Chapter 69: Traveling Together Requires Knowing Each Other's Strengths

After enjoying Jitaro's daring gag, we left Golden Dawn.

"Raidock, which route are we taking?" I asked.

"West seems best."

Indeed, heading west was a good idea. North of Golden Dawn was a river of immense scale, invisible across the other side, while the east and south were somewhat known to us. Notably, the old Golden Dawn, now called Zayid Settlement, was in the southeast direction.

"Yeah, I agree, that sounds good."

"Then it's decided."

The granary lands were slightly to the southwest, an open area that didn't require immediate exploration.

So, we decided to head directly through the northwestern forest, cutting straight through a forest that was hardly frequented by people.

"Leave the forest to me! Hey, Camille! Let's lead the way together!" Jitaro called out to Camille, the second of the Casper sisters and a taciturn swordswoman.

Persistent or tough, one might say.

Eva, the eldest sister, gave Jitaro a cold look, but Camille silently nodded and stepped forward with him. She was difficult to read.

"How about Leafan and I take the rear?" Raidock's lover, the ranger Solar, suggested.

"Sure!" Leafan responded cheerfully, and Raidock called out to the remaining members.

"Alright, Moeda and I will take the front, and let's have the mages in the middle."

"Understood."

We had just started moving when Eva suddenly spoke up.

"Hey! Slow down! This pace is too fast!"

"Huh? You shouldn't get tired with a stamina potion, right?"

"There's a limit, you know! If we were running as fast as a horse at full speed, it would be too much!"

"Ah, right. You haven't been in Golden Dawn long enough to have your body trained for this."

"Is this the pace you always move at?"

"Of course not."

"Ah, that makes sense."

It seemed the pace was too fast for Eva. I reassured her, but wanted her to understand the standards of Golden Dawn.

"We usually move faster."

"What!?"

Stamina potions allow you to move without fatigue during normal exercise or somewhat strenuous activity, but continuous movement at near-limit levels will inevitably lead to fatigue.

Moreover, we recently discovered that for someone at Raidock's level, stamina potions are less effective. Specifically, the recovery power of the potions can't keep up with the fatigue caused by their advanced techniques.

"If it were just Raidock's party, they would be moving even faster."

"You're joking, right?"

"No, I'm serious."

Leaving Eva speechless, I asked Raidock to slow down the pace. However, it seemed still a bit fast for Eva, but maintaining this level of physical exertion might help her quickly adapt to the standards of adventurers in Golden Dawn.

"However, in this pace through the forest, isn't it impossible to spot enemies?"

"Jitaro is with us, so it'll be fine."

"Really? Him?"

"Yeah. I admit he doesn't make the best first impression, but he's reliable in the forest."

I said this while glancing towards Jitaro.

"—and that's how my arrow delivered the final blow to the dragon! It's not an exaggeration to say that," Jitaro boasted, oblivious to Eva's icy stare as he enthusiastically pitched himself to Camille while leading the way.

I'm sorry. He really is reliable. Probably. Most likely. Maybe.

I was pondering whether there would be a chance for him to redeem himself when Jitaro suddenly stopped.

"Enemy," he said succinctly.

At his word, the casual air among us tightened instantly. Raidock immediately instructed everyone to gather.

"Jitaro, we're counting on you."

"Leave it to me."

Jitaro disappeared alone into the depths of the forest.

"Is he going to be okay?" I asked.

"Just watch."

After a while, Jitaro quietly returned to scout the situation.

"There are six ogres ahead," he reported.

"Ogres? We're not even a day out of town—oh, well, we've covered quite a distance. It feels surreal. But what do we do? Should we avoid them?"

Ogres, resembling demonic beings with bulging muscles, were dangerous creatures. Though not as formidable as Cyclopes, they often formed small groups and were notoriously volatile. While their magic stones were valuable, the lack of other beneficial materials made ogre slaying an unpopular quest.

For novice adventurers, these were foes from whom escape was imperative.

Eva looked worried, but Raidock casually shrugged.

"Hm? Just take them down. Just ogres."

Raidock's casual response made Eva's expression turn stern.

"Then, let us handle this."

"Just the three of you?" I asked.

"Yes. You all know each other's capabilities, but it's good for you to see ours, right?"

"That's true, but..."

"If you're so confident, you'll help us if things get dangerous, right?"

"Of course."

Raidock nodded reassuringly, but Eva's expression only hardened further.

"Alright. We'll show you what we can do. Camille, Marilyn, let's go."

"Just the three of you? Wouldn't it be better if we all went together?" Marilyn, the priestess, said in a laid-back manner as she stepped in front of Eva.

"These city adventurers might be getting a bit overconfident because they've killed a dragon. Comrades who can't assess their own strength will only be a hindrance."

"Hmm..."

Eva openly expressed her concerns, likely aware that we could hear her.

Raidock and I exchanged glances and could only share a wry smile.

Indeed, knowing their capabilities at this stage would be helpful.

"Understood. The ogres are yours then, Caspers. Is that alright?"

"Yes. Let's go, both of you."

"We'll do our best!"

Marilyn was the only one to respond, but Camille nodded and took the lead.

It seemed she also took on the role of a scout.

She was a swordswoman but seemed to lean more towards a ranger. Moreover, she wielded dual short swords.

"Craft," Raidock whispered to me.

"They are capable, but it's a bit risky. If something happens, we'll jump in."

"Yeah. Leave it to me."

I clasped a new type of potion bottle between my fingers and decided to follow behind them.

◆

The first strike came from the mage, Eva. She aimed a scorching fireball, an "Incendiary Burst," at the largest and seemingly strongest ogre. Her magic was precise, delivering enough damage to incapacitate the ogre with a single shot. The rumors about the three sisters' prowess were apparently true.

With a grunt, Camille sprang into action. Taking advantage of the chaos caused by the sudden magical attack, she delivered a silent, powerful strike from behind to another ogre. Despite being an ogre, it didn't fall from just one hit, but it suffered a deep wound on its neck, though not fatal.

"Dark Dance of Twin Burials," she murmured, a sword technique unfamiliar to my ears. It inflicted numerous deep cuts on the body of another ogre, which was screaming in rage. The technique was a flurry of movements, each strike deep and powerful. The ogre hit the ground, writhing in pain. Camille moved on to her next target without a second glance, her movements practiced and precise.

Ogres are by no means weak foes; they are formidable enemies. The sisters' ability to handle them without fear was a testament to their capabilities, surpassing the rumors.

As the next target ogre noticed Camille charging towards it amidst its confusion, it swung its massive club. Eva was quick to respond.

"Thousand Needles!" she chanted.

Hundreds of magical needles bombarded the ogre's face. While not particularly powerful, the spell's rapid deployment and wide area of effect were impressive. Camille didn't miss the opportunity as the ogre faltered.

"Leaf Fall Slash," she declared, layering her attack without a moment's delay, causing deep wounds to the ogre. However, as the ogre flailed its club wildly, it managed to land a hit on Camille's left arm.

I was about to throw a healing potion, but a spell was cast even faster.

"Rapid Healing!" announced Marilyn, the priestess bearing the insignia of a healer. Her reaction was swift, her skill in handling the complex healing magic impressive. The potency was sufficient, stopping the bleeding from Camille's left arm immediately.

Indeed, these were the Casper sisters! Their demonstration not only showcased their individual strengths but also their ability to synergize as a team in combat situations.