CH 13.1

T/N: Sorry for delay but this chapter took a lot of time tranlating, edting and refining. I hope that you will like the overall flow.

Litty, Unleashed Her Special Skill

The big sized gulf, without wasting its time, attacked them. Its mighty claws mowed down the trees in its way as it sprinted towards the three people. The tree, which was a few years old, was not even an obstacle.

The forest would be filled with gulfs if such a monster inhabited the area. Determined to defeat it at any cost, the thought of fleeing never crossed Roma’s mind.

If they couldn’t defeat it in time and the gulfs under its command came, then the situation would be even more disadvantageous and dangerous for them.

“Roma-san, look out for its claws and hind legs!”

The sword they were wielding wouldn’t do much damage to its thick fur.

Even though that’s what Litty was thinking, it was actually difficult to get close to it and strike.

It was hard to imagine that despite having such an enormous body, it was able to leap as high as that of the tall trees. A normal gulf could never compare to half its prowess.

As if looking down on the two tiny humans, who were doing their best to dodge its attacks, the leader of the forest continued the onslaught.

“Kuh! Not good!”

Even though Roma was one of the best among the apprentices of the current batch, it was not a demon that she could take down.

If they just continued running around like this, they would run out of energy not long after, and then could only wait to be slaughtered.

Roma suddenly thought of something and decided to draw the demon’s attention to herself by shouting loudly.

“Haaah!”

Since the battle between Litty and Caddock, she had been feeling jealous. Compared to the genius that was Litty, she was nothing. The more she thought like that, the more she felt that something was consuming her.

For some reason, she believed that she could not defeat the Leader of the Forest by herself but maybe Litty could.

Even that monster was unable to chase both of them at the same time. So, Roma decided that she would act as bait here and let Litty take the shot.

“Roma-san!”

Litty called Roma while still running around.

As if knowing what was on Roma’s mind, Litty pulled a stone out of a bag in her pocket and struck it at the Forest Leader’s head. Roma did not understand what she was doing.

But then the forest leader turned to Litty.

Instantly, Roma understood. Litty was trying to use herself as bait but she couldn’t fathom why she would do that.

Litty’s speed had not decreased even now. In contrast to her, Roma seemed to be already at her limits. It was obvious to see which one of them had more physical stamina.

That was why Litty entrusted Roma with the role of attacker so that Roma could minimize her movements and wait for the right time.

Roma was impressed by Litty’s insight and came to accept things more easily. At the same time, she suddenly felt her body lighten.

“Okay.”

Struggling to pursue Litty, the forest leader turned its back on Roma. Perhaps that would be their only chance. At that moment, if Roma could at least sprain its legs and hinder its speed, they would have a much higher chance of emerging as the winner.

Going through everything Roma had learned in her training, she retraced the skills she honed.

What was the most powerful skill she possessed at the moment? That was…

“Litty-san… just who in the world are you?”

The reason why Roma muttered that to herself was because the movements of the monster, at that time, had become so monotonous that it felt like it were being led around by Litty.

However, this would not last long, so Roma prepared herself.

When the forest leader landed to start its next move, Roma rushed in with a speed she had never moved with and poured all her energy into that single strike.

GALE SLASH 

A brilliant light flashed as she struck her sword that was much faster than a normal slash. It ripped through one of the hind legs of the Leader of the Forest, making it howl in pain and stop moving. The attack may not be powerful enough to sever its hind leg, but it was surely enough to take away the speed and the strength which had given them a headache.

The Leader of the Forest tried to get back to the attacker who had stabbed its leg from behind. However, in front of it was Litty.

“Explosion Slash!”

Roma could not believe her eyes. As soon as the Forest Leader’s hind leg was seriously injured, Litty delivered a massive vertical swing, and a large amount of concentrated energy exploded from Litty’s sword the moment it landed on the Forest Leader’s head.

The forest leader, cut down and blasted, howled as it fell over sideways. Litty, seeing no sign of the enemy getting up, exhaled.

“Thankfully it worked out…”

“Litty-san, what was that skill?”

“Ki, you guys… Have you been lying all along?!”

Rogai interrupted Roma with a heavy tone of voice. Roma did not even spare him a glance.

“You say you’re a 6th Rank rookie, but you must actually be someone of a higher rank! Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to defeat a demon of this rank!”

“I’ve never lied!”

“You are not an amateur! There’s no way an amateur can defeat a demon of 4th rank! I’ll definitely report this to the top executives!”

“You know that’s not going to work. Total nonsense!” (Roma)

“What the hell, you…you, Roma…you’re getting carried away by those idiots calling you a genius, right?”

Roma’s anger simmered in her gut. Why should they, who earnestly aspire to be adventurers, be hindered by such trash?

It was only a matter of time before her anger turned into hostility.

“In general, there is no need for a woman to become an adventurer. They should just get married and leave it at that.”

“You!”

“Roma-san!”

Litty grabbed Roma’s arm that was holding the sword. Seeing Litty, who shook her head, Roma lowered her sword.

Litty was probably angry, too. But why was she able to keep her calm? What was the difference between Litty and her situation? What was it like when Litty was in the situation from earlier when she was confronted by him?

The answer, that she didn’t seem to find, made Roma restless.

“Roma-san, let’s go home.”

“…Right.”

Just as the things seemed to have cooled down, they felt numerous gazes staring at them. Rustling sounds came from the bushes nearby. A few heads of the gulfs peeking from behind the trees.

They did not need to think a lot to conclude that the Forest Leader’s minions had finally gathered.

Having no time to worry about other things, Roma quickly started her next move.

“Litty-san!”

“Let’s get out of here immediately!”

However, from the increased rustling noises in the bushes, it seemed that more gulfs were gathering here. It would have been the worst if the earlier battle had lasted a bit longer.

While breaking out in cold sweat, they did their best to head for the exit of the forest.

“Ah, what about the examiner!” (Litty)

“Our life comes first!” (Roma)

“Hey, shouldn’t we help him?” (Litty)

Rogai’s tipsiness had cooled off a bit and he was wobbling after the two. He managed to shake off a few of the gulfs, but there were still more chasing behind him.

Rogai pulled out his sword and slashed one of the gulfs down, but almost fell prey to another. To be able to kill enemies while being in such a dire situation was enough to prove his experience.

Roma was somewhat impressed.

“Double Strafe!”

“Gan!”

Two arrows flew past them as they attempted to repel the gulfs.

The next to emerge were the instructors, James and Toito. They fought so well that they quickly annihilated the entire pack of gulfs without any problems.

Litty was impressed by their ability to prevent even the last gulf from escaping.

“Instructor!”

“We made it just in time. Are you hurt?”

“We’re fine, thanks to you!”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

An old man with a bow in one hand appeared from behind the two instructors. Roma, who recognized him, immediately bowed her head.

Litty had not talked with him before, but she did see him from time to time at the Swordsman’s Guild. He was known to be the head of the Topas Branch Guild.