Volume 2 - CH 30

Chapter 30: The Second Defensive Battle at the Cultivating Center 1

We returned to the original place.

I immediately summoned 3 familiar crows and let them go scout.

Next, Shiki-san and I returned to the Cultivating Centre, with Arisu and others receiving us with faces of worry.

Shiki-san and I tried waving to them with happy expressions as much as possible.

「Everyone, we let you wait, my meeting with Kazu-kun has ended. Next is to explain how to fight, please gather everyone.」

Everyone seem to have discovered that Shiki-san has changed how she called me.

Arisu looked at me with probing eyes. I patted her shoulders to ease her worries, and whispered to her that「we are back to normal」.

「The back to normal, refers to which type of normal?」

I don’t know why, but Arisu stared at me with unhappy eyes. I tilted my head in confusion.

Shiki-san grabbed her wrist in front of her chest and showed a surprised expression.

「Kazu-kun, you are really good.」

「I only heard that you are saying that I am stupid.」

「That is the meaning all right. No worries Arisu, we just got rid of the troubles on the leader.」

Arisu blinked and said「I see」while nodding, as though accepting the answer. Then again, the only person who knew about the complicated relationship between me and Shiki-san, is only Arisu.

「Kazu-san, you worked very hard.」

「It’s due to Arisu and everyone’s hard work. But the one who worked the hardest is Shiki-san.」

「Yes, but I am really glad.」

Arisu showed her smile to me. I could not help by caress her hair, and she squinted her eyes in happiness. Ah the angel is here.

「Okay okay, stop being affectionate over there, I am beginning.」

Shiki-san clapped her hand, telling us to listen seriously.

◆ ◆ ◆

Currently students who are level 1 and above in the Cultivating Centre amounts to 11, including me.

The system rules that a party can have almost 6 people. After discussing with Shiki-san, we created 3 parties of 4, 6 and 1.

The 4 person main force is formed by me, Arisu, Tamaki and Mia. The leftover 7 people formed another support party, excluding Shiki-san. And Shiki-san is a solo party, that is what she suggested.

「This is for just in case, for me to get the time to think about how to fight.」

As a solo party, then you can decide when to level up. Completely utilising the white room—— that sort of thinking is dependable, or should it be scary?

No, usually speaking, you will feel its dependable.

The basic tactic is simple.

「The building of Cultivating Centre is not suitable for defending, if the enemies break in from the side wall, we will be powerless. Although just now the orcs did not do so, but if it is the elite orc then what will happen?」

In the discussion of Shiki-san and me, this is the biggest point.

I have seen that fearful strength of the elite orc close up before. That brute strength wielding the axe, destroyed the stairs of the lobby.

If the wooden walls of the Cultivating Centre suffered that sort of blow, will it be able to withstand it?

Shiki-san expressed that「the structure of the Cultivating Centre is not that weak」, while I replied that no matter what kind of structure, initially we also didn’t expect that the elite orcs will attack.

In the end my opinion was accepted and after Shiki-san agreed, hence proposing this tactic.

「So we can only go out and fight. Luckily there is only a forest route going to the Cultivating Centre, and it is only about 5m wide. The surrounding woods are also very thick, so it will be hard fighting a group battle. Even if there are a lot of orcs, the width of the road can only handle 3 orcs side by side. So for defending, the most suitable terrain is outside.」

The main fighting force will be the girls who are using spears as weapons. Other than Arisu, there are 3 others who chose to raise Spear Skill. Among them, 2 of them are the girls who stayed behind to contribute to the defense of the Cultivating Centre. Their level also rose to level 2 due to that and raised Spear Skill to Rank 2.

We decided to let them line up and form a wall at the road.

「Before the spear wall, we have to dig a shallow part first. Hurry up and began on this, about 20~30cm will do, Kazu-san please.」

After I answered「understood」, then I left the Cultivating Centre with the shovel, without listening to the explanation.

「As for the orcs coming from the left and right side of the forest……」

Shiki-san continued to explain. As for the content, I also do not have the need to continue listening.

After all this is the strategy that the 2 of us thought up.

◆ ◆ ◆

I crossed the plaza in front of the Cultivating Centre, the road in front could barely allow a truck to pass. I walked about 5m on the road before stopping to began digging.

Rather than digging a hole, actually I am only digging a bit. The digging is proceeding very smoothly. The soil on this road is already packed very tightly due to the people walking, so to be able to dig so smoothly, is all due to 《Physical Up》.

In the process of digging, the crows came back a few times. According to their report, the orcs seemed to have gathered at the main school building and among them, there are elite orcs, and there are a few of them……

Multiple elite orcs huh……

This battle will be harsh—— I realised. But if it’s only to this extent, Shiki-san has already predicted it. Aiya, this is not simple. Initially I had felt that her assumption was too negative……

The points she pointed out, are surprisingly important. Thank goodness, if we moved according to my optimistic prediction, now we will be in a panic.

I sent the crows again, slowly getting hold of the positions of the enemies.

Other than that, I continued digging. Until when I realise it, the entire shallow portion in the road is already done.

「Good work.」

A voice came from the back. I turned and discovered a girl from the middle school section standing behind me, she was one of the girls that stayed to defend the Cultivating Centre.

The girl held a white plate in her hands, with 4 onigiri wrapped with seaweed on it. (TL note: onigiri = japanese rice ball)

「Sorry, there are only canned salmon inside.」

She raised her head shyly and looked at me.

「Ah, your hands are dirty, I will bring a handkerchief for you.」

「No need, it’s fine.」

I used my muddy hands to pick up the onigiri, and wolfed them down.

Now it have come to this, I also do not care about this degree of dirtiness, even finding the time that’s used to wipe my hands is a waste.

From the report of the crows, those orcs will probably begin their movements soon.

Perhaps they have already began to move.

I don’t know if it is due to working too hard, the salty onigiri is very delicious. And because my stomach is very hungry, the 4 onigiri is finished by me in a moment.

Then again, breakfast was before daybreak. And too much things happened in the morning, causing me to forget my hunger.

「Thanks for the treat, it’s very delicious.」

「It is just a rough meal, but I made it.」

The girl revealed a innocent smile.

「Thanks for helping me just now, I had thought that I will be dead.」

It was due to luck, being able to make it in time and helping companions is only natural. Moreover bringing out 5 person from the defending of the Cultivating Centre without thinking too much, is originally my mistake……

But there is no need to admit it myself, hence I accepted her thanks directly.

「In the next battle, it will be my turn to protect Kazu-senpai!」

「Argh…… Rather than senpai, I preferred being called san.」

「Okay, Kazu-san! Please do not worry, just relax and wait in the rear!」

I answered「is it」, and looked at the girl’s hand. Digging since morning, the skin on her hands are all broken. So she used such hands to make the onigiri, I could not help but felt apologetic.

No, when she is making the onigiri, I am also desperately digging here. But I felt that digging to me is very natural, as though like breathing—— Anyway, it is already natural.

◆ ◆ ◆

After that, after 5 minutes.

The 3 girls holding spears, waited for the enemy at trench which is 5m wide, 20~30cm high and 3m deep.

Mia and I stood behind them and a gray wolf familiar was beside me.

The leftover members are spreaded out in the forest or on trees.

Rumblings echoed over, dust clouds began to form from the middle school section building.

The orc army is currently invading here, luckily we have already made ample preparations for them.

Their movements caused the grounds to shake and groan. Woah, it is super majestic.

The orcs’ leader turned at the curve around 50m ahead and the other orcs followed closely behind.

Once they saw our figures, they began to roar in anger. The orcs went into a frenzy and edged closer. This oppressive violent group is slowly approaching.

Even though the girls are scared, they managed to steady their legs. From the lesson gotten at the girls’ dormitory, this time I cast support magic Rank 1《Clear Mind》 on everyone.

Thanks to this magic increasing the will, they did not escape even while staring at the huge orc army. But I also sacrificed a lot of MP, with roughly 30 left……

Next, is for they to execute the strategy calmly.

Then again, there are over 100 orcs. I tried to stay calm, but it is impossible mentally, constantly worrying if I will make a mistake.

Is this instruction really fine? Can I protect Arisu and the others?

No, I can. I clenched my fist. It is not whether I can but rather I have to.

The foremost orc stepped into the trench I dug.

The second orc also stepped in, those orc began to raise their weapons together……

「That’s now, Mia!」

「Hmm,《Earth Pit》.」

Mia used a powerless voice to activate the magic. Earth Magic Rank 3 《Earth Pit》 is a magic that digs a hole in the ground. The effect is a 3m radius, and its depth can reach 5m.

This magic is not able to make a very deep hole immediately, but could only make the enemy sink slowly. But if it activates along the trench……

At the left side in front of us, the 3 orcs began to shake. Those 3 orcs stepped into the trench while raising their weapons, and then lost their balance.

This moment, the girls who are holding the spears, began to strike repeatedly. The orcs behind tried to stop, but they are pushed by their companions who came from behind at full speed. The orcs stacked up, and fell into the ground, slowly stacking up in the hole that is gradually becoming deeper.

The companions beside them suddenly disappeared, causing to orcs on the right side to stop moving due to confusion.

「《Earth Pit》」

Mia used her move again mercilessly, the second hole slowly spread from under the right side of the orc group. The orcs on this side are also pushed forward due to their companions behind, and they fell into the hole from the foremost guy.

The orcs’ cries and sounds of being crushed echoed out, and the sounds of the monster dying spreaded to the surrounding.