Episode 14: Wilderness Formation Will the Strategy Map I Draw Not Collapse?
Temporary operations room near the port town of Elnea.
The magical map spread across the entire wall emitted a faint light‚ and the terrain from the wilderness to the polluted forest‚ along with the distribution of residue concentration‚ floated up in three dimensions. Red dots were danger zones‚ blue dots were areas with thin barriers‚ and green marks indicated the target locations for this mission—sealing points and material collection points.
Aria stood in front of it‚ tapping her fingertips while her gaze raced across it‚ as if a chess player reading the board.
"The mission this time has two objectives.
First‚ seal the entrance to the forest with high residue concentration to prevent the damage from spreading.
Second‚ collect the 'Residual Light Stones' needed for barrier repairs.
Both are races against time. If the residue concentration rises‚ the terrain itself will change."
The companions nodded with serious expressions.
Aria held her hand over the magical map and drew lines of light.
"Kross will take the lead on the penetration route. Even if mutated magical beasts appear‚ I want you to draw their attention first."
"Leave it to me! I'll show you my heroic figure!"
"...Prioritize calmness over heroic figures."
"Eh."
When she lightly retorted‚ Rinne chuckled softly.
"Rinne‚ you're in charge of detection and barrier support. The residue fluctuations are strong‚ so I want you to detect terrain changes as quickly as possible."
"Understood. I'll move according to Aria's instructions."
"Iris is... in charge of the final finish. I want you to break through the situation with melody magic."
"Yeah! Leave it to me!"
Iris answered brightly‚ but a shadow flickered for just an instant deep in her eyes. Aria did not notice.
And finally‚ she announced her own role.
"I will handle overall coordination and linkage instructions. While reading the residue interference‚ I'll think several moves ahead and act. My job is to unify everyone's movements into 'a single flow.'"
Kross suddenly raised his hand.
"Alright‚ the operation codename will be—'Aria's Great Operation: Perfect Victory Edition'!"
"Rejected."
"Immediate answer!?"
"It's too long and the content is too sloppy."
Rinne and Iris burst out laughing at the same time‚ and the atmosphere in the operations room softened just a little.
Aria took a deep breath and looked back at the magical map.
(...This is our first large-scale subjugation. Failure is not allowed. But I have my companions. We'll win through reading each other.)
The map of light flickered‚ and the curtain of battle was about to rise quietly.
The moment they left the port town and stepped into the wilderness‚ the air changed.
Mixed with the dry wind was a somewhat metallic smell. Black‚ static-like flashes ran across the ground‚ and every time the sand shifted with a crunch‚ it changed shape like liquid.
"...The residue concentration is higher than expected."
Rinne frowned and readied her detection magical device.
Aria observed the terrain distortions while tapping her fingertips.
(The sand is liquefying... The "phase" of the ground is unstable. If you misjudge the angle of your step‚ there's a high chance of sinking.)
"Kross‚ don't go too far ahead. The ground is unstable."
"Leave it to me! I am a trap specialist—Whoa!?"
The moment Kross puffed out his chest‚ the sand at his feet sank with a "squish."
He hurriedly jumped up and somehow avoided falling over.
"...Specialist at falling into traps?"
When Aria calmly retorted‚ Rinne shook her shoulders and laughed.
"T-That's not it! That was just because the terrain was bad!"
"Yeah yeah‚ got it‚ so look ahead while you advance."
Iris chuckled softly and pushed his back.
As they approached the forest‚ the influence of the residue grew even stronger.
The shadows of the trees shook in double‚ and the view blurred for an instant.
Aria did not miss that moment.
(...Visual interference. The residue waves are coming periodically. In that case—)
"Rinne‚ deploy three small barriers on the right side. Kross‚ move behind them."
"Understood!"
"Ou!"
Aria read the "fluctuations" in the terrain and gave instructions for barrier placement as if making a "first move" to avoid traps.
In chess terms‚ it was like shifting a move to avoid the opponent's hidden pieces.
"Iris‚ one melody from the rear. Can you visualize the terrain waves?"
"I'll try!"
When Iris flicked her fingertips‚ faint musical notes floated in the air and vibrated in sync with the ground's fluctuations.
Those vibrations indicated "safe footholds" and "dangerous sinking spots."
"...Amazing. We can advance with this."
Rinne let out a voice of admiration.
Aria nodded and advanced forward as if guiding her companions.
(Just as I read. The residue waves come in a fixed rhythm. Then the next fluctuation is—)
At that moment‚ black vines shot out with a "whoosh" from deep underground.
The mutated plants tried to entangle them like traps.
"Aria‚ watch out!"
Rinne quickly deployed a barrier and repelled the vines.
"Thanks...!"
"Geez‚ be more careful."
When Rinne puffed out her cheeks‚ Kross interjected from the side.
"Aria is the type who thinks too much and stops seeing her surroundings!"
"...It's frustrating that I can't deny it."
While having such exchanges‚ the team steadily approached the forest entrance.
Reading‚ avoiding‚ and sometimes laughing at the residue traps.
The battlefield was right there.
The moment they crossed the forest entrance‚ the air completely changed.
Black mist crawled along the ground‚ the shadows of the trees distorted‚ and low growls echoed from nowhere. The residue concentration was clearly higher‚ and the edges of their vision flickered.
"They're coming...!"
Rinne said shortly.
The next instant‚ a pack of mutated magical beasts burst out from the bushes.
They had wolf-like forms‚ but their scales shone black and their movements were too irregular.
It was clear at a glance that residue interference had made their coordinated actions unpredictable.
"Kross‚ be the decoy!"
"Leave it to meeeee!!"
Kross leaped forward and drew the magical beasts' attention.
In sync with his movement‚ Aria tapped her fingertips and read the next move.
(The beasts' movements are in three directions. Right is fast‚ left is heavy. Center is... a leap. In that case—)
"Rinne‚ seal the right side! Iris‚ melody in three seconds!"
"Understood!"
"Three seconds‚ leave it to me!"
Rinne quickly deployed a barrier to stop the right-side beasts' charge.
Aria used that opening to stack three small barriers in the center and shifted the leaping beasts' trajectories.
And then—
"Now!"
In response to Aria's voice‚ Iris flicked her fingertips.
The melody of light shook the air‚ stopping the magical beasts' movements for an instant.
Kross swung his sword through the gap and pushed back the front line.
"Alrighttttt! It's my turn!"
"Kross‚ this isn't a card game!"
Aria thought to herself while reading the next move.
(There are still two more behind the beasts. A residue wave is coming... the ground will shake in five seconds. Then‚ make them change position before the fluctuation—)
"Kross‚ step back two steps! Rinne‚ three steps to the left!"
"Eh‚ three steps? So precise!"
"I'll explain the reason later!"
When the companions moved according to Aria's instructions‚ the ground immediately warped with a "squish."
If they had continued fighting as they were‚ their footing would have been taken.
"...Aria‚ you saw that coming?"
Rinne raised a surprised voice.
"I could see the cycle of the residue waves. Next is—"
The moment Aria started to speak‚ one of the magical beasts leaped at an unpredictable trajectory.
It was a "burst" caused by residue interference.
"Khh...!"
Aria instantly deployed a barrier‚ but the impact sent her flying backward.
"Aria!"
Iris tried to rush over‚ but another magical beast targeted her.
"I'm fine‚ go!"
Aria shouted while gritting her teeth.
Iris nodded and released her melody.
Waves of light enveloped the magical beast and slowed its movements.
"Kross‚ now!"
"Ou!"
Kross delivered a full-power strike‚ and the magical beast fell.
A moment of silence fell over the battlefield.
"...Phew. More are coming‚ right?"
"They are. This is where it gets real."
Aria tapped her fingertips and read several moves ahead.
Her companions' movements‚ the residue waves‚ the beasts' trajectories—
She combined everything like a board and searched for a path to victory.
(If it collapses here‚ it's over. I'll read it through...!)
The battle continued.
The moment they advanced deeper into the main battlefield‚ the air crackled with a "snap."
The residue waves suddenly became chaotic‚ black mist swirled‚ the ground shook‚ trees creaked‚ and the magical beasts' roars echoed all at once.
"...Here they come!"
At the same time as Aria shouted‚ the pack of magical beasts charged all together.
Aria immediately tried to deploy barriers‚ but—
"...!"
The barriers partially "cracked." The residue interference was too strong.
(This is bad...! At this rate we'll be pushed back!)
One of the magical beasts leaped at Kross.
"Uoooo!? W-Wait‚ too close‚ too close!!"
"Kross‚ fall back!"
Rinne diverted its trajectory with a barrier‚ and Kross rolled backward.
"Aria‚ the barriers...!"
"I know...! I'll rebuild them on the fly!"
Aria tapped her fingertips and instantly assembled an "emergency algorithm."
A large-scale barrier was impossible. In that case—
"Disperse small barriers and 'split' the impacts!"
The multiple small barriers Aria deployed caught the magical beasts' charges in stages.
Rinne reinforced the gaps‚ and Kross physically pushed them back.
"Alrighttttt! My muscles will protect the barriers!!"
"Protecting barriers with muscles...?"
Aria thought to herself while the situation remained difficult.
The pack of magical beasts had movements that could not be read due to residue influence.
Jumping‚ sliding‚ sudden turns—it was like a "disordered board."
(...But there is still a path to victory. The final move—)
"Iris!"
"Yeah... here I go!"
Iris stepped forward.
When she flicked her fingertips‚ the melody of light spread across the battlefield.
The sound was beautiful‚ yet somehow fleeting.
The magical beasts stopped moving for a moment and were enveloped in light.
"Now‚ Kross!"
"Leave it to meeeee!!"
Kross delivered a full-power strike‚ and the front line collapsed.
Rinne quickly deployed a barrier to seal the magical beasts' counterattack.
However—
"...!"
Iris's knees wobbled unsteadily.
"Iris!?"
Aria rushed over.
"I-I'm fine... I just used a bit too much power..."
She tried to smile‚ but her breathing was shallow.
(...As I thought‚ the burden is heavy. I pushed her too hard...!)
The remaining magical beasts fled.
The moment silence returned to the battlefield‚ Kross muttered.
"...I wonder if the bento is safe."
"Now of all times!?"
Rinne immediately retorted‚ and the tension eased just a little.
But a different weight remained in Aria's chest.
(...This won't do. I need to think of tactics that can reduce Iris's burden more.)
The battle was over‚ but the challenges were piled high.
When they finished the subjugation and returned outside the forest‚ the sky had already begun changing from sunset to night.
The wind blowing across the wilderness was cold‚ and the heat of battle finally began to leave their bodies.
"...Is it over?"
Kross said while stretching widely.
"It wasn't a complete extermination‚ but the sealing and material collection were successful."
Rinne nodded quietly.
Her voice was tired‚ yet somehow proud.
Aria tapped her fingertips while looking back at the battlefield.
(...There were parts I couldn't read completely. The residue interference was more than expected. But—)
"Everyone‚ thank you so much. My instructions were quite reckless..."
When Aria spoke‚ Kross puffed out his chest.
"What are you saying! If it weren't for Aria's reads‚ we'd be fertilizer in the forest right now!"
"...That's a terrible metaphor."
"But it's true."
Rinne smiled.
Beside them‚ Iris wobbled unsteadily.
"Iris!"
Aria hurriedly supported her.
"I-I'm fine... I'm just a little tired..."
Iris tried to make a smile‚ but her cheeks were slightly pale.
The burden of the melody magic must have been heavy.
(...As I thought‚ I burdened her too much. Next time I need to think of tactics that can better protect her power.)
Aria carved a small resolve deep in her chest.
"Let's eat something warm when we get back."
When Rinne gently called out‚ Iris finally smiled as if relieved.
"Yeah... I want something sweet too."
"That's full of energy!"
Kross laughed‚ and the atmosphere lightened just a little.
Aria took a deep breath and reconstructed today's battle in her mind.
(The cycle of residue waves‚ terrain fluctuations‚ magical beast bursts... I learned many "moves" today.
Next time I'll do it better. I'll be able to protect my companions more.)
The lights of the port town came into view.
That light quietly announced the end of the battle and the beginning of the next challenge.
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