Chapter 120: Adventurers vs. Hydra
And so, the day of the Hydra subjugation battle arrived.
I encouraged the assembled adventurers and, leading them, promptly entered the forest.
Thirteen adventurer parties had gathered. Adding Achim’s territorial soldiers to them, the total force was just under a hundred people. As the quest issuer, I held the right to command. I’ve never commanded this many people before, so I’m a little nervous.
Well, they’re adventurers. I probably can’t command them like an army.
I just need to assign tasks roughly to each adventurer party.
Crimson Vow had apparently found the Hydra at a pond within the forest. There are several ponds in the forest, and the members of Crimson Vow led us this far.
“Hydra, confirmed.”
“Thanks for the report. We’ll attack as planned beforehand. Don’t mess it up.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Hydra doesn’t seem to have moved from the edge of the pond where it was discovered. Perhaps it’s confident in its strength, as it shows no movement even when we arrive at the pond.
I don’t like it, but I guess it’s better than it running around.
“Crimson Vow was to be the vanguard, right? Well then, shall we get moving too?”
We’ll leave the battle with the Hydra to the adventurers; our group and the territorial soldiers will eliminate any surrounding monsters that might get in the way. I’ll leave command of this to Achim and Eleonore, while I support the Hydra battle.
“Alright, I’m counting on you, Achim, El.”
“Leave it to us.”
“Yes, leave it to us.”
Seeing Achim and Eleonore’s group off, I headed towards the front line.
Perhaps excited by the impending Hydra battle, the adventurers lacked their usual playful atmosphere; their faces were dead serious.
At the very front line, the members of Crimson Vow were making their final equipment checks.
“How’s it looking?”
“Lord-sama? Is it alright for you to be here?”
“No problem. More importantly, how is it? Think you can take it down?”
“We know all too well how strong the Hydra is. But today, we will defeat it.”
The leader of Crimson Vow, Zasha, powerfully made a fist in front of her chest. Crimson Vow had once been routed by the Hydra. However, there was no trace of such a pathetic atmosphere now. The other members were also enveloped in a tension like a taut string.
“This is still classified information, but the adventurer party that performs best this time will receive a special prize from me, in addition to a Hydra head. If it’s a wish I can grant, I’ll grant anything, you know?”
“Anything?”
“Any…thing…?”
“Does that mean…”
“Yeah, I’ll grant any single wish. Give it your all!”
“””””Yes!”””””
Crimson Vow must be ambitious; hearing my words, their morale seemed to rise even further. Crimson Vow might really take the top honor this time.
◇
“Zwei Magia, Fireball!”
The battle with the Hydra had finally begun. What signaled its start was a double Fireball from Crimson Vow’s mage, Sophie.
DOGON!!! DOGON!!!
Sophie’s Fireballs burst, and the Hydra writhed as if irritated.
It’s huge. A magnificent Hydra, more than a size larger than the one Cornelia and I defeated.
“Lightning!”
“Shockwave!”
“Vines, rise!”
“I desire true brethren. Gather, gather, gather, your life is here!”
“Take this!”
“Kugelschreiber!”
“Drei Magia, Shadow Ball!”
Starting with Sophie’s magic, various spells pierced the Hydra. There was even someone who summoned a golem.
“Let’s go!”
“””””UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”””””
With a shout from Zasha, who wielded a greatsword, the adventurers rushed towards the Hydra as if swarming it. They showed no fear, heading straight for the Hydra.
“Protes, Regeneration, Haste, Quick, High Quick, Protes, Regeneration, Haste, Quick, High Quick…”
I cast enhancement magic on each adventurer as they rushed forward. This should reduce the casualty rate somewhat.
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
The Hydra also rose to its full height, writhing its nine serpent-like necks to meet the adventurers.
DARYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
It was Zasha who struck first. Elegantly dodging the Hydra’s biting attack, she slammed her greatsword into one of the Hydra’s necks.
Perhaps due to the enhancement magic taking effect, Zasha’s greatsword lopped off one of the Hydra’s thick necks in a single blow.
Simultaneously, purple poison billowed thickly from the Hydra’s severed neck.
“Poisna!”
“Fireball!”
Just as I chanted the detoxification magic, Crimson Vow’s mage, Sophie, activated her magic to try and cauterize the Hydra’s wound.
Tch!
However, the Hydra’s neck, from which the head had been lopped off, thrashed about wildly and dodged the Fireball. If it thrashes around that much, it’ll be difficult to hit.
“Fireball!”
Sophie is the only fire mage this time. She rapidly casts Fireballs, trying to quickly cauterize the Hydra’s wound, but she can’t seem to land a hit.
Meanwhile, the Hydra’s poison filled the area, and the vanguards were getting poisoned one after another.
Perhaps the Hydra intentionally let its neck be cut just so it could spread its poison.
“Lesser Heal!”
Just then, the Hydra’s wound glowed with a faint green light, and the wound rapidly closed. Thea, Crimson Vow’s healer, had cast Lesser Heal.