Sorry to keep you waiting.
A Rank 7 Monster, the Chimera.
Aria can fight it, but she lacks the means to defeat it. Kitty-chan, who is also a beast-type, is Rank 6, but because they’re of the same lineage, the difference in combat power directly translates to a difference in strength.
Kitty-chan’s Battle Arts could inflict heavy damage, but even then, the disparity in our overall strength means it won’t be a decisive blow.
And even as I am now… I can’t defeat the Chimera.
It’s an opponent that I’d normally only be able to damage by using my Divine Protection, so in my current state, I couldn’t overcome the Chimera’s regeneration.
Even if I could use my Divine Protection, having lost my fire attribute, its force has subtly decreased, so I don’t even know if I could produce its former power.
I thought about it…
What is the role of a ‘Magician’ in a party?
Previously, I only thought about becoming strong on my own.
To submerge a great nation in a sea of fire all by myself, to annihilate knightly orders single-handedly, to massacre high-rank warriors alone, to burn down cities by myself—I sought only pure ‘power’.
However, that was something beyond human limits. For that, I had no choice but to offer my very life as a price.
So, what does a Magician in an adventurer’s party like Aria’s do?
Probably the opposite of what I’ve done until now…
Using the knowledge to become a Magician, assessing the battle situation, and using magic not for oneself, but to bring out the best in the party.
But… that’s not like me, is it?
“Aria… will you listen to me?”
When I gave her a really simple explanation, Aria frowned at me with a look of exasperation.
“Aren’t you an idiot…”
Aria said, her gaze turning sharply forward.
“Well then, shall we do it?”
“I like that about you.”
I knew Aria would say that.
“Nero.”
“Graaa…”
As Aria muttered briefly and gave instructions with a flick of her fingers, Kitty-chan, who had been keeping the Chimera in check from a distance, let out a dissatisfied growl for just a moment and tensed her whole body, ready to pounce.
“—World Rejection—”
Light erupted from Aria’s entire body, and at the same time, she appeared right in front of the Chimera.
“Haaaaaaah!”
Aria swung her Blade at the Chimera.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
The Chimera shrieked from the ‘Phantom Pain’ of its entire body being slashed.
Chimeras have dull senses of pain, so that scream wasn’t due to pain. The Chimera was wary of Aria, who had high combat power. Therefore, that scream must have been more out of shock than pain.
But it doesn’t end there—
“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Dogon!!
Leaping out at the same time as Aria, Kitty-chan, who had been circling around the large hall, aimed for the moment Aria attacked and the Chimera was confused, and slammed a Claw Strike Battle Art into its flank.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
The Chimera immediately regained its stance, bracing its multiple legs, and turned its claws and fangs on Kitty-chan.
Having just used a Battle Art, Kitty-chan couldn’t dodge.
Kitty-chan knew that too. For warrior-types like Kitty-chan and Aria, it’s standard practice to create an opening in the enemy and avoid counterattacks.
That’s precisely why—
“—Kouya—”
In that instant, Aria cut in between the two colossal bodies, shielding Kitty-chan from the Chimera, and managed to divert its attack.
It’s not as simple as it sounds. It requires the delicacy and courage to divert a descending blade with one’s fingertips. Moreover, Aria used the light and darkness of Illusion Magic, deflecting multiple attacks with kicks and punches without even causing the enemy pain, and weathered the Rank 7 assault.
Although she didn’t use an activation word, those movements should be close to the Level 5 Dagger Battle Art, [Dancing Reaper].
Other Battle Arts cannot be stacked with the Battle Art [Iron Rose (Ability)]. However, Aria reproduced a Battle Art she had used countless times and etched into her body through sheer instinct.
Even so, it must put an immense strain on her body. It’s not something she can use repeatedly.
Both Aria and Kitty-chan are going all out. They’ve stopped fighting conservatively, holding back reserves in case the battle situation changes, and are now wringing out every last bit of their strength. If they had failed to parry even one of the Chimera’s fangs or claws in that exchange, it would have been over right there.
Therefore…
“Not yet!”
Aria, Kitty-chan, and even the Chimera had momentarily stopped moving during the recent exchange… for just the blink of an eye.
“—[Rock Blast]—”
Clinging to Kitty-chan’s tail, I unleashed a [Rock Blast] from point-blank range, almost directly above it, the rock smashing several of its heads as it embedded itself.
“Gigyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
This time, a shriek caused by the Chimera’s damage echoed.
You weren’t that wary of me, the one with the lowest combat power at present, were you? It’s precisely because the enemy possesses intelligence that surprise tactics are meaningful.
At that moment, in the instant Aria started to move, she swept me up in her movement as well, and then passed me to Kitty-chan when they crossed paths.
Should I say I was caught rather than that I grabbed on?
“—[Cataract]—”
This isn’t the end, you know?
A colossal mass of water, conjured in mid-air, slammed down onto the rock, driving it further in, and at the same time—
Doooon!!
The embedded rock exploded, blowing away a section of the Chimera’s back.
“——————–ッ!!!!”
Genuine screams from the Chimera’s multiple heads filled the vast space.
“Nero!!”
“Graaaaaaaaah!!”
Not missing that chance, Aria and Kitty-chan slashed and crushed its remaining heads.
But in that instant—
“——————–”
A cacophony of multiple beasts.
The grotesque Monster transformed into something even more grotesque.
Something enormous erupted from the Chimera’s shattered back, sending Kitty-chan’s massive body flying. Aria barely managed to dodge but was slammed to the floor.
And as for me—
“Snow-!!”
Aria’s voice echoed.
Simultaneously, something huge protruded from the Chimera’s rear as well, and a massive, log-like object sent my body flying.
“—hk!”
My layered [Rock Skin], [Veil of Water], and even [Bless] were stripped away in an instant. With broken arms and ribs, I vomited blood as I flew through the air.
“Gyiigyaaaaaaaaaaa!!!”
Immediately, the transformed, grotesque Chimera pursued me.
Four massive limbs, twisted together…
Enormous wings formed from bundled tentacles extending from its back…
Its form, with a body carefully selected and specialized for combat, looked just like a multi-headed ‘dragon’.
In this state, it seems fighting is impossible for me…
Ah…
“…Just as calculated.”
I was sent flying behind the Chimera. Taking this much damage was unexpected, but the direction and distance were as planned.
The way a Magician in an adventurer’s party fights is different from my way of fighting.
To have such an ephemeral ‘Dream’…
For me to fight for someone other than Aria—
It’s really not like ‘me’…
A Magician’s way of fighting? You just need to crush them with violence.
That’s why I was sent flying in this direction.
I knew from the start that even if I repeatedly cast Level 5 magic, the chances of defeating the Chimera were low.
So, with no decisive blow available, I had the two of them go all out to draw the Chimera’s attention.
During that time, I would get behind the Chimera as much as possible.
The intelligent Chimera, even while moving in battle, never let us get behind its flanks.
What happens if you get behind the Chimera?
Even in that Dungeon on the isolated island, the moment I moved, the Minotaur Murderer came after me. Monsters bound to a Dungeon had to do so.
That’s why, to chase after me who was blown to its rear, it abandoned Aria and Kitty-chan, who had shown an opening, and came after me.
Thud!
My body slammed onto the floor. Even though I defended with magic, perhaps a broken rib pierced something, as more blood stained my lips.
The Chimera closed in on me.
But, too bad for you…
I didn’t even need to fly myself; the distance I was thrown was more than enough.
“…I’ve come for you. ‘Spirit’ of the Dungeon.”
Having been blown away, I reached it faster than the Chimera could catch up, and placed my bloodied hand on the Altar in the Innermost Sanctum.
What is it that Snow wishes for…
Next time, that power will be revealed! Is it okay to have this kind of development in an epilogue!
Volume 6 of the book version seems like it will be released around the same time as Volume 3 of the comic adaptation.