“We should keep its head away from the other seals and destroy the serpent’s heads quickly. Remember, we must aim for the head, not the torso.” (Kagali)
“Why not the torso?” (Yuna)
Of course, I understand that the head is the weak point. But I think the torso shouldn’t have come out of the ground yet, so it’s like an all-you-can-attack buffet.
Think of it as a giant snake whose body is stuck in a hole.
“It’s impossible. The skin of the serpent is naturally thick. In addition to it, it is hardened by magic power. You can damage it a little, but its skin is so thick that the serpent can repair its own skin with its enormous amount of magical power.” (Kagali)
“Even a mithril weapon can’t damage it?” (Yuna)
“Even if you can pierce it, its skin is so thick it makes it difficult to penetrate deeply. Plus, if you miss the timing, the skin will repair itself on the spot, and the weapon will get stuck.” (Kagali)
What’s with that?
That’s a cheat. I always thought recovery was the biggest cheat of all. Especially in games, if it’s on your side, it’s reliable, but when the enemy uses it, it’s the worst. The moment you’re almost ready to give them the fatal strike, they will simply recover and shrug off the damage. It’s just too much. There’s no more stressful moment than that. I don’t think enemies should use recovery.
“So, how did you defeat it before?” (Yuna)
It’s not a bad thing to refer to past battles.
“We pushed through with numbers. Many people work together to damage and attack even if it is repaired. We attacked it repeatedly. Even a giant serpent has a limited amount of magical power. If you keep hitting the same area, the repair speed of the giant serpent will slow down. Then, Mumroot and other adventurers succeeded in sealing one of their heads after successfully weakening it. Then, the second head, the third, the fourth head, and then finally, the body. The number of victims at that time was innumerable. I wouldn’t know what would have happened without Mumroot. ” (Kagali)
Mumroot-san and his friends must have been fantastic.
They also conquered the pyramid in the desert. He doesn’t look like such a great guy now, though.
“I really can’t thank Mumroot enough.” (Kagali)
“But if you had it cornered that far, you should have taken it down.” (Yuna)
If they had done so, this would never have happened.
“Everyone at that time was at their limits. Many had died and few were left to fight. We could barely seal it up.” (Kagali)
I guess that means it was a slim victory.
You cannot really blame those who fought for their lives. Only those who have experienced it at that time can understand it.
“So you’re saying we should attack the head and reduce the snake’s magical power?” (Yuna)
“I will make this easy for you, but it’s the most dangerous place you’ll ever be. And it will attack you with its mouths. If it eats you, you’re finished. All of its attacks are very powerful. One blow, and you’re done for.” (Kagali)
I don’t want to be cannon fodder, but I think I can brace myself for it with my bear equipment. I think I’ll be fine.
“By the way, what kind of attacks do those heads do? Fire, water, wind, or earth?” (Yuna)
The snake breathed fire, spit water, sent wind, and sent clumps of rocks flying, according to the story. I am sure that Kagali-san, one of the people who sealed the head, would know which head in which place has which attribute.
“I’m sorry. It was hundreds of years ago. I don’t remember.” (Kagali)
Kagali-san said apologetically.
Did they not keep it as folklore?
While talking with Kagali-san, we come close to the heads of the giant snake.
The serpent’s head coiled itself up, then it stretched upwards, and it’s not moving from there.
The serpent was larger than the black viper I had defeated before. This was a giant monster with four heads.
It’s a nasty monster. It’s like four black vipers packed together.
But if Mumroot-san and the other two can keep the other heads from reviving, it should not be an impossible opponent to defeat.
And I know how to defeat the black viper and generally giant monsters by heart.
Big monsters can be roasted from inside the body. Any living giant monster that gets cooked from inside cannot live.
So if I take down the heads one at a time, The giant serpent won’t be considered an impossible opponent to defeat.
“It’s not moving. Do we have to wait until it does?” (Yuna)
If not, then I would like to attack them preemptively.
But Mumroot-san and the other two should be making preparations to strengthen the seal right now.
If we attack it and it goes on a rampage, even the other seals will be broken, what Mumroot-san and the other two were doing will be in vain.
“Yes, it has just awakened, and its movements seem to be sluggish. But still, Mumroot and the others will need time to strengthen the seal.” (Kagali)
Kagali-san and I seem to be on the same page.
But things change quickly, and so do our thoughts.
“No, I don’t think we have that much time, though.” (Yuna)
The head of the snake descended. Then it moves slowly as if trying to crawl.
Trees were falling down.
“What? That direction? Bear Girl, this is bad. We’re heading for the sealed area. I’m sorry, but I’m going there first.” (Kagali)
Kagali-san said so and ran off.
Fast.
I also ran after her, and when I got next to her, Kagali-san noticed me and looked surprised.
She didn’t expect me to catch up, did she?
The head of the snake slowly extended its head to the building that Kagali-san protected.
It’s long. The torso, or rather the neck, is long.
“We’re going to attack it and grab it’s attention.” (Kagali)
Kagali-san then shot a ball of flame toward the snake’s head.
The flame hits the side of the mouth of the snake.
The power was weak, but the snake stopped its movement.
“Look over here!” (Kagali)
Kagali-san shots a ball of flame in succession. The snake opens its mouth and swallows those balls of flame.
“It ate it all?” (Yuna)
The black body of the snake turns red and flames burst from its mouth.
“Is that the fire-type snake head? Did the one you hate the most come back first?” (Yuna)
Kagali-san had an unpleasant look on her face.
The fire-type was the nastiest among fire, water, wind, and earth elements.
That special move of mine may not work on this one.
“If you get too close to it, it’ll burn you with its heat. Be careful.” (Kagali)
Kagali-san changes her method of attack from flame to water.
Fire’s weakness is water. Water’s weakness is earth. Earth’s weakness is wind. And the weakness of wind is fire.
Well, I don’t think that applies to everything, but water is definitely the weakness of fire.
“Bear girl, how is your magic?” (Kagali)
“I can use any element.” (Yuna)
Fire, water, wind, or earth. And I can also use electric magic.
“That’s encouraging. Here it comes.” (Kagali)
The snake raised its head and looked at Kagali-san and me.
Those eyes were the same thing that moved back then when they were sealed earlier.
The serpent dropped its posture towards us to strike us with its head.
Kagali-san and I dodged.
The head of the serpent made a loud thud on the spot where we were.
Kagali-san shot a ball of water, and I shot an arrow of ice.
Each attack hits, but it did not feel like it did any damage.
I ran in front of the snake. The snake opened its mouth and tried to eat me.
I created an army of flame bears with that timing.
If the outside is not good, then I’ll get it from the inside.
“Go!” (Yuna)
The flame bears entered the mouth of the fire-type snake head. The snake closed its mouth. The snake opened its mouth again and attacked. I thought it would burn the inside of its mouth.
The giant serpent devoured the flame bears.
I can only say that this was a really bad matchup.
If this wasn’t a fire-type snake head, it would have already been destroyed by now.
Of all its heads, the resurrected one was a fire-type snake head. It can even eat an army of flaming bears.
-Sakura’s POV-
I’m riding Hugging Bear-sama to the place where the seal was located.
I parted ways with Ruimin-san on the way.
I even got Ruimin-san, who has nothing to do with it, involved. I’m very sorry.
Yuna-sama, Mumuruto-sama, and Ruimin-san. Also, Hugging Bear-sama and Swaying Bear-sama. People who have nothing to do with this country.
These people were risking their lives to help us defeat the serpent.
Now, if His Majesty the King would notice the serpent and bring the mages to the island, we would have a chance to win. If Shinobu had been there, she could have contacted His Majesty the King, but she could not do so under the circumstances. Shinobu was wounded and had fainted.
Looking back, I can see the giant serpent.
Those who could see it from the sea should’ve noticed it and reported it.
But then, given the time it takes to get ready and come to the island, we may not make it.
No, we will make it until then, even if it means using all of my magical power. Even if I can’t use magic for the rest of my life.
Thanks to Hugging Bear-sama, we reached the building where the seal is located in no time.
The building is a little broken.
There are still battle scars in various places.
All of them fought to protect this place.
I looked above the building and saw a black bird, a Volglass, flying overhead. I got off Hugging Bear-sama, opened the door, and rushed in to escape.
However, Hugging Bear-sama did not come in.
“Come on, Hugging Bear-sama, hurry.” (Sakura)
`Ku~u ~ n’
Hugging Bear-sama cried and ran off in a different direction from the door.
Where are you going!?
When I chased Hugging Bear-sama and went outside, I saw him heading for Volglass.
I immediately understood.
Hugging Bear-sama went to defeat Volglass.
“Hugging Bear-sama……” (Sakura)
Hugging Bear-sama is following Yuna-sama’s instructions.
I also must do what I have to do.
“Hugging Bear-sama, thank you very much.” (Sakura)
I left the monsters to Hugging Bear-sama and hurried to the basement where the magic circle was located.
When I reached the basement, I saw a large magic circle.
I have seen this several times in the past.
I stood in front of the magic circle.
Something moved.
“What was that?” (Sakura)
I braced myself.
Looking at it closely, I could see what looked like a gigantic eye in the magic circle.
Perhaps the eye of the giant serpent…
I’m scared.
That must be why Kagali-sama did not let me in so as not to scare me.
If the serpent revives here, it will eat me.
My legs are trembling.
However, both Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama are fighting the giant serpent. Shinobu also tried to defend the seal even after she was injured.
I am afraid here, but I cannot run away. I said to myself. I moved to the center of the magic circle. There was a magic stone embedded in the center. I placed the carpet that Mumroot-sama gave me to cover it.
I matched the magic stone to the magic circle on the carpet.
I prepared myself, remembering what Mumroot-sama taught me.
All the while, the eyes were still staring at me.
I’m scared.
But I can do what I have to do.
I slapped my cheeks with both hands to get my spirit back.
For the sake of Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama who were fighting the serpent, I will protect this seal.
I placed the magic stone entrusted to me by Mumroot-sama on the carpet.
“Here, and here, then here” (Sakura)
This should be okay.
I lined up the magic stones on the carpet.
“Su~u…… ha~a…” (Sakura)
I took a deep breath and placed my hands on the magic circle on the carpet.
Please. Work.
I let my magical power flow into the circle.
I can see the magic flowing from my body to the magic circle.
The magic circle and magic stones on the carpet began to glow.
I poured magical power little by little.
According to Mumroot-sama, it’s necessary to keep the magic flowing, and it’s meaningless to pour the magic all at once. However, when the seal was about to be broken, Mumroot-sama told me that I needed to put in a lot of magical power.
What I thought was an eye behind the barrier has disappeared.
Apparently, the magic circle reinforcement went well.
Now all I could pray was that Yuna-sama and Kagali-sama would have enough magic power to defeat the serpent.
=====
Author’s Note:
The battle against the serpent has just begun, but we will be taking a break for a while.
We are having a hard time rewriting the book of volume 10, and the web version needs more time than usual to think about the final scene, so we are having to neglect both.
We will resume work on the book as soon as we have a certain amount of time to work on it.
I hope to resume in about 10 days.
If the continuation gets delayed, I will report it in the activity report.
Also, look out for bonus stories for the store perks and a newly written short story in the activity report.
Yoroshikuonegaishimasu.
-Kumanano
※The third episode of the comicalization has been released. Please have a look. It’s (Kuma-san pantsu) episode. w
