Vol. 1 - Ch. 234 - Area 81 (5)

Dio pulled a scowl when he felt the feedback after driving his spear into the Steinberg rock mound. 

The spear had pierced almost halfway into the uneven, clumpy surface, as if it was a lump of earth, but, beneath it, there seemed to be a membrane that resembled actual skin, and its hardness was off the charts.

Moreover, that membrane was just as elastic as its hardness. The spear, having sunk to a certain depth, bounced back like a ball.

Dio had yet to go out with his strength in the earlier attempt, but it was enough to telltale the monumental challenge the monstrosity offered with his experience. 

And further raising the concern was the giant frog's composure. The monster didn't show any reaction even when the spear was half-way into its skin. It was like attacking parts of a human body that don’t register pain, such as the nails or hair.

Ignis was gazing at Dio, seemingly asking if it was effective, though seeing Dio shaking his head, he nodded without further inquiring. 

Ignis was a master in wielding battle axe et cetera if situation calls for it, albeit his forte lied in his bare-handed martial art. He didn't foresee an encounter with a monster with such obscene durability at the depth of mine, and thus, he had arrived here bare-handed today.

—It was an impossible battle to subjugate it here.

With barely an exchange of glances, Ignis and Dio decided on 'retreat' as their main objective.

◆◆◆

What the hell is that monster?

My words, it's like I have become the monster attractor—and not in a good way—ever since I started dabbling into wind magic. It had happened with Dark Wolf, and with Railgator too. My wind magic somehow rubbed those monsters the wrong way, causing them to jump at me constantly, but the last I know, wind magic shouldn’t propagate underwater.

Even now, I was using wind magic across the entire Area 81 like a radar to assist with evacuation, but it didn't appear to irk the frogs which means the crisis seems to be just a matter of bad luck piling up. 

At present, I was spreading out my action in supporting the situation wherever help was required with my arrow and dagger. I also had been keeping an eye on Parry-kun, who had just helped out the workers stuck in depth. He seemed to be steadily guiding the groups that got trapped further in toward the exit.

The strength behind his spear strike was impressive as usual. It was impossible for any variants to mount an advantage on him as long as he remained calm. Though, to be frank, it personally appeared jarring to see the same stubborn to no end Parry-kun acting as calm and accurate. 

"It's honestly a pity. You know, whenever you're not around, Allen, Parry-kun carries himself more dignifiedly..." This was something I learned from Dan, so maybe what I was seeing was how he actually acts? 

I guess it's because I ruined his honor on the first day of our class, eh? ...I mean, I definitely couldn't be blamed for all of that though. 

I shifted my gaze to Ignis-san and Dio. They were still dealing with the Steinberg, but their movements suggest they had prioritized slowing it down rather than trying to defeat it.

I did see them delivering counter attacks whenever the giant frog showed an opening, but they're not seemingly doing much. Was it because of the monster's resistance, or they're not serious? I don't know, but the giant frog sure was swinging its enormous, snake-like tongue with terrifying speed, flailing it around in every direction as if swatting at bothersome flies.

Their offense was barely making a scratch on the situation, only managing to stall it somehow. 

This... was a race against time. Since subjugation was out of the table, I should turn my focus on supporting Parry-kun and accelerate the evacuation of everyone from here. 

Changing my approach from maintaining the front line, I moved ahead to clear out the frogs in their path, preventing them from getting stuck in a dead end.

I set my eyes on sniping out the problematic variants first—since they're capable of using mana guard, it would have taken time to defeat them with a dagger—while maintaining the distance. 

I had a finite number of arrows, so I also tried to retrieve them back as much as possible during action, but as if laughing at our efforts, the frogs continued to pour out of the subterranean lake.

And that's when it struck me. This was a reality, and there's no way this world had something like a spawning spot for monsters to endlessly appear like the dungeons from the game. These frogs must have hatched from eggs, and gradually grown somewhere. 

However that was the crux. This underground hollow didn't have enough food to sustain giant frogs and small ones. And considering that massive size, it’s hard to believe that it’d been passing through the same excavation site as us—moving between the surface and Area 81 without anyone noticing.

That means... there must be some sort of waterway connecting it to surface, aside from the recently discovered Area 81's entrance— 

"Dio!!"

I had noticed the anomaly in the same beat as Ignis-san had raised his voice. 

I hurled my gaze toward them to confirm, and witnessed Dio having been caught in the giant, snake-like tongue of the Steinberg. 

Dio channelled his Body Strengthening Magic at full throttle, trying to resist being pulled up, however he was easily lifted up into the air, and followed with a ground slam. 

"Gaahhh......"

Blood dripped from Dio's mouth. 

I hastily counted my arrow, and Parry-kun's situation, and ended up biting my lips in frustration. 

...I couldn't help them out. If I stopped supporting him, Parry-kun was bound to be overtaken by the waves of frogs. 

Just as I was stuck in my dilemma, Satowa, who had been guiding the crowd of stonemasons and other explorers at the entrance, called me out.

"We will take care of here, Ren-kun!"

Satowa only uttered so and darted in Parry-kun's direction along with two strong-looking explorers in tow, seemingly to take my role in supporting him. 

He really had phenomenal situational awareness and decision-making skills, didn't he? Despite the retirement, he didn't seem to have lost his edge as the A-rank explorer during his duty as the Vice-President of Explorer's Association.

"Yes, please!"

I entrusted Parry-kun to Satowa, and bolted in the direction of the monster. 

◆◆◆

"Do not lose your grip on the spear! You will be swallowed otherwise!"

"I...know!"

Dio, still gripping his spear with his right hand, desperately channeled his magic barrier, trying to protect himself from being slammed into the ground by absorbing the impact.

It appeared the giant frog had been waiting for Dio to lose his spear before it could swallow him, ensuring it couldn’t retaliate from within. 

The monster must have acquired sufficient intelligence after managing to survive for so long.

"I will definitely save you! Just make sure you do not blackout, Dio!"

Given the grave situation, Ignis abandoned the safe play and instead jumped at the Steinsberg, grabbing its elongated tongue from mid-section and holding it tightly.

According to the information, one apparently had to put pressure on the mid-section of Steinfrosh's tongue to break from its suctioning tongue.

It was certainly a risky move, and a misstep would make both of them the snack of Steinsberg, yet despite Ignis's strength—powerful enough to snap a tree trunk—the giant frog's restraint on Dio remained unbroken.

"Dio!"

Amidst their struggle, Allen jumped into the scene.

"Y-you... idio...t...run. Ignis... take th...at boy...away......"

Despite the precarious situation, Dio somehow squeezed out his voice. 

Hearing him, Allen's turn pale white like a paper and remarked.

".......You do not believe you can leave after pulling a victory on me, do you? Ignis-san, please  somehow stop that tongue from moving for 5... no, three seconds."

"I got you! Haaaaaa!!!"

There was no explanation from Allen, but Ignis didn't bother stucking up to it and promptly made his judgement. 

Ignis put his two hands on the ground, and wrapped his legs around the midsection of the tongue that was restraining Dio, tightening his grip.

Unlike sumo wrestling, bufu relied on various techniques like putting both hands on the ground and using legs etc. 

Nevertheless, the tongue didn't loosen, but Ignist continued to channel his mana and at least was successful in stopping the tongue's movement. 

Allen promptly placed his right hand on the mid-section.

"Wind Cutter."

*Hiss* 

Suddenly, steam started to emit from the giant serpentine tongue that Allen had been touching. A moment later, the tongue loses its sliminess, and bore a rough visage akin to a mummy. 

Allen, affirming that, swiftly hacked the tongue with a dagger in his left hand, nearly half severing that tongue. 

The action caused tongue's hold to loosen on Dio, and as soon as Dio was free, the three immediately backstepped and took their stance.

"Hey, Ren... what the heck was that just now?!"

"...Wing Magic Level 1... Wind Cutter—"

*Croooaaakkk!!*

Allen's murmur was just out when it was drowned amidst the groan of Steinsberg. At the same time, its eyes gleamed in hostility for the three as it eyed them—no longer were they were merely flies in giant frog's eyes.

"—test failed..."

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