At some point, Eri gave up counting the number of magic missiles she had shot.

She just kept chanting like a machine—shooting and sniping monsters with her magic missiles. Repetition became the strategy. After hours of what seemed to be a cycle of endless repetition, she finally saw the end of the damn thing.

Two saber-toothed tigers scampered after seeing the magic missiles coming to claim their lives. However, the magic missiles whistled by faithfully and pierced through the backs of the two beasts.

Those two were the last.

There were no more monsters left in the city of Roberto.

Eri slumped down.

The magic missiles she just fired were created by squeezing out last bits of her mana pool. The only sensation she felt was the strong sense of exhaustion. Now, she didn’t even have the strength to pick up a spoon.

While looking at the granite floor exhausted, she suddenly heard a rattle, signalling someone’s approach.

When she jerked up her head, she saw Cloud maneuvering by jumping between the roofs. Soon, he reached the top of the tower where they were.

When Eri saw Cloud, her expression became similar to that of a high school student who had just gone through a lot of hard work.

So she cried out, her voice carrying frustration.

“So what do you think? You saw it, right!? I did it! I did the impossible!”

She had been using the god damned double incantation for mana’s sake! She did it for hours!!

Cloud’s eyes widened for a moment at the voice that seemed to contain some anger of its own. But then, he smiled softly.

“I know. I saw you while we were fighting. Well done, Eri. Thanks to you, many people have survived this disaster.”

“Uh.. huh?”

Cloud placed a hand on Eri’s head and ruffled her hair.

“After all, you are the best wizard I know.”

“..!”

How long..had it been since she received a compliment?

In the past, she used to receive praises and recognition from Cloud several times a day.

However, since they broke up, she had never been recognized again. Everyone around her either demeaned or slandered her. As if, the whole world was there to blame her.

Except for Cloud.

Though after she joined Cloud’s party again, he didn’t compliment her like before. There was a lot of her own fault in it, so Eri didn’t dare to voice her complaint.

She was just grateful that he hadn’t undermined her like others.

But now, Cloud just smiled brightly and praised her.

She was excellent, he admitted.

It has been a long time since she received recognition.

Her chest was tickling and her face was burning, as if she was melting into a puddle of happiness.

Eri bowed down her head.

She pressed down her pointed hat, obscuring her own face.

“Hm, hm! As long as someone tries their best, this is nothing!”

Eri, who said so, waited for Cloud’s response.

She wanted to listen more of his praises.

But she didn’t get the response she desired. When Eri, puzzled by the silence, raised her head, Cloud, who had been in front of her before, was not there anymore.

“Huh..? Hey, Ophelia. Where’s Cloud?”

“Hero? He jumped off saying he has some other business to do.”

“Oh yeah..?”

* * *

I dealt with all the monsters disturbing the peace of Roberto.

There’s still a lot of work to do with the casualties and wounded, but that job can be done by guards and soldiers.

I readily mounted an ownerless horse and galloped out of Roberto.

‘They should have been able to subdue the Behemoth without any major problems, right?’

Actually, there was no need to worry too much since Frillite was present there, but my inner psyche couldn’t help but worry.

Fortunately, it was revealed within ten minutes of driving the horse that my worries had been for naught.

Because I was able to spot the troop rushing towards Roberto. Frillite, who was at the forefront, found me, and pulled her horse towards my position.

“Cloud, are you alright?”

“I’m okay. The city is fine, too.”

""

“You mean the city is out of danger?”

Frillite asked with anticipation, and I nodded my head in response.

“The gates had been breached, but all the invading monsters have been slain.”

“That’s good. Is the damage serious?”

“Quite serious. To repair the damage, the Duke of Oler will have to suffer quite a bit.”

Because there were many key structures that have collapsed, property damage seemed hella serious, and the number of people killed or injured cannot be counted at a glance.

Frillite let out a desolate sigh.

“I guess so. Still, there’s nothing we can do about it anymore. I’m glad you didn’t get hurt either.”

“Say for yourself. I was back at the city, the Behemoth subjugation seems to have ended well, hm?”

For some reason, Frillite nodded her head, but with a bitter expression on her face. I was curious as to why she had that kind of expression, but I can always ask about that later when we settle down for a drink or two.

I asked her the most important question for now.

“Then can you tell me where the Behemoth’s corpse is?”

Frillite tilted her head.

“Huh, why?”

“I’ve already come all the way here, at least I need to know what a Behemoth looks like.”

“Hmm.. well, I’m sure anyone would be curious. It’s hard to explain in words, so let me guide you.”

I waved my hand to her goodwill.

No matter how much I trusted Frillite, it was a lil’ too much to open my lid on the glyphs for now.

I interjected, “No. You should go back to the city and get things done. Even if you explain it to me in words, I will understand it perfectly, so just let me know.”

“The follow-up.. yes, there it was..”

She recalled, her voice a tad bit regretful, but she told me where the Behemoth had fallen.

Alright, gotcha.

“Then I’ll see you after coming back. Today let’s have drinks until we get tipsy.”

“Tipsy.. sounds like a plan. See you later.”

I immediately hurried towards the location Frillite had pointed out. The dense forest drew near, but I did not get off the horse. My riding skills are good enough to manage a horse even in complex forest terrain.

I arrived faster than I had expected thanks to riding a horse through the forest.

“A fierce one.”

The trees that made the forest were all uprooted, and the ground was littered with the dead bodies of soldiers. Maybe, because their opponents were wild beasts, the condition of the corpses was also not in good condition.

Dismembered bodies were a rare sight, because there were corpses with either their upper or lower half missing.

I got off the horse.

Because the horse was agitated, reluctant to walk on the corpse field. Honestly, there seemed to be no place for the horse to set foot either.

‘Is this the reason why Frillite’s face was looking bitter?’

With her personality, she might have put all the responsibility on her shoulders.

She didn’t have to.

We can talk about that when we meet for drinks later. At some distance, the corpse of an intimidating beast began to appear.

Slightly smaller than an ogre, the beast had a skeleton frame similar to that of a water buffalo at first glance.

""

However, unlike a water buffalo, the upper body was much more developed than the lower body, and the horns on its forehead were incomparably larger than those of a water buffalo.

Large horns curled on its back to form a spiky mane, its claws and minions were bigger and sharper than most swords.

I gingerly walked over to the Behemoth’s corpse, taking my steps carefully so as not to step on the gore that pervaded the floor.

And, saw.

Two robed bipedal octopus heads chanting next to Behemoth’s corpse.

The soul of the Behemoth was being sucked into the crystal that one of them was holding.

So what’s.. going on here?

I crossed my arms and pondered for a second, then quietly pulled out my sword.

If they don’t spill out the beans nicely, gotta have to take the hard way.