I’m an Appraiser, But What the Heck is a [Divine Eye]? ~I Want to Live Freely as the World’s Best Beginner Class~ - Episode 246: Hot Springs, Hospitality, and Trouble 44

Episode 246: Hot Springs, Hospitality, and Trouble 44  

The Appraisal skill constantly tracks Akagi’s location.  

Over the past few days, her movement speed had been truly abnormal. And as predicted, she arrived at Granzawall exactly two days later.  

“She should be visible soon.”  

At my words, everyone turned their gaze toward the road stretching out from the northern gate.  

Though still far away, a small figure was indeed coming into view.  

“It’s really Akagi-san.”  

“…….As expected of Yuria. You can see that clearly even from this distance.”  

“Wow, you’re amazing, Yuria-chan!”  

“Even Sensei can’t see anything. How about you, Mitsurugi-kun?”  

“I can see her too….… but it seems Akagi can see us as well.”  

I was about to remark on Arata’s ability to see her, but his last comment made us all freeze and look forward in surprise.  

I couldn’t see anything unusual, but how could he tell Akagi had noticed us?  

“Mihiro, use the Appraisal skill now to find a way to defeat Akagi!”  

“That sounds like the best course of action.”  

“O-Okay.”  

The two who could see her said this in low voices, prompting me to prepare my Appraisal skill. But—  

—BOOM!  

“Whoa!?”  

“An earthquake!?”  

“No! This is… Akagi-san!”  

Before I could use my Appraisal skill, Akagi launched an attack.  

The ground cracked open as if to swallow us whole. What kind of magic did she use to achieve this?  

“Mihiro-kun!”  

“Hurry, Maki-kun, use the Appraisal!”  

“G-Got it! Appraisal: A Way to Defeat Akagi Ena!”  

To be honest, I had tried Appraising ways to defeat Akagi many times before.  

However, every time I used the skill, the methods and probabilities kept changing. It left me unable to identify a definitive solution.  

I decided to wait until the last possible moment to use it—but I hadn’t expected her to launch a preemptive strike.  

After all, we had set up our defenses at the northern gate based on yesterday’s Appraisal results.  

“Don’t tell me she’s been getting stronger every day!”  

“Her level hasn’t changed from 75, so that’s unlikely!”  

Yuria’s concern was valid, but I had confirmed her status during each Appraisal. So there was no mistake.  

I briefly considered the possibility that she had used a temporary enhancement, like the fruits that boosted abilities. But that didn’t seem to be the case either.  

It could have been a skill effect, but nothing in the Appraisals suggested that.  

If I had to speculate—  

“She’s coming, Mihiro!”  

“Got it! Arata, move forward and activate the defensive magic tool! Yuria, follow up if our defenses destabilize!”  

“Understood!”  

“Roger that!”  

Damn it! No time to think things through!  

For the battle with Akagi, we had stationed Sunny and the others at the entrance to the northern gate.  

Fighting together with them would almost guarantee victory. But if we did that, it wouldn’t count as us stopping Akagi ourselves.  

The one thing the Appraisal result had made clear was that we had to stop her on our own.  

“Mitsurugiiii! You coward, running away like that!”  

“Running away? No. I’ve stepped forward!”  

At some point, Akagi had pulled out a massive greatsword.  

Despite its size, she swung it with incredible speed. It was aimed at Arata. But Arata countered, slashing upward with his longsword, their weapons colliding.  

—CRASH!  

A dull sound echoed as the ground beneath Arata’s feet caved in under the force.  

“Guh!”  

“You blocked it, huh? But—this is the end for you!”  

Akagi’s sword spun horizontally, heading straight for Arata’s neck.  

—CLANG!  

“Huh!? What… what is this!?”  

The defensive magic tool I had given to Arata activated, deflecting Akagi’s greatsword.  

Caught off guard, her sword was sent flying upward. It left her arms raised as if in surrender.  

“TAKE THIIIIIIIIS!!”  

Yuria charged forward in a straight line, delivering a powerful blow that struck Akagi square in the abdomen.