Volume 1 Chapter 16 Even a capable wizard has her own problems

The next morning we proceeded in almost the same way. There were battles, they were all dealt with by the parties in front, thus it was peaceful here. However, just before noon it seems there was a bit of trouble. The instructor assembled everybody.

A group of orcs has been sighted ahead. Approximately 30 within the scope of what could be seen. If there are more, I think there could be double that.

No, if we leave them alone, itll be bad if they strike us from behind. We must annihilate them.

Its an opportunity. Lets get them. Theyre only orcs, even 50 or 100 wont be a problem with this war potential, right?

On Lazards comment its readily decided to exterminate them.

Theyre currently at a standstill. If theyre resting or waiting for something we dont know, but its a situation where doing a surprise attack is not a bad idea. First, two wizards with do a preemptive attack. After that, well decrease their numbers with the bows. Furthermore a portion of the parties will circle behind them, well keep their attention this way, so assault them however you want. If theres room, the rest of the forces will attack too.

I and the wizard from Dawns Battleaxe will be the preemptive. Alipour and Hellvaughn will attack with bows. Dawn and Twilight will conduct the surprise attack from behind them.

Wearing a black robe. The wizard from Dawns Battleaxe. The wizard was carrying a small wand. Facing me took of the hood. She was a girl. Maybe around high school age. Her height is slightly shorter than me, because of the robe I dont know her figure. Blond hair stretches from inside the robe, her face is well-proportioned and beautiful. Even though shes blonde like Angela, shes the cute type. Her eyes are big and pretty. Although shes glaring at me with distrust.

Im Elizabeth. A Wind Mage! Okay? Youll absolutely not get in my way! Understood?!

Ah, yes.

TL Note: design sketch by a different artist taken from WN, thats why she looks quite different from LN illustrations made by Sameda Koban

Why is she so eager to pick a fight?

Excuse me, why are you so angry?

Ahhh, Im sorry.

Fine! I cant take it anymore!

Saying that, she stomped off. Flustered I chased after her.

But I was hired to carry the baggage, thats the truth.

That kind of thing, is not the job of a mage! Ill show you what a real mage is. Come after me!

You dont need to tell me since were going in the same direction, weve been assigned the same task anyways.

Soon we arrive at the attack position where the instructor was. We come to what seems a valley, looking down it was full of orcs.

Its about time the surprise attack unit arrive at their position. You two wizards will start the attack at the signal. Well then, well be relying on you two.

You aim towards that direction. Ill be doing this. Okay? Youll match my timing. in a whisper, Elizabeth issued the instructions.

Confirming the attack location, I nod.

Once Elizabeth starts casting I too start casting [Minor Explosion]. Elizabeth in an almost inaudible low voice shes mumbling something. Is she reciting some kind of spell? In my case I dont do anything in particular besides concentrating Magic Power, could it be different for others?

Wind Storm Elizabeth fired with a whisper. Matching her, I cast Minor Explosion.

From the unexpected attack the orcs were in a chaos. Successively the arrow attacks started rattling and orcs were falling. However, soon they began counterattacking. It was sporadic, but arrows came flying from the orcs. One arrow landed right in front. Quickly I take cover behind a tree. Looking for Elizabeth shes already hidden.

I search the direction from where the arrows are coming. Found it. I use [Minor Explosion]. I aim at the orc shooting with a bow and its cast. Several orcs are blown off altogether, I leveled up. I postpone checking my status. There were orcs coming here, so I deal with them with [Fire Lance].

Halt the attack! the order came from the instructor. Looks like the surprise attack unit started their assault.

Silver came along here.

Kreuks leg received an arrow. Wont you come look at it?

Going to check and Kreuk was looking sad while cold sweating. An arrow was stuck to his thigh. Kreuk was assigned to use bow, so there was no way for him to hide, unlike Silvers heavy equipment. It should be said youre lucky it resulted in merely this.

Silver, please pull out the arrow. Ill use healing magic immediately after. Kreuk endure it for a bit.

Matching Silvers extraction of the arrow, I cast [Heal]. A little bit of blood spout out, but the wound soon closed.

Hey, you guys. Wait here. Well go exterminate the remaining orcs.

Lazard informing us of that, he ended up going where the orcs were.

There, only me, Silver, Kreuk, the instructor and Elizabeth remained.

Instructor, is it already finished?

The sound of battle that was present until a moment ago stopped.

Thats right. It only remains those who have fled. In the meantime stay on standby here. Stay vigilant of the surroundings.

As told Kreuk and Silver watch over the surroundings. While checking my status I consider my skill build and Elizabeth talked to me.

Youre pretty good. What was your name?

Thats right. Precisely chanting the incantation is the proper way.

Ehh, my acquaintances dont do it though.

Angela and sister Matilda didnt say anything in particular.

Theyre novices, ok? Properly chanting the incantation and at the end shouting the spell name will increase the power 20%!

Poking me with her wand, she says striking a pose.

I dont know about the 20% increase, however theres no mistake about shouting the name of the spell before shooting. In the case where a party is fighting, what kind of spell the wizard at the rear is using must be let known to the front line. The instructor who was listening next to us gave that supplementary explanation.

Indeed. Silently casting followed by a bang, youd catch your vanguards by surprise. Elizabeth had a self-satisfied look.

It appears that our scattered forces have returned. Lets descend too.

We descend to the bottom of the valley and following instructions we collect the orc corpses. The dead bodies that are in pieces must be the ones I defeated. Because of the extreme damage their value is too low, so theyre left alone.

I can noncommittally put them in Items, however what are we gonna do about who defeated what?

Will there be a dispute about the sharing of this? Thinking that, I asked the instructor.

Later well compare it with the guild card and decide on the share. Theres raw material that we wont take home because of the damage and we dont need to look at all the little details. said the instructor.

I see. Theyre the corpses that I had blown away, right? I understand. Because the others were mostly defeated using arrows and swords. Even the ones Elizabeth got, werent so disfigured they couldnt be recognized. Fire Magic, it got firepower, but in these cases its inconvenient.

Checking my guild card I defeated 9 orcs. One didnt have as much damage because it was with Fire Lance, the other 8 I reckon are almost worthless. Since each orcs corpse can fetch 200 Gold, its quite painful.

Gathering all, there were 41 orcs. Added to yesterdays share it totals 62. Assuming each weights roughly 80 kg, I calculate its close to 5 tons. As usual, Item Box is too much of a cheat. When I told I stored everything, the guys from Dawn were surprised.

Because two people had light injuries they received medical treatment, after we had a light meal, we departed.

Just when I thought we fell behind schedule, in no particular hurry, before the sun disappeared we arrived at the second days camp site. It appears the distance to travel has been set up taking into consideration this amount of trouble. Skillfully they set up camp and finish preparing the food. Tomorrow using this place as a base, well survey the area around the lake.

After dinner, I was near the bonfire I practicing Water Magic floating a Water Ball when Silver came to ask what I was doing.

Practicing magic.

Because he tried poking while letting out a Hmmm,

Dont! If you touch it, you might die?! telling him that, he retreated nervously. When I slowly brought it closer, he stepped back again. Of course its plain water.

Hey, cut it out!

Since he ran away, I tried to pursue him with the Water Ball. Ah! he fell over. As he was the Water Ball hit. Silvers head is drenched in water and dumbfounded.

Its regrettable, but youre already dead. Dont catch a cold!

Finally realizing it was a joke he got angry.

Ahahahaha. Im sorry. I apologize. Hey, you just skinned your knee, didnt you? Ill use healing magic on it, ok?

While having some fun joking with Silver, Elizabeth came along.

Ive something to talk with you. If possible only us two, ok?

Saying that, I glimpsed st Silvers direction. Making a guess he went somewhere else.

Then, whats your business, Elizabeth?

Yea, that eh

Elizabeth seemed somewhat bashful, having a hard time talking. She was looking a bit downward, but her face was slightly reddened. Clearing out the other people, could it be what she wants to tell me is perhaps that? A confession?! Was she charmed by the way I fought today?

That you have the Item Box magic, dont you?

Umm? Item Box?

Ah, I have it?

Look, Im not very good at spatial magic. That is, still I can store more than a normal person, but when it comes to my party theres a lot of loot, it ends up filled in no time.

The chat took an unexpected direction!

Masaru, isnt that your strongest point? I wonder, do you have any trick or practice method?

Right. Theres no way she fell in love. I want to kick the me from 30 seconds ago.

Well, somehow from the beginning it has been like this, I dont know about a trick.

Because its a cheat, theres no way to explain it.

Is that so?..

Hearing that, Elizabeth was downhearted. I want to be helpful, but I cant do more than that.

Look, youre still young, while you keep using it youll get more skillful.

As expected, I have no choice but to honestly get on with it, isnt it? I understand.

Saying that, Elizabeth staggered back to her own tent. Its a bit of a let down. After all, it was a chance to become friends with a cute girl. Despite having the face of a winner in life, a proud mage has a lot of problems too.

However, its not like I have time to be worrying about other people. If we talk about the problems of a junior like me, its the practical use of Fire Magic that has too much firepower. Like today, its hard to get a reward when I blow up the loot. If I use Skill Reset Im able to change Fire Magic to another one, but if I think about it, tomorrow suddenly I wont be able to use Fire Magic. If I raise Earth Magic to Max Level or something like that, theyll get suspicious at best. Its ok if MP Consumption Reduction and MP Recovery UP are removed with the reset, but leaving that aside I feel itll be faster if I aim to level up. Will I be able to participate in battle tomorrow?

Since Kreuk and Silver are assigned to the first night watch, that night I slept alone. It was scary being shot with an arrow by an orc, before sleeping I raised Fire Magic one level in advance.

Text stats from WN

Yamano Masaru, Human, Magic Swordsman

[Titles] Wild Rabbit Hunter

Guild Rank E

Level 6

MP 398/199+199

Stamina 33+33

Skill 26

Magic Power 50

Skill Points 6

Life Magic, Clock, Fire Magic Level 4

Archery Level 1, Throwing Technique Level 2, Stealth Level 2, Ninja-Walk Level 2, Presence Detection Level 2

MP Recovery Up Level 2

[Fire Magic Level 4] Fire Arrow, Fire Ball, Fire Lance, Fire Wall, Minor Explosion, Fire Storm, Large Explosion.

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TL Note:From the authors comment in the WN, he mentions Elizabeth should have Kugimiya Ries voice. Is there a tsundere not voiced by Kugimiya?