76 Episode 76: The Leader, The Spring Thing

"All right, let's go!

The security of the camp that was raided early on in our arrival stabilized, so we finally decided to enter the mine.

"As originally planned, the A-rank team of adventurers have been ahead of time to crusade demons in the mine to ensure safety. We enter a cave connected from the back of the mine and set up a second camp in a relatively large cavity near the ruins. Keep your magic and strength warm without taking part in the battle."

From here on out, it's more dangerous than outside, so the Alliance officials are supposed to instruct Mr. Liseau as their leader.

"" Roger!! "

As we entered the mine, we saw several adventurers at the entrance to the branches we could see along the way.

They have a role to play in escorting the demons who have crusaded us in case they don't attack us.

Honestly, it's itchy to be in a position to be escorted.

"Still, it's surprisingly bright"

The walls in the mine are lit magic and lanterns by the way, so there is no difficulty in moving the dim things forward.

There are more lights available, maybe, but maybe it's to get rid of where demons hide.

Occasionally you will hear the sound of a sword trident or a magical burst, probably because the preceding adventurers are fighting the demons that live in the mine.

Because the previous adventurers had secured our way, we went to the back of the mine without encountering any demons.

And after a while, the state of the mine changes.

I feel the roads have become a little distorted, probably because around the caves and pits connected to the ruins.

"It's time to get inside the cave. There are many branches in the cave, and the full extent of it is unknown in past investigations. Be careful not to get out."

"" "Roger!

Take note of it from Mr. Lissoe, everyone pulls their minds together.

This is where it's supposed to be!

◆

Once in the cave, the lights that the previous adventurers had prepared are gone, and we attach the magic of the lights to the weapons and shields that we were equipped with.

You don't use pine lights to prevent air from running out when you encounter a sudden fall, and to prevent pine lights from blocking your hands.

I don't know what dangerous demons there are from here on out.

No one can afford to have anything to hinder the fight.

"The air's a lot colder. Maybe there's a water vein nearby."

One of the preceding bandits speaks of that.

"You know what I mean?

"Oh, I feel colder on my skin than in the mine. Evidence that something is nearby that emits cold air. I've had similar experiences exploring large caves before, and that's when I came across large waters. Be careful not to fall into the groundwater by mistake. If you fall into a fast-flowing water vein, the cold, darkness and narrowness won't help you first."

That's the adventurer of war, the temperature in the cave alone tells us that much.

Experience is his biggest weapon.

"All right, increase the lights and alert the perimeter. Watch out for holes and walls."

"" "Ouch!

Wizards cast the magic of the floating lights and illuminate their surroundings.

And as I went on guard for a while, a cold breeze stroked my cheeks.

"Look, this one's on a cliff. I can't get the magic light, so it's deep. And when I clear my ears, I hear goose and noise. There's probably a groundwater running under here."

Like Mr. Bandit said, there really seemed to be a groundwater run at the bottom of the cave.

"Don't get too close, you're in danger of falling apart."

"Okay."

Once we've narrowed the line a little, we'll start moving again.

"And you have no demons."

"Well, given the amount of demons that attacked the campsite, it doesn't come out as unnatural."

"Weren't the demons that attacked the camp the majority of the demons that were in the cave?

and the other adventurers speak optimistically.

"That possibility cannot be denied. But there are no doubt that there are more dangerous demons in the mine than there were dangerous demons like Herbasilisk, and there are dangerous demons of the same level in the back of the cave. Don't get distracted until you finish Camp Two."

"I know."

With a light mouth, everyone is looking around without alarm, and I'm exploring demonic reactions with exploratory magic, too.

I feel a demonic reaction in the cave, but fortunately the reaction is lower than where we are.

Perhaps this cave stretches down as well as to the side.

You don't have to worry about getting attacked right now.

Then the cave spread a little bit, eventually reaching the open space.

"This is where the dossier was. All right, we're gonna set up camp around here."

Following Mr. Liseau's decree, the wizards magically begin to erect walls.

"Focus on strength over habitability! Make the walls as thick as you can!

"" "Roger!

The construction of walls to protect the camp begins, and the surroundings begin to be covered by walls one after another.

"For now, if the wall is finished, you can rest assured."

"Oh, yeah"

Senior adventurers exhale a sigh of relief at the sight of the wall completing in an instant.

"Come on, it's not finished yet, so don't get distracted, okay? These are the most dangerous times."

and Mr. Roddy, a senior in S-rank, tightens the slack air.

"Shh, excuse me"

That seems the S-rank word is convincing, and the senior adventurers rush to correct their posture.

And not to mention that Mr. Roddy's warning was correct, but exploratory magic comes to convey the existence of demons.

"It's a demonic reaction! They're climbing from the basement in the direction we came from!

"Even underground!?"

"I think you've probably come up the cliff earlier! Quite a few too!

Shit, we should have considered the possibility of coming through there because the space is connected.

"All men, prepare for battle! Installation units give top priority to installing walls! Everybody, watch out for skimmers who don't have walls!

"" "Ouch!

On instructions, the adventurers begin to line up.

They were all instantly ready for battle, although not nearly as heavily trained knights, because they had advance coaching in formation and tactics.

"Yes boy, it's a good opportunity, so which one can defeat a lot of demons or not?

Mr. Roddy, who came beside me, suggested that. [M]

"Again?

This guy doesn't brace.

"Fight around the corner, you'd better enjoy it, wouldn't you? Yeah, let's invite the rest of the team. Hey, you guys! Who will crusade the demons the most? Participation can be team or individual. Ten gold coins a bite!

Ten gold coins is a huge battle.

"If it's a team, it's good for the number of crusades, but the prize money is divided into mountains, and vice versa, if it's an individual, it's tight, but the reward is solitary."

"Fine, I'll join you personally."

"We're in a team."

Though I thought they would say it was careless, unexpectedly, there were many participants.

Maybe this spare time is what makes everyone an A-rank adventurer.

"Come on, boy, what do you do?

Um, what am I going to do?

"Mr. Rex, let's take it as a team too!

And Mr. Liliera is motivated.

Right, which way the demons attack, it doesn't change what we have to take down.

Is there any reason not to take it?

If you win, you'll make a whole lot of money.

"Okay. Let's take it."

"All right, the bet is done!

"" "" Ooh!

The adventurers raise their tense roar.

Unsurprisingly, Mr. Roddy's bets seem to have turned out to boost everyone's morale.

"You have no choice at all."

And the blur was Mr. Liseau with two big fangs.

"Hey Clear Storm's! Don't be too shabby!

"I know. Let's start with the pre-production scenery!

As Mr. Lissoe sighs into Mr. Roddy's light mouth, he hears the demons approaching him from the darkness.

"" Coming! "

Mr. Roddy and Mr. Liseau immediately switch consciousness and set up a weapon.

And the demons appeared out of the darkness.

◆

"This is!?"

It was a bunch of white demons that just filled the cave floor.

"Wow, that's a great number."

The demon looks like a lizard walking on two legs, about 30 cm small.

But this tremendous number just makes me feel instinctively dangerous.

"Be careful! It's an anthraptor! It's a demon that strikes like an ant!

An earlier bandit calls everyone's attention by naming the demon.

Is this the anthraptor? I've never seen the real thing before. [M]

"Damn, I took it because I heard that S-Rank asked me to join him, and I thought I could let him screw me, but suddenly you're in danger for your life!

"We specialize in exploration, so there's no battle... should I have turned down this request?

"" It's late!

And the adventurers who were nearby are bogged down.

Apparently, you were recruited in this exploration request in anticipation of each specialized skill besides combat.

Like Foca, a healing magic user known as the Virgin, they specialize in exploration.

"Coming!

When everyone returns to me to Mr. Liseau's voice, a demon called Anthraptor strikes us like an avalanche.

"Fireball!"

"Windcutter!

"Freeze ball!

Immediately, the wizards begin intercepting with range-type attack magic.

Anthraptors were numerous anyway, and that was enough to hit one without having to aim.

But Anthraptor's reinforcements emerge from the darkness from the next to the next, while it increases rather than decreases.

"You lizard bastard!

Everyone shakes up their weapons and launches an attack on an approaching anthraptor.

Though those who are confident in speed and possess well-handled weapons like daggers stand around well, those who use the great sword or axe as weapons were unable to stab the stomach because of the lumpiness of the anthraptor's body.

And before he could defeat the wounded individual, a newbie attacked him, one after the other swarming him into his body.

"Guh!?"

"Fuck off, get away from me!

"Ouch! Don't bite me!

No, we have to cover!

I am in a hurry to tear apart the crowded anthraptors and rescue those who were attacked.

"Shh, sorry."

"I'll recover, heel!

Fortunately, thanks to the small amount of damage itself, the treatment ends quickly.

But it's not good, I want to do something about this number all at once, but bad range magic will hurt my allies if we get to this point in the turmoil.

Should we let one sleep around here, by the magic of sleep, on the enemy's side?

It was when I thought so.

"Rockthorne!!"

The stone thorns growing from the ground pierce the feet of the anthraptors who were running around the perimeter.

The anthraptors fall to the ground screaming in pain.

The stone thorns grow on the ground one after the other, damaging the feet of the anthraptors who were running around.

"Be careful not to step on the stone thorn!

It was the magic of Mr. Chain, the wizard of the team cyclone led by Mr. Roddy.

"Everybody calm down!

Mr. Roddy raises his voice to a gap where the anthraptors are frightened by the stone thorns and move dull.

"Anthraptors are not the kind of people you fear one by one! Wizards use magic that inhibits the opponent's movement more than attack magic! That way!

That's what Mr. Roddy says. He cleaves an anthraptor with a stone thorn that injures his leg.

"It's also easier to stab a stop like this, and if the guys in front can't move, the guys in the back won't be able to come forward with their allies in the way either! The avant-garde has been slowed down with its feet sealed. Attack the enemy first!"

"Wow, okay! Earthbound!"

"Then this is it, Plant Rock!

"Don't protrude! Fight each other with your backs protected!

The adventurers who decided they were jilli poor even as they fought individually soon changed the way they fought according to Mr. Roddy's command.

Thanks to you, little by little, but surely the number of enemies started to decrease.

"Awesome, Mr. Roddy!

It's like I've been leading these men for years. It's a smooth way to direct them.

I've acted more alone in my previous life, so you're not very good at fighting alongside a lot of people.

Bad attacks don't get involved.

"That's Lodi from Clear Storm. Don't you think I'm used to leading people?

And, Mr. Liseau comes calling.

"Right."

He still fights cleverly while giving instructions to everyone.

Looks like he's really used to leading people.

"Rumor has it he was a knight serving a certain country. They say he was a general."

"What!? Was Mr. Roddy a knight?!?"

I can't believe Mr. Roddy was a knight!

"Ha, it's just a rumor. He's just amazingly good at getting into people's circles. And if you realize it, everyone likes you and you're in the middle of a group. And he has a particularly good judgment ability when it comes to rioting. Step forward without cowering yourself while giving the right instructions to your allies. That's why people who aren't partying also trust Roddy and follow his instructions. That's exactly the kind of storm that drives the battlefield."

Indeed, I suppose that's the fact of the arm that instantly ruled the situation that was half-panic.

"Cheng Cheng, that's why Mr. Roddy's two names are Clear Storm!

"Yes, I'm usually at the center of people's circles like the day, but this is what happens when it comes to fighting. It's a little bit of a flaw in the balls."

Haha, are you talking about the bet I made earlier?

"It's in the S rank of a bunch of crooks and his personal strength is said to be above the A rank, but that's not all of his power. His price is when he fights with his people."

Even now, Mr. Roddy is covering his allies by knocking down an anthraptor who was trying to attack his people from the blind spot.

Change the war situation while not obsessed with you coming forward and fighting, and cleverly changing your standing according to the situation.

Mr. Liseau wants to say that's what Roddy's strong point is.

"Well, there's a rumor that his ability drove him out of the country by a coworker jealous of his work."

Wow, that hasn't changed in hundreds of years.

It's a story I've seen so much as hate it in my last life.

"Don't spare the potion! When the magic runs out, recover immediately with Mana Potion! There are so many anthraptors out there!

Even while doing so, Mr. Roddy intercepts a herd of anthraptors as he commands his allies.

"The camp wall is complete! Hurry up and get inside!

We rushed into the camp when we heard voices from the rear telling us the completion of the wall.

They attack me from behind, but no one cares about some scratches.

If you get hurt, you can treat it later, and if you're an A-rank adventurer in the first place, you're buying the right gear.

Professionals can survive longer because they spend money on gear, too.

We need to get better gear, too.

And as the last one fled in, the wizards of the installation unit cast the magic of the stone wall to close the gap that had been left only slightly behind.

We finally take a breather after finishing off a few of the anthraptors that came in before the entrance closed.

"In the meantime, with this wall, they won't be able to come in either."

Everyone exhales a sigh of relief at Mr. Roddy's declaration.

Mr. Boulder Roddy.

S-Rank Adventurer's name is not Dada.

Are you Mr. Ramies, a master of magic, Mr. Foca of restorative magic, and Mr. Roddy of command?

So, what kind of stunt does Mr. Liseau have?

And so on, we were immersed in a temporary victory, but it was just after this that they reminded us that reality wasn't so sweet.

◆

"This is... bad"

Good thing I took my people and ran into the fence, and I climbed right up the fence and looked outside.

Fortunately, we were fortunate enough to make the walls of the second camp quite thick based on the destruction of the walls of the first camp in front of the mine by demons.

Thanks to this, the walls of the second camp allowed enough space to be used as simple walls and viewing stands.

But now that convenience has become a vendetta, it has shown me a hopeless sight.

Once the fence was completed, it escaped danger.

And then the Anthraptors give up, or you don't have to give up. If you take the time from the top of the fence to continue attacking, you can win any day.

That's what I was thinking...

"I didn't expect you to try to get inside by such means..."

What a stepping stone to my buddy's body the Anthraptors came to the wall when they realized they couldn't cross the wall no matter how much they jumped.

"Well, then it's like getting into a cage from yourself."

What do you want me to do? What can I say to them that I thought I was helpful!?

One-on-one strength is better this way.

If you fight normally, you can win enough.

But I can't do this number.

This is no longer a matter of tactics or inspiration to do something about.

As the name suggests, it's a sight to see a large swarm of bugs.

Most of all, ants are out of step in size and danger.

The anthraptors are still growing in number and coming up the wall more and more.

Will you break through the barrier without holding it in a few minutes as it is?

Fortunately, the first camp was destroyed, raising not only the thickness of the walls but also the height.

"How's it going out there, Roddy?

A chain of wizards asks me as I sip my mana potion tastefully.

Is Marcha the Swordsman in the midst of being treated by the cleric Almo?

"Oh, that's a little bad"

Lying to Chain, a companion of my own, can be quickly dispersed.

Or surprisingly, Koitsu is most sensitive to that kind of timidity.

Well, even if I guess, I don't have much to say to my mouth.

"... yes"

You must have guessed from my tone that the situation was not good. The face of the chain gets rough.

"Foca to Liseau and Ramies, and... call the boy too. I want you to hurry."

"Okay."

The chain hurries, but we go for the lysows on a small run so that they are not perceived around us.

And soon the lysows arrived. But there's no sign of Foca.

"What about Foca?

"I'm treating the wounded. That's what he does."

That's what Lysaw comes up on the wall.

"Cheng Cheng, this sucks"

I guess I've been anticipating it since I was called into the chain, Liseau was a surprisingly sober reaction.

"Exactly. This number is even tight in my magic. Well, if I have to, I'll run away with flying magic."

I laugh unexpectedly at Ramies, who tells me that he will only run away with dignity.

That's all this mundane guy is making me feel like a crisis.

... You're not really running away, are you?

"Wow, that's a great number"

Haven't the boy understood this situation yet, he was simply surprised by the number of demons.

No, don't you even have to bother telling me the desperate reality?

"Now, do you have any good means to turn this situation upside down, gentlemen?

"Well, why don't you ask the wizard to put a lid on this wall?

Simple opinion, like an idiot, but maybe you're an ant for it.

"No, if you do that, you'll die of lack of acid. I can't make a ceiling that can cover this size in the first place. You might have to build a stone wall with magic and then cut it off, but enough strength and time"

Surprisingly, I thought it was a good idea, but the Ramies immediately pointed me to a technical problem.

"... do the boys have any ideas?

The boy has always crusaded dangerous S-rank demons.

Maybe a name proposal comes to mind.

Nevertheless, even just a boy would not be able to cope with an overwhelming number of assassination attacks.

"Well, they're reptiles, so why don't you hibernate them with the magic of cold air"

"Hibernation? Specifically?

I ask for details about unexpected measures.

"Yes, reptiles hibernate in winter. And with the exception of some, reptile demons hibernate as well. So I think if a wizard who can use cold air magic unleashes magic from the top of the wall at once, the temperature will drop and the anthraptors will also hibernate. Fortunately, we are separated by walls, so we don't have to worry about our allies taking damage with cold air."

Hmm, is it true that if we succeed, we can render our enemies inoperable without defeating them?

If there's no other way, why don't you bet on it?

"Okay, let's try that. Everybody, listen up!

It's a waste of time, I immediately called out to my people who are inside the wall.

◆

"Whoa!? What the fuck!?"

"How long the hell are you here!?"

"Don't get yourself into too much! I can't help you if you fall!

Everyone who ran into the wall screamed when Mr. Roddy explained the situation.

And as soon as they saw this sight, they all shut their mouths, although a voice raised accusing Mr. Roddy of instructing them to flee to the wall.

Understand that Mr. Roddy was right to make the decision that he was still alive because he escaped into the Ningro Wall.

"Look, do everything you can to cool down the anthraptor! If we succeed in hibernating them, we win without a fight!

"Do we have to..."

"There's no escape route."

The wizards will also be ready for Mr. Roddy's words.

Prepare for the time when each of the people who can't use magic will have to set up a weapon.

"Look, don't think about it later! Anyway, do your best to lower the temperature!

"" "" Ooh "" "

We're all in the mood for more than nothing.

"All right! Do it!

With Mr. Roddy's decree, everyone unleashes the greatest ice magic they can use.

"Frost Storm!"

"Blizzard wall!!"

Among them, the magic of Mr. Chain and Mr. Ramies drew a line with the others.

They are both cooling their surroundings at once with the magic of the ice storm system, but just making the camp the center of the storm keeps them from causing damage to their allies.

Due to the magical influence of the two, the ambient temperature drops at once, and the adventurers protected by the walls tremble in the cold, killing them to the burning prepared in the center.

"Oh, hey, make the magic of fire stronger!

"No, no, no, you can only use fire to hibernate the anthraptor!

"Then pack more!

"Chill out more! There are enemies in the back that can't reach the lights! Just cool it!"

The people waiting inside screaming at Mr. Roddy's instructions.

All right, I have to work hard, too!

In this situation where my allies are protected by the wall, I can fight as funny as I can!

"Prison Coquitos!!"

"Wow, it's cold!?"

With my magic activation, the ambient temperature cools even further, causing the wizards to shrink the fruit.

"Wow, wow, you think it's colder than my magic!? Is that Lost Magic too!?"

Something Mr. Ramies says, but lowering the temperature is a priority now.

Around the camp, an absolute zero degree ice fog, also known as underworld ice, begins to cool the anthraptors overall, regardless of the high or low difference.

An anthraptor whose body surface has been frozen by ice fog is then stretched onto a considerable anthraptor to seal further movement.

The anthraptors were trapped in cages made of their own bodies one after the other because they were so numerous that they inhibited their movements.

All right, at this rate, we can lower the temperature enough to hibernate all the anthraptors hiding in the back -!

"That's it, that's it, that's it!!"

And, if I was tempered and chilled, Mr. Roddy stopped me for some reason.

But I can't hibernate all the anthraptors without cooling them down.

"Thighs, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

That's what I say. Mr. Roddy points out as he shivers his fingertips with the blurb.

"The thighs are already here. Ruru!"

"Huh?"

From what I can see, all the anthraptors outside were ice packed up to the frozen clearance to a glacial sight.

And the glacier had gone invisible up to the back of the cave.

"Is that it? Is it frozen already? I guess I was unexpectedly vulnerable to the cold."

"That's not the problem! Whatever it takes, it's too cold! Even salamanders like this will freeze!

And, Liliera, who was protecting her body with physical strengthening magic, screams as she shrinks.

"What? But the Frost Dragon didn't hibernate until it was a little cooler, did it?

"" "" "" Because it's definitely not hibernation, it's just freezing to death! I mean, how can you freeze the Frost Dragon to death!! "" "

Somehow I got stuck in here from all of you.

Oops, my master said that reptiles don't have to worry about attributes or anything because they mostly don't work if they cool down.