thinks: "Oh, I wonder if this guy is also ineffective against physical attacks.

　Big mistake. Golems are indeed ineffective against physical attacks. Attacking with magic or with overwhelmingly powerful physics is the straightforward strategy. But Mithril Golems are different. Neither physics nor sorcery worked on Mithril Golem.

　Players who face Mithril Golems for the first time without knowing beforehand often think "I'll just fight them with magic" and launch the "Fire Attribute Sanno Type" with a very simple mind. Then, of course, they don't take any damage. And then the Mithril Golems, who are targeting you, come at you. After using magic, he'll be crushed before he can move, and there's nothing you can do but die.

　As soon as you unleash your first magic, you are almost guaranteed to be killed.

　What should I do then?
　It's simple. Just don't enter the Prolin dungeon until you have developed a level of physical attack that can be used against Mithril Golems.

　Would Sherry have a high level of physical attack?
　Probably not. She's a really inefficient spirit magician who uses spirits to fight. If I were to say it, she's like an "enjoyment force".

　Even if you can defeat the golems along the way, you can't defeat the mithril golems for sure. As long as you're a spiritist, it's an inevitable trap.

　The other day, the Adventurer's Guild hosted a "Prolin Group Attack", but it seems to have ended in failure. The cause is obvious. It was because no adventurers with a physical attack that would work against Mithril Golems were participating. And it's probably because the information that magic doesn't work in Mithril Golem has not yet been spread at all.

　Of course, of course Sherry doesn't know about it either.

　...... countdown. The clock is ticking.


Let's hurry.
　As soon as I arrived at the Prolin dungeon, I abandoned Seven Stay-O and rode away.

"(Leave the directions to me.)
　Angolmore is apparently able to track signs of No Meadeath. That means Sherry is still alive.

　I'll be guided by telekinesis and use 《Flying Car Sword Art》 to knock down the golems. In order to avoid getting targeted as much as possible, I rushed forward with an emphasis on speed to minimize the amount of fighting.

''Hahaha, are we no match for this kind of small fish!

　Angolmore's tensions rose after seeing the battle so one-sided, and he said the words in a moody manner.

'It's been a long time since I've fought!　That's exactly what it means to be bloodthirsty!

　Laughing high and proud, Angolmore already looks like a completely diabolical demon king.

''You might have to work for me later, so get ready.
As you wish!

　I hurried onward while burying Golem, wondering why I had to scramble so hard in the middle of the night for a woman like that.



　　* * * *


　I haven't had any friends since I was little.

　I know why. It's my personality.
　No one wants to get close to a countess who says such harsh things.

　You can't blame them. I'm the count's daughter and I have this personality. I don't want to fix it and I don't want to fix it.

　But to tell the truth, I was lonely.
　Being alone is lonely. I felt such an obvious thing as a child, and I realized that it was something I couldn't help but do with my personality.

　It was for those guilty reasons that I decided to learn the spirit arts.

　My one and only friend. An existence that can never leave me. That is Terra, the great spirit of the earth.

　I used the genie to bury my loneliness.

　Looking back, that was something I should never have done.

　It might have been easier if I had taken someone else's hand in my loneliness. But I had Terra. So I could bear it.

　Spending my childhood like that only made my pride grow, twisted my personality even more, made me stubborn, high-handed, jealous of everything, said what I thought immediately, made all kinds of enemies, and shut myself up in a shell. ...... Every day, Terra and We escape into a world of just the two of us together. It's become a habit.

　I can't do anything about it now, it can't change, it's a habit of mine.

　Maybe they call people like me "sociopaths"?
　Well, I'm a genius spiritist, I'm a genius spiritist, I'm a countess, I'm good-looking, I have an A adventurer rank, I don't care if I'm unfit or not. I can live on my own. That's how I've been living on my own until now.

　Yes, I've been living on my own.

　That's why I had no idea that ...... was that comfortable.
　I never knew that talking to someone who embraced my harsh personality could be so comforting.

　That's nice.
　It's good for ......!

　She wanted a human friend!
　I've never met anyone in my 16 years of life!

　I will never, never give up!　You're going to be blown away!　I'm gonna get you to recognize me!

Terra!　Another one on the right!
Yes, master.

　At my command, Terra unleashes an earthen magic. The rock of magic hits the approaching golem with a furious force, crushing its body.
　As expected of my Terra. You are the most powerful spirit.

You will be able to find out the best way to get to the top of the list: ......
This is - ......

　We emerged into a large dome-shaped cavity.

　At the center of it, a huge blue-white shining rock so huge that you could look up at it.


''--Master!　Step back!

　Terra shouts. I shuffle my feet at Terra's impatient voice, which I've never heard before.

'What? ......?'

　With an earth-shaking roar, the huge rock began to move.
　As I looked at it, the rock swelled up to three times its original size - and then I realized that it had stood up.

...... gholem ......!

　So big!　I've never heard of that!

He's the boss here, Master, and he can't win!　Let's run!

　Boss.
　Oh, right, this guy.

............ Terra, let's do it.
Master!

　I feel like if we can beat this guy, ...... I can change.
　You can call me an idiot. But I've already made up my mind.

'Terra!　Earth-attribute magic, corporal type, prepare!
"...... kooky ......!

　He forces Terra to follow him. It's the strongest magic I've recently learned to use. It's the strongest attack I can make right now.

Fire!

　In the face of the giant golems that don't seem to have noticed us yet, Terra unleashes the "earth attribute magic, corporal type".

　Immediately afterwards, the magic circle amplified by the power of the great spirit spreads out over the entire area, and then - the earth cracks open. A mountainous chunk of rock emerges from the ground, enveloping and crushing the giant golems. As if sucked into the center of it, the rocks fall like a meteorite. No matter how many gigantic golems you are, if you get hit by this kind of thing, there shouldn't be a single one left in the world!

Did I do it?

　As the dust danced around me and blocked my view, I yelled out to myself.

　I defeated the Prolin boss. I captured Prolin before Second!　Now that's what I'm talking about: ......!



---- What?


　Nuh-uh-uh.

　A giant golem walking towards us emerged from the dust cloud.

　This guy, he was unharmed.


　Terra is rigid after magic magic. I am completely defenseless.

　...... big. Very. I'm probably not even as big as that rock hand.


　Oh.



"Eww. ............!


　I got kicked. Maybe.

　I can't breathe.

　I can't hear.

　I can't move.

　It hurts so much.

　......Hey, how many seconds passed?
　What am I doing here?

　I open my eyes.

　A giant golem approaches.

"--!　----!

　Terra is screaming something.
　Then she stands in front of me with a sad face.

　You're trying to protect me .......

　I can't. Because I'm unharmed?　There's no way I'm going to win. What's the point?

　Oh my God, I'm so stupid. I'm such a f*ckin' idiot. I'm an idiot. I'm an incorrigible idiot. That sucks.

　...... Oh, you don't even have time to get sentimental about it.

"(Grateful)

　I can't even get my mouth to work properly, but I hope you get the message .......
　Thank you for sticking with me, I'm such an idiot and a dumbass and a bloke and I can't help it.

　Bye, Terra.

　We're sending you back...




　--I'll never forget what happened in the next moment for the rest of my life.

　A man wearing a "seven-colored aura" suddenly appeared and caught the giant golem's arm with a single sword.

　Surprisingly, he bounced the rock arm back. The giant golem had "won" with force.

　While carving several afterimages on the spot, he approached the giant golem as if he was moving at a moment's notice and made a chase.

　That was the 《Flying Car Sword Technique》. I've seen a top-ranked swordsman's brother use it before. But the power is strange. It's too strong. Besides, why would he, a spiritist, use [Sword Art]?　And what is that aura of disaster?

　I forgot about the pain in my body and watched the scene before me.

　...... level, but different.

　It was hard to believe that they were the same person.

　He's the only one, and that's just with [Sword Technique] alone, overwhelming that giant golem.

　That's the same A-ranked adventurer?　I'm laughing.

　A genius spiritist?　The Countess?　It's ......, so what?　I'm telling you.

It's all right, Master. You're safe!
　Terra huddles up beside me with tears in her eyes. Oh, I didn't get to repatriate.

　I'm sorry, Terra. I'm such a master.

　...... I don't know what I wanted to do.
　Was I the one who was on a roll?

　Stupid. Stupid. I'm such an idiot. ............



　　* * * *


Let's go, Angolmore.
Oh, yeah. That's my second.

　All of the experience that he defeated along the way was allocated to "Spirit Possession". His rank is now 11th level. It's a rank that isn't barely useless.

''Oooh, it looks like we're in trouble.

　Angolmore says. You mean Sherry is dying!

'I'll use it here!　Possession!
'Huh!　As you wish!

　I used the Spirit Possession when I was close to the boss.

　Angolmore turned into seven colors of light. And then it melted into my body.


Oh, my God.

　Awesome.

　I can't even begin to describe it.

　An unimaginable sense of omnipotence surrounds me.

　Spiritual Possession: An 11th level possession requires 120 seconds of possession time and 440 seconds of cool time to reuse. The effect is 2.5 times the total status.
　If it's ninth level, the possession time is 310 seconds, cool time is 250 seconds, and all stats are 4.5 times higher.

　...... I think that this is not the only effect of the Spirit Possession in this world. In fact, I've spent less than a second thinking about this much right now. What is this? It's far too powerful. Is it because it's Angolmore?

　And in an instant, I reached the boss. The movement speed is amazing, it feels more than 2.5 times faster. It's as if time has stopped.

　I find Sherry by the wall. He's lying on the ground with a bloody nose. If you look closely, you'll see that she's crying, and right in front of her, Terra-san is desperately calling her name.
　I can see and hear, and I can see and hear that my eyesight and hearing are greatly improved.

　One hundred seconds to go. I leaped in front of Mithril Golem and received that rock fist with the Golden General Sword Art. The skill effect is an omnidirectional range attack, but it's actually an omnidirectional skill. If you activate the skill at the right time, the physical attacks will compete with each other and the one with the higher attack power will simply win the competition. Because the Golden General can do it in all directions, it is very easy to use as a "response".

''No way--!
　I can hear Terra's surprised voice from behind me. Did this stagnant, seven-colored aura make her realize that she was possessed by Angolmore?

　While I was thinking about this, Mithril Golem was getting weaker and weaker.

　As long as it had the necessary physical attack power, it was a so-called "small fry" that would only attack in a monotonous pattern. I'm sure you'll agree that Prolin's boss battles are a work in progress with no irregularities at all, so it's a dungeon that's best suited to be circled.

　...... Ah, dead, dead, dead, finishing in 15 seconds or more.

Phew!
　After checking the surroundings, I release the Spirit Possession. From here, Angolmore cannot be summoned for 440 seconds.

　Oh no, it was overwhelming. It feels so good. I feel like I'm going to get addicted to this.


"--Second-san. Thank you very much for this~

　Then Terra spoke to me first.

'It's true. What is it?　If I hadn't noticed, you guys would be dead.

　I can't help but say it in a patronizing way. I was just about to go to sleep when I was woken up, so I'm allowed to say this much, right?

　When Terra-san heard my complaint, she bowed her head apologetically and swooned. I mean, even if Sherry is unconscious, the spirits won't be repatriated, right? I see, this might be valuable information.

''Ah, yes. We need to give her this.

　I suddenly remembered, and shoved a high-grade potion into the mouth of the idiot with blood all over his face and the whites of his eyes, forcing him to drink it.

　He won't regain consciousness, but the whites of his eyes are back, so he'll probably be fine now.


'............ Um, she's actually a good girl,'

　As I was taking a breath, Terra started talking about something I didn't understand.
　There was no particular reason to stop her, so I decided to deal with her appropriately.

I know that he's not a bad guy, but he's just a bit more twisted than most people. I know he's not a bad guy, but he's just a little more crooked, short-sighted, stupid and lonely than most people.
'Yes - ...... that's right. Ever since he was little, this boy has had no other friends but me.
I know.

'I think she's probably wondering about Mr. Second. But I think she didn't know what to do with her feelings for the first time in her life~
...... Wait a minute. What does that mean then?　Did you do this to get my attention?
'Yes~. I'm sure there were many other reasons as well, like to be accepted by your parents~, but I think that's probably the main reason~

"P
Phew?
"Don't you dare!　You should supervise it properly!
I'm a spirit, I can't go against the master.

　What the hell is this thing that makes me so angry?　There's a spontaneous tongue lashing going on here: ......!

'I'm sorry~!　Don't hate this girl~
'No, I don't hate it. I don't hate it, but come on, .......

　It's a hassle. It's very annoying. And I hate you, Terra.

　.......... oh, okay. I'm going to ask the Grand Master to come up here. It's called "Spirit Summoning".

Hmmm... I'm sure it's fine.

　That's what I've been waiting for, Angolmore. He used his sense of unity to instantly grasp the situation.


It's been a long time since I've seen you, Normie Death.

"............-......

　The Great Spirit King suddenly appeared in front of him.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it happen.

　...... Huh?　That's not what you told me.

What's up?　Why are you still standing?

　The moment Angolmore said that, a flash of red-black lightning flashed and Terra's hands and feet were tied to the ground. He was dressed on his knees.

　The great spirit of the earth, that is. Crawling miserably towards us, getting down on his knees. It was a spectacular sight.

'Wait a minute, no. No, no, no.
Isn't it?　I'm sorry.

　When I pointed out impatiently, something like Angolmore's unfamiliar obedience magic was released and Terra-san slumped into place.

　Terra-san is looking at me with eyes like she's seeing something incredible.

''Hmm?　Oh, I see. Well, let me answer my question in person.

　Then, as if Angolmore had guessed something by the oneness, he opened his mouth.

'The spirits and their masters become more and more one,' he said, 'the longer they live together, the more they become one. The longer they live together, the longer they live together. This gnome's daughter must have been pulled by the little boy there. Is it pity or longing? It's just an excuse to disobey orders. We ran away together and licked each other's wounds.

............
　Terra shuddered and looked down.

'You almost killed your master. It should not have happened. You have failed the Great Spirit.
Stop. Don't you think being more and more one with your master makes you more obedient?
'No. No, you can't just pull me down. To be together is to understand each other. He's been too close to his master.
...... That's a bit sad, don't you think?

　If you have a lonely kid who can't make any friends at all, you can't ask him not to cuddle up to you, common sense dictates.

"Hm?　My Second, weren't you angry with this guy?
Well, my sympathies are getting louder as a result of that.
Well, then, I guess I'll let you go. Then I'll let you go free. Ha ha ha!

　Huh.

Okay, so?
"I'm talking about a needle in a haystack. I don't care one iota about some genie's master-slave relationship. I only sniped at them as a sport.

　Then he laughs caracara. Wow, this guy is so badass. I don't know what the hell you're talking about. What time is it?

Let's go back to ............

　I leave the prolin dungeon with Sherry, who is still awake, in disgust.

　I thought I was feeling some kind of dampness, but I was incontinent. I let out an extra-large sigh as I knock Sylvia up in the team chat and have her get ready to take care of things downstairs.

　Be prepared for this guy to come to consciousness, seriously .......