Chapter 39 – Do you two know each other?

We were making good progress through the forest.

This time, since the goal was to have the magic department and the martial arts department coordinate with each other, we had been divided into two groups, with each department split in half.
While one group was fighting the monsters, the other group was waiting and watching the surroundings.
Of course, if something should happen, the waiting group would be ready to take care of it.

The basic form of coordination is that the martial arts department acts as the vanguard to attract the monsters, and the magic department as the rear guard to attack with magic when they see an opening.
As you would expect from S-class students, even though this was their first attempt, they were able to work together to defeat the monsters they encountered without any problems.

Eventually, the trees broke up and we came to a slightly open area.

“Let’s take a short break here.”

Celestia-san sent off such instructions.
We immediately burned incense to repel monsters, and took measures to prevent them from approaching.

“We’re working better than I expected, Your Highness.” (Diaz)
“Diaz, Didn’t I tell you before? It makes me sad when you act like such a stranger.” (Celes)
“All right, Celes” (Diaz)
“Thank you very much.” (Celes)
“…I think you could be a little more informal, don’t you?” (Diaz)
“I, in my case, this has become my natural habit…….” (Celes)

I heard the voices of Celestia-san and Diaz-san chatting in a friendly manner.
A princess and a child of the Duke house, they must have known each other since they were young.

I couldn’t help but listen in on them.

“And Layla-san, was she? You’ve got some great first-years in the magic department, yes.” (Diaz)
“Yes. She’s clearly exceptional. At this point, she’s much stronger than I am.” (Celes)
“That much?” (Diaz)
“Undoubtedly.” (Celes)
“I see… she’s [Magic Sword Princess] after all… I was really hoping she was in the martial arts department… The fish that got away was a big one.” (Diaz)
“But, the martial arts department has…….” (Celes)
“Martial arts department has?” (Diaz)
“N, no, it’s nothing.” (Celes)
“…?” (Diaz)

It appeared that Layla was being the topic of conversation.

“Hey, Ark! Are you listening?” (Layla)
“Eh?” (Ark)
“Muu, I’ve been calling you since a while ago!” (Layla)
“S, sorry” (Ark)
“I’m sure he was fascinated by the princess.” (Rikka)
“!, Rikka” (Ark)

Rikka was adding something unnecessary again.
It’s true that I was looking at her, but I wasn’t admiring her.

“Or are you jealous of Diaz-sama?” (Rikka)
“No!” (Ark)
“That’s right!” (Layla)

Then, who knows what she was thinking, Layla suddenly pulled my hand.

“What are you doing?” (Ark)
“Don’t worry, it’s okay!” (Layla)

Then I was forcibly taken to Celestia-san’s place.

“Celes-oneechan! I want to introduce him to you! This’s Layla’s twin brother, Ark!” (Layla)
“Hey, Layla!?” (Ark)

It’s not that Layla was being unnecessarily heedful or anything, she just simply wanted to introduce me to Celestia-san.

But please can you read to the atmosphere a little more.
Right now, I was being avoided by Celestia-san.
And because of you, Layla.

“I, I’m Layla’s twin older brother, Ark….. Th, Thank you for always taking care of Layla.” (Ark)

I had no choice but to say a bland greeting.

“N, no, I am the one who has been taken care of by Layla …” (Celes)

Celestia-san turned her face slightly down and replied in a mumbled voice.

“”…..””

Th, this is awkward…!

“? Do you two know each other?” (Diaz)

It was then that Diaz-san tilted his head curiously.

“”!””

Layla and I looked in the same direction at almost the same time.
It was because we sensed the approach of a monster.

But I soon realized that it wasn’t just one.
There were several monsters approaching here surrounding us at 360 degrees.

“This presence…”
“There’s something strange!”
“Wh, what’s going on? Could it be a monster?”
“Yes, and there are quite a few of them.”
“But the incense to ward off monsters should still be working…….”

They’re probably the kind of monsters that the incense doesn’t work on.

Everyone who had been resting hurriedly picked up their weapons and prepared for battle.

“How many are there, Ark?” (Layla)
“Probably, a hundred” (Layla)
“”A, a hundred !?”””

Even as we were preparing for battle, their presences were steadily increasing.
The closest monster will probably show itself here where we are soon.

“This presence…..There’s no doubt about it. The monsters are undead!” (Ark)
“””Undead !?”””

It reminded me of the undead high orc I encountered the other day.

“Oaaaaaaaaa!”

The first thing that appeared was a giant monkey monster.
A little later, various monsters appear one after another.
It’s hard to tell by their appearance, but they’re all undead.

“C, cast the magic!”

Students of the magic department fired long-range attack magic all at once.
However, the monsters were not intimidated by the direct hits at all.
They’re undead, so they don’t feel any pain or fear.

“Hold them off!” (Diaz)
“””Oooooh!”””

At Diaz-san’s command, the students of the martial arts department stepped forward.
Since the monsters were coming from all directions, there is no choice but to deal with one monster by a small number of people and even alone.

“Gurua!”
“! The attack isn’t working!?”
“Because they’re undead! Aim at the legs to stop their moving!” (Diaz)
“Y, yes!”

Diaz-san’s instructions were precise.
Even for undead, when their legs are injured, their mobility drops all at once.
When their movements were slowed down, the magic units opened fire on them.

But there were too many of them.
The momentum of the monsters pushed the martial arts unit into a slow retreat.
If the vanguard collapsed at this rate, they would all be crushed together.

Of course, I can’t let that happen.

“Layla!” (Ark)
“Unn! Holy Rain!” (Layla)

The torrential rain of purification rained down on the horde of undeads.