Chapter 417 - 417: Abandoned Castle and First Escape!

"So there are Master-class monsters. Be careful, the levels are high."

Nanao immediately uses "Ultimate Punch." The leading "Zombie Wolf" flies apart into pieces. Nanao's attack while equipped with "SR Ultimate Boost" is effective even against highly durable undead-type monsters.

As long as it's not "Physical Attack Null."

She explodes another "Zombie Wolf" as well.

"Don't get wounded on your body."

Gill shouts. Right. High-level undead-type monsters sometimes have a skill called "Infection." It's a type of curse that slowly turns the opponent you wound into an undead. My wide-area magic can't nullify curses.

But Nanao seems to understand that and is sticking to hit-and-away.

Mizurii dives in and cuts a "Zombie Wolf." The upper and lower halves are separated and roll on the ground.

Nanao punches the following "Savage Zombie." The head flies off while spinning ridiculously. Before the "Savage Zombie"'s torso falls, she heads to the next target.

Haruki's "Saint Fire" hits the "Living Dead." The "Living Dead" crumbles while being burned by the holy flames.

The "Armor Skeleton" still can't act. Nanao releases "Ultimate Punch" from above the armor. The middle of the torso along with the armor blows backward. A hole opens where the other side is visible, and then it falls.

Complete victory.

"Well done."

"Yes, Master."

Nanao hasn't even broken a sweat.

"Master, when it comes to high-level undead-type monsters, there's 'Infection.'"

Lime speaks to me.

"Most of my attacks are direct attacks. It's especially dangerous in close combat. I have resistance to some extent, but when the level gets high it's fifty-fifty."

"I see, then let's pull Lime back."

"Who will you add?"

That's the problem. Gill's attacks are mostly water attribute. Effectiveness against undead is thin. The skill "Gillman's Bubble" that I've set to priority use boasts tremendous effect against opponents that breathe. But many undead don't need to breathe.

Then Ikumi-sensei? Her level is still low so skills against monsters can't be expected to be effective. There's a high possibility she won't be combat power even if lined up on the front line, and if she takes an attack she might become a burden.

"Master. Is there no spear?"

Gill asks. Spear? I look at Akie.

"Is there one?"

"There's one among the stock. But the performance isn't good."

"Doesn't matter. As long as there's a spear."

I nod and have Akie take out a spear.

"C Bronze Lance" Attack +1

Probably a prize from clearing a quest. Performance is low.

"Is this fine?"

"Ah, as long as there's a spear it's okay."

Looking at Gill's skills, there was indeed a skill that uses a spear. I reset "Gillman's Assault" as the priority use skill. Since I haven't fucked her yet there's no advantage from Allocate points, but looking at level alone she's the highest level in the party. There's no doubt she'll be more combat power than putting in Ikumi-sensei.

"Then let's proceed."

We walked just two steps and encountered. The monsters were almost the same formation. But it was a full encounter of 6.

We overwhelm with a similar development. The attack didn't even reach Gill. As expected, the advantage from Allocate points is big.

"Nanao, let's hold back on 'Ultimate Punch' a bit. We don't know what's waiting later. Let's conserve MP and defeat them while borrowing the power of the remaining members."

"Understood, Master."

And after several encounters, it came into view.

"Abandoned castle?"

It was just as Akie muttered. There was a castle that wasn't particularly large but had a moat and castle gate. It was already decaying and covered in plants like ivy. It was clear it had long been unused, but more than anything what intimidated us about that castle was the miasma it emitted. A blackening that wrapped the castle like a shadow, unfazed by the pouring sunlight.

"Master, this is dangerous."

Lime says. I'm also being attacked by a tingling sensation on the back of my neck. There's definitely something bad here. But the Master who asked me for help is here.

"What will you do?"

A little color of fear seeps into Akie's face as well. Looking around, everyone is wrapped in tension.

"There's a Master who came asking for help. I can't abandon them. That person has already used half their MMP. They bet on help that might or might not come."

"Yes, Master. If Master says so, we'll do so."

"Indeed, seeing righteousness and not doing it is lacking courage. Master's spirit is fitting for the one I swore loyalty to."

Mizurii says something cool. It's not really like that though.

We cross the bridge hung over the moat. It's already exposed to wind and rain and is in tatters. We choose the thick log parts to cross. Footprints remain there too, so we can tell the party that asked for help did the same thing.

When we passed under the castle gate we encountered.

"Armor Skeleton" Lv55 Lv54

"Living Dead" Lv50

"Ghoul" Lv47 Lv48

"Revenant" Lv65

A "Revenant."

"It's a Master-class monster."

Why is something like that normally encountering?

"Be careful, it's tough."

Nanao first blows away the front-line "Ghoul." The power is low because it's not "Ultimate Punch" but the one step lower "Great Punch." Even so the "Ghoul" has its arm torn off from the shoulder.

Nanao heads to the next "Ghoul." Punch again. The "Ghoul"'s upper body twists and does one and a half rotations. But it doesn't fall.

And the earlier one-armed "Ghoul" unsteadily stands up.

The durability is on a different level.

I regretted telling Nanao to hold back on "Ultimate Punch."

"Nanao, full power is fine."

Nanao nods and smashes "Ultimate Punch" into the one-armed "Ghoul" that stood up. Explosion.

Mizurii cuts the "Ghoul" that was upside down in a horizontal line and bisects it.

The "Revenant" spreads its arms. Multicolored cloth spreads. Bad taste.

The ground at Nanao's feet, who was about to head toward the "Living Dead," swells up. Nanao senses danger and leaps back. "Saint Fire" from Haruki hits the "Living Dead" and it burns up.

And what came out from the ground in front of Nanao was monsters. Two "Living Dead." It replenished the amount of the two "Ghouls" we defeated.

Gill attacks the "Living Dead" that came out. Its head is pierced by "Gillman's Assault," and then the head shatters with a bash sound.

Nanao smashes "Ultimate Punch" into another one. Explosion.

The "Armor Skeleton" attacks. Nanao easily dodges it. And "Counter" activates. The "Armor Skeleton" falls apart. Even with "Counter," skeleton types with low defense can be made to fall apart.

The "Revenant" brings its spread hands together in the center.

The ground swells again.

What the hell, oi.

"Giant Zombie"

Around level 60, five of them came out at once. Huge.

Kotori chants "Holy Light." Everyone's bodies are wrapped in white holy light. With this everyone's attacks gain holy attribute to some extent. Can we hold out?

I was hesitating. Should I use the wide-area magic I'm conserving for the boss fight here? Nanao has also released quite a few "Ultimate Punch." We've come straight from the abandoned village so we haven't recovered MP. She's already used half of maximum MP.

With heavy footsteps, the five giant bodies approach.

Melee.

Durability that doesn't fall in one hit even after taking Nanao's "Ultimate Punch." They get wounded by Mizurii's slash that gained holy attribute, but they're originally undead. They swing their huge clubs without feeling pain.

Gill's "Gillman's Assault" also bursts the part it stabbed, but even so the giant body swings the club as if nothing happened.

"Absolute Zero"

Haruki's absolute zero magic explodes. One "Giant Zombie" freezes. When Nanao kicks it, that one shatters into pieces.

Four remaining.

The "Revenant" raises one hand up. And points at the ground.

The ground bursts and it appears.

"Corpse Knight" Lv65

A fully armed cursed knight.

No matter how many we defeat, the next comes out. There's no end to this. Here I suddenly realize.

No way.

"Excellent Clarity"

I reveal the opponent's information.

As expected.

"We're pulling back for now."

Akie turns around.

"That one is a Named. Without countermeasures it's impossible."

After confirming the front-line group took distance, I press "Escape." If it fails we might get one-sidedly trampled.

It succeeded.

"Don't move. We'll encounter."

"Yes, Master."

"Everyone is safe, right?"

"Yes, Master."

Alright, it's fine.

"Returning to the base for a moment."

I cardify everyone and "Transport" to the base.