Volume 1 Chapter 10 Drop's Crisis
'That coward is actually the one who should be begging me for mercy.'
With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Drop was walking in a rage. She was at the end of the party, the safest place, playing a role in supporting her friends.
Drop and the others were a group of high achievers. Wade was not invited due to being Slow Magic, and Frain was not invited due to being injured, but other than that, they were the first five to receive magic.
In addition, additional students were those with moderate grades but excellent magic. So, it was a composition of three top performers and two excellent in magic.
Still, there was an extra slot, because she had planned to include Ice, who had been friends with Drop since childhood.
Both of them were born into merchant families, and Ice was the daughter of the subcontractor of Drop's family.
Drop had always been kind to the shy Ice since they were young.
When Ice was lonely reading a book, Drop pulled her out and brought her into a circle of friends, and she stopped her from indulging in gloomy hobbies like sewing.
This time is the same. Ice magic is a half-baked magic, and there's no way anyone other than Drop would want her.
And since Drop was chosen to wield water magic, which is a special magic, she intended to accept her as just right.
"Speaking of Ice...! Why did she choose that Slow Magician of all people?!"
Indeed, Wade was quickly recognized as the top performer, and his calm demeanor and smooth completion of tasks secretly made him popular among the girls.
When he received Slow Magic, his face turned blue, but in the mock battle with Frain, Wade ended up winning.
However, considering his humble beginnings and that he is from slum, it's an unlikely choice. Drop remembers Wade entering school looking like a skinny dog.
Most of all, Slow Magic is still Slow Magic. She doesn't know what Ice was thinking, but teaming up with Wade instead of her is unbelievable.
"Wade is still Wade! Having someone with half-baked magic join won't help you at all!"
Ice is already a bit slow. If her magic isn't strong enough to fight alone, it will be tough.
And Wade doesn't understand this. That's why he accepted her. He doesn't get how hard it is to deal with someone who holds you back.
As Drop was lost in thought, she heard someone call "Drop." She looked up and said, "What? I'm busy thinking..." but her words lost their color.
She saw a creature with the face of an old man but the body of a lion. Its red fur shone in the torchlight.
In the flickering light, the old face grinned. It spoke.
'Dinner.'
* * *
The scream kept coming one after another. We ran through the dungeon, pointing to each other and saying, "Is it that way?" "Yeah, I think it's that way!"
As we were running, we spotted a flickering light in the unknown distance. It was a torch.
We looked in that direction and saw our classmates being attacked by a red lion. I was shocked.
---A Manticore shouldn't appear on the first floor!
The Manticore, a lion with a human face, was a monster with a poisonous tail. I clicked my tongue and called for "Ice."
"I'll get close and distract it! When I catch up, attack from behind!"
"O-Okay!"
We nodded at each other, and I leaped forward with all my might. At the same time, I increased my Weight Down rate and sprinted 30 centimeters above the ground.
As I approached and swung my arm back, I suddenly reversed my weight just before reaching the target.
[Weight Increase] Attack.
Without a word, my strike tore through the manticore's body. "Gyaaaaaaah!" the manticore screamed. The trainee who had been attacked groaned.
"Ugh, uhh... I don't want to die, I don't want to die."
"Be quiet! I'll heal you...!"
Drop seemed to be healing her comrades while sweating profusely. But it would be tough. The wounds were severe and there was too much bleeding.
"Hey, is there anyone calm left? Provide support."
Only one, a big guy, nodded. I readied my sword to face the manticore.
The manticore was howling.
'It hurts! It hurts! Help! Help!'
"...Can this thing understand human language?"
"No, I've never heard of a monster understanding human language. I think it's just imitating."
The big guy, holding a huge hammer, answered my question.
At that moment, the Manticore leaped towards me.
'Help!'
"You're making things complicated!"
I thrust my sword while casting [Weight Increase]. For a moment, even a giant couldn't deflect my thrust.
The Manticore tried to swat away my thrust with its arms, but it didn't work. Instead, its arms bounced off while my sword pierced deep into its chest.
It's a fatal blow. But, it's a bit risky.
I reached the limit of my arm strength, so I used [Weight Reduce] to lighten the sword. Continuing with Weight Increase is impossible. Thinking quickly, I let go of the sword and leaped away.
It was a close call. I almost got crushed by the sword and the Manticore.
Even though the Manticore was fatally wounded, it still glared at me with rough breaths. Just like I learned in training, enemies don't fall from just a fatal blow.
The sword is still stuck in that guy, with the handle dropped on the ground. It would be difficult to retrieve while being under the control of a Manticore.
'Listen, living creatures don't always die immediately from a fatal wound. They can keep moving even with a deadly injury. That includes all of you. So, first, incapacitate them. Render them powerless. Killing them is basically the next step.'
I thought I understood the truth of the instructor's words from fighting Goblins without magic. But now, I feel it even more strongly.
"Step back. I'll take this."
The big guy steps forward. It's nice of him, but unnecessary.
"Don't hog all the action. I can still fight."
"What?! But you don't have any weapons."
"Don't underestimate me. I have these fists."
I tighten my hand with the leather glove and punch with the other. It's not the most impressive weapon, but it can work, especially with my magic.
"I-I know, but..."
While thinking about it, I quietly told the big guy who was confused.
"That guy are slowly approaching the our comrades from behind. Please distract them with me."
"! G-Got it. ...What should I do?"
"I'll taunt the enemy. When they attack, I'll dodge and then strike them once, creating an opening for another blow."
I pointed to the target area and tapped the head. The big guy hesitated before nodding.
Then, I provoked the Manticore.
"Hey, ugly lion. Come at me. I'll take you down!"
'---Grrrroooarrr'
Finally, with just a roar, the Manticore attacked. I took a deep breath in response.
[Weight Reduce], full power.
My body floated in the air under the pressure of the Manticore. The Manticore and the big guy stared in surprise.
Reverse. [Weight Increase], full power.
I fell towards the Manticore, the increased gravity making me fall faster. I clenched my fists and slammed them onto its spine.
'Gyyaaaaahh!'
"Now!"
"Yeah!"
I signaled to the big guy, who raised his hammer high and shouted "Quake!" as he brought it down on the Manticore's skull. It was a powerful blow, causing a shockwave to ripple out.
The Manticore's head jerked back. It wasn't dead, but if it could just stay dizzy, that would be enough.
"Ice, it's up to you now."
"Yeah, leave it to me...!"
And then, Ice leaped forward. She touched the Manticore and shouted "Ice Blow!" The Manticore immediately began to slow down, until it finally stopped moving.
"...Did we win?"
Ice asked tentatively. Just to be sure, I borrowed the big guy's hammer and used Weight Reduce followed by Weight Increase Attack on the Manticore.
The frozen manticore shattered into pieces. "Wow..." I said, returning the hammer to the big guy who was stunned as I retrieved the sword.
"Let's all escape for now. Hey, you cowards! How many of you can still move? Carry the injured out."
At my call, the panicked members of the Drop party timidly nodded. Among them, Drop alone gazed at me and Ice as if unable to believe what she had seen.
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