Chapter 33

"Alright, let's head to the C-rank promotion request right away."

"I get that you were told, but you suddenly got motivated, didn't you?"

The break was over, and from the next day, we immediately took on a request to promote to C-rank. Now, we are heading to the location of the target we were asked to exterminate, moving on a magic carpet.

"I have to hunt for more magic stones again. Since I'll be told anyway, I thought I'd get it over with early."

"You're suddenly motivated again, huh..."

It's certain that we'll have to do a lot of hunting to gather magic stones in the future. If we keep bringing in extermination rewards without raising our rank, we'll probably be told to raise it again. From the guild's perspective, it's better to have more high-rank adventurers, so it might be troublesome to stay at a low rank.

We might also go to other towns in the future. Being a high-rank adventurer wouldn't be inconvenient then.

"So, what's the C-rank promotion request?"

"Apparently, we have to exterminate 10 minotaurs."

"That should be easy."

This time, the request is to exterminate minotaurs. Unlike last time, where we only had to defeat one, we have to defeat 10 this time.

The minotaurs we encountered on our way to the capital were from here. We're heading towards the Brunne area.

Unlike other hunting grounds, this place is divided by stone walls. There are a few minotaurs in the visible area.

Several of them are walking around with heavy breathing. Even one is scary... I want to go home.

As Noal said, it might be better to avoid rushing in and fighting as usual. They have a charge skill, and the walls make it difficult to fight inside.

"Let's try to lure them one by one and defeat them individually."

"I'll use magic to lure them."

So, this time, I plan to defeat them one by one with ranged attacks.

I spot a minotaur that is separated from the others and ask Estelle to attack it with magic.

The minotaur that was hit starts running towards us, roaring.

If we had been careless, the others would have come too, which would have been troublesome.

Unlike the last time we encountered them, the minotaurs' bodies are slightly surrounded by a red aura.

Is that the skill charge?

The minotaur that was successfully lured is first blocked by Noal with her shield. I then stab it with my mace while it's stopped.

Thanks to the enhanced equipment, I can stab much faster than before.

The minotaur, which is staggering and screaming from my attack, is quickly finished off by Noal, who starts counterattacking.

"Good, it's going well."

"Compared to the Frogmen last time, this is much easier."

"The Frogmen were annoying..."

The minotaurs are supposed to be strong, but compared to the Frogmen, this is easier for us.

Their large bodies make them easier targets to attack. However, they might be a bit dangerous when they attack, so we need to stay alert.

"Oh, big brother. Something strong is coming."

"Huh? What's that..."

After defeating a few, something that looks dangerous is walking towards us from the inside.

It's smaller than a regular minotaur but more muscular. It's holding an iron axe instead of a stone one.

Occasionally, lightning-like light leaks from its body.

...This looks really strong. Let's check its stats.

---

● Asterios, Race: Minotaur

Level: 60

HP: 105,000

MP: 0

Attack: 3000

Defense: 1500

Agility: 160

Magic Resistance: 30

Special Ability: Lightning

Skill: Charge

---

...What? What is this? It's strange for such a strong one to be in the C-rank promotion hunting ground!

An attack power of over 3000 is the first time I've seen it.

"I didn't hear about such a thing being here..."

"What's wrong, big brother?"

Estelle and the others, who haven't seen the stats, look at me curiously.

I don't want to face something with an attack power of 3000... It might also increase its attack power with a skill.

Alright, let's run.

"Come on! We need to run!"

"Mr. Ohtsuka! It's too late to run now!"

Noal readies her shield and sword.

Asterios, who was walking, starts running towards us, probably because we showed signs of running.

It's surrounded by a denser red aura than the regular minotaurs, digging into the ground as it charges.

There's no way we can run... it's super fast.

"I'll hold it off, Estelle, get back! Don't get involved this time!"

"Got it. I'll support you."

I send Estelle to the back and face it with Noal.

If she gets hit, it could be fatal. She has magic resistance, so it's better not to let her fight.

Before she runs, I have her cast enhancement spells on us.

Noal will take the charge as a shield. I think this should work.

Asterios' head finally collides with Noal's shield.

With a dull thud, the ground sinks as they push against each other.

"Ugh, gah... Whoa!?"

"Noal!?"

She was making a strained sound, but she was blown away when Asterios lifted its head.

Asterios, standing proudly, is in front of me, glaring at me with red eyes.

I was stunned by the unexpected event, but I snap back to reality when Asterios raises its axe.

I barely dodge the axe and counterattack by stabbing it with my mace.

"Aaaaaah!?"

"Mr. Ohtsuka! Get back!"

The moment I stabbed it, my body convulses and I can't move. I can't even let go of the mace.

What, what is this?

When Asterios raises its axe again, the convulsions stop.

However, I can't move immediately.

Just as I think it's dangerous, Noal runs up and hits its face with her shield, blowing it away.

"Phew, thanks. Maybe it's because of its special ability?"

"It seems the lightning disappears when it attacks. It's a good thing there's only one."

It seems that its body is protected by the Lightning ability except when it attacks.

We need to counterattack when it disappears.

As Noal said, it's coming at us alone.

The thought of another minotaur being here is terrifying.

"Alright, let's take it down."

"Understood!"

Knowing how to deal with the lightning, we start our counterattack on Asterios.

I use the Wind Bracelet's wind attribute attack to draw its attention and provoke it.

When it raises its axe to attack, I run away, and Noal slashes it from behind.

This time, it targets Noal, but I stab it from behind as soon as it tries to attack.

We repeat this, gradually wearing it down.

After a while, when it starts to stagger, I take out a piece of paper from my pocket and stick it to the back of its head.

"Noal! Get back!"

The paper is an explosion ticket.

I tell Noal to get back and focus on making it explode.

Asterios' back head explodes, making it stagger. Another explosion makes it fall to the ground.

One more explosion, and the ground itself explodes. The area where Asterios fell is now covered in black smoke.

It should be down since it was weakened. This explosion is quite impressive.

"Phew... It seems we took it down."

"Mr. Ohtsuka! Don't let your guard down!"

"Huh?"

Reacting to Noal's shout, I look at the smoke and see Asterios trying to throw its axe at me.

I quickly raise a pot lid to block it, but the impact makes me fly back.

"Ugh, what, what!?"

I avoid a direct hit but roll on the ground a few times.

My whole body hurts. It hurts so much I want to cry.

"Mr. Ohtsuka! Are you okay!?"

"Yeah, Noal... My head is spinning."

"Phew, you seem to be okay. Drink this."

Noal quickly runs over, lifts my head, and makes me drink a potion from her bag.

We had each been given potions in our bags beforehand.

I'm saved... Wait, if Noal is here, what happened to Asterios?

"Ugh, thanks. Hey! What happened to that guy!?"

"Ah, you mustn't move! Estelle is taking care of it."

"What, Estelle is taking care of it? That's dangerous! I need to help... Huh?"

I try to get up but Noal holds me down.

I panic when I hear that Estelle is taking care of it, but when I look, Asterios is tied to the ground and can't move.

"What's going on...?"

"Mr. Ohtsuka is angry after being attacked... Noal stepped back because she was told not to kill it..."

Looking at Estelle, I see a purple aura surrounding her.

Could she be using a skill?

When she waves her staff, a magic circle appears next to her.

As the magic circle starts to shine brighter than usual, flames gather and compress into a sphere, which is then launched at Asterios.

The flames dig into the ground, engulfing Asterios and the minotaurs behind it, sending them flying far away.

A moment later, a tremendous explosion occurs, and a mushroom-shaped cloud of smoke rises into the sky.

Even though we are far from the impact point, the shockwave of the explosion reaches us.

"Wow... Noal... We shouldn't anger Estelle."

"Agreed..."

It's a complete overkill.

The magic that tied Asterios to the ground would have been broken in a normal state.

However, she used a skill to forcibly tie it down.

The smoke rising in the distance... What happened at the impact point?

"Big brother."

"Yes! What is it!?"

"Don't do things that worry me so much, okay?"

Estelle walks over, her face serious. She doesn't have her usual teasing expression; she looks genuinely angry.

Seeing her face, I decide to avoid making her angry in the future.