I’m Going Crazy with Joy and Happiness

First comes interest.

Second comes carelessness.

Lastly comes arrogance.

“Grrr?”

“Groooo──”

The two monsters faithfully followed the above process.

Whether because I looked docile, or because my body was small, they paid no attention except for a brief glance.

It was as if they were saying there’s no need for you to interfere in this struggle, you can’t pique my interest.

“Groooo!”

“Gyarah!”

So they resumed their fight between themselves.

Tap, tap tap─!

Even when I approached them closely and made a big leap, they maintained their attitude of ignoring me, not giving me any attention at all.

More precisely, they didn’t until I,

Stab─!

Deeply stabbed a long ice spear into the eye of the monster with a bear-like shape.

The problem was what came after.

“Gr-Groooo!”

A scream of incomparable intensity to the previous roars pierced my eardrums.

The leaves clinging pitifully to the trees fell helplessly, and fierce winds swirled around as it shook violently.

‘A direct hit.’

The blue bloodstains flowing from its eye socket had already covered it.

“Ki-Kiii?”

The other one that had been scuffling with that monster seemed unable to understand the current situation, just standing still in its place.

Its movements stiffened as if in shock.

So it was good.

Doesn’t it mean my attack worked without difficulty on a Grade 4 monster, and a giant species at that? Even though I controlled my strength, the fact that it penetrated shows I’ve grown steadily.

It was something I couldn’t have dreamed of in the past.

If I had lived conforming to my mana grade, I might have been able to catch monsters somehow, but I wouldn’t have been able to move so leisurely.

“…Nice.”

Unlike past games, I smiled broadly, savoring the vivid sensations enveloping my whole body.

It was really good to fight.

Even the blood spurting from around the giant fire bear’s eyeball, doesn’t it look like blue hydrangea petals scattering around?

It’s beautiful.

And clear.

Although it hadn’t even been a few seconds since entering the battle, my heart was beating roughly with joy beyond imagination, my blood circulating quickly, giving me a refreshing feeling.

So I didn’t regret it.

My choice to fight the monsters.

“Gr-Groooo──!”

Now I should prepare to strike back.

Rustle─

I can no longer expect the same carelessness as before. Now that both sides have become serious, I squinted one eye and took a stance to counter the approaching giant fire bear.

“Haah…”

And finally,

“Gruoh!”

When the distance with it, boasting massive limbs, had narrowed sufficiently, I kicked off the ground and rushed forward.

“Hm?”

“I-I’ll go with you!”

“To think you’d use magic directly on the monster. No matter how I think about it, Yena, you must be hiding something…”

This time, together with all the team members.

‘No, to be precise, except Wolf, that is.’

Whether because he was still shocked by the previous conversation, or scared, overwhelmed by the scene before his eyes, Wolf didn’t move a step, maintaining his position.

“Hm, what did you say?”

“…It’s nothing.”

“Ye-Yena. But can we really beat that enormously big monster? It looks even bi-bigger up close.”

“It’s possible if you cooperate well.”

In the end, only Rina, who was frowning with considerable shock, and Erika, who was looking at the monster with eyes mixed with half expectation and half fear, were standing beside me.

‘These two should be enough.’

The former was an ex-princess who entered with exceptional talent, and the latter was a comrade who could be called a cherished disciple.

What is there to be afraid of?

For me, who has been through thick and thin, this training is just part of the process.

‘Actually, I’m enough alone.’

I sensed it by measuring up just now.

That there wouldn’t be much difficulty in killing those two alone.

However, since what’s most importantly evaluated in training is teamwork and coordination between team members in battle, like group activities, I’m not acting recklessly.

Still, I should fight while moderating my strength appropriately.

The purpose of this training wasn’t just to take the lead, or personal goals like growing more by repeatedly fighting monsters… there were various intentions.

For example, confirming Erika’s abilities by creating an environment similar to actual combat could be seen as one such example.

“Rina, since you have holy power, please provide support and healing from the rear. Erika, I hope you’ll cover me while staying together, or attack jointly.”

“O-Okay. Got it!”

In the end, it means I shouldn’t exert full power from the start to bring down the monsters.

I had to control my strength to somehow drag out the fight and achieve many goals.

I wonder if I can maintain this mindset even when immersed in the noble and sacred situation of a desperate struggle with monsters…

“In the end, it seems Erika and I have no choice but to rely entirely on you, Yena, in this formation. Do you have confidence in this engagement?”

“Hm, you’ve seen my skills so far.”

“Th-That’s true. U-Um… I’ll follow your words for now. There’s no particular reason to object.”

“Thank you.”

I’ll try my best.

Fortunately, I was able to get permission from Rina at last, and only then did I shift my gaze towards the side where the monster was charging.

Boom, boom, boom─!

“Gyaaah──!”

Although I had landed at a distance just a moment ago, somehow it had come close enough that I could see its fur fluttering.

“Gyaah!”

Even the other one that had been dazed, perhaps sensing danger from me, was approaching us swinging its sharply gleaming claws.

“Then let’s begin.”

“Phew, alright.”

“Yeah! I’ll follow Yena right away!”

So I stepped forward without any hesitation.

The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it is for us.

Thud─!

As per the plan, I placed Rina in the rear,

“First, keep the other one in check.”

“Okay!”

“I trust you, Erika.”

“Hehe… I’ll make sure not to disappoint you!”

With Erika right beside me, I quickly closed the distance.

‘If there was one more person, I would have been completely satisfied…’

Of course, the more people there are, the easier it is to carry out operations. If one more team member were added here, we could deal with them more easily.

“Tsk.”

But there’s no fool who would include an idiot in the team just to gain that advantage.

Accordingly, I couldn’t include Wolf.

Even if I persuaded him well and we faced the monsters in unity, it was obvious that in the moment he hesitated out of fear, the coordination would be broken and the formation would be disrupted.

Who would eat something poisonous just because the apple is sweet? That’s just the level of a greedy fool.

‘Useless.’

I twisted my lips with a pathetic feeling and took my eyes off Wolf.

“Gyaaah!”

And I charged towards the monster’s underbelly that had arrived right in front of me.

‘If three is the limit.’

Then I just have to do the work of two people.

The solution was simple.

Let’s think positively, isn’t it that I get to taste twice the joy by working twice as hard…? I clenched my fist while thinking about the situation as optimistically as possible.

Crunch─!

I created a solid ice formation like before.

The difference is that this time, instead of creating a weapon like a spear, I surrounded my hand with magic to make the fist itself solid.

Bang─!

Without hesitation, I swung my hand at the Langarm-Gynäkus’s underbelly.

“Ki-Kiee─!”

It was such an intense blow that I could clearly see its skin twisting.

Its swinging limbs, its long mouth that had been roaring, all stiffened in an instant at that ferocious attack.

As a bonus, it opened its eyes wide as if questioning whether the punch it had received was really from this tiny living being, the human it had been looking down on.

“Ye-Yena! I’ll block this one!”

Meanwhile, Erika was faithfully carrying out her mission.

“Gr-Groooo!”

She clearly restricted the movements of the remaining one swinging its huge claws.

As if determined not to let it pass to me at all.

She brought out ice magic befitting her clear sky-blue hair, facing the monster with all her might.

‘Not bad.’

And I couldn’t help but admire the fight between her and the giant fire bear.

Erika had already shed her appearance of a bumbling novice cadet and was showing strength outstanding for her year.

She had made remarkable progress through continuous training.

I was satisfied because it was the result I had cultivated with my own hands.

‘…With Rina’s help too.’

From the rear, Rina was granting Erika healing power through holy power, bestowing a force that could be called a kind of buff, further invigorating her body.

Thanks to this, Erika could use magic more excellently than usual.

Me, directly dealing with the monster.

Erika, providing supplementary help beside me.

And finally, Rina, observing the situation and giving timely assistance…

It was cooperation beyond expectations.

I never thought we could collaborate like this. In a way, isn’t it possible because each of us has an extraordinary mind?

‘Good.’

Then I should gladly go along with this high-level fight. Giving my all would be courteous to these team members.

“Ki-Ki-Kieeek─!”

By this point, my fighting spirit was burning.

I showed a broad smile to the groaning monster while stamping my foot, and moved to strike again.

The underbelly.

More precisely, towards the Langarm-Gynäkus’s weak point.

Boom, crack─!

It diligently rolled its feet to trample and crush me.

Even swinging its front paw claws, which were not short compared to my height, mercilessly shattering nearby trees.

‘Monotonous.’

However, it never touched my body.

Usually, monsters bound by excitement become simpler in their attacks proportionally. Even if it was a giant monster species with overwhelming power, I could easily avoid it.

Rather, I reversely planted my fist into its body.

“Ki-Kieeek!”

Even when it twisted its body, raising thick dust clouds, I didn’t let go.

“Let’s get hit more.”

“Keeeek──!”

Even when a hoarse voice as if its vocal cords were splitting was heard, I didn’t withdraw my magic.

I just kept planting my fist, which showed fierce power by being surrounded with ice chunks.

‘Indeed, this seems to be its weak point.’

I continuously pounded a specific location in the middle of the Langarm-Gynäkus’s underbelly, where pale flesh was exposed.

It was a monster I already knew well.

From the start, I knew the characteristics of all monster species in detail.

I had already understood that this soft part of the underbelly I was constantly hitting was the only weak point of this creature whose entire body was covered with extremely tough skin.

So,

Thud!

I kept insisting on hitting this spot.

“Gya-Gyaruk──!”

Sticky blue blood burst from the monster’s mouth.

Perhaps due to the accumulated damage, I could see its internal organs churning and blood reversing on its skin.

“Haah…”

That’s why it was enjoyable.

Every time blood splattered from its mouth, which must have been several meters long, onto my face, an exciting sensation that tickled my chest came.

‘The impact itself is different.’

How should I put it, isn’t there a taste in hitting? That subtle stimulation where the duller feeling intensifies the larger the body… That’s exactly how it was now.

Every time I swung,

Crack─!

My fist,

“Gya-Gyaaah!”

The sensation of its bones crumbling traveled up the protruding part on the back of my hand, tingling my back.

I was too happy.

I couldn’t stop.

How could I stop when my body was coursing with endorphins due to the greatest pleasure I’ve experienced since the duel with Wolf?

I became immersed only in this situation.

Even Erika fighting fiercely beside me, and Rina occasionally launching projectiles made of holy power from behind,

“…A bit more.”

“Kirik, Kieee──”

Were forgotten as I poured all my attention into eliminating the monster before me.

Finally,

“Gya, Gaak…”

Only when the Langarm-Gynäkus, which had maintained its towering presence, collapsed onto the ground with a thud, could I regain my senses.

“Yena! Are you okay?”

“…Yeah. How about you?”

“I-I’m not hurt much thanks to Rina! The monster was really scary, but we ca-caught it like that!”

How many minutes had passed?

How deeply had I been immersed?

‘Is it over?’

While appreciating the monster’s screams as if they were lyrical classical music, I had been lost for several minutes in progressively crushing its body, and before I knew it, the battle had ended.

“We caught it, really.”

“Yeah!”

Erika and Rina had shown unexpected activity, and the other one was also collapsed with its chin planted on the ground.

“Well done.”

“O-Oh. Hehe…”

The sudden end of the battle we had encountered.

Rustle, rustle─

While patting Erika’s head, who had faithfully carried out her task, I looked at the monsters’ corpses with hazy eyes.

Because as the stimulation of my nerves calmed down, a sense of exhaustion came over me.

‘Really, we’ve cleared everything.’

The blue bloodstains hardened on the ground, countless trees folded in half revealing their pure white interiors, and the team members including myself.

Whoosh─!

Silence enveloped the forest.

What this meant was only one thing.

The scene of the monsters being perfectly cleared. Although I wanted to enjoy it more, in a situation where everything was over, I let out a sigh mixed with that much regret.

Swish─

And I licked my lips while wiping my mouth smeared with blood.

“Hmm…”

Now it was okay to relax and calm down.

Although you never know, for now, there were no monsters in sight.

But I didn’t lose the sharpness in my eyes.

Although the long battle had ended, I couldn’t be at ease because there were still a few problems to be resolved.

“You, crazy bitch!”

To be precise, because of that guy over there.

“Finally, he comes.”

Thud─! Thud─!

I turned my head to meet Wolf, who was approaching with large strides after not daring to come out while trembling, only now that the monsters were all dead.