The ogre-slaying team consists of me, Belial, Sebirino, Enkaruna, and Baraha.
Baraha is smiling, saying, “With this group, I can just watch and enjoy, right?”
From above, looking down, I can see ogres with various skin colors such as red and blue, holding clubs and metal rods, standing out against the brown road. I can visually confirm about a dozen of them. They’re getting quite close to the caravan.
There are scorch marks on the ground from magic attacks, and wind charged with magical energy is swirling. Several arrows have fallen, some of which have pierced into ogres, with the arrowheads sticking out from their skin, but it only seems to increase their excitement, having the opposite effect.
“Sebirino!! Use earth magic to first attack and create a barrier!”
“Understood!”
“Raise up steep mountains from the earth’s surface, create piercing spires! Pierce like needles, stretch like forests, be sharp like beaks! Become the columns of a temple, strike the enemy, and become a cage to separate them! Statting Pick!”
Sebirino and I speak in unison. We each raise two fingers in front of us, imagining the spearheads shooting up vertically. We both form the same hand gesture.
The ground spikes up sharply, and multiple spires shoot up instantly toward the sky. I positioned them between the caravan’s guards and the ogres, blocking their attacks, and some of the spires hit the ogres.
The shrieks of the ogres, whose arms and legs have been impaled, echo around us.
Normally, this spell creates about five to fifteen pointed pillars of hard earth.
But since Sebirino and I cast it together, nearly fifty have been created. That’s a bit too much. It’s even in the way for us.
“That was too many. Sebirino, let’s reduce them a bit.”
“Yes… Huh?”
“The earth, turn to dust and weather, return to the soil. Return once more to solid ground.”
I selected the ones that were excessive and reduced the number, returning them to the earth.
“Huh? You can undo what Lord Arens created too…?”
“Yes, it’s simple. No need to revert it to prima materia; just return it to the earth.”
In response to Enkaruna’s question, Sebirino is trembling.
“I thought… this chant would only end my own spell’s effects and return it to flat ground. To think you could choose unnecessary ones and return them to the earth…!!!”
Huh? Was that a bad thing…?
“Sorry. I thought it would be better if I adjusted it all at once…”
“Truly remarkable, Master!! Such brilliant thinking and magical control!”
“Lord Arens’ devotion to Iriya is impressive, but indeed, this is some wonderful magical control…”
Baraha nods with a wry smile.
I can understand why Sebirino, who admired Baraha, is overly praising me now that he’s my apprentice. It’s a bit awkward, I get it.
While we were casting magic, Belial, having finished declaring his attack, swings a flame sword and slashes at the ogres, sending fire flying.
“Now! Let the hunt begin!!”
He aims at the nearest green ogre, raising his sword from above and striking down on its head. He dodges its thrashing body and sets the ground alight with flames.
“I’ll handle this one!”
With her orichalcum sword drawn, Enkaruna quickly moves to the opposite side of Belial.
The blue ogre here looks the most dangerous, standing close to the adventurers. Enkaruna chants wind magic while approaching a man with a spear, who is glaring at the ogre.
“Rise, great winds! Become a fierce gale and scatter my enemies! Nothing shall stand before you! A swirling storm of wind, rush forth on the battlefield! Koodo Van!”
The wind, with force, rushes in and attacks the ogre like a serpent. The giant body stumbles back several steps, crashing onto the ground with a heavy thud.
“Ah, who are you?”
The adventurer guarding the caravan looks up at Enkaruna, who stands between him and the enemy, floating with flight magic.
“Don’t worry. I am Baraha, the chief mage of the defense city. I rushed here after hearing the message. These people are not part of our troops, though; we just happened to meet them.”
Upon hearing Baraha’s explanation, the young adventurer looks relieved.
He had been trying to protect the caravan in front of the ogre, but it seemed the situation was too overwhelming for him.
Enkaruna’s orichalcum sword ignites with flames, stabbing the blue ogre in the stomach. It bursts into flames, and as Enkaruna pours more fire into it, the ogre screams in agony.
The color of an ogre’s skin is determined by its elemental attribute. This one is blue, so it’s water-based.
Belial also slashes through an ogre, stabbing it and setting it ablaze. The ogre catches fire all over its body… It looks like Enkaruna’s attack inspired him to try to match her technique. He really is competitive.
Sebirino also kills one with magic, while Enkaruna takes down two and Belial finishes off three.
Baraha escorts the caravan to safety, protecting them along with the guards.
However, the ogres, being as tough as they are, easily smash through the hard earth pillars we raised to protect the caravan. A larger red ogre tries to chase after the caravan, so I fly over, beginning to chant magic.
“Gather, winds! Become the storm chariot and envelop me. Command the seven unruly winds! Break through the mountains that block our way. Clouds, be like the scales of a dragon! Sharl-Tampet!!”
The caster surrounds themselves with wind, allowing them to deflect some attacks. When they charge into the enemy and strike with the palm, they unleash a violent storm from all directions. By fully harnessing the wind attribute and imbuing it with enough magical power, the wind becomes charged, crackling with light and exploding like a blast.
It’s a powerful spell effective against large monsters.
“Guuaaahhh!!!”
The ogre cried out in agony and collapsed. I defeated one too!
By the way, this spell is unpopular because if it doesn’t defeat the enemy, it will result in a counterattack. Magic users don’t like charging into enemy lines.
“…Was that the kind of magic Iriya used?”
“It seems that when the limit is exceeded, it becomes charged. I’m not good with wind magic, so it’s impossible for me.”
Sebirino responds to Enkaruna’s muttering.
“No way… I’m good with wind magic, but it doesn’t turn out like that!!”
“It’s either that your attribute value or your magic power is insufficient.”
Baraha points to the fallen ogre. Sebirino, when it’s Baraha and Enkaruna, tends to drop the honorifics.
“Try casting it.”
“Is this a second lesson from Iriya -san? And in an actual battle, too! Alright, I’ll do it!”
When I said I wanted to see the spell in action, for some reason, Baraha became highly motivated and stepped forward. It seemed like he was targeting the blue ogre behind the earth pillars.
There are only three ogres left.
“Gather, winds! Become the storm chariot and envelop me. Command the seven unruly winds! Break through the mountains that block our way. Clouds, be like the scales of a dragon! Sharl-Tampet!!!”
Baraha chanted and charged at the enemy, sending a strong wind into the ogre’s belly. A powerful gust blew through, but it didn’t become charged.
“Baraha-sama!! The wind is dispersing. Gather it more in your palm! Imagine collecting it from all around and focusing it. It’s like turning a screw!”
“The wind isn’t enough. You need to transform it more!”
Sebirino and I gave advice loudly enough to be heard over the fierce winds.
Baraha immediately followed our advice, and wind began to gather in his palms. Small sparks flew, and a moment later, the wind became charged with lightning.
As he regained his posture and tried to counterattack, the ogre’s belly caved in as if gouged, and the club it was holding fell to the ground with a clang.
“I did it! The attack power is incredible!!”
Baraha has quite a lot of magical power. He continued to draw in and concentrate the wind, imbuing it with a charge before unleashing it in a violent explosion.
“Gaahhh!!”
Finally, the ogre collapsed to its knees.
“As expected of Baraha-sama!”
“Thank you, Iriya -sensei, Arens-sama!”
“…Hmm?”
For some reason, I’ve become a teacher. Baraha is smiling brightly.
“Since I already have a master, I can’t call you that, but calling you ‘sensei’ is fine, right? After all, you taught me twice.”
“…Master! Please teach me too!!!”
What is Sebirino trying to compete with? Honestly, there was no problem with him.
“You there! What are you playing at!!”
Belial, having defeated the last ogre, joined us. Oops, we were chatting.
“As expected of Belial-sama! Your swordplay and fiery power have been burned into my eyes!”
“…Hmm? Well, with me here, there’s no danger!”
When Enkaruna immediately praised him, Belial’s expression softened. He’s surprisingly simple, isn’t he?
“Incredible! To defeat so many on your own, Belial-dono is truly amazing! We could never replicate that!”
“Well, of course!”
Baraha is also in high spirits. Belial seems completely pleased.
I wonder, is the King of Hell really so starved for compliments…?
Anyway, we decided to escort the caravan to the defensive city. The ogres have been defeated, and no others appeared.
“…Master, could you give me guidance on my magic?”
“Sebirino was flawless. There’s no problem.”
I don’t think there was anything to improve.
I’m not sure why I’m being scolded…
“No, with your insight, you must have already noticed several of my flaws! Please, I beg you!!!”
“Ugh… There’s nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Master!!! I must be your number one disciple!!!”
What’s going on here…?
Enkaruna seems envious. But I’m not happy at all!
