Chapter 10
—Raust—
The couple of days before the phoenix subjugation was only spent on preparing for the phoenix subjugation .
I had to create a magic tool for the subjugation, but that took more time than I expected .
Nevertheless, we finished the preparation one day before the day of subjugation and left the inn with plenty of time .
「You come earlier than I thought . 」
「………Huh?」
But, when we finally arrived at the meeting place, the entrance of the labyrinth, Zieg-san party was already there, waiting for us .
Not only that, what surprised us more was that he had even accepted the quest for phoenix subjugation .
Just like us, Zieg-san’s party should need a lot to prepare .
In spite of that, they have more spare time, all I can think of is that come from the difference in experiences .
While thinking about such things, I opened my mouth toward Zieg-san’s party .
「I’m sorry . I’m late …」
「Don’t worry, we just came too early . 」
Lailsan answered my apology with a smile as if to tell me that I didn’t need to worry needlessly .
…However, the moment she noticed the thing I brought on my back, the smile turned into a look of confusion .
「…Though, I do want to know one thing, are you planning to fight with that?」
Lailsan asked that timidly and I returned a wry smile at her .
On my back was a greatsword .
It wasn’t to the extent of Zieg-san’s magic sword, but the sword had considerable weight and size, for someone who knew I always used dagger, it was natural to wonder whether I could really use such a weapon .
「Don’t worry . It’s not the same as using a dagger, but I can indeed use it . 」
Although, Lailsan’s worry was needless .
If it’s just a greatsword of this size, I can still wield it .
……That’s how it is to study under Ronaldo-san .
「But…」
However, for someone like Lailsan who had never studied under Ronaldo-san, even after receiving my reply, she still looked uneasy .
「……Laila, I think it’s alright to trust Raust’s words . 」
「……I’ve never seen Onii-san wielded a greatsword before, but I don’t think I’m worried, because even I can wield that . 」
「R-Right……Ronaldo-san’s training……」
Seeing Lailsan still unconvinced, fellow disciples of Ronaldo-san, Narsena and Zieg-san told her so with the same wry smile like on my face .
Thanks to that, Lailsan seemed convinced .
……For some reason, my face cramped .
「Then, let’s go . 」
The gentle atmosphere we had during our conversation dispersed immediately after Zieg-san said that .
By the time we started walking, the gentle atmosphere we had before was like a lie .
Thanks to the conversation up to now, there was no undue tension between us .
…However, even in this state, we knew how important this phoenix subjugation was .
We could escape even if we failed to subjugate it .
But in that case, there was a chance the phoenix would mutate .
We won’t let that happen .
That’s why we had been fleshing out our strategy until now .
I stepped into the labyrinth with that determination in my heart……
「Ra──A!」
The phoenix that appeared in the lower-layer was on the same floor as what the information in the guild said, it was also near the vicinity of transfer formation .
「Kh!」
Covered in the armor of burning flame, it was the first time Narsena and I saw the phoenix and we gasped involuntarily .
This was the second time Zieg-san’s party saw the phoenix and we could see them slightly shaken .
However, the phoenix acted in contrast to us .
「RuA────────A!」
「Wh!」
The moment the phoenix recognized the presence of Zieg-san’s party, it fired a huge fireball along with warcry .
By nature, phoenixes didn’t attack before the battle but rather sought out the threat level of the opponent based on the magic power and ki they possessed .
Precisely because we knew its nature, we couldn’t hide our agitation .
「Ohh, what a passionate welcome . 」
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Except for Zieg-san .
Zieg-san, despite the fact a fireball so big it could swallow his whole upper body flying at him, calmly swung down his magic sword at the fireball .
With a natural movement, like he knew that the phoenix going to attack immediately .
「RA──────Aa!」
At the next moment, the fireball scattered by the magic sword and the phoenix raised an annoyed roar .
「Hah-」
In response to that roar, Zieg-san smiled provocatively at the phoenix .
「It seems you still remember our previous encounter, I appreciate that . Now, come at me more . 」
And then, hearing Zieg-san’s provoking words, I came to myself .
In this unexpected situation where the phoenix unusually hostile toward Zieg-san, I almost tried to support him .
But that wasn’t my job .
Certainly, we were in an unexpected situation now .
However, the current situation was far cry from what would fail our strategy .
On the contrary, it wasn’t an exaggeration to call the situation where the phoenix attention was directed to solely Zieg-san the best course that could happen in our strategy .
If so, the action I need to take is decided .
「Narsena!」
「Yes!」
The next moment, Narsena and I ran toward the phoenix just as planned .
In Narsena hands were gauntlets with heat resistance, and in mine was a greatsword instead of a dagger .
「RA──A!」
Maybe because its concentration was focused on Zieg-san, but the phoenix reaction to us running toward it was delayed .
The delay wasn’t too long .
But, for me and Narsena, I knew that both of us would be able to hit the phoenix because of this .
The phoenix seemed to realize the same thing, there was a moment of hesitation in the phoenix’s movement .
During that moment, Narsena and I got closer to the phoenix .
「RA─A!」
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After looking at the distance, the phoenix went into attacking stance, it seemed to judge that getting hit would be inevitable .
Apparently, it decided to not get hit by both of us and wanted to stop one of us even if it meant getting attacked by the other person .
「RA───────A!」
「Kh! Onii-san, go for it!」
And then, the one the phoenix choose to intercept with its fireball was Narsena
Narsena avoided the fireball by retreating quite a distance while shouting so .
With this, if Narsena wanted to hit the phoenix, she needed to close the gap again .
「Ha, haha~」
However, even though my comrade missed her chance to attack, I laughed .
The reason was simple .
It was because whether or not Narsena attacked the phoenix wasn’t important .
———After all, Narsena was just a bait to make sure my attack landed .
The reason I was attacking the phoenix right now wasn’t to damage it .
We were going to strike with all our power once we stripped the phoenix from its flame armor, in other words, there was no need to damage the phoenix right now .
Then why I attacked the phoenix? It was to get the phoenix’s attention at myself .
Currently, the phoenix wasn’t alarmed by me .
The proof was the phoenix decided to intercept Narsena instead of me .
That was a natural judgment from the phoenix who could detect the amount of magic power and ki possessed by others .
Actually, the magic power and ki I possessed was the lowest compared to everyone here .
Although I could only use elementary magic and reinforcement, the magic power and ki I possessed were by no means small .
It was just the people here were extraordinary and mine was much lower compared to theirs .
That was why, the phoenix thought of me as a small fry .
「RA──A」
……I could understand that from the gaze the phoenix directed at the still-running me .
Despite on the verge of being attacked by me, from its gaze I could feel ridicule and sense of relief .
———And my current aim was to correct the phoenix’s misunderstanding .
This time, I needed to turn phoenix’s attention at me and earn the time needed for Armia to unleash her magic .
But now when it was still looking down at me, it was clear that it didn’t consider me as an enemy,
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That was why I was going to tell the phoenix with this blow .
That I was a threat to it .
To make sure the phoenix wouldn’t ignore me .
The role of Narsena was to get phoenix’s attention to give me a chance to land my attack .
But for the phoenix who couldn’t know our strategy, it wasn’t even alerted by my attack .
It assumed Narsena’s attack was the real one and maybe didn’t consider mine to be a big deal, it didn’t even show an attempt to dodge my attack .
「RA───A !?」
And then, when I approached and lifted my greatsword, it was at that moment the phoenix realized it was mistaken .
It realized its mistake the moment I used body reinforcement on myself, and that was also the moment I knew that the phoenix’s perception about me changed .
The phoenix started moving to avoid my attack, but it was too late .
「Hraaaaaa!」
「RAAAAAAAA !?」
At the next moment, the greatsword that was swung down hard passed the armor of flame easily and cut open a large wound on the phoenix’s body .
A scream loud enough to tear eardrum that the phoenix let out was what told me the attack had severely injured the phoenix .
「Guh!」
…However, I couldn’t feel a sense of accomplishment even for a moment for doing such a feat .
「RuA──AA」
The phoenix’s roar was filled with bloodthirst .
That was what told me the rage of the phoenix .
「First step, success . 」
While basking inside that bloodthirst, I forcibly distorted my face .
Before the hostility that made my skin tingle, I told myself that this was an ideal situation and then I opened my mouth .
「Now, come at me . 」
「RA───────AAA!」
And so, began the period of desperately stalling for time .