Three more days until the paperback of volume two hits the shelves!!!
It’s huge.
A regular Avanku was vicious enough, but in terms of size, it wasn’t that much different from a beaver. This one, however, is a whole other beast.
Slimes and Treants were the same way. Do all unique individuals grow larger than their standard counterparts?
It slowly emerged from the water’s surface, its form revealed inch by inch.
Needle-like fur with a metallic sheen.
Sharp, massive claws and fangs.
Bloodshot eyes. A low, heavy roar.
“So that’s the unique individual! Looks like I’ll have my hands full taking this thing down!”
Kenoki sounds thrilled.
“Micro! Highlow! Keep on the move!”
As long as our attacks continue to fall, any intelligent monster would be able to predict the general location of the enemy.
Even with the barrier up, taking a hit there would be a pain in the ass.
“Hah…!”
Kenoki swung his wooden sword, and a Flying Slash streaked toward its target.
That said, we couldn’t see it.
However, that didn’t seem to be the case for the “Red-Black Avark.”
“What!”
Kenboki’s eyes widened in shock.
The Avark spat out a water bullet with force, and it collided with Kenboki’s “Flying Slash” in the space between us and the enemy.
The slash cut through the water bullet, but that was where its role ended.
“It’s a coincidence… isn’t it…”
Fuhou put on a thoughtful expression.
“I’ll know if I slash again!”
Kenboki launched not just one, but multiple “Flying Slashes,” yet the enemy skillfully defended against them all.
They were all neutralized by water bullets.
“Perhaps because our allies took damage, the nature of our attacks was deduced.”
Even if Fuhou was right about that, it was still strange that invisible slashes were visible to it.
If our abilities were magical in nature, and “Flying Slashes” fell into that same category, could it be that the enemy can see magic power?
Setting aside whether that theory is correct, in reality, the enemy was indeed blocking Kenboki’s attacks.
“Kenboki! Focus on the standard individuals for now! Fuhou, use magic on the Unique individual!” “Hmph. Understood!” “Yes! —‘Thunderbolt’!”
Fuhou’s thunderbolt struck the river, and the enemy’s movements halted for an instant.
But the enemy moved immediately. Since I’d dealt with several normal individuals floating around in the water and felled them without issue, its power shouldn’t have been a problem.
The enemy was heading toward land.
It hated fighting in water… or was that not it?
“『Arashi Yaiba』!” (Storm Blade!)
A swarm of wind blades struck the enemy, but for an instant, each individual hair on its body bristled irregularly.
“Wh-What!?”
Fuka cried out in shock.
I saw it too. By cleverly reversing the direction of its thick fur, the enemy deflected every single wind blade as if parrying sword strikes.
“It’s not a coincidence! The enemy can see our attacks!”
“Sousuke-san!
It might not be just about seeing the attacks!” —Ah, I see!
If my hypothesis just now is correct, and something is being captured when the ability activates—
“Seina!”
“I know! I absolutely won’t let you break through the barrier!”
“『Raiden』!” (Thunderbolt!)
Fuka’s lightning strikes might be accumulating damage internally.
That was probably why she came ashore—she considered that staying in the river would mean getting electrocuted no matter where the lightning hit.
The attack might be effective. But that simultaneously meant the enemy was on guard.
The “Red-Black Avenk” scooped up a normal individual with its claws and hurled it into the sky.
The lightning strike struck the standard individual and vanished.
Had it learned that Shinhō’s lightning was a magic cast from top to bottom, and adapted accordingly?
The enemy fired a water bullet at them.
“I won’t let you!”
Katsugi flashed his sword, slicing the water bullet in half.
“If it’s something you can do, why should I be unable to do it too!”
Katsugi laughed warily, though the feat seemed like a godly trick.
“Bakuen!”
Shinhō used an explosion magic.
He thought this would do it, but when the smoke cleared, the enemy stood there unscathed.
Seeing it now, it had wrapped itself in a sphere of water.
It seemed to be able to use something like water magic.
How troublesome was it going to be?
Did the strength of Unique individuals have anything to do with the bounty for defeating them?
No, he shook his head.
It wasn’t a matter of strength, but of compatibility.
The enemy simply possessed enough power to counter the abilities of this specific lineup.
“This is getting nowhere! Takano! What are we doing!?”
There are no restrictions on the use of ability, but our focus is finite.
We can’t afford to fight here for hours.
A moment’s hesitation.
“Shinpō! Have you noticed anything?”
“It seems they were using the river water for their water-based defenses, though…
I’m sorry, that’s all I have.” —I see.
The water bullets were probably spit or something, fired from within the body.
But the water membrane that stopped Shinpō’s explosion was formed by manipulating the river water.
“No, it’s enough.”
“Good for you.”
Chiyu, who was standing behind me, gripped my waist tightly.
“It’s fine. You’re not going to pull any reckless stunts like back at the slime, are you?”
I gently stroked Chiyu’s hand before raising my voice.
“Mikuron to Hyarow! Get away from the river!”
“What?! We’re retreating?! If we miss this chance, who knows when we’ll get another!”
Kengi turned a protest-filled gaze toward me.
“I know.”
“Then!”
I smiled at Kengi.
“We end it right here.”
”────”
Kenoki’s eyes went wide. After a few blinks, he broke into a sly grin.
“Please accept my apologies for the mix-up. That face of yours is that of a warrior.”
Being told you have the face of a warrior isn’t exactly something you hear while being a student in Japan.
Maybe Kenoki was high on the vibes of this otherworld’s desert island.
Anyway, the spirit beasts had obeyed my commands.
Having sensed our intent to flee, ‘Crimson-Black Arvank’ and its regular cohorts gave chase.
The direction was perfectly accurate, so their mana must still be detecting the barrier.
Once we’d put a sufficient distance between ourselves and the river, I raised my voice again.
“Invert it! Yurina, set up the barrier to separate the river from the monsters! Everyone else, just focus on farming those mobs!”
They all followed the instructions immediately.
“Takano! What’s the plan!?”
“It’s the same as with Behemoth.”
Tachi asked while loosing arrows, and I answered him.
And so, a massive boulder was positioned in the upper air, at the very limit of its reachable altitude.
It fell directly onto the head of the “Red-Black Arcanum.”
Escape into the water was impossible, and using water to create a defensive barrier was no option either.
All thanks to Seirena’s barrier.
Using the regular individuals as a flesh shield was also off the table.
Because the swarm within the barrier had been wiped out by their comrades.
Of course, the mass wasn’t something that could be handled with those water bullets.
Being in flight meant she didn’t feel the shaking of the ground, but the vibration of the air was transmitted to her.
Accompanied by a deafening roar, the gravel and dirt along the riverbank blew away, scattering into the air.
Since the “Red-Black Arcanum” was prey for the Seiko Party, she worried about finishing it off herself, but that fear proved unfounded.
It did not disappear from sight; it just trembled violently.
Perhaps its prickly fur had buffered the impact.
“Kenboku, I’m counting on you for the finishing blow.”
”……”
“Kenboku?”
When she called out to him again, Kenboku snapped out of it.
“A, ah. Understood. Since we’re at it, how about ‘Itemizing’ those sharp quills? Trying to bisect the body will be hindered by the fur; I’d probably have to make several cuts.”
“That sounds good. Well then, I leave it to you.”
The item obtained was known as “Quills of the Red-Black Arvank.”
It appeared to be a material that could be used directly to craft a spear. It seemed to possess magic resistance; with skillful handling, it might pierce or deflect enemy magic.
As a man, he found this to be an exciting material.
“Farewell, ‘Red-Black Arvank.’”
The enemy, having lost most of its pelt, was cleanly split in two by a single flash of Kenki’s sword, and its form vanished into light.
“Red-Black Arvank.” Hunt complete.
It was a tough foe, but he managed to take it down.
“Good work, everyone.”
“Good work. Over the course of today, I’ve come to understand why your side relies on Takano.”
Menoha spoke with a smile of relief.
“Hm. You’re applying to join the harem too, Yuminon?”
“Oh, haha, what about me…”
At Chiyu’s joke, Itsuha blushed.
“Mm. How exactly does one submit that application?”
To my surprise, Katsuki had jumped on board.
“Show your affection for Sou-kun, and the application is complete.”
“Affection, huh. Quite a shameless word. But in reality, this incident has only increased my evaluation of Kunou. That smile from earlier… it made my chest flutter just thinking about it.”
Katsuki’s cheeks were faintly flushed.
As he spoke while pressing his hand to his chest, he looked almost pitifully cute. Could it be?
Not a joke?
“Mm, just one step away.”
“Haha, I see. Just one short step, huh. I’ll keep working on it.”
And then Katsuki looked at me.
“I used to think that if I were to fall in love, it would be with someone stronger than myself, but thanks to Kunou, I’ve learned that strength comes in many forms.”
“Eh, uh… you’re welcome?”
“Normally, one should call a person who sleeps with many women depraved… but there is a word more fitting for you.”
Kenbki grinned, his smile laced with a teasing edge as he continued.
“A hero’s eye falls on the beautiful.”
Failing to find a witty retort, I was left with no choice but to return a wry laugh: “Haha…”
In any case, we had eliminated all three unique individuals stationed on the island.
Until further additions appear, the threat of unique individuals can be disregarded.
And so, basking in our victory, we set off on the road home.
Doubly serving as an advertisement for Volume 2, I intend to keep updating until the day of release.
With that said, please continue to look forward to tomorrow!
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