Advice for the Knights

The leader of the monsters was visibly larger than the rest, and its heavy footfalls echoed ominously.

Elias kept a sharp eye on its movements, analyzing its behavior. The barrier was too narrow for something of its size to pass through.

(Will it try to break the barrier? Or will it create more minions?)

As he observed, the creature made its decision—it let out a piercing screech and charged straight at the barrier.

A resounding impact shook the air, but the barrier held firm.

“This barrier won’t break under brute force,” Elias murmured.

“No structural weaknesses so far,” Jemie added, reinforcing it further with her mana infusion.

“What’s the plan for that thing?” she asked.

“We deal with the other monsters first,” Elias replied.

Meanwhile, Luke and Reina continued their battle, their strikes growing more efficient. Their confidence and battle experience were now reflecting their true potential.

Before long, the lesser monsters had all been slain.

Elias had been concerned that the monsters might retreat once their numbers dwindled, but their simple instincts worked against them. They were driven by a primal urge to attack anything nearby, rather than any strategic thought.

This allowed Luke and Reina to systematically exterminate them.

Now, only the leader remained.

Elias prepared to dispel the barrier and finish the fight—but before he could, the monster suddenly retreated, vanishing into the cave’s darkness.

“…Do we pursue?” Jemie asked.

Elias paused for a moment before answering.

“No. First, we assess the situation. I’ll cast another detection spell to count how many monsters are left.”

The spell quickly revealed the remaining count—around a dozen.

“That monster—if we had slain it immediately, the remaining ones might have gone berserk. Even with the barrier in place, an uncontrolled frenzy could have been dangerous. It’s better to proceed carefully.”

“…Are we setting up camp, then?” Luke asked.

“We established a forward camp in case of a prolonged engagement,” Elias confirmed. “But this won’t take long. If things go as expected, we’ll be done by tomorrow. Unless that creature spawns more minions.”

He turned his gaze toward Luke and Reina.

“For now, we’re pulling back. You both need rest.”

“I can still fight,” Reina countered, her mana reserves still abundant.

Elias, however, had a different perspective.

“You may have mana left, but your body is feeling the strain, whether you realize it or not.”

“…What?”

“You’ve gained experience, and you’re executing your techniques flawlessly. But I noticed slight instability in how you channel your mana into your sword.”

“You… noticed that?”

Elias nodded.

“A small deviation like that might seem insignificant now, but in battle, even the slightest flaw can be fatal.”

Reina swallowed hard.

“…Fatal?”

“You think you’re in control. You think you’re maintaining the same level of performance. But the moment your body betrays you—when exhaustion dulls your reflexes—you won’t realize it until it’s too late.”

He let the weight of his words sink in before continuing.

“Maybe you’ll miscalculate a strike. Maybe your mana won’t fully coat your blade. Maybe you fail to kill a monster in one blow. And if that happens, you might take a hit—a wound, or worse.”

Reina exhaled slowly.

“…I get it now.”

“Good. Recognizing exhaustion is a skill in itself, and you’re still learning. That’s why we stop here for now.”

Elias then turned to Jemie.

“But we’re not leaving things to chance. I’ll be sealing the cave entrance again—can you assist me in reinforcing it?”

“Of course. But honestly, with its size, that creature doesn’t seem like it can break through as things are now.”

“It’s not just about strength,” Elias replied. “We must always prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

Jemie raised an eyebrow.

“You think something worse might be lurking in there?”

“I wouldn’t rule it out.”

“…Even after all that detection magic?”

Elias exhaled.

“In the Eastern Front, we encountered monsters that could deliberately suppress their presence. Creatures that our detection spells couldn’t pick up.”

“…That’s possible?”

“It’s rare,” Elias admitted. “And these creatures don’t seem particularly intelligent. But I’ve spent over two decades fighting monsters, and I’ve learned one thing: never assume you’ve seen everything.”

Jemie crossed her arms, deep in thought.

“So you’re saying even a weak monster could be dangerous if it has the right abilities.”

“Exactly. I’ve seen low-ranked creatures with paralysis venom, acidic blood, or even telepathic coordination with their pack. The danger level of a monster isn’t just about how much mana it holds.

“That’s why we prepare for every possibility—even the unlikely ones.”