Naeus remained calm.

  Up to this point, he had been making precise decisions and doing his best.

  Honestly, it was probably a stroke of good luck.

  Had it only been the "Oak Branch" alone, he wasn't sure if they would have been able to fight.

  A hundred-strong horde was no small matter. While a single dark kobold could be defeated by someone at the Copper rank, dealing with a hundred of them would be troublesome. The sheer power of numbers was formidable, and this time, there was the added challenge of a dark kobold leader.

  The dark kobold leader was roughly on par with a Copper-rank adventurer. Naeus was among the strongest at that level, so he was confident he could defeat the leader in a one-on-one battle.

  However, fighting the leader while being surrounded by a horde of a hundred dark kobolds would be extremely difficult.

  That’s why it was fortunate that "New Green Prayer" was with them.

  Annia's destructive power and Metera's defensive strength were well known among the adventurers of Baetica, and their party was renowned for its stability.

  Thanks to those four, Naeus was able to focus on the battle with the leader without worry.

  Moreover, Seneca and Maiol were more than capable of holding their own.

  Neither of them had any issues with their movement, and they would be more than a match for a small number of dark kobolds.

  Above all, they were reliable because they understood the situation well. There were many rookie adventurers with skill, but who couldn’t follow instructions.

  Those two, however, were able to pick up on his intentions and acted accordingly. At times, they even anticipated his thoughts, taking actions that surpassed expectations.

  Typically, rookies tend to overexert themselves, causing more trouble than help. While this could be endearing, it was reassuring to have those two by his side now.

  Naeus remained calm and composed, but he was confident the battle would go well.

  ...

  After walking quietly for a while, the presence of the dark kobolds became apparent.

  According to Maiol, the leader was somewhere in the centre of the horde.

  Naeus intended to strike the dark kobold leader amidst the confusion caused by their magical attacks.

  If that worked, the pn would be considered 80% successful. After that, it would be a matter of fortifying their defences and steadily thinning out the dark kobolds.

  Even if some got away, they would no longer pose a threat.

  Naeus looked at Akalus and Annia, signalling them with his eyes.

  The two immediately began preparing their spells.

  At once, concentrated magic energy gathered in their hands.

  The dark kobolds had noticed the presence of the party and were heading towards them, but they were slow.

  Annia’s magic activated first.

  Countless ice spikes erupted from her hands, striking the dark kobolds.

  Akalus fired a massive boulder, about the size of Seneca’s waist. The rock sped toward the horde with tremendous force.

  Several dark kobolds were crushed, though most managed to avoid it.

  The path ahead was cleared.

  Naeus, having timed his movements perfectly, sprinted after the boulder, charging into the horde.

  Ahead of him, he spotted the dark kobold leader.

  In the midst of the chaos, the leader was looking around frantically, disoriented.

  "I've got him!"

  Just as Naeus sped up to strike the dark kobold leader, a bright, fast-moving object pierced the leader’s abdomen. It wasn’t an arrow.

  The object that impaled the leader’s stomach was infused with an overwhelming amount of magic and was lodged deep into the ground.

  From it, strands of magic extended, pulling the dark kobold leader backward. The leader lost his bance.

  "[Great Sword]"

  Naeus activated his sub-skill. This was a sub-skill granted to almost all users of the [Swordsmanship] skill when they levelled up to level two, greatly enhancing their swordpy and physical abilities.

  Naeus took a rge step forward and swung his great sword.

  With a single strike, the dark kobold leader’s head was sent flying. The battle had ended almost before it had begun.

  Naeus let out a deep breath, tempted to rex, but there was still work to be done.

  He readjusted his grip on his sword, determined to wreak havoc before the effects of [Great Sword] wore off.

  ,,,

  "Ha... It worked out well, Maiol."

  Seneca wiped the sweat from her brow, an expression of satisfaction on her face.

  Maiol, standing beside her, thought to herself, I’ve witnessed yet another unbelievable feat.

  When Seneca had asked that question earlier, Maiol had understood what she meant, but given the distance, Maiol never thought it would nd.

  "That was a perfect hit," Maiol said.

  "Good luck, I'd say. I used about 80% of my magic, so I can't normally pull off a shot like that," Seneca replied.

  "Ah, I see."

  Maiol was amazed to learn that Seneca had used almost all of her vast magical power in that one shot.

  The way the battle unfolded had been critical, and Seneca’s contribution had been immense. However, Maiol couldn’t help but feel that using up that much magic to temporarily stop an enemy's movements seemed like a high price to pay.

  Yet, Maiol soon reconsidered.

  This was exactly why Seneca had reached level 2 so quickly.

  It seemed like a waste, but continuing to take such risks would eventually lead to success.

  Following Seneca, who quickly jumped down from the tree, Maiol followed suit.

  "I’ll stay behind to guard the cart. Let me know if any kobolds break through. This is your time to shine, Maiol," Seneca called out.

  ...

  The battle was over in no time.

  Maiol, using her [Detection] skill, kept track of the monster and magical reactions.

  The magical signature that belonged to Naeus was rapidly erasing the monster's presence, as fast as a storm.

  Akalus and Annia’s magic was devastating. One bst wiped out several dark kobolds.

  The others appeared to be mostly pying support, cleaning up the stragglers.

  Maiol had started to become more adept at distinguishing the quality of magic. While still adjusting to the slight variations in the magic used by the mages, she was able to pick up on those of the others.

  After another [Detection] scan, Maiol realised that all traces of the monsters had vanished, and she could sense Menon speeding toward them.

  ...

  After a short wait, Menon returned, as casual as ever.

  "Huh, it’s already over? That was too quick!" Menon said, astonished after hearing the details from Naeus.

  For Naeus, the key had been defeating the dark kobold leader so swiftly. While in the heat of the battle, he had suspected that the attack might have come from Seneca, but there was no time to discuss it just yet.

  "How was the vilge?" Naeus asked in a tense voice.

  "All good. They were too focused on preparations for the Moonrise Festival to notice any monster presence, so it was good we took care of it here," Menon replied.

  "I’m gd to hear that. By the way, have the orcs we detected earlier been around here?" Naeus inquired.

  Menon used his skill once more.

  "Yeah, they’re still nearby. Are you pnning to take them on?"

  "I’ve still got some energy left. Time to show the cute juniors how to take down some orcs," Naeus said with a smirk.

  "Trying to be cool, huh? Well, it’s not a bad idea."

  The two shook hands, for no particur reason.

  ...

  Seneca and Maiol watched from a distance as Naeus and the others engaged with the orc.

  It was said that a single orc was roughly equivalent to a Copper-rank party, but in this case, the fight was a complete one-sided affair in favour of 'Oak Branch.'

  According to Naeus, he was confident they could handle up to four orcs at once.

  'Oak Branch' members were all showcasing exceptional skills, but Menon especially stood out.

  Utilising his agility, Menon was distracting the orcs at the front line.

  The orcs, focused on trying to catch him, allowed the others to attack freely with their swords and magic.

  Metera, who was watching nearby, muttered to herself.

  "That’s what they call a 'Dodge Tank,' isn’t it?"

  "A 'Dodge Tank'?" Maiol asked, intrigued.

  "Yep, he’s acting as the decoy. In my case, I’d draw the enemies in with my defence and durability, but you can do the same with agility. It requires a lot of skill, though," Metera expined.

  "I didn’t realise you could fight like that..." Maiol replied, fascinated.

  Lately, she’d become increasingly interested in tactics, so he watched the battle closely.

  "Not everyone can pull off that kind of fighting. Menon’s actually pretty durable, despite what it looks like. He’s always saying that while Naeus is the strongest in 'Oak Branch,' he’s the most useful. And he’s not wrong, either. It’s incredible."

  Metera spoke with admiration, her eyes fixed on Menon’s performance.

  "...It’s almost over," Seneca said, just as Naeus pierced the orc’s chest.

  ...

  The group then headed to the vilge and expined everything once again.

  Unable to carry the orc meat, they sent it as a gift to the vilge, earning 'Oak Branch' considerable praise.

  That evening, they stayed in the vilge, and by morning, they set off with the children. Though there was only a one or two-year difference between them, Seneca and Maiol, their demeanour made them seem worlds apart.

  Seneca, ever the older sister, encouraged the children walking nervously through the outside world.

  Having grown up in an orphanage, Seneca was undoubtedly good at taking care of others, a sentiment that Maiol couldn’t help but admire.

  On their journey, they encountered some monsters, and the party remained on high alert. Thanks to that, they maintained a fwless formation, a reliable group in every sense.

  Though they had to be meticulous during their camp, the children didn’t show any sign of fatigue, as they knew it would only be for one night.

  The following day, they arrived safely in Baetica without incident.