Chapter 77

"Alright, then. -- Why did you hurt them?"

Releasing the anger I had been suppressing, I confronted the group.

"Are you the 'Dragon Slayer'? Yeah, you have the right vibe."

A voice came from the genderless figure in the robe. Was it a woman, based on the tone?

"I'm the one asking questions. Answer mine."

"Oops, my bad. The reason I hurt them? It's because they were related to the 'Dragon Slayer.' I thought if I had the bodies, the 'Dragon Slayer' would show up."

"......So, they didn't do anything to deserve your anger; you just hurt them because they were related to me?"

"Pretty much. I didn't expect you to show up so quickly."

"What a joke..."

"That's my line! You suddenly appeared and sent me flying. I'll kill you."

The large man got up, sending a murderous intent my way.

"Alright. -- Don't worry, I won't kill you. I'll make you suffer more than death. Be prepared."

"Huh, we're specialists in combat and it's four against one? There's no way you can win!"

The lanky man was making a fuss, but I had no reason to react to such things. However, I should be grateful for the time they gave me to prepare my spell.

"---! Everyone, put up a magic barrier!"

The robed woman seemed to have figured out what I was about to do and shouted.

(She's perceptive. -- But it's too late.)

I activated [Weight Increase] on everything the four enemies were wearing.

"Ugh..."

"Kyaa..."

"Ugh... What's happening? It suddenly got heavy--"

The robed woman managed to defend herself, but the other three were affected.

The three of them lost their balance as the weight of their clothing suddenly increased.

"...[Ground Current]"

I sent electric shocks through the ground to the four of them.

I couldn't generate enough power to kill, but it was difficult to avoid if they were in contact with the ground, and it could catch them off guard.

The robed woman dodged, but the other three lost consciousness as the current ran through their bodies.

Now, just one left.

I activated [Stealth] on myself, blended into the scenery, and approached the robed woman.

Once I was in range, I activated [Blade Dulling] on Schwarzhase and swung it.

"I didn't expect the three of them to be taken out so quickly."

The robed woman muttered something and easily deflected my attack with her staff, which she had somehow produced.

(I shouldn't be visible, yet she blocked it.)

"---!"

I noticed white smoke surrounding me.

I immediately recognized it as [Extreme Cold Ice] and jumped back just in time. The spot where I had been was frozen solid.

It froze so quickly...!

As soon as I moved, over twenty [Ice Spears] appeared around me and shot towards me.

(To cast this many advanced spells right after a top-tier spell!?)

I deployed a magic barrier and increased its strength with [Magic Convergence]. At the moment of impact, I activated [Instant Ability Boost] to protect myself.

I also reflected one of the ice spears with [Reflective Barrier] and redirected it towards the robed woman.

The robed woman tried to block the ice spear with her magic barrier, but I activated [Instant Ability Boost] again and pierced through her barrier.

Just as the ice spear was about to reach her, she dodged with an incredible reaction.

She seemed to have grazed her side, but it wasn't a fatal wound.

(She's a mage, right? What kind of movement is that?)

I was impressed by the robed woman's agility, which rivaled that of a high-level explorer in a frontline role.

I immediately circled around to her side and swung Schwarzhase, but it was blocked by her staff again.

Despite this, I continued to swing Schwarzhase, but all my attacks were deflected.

After about ten swings, a magic barrier suddenly appeared between me and the robed woman.

Then, I sensed an unusual flow of magic in front of me.

"---!?"

I immediately jumped back, and a large explosion occurred where my face had been just a moment ago.

(While blocking my invisible attacks, she managed to construct a simplified [Super Explosion] spell. What was that flow of magic just now? --!)

Another explosion occurred at my location.

It seemed she was predicting my evasion routes, and explosions kept occurring wherever I moved.

(Damn, even if I try to interfere with her magic flow, she casts spells faster than I can interfere. What kind of magic is this? It's as if the magic is being cast without the process of magic flow. What ability would this be if it were a special ability?)

I managed to dodge the explosions by sensing the magic flow in advance, but it felt like I was being guided.

By the time the chain of explosions subsided, I was quite far from the robed woman.

([Stealth] is useless.)

I decided and deactivated [Stealth].

"To withstand my attacks without a scratch. Not bad, 'Dragon Slayer.'"

The robed woman spoke.

She seemed to have plenty of energy left.

It could be a bluff, but I shouldn't be optimistic.

This one is strong.

Compared to the ones I've encountered before, she's in the top tier.

And now I noticed that not only her side wound but also her robe had been repaired.

I've never heard of a spell that can repair clothing.

Is it an original spell or a special ability?

"...Are you a member of the 'Amuntsaers'?"

I deduced this from the lanky man's comment about being a "specialist in combat" and the woman's combat experience.

When it comes to professionals in combat, the first candidates are soldiers from various countries.

Soldiers are the forces owned by the royal family or lords, maintaining order in the territory during peacetime and heading to the battlefield during war.

That's why soldiers are trained for combat.

Therefore, two months ago, when dragons appeared on the surface, it was explorers like us, not soldiers, who were sent to slay them.

Incidentally, in this kingdom of Nohitand, soldiers are classified into two types: the central army owned by the royal family and the provincial army owned by the lords.

From the above, it's almost unheard of for soldiers to enter the dungeon.

So the next candidate is the organization 'Amuntsaers,' which has been killing a large number of explorers in various places.

"Correct. Your insight is impressive. Watching you reminds me of someone. They died as a child, but if they had grown up, they might have become like you."

This distance is disadvantageous.

Continuing to maintain distance against someone who can cast top-tier spells repeatedly is a poor strategy.

I don't want to talk to the ones who hurt those people, but I need to create time to close the distance.

"...Why do you kill explorers?"

"I don't want to kill people either. But this is the only path left for us. The original has been slain, and the replica has fallen into the enemy's hands. All we can do now is buy time with a sliver of hope."

Original? Replica?

I'm curious, but that's not what I need to think about now.

"Terrorists. If this is your only path, just give up."

"Shut up...! The pests that infest the world! You and your kind are pushing the world towards destruction!"

For the first time, the robed woman showed her emotions.

(...Damn, even when she reveals her anger, she doesn't show any openings.)

"---. You won't attack recklessly. Well, I think this is enough time. -- How about I predict your next move? You'll use [Spatial Leap] to close the distance, right? You're a frontline attacker among explorers. You won't have a chance against me, a rear attacker, if you keep your distance. Will you aim for my back? Or my side? Or maybe a bold frontal attack?"

The robed woman confidently predicted my next move.

Using [Spatial Leap] to close the distance and attack while they were off guard during the conversation.

Indeed, that would be the most effective method.

--But, that's incorrect.

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