「If we’re going to sneak in secretly, the most reasonable choice is my 『Thief』 vocation!」
「Yeah, we’ve no choice but to let Minami sneak in. But, you mustn’t overexert yourself. You must return immediately even if you don’t find anything.」
We entrusted the preliminary investigation of gomas’ castle to Natsukawa-san. The first objective was searching for the most optimal route.
Fortunately, there was a fairy plaza nearby the gomas’ castle which could be used as a hiding place. Though it was located right next to a historic ruin, it was obvious for all to see that gomas and monsters were avoiding fairy plaza. Those monsters wouldn’t come to ambush us as long as they had no idea where we came from.
There were few things we could do in the plaza as we were mainly waiting for Natsukawa-san to return with information. The best I could do in this situation was sharpening my mind so that I was fully prepared to leap out as soon as I saw Natsukawa-san in danger. If something happened to her, she would notify us with her smartphone. The fact that we could know her situation with a phone call was a great help on our side.
And then, the time to take action finally came two days after Natsukawa-san started gathering information about gomas’ castle.
「Since the night watch is only stationed around the castle during the night, we can overlook those tents.」
Those tents were actually the place where normal gomas lived their lives, but according to Natsukawa-san, it was easy to pass through that place since everyone in that area was asleep at night.
Just to be sure, we’d to wear tattered rags instead of a mantle to prevent suspicion when passing through that area. Naturally, the one who stole those tattered rags from the gomas was Natsukawa-san. As expected of a thief.
We were walking through the gomas’ residential area while holding our breaths to minimize our presence. Since the gomas were living a primitive life like that of stone age humans, there was no light in the house after sunset. The only one with lighting in the night was only the pyramid castle in the center, and the watchtowers.
It might be thanks to my vocation that I didn’t have any trouble seeing in the darkness with moonlight as the sole source of light. Though it was natural for Natsukawa-san’s『Thief』 vocation to show its full prowess in the night, it turned out Asuna, Futaba-san and I could also see just fine in the darkness. On the other hand, sorcerer-like professions such as Class Rep and Sakura could barely see in the dark. And Takanashi-san was literally reduced to a normal human in this situation.
Takanashi-san, who was walking while pulling Class Rep’s hand, had already stumbled a few times upon trash or scattered tools around the tents and yet… it seemed that none of those slumbering gomas awakened.
「Everyone, we’re about to arrive! After we infiltrate the castle, it’s a race against time battle, go all out at once!」
Natsukawa-san reminded us again after we left the perimeter of the tent area, right in the vicinity of the castle. Around the castle was a circular wall made from timber with several watchtowers standing tall in fixed intervals.
Every single one of the watchtowers was entrusted to govus, gomas’ elite warriors. As if that was not enough, three govus were stationed in every single watchtower to watch over the surrounding. Those govus could find us immediately if we snuck into the tent area with 『Lux Elemental』 as source of light.
But thanks to the clever selection of route by Natsukawa-san who somehow understood the scope of those govus’ observation areas, we made it safely into the fortress.
「I’ll leave the fence to you after I fell the warrior above the tower, Asuna-chan.」
「Yes, leave it to me.」
「Then, we’re going to rush in at 30 seconds count.」
Saying so, Natsukawa-san climbed the vertical watchtower at breakneck speed. Exactly thirty seconds later, she had already subdued the two govus stationed in that watchtower.
That moment, Asuna had already closed in on the wooden fence and sliced apart some of it to open the path for the rest of us.
By the way, Asuna and I had decided on the role of making that opening with a rock-paper-scissors game. I conceded that role to Asuna as the loser of that game.
「―― Fast!」
""
It wasn’t a martial art, just a simple slash that she practiced over and over again back in Japan. Asuna’s 『Purification Sword』 cut the log as if it was tofu and made a perfect opening for someone to pass through it.
「That’s splendid, Asuna.」
「Humph, I can even cut iron with my current power. Cutting this log isn’t a big deal.」
Despite what she said, she let out a light smile. I know right, I mean I would do the same if I were in her position.
「――Woops, let’s get inside immediately!」
Natsukawa-san, who descended from above the watchtower like some sort of ninja, sprinted right into the hole.
「Everyone, let’s go!」
The watchtower aside, we were yet to be found out by the guard since we didn’t infiltrate from the gate.
Though we wouldn’t be able to hide our figures upon passing through the place with a bonfire, at this rate we might be able to slip into the castle without being found out. We ran as fast as possible while doing our best to minimize the sound of our footsteps as much as possible ――
「KYAA!?」
Maybe because she was too nervous, Takanashi-san ended up tripping on her feet. Her pained scream when her head hit the ground and the sound of her fall resounded in the silent night.
「BUGERA, UGOO, VEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
""
At that moment, the gomas raised piercing cries. There was no need for speculation, we had been found out.
「DAMMIT, EVERYONE HURRY UP!」
「AH, UUH… S-SOWWIE…」
「Save your apology for later, hurry up Kotori!」
Asuna picked up Kotori who was about to cry and dashed towards the entrance of the castle. The rest of us were also running in a hurry regardless of our footsteps being heard by the gomas or not.
「GEBAAAAA!」
「UOGAAAAAAAAA!」
Though the gomas and govus arrived just a few seconds later, all of us had already entered the castle right at the last moment.
「CLASS REP, DO IT!」
「Great, everyone is already inside right, then ――『Ice Wall Defense』」
Class Rep sealed the entrance to the tower with defensive type ice magic. Soon after, the entrance was sealed by a double or maybe triple layer of the ice wall.
Great, that should be enough to stop them for a while.
「The boss goma should be in the room ahead, but I can’t say that for sure since this is also the first time I have infiltrated the castle this far. D-Don’t let your guard down, everyone!」
As expected, not even a skilled scout-like Natsukawa-san dared to infiltrate the castle by herself. Nevertheless, the path was simple enough, just a stairway that went straight to the top floor.
We continued treading the path that seemingly went to the top of the pyramid, killing any guard that we met along the way.
And finally, we arrived at an open space.
「GUBUBU, BOHAHAHA!」
And then, waiting for us on the top floor was the boss of the gomas… the 『Gogma』. It was big by the way.
It looked like a three metres tall wrestler with a long-twisted horn growing from its head and looked even more ferocious than govus.
Its hands, as big as logs, were grasping a weapon that matched its huge frame. Its weapon was an oversized double-edged greatsword with an emerald green-like gem embedded on its hilt, it could be an enchanted weapon of wind element.
But the biggest problem about this gogma, the one who should be the boss monster of this tower, was the bitter fact that… There were four of them in this room.
「ABURU, ZEBA, BURUOAAAAAAAAAA!」
No, the true boss was the one in the innermost part of this room.
I mean, it had a far bigger and taller frame than the other four gogmas. Moreover, it wasn’t just bigger, it also only had one eye and a pair of twisted horns growing from its head. It looked like the combination of cyclops and minotaurs but had an even more conspicuous feature. It had four arms instead of two.
Every single one of its arms grasped a different weapon, sword, axe, hammer, and then a magic wand.
「Leave that four-armed one to me. Everyone, please take care of the rest during that time.」
Our retreat had already been sealed by Class Rep’s ice wall. We had no choice but to walk forward no matter what kind of enemy was waiting for us.
「Understood, Nii-san.」
「Not like we’ve any other choice.」
The four-armed gogma and the other four gogmas looked like four heavenly kings. Even though this was the first time everyone fought against a powerful monster who came in a group, they still raised their weapon resolutely.
「YOSH, LET’S GO!」
I won’t hold back. Take this full power of mine!
Thus, the decisive battle of goma castle had begun.
「『CROSS―― CALIBUUUUR』!」
「BURUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
The shining blade of light got parried due to the combination of four-armed gogma’s wind elemental great sword, hammer’s impact, scorching axe, and its terrifying full swing’s power.
The overwhelming mass between us had already given me a disadvantage in terms of power, and now I had to worry about those four arms too. In a normal situation, I would’ve been easily squashed by its four powerful arms and yet, I fought on par against it with a single sword of light.
Yes, I was currently borrowing the power of 『Cross Caliber』, only by doing so could I fight on par against the four-armed gogma. Rather than crossing blows with it, I was on defense.
The four-armed gogma’s overwhelming weight and height aside, it had mastered each one of its weapons to an incredibly high level. Though it wasn’t on the level of master of martial arts, its attack was the perfect combination of physical attack and magic.
On the other hand, I had no choice but to rely on 『Cross Calibur』 which I had yet to master. In short, I was barely hanging in there.
No, I mustn’t fight it head-on.
「BURA・DAGURA・DIGORA――JIGURAZUDO!」
A Flash of lightning suddenly fired from the magic wand in one of its four hands. I had no idea what it said in goma’s language just now, but from the tune of its voice, it was clear that it just spelled some sort of aria. The four-armed gogma wasn’t just relying on its enchanted weapon, it was also learning magic. This was the first time I had seen a goma-type opponent using magic.
I tried to step out of the four-armed gogma’s range, only to have this lightning chasing after me. Despite my attempt to protect myself against the numerous crackling thunders that came out from the violet magic stone affixed on the four-armed gogma magic wand… I didn’t know how long I could hold it back.
「Guh… strong…」
Its strength might rival the living armor that guarded the palace area. And yet, I was already pushed back just with a little addition of wit to my opponent.
This was my limit huh―― I know that haste would bring impatience, impatience would bring disaster but this much wouldn’t be enough to shake my heart.
I’ve to persist, for the time being, prolonging our fight. Yes, I’m not alone. I’ll trust my comrade and keep this guy at bay.
「I, no, WE WON’T LOSE!!!」
「MUGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
I steeled my resolution as I chose to put my trust in my comrade and kept swinging my sword of light.
===
The center of the room where the sword of light clashed against the weapon of the four-armed gogma had turned into a deadly zone no one could disturb. That’s why there were no worries about involving the others in a battle even if the four-armed gogma rampage continued. The size of the room itself was about as big as a baseball dome.
A fierce battle unfolded in various locations of that place.
「――!/ A big one is coming! Be careful!」
Sakura and Ryouko prepared their defensive magic as soon as Kotori sent such a warning.
「――『Ice Alma Shield』」
「――『Lux Wall Defense』」
The moment after the ice barrier and light curtain appeared―― it was followed by a tempestuous flaming tornado. The blazing hot flame tornado was slowly eating away the barrier erected by the two spellcasters as if licking ice cream.
「If we’re going to sneak in secretly, the most reasonable choice is my 『Thief』 vocation!」
「Yeah, we’ve no choice but to let Minami sneak in. But, you mustn’t overexert yourself. You must return immediately even if you don’t find anything.」
We entrusted the preliminary investigation of gomas’ castle to Natsukawa-san. The first objective was searching for the most optimal route.
Fortunately, there was a fairy plaza nearby the gomas’ castle which could be used as a hiding place. Though it was located right next to a historic ruin, it was obvious for all to see that gomas and monsters were avoiding fairy plaza. Those monsters wouldn’t come to ambush us as long as they had no idea where we came from.
There were few things we could do in the plaza as we were mainly waiting for Natsukawa-san to return with information. The best I could do in this situation was sharpening my mind so that I was fully prepared to leap out as soon as I saw Natsukawa-san in danger. If something happened to her, she would notify us with her smartphone. The fact that we could know her situation with a phone call was a great help on our side.
And then, the time to take action finally came two days after Natsukawa-san started gathering information about gomas’ castle.
「Since the night watch is only stationed around the castle during the night, we can overlook those tents.」
Those tents were actually the place where normal gomas lived their lives, but according to Natsukawa-san, it was easy to pass through that place since everyone in that area was asleep at night.
Just to be sure, we’d to wear tattered rags instead of a mantle to prevent suspicion when passing through that area. Naturally, the one who stole those tattered rags from the gomas was Natsukawa-san. As expected of a thief.
We were walking through the gomas’ residential area while holding our breaths to minimize our presence. Since the gomas were living a primitive life like that of stone age humans, there was no light in the house after sunset. The only one with lighting in the night was only the pyramid castle in the center, and the watchtowers.
It might be thanks to my vocation that I didn’t have any trouble seeing in the darkness with moonlight as the sole source of light. Though it was natural for Natsukawa-san’s『Thief』 vocation to show its full prowess in the night, it turned out Asuna, Futaba-san and I could also see just fine in the darkness. On the other hand, sorcerer-like professions such as Class Rep and Sakura could barely see in the dark. And Takanashi-san was literally reduced to a normal human in this situation.
Takanashi-san, who was walking while pulling Class Rep’s hand, had already stumbled a few times upon trash or scattered tools around the tents and yet… it seemed that none of those slumbering gomas awakened.
「Everyone, we’re about to arrive! After we infiltrate the castle, it’s a race against time battle, go all out at once!」
Natsukawa-san reminded us again after we left the perimeter of the tent area, right in the vicinity of the castle. Around the castle was a circular wall made from timber with several watchtowers standing tall in fixed intervals.
Every single one of the watchtowers was entrusted to govus, gomas’ elite warriors. As if that was not enough, three govus were stationed in every single watchtower to watch over the surrounding. Those govus could find us immediately if we snuck into the tent area with 『Lux Elemental』 as source of light.
But thanks to the clever selection of route by Natsukawa-san who somehow understood the scope of those govus’ observation areas, we made it safely into the fortress.
「I’ll leave the fence to you after I fell the warrior above the tower, Asuna-chan.」
「Yes, leave it to me.」
「Then, we’re going to rush in at 30 seconds count.」
Saying so, Natsukawa-san climbed the vertical watchtower at breakneck speed. Exactly thirty seconds later, she had already subdued the two govus stationed in that watchtower.
That moment, Asuna had already closed in on the wooden fence and sliced apart some of it to open the path for the rest of us.
By the way, Asuna and I had decided on the role of making that opening with a rock-paper-scissors game. I conceded that role to Asuna as the loser of that game.
「―― Fast!」
""
It wasn’t a martial art, just a simple slash that she practiced over and over again back in Japan. Asuna’s 『Purification Sword』 cut the log as if it was tofu and made a perfect opening for someone to pass through it.
「That’s splendid, Asuna.」
「Humph, I can even cut iron with my current power. Cutting this log isn’t a big deal.」
Despite what she said, she let out a light smile. I know right, I mean I would do the same if I were in her position.
「――Woops, let’s get inside immediately!」
Natsukawa-san, who descended from above the watchtower like some sort of ninja, sprinted right into the hole.
「Everyone, let’s go!」
The watchtower aside, we were yet to be found out by the guard since we didn’t infiltrate from the gate.
Though we wouldn’t be able to hide our figures upon passing through the place with a bonfire, at this rate we might be able to slip into the castle without being found out. We ran as fast as possible while doing our best to minimize the sound of our footsteps as much as possible ――
「KYAA!?」
Maybe because she was too nervous, Takanashi-san ended up tripping on her feet. Her pained scream when her head hit the ground and the sound of her fall resounded in the silent night.
「BUGERA, UGOO, VEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
""
At that moment, the gomas raised piercing cries. There was no need for speculation, we had been found out.
「DAMMIT, EVERYONE HURRY UP!」
「AH, UUH… S-SOWWIE…」
「Save your apology for later, hurry up Kotori!」
Asuna picked up Kotori who was about to cry and dashed towards the entrance of the castle. The rest of us were also running in a hurry regardless of our footsteps being heard by the gomas or not.
「GEBAAAAA!」
「UOGAAAAAAAAA!」
Though the gomas and govus arrived just a few seconds later, all of us had already entered the castle right at the last moment.
「CLASS REP, DO IT!」
「Great, everyone is already inside right, then ――『Ice Wall Defense』」
Class Rep sealed the entrance to the tower with defensive type ice magic. Soon after, the entrance was sealed by a double or maybe triple layer of the ice wall.
Great, that should be enough to stop them for a while.
「The boss goma should be in the room ahead, but I can’t say that for sure since this is also the first time I have infiltrated the castle this far. D-Don’t let your guard down, everyone!」
As expected, not even a skilled scout-like Natsukawa-san dared to infiltrate the castle by herself. Nevertheless, the path was simple enough, just a stairway that went straight to the top floor.
We continued treading the path that seemingly went to the top of the pyramid, killing any guard that we met along the way.
And finally, we arrived at an open space.
「GUBUBU, BOHAHAHA!」
And then, waiting for us on the top floor was the boss of the gomas… the 『Gogma』. It was big by the way.
It looked like a three metres tall wrestler with a long-twisted horn growing from its head and looked even more ferocious than govus.
Its hands, as big as logs, were grasping a weapon that matched its huge frame. Its weapon was an oversized double-edged greatsword with an emerald green-like gem embedded on its hilt, it could be an enchanted weapon of wind element.
But the biggest problem about this gogma, the one who should be the boss monster of this tower, was the bitter fact that… There were four of them in this room.
「ABURU, ZEBA, BURUOAAAAAAAAAA!」
No, the true boss was the one in the innermost part of this room.
I mean, it had a far bigger and taller frame than the other four gogmas. Moreover, it wasn’t just bigger, it also only had one eye and a pair of twisted horns growing from its head. It looked like the combination of cyclops and minotaurs but had an even more conspicuous feature. It had four arms instead of two.
Every single one of its arms grasped a different weapon, sword, axe, hammer, and then a magic wand.
「Leave that four-armed one to me. Everyone, please take care of the rest during that time.」
Our retreat had already been sealed by Class Rep’s ice wall. We had no choice but to walk forward no matter what kind of enemy was waiting for us.
「Understood, Nii-san.」
「Not like we’ve any other choice.」
The four-armed gogma and the other four gogmas looked like four heavenly kings. Even though this was the first time everyone fought against a powerful monster who came in a group, they still raised their weapon resolutely.
「YOSH, LET’S GO!」
I won’t hold back. Take this full power of mine!
Thus, the decisive battle of goma castle had begun.
「『CROSS―― CALIBUUUUR』!」
「BURUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
The shining blade of light got parried due to the combination of four-armed gogma’s wind elemental great sword, hammer’s impact, scorching axe, and its terrifying full swing’s power.
The overwhelming mass between us had already given me a disadvantage in terms of power, and now I had to worry about those four arms too. In a normal situation, I would’ve been easily squashed by its four powerful arms and yet, I fought on par against it with a single sword of light.
Yes, I was currently borrowing the power of 『Cross Caliber』, only by doing so could I fight on par against the four-armed gogma. Rather than crossing blows with it, I was on defense.
The four-armed gogma’s overwhelming weight and height aside, it had mastered each one of its weapons to an incredibly high level. Though it wasn’t on the level of master of martial arts, its attack was the perfect combination of physical attack and magic.
On the other hand, I had no choice but to rely on 『Cross Calibur』 which I had yet to master. In short, I was barely hanging in there.
No, I mustn’t fight it head-on.
「BURA・DAGURA・DIGORA――JIGURAZUDO!」
A Flash of lightning suddenly fired from the magic wand in one of its four hands. I had no idea what it said in goma’s language just now, but from the tune of its voice, it was clear that it just spelled some sort of aria. The four-armed gogma wasn’t just relying on its enchanted weapon, it was also learning magic. This was the first time I had seen a goma-type opponent using magic.
I tried to step out of the four-armed gogma’s range, only to have this lightning chasing after me. Despite my attempt to protect myself against the numerous crackling thunders that came out from the violet magic stone affixed on the four-armed gogma magic wand… I didn’t know how long I could hold it back.
「Guh… strong…」
Its strength might rival the living armor that guarded the palace area. And yet, I was already pushed back just with a little addition of wit to my opponent.
This was my limit huh―― I know that haste would bring impatience, impatience would bring disaster but this much wouldn’t be enough to shake my heart.
I’ve to persist, for the time being, prolonging our fight. Yes, I’m not alone. I’ll trust my comrade and keep this guy at bay.
「I, no, WE WON’T LOSE!!!」
「MUGAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
I steeled my resolution as I chose to put my trust in my comrade and kept swinging my sword of light.
===
The center of the room where the sword of light clashed against the weapon of the four-armed gogma had turned into a deadly zone no one could disturb. That’s why there were no worries about involving the others in a battle even if the four-armed gogma rampage continued. The size of the room itself was about as big as a baseball dome.
A fierce battle unfolded in various locations of that place.
「――!/ A big one is coming! Be careful!」
Sakura and Ryouko prepared their defensive magic as soon as Kotori sent such a warning.
「――『Ice Alma Shield』」
「――『Lux Wall Defense』」
The moment after the ice barrier and light curtain appeared―― it was followed by a tempestuous flaming tornado. The blazing hot flame tornado was slowly eating away the barrier erected by the two spellcasters as if licking ice cream.
