Chapter 20

Kagayaki took the lead.

"Spread your wings and soar to the sky [Heavenly Soaring Flash]!"

The curved light attack struck Behemoth with a loud boom. In the past, the higher-level technique [Divine Might] of [Heavenly Soaring Flash] couldn't even scratch Behemoth. However, Kagayaki declared that things couldn't stay the same as before, and the results proved it.

"Gurugahaaa!?"

After a scream, a clear diagonal sword mark appeared on Behemoth's chest, oozing dark red blood.

"It's working! We've definitely grown stronger! The Naganuma team, attack from the left; the Hinoyama team, attack from behind; the Merudo captain, take the right! The rear guard, prepare your magic! Upper-level members, please!"

Kagayaki issued orders one after another. This was thanks to the training in command given by Captain Merudo.

"Ho, good orders without hesitation. Did you hear that? Everyone, follow Kagayaki's orders!"

Captain Merudo shouted, leading the knights to the right side of Behemoth. The others also moved, surrounding Behemoth. The front guard prevented the raging Behemoth from reaching the rear guard, desperately forming a defensive line.

"Guruhahaaa!!"

Behemoth stomped the ground and charged forward.

"It won't be as you wish!"

"We won't let you pass!"

The two largest students in the class, Banjo Ryotaro and Naganuma Shigetaka, tackled Behemoth like rugby players.

"'The fierce power that splits the earth, [Iron Strength]!'"

Using a magic that enhanced their physical abilities, especially their arm strength, they slid on the ground and stopped Behemoth's charge.

"Gahahaaa!!"

"Rahahahaaa!!"

"Oohohohohoh!!"

The three of them, using all their strength, let out three different shouts. Behemoth, surprised to be stopped by humans smaller than itself, stomped the ground in frustration. The other team members didn't miss the opportunity.

"The strongest slash that tears everything apart, [Absolute Cut]!"

Shizukana's sword technique struck Behemoth's horn. The sword, made even sharper by magic, cut halfway through but didn't completely sever the horn.

"Guh, it's still so hard!"

"Leave it to me! Crush, shatter, explode [Mighty Strike]!"

Captain Merudo, who had rushed over, struck Shizukana's sword with his own knight's sword. Using magic to increase the speed of his sword and enhance his arm strength, he delivered a sharp, heavy blow that continued to cut into Behemoth's horn. Finally, one of Behemoth's horns was cut in half.

"Gahahahahah!?"

Struck by the loss of its horn, Behemoth used all its strength to go berserk, blowing away Naganuma, Ryotaro, Shizukana, and Captain Merudo.

"Embrace all with gentle light, [Light Wheel]!"

The four who had been blown away and were gasping for breath were enveloped in a net of countless light rings. Kaori used a light defense magic that changed shape to nullify the impact. Without a moment's delay, she began to chant a healing spell.

"Divine favor, grant healing to all, [Heavenly Recovery]"

As Kaori finished her chant, the four began to heal, even though they hadn't been touched. This was a mid-level light healing magic that could heal multiple people from a distance. It was the higher-level version of [Divine Favor] that she had used before. Kagayaki, ready for a charge, advanced straight toward the still raging Behemoth. He thrust his blade into the previous wound and, as he charged, recited the final activation word for the magic he had already prepared.

"[Light Burst]!"

The massive magic power gathered in the holy sword flowed into Behemoth's body through the wound, causing a massive explosion.

"Gahahahahah!!"

Behemoth, bleeding profusely from the wound, did not take the opportunity to escape while Kagayaki was in the skill cooldown period but instead swung its sharp claws at him.

"Guhuhuhuh!!"

Kagayaki, who was thrown back, couldn't help but groan. The claws had been deflected by the holy armor, but the impact had penetrated, causing him to cough violently. However, that pain was only momentary. Immediately, Kaori used a healing spell.

"Divine favor, grant strength once more, [Heavenly Strength]"

While the previous healing spell had a reduced effect due to healing multiple people, this spell increased the healing effect for a single person. Kagayaki was instantly healed as he was enveloped in light. During the time Kagayaki was thrown back, Behemoth struggled, using its roar and the shockwave from its jump to blow away the other team members. It also began to heat up its broken horn.

"...It can still use it even with a broken horn. Here it comes!"

As Shizukana warned, Behemoth jumped. Because they had experience with Behemoth's innate magic, everyone braced themselves. However, this time, Behemoth's jump distance exceeded expectations. It easily leaped over the front guard and landed among the rear guard. In the battle on the bridge, Behemoth could only jump short distances, and it was unimaginable that it could jump this far with its massive body. The front guard looked anxious. However, one of the rear guard members interrupted their spell chanting and stepped forward. It was Taniuchi Suzu.

"Here becomes a sacred domain, no enemy of the gods shall pass, [Holy Absolute]!!"

As she chanted the spell, a hemispherical light barrier appeared just as Behemoth landed like a meteor. A terrifying impact sound and shockwave spread in all directions, shattering the surrounding stone slabs in a spider web pattern.

However, the absolute defense that Suzu activated held up well against Behemoth's killing blow. However, the [Holy Absolute], which was supposed to be chanted in four verses, was only chanted in two verses and hastily activated, so it didn't have its full power. In fact, the barrier was already starting to crack. If it weren't for Suzu, whose vocation was [Barrier Master], it wouldn't have been activated at all, let alone held up against the attack. Suzu clenched her teeth, injected the magic power for two verses, and extended her hands, desperately imagining an absolute barrier. There was no such thing as a barrier with cracks. Her defense was absolute.

"Guhuhuhuh! I won't lose~!"

Behemoth's murderous gaze pierced through the barrier and into Suzu, spreading fear and unease throughout her body, causing her extended hands to tremble. She shouted, trying to overcome her weakness, but she was reaching her limit. Behemoth's attack continued, and she couldn't hold on for ten seconds. It's going to break! Suzu's inner voice shouted just as...

"Divine favor, grant mystery here, [Heavenly Grant]"

Suzu's body was enveloped in light, and the magic power injected into [Holy Absolute] surged. This was Kaori's healing magic. Originally, it was a spell to restore someone else's magic power, but now it was combined with the magic power already in the magic array, amplifying the amount of magic power flowing into the array to the original required amount. This was an advanced technique of [Heavenly Grant], which only Kaori, whose vocation was [Healer], could use.

"In that case! I love you, Kaori!"

Suzu injected the required four verses of magic power in one go, and a perfect [Holy Absolute] was reactivated. The barrier, which had made a sound like breaking glass, instantly repaired its cracks. Behemoth, unable to break through the barrier, became frustrated and glared at the arrogant caster. However, Suzu also glared back, not backing down. Finally, the effect of Behemoth's horn heating up began to fade. Behemoth lost its momentum and fell to the ground. At the same time, Suzu's [Holy Absolute] disappeared. Suzu, who was gasping for breath, was targeted by Behemoth, but the front guard was already approaching.

"Rear guard, fall back!"

Following Kagayaki's orders, the rear guard quickly retreated, and the front guard surrounded Behemoth again. The home and away situation reversed, and Behemoth continued to be manipulated. Finally, the rear guard's chanting was completed.

"Fall back!"

Eri, representing the rear guard, gave the signal. Kagayaki and the others unleashed their full strength and used the momentum to gain distance. Immediately after, they recited the activation words for the high-level fire attack magic.

"[[[Flame Heaven]]]"

This was a high-level magic used by five casters. A ball of ultra-high-temperature flames, like the sun, burned everything around it. The [Flame Heaven] created above Behemoth instantly expanded to a diameter of eight meters and then fell onto Behemoth. The immense heat assaulted Behemoth. The power was so great that even their own team members were almost injured and hastily put up barriers. [Flame Heaven] didn't give Behemoth time to escape, and its tough shell melted.

"Guhurururuhahahahahah!!"

Behemoth's death cry echoed through the hall. The scream, which had once been heard, gradually faded and finally disappeared as if it had burned out. Then, only the black walls of the hall and the remains of what seemed to be Behemoth were left.

"Did we... win?"

"We won... right?"

"We won... right?"

"Really?"

"Really?"

Everyone stared at where Behemoth had been, muttering as if to confirm their victory. Similarly, Kagayaki, who was still dazed, seemed to be trying to regain his composure by tapping his head with his holy sword, which he had extended behind his back.

"Yes! It's our victory!"

A flash of light, and Kagayaki raised his holy sword, declaring their victory. The realization of victory gradually set in, and cheers erupted. The boys patted each other on the back, the girls hugged each other, and everyone expressed their joy. Captain Merudo was also deeply moved.

Among them, Kaori was still staring at where Behemoth had been, and Shizukana spoke to her.

"Kaori? What's wrong?"

"Eh, ah, Shizukana. ...No, it's fine. I was just thinking that we really made it here."

Kaori smiled wryly as she answered Shizukana. She seemed to be reflecting on how much they had grown to be able to defeat what was once a nightmare.

"That's right. We have definitely grown stronger."

"Um... Shizukana, if we keep moving forward, Nangumi-kun will also..."

"To confirm that, we have to keep moving forward. We've really been working hard for that."

"Um, that's right."

They continued to move forward. There was a concrete possibility of confirming Aichi's safety. The fear of the answer and the natural cowardice that came with it were evident. Sensing this, Shizukana firmly gripped Kaori's hand. The strong grip seemed to shatter Kaori's cowardice, and she smiled. Kagayaki and the others also gathered around the two.

"Are you two okay? Kaori, the best healing magic. With Kaori, there's nothing to fear!"

Kagayaki smiled brightly, comforting Kaori and Shizukana.

"Um, I'm fine. Kagayaki... yeah, I'm fine."

"Um, I'm fine, Kagayaki-kun. It's great to be able to help everyone."

The two also smiled in response. However, Kagayaki's next words cast a shadow over their hearts.

"Like this, Nangumi can rest in peace. The monster that pushed him down was defeated by his classmates."

"..."

Kagayaki had a reflective look on his face, not noticing Shizukana and Shizukana's expressions. It seemed that in Kagayaki's mind, Aichi had been pushed down by Behemoth. It was true that the direct cause was the impact from Behemoth's innate magic that caused the bridge to collapse. However, to be precise, Aichi was hit by the magic while retreating. Although they tacitly avoided discussing that incident, the fact remained unchanged. However, Kagayaki either forgot or didn't care, thinking that defeating Behemoth would allow Aichi to rest in peace. For Kagayaki, who unconditionally believed in the goodness of people, it was impossible to blame someone for a mistake, let alone think it was intentional. However, Kaori couldn't pretend not to care and couldn't forget. She would have confronted the person if she knew who it was. Therefore, Kagayaki's words, as if nothing had happened, slightly hurt her. Shizukana sighed. She wanted to complain to Kagayaki but understood that he was as innocent as always. In a sense, this made it even more difficult. Moreover, the surrounding classmates were cheering. Shizukana wasn't the type to ruin the mood by bringing up the past at such a time. In this slightly awkward atmosphere, a lively student from the class flew over.

"Kaori~ori!"

Suzu, with a strange cry, hugged Kaori.

"Whoa!?"

"Hehehe, I love you so much, Kaori~! If it weren't for Kaori's support, we would have been flattened~"

"R-Really, Suzu. What are you touching!"

"Hehehe, does this feel good? Does this feel good, huh!?"

Once Suzu's words made her blush, Suzu would take advantage of the situation and touch Kaori's body like a perverted uncle. Shizukana responded with a hand slap. A slightly intense rebuke exploded on top of Suzu's head.

"Enough. Who does Suzu belong to... Kaori is mine?"

"S-S-Shizukana!?"

"Huh, I won't let you get away with it~! The only one who can be close to Kaori is Suzu!"

"S-S-Suzu! What are you doing!?"

Shizukana and Suzu, with Kaori in the middle, were busy with their banter. Unconsciously, the awkward atmosphere disappeared. Compared to that, the next step was completely unknown territory. Kagayaki and the others, having overcome their past nightmare, continued to move forward.