I Didn’t Know It Would Be This Beautiful

It was possible to recognize the surroundings with the naked eye.

There was no need to enhance eyesight anymore.

“Re-Really, magic…”

“I was right, wasn’t I?”

The white sphere generated from the armored monster’s flesh chunk that Rina gripped erased all the twilight in the forest.

“Gr-Grrrk─!”

Thanks to that, the armored monster’s movements also stopped.

It lowered its head while roaring.

The holy magic, which could be said to emit the brightest light in the world, was enough to temporarily rob the vision of the creature that had adapted to the dark night sky.

“Well done, Rina.”

Then this is the best time to regroup.

“When on earth did you learn such a thing…”

“Rina, just maintain that magic as it is. Erika, don’t be scared and support me like you did when facing the giant monsters this morning.”

“Huh? Oh, got it!”

I took advantage of the moment the monster’s steps faltered to give orders to each team member.

“I want you to stand here and protect Rina. Of course, don’t forget to assist Erika from time to time.”

Wolf was no exception.

‘Everyone’s cooperation is essential to bring down that thing.’

So it wasn’t right to be selective in making requests.

More precisely, there was no luxury to do so.

In a way, the grades for this training and the survival of the upcoming qualification screening depend on this immediate battle, right?

It’s not a situation where we can afford to leave anyone out.

“Are you okay with this, Wolf?”

While facing the monster and adjusting the fit of my gloves, I glanced at him, seeking his agreement.

“Rina, are you going to listen to her?”

“Yeah.”

“Without you giving the orders?”

“Wolf, I don’t know if she’s a child you dislike, but Yena is the one who can make the best judgments here. And I… I’m already struggling just to maintain this light.”

Fortunately, no particular problems arose.

“Yena is the only one with parents who served as mage officers on the front lines. Whatever else, it’s true that she has knowledge about monsters superior to anyone else.”

“Tsk, it’s a bit disagreeable, but if you say so much…”

Wolf didn’t have a stupid, or rather, terrible brain to the extent of throwing a tantrum in this situation, so the situation I was worried about didn’t occur.

Rina’s unexpected full support also played a part in shutting Wolf’s mouth.

Even though she might feel uncomfortable with me…

To cooperate like this.

Isn’t she really a good kid?

No matter how much she said she didn’t want to fail because her own grades for the current training were at stake, isn’t it true that she helped me by swallowing her pride?

She, who had reached the noble class of princess among nobles in the past, bent her will to a commoner without minding her dignity.

This alone made me feel favorably towards her.

‘It means she has sufficient awareness.’

Unlike someone who tries to maintain face even while trembling in fear of the monster, doesn’t it mean she has the brains to coolly assess the situation and respond accordingly?

How could I dislike her?

Moreover, since there hadn’t been any severe conflicts to the extent of harboring deep resentment like with that Wolf guy, even the slight ill feelings I had held became blurred.

“Then let me explain quickly.”

There was no further delay.

“The weak points of that huge creature are its underbelly covered with relatively soft skin, the joint areas, and lastly, the lower back area where I tore off its skin.”

As soon as all team members implicitly showed agreement, I straightened one hand and pointed at the monster.

“You figured all that out in just a moment?”

“Its legs are injured, making it slow, so luckily I was able to look around its body leisurely.”

“Forget leisurely, it must have been dark…”

“My father had quite a good mana manipulation technique, so I used that skill I had acquired in the past.”

“Hmm, I see.”

I answered Rina’s doubtful expression with intelligent eyes, a gentle smile, and an innocent gaze, without any change in expression.

‘This is really convenient at times like this.’

Having a father who’s a mage officer, what a convenient setting is this? Moreover, the fact that he was a soldier equivalent to a war hero always served as a good excuse to support my claims.

It was like being spared the effort of having to provide separate justification.

“Then please do your best.”

As soon as I finished the long explanation, I stepped forward without hesitation.

“Grrrk──!”

Towards that monster which had regained its senses at some point.

“Don’t be nervous.”

Of course, I wasn’t alone.

“O-Okay!”

“Don’t strain yourself unnecessarily, just keep to what I asked. That’s the top priority you should maintain, Erika.”

“Got it, if Yena says so…!”

Erika, vigorously stamping her feet, accompanied me by my side.

Furthermore, in the rear, team members were positioned to cover me and Erika while sending wary glances towards the monster.

What a smooth start this is.

Compared to the situation just a moment ago when we rushed in recklessly to engage in combat, this was a considerably more systematized movement.

It should be able to deliver that much more powerful attacks,

While I could face the monster alone with superior mana application skills and strength, three team members join in the offense and defense? It should be possible to inflict greater damage on the armored monster.

We should be able to easily penetrate its tough skin, and might even be able to eventually bring down that majestic form.

“Gyaaah!”

Finally, the distance closed to the point where the wrinkles on the monster’s claws were visible.

“Erika, now.”

“Yeah!”

Without delay, I stopped my thoughts and raised my clenched fist next to my cheek, giving the hand signal I had previously mentioned to the team members.

Thud─!

Then Erika spread out to the side.

“Keeek!”

The pre-established strategy finally signaled its start with my raised fist. She moved towards the hind legs of the armored monster that soared endlessly upward, and

“I’m seeing you in a new light.”

“Gyar, Gyarruk──!”

I ran straight towards its front where I could see its eyes.

As soon as it faced me,

The creature let out a roar of a size I had never heard before, and unleashed attacks filled with destructive momentum including its tail, front legs, and jaw that could crush my body in an instant.

It was incomparable in speed and intensity to before.

Just from the aftermath of its swinging tail, a strong wind blew, scattering the leaves clinging to the surrounding trees, and trees that merely grazed its arms toppled completely.

‘If I get hit…’

It’s over.

Everything I had planned.

I instinctively sensed it.

The goosebumps rising on my skin and the cold sweat soaking my back told me that even if I coated my arms with ice to make them harder, I couldn’t fully block that momentum.

This attack now was at a level that I could barely block even if I enhanced my body with Grade 3 mana, the maximum limit I could amplify to.

‘It’s impossible with bare hands.’

Only after wearing specialized equipment for mage officers could I respond… In the first place, it’s inefficient to scrape together all the mana in my body just to block that tail once.

Receiving the tail head-on was a one-time thing.

I couldn’t do it anymore.

As the creature engaged seriously in this battle, the situation had been redrawn; I needed to approach from a safer perspective.

“Hup!”

So I closed the distance with it even more.

“Keeeek!”

It swung its front legs vigorously while screaming at the top of its lungs, but I avoided it without getting hit, twisting my body this way and that while burrowing into its embrace.

A sharp wind cut my cheeks.

My hairband flew off, loosening even my tied hair.

Dozens of such tension-inducing fierce attacks continued, but not once did they touch my body.

‘If I can’t block…’

Can’t I just dodge?

By taking advantage of its short front leg length to close the distance, it becomes much easier to evade. If each strike is sharp, can’t I just use this characteristic to not get hit?

Moreover, in moments when sudden attacks threatened my body,

“Don’t just stand there stupidly!”

Wolf, guarding beside Rina, would sometimes block for me by launching water cannons using his water attribute.

‘Unexpected.’

I thought he wouldn’t provide any help at all. He’s such a stickler for noble etiquette and propriety that I didn’t expect him to assist me, a commoner…

Bang, boom!

To think he would provide aid by firing water cannons like this.

‘Is it because of Rina?’

In fact, I could roughly guess the reason.

He probably wants to leave a good impression on Rina by showing that he’s cooperating diligently with the team. He must have judged that it wouldn’t look good to be the only one idly standing by in this situation.

Decisively,

It seemed he finally acknowledged that if I were to fall, the entire rest of the team, including himself, would fail together.

“Good posture, now just completely soak this creature with that magic.”

“…Damn it.”

Even though he’s frowning, isn’t he obediently carrying out my orders?

Thanks to that, it was much easier.

To buy time until Erika completely shatters all the joints of its hind legs.

Crack─!

“Kee, Keeeek!”

The armored monster, which had only been emitting arrogant and ferocious cries, let out a loud groan of pain for the first time since its back skin was torn.

Crunch, squelch─!

But pain doesn’t end just because you cry out loudly. The joints, already severely damaged, could no longer withstand its weight and were completely crushed.

“Gya, Gyararak──!”

A roar comparable to thunder rang out again.

Birds perched on the trees flew high into the sky with a flutter, and the air that had settled from the dust due to Wolf’s water cannon became acrid again.

‘It succeeded perfectly.’

I smirked as I looked at the armored monster’s joints spewing blue blood.

“Erika, sneak behind it.”

“M-Me?”

“Yeah, and just stick a few long ice spears into the joint areas. I’ll buy time meanwhile.”

“I don’t think I can do it…”

“If you succeed, I’ll let you touch my cheek.”

“Let’s do our best, Yena!”

Inwardly, I recalled the conversation before entering combat.

While I draw the armored monster’s attention, Erika burrows into its underbelly to get behind it, then creates as many ice spears as possible and sticks them into the joints…

That was this battle.

It was the main plan to defeat it.

It finally succeeded.

‘Above all, it must have wanted to kill me.’

It wasn’t a plan devised just thinking about the characteristic that its weak point was the joints.

Didn’t I already climb onto its back and thrust my bare hands in, tearing off a piece of flesh from inside?

Its attention had been focused on me since then.

While no one else touched it, only I had responded to it.

I just used that point well.

‘It was good to accept her as a comrade after all.’

I was so grateful that Erika followed my words to the best of her ability without yielding to the armored monster’s momentum.

Although it looks like I’ll have to let her touch my cheek, considering the amount of points we’ll gain by defeating this thing, I could gladly let her fiddle with it.

“Phew…”

The tide had completely turned in our favor.

But the fight wasn’t over yet.

“Grrrk─!”

I quickly moved towards the creature that had fallen with its chin pressed to the ground as if shedding its skin, no longer able to scream.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Perhaps because its movements were restricted, even its tail was no longer fierce.

It was slow enough to dodge with the naked eye.

Of course, that’s just by my standards; to other cadets like Erika and Rina, it would still look equally fast.

“Nice view.”

I finally climbed up using its spine as a floor.

The air was fresh.

The occasional pungent smell of blood tickling my nose made my heart pound, reminding me of past wartimes.

‘Now I should end this.’

The corners of my mouth curling up without conscious effort, my chest trembling with a sense of superiority from excitement and the feeling of victory.

While savoring this feeling,

Sss──

I slowly concentrated mana while grasping the wrist of my opposite hand with one hand.

To unleash overwhelming strength to decorate the final curtain of this artistic scene, like sounding a cheerful fanfare at the end of a birthday party, I exhaled the air from my lungs and tightly clenched my arm muscles.

And then,

I poured all my strength into that hand, tinged with a faint blue chill, as I planted it firmly on its back with a thud.

“Gya, Gyaak, Keeeak──!”

A high-decibel scream that sounds like wailing is heard.

The monster’s back that I’m standing on trembles.

It shakes its head in all directions.

Crunch, crackle!

The giant monster’s body started to freeze solid due to the moisture scattered by Wolf.

This is what I wanted to see.

I wanted to decorate the final chapter with this beautiful and classic, yet high-level artistry.

“Haah…”

Therefore, as its trembling and death throes intensified, I relaxed my body even more and made myself comfortable.

“Kee, Keeee…”

Finally, when the armored monster’s breath ceased,

“Haah.”

I removed my hand that was stuck to its lower back and exhaled deeply, squeezing my eyes shut.

‘It feels good.’

Isn’t this the moment when dozens of minutes of hard work finally shine? How could I not be happy? While tidying my long hair that had become disheveled, with hands full of the monster’s blood,

Swish─

I wiped my mouth and licked my tongue.

“Ptooey.”

And immediately frowned at the disgusting taste.

“Hmm.”

I was trying to set the mood, but I didn’t know it would taste this terrible.

“Yena!”

The brawl that had finally come to an end.

“Yeah, Erika.”

I greeted her with a smile as bright and radiant as the beam of holy power Rina had emitted, stretching out my arms.