The monsters had gathered around Yaritsuke and Mari due to the commotion they made.
"You ready?"
Despite being surrounded, both of them showed no sign of fear.
"Do you even have to ask?"
"Then... You deal with the smaller monsters, I'll deal with the Octobear!"
"Hey! But you just said... Argh! Whatever! <
She began chanting her magic, blasting away the smaller monsters.
Yaritsuke charged headfirst into the monster.
Before having to back off due to the tentacles attempting to strike him in his blind spots.
"Tch...Those tentacles have to go first, then."
Realising what he had to do, he chanted his spells.
"<
8 blue magic circles appeared, each of them came out a water chain.
And each of the water chains tied down a tentacle, with the eigth one tying the body of the monster.
While trying out new magic spells, he accidentally stumbled upon <
The bear that once rampaging everywhere had been tied down.
But not for long.
The chain that was holding down the body was easily broken, but it wasn't the same for the tentacles.
Yari noticed it, and took note that the tentacles are less powerful than its main limbs.
Wasting no time, he charged at the monster.
Struggling from its restrained extra limbs, the Octobear attempted to smash Yaritsuke with its claw.
Yari managed to dodge it, and slid under it between its legs, and got behind the bear.
And in one fell swoop, all of the tentacles got cut off at once.
The bear roared in pain, but was no longer restrained, turn around and smacked Yaritsuke.
Being hit, he was flung away into the distance.
Back to Mari, she blasted away the monsters one by one.
"Hah! This is way too easy!"
"Growl!"
As soon as she dropped her guard, a <
The moment she realised it, it was too late.
But something suddenly appeared and took the hit for her.
"...Oi. Did no one tell you to never drop your guard in battle?"
"Yaritsuke...!"
He then knocked her on the head.
"Oi! That hurts! How dare you hit me!"
"...You better fix that habit of underestimating your opponents."
He then turned his back to face the monsters.
Mari couldn't understand him.
A nobody like him had the gut to scold her and even hit her.
But, being scolded like this, Mari was somehow reminded of a moment long time ago.
-------------
"Hyah!! <
The monster dropped down.
"How is it, Master Kati? I've managed to defeat it in no time at all! Praise me!"
But as soon as she turned her back, the monster jumped at her, attempting one last strike.
"Watch out! <
Falling down from the sky, spears of ice pinned the monster down, finally putting an end to it.
Mari, being shocked that she almost got killed, was crying.
The boy that was called Kati by Mari quickly run to Mari's side.
Expecting words of comfort, Mari was instead hit on the head by him.
"Ouch! Why?!"
"For underestimating your opponent. That monster isn't the kind that would die that easily."
"Yes..."
"And I'm not saying that you should only be careful with this monster only. You should never underestimate your opponent, no matter what kind."
His usual lecturing again.
But she wasn't bothered by it.
She instead felt happy.
That there were still someone who care and look out for her.
-----------
Decided not to waste time any longer, she stood up before noticing something on the ground.
A... pendant?
She picked it up to see a flower ornament on the pendant's face.
Specifically a daisy.
Wait a minute...
Didn't it belong too...
"Oi. Mari. You helping or not?"
Yari's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Who are you to order me?'
She quickly put the pendant into her pocket and got back to fending off the monsters.
-----------------------------------------------------
Ahh...
It's boring.
I though we would do something more interesting, but picking mushroom...
Eh.
We'll be having a barbecue later, so I have to endure till then.
I've never eaten mushroom, so I wonder what they would taste like.
I continue on picking them on the ground.
This one looks funny.
I remember the teacher did say something about this type of mushroom, but he never said anything about it being poison, so it's ok.
Suddenly, the sky darkens.
No, wait, it's just a flock of birds flying overhead.
...I have a bad feeling about this.
Rushing towards the direction where the flock came from, I encountered some monsters.
The weird thing is that they seems to be gathering around here a lot.
What exactly is happening?
Unshealting my sword, I made my way through the monsters while also heading toward the direction where the monsters seem to be the most.
Then I came across an empty area which is filled with nothing but monsters's corpses.
Had someone been fighting here?
I scan my eyes around the area.
Then, I heard the sound of someone fighting nearby.
I hid behind one of the trees and poked my head out to see Yaritsuke and...Mari?
As I was about to reveal myself to help them, I see them fighting together, back to back.
I don't know if I'm imagining things, but they are somehow completely in sync with one another.
It felt like they has known each other for a long time, and has reached a state of mutual understanding.
Did something happen between them?
I want to help them, but at the same time I don't want to interfere them.
I glance to another direction to see a monster.
A giant one.
"A bear?"
Looking at its back, I can see that it isn't a normal bear.
Despite them being cut off, I knew what used to be there.
An Octobear?
This is bad.
I need to inform the teachers, quick!
------------------------
"Hey, Mari. Still keeping up?"
"Hmph! The one who need to keep up with me is you."
"Seems that we have defeated all of the smaller monsters...*cough*"
I cough out into my hand and see a red liquid.
"Blood?"
Ah.
It must be from the attack of the bear that has taken its effect.
I felt a sharp pain running across my body.
"Oi! Yaritsuke, are you still ok?"
"...I'm fine. We still have the bear to take care off...Urgh!"
Damn it.
"Stay here. I'll deal with the bear."
"Hey...!! Argh!"
My body is burning in pain.
Deep in my heart, something's telling me to stop her.
This isn't a normal monster!
This is a Named!!!
-------------------------
He had saved her, so this time she will save him.
A perfect time to show him that she's better than him too.
Thanks to Yaritsuke, those annoying tentacles have been cut off, and she's determined that she's strong enough to kill it now.
The monster might be strong, but if it's weakened enough she can defeat it.
"<
Spears of light appeared and launched themselves toward the monster.
Unlike last time, the spears managed to pierce the Octobear.
It let out a roar, before falling down.
Did she do it?
Have she finally defeat the monster?
Seeing that it no longer moved, she turned around to face Yaritsuke.
"Did you see that, Yaritsuke? I've defeated the monster. I've defeated a Named. This proved that I'm far superior than you."
Then she saw Yaritsuke's trying to say something.
"Eh? B-e-h-i-n-d-y-o-u?"
She turned around and saw the bear on its two feet, preparing to strike down with its claws.
Mari, seeing the horroring scene, had fallen backward, unable to move due to fear.
Yaritsuke couldn't move.
He was about to face another one died in front of him, while unable to do anything.
No.
He wouldn't accept it.
He reached out his hand, before a black circle appeared on his palm.
Black spears appeared on top of the monster, before striking down, impaling the bear before it could swung its claw down.
Yaritsuke fainted that moment.
And the monster faded into dust.
Mari had also fainted from shock.
The forest at that moment, filled with nothing but silent.