Chapter 51

Yesterday, we set up camp before it got dark and started moving early the next morning.

While we were setting up camp, a few kobolds approached, perhaps because a group was nearby.

A few hours after we started moving, we encountered a group.

And now, we are observing this group from the side, hidden in the grass.

"Wow... This is something else."

"This is a sign."

The group of kobolds spread across the plain, moving in a solid formation as if they had a purpose.

The distance between each individual wasn't very close, and the group was spread over a considerable area.

At first glance, it seemed well-organized, but upon closer inspection, it was quite chaotic.

These kobolds were different from the ones we had seen before; they had a slight black tinge and carried spears instead of swords. Are these high kobolds?

And at the front was a kobold that was notably larger and darker, wielding an axe. Is this the tyrant kobold?

We need to confirm both.

---

● High Kobold

Race: Kobold

Level: 25

HP: 3500

MP: 0

Attack: 250

Defense: 80

Agility: 50

Magic Resistance: 0

Special Abilities: None

Skills: None

● Tyrant Kobold

Race: Kobold

Level: 35

HP: 15000

MP: 0

Attack: 600

Defense: 150

Agility: 80

Magic Resistance: 0

Special Abilities: None

Skills: Berserk

---

Hmm? They're weaker than I thought. Still, with their numbers, it could have been dangerous if it was just Deus and the others.

"Isn't this a larger group than usual?"

"Yeah, it is. Without a core monster, for such a large group to be moving... it's unusual."

Listening to Miguel and Deus, it seems this group is larger than usual.

At a glance, there are about 40... maybe more than 50? Encountering a group of this size is a first for us, even with our overhunting.

I thought the tyrant kobold leading the group might be the core, but it doesn't seem to be.

"Isn't the core monster in this group?"

"If it were, it would be more centralized. This group seems to have split off from a larger group with a core and is now wandering around."

"...Usually, only groups of about 20 wander around."

"Clearly, there are more than 50... "

Gauss and Sumika also seem surprised by the numbers.

If this group splits and starts wandering, it will be a big problem.

Moreover, if this group of 50 has split off, the main group must have over 100. If there's a kobold lord and hundreds of these around...

"Should we take them down just in case?"

"Of course. If a stray group is this large... it's terrifying to think what the main group might be like."

Leaving them to attack a village or people would be bad.

Let's take down the groups we find one by one.

"Can we just wipe them out?"

"Hold on, don't use magic here. This should be fine with Noelle, me, and Deus."

I stopped Estelle, who was about to cast a spell from her red grimoire.

It wouldn't be good to waste her on just a stray group. I want to rely on her for area-of-effect attacks when needed.

This size of a group can be handled by us melee fighters.

"Shall we have Estelle and Cisaha provide support, and then Noelle, me, and Deus will take the front, with Miguel providing support? Gauss, can you protect them?"

With this many people, we can divide roles and make it much easier.

With Cisaha, we shouldn't fall behind the high kobolds, but just in case, I'll have Gauss protect Estelle and the others.

When we face the kobold lord, I or Deus will take the defensive role, and Noelle will be the main front-liner. She's the strongest melee fighter among us.

Cisaha might be stronger than me or Deus, but this time, she'll focus on healing.

"Can Cisaha use support magic too...?"

"Uu... I can't use it, I'm sorry..."

"What!? Ah, no, no. Sumika, you will in the future."

Deus looked surprised at my plan and muttered, looking at Cisaha.

Sumika looked down, dejected.

I quickly corrected myself... but this is a bit of a mess.

Is it that rare for a cleric to use support magic?

"Anyway! Is this plan okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine with it. Everyone else?"

The atmosphere before the battle was a bit awkward, but I decided to confirm the plan.

Deus's party nodded, so it seems to be fine.

I immediately asked Estelle and Cisaha to cast support magic on everyone.

"...This is amazing. I feel so much stronger."

"Support from Estelle... mm~h, it's the best!"

"Hey, can you tone down your reaction?"

We usually receive support, but Deus's party is surprised.

The first time I received it, I was also surprised by the power entering my body.

Miguel hugged herself, feeling something, and Estelle smiled, but her cheeks were tense.

What is it... this party seems to have a lot of perverts.

"Then I'll also—gah!?"

Just as I was about to start the battle, Cisaha tried to move forward as a matter of course.

So I grabbed her by the neck from behind to stop her.

"Cough... W-What are you doing, Ohtsuka-san!"

"A cleric trying to rush in? Cisaha, you're the healer, so you stay back this time."

"S-Such..."

Her neck was briefly squeezed, and she coughed with teary eyes, glaring at me with slightly angry eyes.

When I told her not to go forward, she looked devastated and fell to her knees, dejected.

She's so beautiful, yet why is she so disappointing... Deus and the others are looking at us in disbelief.

"This time...? You usually fight as a front-liner even though you're a cleric? What kind of party are you?"

"A-A cleric, right?"

"Of course, I'm a cleric."

It seems unusual for a cleric to fight at the front. Deus and Sumika are confused.

I answered that I'm a cleric, but I can feel suspicious gazes from the others.

The tense atmosphere continued, but we finally decided to attack the group.

"Let's go!"

Miguel was the first to shoot an arrow at the group.

She cheerfully took an arrow from her quiver and nocked it. She aimed, pulled the string a bit, and exhaled.

When she released the arrow, it began to gather light. The arrow, wrapped in light, shot towards the high kobolds with incredible speed.

It was a surprise attack from the side, and the arrow hit the head of the high kobold at the edge. The arrow then pierced through the heads of the kobolds behind it, taking out two or three in one shot.

"Whoa!? W-What is this!?"

I think she used a skill, but she was surprised by the result, probably not expecting such an outcome.

The combination of my and Noelle's buffs, along with Estelle's support magic and skills, must have amplified the power.

"Hey, stop spacing out and let's go!"

"A-Ah..."

The high kobolds around us noticed the attack and started moving towards us.

Even the ones at the front turned back.

I called out to Deus, who was staring in shock at Miguel's attack, and rushed out to face the incoming monsters.

I skewered the approaching high kobolds one by one with my mace.

High kobolds were easy to take down with one hit; their bodies would be torn apart and blown away no matter where I struck.

Deus could take them down in two or three hits, so it wasn't a problem.

Noelle, who had rushed to the front, instantly killed the tyrant kobold by cutting off its arm and then its head.

The high kobolds in her path were cut down in groups with a single swing. Noelle's speed in dispatching them was overwhelming, leaving us in awe.

"Yeah, this is a piece of cake."

"Numbers alone don't matter if the quality is low. Ohtsuka, don't get overconfident when we face the main group."

The large number of high kobolds was wiped out in a few minutes. The ground was littered with dropped items.

I was thinking it was easy, but Noelle reminded me to stay cautious.

"Frankly... I knew you were unconventional, but this is beyond what I expected."

"This support magic is unfair! Estelle is really amazing!"

"Thank you."

Deus and the others seemed to be more than just surprised; they were in disbelief.

Miguel's powerful arrow was attributed to Estelle's support magic.

If they're this surprised, what will happen when Estelle uses her full attack power...

"Even Noelle was flipping and deflecting ogre attacks... I didn't expect her to be this amazing. I'm impressed."

"Mm... Thank you."

Deus spoke to Noelle with a serious expression, seemingly impressed by her combat skills.

Noelle, who was usually carefree, seemed to be more serious since we formed this party. Does she still hold a grudge against Deus?

Hmm, is there any way to resolve this?