A Bottom-Tier Adventurer Devoted to Supporting Their Idol Activities: Every Time, They Offer Rare Materials and Stir Up the Elites - Episode 25: The Battle at the Border ②

Episode 25: The Battle at the Border ②

At the foot of the Divide Mountains, away from the main road. The subjugation force had set up camp in a sparsely wooded area.

The sun had long since set. Numerous bonfires lit the night. And the smell of roasted meat filled the air—adventurers had already begun feasting on edible monsters they had hunted.

Normally, this would be a lively time, with everyone gathering around fires and sharing a cheerful dinner.

But tonight, no such mood existed.

Only about half of the members were eating. The others kept their hands on their swords, eyes sharp. They were vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

A shadowy man slipped into the largest tent in the camp.

“…Leopard-sama, I’ve returned.”

He addressed Captain Leopard of the Black Panther Knights, who sat cross-legged in a folding chair.

To his left was Captain Paola of the White Orchid Magic Corps, and to his right was the A-rank adventurer Lamberto—both also seated.

“How was it? The bandits’ situation?”

Leopard’s voice was low. The scout gave a quiet report:

“They’ve lit up their base brightly and are maintaining high alert. Even at a glance, I counted over twenty guards on watch. They’re most likely aware of our movements.”

“I see…”

Leopard furrowed his brow. He was sinking into thought.

“There’s a skilled earth mage among them. If we try a night raid and fall into a trap, we’ll be playing right into their hands.”

“Indeed. Since our presence is already known, a surprise attack would likely be ineffective,” 

Paola agreed.

“So we’ll have to attack head-on?”

Leopard raised an eyebrow to Lamberto’s question.

“Even in a frontal assault, we can win. But it’ll come at a cost. And this battle will be broadcast across the entire kingdom through magical transmission. We must achieve a flawless victory.”

“Then what do you plan to do?”

Leopard smirked.

“We’ll give them the night… the darkness.”

Paola raised an eyebrow at the dramatic phrasing.

“And what exactly do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said.”

He offered no further explanation. As he pondered, he turned to Lamberto.

“Any adventurers capable of infiltrating the bandits’ stronghold in small numbers?”

“That would be Tomage—the Demon King Slayer.”

Leopard nodded in satisfaction.

“We’ll begin the assault on the stronghold tomorrow at noon. Tell everyone to steel themselves.”

Paola and Lamberto nodded firmly.

And the night deepened.

#

The sound of footsteps. The earth being kicked.

The rustle of leather armor brushing through undergrowth.

My magically enhanced ears picked up the noise—bandit scouts were rushing back to the fortress in a panic.

From atop a tall tree, I circulated magic through my eyes and watched: a nimble man was giving signals in front of the fortress’s dry moat.

Soon, the drawbridge lowered. And the scout vanished inside the walls.

A moment of silence followed—then chaos.

Bandits lined the top of the fortress walls, crouching down. They were preparing for battle.

Tension filled the air.

The thudding of their heartbeats pounded so loudly it made the very air atop the ramparts vibrate.

But among those sounds, I began to hear something else.

One… two… three… Footsteps. Many human footsteps.

The subjugation force.

I strained my ears even more. I was trying to pick out Ellel-chan’s footsteps.

With every step, her lovely chest should stir the air…

I focused all my magic and nerves into my ears.

No good… Too much noise—I can’t tell!

She should be nearby… right now…!

Soon, the vanguard adventurers reached just beneath the fortress walls.

At the front stood a red-haired man—Tomage, I think his name was…

The battle’s about to begin.

I climbed down from my tree. I was aiming for a front-row seat to Ellel-chan’s performance.

Concealing my presence, I crept into the grass just beside the fortress.

…Better put on my mask, just in case. If I get caught spying, someone might get mad later.

I took a white mask from my bag. I adjusted it tightly over my face. Perfect. Clear view.

To my left: the dry moat of the fortress.

To my right: the subjugation force gathering in waves.

The battlefront was about to open.

*Fshhh!*

The hiss of arrows slicing through the air—the fortress defenders had fired the first shot.

One arrow. Two. Three.

Then a rainstorm of arrows followed.

“Shields up!”

Paola’s firm command rang out.

Instantly, magical barriers rose above the frontlines.

A metallic pinging echoed in the forest as arrows deflected off the shields.

No arrows pierced through.

The rain of arrows stopped—now the bandits would try their next move.

A robed man appeared on the ramparts. He was unfazed even in front of over a hundred enemies.

He coolly surveyed the force, then opened his mouth.

“[Earth Fang].”

Suddenly, earthen spikes shot up beneath the frontlines.

The fangs kept multiplying. It was gouging at the adventurers’ legs and thighs.

“[Earth Control]!”

From within the subjugation force came a shout—Vice-Captain Curry of the White Orchid Magic Corps. A skilled earth mage.

She extended her long arms and cast a spell. She suppressed the fangs and leveled the ground again.

The earth mage on the rampart frowned and crossed his arms.

Seizing the moment, several figures stepped forward—Captain Leopard, his aides, and red-haired Tomage.

Swords drawn, Leopard gave the signal.

Paola stepped forward. She quickly chanted.

“[Flight].”

Green light enveloped Leopard and the others.

“They’re flying!”

A shocked adventurer, clearly uninformed of the plan, blurted it out—but he wasn’t wrong.

Leopard, his aides, and Tomage soared through the air with incredible speed and landed atop the fortress wall.

Shouts erupted as the bandits drew their swords. But—

“[Dark Blade].”

My enhanced hearing caught Leopard’s spell.

Darkness spread across the ramparts.

A specialty of a magic swordsman of the shadows.

Swallowed by thick darkness, the bandits lost all vision—only to be cut down one by one by the knights’ swords.

“[Fire Blade]! [Wind Blade]!”

Within the shadows, flames and wind howled—bodies of bandits hurled into the sky. They were cooked before hitting the ground.

The fortress was descending into chaos. It was overwhelmed by sheer individual power.

Meanwhile, cheers rose from the subjugation force.

“Tch… how boring. Ellel-chan hasn’t done anything yet…”

I accidentally said what I was thinking. I honestly don’t care about Leopard or Tomage’s success… Boring…

But the bandits kept dying off. At this rate, the battle would end without her doing anything—until…

*BOOM!!*

A thunderclap split the air. A bolt of violet lightning obliterated the firestorm.

A massive man cloaked in purple lightning appeared atop the wall.

“Oh crap. This guy’s serious.”

He was on a whole other level. The density of magic pouring from him was unreal.

Was this even human?

『You damned Kingdom dogs… Interrupting my sleep…』

Wait… he was sleeping during all this?! Worse than me!

And his voice—it didn’t pass through my ears. It echoed straight into my mind.

He’s definitely not human…

The lightning-cloaked giant calmly walked across the wall toward Leopard and Tomage.

Leopard’s darkness dispersed the moment it touched the lightning.

“[Fire Blade]!”

“[Poison Blade]!”

Their swords blazed and oozed venom as they struck—but—

『[Lightning Spear].』

A lance of lightning shot from the giant’s hand.

It pierced them both. Their bodies convulsed—then collapsed.

The subjugation force’s core fighters fell in an instant. The mood turned grim.

『Oh? A woman.』

The giant gazed across the dry moat at the White Orchid Magic Corps.

His body pulsed with dazzling lightning—then, with a single leap, he landed right in front of the force.

“Don’t let him get close!”

The knights rushed him—but all their blades sliced nothing but air.

He was too fast. No normal knight could track him.

『[Lightning Spear]!』

*ZAP!*

The lightning tore through one knight. Then another. Like a streak of light linking one body to the next.

“[Air Hammer]!”

“[Earth Fang]!”

Curry and Paola launched a pincer spell attack from above and below—

『Too slow.』

He dodged like lightning itself—and raised his right hand toward the corps.

『[Lightning Spear].』

A spear of violet lightning hurtled straight at Paola—

But in that instant, a delicate girl with light blue hair jumped in front of her.

She raised a staff adorned with a red gemstone.

“[Absorb]!”

The lightning spear was sucked into the gem—and vanished.

『What… did you do?』

Ellel-chan didn’t answer. She pointed her staff at him, silently staring him down.

『[Lightning Spear].』

“[Absorb]!”

Again, she absorbed the deadly bolt.

Then she glared at him sharply.

“I won’t let you do as you please!”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!!!

ELLEL-CHAAAAAANNNN!!!! SO COOL!!! SOOOO COOOOOOLLLL!!!!

COOOOL COOOOL COOL COOOOOOOL OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

I can’t… I’m gonna faint… Ellel-chaaaan!! I’m gonna—!!!

『…Who the hell are you!?』

The lightning giant turned to face me.

Apparently, I had gotten so excited, I stood up and shouted…

…What do I do now?