Chapter 6
" < Dimensional Storage > ...."
I silently invoked my skill. In an instant, a diamond-shaped rift materialized at the surface of the table, just beside the bento box I was in the middle of eating. For a second, I nearly jolted my body to catch the bento box in case it fell into the abyss of the dimensional storage.
Phew.
"Meir-sama?" Yuriko-san noticed my reaction. "Is everything alright?" she asked, eyeing the dimensional rift on the table.
I immediately retrieved my mana gun and ten bottles of mana essence potion from the dimensional storage. Also a toolbox and some extra mana steel from the one I bought for Tanaka-san yesterday. It is quite easy to retrieve specific items because all you need to do is to think of the item you want to retrieve and it will come into your hand.
"Nothing, I''ll just refill my mana gun," I answered. "I nearly forgot it was on low reserves since the raid yesterday. Also I''ll make a simple artifact."
Yuriko-san nodded in understanding, her attention shifting back to the wide screen mounted on the table. It is showing a map, detailing the current known topography of the Onose Shrine and the surrounding area—terrains that had changed drastically since the shrine and the area surrounding it was transformed into a monster domains.
A gust of wind flapped the edges of our tent, carrying the distant murmurs of the camp.
"Dammit, are they serious about pushing the raid today? We haven''t even scouted the deeper layers of the domain yet."
"Orders are orders. Both the acting guild master of Hoshimizu guild and the Seikishi-dan guild made the call. We move as soon as the final briefing is over."
Past the thin fabric of our tent, the temporary raid camp stretched across the clearing—a hive of restless activity. Hunters, scouts, and strategists moved between clusters of makeshift tables and campfires, each lost in their own preparations. Some adjusted armor straps, others rechecked their weapons for the third or fourth time.
The combined forces of Seikishi-dan and Hoshimizu Guild had mobilized a total of ten raid squads for this operation. Each squad had been assigned to a different monster domain in the region—except for one. The newly formed eleventh domain: The Onose Shrine.
The combined forces of Seikishi-dan and Hoshimizu Guild had mobilized ten raid squads for this operation, each assigned to a different monster domain in the region—except for one. The newly formed eleventh domain: The Onose Shrine.
To address this, an additional squad had been hastily assembled—the newly formed 11th Raid Squad. And this tent belonged to that squad.
Beside Yuriko-san, Hoshimizu Aiya-san sat, meticulously studying the map, various scout reports, and stacks of mission documents. Across the table, a senior hunter from the Seikishi-dan Guild analyzed the same data, his brows furrowed in concentration. Alongside him, five rookie members from the both guild—hastily gathered to complete the squad—was also preparing themselves, their postures stiff with tension.
This raid has one mission: Retaking the Onose Shrine.
Somewhere nearby, a scout muttered under his breath, voice laced with tension.
"...Something feels off about this domain. A level five, appearing out of nowhere? And right in the middle of the region where every other domain is above level ten?"
"Also, how can monsters and monsterr domains form this quickly....?" His companion’s voice was steady, but the slight edge in his tone betrayed his own unease.
From my seat, I observed the raid camp carefully, a temporary raid camp that had been established just outside the boundary of the affected zone, a joint effort between Seikishi-dan Guild and Hoshimizu Guild. Tents lined the clearing, each assigned to one of the ten raid teams.
The usual pre-raid chatter was there, but beneath it, something else festered—an undercurrent of unease. Hunters warmed up with their weapons with just a little too much force. Strategists pored over maps they had already memorized, triple-checking the smallest details. Squad leaders paced, speaking in hushed, clipped tones with their subordinates.
Even the scent of food from the campfires was subdued.
The raid camp was alive with restless energy.
This wasn''t a normal case of monster domain spawning and hunters raiding it.
Normally, monster domains don''t just suddenly appear inside Domain Lord''s territory—especially not a shrine that had been under strict mana warding for generations. Yet, ten monster domains enclosed it in just two days, and a Level 5 Monster Domain had formed overnight, an anomaly that set the two guilds, tasked on protecting it, on edge.
To-to-toot, To-to-toot.
The sharp chime of Hoshimizu-san’s phone alarm cut through the evening air. Instinctively, I glanced at the time. 6:05 PM. The scheduled start of the raid meeting.
Hoshimizu-san stood, her expression sharpening as two scouts from the Hoshigetsu Guild straightened beside her, ready to relay their reconnaissance findings.
“We will now begin the pre-raid briefing. Everyone, please pay attention,” one of the scouts announced, unfolding a holographic mana map onto the table. A detailed projection of the Onose Shrine flickered into view. “The core structure of the shrine remains intact. However, a large rift has opened in the main courtyard, releasing corrupted mana throughout the grounds. The torii gate has already warped into a monster nest, and mana fluctuations suggest the presence of a high-tier domain boss.”
Hoshimizu-san frowned, tapping her finger against the projected terrain. “As you can see, both the shrine and the surrounding village have undergone significant topographical changes. What was once a flat plain has been transformed into a small, elevated monster domain. A hill-type category monster domain. The entire area is now blanketed in thick fog.”
The scout exhaled, shaking his head. “That’s the problem. We haven’t been able to finish a thorough scouting of the domain. However, we’ve confirmed the presence of multiple monster species. We also have done multiple readings but it always ends up in a high tier level five monster domain category."
The second scout swiped across the holographic display, and a series of images appeared. “We’ve documented sightings of spiritual entities. Sightings of fox monsters as weill as wisp type monsters was seen roaming at the hill."
The images flickered in front of us. Shadowy foxes with fur like living black mist prowled the shrine’s perimeter. Floating orbs of blue fire—wisps, the size of a basketball—drifted ominously along the hill’s fog-laden paths.
A heavy silence settled over the tent.
Hoshimizu-san exhaled, crossing her arms. “That complicates things. Regular weapons won’t be effective against spirits unless we bring blessed armaments or anti-ethereal runes.”
“Please leave that to us.”
The senior hunter from the Seikishi-dan Guild finally spoke, his voice steady and assured. “We Holy Paladins of the Seikishi-dan guild are trained to deal with that type of monsters. Exorcising spirits is part of our expertise.”
Well, if they are paladin job class and are devout believers of the Holy Goddess just like Mikhail-sama, then their skills are honed to light and purity magic element. A direct counter of corrupted spiritual monsters.
“What about enemy numbers?” he asked.
“Our initial readings has estimated at around fifty for now,” the first scout responded, “but we suspect that number fluctuates. The domain is still shifting, which means more monsters could be pouring in at any moment.”
"Fifty already, huh? For a low level dungeon that''s quite a lot of monsters already," Hoshimizu-san straightened, her tone firm. “Then we can’t afford to waste any more time. We need to move before the domain stabilizes further.”
As the discussion continued, I leaned toward Yuriko-san, who was busy jotting down the meeting minutes. Lowering my voice, I asked, “Who’s that guy?” I tilted my head toward the senior hunter from the Seikishi-dan Guild.
Even seated, I could tell he was tall. His silver and blue armor gleamed under the tent’s lighting, the insignia of the Seikishi-dan Guild prominently displayed on his chest plate. His presence carried an air of unwavering calm, his piercing gaze assessing the room with practiced ease.
Yuriko-san glanced at him before leaning in, her hand half-covering her mouth. Oi,oi, if you do it like that, it will feel like we were gossiping about a fellow hunter now...
“That’s Leonhardt Eisenwald,” she murmured. “He’s the newly appointed squad leader of the 17th Raid Squad of the Seikishi-dan Guild. A rookie Paladin of the Seikisihi-dan, but already well-known for his skills, raid clearance record. Also at his unshakable resolve and unwavering faith to Mikhail-sama and in the Holy Goddess.”
Leonhardt Eisenwald. A rookie Paladin, huh, but already making a name for himself.
I glanced at him again, noting the disciplined posture and the way he observed the discussion with quiet confidence. Someone like him wouldn’t be the type to hesitate when facing monsters. That would make things easier for the squad—if his skills matched his reputation.
Before I could dwell on it further, Hoshimizu-san clapped her hands once, regaining the room’s attention. “Alright, we’ve gone over the key intel. Now, one final matter—we need a squad leader for this operation.”
She let the statement hang for a moment before turning her gaze toward Leonhardt. “For this mission, Leonhardt Eisenwald will be leading our squad.”
A few heads turned toward him, some with mild surprise, others nodding in recognition.
Hoshimizu-san continued, her tone unwavering. “This decision isn’t without reason. While Eisenwald-san is still classified as a rookie, he’s already commanded squads in twenty-two successful low-level monster domain raids. And he has participated clearing 103 low-level monster domain raids in just his first year as a hunter.”
A murmur ran through the room. Even among veteran hunters, that was an impressive track record as a rookie hunter.
Leonhardt-san himself remained composed, offering only a slight nod. “I’ll do what’s necessary to ensure mission success.”
Hoshimizu-san exhaled sharply. “That’s what I want to hear.” She turned back to the rest of the squad. “Final preparations will take place in the next twenty minutes. At exactly 6:30 PM, all squads will commence their respective raids simultaneously. That includes us. Make sure your equipment is in top condition.”
One of the scouts nodded, checking his wristwatch. “Understood. I’ll relay this to the other squads immediately.”
Leonhardt-san stood, the weight of his armor shifting as he adjusted his longsword at his side. “May the Holy Goddess grant us strength,” he said, his voice composed.
Hoshimizu-san exhaled sharply, then turned to our group. “That applies to all of us. No unnecessary risks—stick to your roles. Dismissed.”
With that, the meeting concluded. The room shifted into action, hunters standing, checking their gear, and stepping out into the cold evening air.
As the meeting concluded, hunters filed out of the tent one by one, some heading toward other squads, others making final checks on their gear. The air outside was thick with anticipation.
By 6:26 PM, the once-crowded tent was now nearly empty. Only Yuriko-san and I remained. The muffled sounds of last-minute preparations echoed from outside, but inside, the space felt quiet, almost detached from the impending battle.
I glanced at Yuriko-san, who was reviewing the meeting notes, her pen tapping lightly against the paper. "Yuriko-san, are you going to provide support here?"
She looked up, blinking at my question. “Ah, yes. There’s no other staff available for now to assist you. Or rather I don’t have anyone to call for support yet.” She exhaled, leaning back slightly. “The new staff members I interviewed yesterday will start working tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, huh?” I murmured. "I suppose it can’t be helped. But you can finally get some help off your works, hahaha.”
Yuriko-san gave a small, tired smile. “I didn''t expected managing a new domain to be this hectic.” She stretched her arms before tilting her head at me. “But its better than doing nothing. Why do you ask? Do you need something, Meir-sama?”
For a moment, I didn’t answer. Instead, I reached into my coat pocket, my fingers brushing against the small folded paper I had prepared earlier.
“Actually, yes,” I said, my tone shifting. I placed the paper on the table and slid it toward her. "Can you help me investigate on this side of the raid?"
Yuriko-san raised an eyebrow but took it without hesitation. She unfolded it, her expression neutral—until her eyes landed on the single line of text inside.
"Traitor. Senior Hunter. Seikishi-dan."
Her breath hitched. She snapped her gaze back to me, her grip tightening around the paper. “Meir-san… what is this?”
I met her eyes, my voice low. “Keep your guard up. Something isn’t right about this abnormal incident.”
Yuriko-san swallowed hard, glancing toward the tent entrance where the sound of hurried footsteps and clanking weapons echoed in the distance.
Before she could say anything else, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a simple bracelet, placing it on the table. It was unadorned—just a band of mana steel with faint runes etched on the underside, barely visible against the dull metal.
“In case anything happens and you need to escape,” I said, sliding it toward her, “use this. It will open a portal directly back to our domain.”
Yuriko-san hesitated, her fingers hovering over the bracelet before she picked it up. She turned it in her hands, examining the runes. “You made this?”
I nodded. “I’ve been working on it since earlier. I also have one.” I showed her the one I''m wearing on my left hand.
She pursed her lips. “I’m not a combatant, Meir-san. I shouldn’t even be in danger.”
I stood, tapping her shoulder lightly. “You never know. Don’t do anything rash, Yuriko-san. And if things go south—don’t hesitate to use it.”
Just yesterday, I made contact with three high level monsters. Long-Distance Gate incantation takes time but this simple artifcats has the incantation pre-recorded already. This way I can cast it quickly without relying on manual incantation. Though I can only use it once, its better than nothing.
Her fingers curled around the bracelet, her expression unreadable. But she gave a small nod.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Outside, an announcement sounded—the signal that the raid was about to commence. It was time.
I stepped out of the tent, making my way through the gathered hunters until I found my assigned squad. The 11th Raid Team stood near the edge of the staging area, already assembled and waiting. As I approached, Leonhardt-san caught sight of me and gave a sharp nod.
"Good, you''re here," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. "Let’s go over the roles before we move out."
He glanced around the group before continuing, his tone taking on a practiced efficiency. "I’ll be leading the front as the main tank," he began, resting a hand on the hilt of his longsword. "Kido will be beside me as the secondary tank."
A broad-shouldered man with a shaved head grunted in acknowledgment. His heavy armor clanked slightly as he adjusted the straps of his shield.
"For front-line damage, we have Fujikawa-san, a swordsman-class and Gorou-san, a knight-class."
Fujikawa, a lean man with sharp eyes and a katana at his waist, gave a curt nod. Beside him, Gorou—a hulking man with a massive battle mace slung over his back—grinned, rolling his shoulders like he was eager to start.
"Hoshimizu-san and Takane-san will handle long-range attacks."
Takane, a wiry young lady with a bow strapped across her back, nodded in acknowledgment. Hoshimizu-san, standing nearby, adjusted the bracers on her arms, her expression focused.
"For support, we have our bard, Rika," Leonhardt gestured to a woman cradling a lute in her arms. She had a relaxed posture and... what can I say, she is small compared to all of us. How old is she anyways?
Finally, he turned to me. "And Meir-san, you’ll be another long-range damage dealer and rear guard."
I inclined my head. "Understood. Please take care of me."
Leonhardt swept his gaze over the group once more, then exhaled. "We move in two minutes. Get ready."
As the team made their final preparations, I found myself studying my new squadmates with growing curiosity. While their guild reputations preceded them, I wanted more than just hearsay—I needed facts. Without drawing attention to myself, I activated a skill, "< Inspect Hunter >..."
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Nashchor Meir
Age: 25
Alignment: Neutral Good
Affiliation: N/A
Job: Domain Lord-Tinkerer
Level: 5
Stat Rating: 113 SR
HP: 270/270
MP: 210/210
Attributes
Life: 27
Strength: 15
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 21
Aura: 15
Agility: 20 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Leonhardt Eisenwald
Age: 23
Alignment: Lawful Good
Affiliation: Seikishi-dan Guild
Job: Paladin
Level: 10
Stat Rating: 124 SR
HP: 320
MP: 140
Attributes
Life: 32
Strength: 22
Endurance: 20
Intelligence: 14
Aura: 17
Agility: 19 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Aiya Hoshimizu
Age: 22
Alignment: Neutral Good
Affiliation: Hoshimizu Guild
Job: Novice Mage
Level: 5
Stat Rating: 68 SR
HP: 190/190
MP: 120/120
Attributes
Life: 19
Strength: 8
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 12
Aura: 10
Agility: 10 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Kido Masanori
Age: 28
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Affiliation: Seikishi-dan Guild
Job: Paladin
Level: 7
Stat Rating: 82 SR
HP: 220/220
MP: 90/90
Attributes
Life: 22
Strength: 17
Endurance: 19
Intelligence: 9
Aura: 9
Agility: 6 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Fujikawa Renji
Age: 32
Alignment: True Neutral
Affiliation: Seikishi-dan Guild
Job: Magic Swordsman
Level: 8
Stat Rating: 90 SR
HP: 250/250
MP: 1440/140
Attributes
Life: 25
Strength: 14
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 14
Aura: 14
Agility: 12 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Gorou Takeshi
Age: 30
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Affiliation: Seikishi-dan Guild
Job: Battle Knight
Level: 7
Stat Rating: 82 SR
HP: 260/260
MP: 110/110
Attributes
Life: 26
Strength: 13
Endurance: 9
Intelligence: 11
Aura: 12
Agility: 11 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Takane Mitsuru
Age: 24
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Affiliation: Seikishi-dan Guild
Job: Magic Archer
Level: 8
Stat Rating: 90 SR
HP: 220/220
MP: 230/230
Attributes
Life: 22
Strength: 10
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 23
Aura: 10
Agility: 17 ]
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Rika Hanabusa
Age: 22
Alignment: Neutral Good
Affiliation: Hoshimizu Guild
Job: Bard
Level: 5
Stat Rating: SR
HP: 400/400
MP: 150/150
Attributes
Life: 40
Strength: 5
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 15
Aura: 8
Agility: 9 ]
I exhaled slowly, absorbing the details that flashed before my eyes.
First, the most glaring fact—among the eight of us, only Leonhardt and I had a Stat Rating (SR) above 100. Leonhardt-san sat at 124 SR, while I followed closely at 113 SR. The rest of the team averaged around the mid-80s to low 90s, with Hoshimizu-san at the lowest, sitting at 68 SR. So it was true that Hoshimizu-san was just a fresh graduate of the hunter academy.
Leonhardt-san’s stats were exactly what I expected. As a Paladin, he was built to withstand damage and lead from the front. His high endurance and life stats made him a solid tank, and his strength ensured he could hold the line.
The others, however… I frowned. Kido-san, the secondary tank, had respectable endurance, but his agility was abysmal. He was sturdy but slow. Gorou-san and Fujikawa-san, both melee fighters, had balanced stats, but neither of them stood out as particularly overwhelming.
Takane-san, the archer, had a surprisingly high intelligence stat for her class, which suggested her magic-based archery played a crucial role in her combat style.
And then there was Rika-san.
I almost did a double-take when I saw her HP was a whopping 400. That was higher than even Leonhardt-san’s. Her life stat was ridiculously high at 40, but everything else—her strength, endurance, and agility—was well below average. A true support role. If anything, she was like an immovable fortress—hard to take down, but not built for direct combat.
Still, the numbers granted by the goddess''s blessing system didn’t lie. This team was well-balanced, but when it came to sheer power, Leonhardt-san and I would be carrying most of the weight.
I clenched my fist lightly. This meant two things.
First, Leonhardt-san, the youngest squad leader of the Seikishi-dan guild, had both a higher level and stronger stats than me. If the traitor was a senior hunter—someone leading another raid team—then their stats would likely surpass even Leonhardt-san’s.
Second, if a traitor intended to act, this raid would be their best opportunity. With a squad composed mostly of lower-level hunters, we would be preoccupied, forced into evenly matched fights against the monsters. That was the perfect moment for an ambush or sabotage.
What a troublesome scheme they brewed up.
A chill ran down my spine. I closed the Inspect Hunter windows and refocused my attention. The raid was about to begin, and I needed to stay sharp.
Just as I pushed those grim thoughts aside, a pair of figures approached.
“Please take care of us.” Rika-san greeted me with a professional bow. She''s even smaller up-close. “Aiya-sama and I are both the lowest level in the team, but we’ll try our best not to weigh everyone down.”
Oh, I like how polite she is. And her soft-tone voice is very refreshing and soothing. For a rookie hunter, she is also composed. Beside her, Hoshimizu-san wasn’t nearly as composed. She was glaring at me.
I blinked, what is it this time. “Why are you glaring at me?”
She crossed her arms, her expression full of judgment. “Are you seriously going into the raid wearing… that?”
I glanced down at myself. Plain black shirt. Denim pants. I didn''t bother changing clothes because as soon as she pushed the raid to be conducted tonight, we just followed her all the way here.
But... isn''t this enough? I mean, I''m raiding monster domains without any thoughts to what I''m wearing. Is there any fashion sense again for hunters and raiding? Ugh... people of this era sure like to nitpick at every little fashion thing.
I glanced around and did a quick observation. The Seikishi-dan knights wore light iron armor that looks like crafted by a talented artisan. Hoshimizu-san and Rika-san had sorcerer’s majestic robes over their leather armor. I see, I see.
“Ah, you’re right,” I replied, as if I had suddenly realized something important. I got what you are trying to imply, Hoshimizu-san
Hoshimizu-san looked somewhat relieved—until I reached into my Dimensional Storage and pulled out a large hiking jacket. With a fluid motion, I threw it on, adjusting the sleeves before zipping it up.
What a coincidence! It has the same hazelnut brown color as Hoshimizu-san’s robes. "Oh~ Thanks for reminding me, Hoshimizu-san. It will be a chilly night, right?"
Hoshimizu-san froze. Then, she twitched. “I meant armor! Don’t you need to wear armor?” she snapped.
What? I didn''t got that right? I tilted my head. “Armor? It’s a hassle to wear. And don’t we have tanks?” They will provoke and lure the monsters to them anyways.
The sheer stress on Hoshimizu-san’s face looked like it aged her five years. Rika-san, meanwhile, was biting back a laugh.
“And that color!” Hoshimizu-san groaned. “Can’t you wear anything else? We’ll look like a pair of idiot couple hunters—ugh!”
I let out a resigned sigh, zipping my jacket up to my neck. “Yuriko-san gave me this jacket only. We’re just a starting domain, and poor, okay? Please bear with us a little more.”
Hoshimizu-san looked ready to argue again but then just covered her face with both hands, muttering something unintelligible. Rika-san finally let out a giggle.
I had a feeling the raid hadn’t even started, yet I was already giving Hoshimizu-san a headache.
"And this man was supposed to be my supervisor my first raids..." she grumbled.
"Right, right. Before I forgot about it, here." I handed her over the same escape bracelet artifact that I gave to Yuriko-san.
Hoshimizu-san eyed the bracelet warily before taking it. She looked me seriously straight at the eye as her frown deepens. "Do you like me?" she suddenly asked.
"What?" I was flabbergasted.
"I don''t like you," she answered rolling her eyes, "I mean romantically. No, not a chance. But as respect towards Yuri-chan, I will respect you as her domain lord. Nothing more, nothing less."
I let her continue blabbling as I turned towards Rika-san. "Sorry, I only made enough for three people." I slipped the escape bracelet off my left hand and handed it over to her, "Well, in terms of escaping, I have more chances of escaping by myself alone. I mean, I can just manually cast it. So I''ll just be giving this to you."
"Are you sure, Meir-sama?" She asked though she didn''t hesitate to accept it and wear it on her wrist.
"Yep, but give that back to me after the raid, okay?" I said.
"Hey," Hoshimizu-san suddenly stepped in between us, arms crossed like a human shield. "Do you like our Rika-chan? Sorry, but she already is interested in someone else—"
"What?" She blinked, looking back down at the bracelet in her hand. "Wait, what is this again?"
"An escape artifact," I repeated. "If I give the command, or if you think the situation is too dangerous, activate it."
Her fingers traced the smooth surface of the bracelet. "And… what happens when I activate it?"
"It’ll open a portal back to my domain," I said simply. "Step through it and evacuate if things go south, okay?"
Hoshimizu-san’s expression turned serious. Rika-san nodded.
The weight of the conversation settled in the air for a moment. Even with all the banter and complaints, the reality of what we were about to face lingered beneath it. This wasn''t just another raid. A monster domain was always unpredictable, and the risk of a traitor in our side only made things worse.
I adjusted my jacket and looked toward Leonhardt-san, who was already rallying the team. His presence was commanding, his silver armor glinting faintly under the shrine’s lantern light. The Seikishi-dan holy knights stood ready at his side, their weapons and armor pristine, a stark contrast to my simple outfit.
"We’re moving out!" Leonhardt-san called, his voice cutting through the cold air. I followed, walking at the back, holding at my mana gun.
The 11th Raid Team—the eight-man raid squad led by Leonhardt-san—began our march toward the fog-covered path leading to Onose Shrine’s monster domain. After ten minutes of walking, we reached the boundary of our assigned monster domain.
Rika-san, walking slightly ahead of me, glanced down at the specialized phone-like equipment in her hands. The dim glow of the mana satellite interface reflected off her face as she carefully examined the readings.
"We''re on the east side of the domain now," she confirmed. "Coordinates match. The mana satellite and GPS are both aligned."
Leonhardt-san gave a firm nod. "Good. That means the monster domain should be just up ahead."
As we crossed the boundary into the monster domain, the world around us seemed to shift.
" < Mana Sense > ..." I activated my skill as the surrounding fog become thicker.
As I look around with my skill, the once-familiar surroundings of the forest path were swallowed by an eerie mist, thick and unnatural. The further we walked, the quieter everything became, as if the domain itself was holding its breath. The trees loomed taller, their branches twisting unnaturally overhead, casting jagged shadows through the fog.
It didn''t help even if it was full moon tonigt. Something was watching us. Ugh... creepy.
The sensation prickled at the back of my mind, an instinct sharpened by experience. I wasn’t the only one who felt it—Leonhardt-san subtly slowed his pace, his hand hovering over the hilt of his sword.
As the team cautiously advanced through the dense mist, the oppressive silence was broken only by the crunch of gravel beneath their boots. The landscape around them was eerily transformed.
“This used to be a flat riverside village, right?” Hoshimizu-san muttered, glancing around. “How did it become a hill?”
“The domain changed it,” Leonhardt-san answered, his tone grim. “Monster domains warp the land. If this place was once flat, that means something powerful reshaped the terrain.”
Fujikawa-san scoffed. “Hah. A pile of dirt isn’t enough to scare us.”
Rika-san hugged her lute closer. “It’s not just the land. The air here feels… heavy.”
She was right. The moment we stepped through the mist, the atmosphere thickened, pressing against our skin like unseen hands. The torii gate at the base of the hill loomed before us, marking the threshold of the Onose Shrine Monster Domain.
As we passed beneath it, an unsettling sensation crawled up my spine.
Then, the growl came.
A low, guttural sound echoed through the mist.
Fujikawa clicked his tongue. “Tch, just some mutts—easy prey.”
Through my Mana Sense''s eyes, I saw three wolf like figures in the path ahead us. But there are more of them at the further back of the path. Ten... Twelve... Eighteen? That''s too many of them!
" < Inspect Monster > "
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Kagemori Wolves
Name: N/A
Level: 5
Stat Rating: 59 SR
HP: 180/180
MP: 80/80
Attributes
Life: 18
Strength: 10
Endurance: 8
Intelligence: 8
Aura: 8
Agility: 7 ]
Those dark, shifting figures emerged from the fog—shadow-coated wolves, their bodies flickering between reality and illusion, their yellow eyes gleaming like lanterns in the dark. They are low levels and has low SR but they outnumbers our raid party.
Leonhardt-san stepped forward, drawing his sword in one swift motion. “Prepare for battle!”
Steel rang as weapons were unsheathed. The kagemori wolves circled us, their movements erratic, their forms warping in and out of sight.
Then, they lunged.
The first clash of the raid began. The Seikishi-dan knights held their ground, defending the rear from the shadowy beasts. The wolves darted between attacks, their unnatural forms shifting like living shadows.
I kept my stance relaxed but ready. Aiming my mana gun at one of them, I pulled the trigger.
KSSSSH!
It shot directly at the head of a leaping kagemori wolf.
Then, without warning—
I sensed something approaching from the rear. I turned quickly and a sudden, slithering noise from behind.
Creeping vines and gnarled branches shot out from the fog like grasping hands.
“Wha—?!”
The rear support—Hoshimizu-san and Rika-san, and I—were the target of the vines.
Instinct took over. Without hesitation, I aimed my mana gun at the incoming vines and pulled the trigger.
KSSSH!
The blast seared through the first tendril lunging toward me, its blackened remnants withering into the mist. But more were already slithering forward, twisting and coiling with unnatural speed.
A sharp yelp cut through the chaos.
I turned just in time to see Hoshimizu-san and Rika-san collapse onto the ground, vines wrapped tightly around their feet. They struggled, clawing at the restraints as the vines began pulling them deeper into the fog.
"Meir-sama!" Rika-san gasped.
"Tch—!" My mind raced. There was no time to cut them free. I needed to stop them from being dragged away first.
"< Trap Creation >!" I invoked, slamming my palm against the ground.
The earth trembled. Then, from beneath where the two were being pulled, a clay-like prison erupted, encasing their bodies up to their necks. The sudden formation severed the vines in an instant, leaving the two trapped but safe.
Hoshimizu-san coughed, her face twisted in frustration. "What the-?! Are we going to be buried alive?!"
"No, I''m saving you!" I informed, already moving on to the next step.
Lifting my hand, I invoked my next skill.
"< Gate >!"
A shimmering diamond-shaped rift opened beneath each of the clay prisons, swallowing them whole. At the same time, a second portal materialized behind me.
A split second later, the clay cubes dropped out of the rift and landed with a thud near the rest of the raid formation.
The moment they hit the ground, the clay structures crumbled, freeing Hoshimizu-san and Rika-san.
Leonhardt-san, mid-swing against a lunging kagemori wolf, turned toward the commotion. "Meir! What happened?!"
"Ambush from the rear!" I shouted, stepping back into formation.
Hoshimizu-san groaned as she pushed herself up, shaking off the remnants of dust from the crumbled trap. "Tch… That was the worst, but—thank you for saving us!"
Her eyes sharpened as she quickly regained her composure, gripping her staff tightly. With a deep breath, she raised it high, mana surging through the air. Flames crackled at the tip, casting flickering light against the swirling mist. "I’ll burn every last one of these things. < Flame Missile >!"
Rika-san, still catching her breath, let out a weary groan. "Ugh… I really hate slithering monsters… and ambushes…" Despite her complaints, she steadied her lute, fingers gliding over the strings with practiced ease. A soft, enchanting melody resonated through the battlefield, its harmonics weaving a golden glow that spread across the raid formation.
" < Healing Melody > " She invoked as she continued playing her lute. The warmth of her spell washed over the team, soothing wounds and restoring vigor, as if the very air pulsed with renewed strength.
The ground trembled again. More vines slithered through the mist.
" < Construct Barrier >!"
A translucent, glass-like barrier materialized in an instant, stretching across the rear of our formation. The incoming wave of vines slammed against it with a sharp crack, recoiling like snakes striking solid rock. Their writhing tendrils scraped and twisted against the surface, unable to breach through.
I quickly assessed the battlefield. The front line was holding strong—the Seikishi-dan knights had already engaged the kagemori wolves in direct combat, their swords flashing as they cut down the shadowy creatures. Takane-san, our magic archer, loosed arrow after arrow, each one glowing with enchanted light as they struck true. Hoshimizu-san, now fully recovered, was unleashing a barrage of fire spells, her Flame Missile spell burning through the approaching vines and reducing creeping threats to ash.
With that level of firepower covering the mid-range and long-range support, our offensive output was more than secured. The only weak point now was the rear. If these vines were part of a coordinated ambush, then securing our backline became my top priority.
I reinforced my stance, readying my mana gun in case anything slipped through. "Leonhardt-san, we''ll handle the rear guard! Focus on the front!" I called out, keeping my eyes on the shifting fog. If this domain had more surprises waiting, I wasn’t about to let them catch us off guard again.