It is beyond question that the golem in the mine is a special monster.
Which means this female-type monster must be a unique individual of the golem class.
This is getting complicated……
Special monsters only appear during named quests.
For each single type of monster placed on an unpopulated island, exactly one unique individual is mixed in.
It wouldn’t be strange for there to be a unique individual that is also a special monster.
Perhaps there was a unique individual during the Stym Parides event as well.
Anyway, I need to deal with the enemy in front of me.
Retreating is an option, but I don’t want to turn my back on the enemy if I can help it.
Especially not on a straight path like this.
“Miyao! Transform into your dragon and bind that thing! Slow down when you tighten the grip!”
I shouted while pressing down on my wound.
Fenrir Miyao remained as is, turning into a red-haired dragon, and thrust the tail side toward the enemy.
The enemy produced its disc again, but Miyao encircled it with her tail, then tightened the cordon.
Touching the disc doesn’t deal any damage to Miyao because the force behind its reflection is weak.
I observed how long he could keep producing discs.
After a few seconds, the discs vanished.
He can only generate one at a time, and they last less than five seconds.
While his defense appeared invincible, there seemed to be a way to counter it.
However, Miyao was injured too.
I couldn’t afford to take my time.
The Crimson Dragon’s grip tightened on its enemy, but the target was sturdy and refused to break.
Then, an idea flashed through my mind.
If this thing is also a golem, its weaknesses might be similar as well.
Just as I tried to rise, my body swayed.
“Please don’t, Kuno-kun!”
As the teacher stopped me while shedding tears, I couldn’t force myself to move.
“Sonosuke-sama, what should I do?”
I realized that Amitsubo had put down his cage and approached my side.
“Amitsubo…?”
“Amitsubo-san, no! If you’re going to do something, let me go!”
“The teacher should stay by Sonosuke-sama’s side. Sonosuke-sama, please give the order.”
”…Take off my mask.”
“Understood. If the same script found on the golem is beneath the mask, I will remove it.”
Kanzon understood my intent instantly and sprinted off.
You would never guess she was a student who often skipped school.
Now that she had gained a “healthy physique,” if anything, she was remarkably fast.
“Your Majesty Miotome, forgive me.”
Using Red Dragon Miotome’s body as a stepping stone, Kanzon reached for the female golem’s mask.
The disc did not reappear.
As the metallic mask came off, the strength drained from the female golem, and it crumbled into sand, vanishing completely.
A few seconds of silence passed.
“S-seems like we took it down.”
For a split second I felt relief, but then the pain seemed to intensify.
“Lord Sousuke! I did it!”
“Aah, thank you. You saved us.”
It truly was an impressive performance.
“For Lord Sousuke’s sake, even if I must dive into a sea of fire or the deepest depths!”
Kanzon declared this with a rough puff of breath from her nose.
Maybe the adrenaline was pumping due to her first real combat experience.
“Haha… hic!”
Laughing sent a jolt of pain through my wound.
“Itano-kun!”
“Lord Sousuke!”
”…Miyao, I’m sorry to trouble you with your injuries, but could I ask a little more of you?”
The Red Dragon, Miyao, nodded.
We mounted Miyao’s back and asked him to head toward the entrance.
The teacher carried my basket on his back.
As if he had expected just this, clean cloths were prepared; he pressed them against the wounds and bound the injured areas tightly.
Miyao’s injuries were treated in the same manner.
As long as we didn’t bleed to death before then, Chiyu would cure us.
“Kuno-kun, Genchu-san, I’m sorry.”
It was who-knows-how-many times the teacher had apologized.
“Luminus is not a bad thing.”
Was it now that he was to be called ‘teacher’?
I couldn’t quite organize my thoughts properly.
This must be what they meant by losing consciousness.
“Kuno…kun?”
“Luminus alone cannot protect the students from all dangers. But that’s fine. After all, we are comrades now.”
“Bu-but if it weren’t for my fault, you wouldn’t be…”
“Just as I said before, I’m just glad Luminus is safe.”
I think I must have managed a smile.
My head felt heavy.
“――ahh”
“So, stop apologizing so much…”
“Souzou-sama! Please calm yourself! I can see the entrance! We’re almost there!”
“Ikuno-kun! Ikuno-kun, wake up!
So…
Sou-chan!”
The two voices sounded distant. ◇ It was a white space.
In the room, me, Sensei, Miyoo, and Kami-sono had been summoned.
“Quest ‘Mine Exploration’ completion confirmed.
“Grant the ‘Return Right’ to all participants: Sōsuke Kuno, Okunanatemiya Ō, Tanbi Lumines, and Kazono Seiju.”
◇
”…Kun… So-kun!”
Warm droplets fell one by one onto my face.
I opened my eyes, wondering what was happening, to find my childhood friend there.
Tears rained down from her blue-jade pupils like rain.
“Chiyu?”
“Sou-kun!”
Saying that, Chiyu threw herself into my arms. “I’m… I’m sorry. For worrying you.”
It seemed I had lost consciousness after all.
I had clearly caused quite a lot of worry, and I felt terrible about it.
I stroked Chiyu’s back, my gaze sweeping the area.
“Miyo?”
“I-I’m here,” Miyo answered.
Miyo, too, had tears welling at the corners of her eyes, her face a mask of relief.
“Glad… I’m sorry for having you fight despite being injured.”
Her wounds seemed to have healed without issue.
I re-acknowledged the grandeur of the Healer.
“No. I’m glad I could be of use.”
“Seriously, that saved us.”
“It’s a mutual thing, right?
Hadn’t Soutsuke given us orders, I don’t know if we would’ve made it out,” Miyo said with a smile.
“Saou-kun, I have something to say.”
“Yeah… y-yes.”
I sat down seiza-style right where I stood.
But no words of anger flew at me from Chiyu.
“I can’t do it without you, Soutsuke. You can do anything you want, just don’t die.”
With her lover telling me that through glistening eyes, I couldn’t refuse. “U-Understood. I’ll be careful.” “Mm. That’s fine.”
I stood up, and Shinsoku lunged into my arms.
「Sena-san said what needed to be said, but I really was worried about you」
I gently held Shinpou and apologized, “Sorry.”
That was all I could do.
“But if it weren’t for Soosuke-kun, the teacher wouldn’t have been saved. I respect your brave actions.
That aside, my heart nearly stopped” Shinpou looked up at me with a glare.
“Seriously, watch out next time.”
I would have preferred to avoid it completely, but this time I ended up getting injured.
When he turned to look at Professor Luminas, he seemed to be so relieved that he collapsed into a heap on the floor, his legs giving way.
“Professor Luminas.”
“I’m glad… I really am.”
“I’m sorry to worry you. I’m safe, so please rest assured.”
Only now did I check on my own condition.
My arms worked fine, and the holes in my uniform could likely be sealed by storing the fabric and reconstructing it.
Since I couldn’t use my abilities right now, though, I’d have to wait until tomorrow.
The purification conveniently washed away the bloodstains.
I quietly extended a hand toward the teacher, and she gently grasped it and stood up.
The sensei’s gaze, fixed on me, was feverish.
“Sensei?”
When Sensei leaned against my chest, she pressed her lips near my ear and whispered.
“Can I come to So-chan’s room tonight?”
My heart lurched.
“Lu, Luminas-sensei?”
Pulling away, Sensei was blushing all the way up to her ears.
“Is that no?”
Looking up at me with glistening eyes, it would have been impossible to refuse.
”…No, it’s… not a no.”
“Good.”
Smiling with visible delight, Sensei reverted to her professional demeanor as a teacher.
“I’m so glad your injury healed up, Takano-kun. Thank you once again for helping me. You really are an admirable young man.” “Mm. Sensei has fallen too.”
“Ch-Chiyu-san. That’s not a nice way to put it…”
“You clearly had a lady’s face on you, though. I can understand how you feel all the same.”
“Se, Sensei is…”
Chiyu, Fukumi, Jin’en, and Miyo were murmuring among themselves.
“Cough, cough! Everyone at the base must be worrying too. Let’s go home and put their minds at ease.”
Sensei cried out, her face flushing red for reasons entirely different from before.
In any case, I managed to clear both designated quests.
I got four return rights, plus one from the joining bonus for becoming a mentor, making it five in total.
I couldn’t bring back much loot this time, but the mines have been unlocked.
I was looking forward to my “Crafting” ability returning tomorrow.
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