Mutated monster. It referred to a monster that appeared in a dungeon where they were not supposed to be and had higher fighting power compared to their common species.
Usually, their appearance was also different compared to their common species. Take the example of the Mutated Hobgoblin in front of us. It had dark purple skin instead of its usual dark green, and it was bigger than a normal hobgoblin.
The normal hobgoblin was an E-Rank monster with a height of around 150 to 160 cm. However, the Mutated one in front of us had the Mana comparable to those D-Rank monsters, and it was easily 250 cm tall. A monster, in short.
Some Awakeners would piss their pants when they faced a monster with a monster 2 Rank above them, but surprisingly, Zaiden and the others were still able to face it without pissing their pants.
Alba was shaking in fear. Zaiden was a bit scared, seeing that he was biting his lip. But, surprisingly, Vane was the calmest one among them, which was a plus point for a sharpshooter and the leader of the party as he needed to observe the situation and give order in case of emergency.
"I-instructor! W-what should we do?!" Vane turned his head to me while pointing his gun at the mutated hobgoblin that walked slowly toward them.
It was still around 20 meters from where the party stood, and its walking speed was slow, as if it was mocking the party members.
Chloe glanced at me worriedly. Her eyes were asking me whether we should kill the Mutated Hobgoblin or not.
It was her first time being an instructor, and it was also my first time too. But, I had a reason for being the instructor in this one. It was my first time to mess with Zaiden, to make him suffer. So I raised my hand to stop Chloe and answered Vane.
"Try to kill it alone without our help. With what I saw earlier, I do believe you can at least injure it or even kill it. Believe in yourself and your vanguard. Cover him from behind while he faces the enemy."
'So push Zaiden toward that monster and let him fight him alone in the front.' I added quietly inside my mind.
"A-Are you not going to help us?" Alba asked. His voice was shaking, clearly scared facing the Mutated Hobgoblin.
"Nope. As I said before we started, I am an instructor, not a babysitter. Do your best, and don't worry about dying. The least I will do is to keep your lives. Consider this as training to handle an unexpected situation. Also…" I paused a little and pointed at the Mutated Hobgoblin that snickered while swinging its sword.
It was now close to the party, and in five more steps, it would reach them. "Are you sure you are going to waste your time by talking to me?"
"E-Everyone! Keep your focus! We can do this!"
As if waiting for me to end my speech, Zaiden suddenly shouted to encourage his party members. His expression was truly the embodiment of confidence, but his voice was shaking from fear.
He knew that he couldn't face the Mutated Hobgoblin alone. Even the Zaiden in the novel got injured badly in his attempt to kill the Mutated Hobgoblin.
The original instructor died in the hand of the Mutated Hobgoblin because he couldn't feel it when it was approaching him. So, the party members were left alone facing the hobgoblin. But, this time was different.
Chloe and I were here. Maybe that was why he was confident to take on the hobgoblin.
"Alright! Alba, how is your mana?" Asked Vane. He had the aura and charisma of a leader. As expected of him, he knew what to do even when he was afraid and had no experience. Maybe he had watched some dungeon raid on the internet. Or read some books in the library.
"I am alright. I can fire five or more wind blades with no problem."
"Good. My mana had been depleted by more than half due to shooting a lot of goblins earlier. Zaiden, how about you? Can you at least hold the hobgoblin for a few seconds for Alba to prepare his magic?"
"I will try. No promise though." Zaiden answered with a wry smile.
"It's fine. Wait until my bullet hits him." Vane pointed his gun at the hobgoblin's head.
His hand was shaking, but he did his best to stay calm. After a second, his shaking stopped. He pulled the trigger, and a bullet was fired through his gun's barrel.
Swoosh! Tang!
The bullet flew at a fast speed and hit the hobgoblin's head, creating a slight dent in his skull before the bullet disappeared in the mote of light. Blood dripped from the wound, but it was not enough to kill it. The power behind the bullet was too weak, considering that it used an F-Rank Awakener's Mana, Vane's Mana.
If I was the one who shot the gun, it would certainly pierce through the hobgoblin's skull. Alas, Vane was too weak to create such a powerful bullet.
The hobgoblin flinched and touched the wound in its head. Realizing that there was blood trickling down its face, it raised its sword and roared.
"Graaaahh!!!"
The cave shook due to the loud roar. The pebbles on the ground were rattling around. Zaiden and the others were surprised and plugged their ears. That was a bad move. Even Chloe and I didn't plug our ears even though it was loud; we couldn't afford to do it.
Vane, being a sharpshooter with enhanced senses, took the most damage from the roar among the three of them. "Argh!" He grunted in pain, but his sight was still planted on the hobgoblin.
The hobgoblin used the chance to dash in, closing the distance between it and Zaiden in an instant. It swung its big sword, aiming to cleave Zaiden in half. The only one who realized its movement was Vane, and he shouted.
"Watch out!"
Zaiden snapped out instantly and realized that the hobgoblin was already in front of him. He gripped his sword tightly with both hands and blocked the hobgoblin's attack.
Clang!
'Oh?' I was a bit amazed as Zaiden was able to block the attack. He was pushed back, yes, but he was not blown away.
His training in his family's training facility must've been focused to build his foundation. He had strong limbs that were crucial for a swordsman.
'He was also not blown away by my kick in that tournament.'
Though he was able to block the first attack, it was clear that he was struggling.
"Vane! Alba!" He called out to his party members.
"Wind blade!" Alba shouted loudly.
They immediately understood, and Alba fired a wind blade at the hobgoblin. Due to the height difference, Alba had an easy time to aim at the hobgoblin's head. They learned a little from their first battle. Not the best, but good enough.
Meanwhile, Vane jumped backward to create some space and fired his gun. Five bullets came out of the barrel, and his body flinched before putting his fingers away from the trigger.
"Huh?" Vane sounded confused. His balance was broken and he stumbled a little. He could only stand because of his sheer will.
The bullets and wind blade hit the hobgoblin, injuring it. Using that chance, Zaiden pushed the hobgoblin back with a kick and swung his sword, injuring the hobgoblin's arm in the process.
"Graahhh!!" The hobgoblin roared in anger. It was mad and charged at Zaiden.
"Hey! Care to assist me?!"
Vane nodded his head, but his expression was clearly worsened, and his skin turned pale. He tried to fire his gun, but no bullet came out. Finally, he slumped to the ground, and Alba noticed that.
"Vane!"
'He has exhausted his Mana.' I narrowed my eyes as I glanced at Vane.
It was normal for the new Awakener to exhaust their Mana, as they had yet to know their limit.
Alba assisted Vane in worry, leaving Zaiden to cope with the hobgoblin alone.
'Beginner mistake. He should focus on the monster instead of helping his teammates. The situation is dangerous now.'
Zaiden noticed Alba's worried tone and realized that something was wrong with Vane. He glanced at them, but the hobgoblin attacked him before he had a chance to look at their situation.
Swoosh!
The hobgoblin swung its sword horizontally. It was fast and swift, considering his size. Zaiden was right in front of the hobgoblin, and he couldn't avoid its attack.
"Oh no!" He gasped and readied his sword to block the attack.
Clang!
He was able to block the attack in time, but it was too strong, and his sword snapped in half. His body was blown away and crashed into the wall.
Crash! Thud! Crack!
It looked painful. The cave's wall cracked from the crash, and Zaiden fell to the ground. He tried to stand up immediately, but he couldn't. His right leg was bent in the wrong way, and his body was injured to the point that he couldn't move. Blood trickled down his face, but he didn't seem to bother with it.
"Ugh! M-Move!" He desperately tried to move. But still, he couldn't.
'This damned guy!' I screamed inside my mind.
I knew that he was worried about Vane, but how could he look away in an important battle?! He must've had a few broken ribs from that attack earlier.
"Chloe, let's interfere. You protect Alba and Vane." I quietly muttered and readied my bow.
"Alright." She answered and walked toward Alba and Vane.
Vane was still on the ground, looking at the hobgoblin with mixed expression. Mana exhaustion was fatal in a dungeon raid. One would feel weak when his Mana depleted, some higher Rank Awakener would immediately faint due to it.
They would feel sluggish, and their visions would turn around like someone who was drunk. A bad headache would also attack them, so they wouldn't be able to make sound decisions, even recovering Mana would need at least a few hours for them.
Alba was standing in front of Vane, trying to protect him from the hobgoblin as wind blades danced in front of his palm. That was a good decision in case one couldn't run, but not in this case. He should've carried Vane and ran to get help before Zaiden died. Points deduction for him.
'Points deduction, huh? Am I an instructor of the Academy?'
Chuckling at my thought, I looked at the hobgoblin that approached Zaiden while snickering. Alba was about to attack the hobgoblin but was stopped by Chloe, who suddenly appeared in front of him.
"It will be fine." She said, "Rai will take care of that." She then pointed at me.
I was glad that you believed me, but that word wouldn't be enough to calm him down. Or so I thought.
Alba nodded his head and erased his magic. He crouched while facing Vane, trying to help him to stand up.
"Are you okay?" Asked Alba.
"Y-Yeah." Answered Vane. He looked at me and smiled. "S-so instructor will help us?"
"Un." Chloe answered shortly.
Well, it seemed like that side was fine. Also, Zaiden had been roughed up by the hobgoblin. This would be enough to make him realize that his strength wouldn't be enough to survive, even more so if he wanted to save the heroines.
'I hope you will change a little with this.'
I pointed my bow at the hobgoblin and pulled the bowstring, creating a normal Mana Arrow that I used to hunt Forest Wolves. It should be enough to kill this guy, considering his face had been roughed up by Vane and Alba.
"Hey, ugly bastard!" I shouted at the hobgoblin to gain his attention.
Monsters couldn't understand human speech, but they could at least feel the emotion behind the words. And I mocked it, so it could feel that I was looking down on it.
Slowly, the hobgoblin stopped and turned its head at me. I couldn't read its expression, but it was clearly raging. Its face was covered in blood from the wound created by the wind blades and bullets earlier, making it look scary.
It only looked scary, though; its strength was not something worth mentioning. At least not for me.
As it had stopped in its tracks, I grinned under my mask and released the bowstring.
Swoosh!
My arrow severed the wind and planted itself on the hobgoblin's head, right between its eyes, killing it instantly.
Thud!
It fell to the ground lifelessly, and silence descended before I muttered.
"Bullseye," I lowered my arrow and looked at the hobgoblin's corpse. I approached it before pulling its fangs and put its sword in my magic bag.
Even a small loot was valuable, but I guess, I would give some part of the money to Vane and the others, as they were the one who fought it before I killed it. Just a little bit though.
"Woah…" Vane muttered in admiration.
"This is…" Alba lost his words as if it was stuck in his throat. But the way he looked at me was filled with admiration.
Meanwhile, Zaiden was looking at me without saying anything. His gaze was full of confusion, and I glared at him while raising my chin a little, showing my supremacy. I then looked at Vane, the leader of the party, and said.
"Let's wrap it up. You guys did well for your first time, even when there was an abnormality."
"Ah, yes." Vane tried to stand up, but he stumbled again.
"Whoa! There..." Alba caught Vane's body and propped him up by linking his hand on his shoulder.
"A-ahaha, thanks, Alba."
"No problem."
Vane looked at me with a pale expression and said.
"I-I also think that it's enough for today, besides…" He then turned to Zaiden, who was roughed up badly. "I think someone needs to see a doctor."
Zaiden, despite his injuries, chuckled. "Ha-hahaha… C-Can you carry me, please?" He asked as he turned to me.
He was unexpectedly able to handle pain. I realized it when I hit him on his throat and when he was only screaming without thrashing around when he was Awakened.
Without much choice, I nodded my head.
"It will cost you, though." I was only joking, but Vane unexpectedly answered seriously.
"I-I will pay for it."
"Thanks for your patronage."
I looked at him and nodded my head. Who wouldn't want free money? At least I loved free money. So I didn't bother to say that I was joking and approached Zaiden, carrying me on my back.
"Argh! P-please be gentle with me. I am a patient."
"No."
He grumbled a little after I refused him flatly.
Were you a girl? I wouldn't be gentle even if you pay me. When Zaiden shut his mouth, Chloe approached me and asked.
"Rai, should I clear the dungeon?" She gripped her spear before adding, "It will be easy."
"No, Chloe. We are leaving for now. It's enough for today."
"Alright."
I then turned at Vane, who was standing with the help of Alba.
"Are you going to be okay? We will leave the dungeon now." I asked them, to which Vane replied with a nod.
"I will be okay." He then patted his magic bag. "I have put all my belongings, including my gun, inside."
"Alright. Let's get out of here." I then turned to Chloe. "I will be counting on you to heal Zaiden on our way out, Chloe."
"Un."
With that, we walked slowly toward the exit of the dungeon. With this, the first event concluded with Zaiden getting injured though it deviated a bit from my plan.
'The introduction phase is over. The next event, the first arc, will be that, huh? I still have a lot of time then. I should check my walking piggy bank while waiting.'
Zaiden had already suffered physically in the introduction. In the first arc, his second trial wouldn't be as easy as this one.
'After that, I think I should finish Smith's request too. I have been neglecting it for too long.'