76. We Can’t Avoid The Boss Fight, Isn’t It?

Taking down the Titan Duke Frog!

The Lizardman village was under attack by a swarm of giant frogs, and we stepped in to help.

Though the exact reasons were unclear, the Titan Duke Frog, the frogs’ boss, was attracting a huge number of them.

The frogs apparently slowed down at night, but fighting in the dark swamp was even more disadvantageous, so we left the night to the Lizardmen and took a good rest.

At sunrise, we were to take down the frogs’ boss.

At first, I planned to unleash a wide-area fire or ice spell, but Raidoc vetoed it.

In fact, I’ve been prohibited from using offensive magic for the following reasons.

During our journey to explore this uncharted territory, we were attacked by monsters numerous times. Of course, Raidoc and the Casper sisters defeated them, but naturally, I also participated in the attacks.

Eva, observing me casting powerful attack spells, seemed to have a question.

She asked me this:

“Craft-san, is it possible that spells belonging to the magician’s emblem category consume a lot of mana?”

“What?”

“I think the Twilight Alchemist’s emblem is excellent but subtle, so it feels like it consumes more mana than the magician’s emblem. You can continuously create items with alchemy, but isn’t it difficult to cast offensive spells in rapid succession?”

Eva’s insight was shocking.

From my perspective, I felt that mana consumption had significantly decreased.

But that was compared to when I was a magician. Back then, I used to expend a large amount of mana just to produce a little water in a cup, despite my considerable personal mana reserves.

Taking Eva’s words into account, I carefully compared the mana consumption of alchemy and other spells.

Although mana isn’t something that can be quantified, Eva’s hypothesis was correct.

In conclusion, the mana consumption when using magician-type spells was high.

Probably, for great spells known as magic, repeated use was impossible.

Thus, Raidoc had firmly ordered:

“Craft, you’re forbidden to use attack magic.”

I protested at first, but he persuaded me to compensate with alchemy.

So, in this “Let’s Beat Up That Annoying Giant Frog” mission (named by Jitaro), I wasn’t counted as part of the main combat force.

However…

“[Breaking Gale]!! [Flying Combo]”

“[Instant Darkness Attack]”

“Take this!”

Just after dawn, as the swamp began to lighten, we launched our assault on the Titan Duke Frog.

Bathed in the sunlight, the giant frogs started to move, but Raidoc and the others swiftly sliced them into pieces.

Cheers erupted from the Lizardman village behind us.

“Oh! Look! Those humans! They’re taking down the Paralyze Baron Frogs like they’re nothing!”

“What kind of technique is that!?”

“Humans are terrifying…”

“But they’re allies now!”

“Are they really allies?”

“They’re incredible…”

Heh, they’re amazed.

Raidoc has improved again.

Even Jitaro is making a name for himself, slicing through the horde of giant frogs.

But the Titan Duke Frog is still far away. Though it seems like we’re cutting through the frogs easily, the Baron Frogs are not weak.

“Listen up! Our job is to safely get the magician in front of the Titan Duke! Craft, you focus on support! Don’t use attack magic without my permission!”

“I know even without you reminding me!”

I retorted in the heat of the moment, but since I thought a bit of support magic would be fine, Raidoc’s insistence was perfectly timed.

Damn, he saw right through me.

I figured minor attack spells should be okay, but seeing Eva and Barduck gritting their teeth and holding back, I realized conserving our strength was essential, not knowing how powerful the Titan Duke Frog would be.

“…Raidoc! I’m counting on you to clear the way!”

“You got it! Leave it to me!”

To conserve the priestess Marilyn’s strength, I threw healing potions at any comrade who got even slightly injured.

The mana used for potion bottles was minimal, so it wasn’t an issue.

As we advanced further, the casualty rate among our allies spiked.

The swamp’s depth increased, and the water reached our waists.

For ordinary C-rank adventurers, this would severely limit movement and quickly get them swallowed by the frog swarm. Yet, our kill rate remained unchanged, showcasing our abnormal strength.

“Gah!”

“Jitaro! Don’t go too far ahead!”

“But, Leafan-oneesan is—!”

“I’m fine! Fall back! Craft-kun!”

“Jitaro! Fall back! I can’t throw the potion bottles with you in the way!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

Camille quickly switched positions with Jitaro, realigning our ranks.

Blood gushed from Jitaro’s shoulder.

Though his archery skills are top-notch, the coordination between a hunter and an adventurer is vastly different.

I immediately threw a healing potion at Jitaro within my sight.

“Thank you!”

“Jitaro, stay close to Craft! You focus too much on killing the enemy in one shot! Focus on suppression!”

“But…”

Jitaro protested but seemed unconvinced by Raidoc’s reprimand.

“Jitaro, your bow is reliable, and I know you can kill the frogs in one hit. But running around for the perfect position disrupts our formation. Provide cover from here.”

“…Got it. Here I go!”

The difference in fighting styles between a hunter, who aims for one-hit kills, and an adventurer, who prioritizes dealing lethal damage and maintaining safety while taking down enemies, had become apparent.

With the monsters we encountered during the journey being almost always killable by either Jitaro or Raidoc, this issue has gone unnoticed until now.

“Alright! We’ve cut through the enemies! Move forward!”

“””Yeah!!!”””

We cleared out the surrounding Baron Frogs, opening a path to the Titan Duke Frog.

We had to hurry before the distant Barons crossed over their fallen comrades to reach us.

“Raidoc-sama! I’m attacking!”

“…Understood!”

The water, once waist-deep, had now reached our chests. Just as the Lizardmen had informed us, if it had been any deeper, we would have been wiped out.

Our movements were restricted by the mud at our feet.

Even so, Raidoc continued to fell enemies in a single strike, instilling confidence.

Finally, before us appeared the immensely large and repulsive boss frog.

Half-submerged in water, its massive body dwarfed the Barons.

From its gaping mouth, multiple tongues extended.

Though Barons were the same, the multiple attacking tongues made this foe particularly troublesome.

“Here we go! [Inferno Crimson Spear]”

“Take this! [Inferno Bullet]”

Eva and Barduck’s fire magic exploded, enveloping the tongues that lashed out like whips.

Eva’s [Inferno Crimson Spear] was especially potent.

The sluggish frog couldn’t dodge.

The entire area heated up, and the Titan Duke was engulfed in flames.

“We did it!”

Jitaro cheered.

Stop it, Jitaro! That’s a jinx!

As the inferno dissipated and the smoke cleared, the Titan Duke, barely damaged, glared at us with fury.

“Jitaro-san, you idiot!!”

Yes, Leafan. I understand your feelings painfully well, but it’s probably not Jitaro’s fault. Probably.