episode_0410

The advice of the mist awakened one about the appearance of the boss monster.

Thanks to that, we were able to prepare for the boss monster in advance.

Naturally, it was the students who gathered to face the boss monster.

Since they were also dealing with monsters attacking from within the mist, finding them wasn’t easy.

“We will continue to search for the students who haven’t been found and bring them together.”

It was fortunate that we had been steadily clearing the mist; otherwise, it would have been troublesome if we were attacked in a situation where we couldn’t prepare for the mist at all.

In a way, Prince Il’s strategy of using the mist to obscure visibility might have been quite appropriate.

“If you underestimated the mist, it would have been just right for you to die.”

“Yeah. Having your vision restricted causes various problems.”

It seemed Princess Nya shared the same thoughts as me and didn’t hide her annoyance.

Meanwhile, as news of the boss monster’s reappearance spread, the gathered students were engaged in conversations.

“This time, we have to show our best.”

“Don’t rampage alone. You’re causing interference.”

“Hmph, I’m always rational, you know?”

“Rational? You’ve been rampaging recklessly.”

“Well, if you couldn’t control yourself and were rampaging due to excitement, wouldn’t you have been knocked out by now because of me?”

“What? This brat? Have you finished talking now?”

The students’ enthusiasm was so intense that there seemed to be a subtle side effect of excessive competitiveness, but I wasn’t sure if it was okay.

“Oh? Sponsor!”

While keeping an eye on the students, a familiar voice reached my ears.

The owner of the voice cheerfully ran up to me as if wagging a non-existent tail.

“I heard that the top donor had arrived, but I thought someone else had come! It’s really dangerous here; are you injured? Please stay in a safer place during battles!”

Although we were managing to fend off monster attacks, the situation was unpredictable due to the mist, making it uncertain when and where an attack might emerge.

“Long time no see. I was wondering where you were among the students; were you busy making potions?”

I thought I hadn’t met Yul because I was too busy, but now I realized that Yul hadn’t been visible to me because he was busy making potions.

Yul, whom I saw after a long time in the contaminated zone, looked quite worn out.

And the distinct herbal scent of Yul permeated the air strongly.

“Hehe, that’s right. I didn’t expect to come this far and make potions.”

“My face is half gone.”

“I was prepared, but it’s harder than I thought. The others are holding up well, but I find it tough.”

I thought Yul, whom I knew, would say he was doing well, but it seemed challenging for him to live in the contaminated zone.

“The other students learned how to live in the contaminated zone during their vacation training, so of course they can endure it well. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to endure it too.”

Yul seemed to think the difference was due to his own shortcomings, but the others weren’t able to endure so well from the beginning either.

“Oh, really? I didn’t consider the training. I just thought I lacked talent…”

Upon hearing my words, his eyes widened in realization.

“It’s natural for you to struggle now because you lack experience.”

“So, you’re saying things can improve with more experience?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh, I’m relieved. I feel better now. Hehe.”

Seeing his expression brighten, I couldn’t help but feel relieved.

It wasn’t for nothing that he was walking around with a troubled look.

“Oh! This isn’t the time for this! Sponsor, I think I have something to do, so I don’t think I can stay. I’ll come find you after we defeat all the monsters. Is that okay?”

Yul, still fighting with the monsters around him, seemed impatient, even though we had exchanged only a few words.

Seeing the vials full in his hands, it seemed like he needed to deliver them to someone.

“If you’re busy, go ahead. We can talk later.”

“Yes! I’ll come find you when I’m done. I’m off then!!!”

Despite looking like she could collapse at any moment, her focus was entirely on her work as she quickly disappeared.

Without looking back, Yul ran after her, feeling the need to see what she was up to.

“The issue is leaving the man alone….”

Initially facing a rather threatening attack, as time passed and the raid team killed the monsters, the intensity of the attacks decreased significantly.

It didn’t seem likely that just a few minutes alone would cause any problems for an adult Awakener.

“I’ll look around and check the situation. Can you stay alone for a moment?”

“Huh? Me, alone?”

The man looked scared and reluctant, but verbally agreed.

“Yes. I’ll stay alone!! But how long is ‘a moment’? 3 minutes? 5 minutes? It’s not that I’m scared. As you know, that monster will be coming soon, and I don’t think I can handle it alone. I’m confident I’ll faint as soon as I see it. If I faint, I won’t be able to dispel the fog, which would be a problem for the raid team, right?”

Trying to convince him not to leave him out of fear, the man pleaded earnestly.

Since there was no intention of being away for long, she reassured the man.

“It won’t take long. Just a quick check of the situation.”

“Got it! I’ll keep dispelling the fog.”

Leaving the trembling man behind, Yul headed towards where she had moved.

It seemed crucial to confirm as quickly as possible for the man’s sake.

Yul was distributing potions she held in her arms to the students.

Perhaps due to her long tenure as an alchemist, her actions seemed skillful and familiar.

However, sending them with a bitter taste, hoping they would recognize the nature of combat.

“Wow! Thanks!”

“I really needed this. Lucky you made it in time.”

“You’re amazing. Thank you for your hard work. I’ll make sure to repay you.”

“Give me one too! Leave some for me, kids!”

The students went wild over Yul’s potions, rushing towards them.

They seemed to already know that Yul’s potions were special.

Seeing the students excited about her potions made Yul smile happily.

Clearly, a proud expression on her face.

‘How can she look like she’s fit for combat?’

Perhaps because they had gained something from Yul, the students didn’t seem wary or standoffish.

The problem arose when, after distributing the potions, Yul got involved with a group of students preparing for battle.

Having already contributed significantly with her potions, she could claim fatigue and join the fight without anyone objecting.

However, Yul showed signs of wanting to participate in the battle, despite looking exhausted.

‘It’s too much.’

Concerned about Yul, students nearby repeatedly asked if she was really okay.

“Are you okay? You must be tired from making potions.”

“Yeah. How about taking a break from this battle? You look incredibly exhausted.”

“Hey, Yul needs to perform well in battle to receive equipment. She looks really worn out.”

“Oh, is that so?”

While Yul had already received support from me for equipment, the children, unaware of this, accepted Yul’s participation in the battle on their own terms.

“I’m fine. I’m tired, but I can endure.”

“Don’t put yourself in danger. Provide support from the back. I’ll make sure to tell the higher-ups how much your potion helped.”

“I’m fine. I’m not really interested in the equipment they offer from above.”

“Ugh, maybe it’s because he comes from a non-combat background that he’s too kind. It’s not about being indifferent; you have to be more ambitious!”

“Hey, don’t pretend to care. That’s discrimination too. Watch your words.”

Now that I think about it, it seems awkward how to handle discipline even with the students.

There seemed to be a bias that Yul, who switched from a non-combat to a combat background, couldn’t be that impressive.

“It means Yul hasn’t properly fought if they still have such misunderstandings.”

If the kids had seen Yul fight even once, they wouldn’t show such an attitude.

Yul possesses skills that are not inferior to those kids.

To dispel the students’ misunderstandings, Yul had no choice but to perform well in this battle.

And then.

“So, it’s him.”

Finally, the battle where Yul would shine began.

Fortunately, the boss monster appeared where the students were.

Everyone doped up with potions made by Yul and held their weapons, preparing for battle.

I waited, suppressing my presence, to see what kind of creature the boss monster was.

“Ew, gross!”

One student with good eyesight must have seen the boss monster as he retched in disgust.

“Gross? I can’t see anything.”

The other students, curious about the disgusted student’s words, squinted their eyes.

Due to the fog, the appearance of the boss monster couldn’t be confirmed until it came within a certain distance.

What could be seen was a red light gradually approaching us.

It looked big, but strangely, there was no sound of footsteps.

“Is it agile?”

At that moment, the identity of the boss monster, gradually approaching through the fog, was revealed.

I could understand why the student found it disgusting.

“Wow, that’s gross.”

“We have to kill that thing? I don’t even want it near me.”

If you don’t find that thing gross even after seeing it, you’re abnormal.

The round flesh orbs floated in the sky, with dozens, if not hundreds, of red pupils embedded in them, presenting a repulsive appearance.

The concave flesh resembling bear tracks was enough to cause discomfort just by looking at it, and a few students with weak stomachs complained of pain while retching.

“That… is really disgusting when you see it up close.”

Information about the boss monster popped into my head.

It would be much easier to deal with it if I could convey this information to the students.

The problem was how to deliver this information to the students.