After reinforcing the barrier at the cave entrance, Elias and his team retreated down the mountain. With the campsite fully prepared, they could maintain vigilance while ending the day’s combat operations.
“This was a solid victory,” Frenn commented after hearing Elias’s report, her gaze shifting toward the mountain.
“The monsters will likely become more active at night. If their leader realizes humans are nearby after losing so many of its subordinates, it might attempt an attack…”
“We can’t rule out the possibility of a monster that evades detection, either. That’s why—” Elias glanced at the ground.
“…We’ve set some traps in place.”
“Yes. If anything approaches, we’ll know immediately,” Frenn confirmed.
The magic she had cast was one she had used on the Eastern Front—likely with the help of the other mage accompanying them. Unlike traditional mana detection, which only sensed magical energy, her magic monitored footsteps, movement, and even the slightest disturbances. It was a fail-safe in case they encountered monsters capable of suppressing their mana signatures.
“With this, we won’t need as many sentries,” Elias noted. “We should be able to get some decent sleep.”
“We could return to the fortress, given the distance,” Frenn pointed out.
“No, we need to observe how the monsters react after today’s battle. The barrier and reinforcements should hold, but we need to stay close and confirm.”
“Interesting magic,” Jemie remarked, stepping closer to them.
“You can analyze it?”
“As someone who’s studied magic, I can at least understand the logic behind it. It’s an intriguing concept—sensing creatures through multiple factors, not just mana.”
“It’s a technique I developed in the East,” Frenn explained.
“Hmm…”
Jemie crouched down, studying the magic with keen interest.
Elias, meanwhile, turned back to Frenn.
“The camp looks well-prepared. Do I need to do anything?”
“Everything is set, including the meal preparations. You should just focus on tomorrow’s battle.”
Elias nodded, then turned his attention to Luke and Reina.
They were talking amongst themselves, possibly reviewing their performance in today’s fight.
“…They’ll have to step up again tomorrow,” he muttered.
“How did they perform today?” Frenn asked.
“They were even better than expected. Their technique was already solid, but now they just need more combat experience.”
With that, Elias approached the two knights.
“Luke, Reina. What are your thoughts on today’s battle?”
Luke was the first to respond.
“…I’m honestly surprised by how well I fought.”
“At first, I was putting full force into every strike,” he admitted. “But as I got used to the fights, I started gauging the monsters’ mana levels. I realized I didn’t need to go all out every time.”
“You have a good sense for reading mana,” Elias noted. “But be careful—if you rely too much on that, you might struggle against enemies that mask their presence.”
“I understand.”
Elias then turned to Reina.
“What about you?”
“I… was worried about the hard exoskeleton at first,” she admitted. “But it turned out I could handle it better than I expected.”
“Your swordsmanship leans heavily on mana infusion. You concentrate mana into your strikes more effectively than most knights, which is why your attacks hit harder despite the same speed.”
“Is that so…?” Reina murmured, glancing down at her hands.
“If you refine that, you’ll be able to deliver even more devastating blows,” Elias continued. “Mana control isn’t just for sword strikes—it’s also essential for enhancing your body. You have the potential to fight much stronger monsters than Luke, purely due to how well you handle mana.”
Reina’s expression was a mix of disbelief and contemplation. While she didn’t outright reject his words, she was clearly trying to process them.
Elias then shifted the conversation.
“Based on today’s battle, I’ve decided on your roles for tomorrow.”
Luke and Reina both turned their attention to him.
“If nothing unexpected happens overnight… you two will fight the leader of the monsters.”
Their eyes widened in shock.
“I’ll be focusing on the cave itself—monitoring for any hidden threats. Jemie will provide backup if necessary. But the two of you will take on the monster.”
Luke hesitated before asking,
“…How dangerous is it?”
Elias recalled the fight from earlier before answering.
“It’s stronger than a rank-one threat, but it hasn’t fully reached rank-two. Its exoskeleton and structure are similar to the other monsters, so if you fight as well as you did today, you should be able to defeat it.”
The two knights fell silent, but there was no fear in their eyes.
Today’s battle had strengthened their resolve.
Elias crossed his arms.
“I’ll make the final call based on the situation tomorrow—but for now, assume that this is your mission.”
After a moment, Luke and Reina nodded firmly.