Chapter 7: The Rearguard’s Specialty
TL: Pinky
EN Editor: Anirhapsodist
The watadama’s normal attacks are not really life threatening to Level 1 like us not even if we receive its attack head on but this red watadama is way larger and faster than the one we had previously defeated. The speed is not three times faster instead it’s probably thirty percent faster.
(He’s reached the end of the line. Moreover, that 『NAMED』 is determined to do something!)
◆ Activity Log ◆
『★Redface』activates 『Boomerang Dive』 → 『Budwick’s Party』
Redface. It’s a special demon with a unique name. The way it almost instantaneously activated its skill terrified me.
“Uwaah…!”
The demon had tremendous acceleration. It launched itself like a boomerang then swept in an elliptical course overwhelming the fleeing party. The attack was ruthless. With full strength, the redface drove itself towards everyone.
In an instant, the attack dispersed the already demoralized party.
“NAMED” monsters should not appear in the beginners’ labyrinth. Its strength clearly outclasses any beginner level adventurer… a generous amount of life would be wasted defeating it. Did they encounter it? Or did they just ran out of luck? How did they even meet this monster? Did they jinx their adventure?
“Tch… Haah… haah… I don’t want to die… I don’t want to….”
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Budwick』 uses 『Scroll of Return』
The party of 『Budwick』has left the labyrinth…
Budwick group teleports away but the section chief got left behind. With the party deserting her, she’s left to fend for herself.
“To be deceived maliciously like this…!”
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Kyouka』uses『Blink Step』→『Boomerang Dive』 - Evaded
(Igarashi, did you evade using a Valkyrie skill?)
Adeptly activating a recently acquired skill in the most crucial moment is most impressive section chief.
Without a doubt that was tier 1 magic, how much more can she use them? The more powerful the magic, the faster she’ll get exhausted.
“Section chief! Please run away. We’ll take it from here…”
“Atobe… you should run! I’m not going to lose to this!
It was my first seeing her go emotional. We began our encounter. I positioned behind Theresa and with my slingshot I started shooting bullets towards the Redface.
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Arihito』attacks『★Redface』. No damage
(Tch…!)
My best shot had no effect. The bullets landed perfectly as confirmed with their impact noise but they all got deflected.
The Redface then focused its attention to our party. It only needed a bounce to engage its super-acceleration. Theresa withstands the attack and suppresses it. If Redface doesn’t show some weaknesses, we’re facing defeat.
(Theresa can be teleported back, but what will happen to her if before returning she takes a damage that she couldn’t endure? She was already killed once and lost her voice. If she falls again… )
“Your opponent is here, you rodent!”
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Kyouka』activates『Thunderbolt』: target →『★Redface』. Hit
Kyouka previously explained that a Valkyrie could initiate some magic. The lightning that hit the Redface should be one of her skills.
(Why are you helping me? You have always despised me. But…)
After the hit, the monster switched targets. It bounced back and directed its 『Boomerang Dive』towards the section chief.
It would end tragically if she receives the attack. The monster had so much power it ruined an entire party. It’s a walking catastrophe.
Moreover, Kyouka no longer had the capacity to activate 『Blink Step』. Taking her spear in a firm grip, she thrusts forward the Redface with all her resolve.
“Hiyaah!”
I need to cancel that 『Boomerang Dive』or her spear won’t penetrate.
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Kyouka』attacks『★Redface』. No Damage
『★Redface』attacks『Kyouka』. Hit
The『Boomerang Dive』shattered the entire reach of Igarashi’s spear. The attack blew her about, swallowed her words, and bowled her across the meadow.
“What are you doing…?”
As the battle noises echoed in my head, I felt my consciousness snap. The initial plan was to assist the section chief after the ridiculously strong redface destroyed her party. She instead took center stage and gets mortally wounded which puts my efforts to shame. This is all messed up.
“Section chief… what are you doing?…. You’ll die…”
Even in here, am I still this useless? I just realized how my demon boss protected me. I suck in every job there is.
I could borrow Theresa’s power but might she be killed. I should be smart with my decision.
『Support Defense 1』cancels the Redfaces’ attacks. I’ll select 『Increase Attack 1』 for now and prepare to penetrate the demon’s defenses.
If Theresa makes a blunder here, I get killed along with her. The enemy is not so lenient to allow Rival’s rescue.
Theresa, as a mercenary, will not hesitate to offer with her life on the line.
This is so twisted. She was still nodding like the usual.
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Theresa』 activates 『Axel Dash』
“Theresa!”
(What are you trying to tell me? Do you want to aid Igarashi and make time to escape?)
Theresa’s job is not of a close type fighter yet she approached the Redface that was preparing to land its final blow on the still breathing Igarashi.
(Rouge skills – she has not used it yet.)
Theresa, too, is trying to selflessly protect another person. But after protecting them, she would care nothing from what these people think.
(If that’s the case, I guess I’m going to protect you!)
It’s not just exclusive to my partner in the frontlines. Every “Party Member” to my “Front” are treated as vanguards.
Now I understand why Theresa distanced herself away from me.
My support defense is a “Barrier” that can be used on a wide range of companions in battle.
“Theresa, I’ll support…!”
The Redface reacted swiftly to Theresa’s sudden approach. It answered with its 『Boomerang Dive』
(That one attack sent Budwick’s party packing, but that skill–).
In comparison to the ramming attack of the watadama with a『Chance to Break Buckler』, the power level might be the same.
◆ Activity Log ◆
『★Redface』 : 『Boomerang Drive』 →『Theresa』 . No Damage
(—It’s Nullified… with Theresa’s defense and my Support Defense…）
Although the gap between me and Theresa is wide, I was able to use 『Support Defense』 ensuring her safety.
Let’s assume the damage that Theresa receives from the regular watadama without 『Support Defense』to be 1 or 2. If I can suppress the damage by 5 to 10, then the damage will be nullified.
(If it’s 10 and Theresa only has a maximum health of 20, then 10? Wouldn’t that be ridiculous? It’s too huge a number in this world!)
『Support Defense 1』reppeled the Redface’s attack. As it went airborne, it provided an opportunity for assault.
(『Increase Attack 1』 is needed to defeat the monster.)
“Go, Theresa!” I will support you!“
“…!”
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Arihito』activates 『Increase Attack 1』 → 『Theresa』(TL: I purposely put this line here for tact)
『Theresa』 attacks『★Redface』 . no damage + (support damage 10)
(Normal Attack does not have any effect …however, the 10 point support damage connects!!!)
Finally, a damage we badly needed, but this alone will not suffice.
Theresa quickly extended continuous slashes and gave chase to the now faltering Redface.
◆ Activity Log ◆
『Theresa』 attack 『★Redface』 . no damage + (support damage 10)
『Theresa』 attack 『★Redface』 . no damage + (support damage 10)
『Theresa』 attack 『★Redface』 . no damage + (support damage 10)
1 『★Redface』 Defeated
Arihito → Level UP!(2)
We defeated with our own hands the demon that hastily wiped out a party. I wanted to scream for victory but the current situation forbids it.
“Theresa, I’ll keep watch on Igarashi so go outside and call Rival.”
She follows my instructions and dashes out of the labyrinth.
Igarashi’s collapsed and not faring well. Her arm got inflamed from the damage she received so she might have even suffered some broken bones.
"Ugh…”
She’s in severe pain.
Just as I sat in front of the lady who fought with us, I caught a flashback from our previous lives.
–I punched my time card. When I’m done at work, I will declare an overtime of two hours.
–Have you taken a rest from your cold? Please take this energy drink, do your best. Work will be impossible without you.
–Really? I appreciate that you take charge of the rear. This job is hard to ask from the others.
(I haven’t forgotten how bossy you get. But my conscience will bother me if I leave you here alone.)
I anticipated a reward as my level went up. As I turn over the page of my license, the number of skill points that can be allocated has increased by two.
『Aid Recovery 1』.To use this skill, I need Igarashi to join my party but she’s still delirious.
“Igarashi, it’s me, Atobe. Help is coming soon, but I can only do first aid for now. Can you please join my party for that?”
I had to ask twice since Igarashi did not react the first time, as if she could not comprehend the words I am saying. After a while, she opened her eyes slightly and gave a weak nod of approval.
“Lewd things… If you do… I’ll sue you…”
She puts her life on the line to protect others but she can get really stubborn even in challenging conditions.
After enlisting her in the party, I checked at the red bar that had dropped below 70% then used the new skill that I acquired and healed her.
(The current position of section chief is “Rearguard”… will it be okay?)
I got nervous thinking the skill didn’t work but Igarashi started limping as she tried her best to rise. I quickly moved behind her and assisted as she parked half of her body.
“………”
She remained silent as the mood evolved.
What’s the meaning of this? It’s like I’m being embraced from behind.
Would it be a ’ Rearguard ’s job if she falls asleep on my back while also lying sideways? I’m not certain if there are means to verify this but waiting for 5 points of health to recover within 30 seconds is taking an awful lot of time.
TL’s Message:
Hi everyone, we’re really sorry for releasing this chapter a bit late as we were faced with a ton of real life duties. My editor/sibling had some student grades to finish and a graduation ceremony to prepare and I was so busy with business intelligence and a lot of analytics.
By the way, I sure do hope you enjoy the type of literary translation style we do. This is my first WN tranlations and it’s also the first time my editor puts his profession to practice outside teaching.
I may not be 100% accurate all the time in translating each and every word to particle but I hope we get the thought across to anyone who reads this.
I hope to see you again in Chapter 8…
Cheers.
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