Kousuke had deliberately set up a barrier not to prevent monsters from escaping, but to keep them from running away.
Essentially, it wasn’t set up to protect, but to prevent their escape.
As planned, the subordinate monsters of the Leader Species were unable to receive instructions and were attacked by the wolves.
Of course, the monsters fought back, but they were no match for the wolves.
The difference between the wolves, who cooperated with each other regularly, and the monsters, who were led by the charisma of the Leader Species, was evident.
Naturally, the wolves weren’t completely unharmed, but their damage was negligible compared to the monsters’.
While occasionally glancing at the wolves, Nana also returned to her true form and was steadily dispatching monsters.
She had returned to her true form because Kousuke had given her permission.
Using her sharp claws and fangs, she diligently defeated the monsters before her.
It had almost become a routine.
There were monsters who tried to strike back, but they couldn’t get close at all.
If anyone were watching this scene, they might have pitied the monsters at their slaughter.
***
As the wolves were steadily reducing the number of monsters in the surrounding area.
Sol, the Tenshindo, was engaged in a fierce battle with the Leader Species.
While dodging the blunt attacks from arms as thick as Sol’s waist, Sol was struggling to land even one blow.
However, the Leader Species’ outer shell was incredibly tough, and his attacks weren’t landing decisively.
Sol was actually impressed that his weapon remained unscathed after all the attacks.
The sword Sol was currently using was a gift from Kousuke.
When Sol became a Tenshindo, Kousuke had given him the best weapon that could be made at a general level.
Even though Kousuke was knowledgeable about magic tools, he was an amateur when it came to weapon creation, so he ordered it through Schmidt.
However, at this rate, even this precious weapon wouldn’t last.
He was trying various things to break through, but he couldn’t get the feeling that it was going well.
Still, he hadn’t considered giving up.
He had been instructed by Kousuke to subjugate the enemy before him.
Sol simply continued to fight, devising ways to meet that expectation.
Kouhi and Mitsuki were watching Sol’s battle.
They had already defeated the guards surrounding the Leader Species, which they were scheduled to subjugate, and the high-ranking monsters that the wolves might have trouble with.
The situation was now such that they could leave it to Nana.
“Should we lend a hand soon?”
Mitsuki muttered while watching Sol’s fight with the Leader Species.
Kouhi, listening to her murmur, stared intently at the battle.
“Let’s wait a little longer. It will probably be soon.”
“Soon? … Ah, I see, that’s what you mean.”
Mitsuki was briefly puzzled by Kouhi’s words, but she quickly understood what Kouhi meant.
Indeed, considering the situation, Kouhi was right that breaking through the current situation would be soon.
Sol was rapidly improving his combat skills in this battle.
His technique was now just one step away from catching up to his thoughts.
He was now at the point where all he needed was a small trigger to overcome the mountain.
***
Sol’s feelings for Kousuke had not changed at all since ten years ago.
In fact, they had only grown stronger.
It had been ten years since he was entrusted with the goblins by Kousuke.
Sol was already aware that he was a different species from goblins, but the memory of their common origin remained firmly with him.
Goblins are a prime example of beings at the bottom ranks of monsters.
They were well aware of this themselves.
Sol was directly taught by Kousuke how to summon monsters for food, but not many goblins truly understood the meaning behind it.
However, they understood that Kousuke was providing them with food.
For goblins, who acted on instinct, a boss who provided food so they wouldn’t starve was a great being.
To get back to the point, Sol understood all of this clearly.
That’s why, when he heard about this mission from Kousuke, he was more motivated than ever to be useful.
He was nervous at first, but that nervousness melted away as soon as the battle began.
However, despite being given such an opportunity, he had been completely useless so far.
While holding back the Leader Species was enough to be useful in itself, Sol in the midst of battle didn’t think that far.
Therefore, even during the battle, a sense of apology towards Kousuke began to well up.
He couldn’t seem to land a decisive blow on the Leader Species.
Sol, struggling to find a way, clung to Kousuke once more.
A mixture of reverence for Kousuke, self-pity for his own ineffectiveness, and a strong desire to somehow recover.
Various feelings swirled together, and finally, his feelings for Kousuke surpassed all others.
At that moment, Sol physically understood that his weapon had changed.
More accurately, Sol himself had changed, and as an extension of that, his weapon had also changed.
What had been a crude, unadorned weapon until then was now emitting a faint red light.
“You’ve surpassed yourself.”
Mitsuki, who had been observing, said to Kouhi next to her.
“Yes.”
Kouhi nodded in response.
He hadn’t evolved in terms of species.
However, his combat skills had broken through a significant shell and improved dramatically.
Specifically, he was now able to channel his magic power into his weapon.
This significantly increased the weapon’s performance.
Its sharpness increased to a degree far beyond what it had been before.
As expected, the Leader Species, which had been impossible to damage before, was now being increasingly wounded.
The Leader Species probably understood this.
Rushing towards a conclusion, its attacks became larger than ever.
Sol didn’t miss the opening, and finally delivered a decisive slash.
Specifically, he managed to deeply cut its neck.
Blood poured out from the wound Sol had inflicted.
However, the fact that it still counterattacked was a testament to its Leader Species status.
But that state didn’t last long.
Sol struck the same spot once more, and that was the final blow.
It cleanly severed the Leader Species’ neck, bringing the long battle to an end.
***
Leaving the remaining battles to Mitsuki and the wolves, Kouhi and Sol returned to the management layer using the Teleport Gate.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Sol, humbled by Kousuke’s personal welcome, was spoken to by Kousuke with a smile, who told him not to worry.
“Yes!”
Sol, who knelt in deference, was not someone anyone would have guessed was originally a goblin.
“You’ve worked hard enough. You can rest now.”
“Thank you very much!”
“Peach, I’m sorry, but could you escort Sol back to base?”
“Yes, yes!”
Peach, who had been asked by Kousuke, forcibly got Sol, who was still kneeling, to stand and headed for the Teleport Gate.
If left alone, he would probably have continued to prostrate himself before Kousuke.
After seeing Sol off, Kousuke immediately turned his gaze to Kouhi.
“So, how was it?”
“Almost as planned. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to have evolved, but his combat ability has definitely increased.”
“I see. That’s good.”
Kousuke, hearing Kouhi’s report, was relieved that the plan had gone as intended.
Sol has become one step stronger.
Perhaps more than one step?
By the way, the ability to “freely” envelop oneself in one’s magic power to fight is a sign of advancement for monsters.
Ordinary races who can wield magic power do so instinctively due to their racial traits.
