Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Raising the Lowest-Ranked Adventurer, the Heroic Girl – Wasn’t I Just a Substitute Old Man?

Volume 2  Chapter 29   Prepare for interception

“Um..”

“Huh!?”

“Ah… I-I’m sorry!”

But just as I was about to take action, I was interrupted by a voice that was neither clear nor familiar, causing me to stop with a hint of frustration. I replied and turned around.

“Tch! What do you want?”

There stood a man in his twenties, younger than me but clad in sturdy armor. He’s probably another instructor.

“Um… W-what should we do?”

… How should I know! If you’re an instructor too, figure it out yourselves!

That’s what I want to say, but there’s no time to argue in a situation like this. Besides, if he can be of use, it’s better to cooperate together.

My current goal is to protect Miyano and the others safely. If it means leaving others behind, even if they’re on the verge of death, I’m prepared to abandon them. After all, I can’t protect everyone with all the burdens I carry.

However, if I can help without much trouble, I’m willing to lend a hand.

… Though I can’t fully trust him since there’s a possibility of betrayal.

“If you want to come along, do as you please.”

“Then…”

The male instructor’s expression brightened at my response, but the conversation didn’t end there.

“But, but there’s no guarantee that it’ll be safe if we follow you, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right! And why should we listen to you? You’re just a third-class, aren’t you!?”

Despite the emergency situation, other students and instructors began to complain, and others joined in, taking advantage of the opportunity.

… Don’t they understand the situation?

Sighing lightly, I pulled out my handgun and fired a shot, making sure it didn’t hit anyone.

Most of the people here could take a hit from a gun without serious injuries, but even so, they instinctively reacted to the sudden loud noise and froze in their tracks.

“I told you, do as you please. If you don’t want to come, you can stay here or go wherever you want.”

As I mentioned before, I am taking action to protect Miyano and the others.

I don’t wish for them to die, so if I can help others along the way, I will, but I don’t intend to waste time helping if they become a hindrance.

“I will come along.”

“Huh? Ah, it’s you, Your Highness.”

The students fell silent and started to look puzzled, but from among them, a familiar voice spoke up. It was Asuka Tenshi, the one who had fought alongside us before.

“After our previous battle, I did some research on you.”

“And you think it’s better to leave it to me?”

“Yes.”

Her answer was resolute, which was unexpected considering her previous attitude.

“What if that turns out to be a wrong judgment?”

“In that case, I will carve a path with my own hands and protect my comrades, everyone here.”

“Well, like I said, do as you please.”

I turned my gaze towards Kudo, the instructor and a Special Class Awakener, who was standing behind us. He responded with a smile and a nod.

I have no reservations myself, and if these people are willing to follow, I don’t mind acting together. It’s certain that they will contribute to our strength.

Upon hearing the words of even Asuka, a Special Class Awakener, who now followed my opinion, it seemed that those who had been complaining until a moment ago chose to silently join me.

The somewhat unsettling change in attitude raises a slight sense of unease, but for now, I decide not to dwell on it. The priority is to leave this place and regroup to get ourselves in a better position.

When there are many people, it requires allocating some energy to remain cautious of potential traitors among them, but we should have taken care of most of them during the previous attack. Even if there are some remaining, we can entrust Kudo with dealing with them.

He may be injured and unable to engage in prolonged combat, but he’s still a Special Class Awakener. He has survived for five years within the dungeon, so he should be capable of handling such situations.

With that judgment in mind, I leave the training ground and head towards the spacious exercise area.

There were sporadic attacks along the way, but they were manageable with the students who gathered around me.

Shortly after we left, we heard a thunderous roar and the sound of collapse from behind us. It seems they intended to bury us alive after all.

…If we were buried alive, we would have been vulnerable to even more powerful attacks in an immobile state.

Upon reaching the exercise area, I begin giving instructions to the accompanying students.

“Earth mages, create a sturdy barrier that is one meter tall and three meters wide, capable of withstanding some attacks.”

Indoor environments pose a problem due to the possibility of being buried alive, but it’s undeniable that having some form of cover is beneficial. By creating barriers that not only serve as shields but also surround our surroundings, we can limit the range of movement and reduce stress.

“Water users, scatter water on the ground in front of us and turn it into mud. The muddier, the better.”

As for attack methods, they can be divided into long-range and close-range. However, if there is mud, it becomes difficult to exert strength in close-quarters combat, so focus more on being vigilant against long-range attacks.

“For the wind users, manipulate the surrounding air to defend against aerial attacks. If possible, change the pattern of air movement randomly and intermittently, but keep in mind that it will also increase the burden. Discuss among yourselves and come to a decision.”

By doing this, we can ensure that only long-range attacks with a certain level of power can reach us. If the emphasis is on speed and the control is lax or focused on invisibility, critical damage should be unlikely. There might be damage from a blast if explosives are thrown, but there shouldn’t be any direct hits.

“For fire users, your main firepower will be used when the enemy approaches. Protect this area from close-range attacks. Others should be vigilant against aerial attacks.”

As for strong long-range threats that cannot be countered by wind, everyone present should be assigned to guard one direction each. Powerful attacks require a considerable amount of time and effort to prepare, so if we attack the moment we sense any abnormality, we should be able to defend against them.

Of course, there might be some oversights, so assign multiple people to cover each direction.

“They’re here!”

As we prepared, a proper attack finally came, unlike the sporadic assaults we experienced earlier.

Since the surroundings are open, we can quickly identify where the enemies are coming from, including long-range attacks.

Arrows and magic are rendered ineffective and deflected before reaching us, while powerful magic is dealt with by not letting its initial effects go unnoticed.