episode_0178

Five support characters can’t win a game.

This is one of the popular phrases that caused a controversy over positional discrimination when Akasto’s online servers opened up and party play was encouraged.

The side that argued that a position that only provides healing or minimal support is unimportant, and the side that argued that without support, the party can’t function.

In the Akasto community, where all kinds of insults, water-down arguments, and divide-and-conquer tactics ran rampant, this was a topic debated day and night until everyone was sick of it.

Healing, crowd control, buffs, and debuffs.

No matter who you ask, these support effects are indispensable in team battles.

If the clashing forces are evenly matched, it’s these additional utility elements that determine victory or defeat.

Furthermore, Akasto’s unique buffs and complex debuffs can leave you completely helpless if you don’t properly prepare countermeasures.

If you cast a piercing magic buff on a heavy warrior, you need to defend against physical and magic attacks simultaneously, and debuffs like poison or combustion can’t be removed until death without dispelling magic.

That’s why mastering mana breathing techniques, which offer similar debuff removal effects, is considered important, and why priests are included in most parties.

Up to this point, there’s no room for argument, but if you ask what the most useless position in a party is…

Strangely, supporters consistently receive overwhelming support.

The reason is simple.

No matter how great the utility effects are, they’re useless if you’re quickly killed.

After all, who’s going to hold a cross instead of a shield on a battlefield where blades are raining down just to try and prevent curses?

The effects of utility magic can only be fully utilized after a party has established its foundation; the belief that the cart shouldn’t come before the horse is the dominant view.

Because of this perception, the population disparity among positions naturally continued to widen.

Furthermore, pure stat levels are difficult to cover with items, while utility magic tools are abundant in shops.

When scarcity decreases, the price plunges to the depths of hell.

Misfortune piled upon misfortune, and eventually, those who accidentally raised priests had to tearfully press either the character deletion button or the healing button.

Always being dogged by the unfortunate moniker of “tool” is the cherry on top.

Deep in the mountains of the Holy Kingdom, on a mission from the Great Cathedral to hunt gray wolves today…

I suddenly recalled that time.

“Barrier—up!!”

“I’ll heal!”

“[Slow Down]-!!”

“Blinded!”

“[Sacred Enchant Force]-!!”

Thinking back, our party, including Tier, all consisted of priests of the Aither Temple.

Five support characters…

…

…

Our party wasn’t originally composed like this.

Or rather, I thought it wouldn’t be, and I knew it that way.

Compared to the Holy Kingdom’s vast influence, Narfranz’s Aither Temple was at the level of a local branch office.

Naturally, the priests who would “volunteer” for forced conscription, unlike those who only used healing, buffs, or debuffs, were capable of using large-scale magic at the headquarters.

And there, along with the Spear Corps and the Knights, weren’t there many holy knights with exceptional abilities as well?

Even the Papal Guard’s numbers far exceeded those of the Aither Temple. Naturally, regular parties going out on monster hunts had tanks, damage dealers, healers, and support.

However, as our turn to go approached, we found there were no support troops from the remaining positions that they could send us.

“That… does that even make sense?! You can’t even send a single tank? Then what the hell did we come here for—!!”

The outpost at the entrance to the Chaos Forest, in the eastern part of the Holy Kingdom.

Tier’s furious shout resonated in the lobby of the 5th Diocese’s administration office.

It’d been disordered from the start.

The atmosphere was exactly like…well, not much different from the adventurer’s guild I usually frequented.

Only the object of faith—God or oneself—differed. After all, both are professions that make money by hunting monsters.

However, whether the anger really reached its peak or not, Tier’s sharp and powerful voice caused everyone around to freeze.

It wasn’t just due to the current incident; it seemed like pent-up feelings had finally burst, and even I was getting chills down my spine.

“I’m sorry, Saintess. That’s the procedure.”

“What…?”

What mirrored her rage was the receptionist’s soulless business smile. It wasn’t like a smooth, flat mirror; it was more like the rippling surface of water that caused diffuse reflection dissipating the heat of her emotions.

In short, she was utterly dumbfounded.

“We cannot offer any further support to the personnel dispatched from the Aither Temple. It was always our intention to draw support from your group, rather than the other way around.”

Even sincere nonsense can make you wonder if you’re the one who’s wrong. That statement was perfect.

I kept thinking about the army, and the PTSD alarm was sounding off, but we didn’t want to be here.

This is a type of conscription.

That is to say, we are here because of the needs of the Holy Kingdom.

The complete lack of cooperation is certainly discomforting.

“What do you mean… what are we supposed to do?!”

“Simple. Instead of having our supports integrate into your party, Saintess, let’s split your party and provide support to several groups.”

It’s like when the item you ordered from a shopping site arrives, and you share it with your family.

Tier’s full breasts swayed, her face was flushed red with anger, even from afar.

“We’re not goods—!!”

“Then what should we do? Saintess, your party alone won’t be able to achieve our objectives without some support.”

The receptionist (you damn bitch) kept needling Tier. As I wasn’t in a position of responsibility, I could only listen while growing increasingly frustrated.

“Oh, really? Okay then, watch from over there. Let’s see what we can do.”

Tier’s conclusion was unexpectedly refreshing.

“Let’s go—no—let’s go, Narias. You’re going to show them what’s what—!!”

For reasons other than that, I was speechless.

…

…

…

“What are you doing, Narias?! Do something quickly—!!”

Honestly, Tier can’t be solely blamed for this situation.

After all, I had boasted that I would somehow handle this before Tier would agree to let me come along.

The situation remained unchanged.

We have five support characters and me.

Especially since I’ve joined as Narias, a student, not Princess Narita, I’m not allowed to just run off and slaughter monsters at will.

Solve the impossible problem without using your hands.

This is an impossible problem.

A normal way of thinking can’t even find the way forward.

…With “normal” thinking.

Fortunately, I wasn’t within the range of normal.

Even at the height of the tank-damage dealer-healer-support era, the “guy who writes guides” always looked for new thrills.

I smashed monsters with a shield, protected my comrades with a bow, and killed with a staff.

Naturally, I give beginners standard attack methods.

But water tends to stagnate, and users who share my ideology show up anywhere, anytime.

Omakase guide tailored to their level.

A niche gameplay for veteran players: the “Five-Support-Party” combat method.

Krooook— Krook—

Kerrr… Koo-ong— Koo-heung—!!

“Hick— Heeek… He-elp me—!!”

With the gray wolf’s fangs exposed, Jay frantically swung his staff. Waving it only draws more attention, but nothing can change that fear.

I stepped off a nearby tree trunk and jumped powerfully forward.

Paat-!

My vision distorted with increased speed.

When my enhanced physical eyesight captured the wolf’s neck…

I used a small ether dagger to sever its head.

Poo-hwaak—!!

“Ugh—”

It’s certain some wouldn’t hear if I used my voice.

So, I immediately spread five thin ether threads around me, neatly tying them around the priests’ wrists.

「Everyone can hear me right? I’ll be giving instructions through this elemental magic now.」

“…!!”

“-?!”

Judging from their startled reactions, the signal worked.

I jumped up into the air again, surveying the surrounding battlefield at a glance.

Although it’s only the beginning, several gray wolves are already lurking nearby.

They seemed poised to hunt, circling us slowly.

It was a situation perfect for this tactic.

「I believe you’ve all memorized the magic I mentioned earlier.」

A defensive formation surrounding the area where our troops were gathered.

Someone who sees this might think that we are in a numerical and quality disadvantage.

But in my eyes, they were perfectly arranged for a sandwich attack.

「When I give the signal, cast your magic simultaneously. Prepare and…」

Light mana has a very antagonistic relationship with monsters.

Because of its unique wavelength, it fears stronger light and tries to bite weaker light.

The strong and weak, the victor and vanquished, the predator and prey; all determined simply by strength and size.

Because of this simple way of thinking, this tactic works, too.

Kroo-ruk—!!

Ke-heng—!!

「Now—!!」

At my signal, Tier and the priests raised their staffs.

Hwa-aaat—

[Sacred Enchant Force]-!!

Five lights enveloped them simultaneously.

This magic is originally an ancillary defense magic.

It’s a simple principle: It cloaks allies in light armor, temporarily increasing their physical and magical defense.

However, there’s a special effect that activates if it’s dispelled before the duration ends. It unleashes a small shockwave, and the protection effect is removed early; a crowd control effect to push back enemies slightly.

Ka-duk— Kwa-duduk—!!

“Kroooot…!! Their teeth and claws are so sharp, I feel like they’ll break any second—!!”

But what if five people cast this magic with their backs to each other?

I didn’t originally fully understand how this worked, and thought it was just a bug.

I understood only after seeing Lulu’s resonant magic last time.

「Dispel—!!」

Too-kwaaang—!!!

Instead of the light mana of each person exploding individually, it forms a large sphere, pushing out with five times the force.

The result.

Kyaeng—

Koung— Kro-ut— Ke-heuk—

It wasn’t just a slight knockback, the flight followed by impact against terrain meant that it caused unexpectedly high damage.

“I… I did it…!!”

Also, the shockwave has slight defense-based damage, and it’s also amplified five times, so it’s perfect for facing off against a swarm of small monsters.

「Don’t let your guard down yet. More of them are coming!!」

Support characters, who lack the absolute stat level required to keep up with a fast-paced battle.

A tactic that ignores impossibilities, and establishes combat using only support characters.

In the end, the process was just using the five support characters like bombs, but the results speak for themselves.

This is the “that guy” tactic, “ “.

「Let’s continue showing them our strength.」

Without exception, everyone nodded in unison.