Since the Stronghold where Beluna resides isn’t that far, I originally wanted to head straight to the Castle, but as we advanced, our path was blocked by a barrier. The barrier’s configuration changes over time, so if we wait there, we can eventually move forward.

However, during the waiting period, we encountered monsters and engaged in combat. This caused unnecessary time loss, increasing my frustration. It might be suitable for leveling up Sofia, but…

I suddenly looked to the side. Orcs were approaching, targeting us as our path was blocked. Besides us, there were still mercenaries and knights around, who began to move and engage in combat. The mercenaries struggled to repel them, but Sofia and her companions wielded their swords skillfully and annihilated them.

“You all are strong…!”

The mercenary was astonished. Sofia and Sylvie, who had begun to learn intermediate techniques, undoubtedly possessed a level of skill that set them apart from other swordsmen. Furthermore, Nestor skillfully defended with his shield and provided support to knights and others.

Compared to the formation we used when fighting Redras, there’s no doubt we have more firepower. At this rate, we should be able to fight effectively even inside the Stronghold. I wanted to push straight to the main objective with this momentum, but as I was thinking, the barrier blocking our path disappeared.

“Let’s charge through!”

The next moment after I gave that order, reports from the familiar observing Phili and the others suddenly ceased.

I wondered what had happened, but it was probably caught in the constantly changing barrier and annihilated. I thought about creating another familiar, but to send a familiar to Phili on the other side, it would have to break through the physical barrier.

Should I try it? I constructed a spell to create a familiar, careful not to reveal it to others, and released it into the sky. I thought it might be possible to break through the barrier by approaching from above, but a barrier like a ceiling was constructed slightly above the trees. It seems impossible to fly overhead.

I considered trying to send it to the other side while maintaining altitude, but the intermittently generated barriers formed multiple layers preventing it from reaching Phili and her companions. I realized it would be impossible to reach them.

Then, all I could do was hurry. However, our movement was restricted by barriers many times along the way, and we also became separated from the mercenaries and knights. After repeating this several times, I realized that only my companions were around us.

“There’s really no end to it.”

Upon finding a Steel Orc ahead, Nestor uttered in a bitter voice. Furthermore, I sensed another Steel Orc behind us, and we began what felt like the umpteenth engagement.

“I’ll take the enemies behind us!”

I told Radi and confronted the approaching Steel Orc. While parrying its longsword, I unleashed “Saint Arrow” upon the monster. All ten arrows I created hit their mark directly. I struck my sword into the armor where it was destroyed, defeating the Steel Orc.

I immediately looked back to see Sofia and the others destroying monsters. It’s safe to say the enemies outside the Castle are not an issue.

From there, the barrier disappeared, and we advanced. Since we no longer saw any knights around, it’s certain that we are considerably ahead. The question is how far Phili and her companions have advanced. I tried sending another familiar, but it was still blocked by the barrier and couldn’t reach the north side.

Then, another monster appeared. We immediately dealt with it in coordination and advanced further, emerging into an open area.

“Have we arrived?”

Radi said, revealing his caution. A castle in the forest—not a distinctive exterior like Redras’s Castle, but a rugged one. Its height was only slightly above the trees, and it seemed small for a stronghold, but the place where Beluna resides is deep within a labyrinth formed underground, so the surface part can be considered a dummy.

“It seems like it’s finally time. Let’s get pumped up.”

Nestor said. He filled his body with magic power and walked forward. Just then, he noticed something.

“The door is open.”

As he said, the Castle’s entrance was open. We had come this far at a considerable pace, but there were others who surpassed us. It was undoubtedly Phili and her companions. We were a step behind, but perhaps still close enough to catch up.

At this point, our initial plan had fallen through, but we had considered such a possibility. There’s no need to panic yet.

“It seems there are some who have gone ahead.”

Nestor seemed to be re-energizing himself, rotating his arms. Sofia and Sylvie also tightened their expressions, entering a battle-ready stance.

With Nestor in the lead, we stepped into Beluna’s Castle. Upon entering, we first saw several doors. Two on the left and right walls, and one directly in front. However, the door on the right wall, closer to the entrance, was wide open.

The path Phili and her companions took… and it was the correct path.

“The person who entered first went through the right door… What should we do?”

“It might be better to meet up with them for now.”

I suggested. Radi then agreed.

“Ah, indeed. Well then, let’s go.”

Sofia and the others agreed with those words. As a result, we walked towards the correct path.

There was only one thing that bothered me. There were, of course, monsters in the Castle Interior. Phili and the others must have encountered and fought them, but I couldn’t hear any sounds of combat from the entrance. Could they have advanced further than I imagined?

Also, there’s one problem. Belluna’s Castle has a labyrinthine underground. Since all the dungeons we’ve entered so far have been more complex than in the game, I can’t rule out the possibility of getting lost in places that didn’t appear in the game.

If we get lost, we’ll be delayed in joining Phili and the others… Although there’s a possibility they’re also lost, I somehow feel like they’re pushing straight ahead on the correct path.

Anyway, since Sofia and Beluna need to confront each other, we’ll have to hurry to meet up with Phili.

We entered the path on the right. Perhaps because Phili and the others had defeated them, there were no monsters in the corridor—but immediately after, I sensed a presence behind us.

Everyone seemed to notice and turned around. It was a monster with a wolf-like head, its entire body covered in red. Its name was ‘Blood Fighter,’ a warrior-type enemy that used claws as its weapon.

The attacks unleashed from its muscular body had a high critical rate, making it a troublesome enemy in the game. Furthermore, its abilities were slightly higher than the ‘Steel Orcs’ outside. It was an enemy that Sofia and the others could handle now, but… one hit was scary. We needed to be careful.

“Be careful, it’s strong,”

Radi said. With that, everyone readied their weapons—and the battle began.

The ‘Blood Fighter’s’ continuous attacks were the most terrifying, but… Nestor was the first to react to the approaching enemy. He raised his shield and skillfully blocked the monster’s claws. Sylvie and Sofia then attacked—I prepared to activate defensive magic to deal with the monster’s attacks, keeping an eye on their movements.

Sylvie launched an overhead slash—this was the movement of ‘Sky-Piercing Violent Wave.’ Just as the monster flinched from it, she followed up with a blindingly fast attack, unleashing a horizontal sweep. As a result, the magic power released with the technique created a shockwave, blowing it back slightly.

The damage seemed to be considerable. Sofia then followed up with another attack. First, she swung her sword, releasing a Wind Blade using Sylph’s Power—and then, she spoke.

“Great lightning!”

Simultaneously with her voice, a single lightning strike pierced the ‘Blood Fighter’—the spear-like flash of condensed magic power must have been incredibly powerful.

That was—no doubt about it. It was the Intermediate Lightning Magic ‘Lightning.’ This meant she was finally using intermediate-class magic as well as techniques.

With this, the ‘Blood Fighter’ also disappeared… Since it appeared alone, we were able to deal with it without difficulty. The monsters appearing in the Castle Interior were also at a level that Sofia and the others could sufficiently handle. If this was the case, Beluna’s abilities should also be within my predictions.

At the very least, they had the right to fight… I thought again, and we pressed on to catch up with Phili.