Chapter 463 – Two Rulers

The Glacial Forest provided the perfect environment to create Snow Golems to my heart’s content.

So after returning from the exploration with Forset and the others, I decided to first assist the Demon-Slaying Knight Order’s training using Golems. We also had more new magic tool-related Equipment now.

“Well then, Lindwurm. Shall we go?”

When I called out while straddling Lindwurm’s back, he looked back over his shoulder and growled in his throat as if responding.

Lindwurm was relatively young. He’d grown a bit larger, which caused delays in adjusting his gear and magic tools, making him late to descend into the labyrinth… but right after we returned from exploration, I got a message from Alfred, so I went to pick him up and brought him here.

The enemy targets were—a group of Snow Golems floating in the air. Since I made them, their shape and performance differed from those that appeared in the Glacial Forest. The moment we took off from the ground, they unleashed a barrage of snowballs toward us.

The Golems’ movements combined automatic control with random patterns. Even I couldn’t predict them—sometimes they coordinated, sometimes they didn’t… Well, while the Difficulty had decreased, it was content that simulated real combat.

“Ideally, you should properly identify the bullets fired by the enemy and be able to move accordingly,” I explained while demonstrating how to Dodge Miasma Bullets, adding some commentary.

We avoided bullets fired in three spreading directions by slipping through the gaps with minimal necessary movement. For deviation Shooting where bullets with varying speeds arrived simultaneously, we evaded largely by treating them as linear or planar attacks rather than points.

Using magic tools embedded with light Magic Stones, we sent Mirage Bodies flying in different directions while disrupting the enemy’s Shooting. We deployed triangular pyramid-shaped Charge Magic Shields with magic tools to break through thin barrages. This assumed combined use with Blessing. While protecting both the Wyvern and Knight’s bodies, it also reduced air resistance, enhancing mobility and attack performance.

Due to the shape, incline, and momentum of the Charge, the bullets were deflected, making it exceptionally strong against frontal attacks beyond the Shield’s original strength.

We closed in and delivered attacks while passing by the Snow Golems. As the Charge Shield sent them flying, the Magic Shield was released, and the subsequent Ouroboros attack Crushed the Snow Golems.

Since the Wyvern deployed the Charge Shield, it reduced the Knight’s burden, but timing would be necessary for deployment and release. That area also required training.

Conversely, by having the Knight deploy Shields on the wings, back, abdomen, etc., we could reduce the Wyvern’s Magical Power burden, blind spots, and weaknesses.

While using Levitation to mitigate momentum, Lindwurm performed a somersault. Kicking off the Shield deployed on his hind legs, he changed his aerial trajectory with a sharp-angle rebound motion. In Coordination, I swept away Snow Golems with Ouroboros.

Without a moment’s delay, ice bullets were fired from the magic tool equipped on Lindwurm’s abdomen, piercing through another Snow Golem located slightly farther away.

By swinging Ouroboros along the same trajectory at varying heights in Coordination with Lindwurm’s tail strike during his Form Shift, an attack difficult to defend against from both high and Low Stance sent the Snow Golem flying. The final tail strike—Lindwurm had enveloped it with Fighting Spirit too. Perfect timing.

Since it was incorporated into Circulating Ki, Lindwurm understood my intentions well. If we predetermined some signals through Circulating Ki, even more advanced Coordination would likely be possible.

“And—that’s how it’s done,” I said as we returned to the ground, where wide-eyed Knights applauded us.

“Indeed, seeing it from the side, the mobility is amazing. The Wyvern kicking the Shield to change movement—” Elliot nodded with a serious expression.

That said, Elliot himself had become capable of performing similar maneuvers with Saphir, but perhaps impressions differed between doing it yourself and watching from outside.

“That also requires timing, so it needs practice. It can be used for emergency evasion and for Ambushes during close encounters, so I think it has high utility value. Although we have new magic tools like clones and Charge Shields, please train to coordinate your timing well.”

Since the Demon-Slaying Knight Order was becoming proficient in aerial maneuvers, we’d raise the training Level. We could incorporate separation Coordination here, I supposed.

Well then—let’s mass-produce Snow Golems and have each squad begin training in barrage evasion and Charges.

“Based on seeing the combination of magic tools, if I may offer my impression—for both of you, using Shield magic tools to assist stability and Air Blast magic tools to compensate for speed might be good.”

“Speed, huh? Indeed, we aren’t in roles that stand at the forefront.”

“Since our policy is not to fight head-on, mobility is even more important,” the two nodded while regulating their breathing.

Parallel to the Demon-Slaying Knight Order’s training, I provided aerial maneuver advice to Princess Stephania and Princess Adriana.

Since we created wind cushions covering the ground and walls, some recklessness in movement was permissible. Because of that, the two could fly around the sky to their heart’s content.

Since both were originally Magicians, they were accustomed to handling Levitation and had sufficient precision, so it seemed good to supplement other aspects with magic tools.

If we adjusted the Air Blast magic tools into forms easier for the two to use, they might achieve considerable speed. With distance, evading Miasma Bullets and such would become easier, and their power would attenuate too.

“It’s almost noon, so shall we take a short break? Please be careful not to let your bodies get cold from sweat.”

“Understood. Shall we go change, Steph?”

“Yes,” I said, judging the timing, and the two descended to the ground and headed into the main camp.

The Demon-Slaying Knight Order’s exploration squads also seemed to be progressing well, judging by Caduceus. Their battles with Monsters were steady and without danger. Since it was around lunchtime, they’d probably return to the base soon.

Around the base, a delicious, appetite-whetting smell had been drifting since earlier. The Demon-Slaying Knight Order was making soup using the venison from the deer we’d just taken down.

Regarding cooking, Grace had looked like she wanted to make it, but since this was ultimately the Demon-Slaying Knight Order’s training… we decided to leave the cooking to the Knight Order members as well.

But there was still some time until lunch. While waiting, I decided to talk with Claudia.

“By the way, Claudia. About beyond the grand corridor in the full moon labyrinth…”

“Yes. We’ve also managed to enhance Ouroboros, so it might be good timing,” Claudia nodded as she looked at me when I called out.

“If you proceed beyond the final door at the end of the grand corridor, you’ll eventually reach the Moonlight Temple. Since we cannot attack the vessel of the alliance leader, our destination would be beyond that, I suppose.”

“Then… first, let’s aim to reach the Moonlight Temple.”

“That’s right. Speaking of the area beyond the temple—the sealed section… my Castle exists there. From there, paths branch off to the deep reaches and to the Labyrinth Village.”

“The Labyrinth Village… as expected, it’s quite deep, isn’t it?” Rosemary nodded as if convinced.

Claudia had told me before that she didn’t want us going deep into the Labyrinth Village, and indeed, it was a place very close to the labyrinth’s core. Naturally, the danger Level was high too, so her words probably factored that in as well.

The Labyrinth Village originally seemed to be a section for cultivation, experiments, and such, so it made sense that it wasn’t far from Claudia’s living area.

“Claudia-sama’s Castle…” Irmhild murmured with apparent interest, and Claudia gave a small wry smile.

“Originally… it was my living space, but a Castle where you’re alone is such a dreary place,” she said, and everyone, starting with Marlene and Irmhild, looked at her with concerned expressions, but she smiled gently and shook her head.

“Ultimately… it’s a place I don’t use because I’m in the Labyrinth Village. That Castle’s purpose is for my and the deep reaches’ Defense, so naturally, its defenses are substantial. Those who guard me obey commands… but those who guard the deep reaches ignore my orders and attack intruders. Although it’s my domain, the Last Guardian’s control is strongly exerted there as well.”

I see… It seemed like a troublesome section, but… you could also say Claudia’s liberation was coming into view. When tackling it, I’d face it with full determination.