"I didn't expect those two familiar kids, who I thought were just commoners, to have such skills. I really underestimated you before."
The carriage was completely shattered by the golem's blow, yet Louise and her companions emerged unscathed.
When Fouquet attacked, both Wood and Saito reacted instantly.
Wood leaped off the carriage immediately, carrying both Tabitha and Kirche in his arms.
Meanwhile, Saito held Louise in one arm while brandishing the rusty sword Derflinger, which Louise had previously bought for him at a second-hand market.
As for Guiche, the unlucky one, he was currently stuck head-first in the ground nearby but otherwise unharmed.
Before jumping off the carriage, Wood only had time to save Tabitha and Kirche due to having only two arms.
As for Saito, though he also had two arms, "Gandalfr's" ability couldn't activate unless his left hand was holding a weapon, so he had to carry Louise with one arm while wielding his sword in the other.
Thus, Guiche was the unfortunate one who got kicked away by Wood in the nick of time.
Though it was a rough treatment, at least he survived, right?
"I didn't expect the infamous thief, Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth, to be a woman."
The figure before them, capable of summoning such a massive golem and attacking them, was clearly Fouquet, even without her revealing her identity.
Rumors said that Fouquet was skilled in disguise, and no one had ever seen her true face. But now, stealing the "Staff of Destruction," she had revealed her true appearance.
"No choice—your Academy's headmaster is an old lecher, and if I used too much disguise, it would only raise his suspicions."
As Fouquet pulled off her black cloak, her clean-cut features were revealed to Wood and the others.
With short, neat green hair and a well-toned body from regular training, Fouquet wasn't as beautiful as Henrietta or Louise, but she was definitely an attractive woman.
This was evident from the way Saito and Guiche immediately wore stupid grins upon seeing her in her revealing outfit after she discarded her cloak.
As fellow men, Saito and Guiche finally understood why Headmaster Osmond had been so easily charmed by her...
Fouquet didn't mind revealing her face before them, because she hadn't planned on letting Louise and her companions leave alive.
As a notorious thief in several neighboring kingdoms, Fouquet definitely had the power of a "Triangle" level mage and was experienced in battle.
Moreover, due to her profession, she had also trained her body to a certain extent. Even in physical combat, she was at a different level compared to ordinary, frail mages.
Given that Wood's group outnumbered her, Fouquet waved her wand, and with a rumble, another golem rose from the ground.
Surrounded by the two massive earth golems, Louise and the others quickly drew their wands to fight.
However, Louise, who had yet to master the proper use of "Void" magic, could hardly scratch the golems with her spells.
Kirche's fire magic had sufficient power, but earth-based magic had a natural resistance to fire.
Though Kirche managed to inflict some damage on the golems, it wasn't nearly enough to stop them.
Guiche summoned several knights, just like the ones he used against Saito earlier. But, true to Guiche's nature, they were all for show, utterly ineffective.
The golems simply swept them aside with a single punch and crushed them underfoot.
Tabitha was their strongest mage, but Fouquet seemed well aware of her abilities and directed the golems to focus on her, leaving her no time to chant spells.
If Sylphid were present, Tabitha might have had the advantage of flight, but due to the previous battle, Sylphid was left behind at the Academy to recover.
With Tabitha targeted, and the others' spells proving ineffective, the golems steadily closed in, putting them all in a dire situation.
Saito's left hand, glowing with the runes of "Gandalfr," granted him enhanced speed and skill with a sword. Yet, in the current situation, all he could do was carry Louise and run.
As for the so-called elite Academy students like Guiche, they were experiencing a real life-or-death battle for the first time. Seeing the golems' fists closing in on them, they closed their eyes in fear.
"Boom—!"
As the two towering earth golems simultaneously brought their fists down, the ground trembled violently.
Watching from the shoulder of one golem, Fouquet sighed in disappointment. "I thought I could at least have a bit of fun, but it's over already?"
"You're right. I had some expectations, but is this all the infamous Fouquet of the Crumbling Earth is capable of?"
Hearing a voice suddenly emerging from the dust, Fouquet turned around in disbelief, and what she saw nearly made her jaw drop.
As the dust settled, a dark-haired boy stood with a sword in each hand, effortlessly blocking the fists of both golems!
The sheer power of the golems was evident from the shattered remains of the carriage nearby. If it had been magic that blocked their fists, Fouquet wouldn't have been so shocked.
But what she saw clearly—this boy was a commoner, and he had blocked the golems' fists with his own brute strength!
Was this seemingly fragile boy really human?
It wasn't just Fouquet who was shocked. Despite witnessing Wood's terrifying physical strength when he kicked away a dragon earlier, seeing it again up close left Louise and the others equally astonished.
As everyone stood stunned, Saito's rusty sword suddenly spoke, "Partner, now is not the time to be surprised."
Momentarily startled, Saito quickly snapped back to reality, seizing the golden opportunity before him. He leaped onto the golem's arm and began running up it.
The runes on Saito's left hand, the sign of "Gandalfr," glowed brilliantly as he swung his sword. A series of slashes brought the golem's arms crashing down to the ground.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 200+ at patreon.com/Betek.