Volume 2 Chapter 7 Lower-Rank Adventurer Promotion Exam III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Manon, you mustn’t fight. Stay back.”
”I’ll take the role of vanguard. Ms. Christy, could you provide support with magic?”
”Since we’re in this together, I’ll help you. But you must protect yourself.”
”Haha… then I’ll do my best not to be a burden. Thank you.”
Kian said this as he pulled a club from his waist.
’Should you use this one?’
(No, if I use that one, my vision will change and my movements will be slightly sluggish. It’s fine as it is since I’ll be fighting in close quarters.)
He stopped in front of the arch that led to the innermost room.
The arch functioned as a teleportation gate, transporting them to the boss room.
It seemed to be a precaution for when multiple adventurer parties arrived simultaneously.
Well, essentially if they encountered another group in the darkness, it would likely develop into a 3-on-3 battle.
(I could sense several spacious rooms deeper in. I could also feel the breathing of monsters waiting there. It seemed it was based on luck which room they would be sent to and which boss monster they would face.)
The party’s combinations and the luck involved made this a highly chance-based trial.
In a sense, it was a test that faithfully recreated the fact that adventurers could not survive without good luck.
”I’m going in. Are you mentally prepared?”
”Okay, okay. Enough of that, just get in already.”
Encouraged by Christy’s voice, Kian used ‘Leap’ to move in quickly.
The gate’s color shifted to orange, possibly in response to the entrance ticket he was holding. Once he saw the change, Kian landed on the floor of a wide, dusty room.
As soon as he stepped aside, Christy, who had entered from behind, suddenly appeared.
Kian did not turn towards Christy.
This was because the ‘enemy’ was about to come into view right before him.
”────”
He brandished his club and stepped forward.
Then, the lamps installed on the walls of the spacious room all lit up at once, blinking with a “hum, hum” sound.
The dimly lit boss room.
In the back, black mist was swirling.
It twisted and spiraled under the light of the lamps, taking the shape of a humanoid shadow.
Christy murmured from behind.
”Shield Cain. A lowest-rank vampire. Nevertheless, a vampire is still a vampire, so it’s quite powerful. If I remember correctly, the recommended party rank for defeating it is…”
”Rank 7. For a party, it’s Rank 7.”
Before Kian could respond, the black shadow transformed into a monster with grayish skin.
Its overall silhouette resembled that of a mantis.
Its head was heart-shaped, and hard bone protrusions resembling shields extended from its arms and legs.
It was overall flat and large, giving the impression that despite being a mantis, it had solid defenses.
The monster opened its mouth wide, with jagged teeth, located below its heart-shaped head, beneath small eyes and nose.
”…”
”Tch, noisy.”
Its voice was thin and high-pitched──.
A disturbing roar, reminiscent of metal scraping against metal, echoed sharply in the space.
In response to the roar of the Shield Cain, Manon, who had just teleported in, gasped, while Christy muttered a quiet curse.
’Are we supposed to kill it?’
”That’s the task.”
He stared down the gray, armored monster, its stiff limbs clanking as it moved. Without pausing, Kian raised his club horizontally with a swift motion.
”———”
In the background, Kian could hear Christy starting to chant a spell.
A monster, seemingly clad in a shield all over its body, let out a roar that overlapped with her clear voice.
This time, it was not a roar of intimidation.
It was a battle cry, similar to the kind of shout one makes before an excited attack.
The monster had been forcibly captured and brought here by Guild staff, forced to sleep in such a dark place.
It had likely awakened in a state of mild panic at the presence of intruders.
The monster concentrated its strength into a fist thrust into the fragile stone floor.
Then, it created a resounding sound as it kicked the brittle stone floor with its hind legs.
This was a preparatory movement for a charge.
The creature with the mouse-gray shield seemed intent on charging to crush Kian, positioning its proud armored limbs like a big shield.
(Shield Cain is skilled at combining its tough armored limbs to form a shield, excelling in attacks that crush enemies. In battles between males, it comes down to the hardness of armor and strength. However)
”…! …! …!”
He quickly built up his magic power.
Having become capable of handling a large amount of magic power, his technique of ‘impact’ had improved significantly over the past few weeks.
(Behind the shield──its back is unprotected)
Thus, when engaged as a party, the vanguard warrior attracts Shield Cain, allowing the magician positioned behind to unleash powerful magic onto its soft back, aiming to finish it off in one blow.
’Are you going to circle around with ‘Leap’?’
(That would be good, but this time there are nobles around)
Kian lowered his center of gravity and faced off against the shield monster, which was poised for a charge.
Then, as if hiding behind his proud shield, he pulled his small head back and kicked the stone floor with his hind legs in one swift motion.
With a rumbling roar like an earthquake, the gray shield charged forward.
”…Huh!”
Its speed was comparable to an adult male running at full speed.
Though slow, it charged with such force that the ground trembled beneath it.
The height difference between Kian and the creature was almost double.
A cloud of dust rose up, releasing a musty smell into the air.
”──Hmph!”
In the moment of contact,
Kian’s body swayed.
Any skilled swordsman with keen eyesight would have seen 7 lines of orange sparks flash in an instant as the gray shield bore down on Kian.
The monster that charged at Kian toppled over, crashing onto the stone floor, shattering its armor on hands and feet.
A moment later, a large spear of rock generated by Christy pierced the now nearly lifeless monster’s body repeatedly.
The Shield-Cain sprayed out thick, dark red blood.
”────”
While remaining vigilant, Kian turned to look at the monster that had died behind her.
The brown dust gradually settled, revealing the monster lying on its back with its hind legs twitching in spasms.
Blood gushed forth endlessly, filling the air with a metallic scent.
”──Well, after all, it’s just a lowly rank vampire.”
Christy remarked, striking the stone floor with the tip of her staff.
She looked down coldly at the pitiful monster that had been defeated and lay dead.
”There’s no way a mindless lump of flesh can withstand My magic.”
Christy casually swept her black hair back with her white hand, standing tall and graceful. Her posture exuded pride, and she looked absolutely beautiful.
(It’s probably smarter not to mention that I actually dealt the fatal blow first.)
The saying goes, “Go with the flow.” Don’t go against those with high rank and pride.
”Well, amazing, Christy! As expected!”
Manon rushed over, clapping her hands from behind.
Christy blushed slightly, looking away with a huff.
”T-That much is only natural. It’s not something to praise so much.”
”What are you saying! When that monster charged at us, I thought we were done for! And then… you hit it with the great spear of rock! It was incredible!”
”That’s true. I was barely managing to dodge it myself. I don’t know what would have happened without Ms. Christy.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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