The situation was still one where the bastards were sizing us up. And we had taken a defensive formation. If the LadolRofs came charging in with full intent, their momentum couldn't be ignored, so the key was to reduce their numbers as much as possible with a preemptive strike.
Of course, if it was just me, Go Yeon-Joo, and Vivienne, we could easily steamroll the LadolRofs. No, in reality, even just one of us stepping up would be more than enough to treat them as a post-meal workout. But we couldn't keep doing things this way forever. So, I decided I wouldn't offer much help except for dealing with the ones coming at me. It was time for the kids to realize their own roles, experience getting injured, and feel the consequences of failing to carry out their assigned tasks.
"───. ───. ───."
"───. ───. ───."
I could hear Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong chanting their spells. The number of enemies seemed to be roughly over thirty. Among them, about twenty were quick to respond to external intrusions. If those twenty charged in with their horns raised all at once, one of the positions the kids were holding would surely get overrun. How many could Jung Ha-Yeong and Shin Sang-Yong's preemptive strikes take out? That's when it happened.
"Pwoosh! Pwoosh! Pwoosh!"
"Prroong! Prroong! Prroong!"
Most monsters in Hall Plain were intelligent. Especially, quite a few were sensitive to the flow of mana. So when mages started gathering mana to cast spells, they reacted with extreme sensitivity. Sure enough, perhaps sensing unease from the mana gathering among our group, the LadolRofs let out rough snorts and breathes, thrusting their heads forward aggressively.
If it was just one or two, it might've been overlookable, but with over twenty of them acting in unison, their intent was clear. And then, signaled by the roar of an especially large one at the front, the LadolRofs began charging toward us all at once.
Doom! Doom! Doom!
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud-thud-thud!
The ground-shaking footsteps grew faster, the rhythm of their stomping shortening with each moment. It felt like a scene from the Middle Ages, with knights on horseback charging in unison, wielding heavy lances. I swung my sword back and forth, gauging my defensive range, and then targeted the three LadolRofs leading the charge. In a low voice, I warned the group.
"They're coming. The first line aims to break our formation with a charge, while the second line uses their strong leg muscles to trample. If you can avoid being pushed back by the first line—or better, push them back—you can fight them easily."
By the time they had closed about half the distance between us, I heard heavy exhales from behind, signaling that the spells were complete. Since we hadn't formed a tight formation up close but kept some distance, the mages had enough time to chant their spells. Still, with the enemies' speed increasing, I hoped they'd unleash their magic soon.
"Dig In The Ground!"
As if they had coordinated beforehand, it was Shin Sang-Yong, not Jung Ha-Yeong, who cast the first spell. It was unexpected that it wasn't a direct attack spell, but knowing they often used linked magic, I decided to observe for now. And using Dig In The Ground against the LadolRofs was, in fact, a highly efficient choice.
An invisible force swept across the ground in front of the charging LadolRofs. At that moment, a "thunk" sounded as the earth split, and a long trench appeared. Since Shin Sang-Yong hadn't mastered advanced magic, creating multiple trenches at once wasn't possible. Instead, he had dug a single, elongated trap in a perfectly timed location, too precise for the LadolRofs to react.
The trench wasn't incredibly deep, but it was more than enough to trip up the LadolRofs' feet. More importantly, the spell wasn't cast haphazardly—it was timed for maximum efficiency, which deserved high praise. The results of the magic were immediate.
"Puhihihng! Puhihihihng!"
"Pukrak! Pukkrak!"
Four or five of the LadolRofs charging fiercely at the front tumbled forward all at once, while others staggered heavily. This forced the ones following at a slight distance to slow down, causing a chaotic scramble. Seizing this moment of disorder, Jung Ha-Yeong's clear voice rang through the air.
"Ice Spear! Rapid Fire!"
While the vagrant mage yesterday used Flame Spear, Ha-Yeong, who specialized in water-based magic, unleashed Ice Spear. I quietly counted the number of spears forming and smiled to myself with satisfaction. Perhaps due to her special ability,
The pained screams of the LadolRofs echoed, but Jung Ha-Yeong's magic wasn't finished yet. Normally, magic allowed only one modification per spell. Applying two at once was extremely difficult due to the complexity compared to basic magic. However, she still had her trump card—Memorize. As a brilliant white light shimmered from the Necklace of Glory around her neck, she opened her mouth again to cast another spell.
"Broken!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
As the Broken spell activated, the Ice Spears lodged deep in the LadolRofs' bodies shattered all at once. The external ice turned into fragments, exploding outward and sweeping through the surrounding enemies like a storm. Judging by how some of the creatures writhed and collapsed, the spears embedded inside must have broken into tiny pieces, tearing their insides to shreds.
"…I'm sorry. The power was weaker than I expected."
"No, this is more than enough."
I shook my head at Jung Ha-Yeong's dejected apology. The six LadolRofs pierced by the spears were instantly killed, and the surrounding ones, though staggering, began charging at us again. While it didn't quite cut their numbers in half, it significantly dulled their assault and inflicted numerous injuries. It may not have met expectations, but it was far from something to apologize for. (Admittedly, my expectations were a bit high to begin with.)
At that moment, a strange flow of mana began to weave intricate patterns beside me. As I saw a magic circle forming, billowing with smoky tendrils, I finally remembered the one person I'd overlooked while focusing on Jung Ha-Yeong. We still had another mage on our side—one far superior to the other two: an alchemist.
"Come forth, Acacia! Queen of Pain, ruler of the 29th Legion!"
As Vivienne's clear voice rang out, dark flowers began to bloom from the trench Shin Sang-Yong had dug. The flowers, blossoming at an astonishing speed, unraveled their vines and swiftly enveloped the nearby LadolRofs. After confirming the scene, Vivienne snapped her fingers with a flourish.
Snap!
Pssht! Pssht! Pssht!
""""""Puhihihihihihihihng!""""""
Sharp thorns sprouting from the vines mercilessly pierced the bodies of the enveloped LadolRofs. The creatures within the vines' reach let out mournful screams, thrashing their heads upward, only to be buried again under a fresh onslaught of thorns. Six more fell victim to the spines. Those outside the range or quick enough to leap upward survived, but the combined efforts of the three mages had taken down twelve before they could even reach us. I glanced over to see Vivienne flashing a V-sign with a smug grin. I let out a sigh and clicked my tongue. At my reaction, Vivienne immediately frowned and started grumbling.
The large LadolRof that had let out the initial roar was still alive. Though it bore wounds here and there, its hostility toward us hadn't diminished. Lowering its head with four horns, it began charging at us again. As if enraged by the futile deaths of its kin, the surviving LadolRofs followed the leader, brandishing their horns.
The mages had done their part. Now it was time for the melee fighters to step up. With the enemy numbers significantly reduced, I decided to slightly adjust the formation and spoke up.
"An-Hyun! Yun-Jung! Move forward!"
At my command, An-Hyun and Yun-Jung swiftly darted to the left and right. I didn't give separate orders to Go Yeon-Joo. Her role was to protect the mages and the priest, providing occasional support from the rear.
The lead LadolRof let out a bellowing roar and charged straight at me. Its horns, glinting sharply in the sunlight, thrust forward. I stepped back, raising my vertically held sword upward. The blade caught something, and with a flick, pieces of severed horn flew into the air. The force tilted the creature's head upward, and I seized the moment to deliver a powerful kick to its jaw.
A heavy shock traveled up my leg, and the monster's neck whipped back flexibly, forcing it to stagger a couple of steps. Taking advantage of the opening, An-Hyun and Yun-Jung shouted battle cries and struck at its flanks.
Thud! Slash!
An-Hyun's spear pierced its torso, while Yun-Jung's dagger sliced sharply into the middle of its right leg. But perhaps due to insufficient strength, Yun-Jung's dagger failed to fully sever the leg and got stuck halfway. As she paused, another monster charging from behind lunged toward her.
"Yah!"
Yun-Jung hadn't been idle all this time, though. Gripping the stuck dagger with her right hand, she reversed her hold and pulled her body toward me. Using the momentum of her tilted weight, she cut deeper into the leg. With her left hand, she raised her Sculepf and swung it forcefully at the incoming monster.
"Puhuhung!"
"Kyaa!"
Unable to completely avoid the collision, Yun-Jung's body shook violently and seemed to be flung backward. But using the dagger in her right hand as a brace, she barely held her ground. The charging monster, taking a direct hit to the head from her Sculepf, let out a pained scream.
At a glance, Yun-Jung wasn't unscathed. Her left arm was bent back sharply, and it seemed almost miraculous that she was still gripping the Sculepf. But I chose not to say anything. At the very least, it was better than getting hit directly. And judging by how she maintained her stance, she had likely anticipated it.
"Cure!"
Sol, as if prepared in advance, immediately cast a spell toward Yun-Jung's arm. A warm, white light enveloped her left arm, and after rotating it a couple of times to test its recovery, Yun-Jung stood back up.
An-Hyun was performing beyond expectations. He was taking on three LadolRofs at once. Though he appeared to be on the defensive, he held his ground without retreating. His focus on physical combat training was evident—he deftly twisted his body to dodge their horns, swinging his heavy spear like a windmill to strike them. Occasionally, he took hits from kicks coming from blind spots, but he gritted his teeth and endured, fulfilling his role as a tank.
"Shackles!"
"Shield!"
"Wind Cutter!"
Support from the priest and mages resumed, and the battle began to flow more smoothly. I casually swatted the face of a LadolRof charging with its maw wide open, then focused my attacks on the one that seemed to be the leader. Yun-Jung had effectively hobbled its right leg, slowing its movements, which allowed me to slice through its neck with ease.
As time passed, the number of LadolRofs collapsing onto the ground steadily increased. After I severed the leader's neck, their morale plummeted sharply. Yun-Jung, with support from Go Yeon-Joo and Vivienne, began to rampage even more fiercely, while An-Hyun, backed by Sol and Jung Ha-Yeong, managed to take down all three of the creatures he was facing.
Thud!
For the final remaining monster, Yun-Jung crossed her Sculepf and dagger, slashing its neck before spinning away. Her jacket and shirt were slightly torn on the left side, but she didn't seem seriously injured. For the first time, I felt no dissatisfaction with a close-quarters battle centered on the kids. My lack of complaints meant they had met the standard I had in mind.
These kids, not even six months into their training, had stood their ground against a fairly formidable horde of monsters without retreating. While the mages' early contributions and support from me and Go Yeon-Joo played a role, the fact that they each pulled their own weight was significant. The kids, perhaps feeling the unfamiliar thrill of their achievement, stood quietly, all looking at me.
But I had no intention of praising them here. I was still hungry for more, and the kids needed to grow further—eventually, they'd have to crush creatures like these as easily as swatting bugs. So, I fixed my gaze forward with an impassive expression.
The young LadolRofs and the ones protecting them had already vanished from the scene. The moment their entire combat force was wiped out, they fled swiftly. Looking at the hesitating group, I shook my head with a calm expression.
"We won't pursue the ones that fled. They're hard to catch, and there's no need to. Treat the injured quickly with potions and reform the ranks. We'll resume marching in three minutes."
"""Yes."""
Hearing their slightly deflated voices, I calmly turned around. Go Yeon-Joo, for some reason, was wearing a faint smile, as if she found something amusing.
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