Chapter 28 - Volume 1

Volume 1 Chapter 28: First Time Support and Chance to Make Use of Experience

On our way to the primordial forest, we were passing through the grasslands that had nothing but a simple dirt road going through it.

Since people rarely go in that direction we encountered goblins and slimes pretty soon after we stepped into the plains.

「Getting worn out here sounds stupid, so let’s proceed through those parts swiftly.」

The members of Starlight were moving through, easily clearing the path.

They just cut anything where their weapons could reach.

Since it’s a supporter’s duty to pick up the materials and magic stones from defeated enemies, I kept collecting them as we go, but only as much as it wouldn’t impede our movement.

Today, that was all that I would have to do.

Basically, we just kept walking towards the primordial forest.

During that time, when most of the monsters were cleared up and we were free for the most part, Sieg tried to strike up a conversation with me.

「How is it, Axel-san? For now, there was hardly any chance for you to shine, don’t you feel frustrated with how easily things are going?」

To that line, that was half poking fun at me, I smiled slightly and replied.

「Things going smoothly isn’t bad at all, not exhausting ourselves is a good thing. I’m really glad to have such strong comrades this time.」

「Haha, I’m happy that you’d say so. But we are still not that good, Axel-san. There is always a bigger fish.」

Hearing Sieg’s voice, other members also jump on the topic.

「That’s right. During the Great War with the Demon Lord, I took part as well and was surprised by the number of outrageously strong people.」

「I fought as a part of a party. That was one quite amazing battleground.」

「By the way, I heard from uncle Dort that members of Starlight took part in the great war with the Demon Lord, but were you on the frontline?」

When asked, members of Starlight shook their heads.

However, on their faces, they had somewhat nostalgic smiles.

「Though we indeed took part in it, we weren’t on the frontline. Even so, we saw a lot of various monsters. And also heroes that defeated such monsters.」

「Yeah, heroes were amazing. Tearing through and scattering around whole hordes of enemies. To this day, I still get shivers every time I remember that. I really admire them.」

「The leader was so influenced by the heroes that he even started to equip swords and spears recently. Even though he originally would go with a great sword alone.」

「I-It’s fine isn’t it. I wanted to try such weapons as well.」

With a bit of an embarrassed expression, Sieg pulled out a long sword, that was hanging on his waist, and cut down an approaching goblin.

One strike, without even paying much attention to the target. He seems quite used to it.

「For picking it up just recently you are quite familiar with it.」

「Just a bit. However, for now, I can’t use it against large monsters. I can just move with it a bit. ——All those laughs and exercise stir my appetite. Axel-san, are there any snacks or provision?」

Said Sieg, while sheathing the sword after shaking off the blood.

We have already been walking for several dozens of minutes after all. You would get hungry after that.

「Yeah, there should have been something among the supplies. …Here you go.」

Then, I pulled a paper bag out of the transportation bag.

A mark of《Meteor》 was on it. Inside were two slices of bread with fresh vegetables and meat in between.

「Sandwich from Meteor? That’s nice. Since it contains herbs it’s really good for health.」

「Oh, that looks tasty. Give me one as well, Master Carrier.」

「Ah, me as well.」

「Roger! Well, I will bring out plenty, so catch.」

And while we were walking, party members were stuffing their cheeks with sandwiches that they received. Berzelia and I also decided to have some.

The bread was small and would be eaten in a bite or two, but since a lot of ingredients were packed inside it was quite a satisfying snack. And as I was thinking that while consuming a sandwich—

「……Which reminds me, we didn’t find anything after investigating about the dragon who’s scales dropped at Meteor.」

Brought up Sieg, who finished his sandwich as well.

「Hm? Sieg, so your party is also involved in such investigations?」

「Yea, since we were a bit involved in the Great War. And so, this thing has fallen right about the time the war ended. There were words that even a simple investigation would do, so we took it.」

「But, we were unable to find anything, other than the fact that no ancient dragons showed up at the City of Stars. There also were no sightings of it.」

Sieg showed his agreement with the words of the advanced trapper, who was recalling the past events.

「That’s right. And you know, in the end, since it was around the time the war has ended, it was told that it was dropped by a dying dragon that was flying by. Since you know, dragons drop their scales when they are about to die.」

Dragons have a habit of shedding their scales when they get injured, in order to reduce the weight of the body and use less energy. So their reasoning doesn’t seem to be that wrong, but—

「Since you guys are aware of the habits of dragons, does it mean that you fought them?」

「Well. We were quite close to the front. …But I don’t want you to misunderstand, we didn’t fight with ancient dragons. Ancient dragons are real monsters. Somehow running away is the only option if you ever meet one.」

「Their number is small, but the time I saw one on the battlefield I really thought I’m gonna piss myself.」

「I actually remember how leader started unusually wiping sweat from his head a whole lot, and as a result was shining more than usual.」

《High Witch》stated, to which Sieg scratched his head and twisted his lips into a smile.

「What could I do. Dragons are dangerous. Even if you scrape one of its scales it soon will regenerate them by eating someone with magic power. They have really high defense and recovery abilities. When it comes to ancient dragons, with the exception of advanced magic users, it can repel any attack. Of course I’d get nervous. Weren’t you panicking as well?」

「Well. Running away was the only choice that came to my mind. Now I might be able to fight one for a bit though——Well, before we test that, we got new challengers.」

Saying that the High witch pulled out her staff.

She was not alone. The expressions of all Starlight members turned serious.

Where their eyes were focused hostile magic beasts were awaiting.

It’s gray wolves. Eight of them.

They were standing in front of us as if blocking our way.

「I kinda knew something will show up since the primordial forest is getting closer. But some pretty unusual guys came.」

「Hm? I remember seeing them earlier though. Are those some rare species?」

When I asked, Sieg, nodded without taking his eyes off the Gray Wolves.

「Usually, they stay in the depths of the primordial forest but it looks like the appearance of the giant monsters forced medium and small-sized ones closer to the city. So they are hunting humans for food, but even they do understand the defense of the city is perfect. Thus they are wandering around those parts, probably aiming for humans out of the reach of the city’s defense network.」

Saying that Sieg pulled out the long sword on his waist.

「Well, for us they are easy opponents… But I don’t plan on relaxing. Axel-san, support us from the backline. And……Are you guys ready?!」

「Yea!」

To Sieg’s rallying cry all members respond at once. And—

「Let’s go!」

And thus began the battle right before the primordial forest.

●

The fight was almost finished in a few minutes.

That was because Starlight’s《High Witch》half obliterated the enemies with the first barrage of her magic.

Furthermore, as she continued her magic assault, other members were individually taking down disorganized monsters.

「The guys from Starlight are pretty strong.」

「Yeah, they give the impression of proficient combatants.」

However, it’s not like the fight came without a cost.

The《High Witch》who had been firing magic repeatedly was breathing a bit heavily. Probably because she expended a considerable amount of magic. That’s why—

「Here, mana potion. Use it.」

According to my role as support, I pull out a bottle with a potion from the bag and pass it to her.

「Eh? Ah, thank you, Carrier-san. I just wanted it.」

After looking at me in momentary surprise, the High Witch drank the potion.

With this, her magic power is at full again.

「Phew… But, how did you know that I’m low on mana?　Certainly, I used about a third of it, but with my skill【Consumption Rate Concealment]expenditure shouldn’t be visible for others.」

「Because after using a lot of magic you were breathing heavily. Plain and simple.」

「Eh? I, in order not to have a lack of mana get noticed by enemies, I was going through training in order to not show it in my expression or body language, and of course, I was trying to conceal that now as well… Eeeh?」

She is tilting her head, but since she looks fine I guess it okay to leave her alone.

A few enemies still remained.

…As a support, I should be watching party members that are currently still engaged in combat.

Sieg came in sight around the time I thought that.

He is still using the long sword that he was wearing on his waist—

……Ah. The blade is about to crack.

There is a slight distortion in it.

Therefore, I take out another longsword from the transportation bag and run up to Sieg.

「Replacement weapon. Take it.」

I showed it to Sieg with the handle facing his way.

「Axel-san? What are you talking about?」

While raising his eyebrows, Sieg still accepted the sword, that I pushed to him, and with his other hand he fended off an attack from a gray wolf with the sword that he had been using until now. At that moment—

「——」

The blade of the longsword, that he was using, reached its limit.

With a big crack appearing at the center, it snaps splendidly.

「——Oooh?!　W-Whoa. My weapon broke!?」

Saying that Sieg slashed the enemy with the new sword.

Being able to keep fighting despite his surprise, I guess that’s to be expected from an expert?

「Y-you saved me there, Axel-san… B-but how did you know that the sword was going to break?」

「Well, when you look at it, you can see that there is a slight distortion, right?」

「……Are you saying that you managed to notice a defect that even I, who was using the sword, was not able to perceive… ?!」

Sieg appeared quite astonished, but for now, since I handed him a new weapon, he should be fine. Next—

「——Trapper’s stick also seems to be in bad condition. Heey!　I’ll throw it softly, so catch it《Trapper》-san!」

「E-eeh?!　 U-understood?!」

After a few minutes of battle with me providing support in such a fashion.

The monsters were quickly finished off.

●

「What’s left is to pick up magic stones and we are done.」

As I was picking magic stones while glancing at the bones of the magic beasts, I was thinking about my job.

……This battle was my first time doing something support-like, but how was it?

For some reason, I got a lot of surprised reactions, so perhaps I didn’t do that well.

Well, then, I can use this experience in the future, but for starters, I’ll ask Starlight members for their opinions.

Thinking so, I approached them, as they were sitting on the grass, taking a breather—

「Ehm, Axel-san?　This is your first time with this type of support activity?」

Sieg asked right away.

「Yes, but… Was it not good?」

It was my first time, so I went with my intuition, was it no good?

In that case, I should make corrections, I thought, and therefore asked that question but—

「No, it’s not that. It’s the opposite Axel-san. It was super good. Or rather…We had a few transporters as supports, but among them, you made our job the easiest…」

Such an answer came back.

「Eh, for real? That was okay?」

「It wasn’t just okay, it was great. Right, everyone?」

「Yes. It’s the first time anyone was able to follow our movements so well, actually, you moved with your support even faster than us.」

「That’s right. A normal support wouldn’t throw weapons in such an easy to receive way, or rather, they couldn’t even if they tried, but Master Carrier accomplished that. Because of that, there is no added fatigue at all.」

The impression seems to be more favorable than I expected.

That’s great. I didn’t think that I would receive such an evaluation on my first request, I thought and exhaled a sigh of relief.

「Tell me, Axel-san. Submaster told us that it was your first time, but you seem to be pretty familiar with this. Were you doing something similar with your previous job?」

Sieg asked with a serious look.

Which made ponder for a bit.

As a result, only one thing came to mind.

「Ah… Just a bit, but I’ve been looking after various people I guess.」

In my days as a Dragon Knight, I’ve taken care of foolhardy heroes.

I also have recollections of taking care of this reckless Dragon Monarch that is collecting magic stones next to me with a smile.

In the first place, we had a lot of guys who would just rush to an enemies camp without saying anything, I guess experience with trying to predict what would come to their mind came handy.

「This is just from looking after other people? Holy cow. The fact that this is your first support work as a carrier makes it just scary. And… But even more than that, we really appreciate it, Axel-san.」

Saying that Sieg smiled, showing his teeth.

「After having a taste of Axel-san’s support I’m convinced that neither I or submaster were wrong in our judgment! Please, keep this up.」

「Yeah, got it. Then I’ll be doing it this way.」

And so we were covering the distance to the primordial forest at a quick pace.

And as a result, we would reach the primordial forest faster than expected.