Chapter 97

The sky at dusk was dyed a blood-red.

If you head east from the city of Kama, you'll come across a grassland, and if you keep going, you'll see the Marmar Forest.

While watching the sunset in the western sky, Chi-Du stroked the head of the Forest Panther.

"Hehe, it's about time."

The ears and whiskers of the Forest Panther, which seemed to be enjoying the stroking, moved.

"Who are you?"

"Hehe, sir, what are you doing in a place like this?"

Despite the open grassland offering no cover, Chi-Du's vigilance grew as the stranger had managed to approach so close.

"Who are you?"

"Hehe, I'm a former adventurer who makes a little money by casting enchantments at the entrance to the labyrinth around here."

"I asked who you are. Die—"

The ground beside the enchanter swelled, and a brown snake emerged, scratching through the soil. The snake, about three meters long, was a Rank 3 monster known as a Mud Dragon Snake. As its name suggests, it can move freely through the earth and attack its prey upon getting close.

The Mud Dragon Snake's mouth, with its jaw unhinged, could swallow the enchanter's face and even his torso whole.

"Don't get in the way of my fun."

Without even looking at the enchanter's fate, Chi-Du tried to stroke the head of the still vigilant Forest Panther—

"Hehe, sir, what are you doing all of a sudden?"

"What...!?"

The enchanter had deftly blocked the Mud Dragon Snake's attack with a barrier.

The Mud Dragon Snake tried to shatter the enchanter's barrier with its fangs, but even its sharp teeth were no match for the enchanter's barrier.

The Mud Dragon Snake was a Rank 3 monster, but it was a tamed monster that Chi-Du had raised. It wasn't the kind of monster that could be easily handled by just any adventurer.

"You... don't think you'll die easily."

The only witness to the battle between the enchanter and Chi-Du was a single bird flying in the evening sky.

After resting for a day and fully recovering their energy, Yu and his companions headed to the Labyrinth of the Demon Tree Garden to gather materials and plants that could only be found there. When they emerged from the labyrinth, the sky was dyed a deep red.

"Good job today~"

Nina hugged Yu. The impact of her hug made Momo, who was perched on Yu's head, float up for a moment before hurriedly clinging back to Yu's hair.

"...We got some interesting equipment."

"Koro, don't run around. Sukke, you're too quiet."

Koro, who was running around Marifa, was unaffected by the scolding. Sukke, on the other hand, hung her head and rubbed it against Marifa's leg.

After passing through the Marmar Forest, the grassland spread out. Although not as well-maintained as the royal road, following the path would lead you to the city of Kama without getting lost. As they walked along the path, Nina noticed something different about Yu.

"Yu? Is something wrong?"

Usually, Yu would tell her to let go or push her away, but he said nothing, and Nina looked at him with concern.

"I remembered something I need to do. Nina and the others, go back first. Kuro, come with me to carry the luggage."

Yu's demeanor was different from usual, and Nina tried to ask what he needed to do, but she missed it as he started nagging about reviewing their lessons and preparing their equipment.

Nina would deeply regret this moment. She should have insisted on following him no matter what—

---

The Chimera's claws, slicing through the air, approached the enchanter, but the enchanter easily deflected them with his staff. The Forest Panther leaped from behind the enchanter but was repelled by a barrier.

Seven of Chi-Du's tamed monsters surrounded the enchanter. An average Beast Tamer could control three monsters at most, and a skilled one could control five.

"More."

Chi-Du increased the number of his tamed monsters. A Blazing Tiger, a Rank 4 monster, appeared through a summoning spell.

Chi-Du usually only brought a few tamed monsters, but in battle, he could summon more of his tamed monsters one after another.

The Blazing Tiger opened its mouth wide and inhaled. Its chest swelled, and in the next moment, a scorching breath was released. The grass in the path of the breath turned black and charred instantly.

The enchanter, without showing any panic, raised his staff. A sharp barrier formed in front of him, and the scorching breath was deflected.

"That barrier is a technique used by high-ranking priests in the Holy Jardark. You... I thought you were from another country, but who are you?"

The enchanter stood calmly amidst the black smoke from the scorching breath.

"Stop messing with Yu Sato."

Chi-Du was more surprised by the mention of Yu Sato's name than by the change in the enchanter's tone.

"Are you from the Holy Maiden faction?"

While talking, the number of Chi-Du's tamed monsters continued to increase.

"You guys, stop fighting here."

"Hey, Anita, stop it. Just leave them alone."

The ones who interrupted the conversation between the enchanter and Chi-Du were Anita and the others from the 'Golden Moon Flower.'

On their way back from the Labyrinth of the Demon Tree Garden, Bell noticed the enchanter and Chi-Du fighting. Morran and the others had received enchantments from the man a few times in the Gorgo Labyrinth, so they recognized his face. Although they could have just left a man who had cast enchantments for them a few times for money, Anita intervened just because Morran and the others remembered his face.

"What? Are you offering your ass to me?"

"Filthy man."

The women of the Golden Moon Flower glared sharply at Chi-Du's provocation.

"Ladies, just leave me alone and get out of here quickly."

While keeping an eye on Anita and the others, the enchanter showed no openings, and Chi-Du smiled while looking at them.

"Anita!"

As Bell shouted, Anita blocked the Forest Panther's charge with her silver tower shield but was blown away. The fact that Anita, who had never been blown away even by a Rank 5 monster, was now blown away caused panic among the members of the Golden Moon Flower.

"Don't let your guard down!"

Anita's warning came too late.

Chi-Du's Mud Dragon Snake attacked one of the Golden Moon Flower members, latching onto their torso. The Mud Dragon Snake's sharp fangs easily pierced the thick leather jacket made from bullhide. The Mud Dragon Snake then coiled around the body, preparing to finish the job.

"Camilla, this snake!"

Bell, who called out to the member, slashed at the Mud Dragon Snake with a dagger, but it slipped off due to the liquid covering the snake's surface. Meanwhile, the sound of bones cracking could be heard from Camilla's torso.

"Damn, Bell, fall back!"

The deputy leader of the Golden Moon Flower, Warrshan, wielding a battle axe, released the axe technique 'Steel Axe.' Controlling the heavy weapon perfectly, Warrshan's axe cut the Mud Dragon Snake in half. The Mud Dragon Snake screamed in pain and burrowed into the ground.

Memmet quickly used the healing skill 'Heal' from the life staff to treat Camilla.

"Hehe, if this continues, one of the women will die."

As Chi-Du said, the Golden Moon Flower was struggling. Although they had defeated Rank 5 monsters before, they were being overwhelmed by the Rank 4 and lower monsters controlled by Chi-Du.

The Blazing Tiger's breath was aimed at the group led by Appi. Appi stood at the front, raising her tower shield, but the scorching breath, which dug into the ground, made her think of death.

"Don't block it!"

Anita, who was fighting the Chimera, shouted, but it was too late. The breath was already right in front of them.

"Appi!"

Appi resolved to protect Memmet and the others behind her.

The scorching breath hit the tower shield, and the shock and heat assaulted Appi. Her skin burned and her hair singed, but she endured. The handle of the tower shield, heated to a temperature that a normal person couldn't touch, but Appi didn't loosen her grip.

"Guh... I'll protect everyone."

"Pointless struggle, well done."

As if mocking Appi's efforts, Chi-Du ordered the Blazing Tiger to release another breath. The second breath approached Appi.

"You did well. You're a model shield user."

The enchanter deployed a barrier in front of Appi, deflecting the breath and casting the second-level holy magic 'Breath of New Green' on her. The effect of Breath of New Green gradually healed Appi's burned skin and hair, restoring her to her original beautiful appearance.

"Finally, I see an opening."

Although it wasn't a loud voice, the women of the Golden Moon Flower shuddered when they heard it.

The enchanter, distracted by Chi-Du, was caught off guard by a Mud Dragon Snake that emerged from the ground, losing part of his side.

Blood gushed from his side, but Appi's condition was critical. The enchanter continued casting magic, trying to heal himself with a potion from his item pouch, but Chi-Du wouldn't allow it.

The Ice Lizard's ice breath attacked the enchanter.

While maintaining the barrier and continuing to heal Appi, the enchanter's own recovery was delayed. As a result, the enchanter realized he was steadily moving closer to death.

Meanwhile, Chi-Du finished casting a summoning spell, increasing the number of his tamed monsters.

"You should have just left the women behind. You're getting what you deserve for trying to look cool. How about it? Are you going to tell me who you are? If you beg for your life on your knees, I'll spare you.

Hehe, I'll enjoy the women and then feed them to my tamed monsters."

A newly summoned Rampant Elk stomped its hooves on the ground. It was a massive creature, over four meters tall including its antlers, with a span of about three meters. The Rampant Elk could impale Appi, Memmet, and the others with its antlers. The Rampant Elk, snorting heavily, charged at the enchanter. The enchanter, protecting Appi and the others from the Blazing Tiger and Ice Lizard's breath, couldn't move.

"I intended to mediate, but I ended up being a hindrance.

Thank you for helping our Appi."

Anita, who had been fighting the Forest Panther, left the battle to Warrshan and came to support Appi and the others.

"You're pretty good. What's your name? I'm Anita, Anita Roselle, the leader of the 'Golden Moon Flower.'"

While talking to the enchanter, Anita activated the shield skill 'Stone Wall.' Her body hardened like stone.

"My name is Ansger, Ansger Fodd."

"I don't like men, but if you survive, I'd like to have a drink with you."

"Sure, if I can have a drink with a beautiful woman like you, I can't die here."

The two chatted casually, but the Rampant Elk was already close. Anita took two deep breaths and steeled herself.

The Rampant Elk's antlers and Anita's silver shield collided with a deafening sound.

"Guh... I'm Anita, the leader of the Golden Moon Flower! This is nothing!"

The Rampant Elk's massive body, combined with its strength and the force of its charge, would have blown a normal shield user away in a second, but Anita held her ground. The ground was deeply marked by the force of her stance. Anita's hair stood on end, her eyes were bloodshot, and her arms, supporting the shield, were turning purple from internal bleeding, but she endured.

The Rampant Elk tried to back up to charge again, but Morran and the others seized the opportunity created by Anita's sacrifice.

They attacked the Rampant Elk with sword techniques, axe techniques, hammer techniques, bow techniques, and magic. The Rampant Elk roared, but it was its death cry. Memmet also took advantage of the opportunity, successfully hitting the Ice Lizard with the second-level black magic 'Flame Lance.'

Finally, they managed to defeat two of Chi-Du's tamed monsters. The attacks from the Golden Moon Flower didn't stop.

Bell approached Chi-Du from behind using 'Stealth' and 'Ambush' and launched a strong attack with her dagger technique 'Dead Stab.' Chi-Du, without even turning around, blocked it with a barrier and countered with his staff.

"Ugh, how... I completely got behind you."

Bell, hit in the solar plexus, took a step back to avoid Chi-Du's follow-up attack and vomited.

"Hehe, losing to a close-range attack against a backline class like me, how weak are you?

Don't get complacent just because you defeated two tamed monsters."

"Lady, behind you!"

The enchanter—Ansger—shouted. A Mud Dragon Snake emerged from the ground behind Memmet and lunged at his throat. Memmet, unable to react in time, could only close his eyes.

"Oh, I finally found the enchanter, and it looks like things are getting interesting."

"Sir..."

The Mud Dragon Snake was cut in half, and Joseph appeared.