Volume 1 Chapter 12 Stampede – Part II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Rumi and I returned to the battlefield near the huge barrier covering Grove Village.
My mom’s barrier is as hard as stone.
To be honest, we could probably withstand anything here without even fighting.
The second wave of the stampede consists of familiar monsters: goblins, kobolds, horned rabbits, and slimes.
Each monster is charging straight toward Grove Village as if possessed by something.
Still, it’s way too fun to see monsters that usually run away actually coming to attack us.
It seems like dungeon monsters are different… and when I glanced at Rumi, her eyes were sparkling again.
”Ro, Rob… can I fight down there?”
Her eyes are shining brightly.
”…So, Rumi feels the same way.”
Rumi, who is riding on my back, seems to share my feelings.
”Look, they’re coming at us without running away! I think we should fight fairly!”
Her words are filled with strong determination.
”Earlier, we said it was okay to fight here if it was a one-sided attack from the sky, right?”
”…I want you to forget that promise.”
I nod at Rumi’s words.
While captivated by the sparkle in her eyes, our resolve to fight together solidified.
We land from the air onto the ground.
Alright, time to switch from magic attacks to physical attacks!
”Rumi, I wish I had brought my weapons from the tent.”
I say, feeling a bit regretful.
”Don’t worry! I think we can have a lot of fun even with our bare hands!”
Rumi replied with a big smile and full of energy.
”…Y-Yeah. Oh, I used ‘Skill Sharing’ to level up Rumi’s mana cloak to level 5, so your attack and defense are both stronger now. Go ahead and fight as much as you want!”
Finally, the battle with the second wave of monsters began.
Rumi wrapped herself in fighting spirit and magic power, charging straight into the horde of monsters.
”Ha! Take this!”
──Boom! Crash!!
With Rumi’s powerful attack, the monsters were smashed apart.
Then, I also jumped into the horde, kicking and punching, creating a big scene.
As we continued this one-sided attack, the second wave was almost completely wiped out.
So, we decided to take a short break.
It was just around dinner time.
* * *
As the sky turned a reddish color, Rumi and I decided to have dinner to heal our tired bodies from the battle with the second wave.
We sat around the campfire, sprinkling spices on the monster meat and cooking it slowly.
With the delicious smell of the monster meat and spices in the air, Rumi and I enjoyed our dinner.
The thick vegetable soup and bread went perfectly together, and we ate until we were full.
”This is so good, Rob! I want to eat more!”
Rumi said with a smile.
Seeing her like that made me really happy too.
After finishing the meal, I took out the weapon my dad had given me from the tent for the next battle.
[Dawn Sword]
This was one of the weapons from the collection of S-rank adventurer Izana Cartwood.
It doesn’t have special abilities like a holy sword or a magic sword, but it’s harder than orichalcum and has a sharp edge.
The material is unknown.
The current owner is Rob Cartwood.
[Spear of Eternity]
One of the weapons once owned by the former S-rank adventurer Emma Cartwood.
It possesses an automatic repair function and is a weapon that has endured the test of time.
The material is orichalcum.
The current owner is Rumi.
”Rumi, let’s use this one next. Finally, we can fight an opponent worthy of its unveiling.”
Holding the weapon, I said.
”Really? Wow, I’m excited! But… am I really worthy of such an incredible weapon?”
Rumi asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
”Don’t worry. As Mom said, it’s a waste to keep it sealed away in the subspace for so long, and I think it suits you perfectly.”
I replied with confidence.
After enjoying a peaceful dinner, we ventured back into the midst of the monster horde.
* * *
When we returned to the giant barrier, a vast number of monsters had already arrived, clinging to and kicking my mother’s barrier, engaging in pointless actions.
The third wave of the Stampede consisted of Skeleton Knights, Skeleton Archers, and Brain Eaters──unsettling creatures befitting the night.
Skeleton Knights are adept at close-range combat, wielding swords and axes and often carrying shields, making them somewhat troublesome foes.
Skeleton Archers are skilled in long-range attacks, using bone bows to strike from afar, taking advantage of the night’s silence. Caution is advised.
Brain Eaters are zombies with large heads and slender limbs. Though blind, their ears are highly developed, and they attack with punches and scratches if you get too close. They also possess a toxic status attack, so they require careful attention.
These three types of monsters are weak to fire, light, holy, and thunder attributes.
I wrapped lightning around my [Dawn Sword], and Rumi wrapped fire around her [Spear of Eternity].
”Alright, from here on, it’s a serious battle. Let’s stay focused.”
I said, and Rumi replied with sparkling eyes.
”Yeah! …I’m a little excited!”
”Rumi, use ‘Swift Wind Lightning’ and take out the archers first. I’ll handle the other monsters.”
”Got it! Here I go! ‘Swift Wind Lightning’!”
Rumi charged into the crowd of monsters, taking down the skeleton archers.
*Boom! Boom! Bam!!*
I followed Rumi and took down the skeleton knights and brain eaters.
*Slash! Bang! Boom!!*
The monsters were pretty strong, but with our serious attacks, we almost wiped out the third wave of monsters.
However, even stronger monsters from the 4th wave were approaching quickly.
So, we decided to take a break in the tent to recover our Stamina and Magic Power.
* * *
Back in the tent, I felt bad for Mom, who had to keep maintaining the barrier, but we decided to sleep right away to recover our exhausted Magic Power.
Rumi and I lay down in the tent, comforting each other.
”Phew… good job, Rumi. Fighting all day is really tiring, huh?”
I said with a slight smile.
”Yeah… but it was fun to fight together and help each other out with Rob.”
Rumi replied, her eyes shining.
”What should we do tomorrow? The monsters we fought today are going to be even stronger…”
”…Hmm, it’s fine if Rob decides, but I kind of want to have a battle myself~.”
When did she become so fond of fighting?
It must be because of me…
As we were having this random conversation, we naturally leaned against each other and fell asleep comfortably, feeling tired.
* * *
The next day, when we went to Grove Village… surprisingly, there were no monsters.
”Hey, Rob! What are you guys doing here?”
It seems that Dad Izana defeated the monsters from the 4th wave of the stampede while we were sleeping.
”…Ah, haha… we were just taking a morning walk! The air feels so nice in the early morning!”
I answered, trying to hide my embarrassment.
”The air feels nice…? I’ve heard from Emma. You were fighting a group of monsters with Rummie, right?”
Dad squinted his eyes, as if he sensed something.
(…Ugh. He figured it out! Rumi, do you have any good excuses?)
(Rob, I think it’s best to just give up.)
Rumi smiled at me, looking a bit troubled.
*Thud!*
(Ouch!)
So, my first stampede battle with Rumi ended with a little mishap, but it became a fun memory.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.