Defense Specialization and Daily Life 5.
Maple opens the door and immediately checks the interior. Ahead, doors to the left and right. Facing forward, two gentle staircases lead upward to the second floor. On the second floor, one door is visible directly ahead and one on each side.
There is no choice but to explore each of the six routes in turn.
"Oh? Quite spacious, isn't it?"
"Just as it appears from the outside."
"Even from where we entered, it was a large castle. This path ahead looks long."
"Where shall we go now?"
"Mai, Yui, Maple. Which way?"
Progress continues smoothly thanks to the large mallet floating above, marked with Love That Offers the Body.
They follow whichever route the three choose. In any case, the correct path remains unknown. No objections arise.
"Still, the center one seems most likely to lead to the boss."
"Then right or left?"
"If we're to search every corner, that would be better..."
"Yes, exactly!"
The hidden area found so carefully—no room for oversight.
The eight decide to proceed through the right-hand door on the first floor.
They open the door, inspect for traps, and see, illuminated by the wall-mounted light, three monsters wandering.
They drift like the thick black mist outside, their features marked by large hats and long staffs—clearly wizards.
“Staff… looks like a magic type.”
“Ranged attack? Solid form?”
“Doesn’t appear transparent.”
“Mai, Yui, can you handle this?”
““Yes!””
If they have substance, then it’s ours. In the open corridor, where cover is absent, Mai and Yui—outmatched in range—cannot afford a single hit. But with Maple, it matters not.
No need to fight with iron balls, inch by inch.
Prioritizing mobility, she reduces the two great hammers to two, mounts onto Tsukimi and Yukimi, and has Maple ride behind her, staying just within the range of Love That Offers the Body. The two accelerate instantly.
The mage, noticing this, unfolds a pitch-black magic circle. Black flames erupt from it, striking the three ahead—but Tsukimi and Yukimi cleave through the flames, pressing forward.
“Unn! I’m fine—defenses are handled!”
“Hai!”
No damage. No need to worry. The two close in on the mage hurling flames, swinging the great hammers.
“Eh!?”
Immediately, their eyes widen. No sensation of shattering the enemy.
No wonder—the mage vanishes in an instant, reappearing slightly behind. A short-distance warp. They dodged the attack, effortlessly.
Not only that. The next spell. At the moment the mage swings the staff widely.
“““Eh!?”””
The mage’s form, as if acting upon themselves, splits into three separate bodies, warped to different positions.
Within visible range. Yet the sudden shift in formation hurls the two of them outside the range of Love That Offers the Body.
““Cobalt Move. Multi-Cover!””
““Crom-san!””
Crom arrives in time to intercept the oncoming flames. Using a skill that shields multiple people, he takes the full brunt of the attack, keeping the flames from reaching Mai and Yui.
““Blood Blade!””
Kasumi lashes out with a liquid blade, coiling like a whip, halting the gushing flames. Crom, regenerating as he focuses on the enemy.
“Not someone you can handle with a single stroke, huh!”
“Kanade!”
“Okay.”
““Water Ball!””
““Tornado!””
If direct attack fails, then magic.
Gusting wind and a violently launched mass of water strike the mage perfectly, reducing her HP.
“You won’t dodge it, then? Very well…!”
Iz sets several crystals into a small cannon. The crystals erupt in a blast, detonating seconds later and sending yellow sparks racing through the dark corridor.
The scattered paralysis attack halts movement completely. No evasion. No teleportation.
“Tidal Wave!”
A powerful water spell unleashed in return, as if repaying the flames. Gained through fundamental magical training, it is solid, reliable, and strong—filling the corridor with a great wave that swallows the monster whole.
Amid the rolling sound of water, a sharp *ping* echoes—the monster vanishes. Where the water recedes, eight figures remain.
Yes. The power is sufficient.
Water magic this strong is rare. It covers a wide area. Magical casters are reliable in times like this.
No book stock remains. For now, we’ll fight properly here, with serious effort.
Sufficient.
Kanade’s spellbook, used in the event, is currently out of stock. The number of trump cards has diminished. Still, it’s only a return to being a mere caster.
Even so, reliable. And besides, Sou will also perform when the moment comes.
Shifting without magic? Kasumi’s Blood Blade avoided it too.
We could verify the exact conditions. But if Kanade can be defeated, it’s no issue.
Sorry! Mai, Yui—were you alright?
Yes!
Crom protected us thoroughly.
Well. It’s not like such things would be necessary otherwise. I’ve prepared myself to act at once in emergencies.
You’re quite the one, Crom.
Two-stage formation makes it all the harder to break through, doesn’t it?
Indeed. We’ll dispatch that monster from earlier with Kanade’s method. No need to use the book—just as well.
Save where you can. Win cleanly, simply. Use the eight of us to their fullest. Cover each other’s weaknesses, exploit no openings. Then, no collapse comes easily.
With that in mind, the eight move forward into the dark corridor, certain they can break through.