Chapter 46: Group Assignments Are Not Easy (3)

“Remember the three iron rules of the dungeon that we learned in the dungeon understanding class?”

In a space filled with intense gazes, Orca tossed her bag into a corner and asked in a voice as cold as ice.

Naturally, everyone’s answers were the same.

“Yes.”

“I remember…”

“I don’t know?”

“Nine is fine.”

Well, of course.

The instructor had drilled those rules into our heads so much that it was impossible not to remember.

First, no matter what happens, never break formation!

Second, anything can happen in a dungeon, so always stay calm and composed.

…Third.

No matter what happens, trust your comrades.

…I’ll just stay back and watch.

Nine quietly took a step back.

With nothing but claws as his means of attack, it was hard for Nine to step forward recklessly.

Instead, he surveyed the battlefield with a calm gaze.

‘About twenty goblins, I guess.’

Goblins, known to be the weakest among monsters.

Any moderately experienced adventurer could handle them easily, but the problem with goblins was their sheer numbers, like ants in a dog’s nest.

Individually weak, but they overwhelm with their numbers.

They breed like dogs or cats, and once a few settle in, they multiply into hundreds within a month or two.

That’s why goblins are always the first creatures you learn about when studying dungeons.

Their numbers mean the risk of encountering them is equally high.

“I’ll handle the charging goblins. You two, take care of the goblins throwing rocks from the back.”

With a composed command, the sharp sound of a sword leaving its scabbard echoed through the dungeon.

The longsword, made of pure steel, gleamed under the light of the torches on the walls.

‘They’re a good match for practice.’

Their weapons weren’t much to speak of.

At best, wooden clubs, chipped swords, and half-rusted axes.

But complacency leads to disaster.

Even though measures were taken to ensure no one would die, as if it were a real dungeon, she had no intention of swinging her sword carelessly.

‘Train as if it’s real.’

If there’s a hierarchy to training, then training as if it’s real combat is the best, right?

With that thought in mind, Orca raised her sword above her head and tilted the tip diagonally.

Normally, she would have charged into the enemy like an angry bull, breaking their formation, but now she had comrades to protect behind her.

Instead of lunging forward, Orca stood firm like a tree, facing the onslaught of goblins head-on.

A horde of monsters moving without any semblance of order.

An ordinary person would be terrified, but she was different.

‘Should I have brought a shield?’

A single sword was enough to form a sturdy wall, but a shield would have been slightly better.

As she finished her thought, her sword tip finally drew a clean arc, spraying blood.

“Kieeeek!”

A flawless, unwavering trajectory.

Irina admired Orca’s sword strike as she drew her bowstring.

The fully drawn bowstring reached her shoulder.

Her hand holding the string was steady, without a single tremor.

“Then I’ll go too!”

As the bowstring reached its limit, it released its fury.

With a sharp sound, the arrow flew—piercing the forehead of a goblin about to throw a rock.

“One down.”

“Uh…”

‘Wh-what magic should I use?’

The mana gathered in her hand remained uncast, clumping like sand unable to pass through a narrow passage.

For an ordinary mage, this could be dangerous enough to make their palm explode.

But Alice, born with a genius talent, wasn’t the type to be hurt by something like this.

It was just her first time in a group action, so she wasn’t sure which magic to use.

Seeing this, Nine suddenly shouted from behind.

“Ice spikes! Create ice spikes and shoot them!”

“Yes, yes!”

In group battles, the role of a mage isn’t much different from that of an archer.

As Nine’s voice pierced her ears, Alice began her incantation, arranging her mana in the prescribed order.

Soon, dozens of ice spikes appeared in her palm.

Spikes that would spell doom if even one hit.

“I-I’ll shoot them!”

“W-wait, Alice—”

“Watch out!”

A sharp chill on the back of her neck.

Orca instinctively ducked, dodging the ice spikes that shot through where her upper body had been.

And the spikes that missed her froze the passage in an instant.

The battle ended in a flash.

One might marvel at the overwhelming firepower, but now wasn’t the time for that.

Orca brushed the ice powder off her head and turned to look at Alice.

The young orca, though unintentional, shot a sharp glance at Alice and asked.

Like a commander reprimanding her subordinates.

“Miss Alice. In narrow passages like this, you should focus on smaller-scale magic.”

“Y-yes…”

“Make sure to remember that next time.”

“Y-yes…”

Alice’s expression melted like a snowman.

Orca also looked at her with an ‘this isn’t it’ expression, unable to hide her awkwardness.

She hadn’t expected things to go this way.

“Hey, there’s still one left, right?”

As if trying to thaw the frozen air, Nine suddenly jumped out and swatted away an incoming rock with his front paw.

A single rolling rock.

Realizing the situation wasn’t completely over, the group looked ahead and saw the retreating figure of a goblin in the distance.

“That one survived the ice storm. Lucky bastard.”

With Irina’s laughter, an arrow disappeared into the dark passage.

Soon after, a death cry echoed.

The scream marking the end of the first battle.

—————

Ah, the mood’s ruined.

I looked at Alice, who had buried her head in her knees in a corner of the camp set up in a moderately sized space.

“…”

“Don’t be too discouraged. It’s a common mistake for mages new to dungeons.”

“Y-yeah.”

“But I failed three times…”

…It was serious.

The control of magic power had improved somewhat from the second attempt, but the accuracy was so bad it would make even the soldiers of the Galactic Empire marvel.

…How does magic even fly vertically?

As far as I know, magic is supposed to be shot forward with mana, so how does it end up flying straight up?

I even wondered if Alice didn’t understand the concept of ‘forward.’

“Alice. If you get discouraged like this on the first day, what are you going to do?”

“Nine… but because of me, Orca was almost in danger twice…”

Sigh.

That dense one’s about to go into dense mode again.

I approached Alice and tapped her knee with my front paw.

Alice looked up at me.

“Anyway, there’s nothing for me to do from behind, right? I’ll help you, so don’t worry.”

“Th-then can I hug you while I sleep?”

“No.”

“Th-that’s…”

Why do you look so shocked?

“Hu-hugging while sleeping? Miss Alice, you’re bold.”

“Ah, I know. It feels good to sleep with a cat.”

Why are you all looking at me like that?

It felt like I was being stared at by an owl during a night walk.

Not just one, but three.

I subtly stepped back, gauging the situation, and Orca opened her mouth with the eye smile I had taught her.

“I think our party’s efficiency would improve if we could hug Nine while sleeping.”

“Y-yeah!”

“Oh, I thought so too. I can’t resist snuggling with a cat!”

“I’m not a pillow.”

Of course, I understand that my fur is fluffy and it would feel good to hug, but sleeping while being hugged is torture!

We’re in a dungeon, so we can’t wash properly, and it’s going to smell!

And my sense of smell is more developed than yours!

And who knows if you’ll start sleep-talking and strangle my waist?

How can I sleep peacefully like that?

“Nope, go away. I’m sleeping alone.”

“Can’t we just hug once? It’s a sin to have such lush fur and never be hugged!”

“Like hell.”

What kind of sophistry is that?

“It, it’s fluffy and smells nice…”

“What, I’ve never hugged you before!”

Hey, I’ve let you do lap-cat stuff.

Irina’s eyes narrowed as she looked at me.

Why am I being interrogated?

“That’s right.”

“If Nine helps me, I think I can do better…”

…Zero.

“Let’s make a deal.”

I can’t do it for free, not with my dignity as a tiger.

“You’ve given me a lot of food before.”

That shuts me up.

I fell silent for a moment, pondering the counterattack from my owner.

The only thing I lose is my sleeping spot.

“Th-then I’ll teach you how to use magic.”

“Magic? Really?”

“Y-yes, really.”

…That’s a big deal.

“B-but to teach you magic, there’s something you need to do first.”

“Please tell me it’s not a familiar contract.”

“Uh…”

It is.

I was at a loss for words and turned my gaze away from Alice, who had buried her head in her knees again, and looked at Irina.

“More jerky?”

“I’m tired of jerky.”

“Teach you archery?”

“Can you use a bow with these paws?”

“Can’t I?”

“No.”

“How about a wooden block good for scratching claws?”

“Don’t need it.”

“Hmm, then how about a female cat…”

“Go away!”

“She’s quite pretty…”

Don’t suddenly try to play matchmaker.

I turned my gaze back to Orca.

Could Orca offer something to convince me?

With anticipation, I looked at her, and Orca, with a annoyingly smug smile, pulled out her final weapon.

“How about a spirit herb?”

“I’m not a host cat.”

I can’t resist spirit herbs.

And so, I ended up in Orca’s arms.