Seeker 199

Test

Chapter 199. Defense Battle (1)

On that day—the day we arrived at the Dwarf Town Dagmahar, and the following day—passed without any particular events. 

In other words, the village chief and hero, Bargamund, did not return, and there were no monster attacks. 

During this time, we took the opportunity to rest.

Experience points and time are valuable resources, and in recent times, we tended to push ourselves too hard. 

When there's a chance to rest without any risk, we want to make the most of it. 

During our break, we confirmed our skill acquisition and status once again.

 Here's how our current status stands.

Musou Daichi

Level: 37 (+5)

Experience: 37,9734 / 39,0112

HP: 259 / 259 (+61)

MP: 224 / 224 (+56)

Strength: 32 (+3)

Stamina: 37 (+4)

Agility: 27 (+3)

Magic: 32 (+4)

-Skills-

[Earth Heal]

[Mapping]

[HP Up (Endurance x7)] (Rank up!)

[MP Up (Magic x7)] (Rank up!)

[Spear Attack Up (+26)] (Rank up!)

[Rock Bullet]

[Protection]

[Gaia Heal]

[Treasure Chest Drop Rate x2]

[Three Strikes]

[Item Repair]

[Accuracy Enhancement]

[Grnd Heal]

[Steath]

[Rock Bazooka]

[Evasion Enhancement]

[Item Box]

[Tame]

[Stone Shower] (new!)

[Heavy Equipment Penalty Nullification] (new!)

Remaining Skill Points: 0

Kodachi Kazane

Level: 37 (+4)

Experience: 37,0426 / 39,0112

HP: 189 / 189 (+14)

MP: 168 / 168 (+43)

Strength: 27 (+2)

Stamina: 27 (+2)

Agility: 46 (+4)

Magic: 28 (+3)

-Skills-

[Dagger Attack Up (+32)] (Rank up! ×4)

[Mapping]

[Dual Wield]

[Presence Detection]

[Trap Detection]

[Trap Disarmament]

[Wind Slash]

[Item Box]

[HP Up (Endurance x7)]

[Treasure Chest Drop Rate x2]

[Quickness]

[Wind Storm]

[MP Up (Magic x6)] (Rank up!)

[Dual Wield Enhancement]

[Evasion Enhancement]

[Stealth]

[Trap Detection II]

Remaining Skill Points: 0

Yuzuki Hotaru

Level: 37 (+4)

Experience: 38,1651 / 39,0112

HP: 189 / 189 (+14)

MP: 434 / 434 (+98)

Strength: 23 (+2)

Stamina: 27 (+2)

Agility: 32 (+3)

Magic: 62 (+6)

-Skills-

[Fire Bolt]

[MP Up (Magic x7)] (Rank up!)

[HP Up (Endurance x7)]

[Magic Up (+16)] (Rank up! ×2)

[Burn Blaze]

[Monster Appraisal]

[Fire Weapon]

[Treasure Chest Drop Rate x2]

[Item Box]

[Flame Lance]

[Item Appraisal]

[Explosion]

[Bow Attack Up (+8)] (Rank up!)

Remaining Skill Points: 0

The status improvements are in comparison to before we met the traveling merchant Eslin and headed to Griffin Mountain. 

Since then, we've experienced events at Griffin Mountain, the Eslyn-san abduction incident, and the six-day journey leading us to Dagmahar. 

We've leveled up about 4 to 5 levels in just over a week.

Subjectively, it doesn't feel like a tremendous leveling speed, but we've steadily grown stronger. 

However, when viewed objectively, this is—

By the way, [Heavy Equipment Penalty Nullification] made it so when I equipped Gaia Helm. Its weightiness disappeared. 

It's a bit late to realize this, but my skills are amazing. 

When I acquire this skill, I might want to change to heavy armor for better defense. 

While Gaia Armor might be out of reach, I could afford Plate Armor (+2), so compromising in that area might be a good idea.

The anomaly occurred two days after we entered the village, in the morning.

"Monsters are attacking!" 

We received a message from Dwarf warriors who were on guard duty at the fortress, and the entire village became frantic. 

Including those off duty, all Dwarf warriors in the village headed to the fortress guarding the entrance. 

Kazane-san, Yuzuki, and I also went to the location to fulfill our mercenary duties.

Since Dwarf warriors generally weren't known for their speed, we ended up overtaking them one by one as they ran up the uphill path to the entrance, clanking in their heavy armor.

Once we reached the fortress, we rushed up the internal stairs and onto the walls. 

When I was looking down from there, the monster army was closing in on the fortress wall on the other side, coming dangerously close.

The sight of the approaching horde of monsters, making the ground shake, with the rising sun as their backdrop, was quite surreal.

"It's Frost Wolves and Yetis! There are more of them than the second attack!"

"We don't have time! Get into position for ranged attacks and magic immediately!"

The angry shouts of the Dwarf warriors echoed. 

Around 10 warriors standing on the wall immediately prepared their crossbows and cast supportive magic.

It seemed that most Dwarf magic users specialized in earth and fire magic. 

Through supportive magic like [Protection] and [Fire Weapon], the warriors were strengthened one after another.

By the way, I couldn't spot Yusefia-san anywhere at the moment. 

Was she sleeping in, preparing, or just lacking motivation? 

She hadn't accepted a defense request, so it wouldn't be fair to criticize her.

Without concerning ourselves with others, we focused on what we could do. 

Until the horde of monsters got closer to the battle distance, Kazane-san, Yuzuki, and I used supportive magic to enhance ourselves.

After we finished enhancing ourselves, I looked ahead from the wall to reconfirm the approaching enemy's appearance. 

The horde charging up the uphill road toward the village consisted of two types of monsters: Frost Wolves and Yetis.

Frost Wolves had giant wolf-like bodies covered in snow-white fur. 

To give an idea of their size, they were as large as Hellhounds, almost the size of horses. 

With their glowing red eyes, they were intimidating.

On the other hand, Yetis had a figure that could be described as a snowmen. 

Their upright, gorilla-like bodies resembled mutant apes, and like the Frost Wolves, their fur was snow-white. 

They were equally massive, if not more so than Frost Wolves, and their group attack was truly impressive.

In total, there were nearly thirty powerful monsters. 

Considering that there were around twenty during the second attack, it could be said that the overall strength of the horde was larger this time.

The 1st attack, 2nd attack, 3rd attack—the enemy's forces had grown significantly with each attack. It had now been in this 4th attack.

Thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine for a moment. 

If we continued to stay in this village, what would happen to Dwarf people and us?

No, I should refrain from thinking negatively. 

Right now, our focus should be on the enemies before us.

In the next few seconds, the leading edge of the approaching monster horde, just slightly outside the range of magic, drew closer. 

Dwarf warriors' ranged release attacks just a bit faster than the magic's effective range.

"Crossbows, aim for the lead Frost Wolves—fire!"

Four Dwarf warriors on the same wall where we were positioned fired their arrows simultaneously from their crossbows.