Chapter 32 - Perceiving My Growth and My Partner’s Abilities in the Floor Boss Battle

I grasped the armor underneath my robe as we stand in front of the large door. [Oh, right. Russell.] [What?] Sybilla turned her jacket inside out showing black linings. It was the spot where the blood from the goblin's ears blood had stained. I don't know what she's thinking about but she used her sword to cut it out. [Try using cure.] [Got it. ] When I used cure, the stain from the blood had fully gone. [Now use heal.] [Fine. ] […It's so you to choose those magics even you have the basics, huh…] I look at how the magic took effect along with Sybilla's stupid side comments. The magic was able to completely remove the cut she did earlier. I see. I've known earlier that the magic clean is included with my cure but who would have thought that even though my heal can't clean clothes, it can be used to repair them? [Really… How can your magic be that incomprehensible? It's just too amazing.] […Hey. Did you really just do all of that just to confirm this?] [Uhm, yes?] Sybilla tilts her head in confusion to my question but I can't think but be impressed once again with this girl's boldness. [But now I get it. This magic should work as well with cuts from robes and even to armors' damage and dents… You see, if an armor was dented to the point that is crushing your arm, then it would be almost impossible to recover. Imagine how painful it would be if you recover your flesh while the dented part of the armor is crushing it.] ..Un, what she said is right. Trying to recover your flesh while being inside a dented armor to the point it's crushing it is something I don't even want to imagine. [Oh, also.] [What?] From there, Sybilla started giving me several pointers to remember and instructions after the battle. I wasn't able to understand all of it but… I believe there is much more meaning behind them as it is Sybilla we're talking about. I did my best to get all of it inside my head and casted wind barrier once again as I open the door. What appeared in front of us is a very large space. And what's more is a very long stair inside it. I and Sybilla nod at each other as we slowly make our way down. I've never known something like this except from the stories in the books Jannet read. It's very wide and extended stairs like those that are used when getting an audience with a king. It's about thirty steps, I think? We got off from the stairs. Then, I look behind. There's now a thin layer of magic covering the still opened door. [Enchant Darkness] () I hold my sword with a premonition as I look at the middle of the room once again. There were no signs or even a shadow before but all of a sudden, a golden armor was standing there. There's no mistake. It's the living armor floor boss. As Sybilla had suspected, there's little to no chance for the floor boss to be greatly different from the second floor's monsters. …More importantly, isn't wearing a golden full set of armor too flashy for an undead? I glanced to the source of the sudden sound and found Sybilla running back up the stairs. Hm. As expected. She had judged the situation immediately. Ofcourse I will follow suit. Not until I welcome the floor boss with my magic! [!] I double casted it so it's a slightly bigger sphere than normal. Its size hasn't changed much but as per what Sybilla taught me, what should have been doubled is the volume inside. If this hit, then it will definitely inflict some damage. I kept my gaze and check how much damage it got after the sphere hi- […Huh?] I think it was the moment the living armor put its waist down and from there it executed a quick side step. And before I knew it, the armor already has a fine long sword on its hand. It swings the sword for a few times as it looks toward my direction. …This guy's definitely strong. I'm not just speaking about its brute strength. It's probably a completely different monster from the small fries we cleared around earlier. It isn't just a floor boss of those living armors. I need to reset my behavior towards this opponent. Towards the skilled swordsman inside the golden armor. The monster lowered its waist once again and gripped its sword tightly. -It's coming! […!] My arms received a shock as I received the quick attack of the armor with the sword held within my two hands. My sword is screeching. Or not. It looks like the noise isn't from my sword. [–] The floor boss might have thought that something was amiss after seeing the faint blue light coming from our swords and widen our distance around ten steps using just a single back step. After it took some distance, it made single sidestep covering a distance of five steps and repeated it to return to its original position all in just an instant. I can't read its expressions at all but it seems to be taunting me to get over. Even still, this guy turns all of impressions towards undead upside down. Compared to cavalry living armor, it's speed can't be easily perceived in human standards. However… [Even if you have something like a mithril coating… Let's see if it can keep up with my sword along with dark magic.] [–!] It seems like I wounded its pride as the red lights inside its helmet had brighten. At the same time, it runs towards me with its sword over its shoulder preparing to slash diagonally. That posture… It doesn't matter if it's Vince or Emmy, I've deflected attacks similar to that pattern all those times. I kept my gaze into the hand of the enemy as it comes close preparing to parry its attack but – I lost him. […Huh?] It took me an instant to realize it was a feint. However, for the floor boss who can release attacks with speed like that, an instant moment is enough to be fatal. As I shifted my sword and held it with both hands— [–!] A sudden roar resounded from behind and a glimpse of a golden flash went over my head. It was followed by screeching sound as the floor boss put its both feet and a single hand on the ground as it slides. [It isn't time to dilly dally! Tsk. It went behind you with a quick side step and was already coming after you as it made a back step!] I checked behind me and saw a square wall made out of purple rocks. It certainly is the magic . I see… So Sybilla went up to a higher location to get a better view of the situation. With it, she was able to respond when the floor boss moved behind me and made its attack. What amazing control and timing…! I can really rely on her in times like these. [Thanks for the save!] I hold my sword as I said my thanks to Sybilla. –N? I felt something was amiss for an instant but I have to concentrate and keep my eyes on the floor boss' movement. But, how am I supposed to cope up with it? As I was hesitating, Sybilla went down the stairs. She was heading to the stone wall so I decided to move and meet her there. [It's dangerous here!] [Both of us are mages so who's in the front and back doesn't matter! More importantly, come here!] Sybilla fastened her shield in her forearm and took the broadsword from me with her two hands. She looks like she'll be cutting the floor boss in my stead. [Will you be alright? That guy's strong!] [Russell] [What!] I can't help but raise my voice in panic but Sybilla calmly replied to me without looking back. [When it comes to fast enemies… Have you already forgotten?] –! I can't help but let impatience get over my head seeing how the enemy has overwhelmed me. That's right. I forgot. Fast enemies tend to have low defenses. And Sybilla already taught me everything about this in advance. I'd rely on Sybilla who's holding my sword and to the stone wall she created for my defenses. This is it… This is a party. Putting your trust on each other's ability. She really shows her seniority on how she keeps her calm even in a fight against a floor boss. It's really comforting. I pushed both of the palms of my hand forward. Take a deep breath and… Start bombarding my magic. [ ...] (….. ) The spheres launched using alternate casting fell on empty spaces and started to explode. It looks like futile attacks to the ground at first glance. However… The explosion of those magics will soon leave no empty spot behind. As the explosions gradually narrowed down the remaining empty spaces, the floor boss started to realize what our intention is. Then, as if to look for a breakthrough from the situation, the floor boss held its sword and aimed straight at Sybilla. [!] However, Sybilla's short-ranged high-level magic skewered the living armor. [I'm someone who keeps her trump cards for the best moments, you know? You've already lost when you've thought of me as a mage whose earth magic is her specialty.] When the floor boss' leg which was its greatest source of strength got pierced, it wasn't able to dodge that much longer and took all of my magic. After a few more hits, the armor had finally stopped from moving. A voice resounded inside my head. [We've done it, huh.] [Yep. I've been relying on you. Thanks for saving me.] [And from here, Russell-chan will start to fall head over heels to Sybilla-ch —Ouch!] [Don't get too ahead of yourself. Seriously… If you'd just didn't say all of that…] I won't allow anyone else to call me like that except Fredrica. Especially you, Sybilla. I feel like you've been waiting to say that all this time but let's stick with what we both are familiar. My chop. I went behind the crouching cheeky mage holding her head and look at the flatten ground. Then, Sybilla abruptly stood up and stared at me. She looks really serious as she started to come closer and closer in front of my face. …Wha-what's with you all of a sudden!? And when the girl has gotten so close, she can almost kiss my ear – she started murmuring things. [Russell, it's the start of the second plan.] After affirming what she said in my head, I started to get a deep breath and let my self fall on the floor. Then, I look at the door on top of the stairs as I use my arm to wipe my sweat. The thin layer of magic is still on it. […For it to be in a place like this…] I turned my face to the opposite direction of the door. What's there beside the armor is the Demon Lord we met before.