Fifty-four: Once the plan’s set, you feel that relief, right?

The deep indigo sky stretched wide.

As the sun vanished beyond the horizon and darkness began to claim the world, a streak shot across like lightning.

We’d prepared thoroughly. We’d also wanted to test a certain strategy—adjusted the timing so it’d hit just as the sky went dark.

Raidock had discovered the habits of the cocatris. If we played it right, we might just secure a crushing victory.

Raidock, clad in armor dyed a deep blue, with hair just as dark, stood at the front.

With full-plate Leifan beside him, the B-rank adventurers surged forward.

Behind them came a horse as black as ink.

Of course, it was me and Ed riding it.

“Got it, Ed? Keep your head down. Hold tight.”

“Uh-huh!”

“What’s that? Leave it to me.”

The golden dome’s watchtower came into view beyond the horizon.

I spotted the massive horde of cockatrices moving in unison.

“Raidock! Just ahead!”

“Got it!”

Since I’m on horseback, I point ahead, directing them toward the enemy.

The deranged cockatrices were barreling straight for the town, utterly focused.

No sign they’ve noticed us.

“Alright! Let’s try the usual trick!”

“““Ohhh!!”””

Raidock and the others had noticed the cockatrices’ habits—now we’d exploit them.

“Solar Illumination Sphere!”

From my outstretched arm, a mass of magic soared high into the sky, hovering there before erupting in a burst of light.

A tiny sun forged from magic.

One shadowed form lit up like midday.

I cast the same spell twice more, launching the spheres high into the air.

Three illumination spheres now hung above the ground, bathing the earth in light. The cockatrices’ swarm became clearly visible.

The variation was wild—sizes all over the place—but it’s safe to say nearly five thousand cockatrices are already flooding the western side of town.

And then, suddenly, the swarm started to panic.

“Seriously, the chicken bastards are freaking out.”

I mutter to myself.

The habit Raidock’s lot found—sudden bright light in the dark throws them into chaos, slows them down.

Worth a shot anyway. Turned out perfect.

“Works like a charm!”

“Nice one, Craft! Yeah! These sluggish cockatrices are just fodder! Let’s scatter them!”

“““Ooooh!!”””

Raidock and the others charge in as one, plunging into the mass. Leifan’s syncing up with them just fine.

"Windstorm Sword Slash! Tornado Phoenix Cut! Vacuum Soaring Slash! Mighty Arm, Mighty Blow!!"

"Painting the Dragon's Eye! Windstorm Piercing! Flash Fang Assault! Thousand-Line Flash Battle!!"

"Rock Plate Collapse Impact! Mighty Arm, Mighty Blow! Rock Shattering Shockwave!!"

"Hmph! Hmph!"

"Speed Boost! Speed Boost! Heat Resistance! Heat Resistance!"

"Flash! Floating Light Sphere!"

Every time Raidock, the swordsmaster with the warrior’s sigil, swings his technique, a handful of cockatrices are sliced clean in half. From the blind spot, Solar, the ranger with the archer’s sigil, fires her arrows. One arrow, one kill. Unbelievable precision and power. Arrows fly into my spatial storage without end, so I can fire freely.

Leifan isn’t backing down either, slamming enemies with his mace strikes like a body check. Not even a combat sigil, yet the force is insane.

The warrior Moda wasn’t fancy, but he was cutting through enemies with brutal certainty.

The priest Bep swiftly cast supportive spells on everyone. The mage Bardack kept scaring the cockatrices with light-based magic.

Not using attack spells—probably saving magic power—but mostly because hitting them in the face with light orbs worked too well.

"Good work, Craft! We’re in deep! Made us a safe zone!"

"Got it!"

I pushed the Black Dragon forward. The black horse crushed the cockatrice’s head—still groaning on the ground, not quite finished—then stomped it flat as we slid into the empty space Raidock’s crew had carved inside the enemy lines.

All around us—monsters, endless.

But thanks to the three sun-like light orbs, they were sluggish.

"Let’s go… 'Scorching Eight-Layer Hellfire Storm'!!!"

The top-tier fire magic among all the offensive spells I wield. So devastating in power, some call it not magic but sorcery—deadly, unforgiving.

I chose this fire spell not just for its raw power, but because the light it gives off amplifies the flame’s reach.

I’ve rested enough. Energy, strength—fully restored.

Pouring every last ounce of magic into it, I’ll show you something real.

Hellfire swallows the whole field, turning it to ash in an instant. The cockatrices turn to roasted meat in a flash.

“Whoa—?! Holy hell! Unbelievable!”

“Damn…!”

“Craft! You nailed it!”

Raidock and the others react in their own ways.

“From here on, I’m backing you up!”

“Yeah! Leave it to me!”

We burned through the thickest part of the enemy line and kept pressing forward, thinning them out.

We replenished our mana with potions, but held back on big spells.

I stayed on the front lines with normal magic, covering Raidock and his team, keeping an eye out for any shifts in the situation.

Movement caught my eye toward the Golden Dune.

Using a scrying spell, I saw about ten adventurers charging straight into the chaotic Cocatrices.

A bulky tiger-beastman led the way. He’d fought in the Dragon Hunt—solid fighter, no doubt.

“Enemy’s in disarray! Now’s our chance! Don’t back down! A chicken frozen in place? That’s no threat to us!”

“““OOOOOHHHHH!!!”””

Probably elite adventurers, picked for this moment. They surged straight into the Cocatrice horde like they’d been waiting for it.

“Good. We can win this.”

And so we wiped out the Cocatrice horde, pooling every last bit of the town’s strength.

◆

Dawn painted the earth red.

Not just because of the sunrise. Anyone who saw how many Cocatrice corpses littered the field would understand.

Right now, adventurers who didn’t take part in the direct fighting are collecting the bodies and pulling out their magic stones.

"Damn… looks like a magic stone field."

"Move it, move it! If they start rotting, it’ll be a mess!"

"Sprinkle the deodorant Craft made while you’re tossing the bodies into the pit!"

"Got it!"

We dug a big hole with magic, dumped everything in, and burned it all.

Of course, the incendiary powder for the fire? That’s my job.

The incendiary powder uses tech from magical bombs, so it needs a decent amount of mana stones—but we’re getting some from the cockatrices, so we won’t run short on materials.

I was discussing the setup with the adventurer guildmaster, Cyanos, when I heard something odd mid-conversation.

Apparently, the mana stones from cockatrices are way higher quality than usual.

Sure, individual monsters vary, but this wasn’t just a few lucky ones—overall, they were consistently top-grade. Cyanos kept scratching his head over it.

Questions piled up, but I’d save that for later.

With the rough cleanup plan settled, I left the rest to them and dropped into sleep like a sack of mud.

◆

“Huh… night already?”

I woke up to noisy racket, but it was still just after sunset.

“Would’ve liked to sleep till morning tomorrow.”

It wasn’t a panic—just laughter mixed in with the noise, so I relaxed and sat up.

At the same time, the door clicked open.

“Master, may I come in?”

“Uh.”

No sound. The maid Ryuuko slipped in, already moving fast, laying out my clothes.

“Shall I prepare the bath?”

“Hmm… later. Just a quick wipe-down’ll do.”

“Understood. I’ll bring the bucket and warm water. Let me help.”

“No need. Just the setup.”

“Understood.”

She said it, already pulling out a bucket full of lukewarm water and a towel from the hall, like she’d already had it ready.

I wiped myself quick, slipped into my usual robe, and stepped outside.

“Ah… I see.”

The scene clicked right away.

Looks like the townsfolk were bringing food and dishes, setting up a feast for the adventurers.

Around the town’s central plaza, several free stalls had set up.

“Ah! Craft-sama! Heard it all! You were a real hero this time, weren’t you? Here—grilled skewers!”

“Just did what I could. Appreciate it.”

Chewing as I walked, accepting each dish offered, I made my way toward the festival’s heart.

The only downside to the legendary stamina potion? You get *insanely* hungry the day after pushing yourself to the limit.

Accepting the offerings with thanks, I glanced around at the festival as I headed toward Kyle’s manor.

“Kyaa! Craft-sama! Wait!”

“Craft-sama, come join us for a drink, huh?”

Two women around my age—curvy, glamorous—pressed close, arms weaving through mine. Both pretty, sure. But I slipped free as smoothly as I could.

“Sorry, got somewhere to be.”

"Is that so? Too bad."

"Then come by when you're done, okay~!"

"I-I guess, if I have time..."

Slipping free from their soft advances, I barely managed to scramble away. If I'd messed around too much, I'd be buried in the outer moat before I could blink.

I felt a tiny pang of regret, but chose strategic retreat anyway.

"Hmm? Craft, you into girls with big chests, huh?"

A sudden voice came from behind.

I turned. Leifan stood there, hand on hip, eyes fixed on me with a slow, heavy stare.

"Leifan!? When did you get there!?"

"Found someone drooling over a cute girl, so I came to check."

"I-I didn't do anything shady! Not at all!"

"Hmm?"

"W-Why are you even mad?!"

"Nah, not mad at all~"

"Hey! Leifan! You listening?!"

"Listening, listening~"

"No way you’re ignoring me! Hey! Leifan!?!"

"Ah, yeah, Kyle-sama was calling."

"Just about to head over, but listen to me! Please!"

Crap, did Leifan think I was flirting with a girl? Feels like ice all over.

Even as I headed toward Kyle’s manor, I kept trying to explain myself, desperate to clear up the misunderstanding with Leifan.

The maid led me into Kyle’s room, and suddenly Maina was glaring at me harder than ever.

"... (puff)"

She puffed out her cheeks, deliberately stepped right in front of me, then turned her face sharply away.

"Ah, did Maina-sama see from the window?"

Leifan’s words made it click.

( gulp )

Still facing sideways, Maina nodded with smooth little motions.

"Yeah, that’s Craft’s fault, isn’t it?"

( nod, nod )

Quietly agreeing, Maina.

I get the situation, but I don’t get Maina’s attitude.

Can’t figure it out… can’t figure it out…

Gonna go play tomorrow, so bye for now \(^o^)/