Chapter 578: The Modoki's Attack

Charon and her group, with Fran as their escort, were searching for a pack of wolves to kill while gathering herbs.

However, the search was not going well.

In the vicinity of the academy, they live in holes on the plains, but the wolves around here have their dens in the forests. In addition, they dug holes in the trees roots and hid in them.

If they didnt know that, they would have had a harder time finding them. But the receptionist of the Adventurers Guild would tell them that hint right away if asked. Even Charon, who had thought about getting a map at the guild, didnt seem to think that the wolves behavior here would be so different.

Charles, their escort, had an indescribable expression on his face. He wanted to teach the students, who were continuing their fruitless search, about the wolf behavior here but that would not be a good experience for them.

He wanted to teach them, but he shouldnt. The frustration must be torturing him from within.

We knew about the wolves behavior because weve tracked and spotted them many times during our herb gathering before.

I think they were probably the closest to the wolves when they were looking for medicinal herbs at the river.

Since Urus.h.i.+ was hiding in Frans shadow, Familial Hatred didnt seem to have shown its effect before, but it might do so to an advanced wolf-type magic beast though.

We followed the students at a leisurely pace, keeping an eye out for any magic beasts that might approach them.

We have only had one encounter today. And that was only because we went to kill a Lesser Wyvern that was in the distance by teleporting.

But we had been in some good fights these past few days, so Fran doesnt seem to be frustrated today. It must be so refres.h.i.+ng for her, unlike being in the stifling city. And she was also in the mood for a picnic with Charon, Khanna, and the others today.

As we continued to move, Charles issued a warning.

Aah, please dont go any further to the lake

Oh, were already that close?

Yeah

When we were at the lake before, the Modoki used to appear only near the center of the lake, but it seemed that they would appear in a wider area now.

A few cases of people being attacked on the sh.o.r.es of the lake had also been reported. Therefore, the Adventurers Guild decided to restrict the students from approaching the lake for their safety.

However, that only applied to the students of the Academy of Magic. They could not deprive the local people of their livelihood, so there were no restrictions on the traffic of the s.h.i.+ps.

And the result was the scene in front of us right now.

Eh? Hey, that s.h.i.+p seems to be under attack!

I-its true!?

A cargo carrier had been attacked by a Modoki.

When Charon and Khanna shouted, the other students seemed to notice it too.

W-wait! Dont go!

Charles was desperately trying to hold back the students who were about to run away.

But, if we dont do something, theyll sink that s.h.i.+p!

Yeah! We can help them!

Oi, you guys need to calm down!

We cant even go there, you know!?

Some of the students appealed that they should go to the rescue, but the students who remembered the information about the Modoki were against it. However, the students in the rescue group were appealing with good intentions while the students who were against it were the weaker ones.

The ones who were against it would also like to help if they can.

However, if the students go there, they will surely be killed by the Modoki.

(Master, lets help them)

Yeah, the students would be reckless if we leave them alone

(Nn)

Urus.h.i.+, well count on you here

Woof!

The students eyes then focused on Urus.h.i.+ as he jumped out of Frans shadow.

Ill go help them, but Urus.h.i.+ will stay behind, so dont worry

Eh? But

The new students, who had not yet seen what Fran was capable of, looked at her like she was a child who wont be able to do much to help them, but the uppercla.s.smen seemed to agree.

Well leave it to you!

Yeah, well be counting on you!

Nn

The s.h.i.+ps mast had already been broken, and the tentacles of those Modoki were stuck to its deck. Wed better hurry.

Lets jump at once!

Okay!

We then made a long jump and teleported directly above the s.h.i.+p.

People are floating on the lake. Are they the crew members?

Theyre still alive

So, the Modoki is still attacking the s.h.i.+p, huh?

The Modoki continued its attack without paying attention to the crew members who had been thrown out into the lake. Doesnt it have the habit of preying on humans? As I was wondering, we saw a man still on board being coiled and lifted by its tentacles.

That guy is in danger!

Lets help him!

Fran used her aerial jump to dash towards the s.h.i.+p. Noticing the appearance of a new enemy, the Modoki tried to attack us with its tentacles but Fran managed to dodge them all and landed on the deck.

Haaa!

We rescued a man who was about to be dragged into the lake by slas.h.i.+ng its tentacles.

The man who fell from a height of about five meters shouted in pain, but he wouldnt be badly injured, as the tentacles that were gripping his body served as a cus.h.i.+on.

Ugh

Are you okay?

Y-yeah

Just wait there, Ill be right back

After leaving the man behind, Fran jumped out again because to save all of them, we had to do something about the Modoki.

Fran, thunder-type magic is no good, itll include the crew members

Okay. Lets shoot it down then!

Roger!

With Frans intentions in mind, I instantly changed my shape. I transformed into a one-handed sword with a cone-shaped blade without a brim, suitable for throwing. It would be easier to understand if I said I transformed into the smaller version of the jousting spear.

Haaaa!

Lets go!

I activated my telekinetic catapult as she threw me straight down, and I turned into a super-high-speed bullet that shot through the Modoki. Its hard sh.e.l.l would be just like plywood in the face of this attack.

Thanks to the fact that the power was concentrated at one point, there was no damage to the surrounding area. And the crew members floating in the lake did not seem to be suffering from the aftermath.

The Modoki that was pierced by me melted into a mushy mess. Oh, that reminded me, we wouldnt be able to collect materials or magic stones from this thing.

Lets help everyone before other Modoki come

Yeah. Lets bring them to the sh.o.r.e for the time being. That s.h.i.+p was already useless

Nn!

However, it was just a normal-looking s.h.i.+p, why was it attacked by a Modoki? Was there a reason for its strange behavior? Or did they just randomly attack large moving objects?

I have no idea.