Magic is a miracle granted equally to all, regardless of race or status.
Who was it that had told Laura that?
The [Magic Stones] obtained by defeating monsters were used in many magical infrastructures. But their power was far from replacing the roles of the priests who resided in the temples. They could create fire, summon wind, purify water, and enrich the land.
However, large-scale magic capable of nurturing the sustenance for all humans living in the city-states was still beyond humanity’s reach.
Such [Blessings] of the spirits could only be obtained by a select few among the priests.
Even city-dwellers rarely possessed them, and those without names certainly couldn’t. At best, they could borrow a fraction of the priests’ power.
But magic was different. Magic could be used by almost anyone living in this world.
Yet, among those who worked as adventurers, not many used magic.
Mastering magic takes time, and using it requires intense concentration. It’s rare to find someone who can wield it in the heat of battle. Even if you’re protected by the front lines, few can maintain focus when death is looming so close.
If someone were to call this an equal opportunity, they’d only be met with a bitter smile.
But somewhere deep in her heart, Laura still believed.
Maybe she, too, had a chance to become a great mage. Maybe one day, she could become a mage worthy of working in the Spiral Library beneath the tower of the great king.
“Amazing…!”
Yet, Laura was confronted with the harsh reality that talent gaps truly exist and are utterly insurmountable.
At the top of the tower, diagonally opposite where the Starving Skull was rampaging, Laura and Shizuku had taken their positions.
The plan was simple.
While Nina and the Death Knight drew the enemy’s hostility, they would unleash a powerful spell to strike the Starving Skull.
Because of its simplicity, the key to success lay in how powerful the spell they could create would be.
Laura honestly lacked confidence.
She could craft spells strong enough to defeat goblins or shadow hounds, but she had never faced a monster as massive as this. She couldn’t even imagine a spell capable of taking it down.
“O ice, sing and resonate with me.“
And now, the spell she couldn’t even imagine was being cast right before her eyes.
Laura was merely assisting. She was only helping Shizuku construct the spell. Yet, that alone made her realize just how refined a mage Shizuku was.
A spell that would typically require the collaboration of several skilled mages was being advanced by Shizuku alone. The massive “Great Spear” taking shape through her pure, song-like incantation was like a work of art. Yet, it was undeniably a weapon meant to strike down the evil, undead giant.
“Become a spear that pierces all, and explode through the wicked.“
In this extreme situation, she finally completed “Advanced Magic: Second Stage.”
Laura wanted to cheer.
But no matter how impressive her feat, the situation didn’t pause to acknowledge it.
[O, OOOOO…!!]
The Starving Skull reactivated from its pulsating state and began moving—clearly toward them.
It had recognized them as its primary target.
[GAKAKAKAKAKAKAKAKA──!!]
“Hii…!?”
The Starving Skull was closing in at an alarming speed. In an instant, it was within reach.
Even if they managed to land a spell, the tower could be torn down in its momentum, crushing them.
“No…no, no-non no!! Shizuku-san!! We have to run──”
Forgetting her role as Shizuku’s assistant, Laura clung to the younger girl and screamed. If they didn’t flee, they would die.
“It’s… alright…!”
If there was ever a moment Laura truly felt the difference in their talents, it was now.
Even as Laura clung to her and the Starving Skull loomed dangerously close, Shizuku didn’t waver in the slightest. She held the Advanced Magic: Second Stage steady in her palm, her gaze fixed forward.
“I trust in Si Ur.”
[GAAAAAAAAAAA!!!?]
The next moment, a “Iron Sphere” launched from afar struck the Starving Skull’s skull.
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.GITHUB.IO
[Hahaha! Got it right in the head! Nice pitch!!]
“Damn it! I’ve been running non-stop!!”
Ur roared as he chased the Starving Skull, which had suddenly rushed toward the tower where Shizuku and Laura were. Keeping his distance to avoid drawing its attention had backfired. Now, he had to close the gap at full speed to protect them.
He’d been running non-stop, but he couldn’t afford to stop now.
He’d entrusted the attack to Shizuku.
So, he had to fulfill his role with everything he had!
“The Starving Skull is still targeting Laura and the others!?”
“It suddenly started moving…!!”
Ur growled as he glared at the Starving Skull, which was charging toward the tower after cutting through the courtyard.
He knew. This enemy was different from the Gem Doll.
The Gem Doll was fundamentally mechanical. Even in its rampage, it moved like an animal, repeating erratic actions, but its sole purpose—”to kill the enemy”—never wavered.
But this thing was different.
Its attacks were haphazard, desperately expanding the labyrinth, swinging its fists to swat away the insects flitting before its eyes. The moment it sensed a threat, it would abandon everything to eliminate it. It was all too predictable.
“Panicking, flailing, and so damn obvious—thank you!!”
[G, GAAAA────!?]
To protect the Starving Skull, the core of the labyrinth, more undead began to appear. Ur slashed and pierced through them. Fortunately, the monsters weren’t particularly strong. He could mow them down with sheer momentum. The Death Knight handled the tougher foes for Ur and Nina.
To push his fatigued body further, Ur downed his second dose of “Strength Elixir.”
“Ur! Only one left!!”
Nina tossed him the “Large Iron Sphere” she’d retrieved from the warehouse.
Ur knew it was among the loot taken from the Island Devouring Turtle, the mobile fortress. It was an essential item in the Greed Territory, where labyrinths spawned everywhere.
——Listen up. If you see this in a small or medium-sized labyrinth, stay the hell away.
Glenn had drilled this into them during training as a critical caution for adventurers.
“Take this!!”
Ur wasn’t exactly practiced in throwing. His full-force pitch made the aim erratic, but luckily, the target was massive.
[KAKA, GA!?]
It hit again. This time, near the spine. But the Starving Skull still didn’t stop.
The “Iron Sphere” embedded itself into the skeleton’s body but didn’t reach the black-purple “Core Stone.”
But Ur didn’t care. After all, the “Iron Sphere” itself wasn’t a weapon or a tool of war.
“Open up!!“
Ur aimed at the spot where the “Iron Sphere” had struck and threw his last “Flame Tome.” Even bound shut, the tome fulfilled its purpose, igniting flames. Compared to the Starving Skull’s size, the flames weren’t much. They still didn’t reach the “Core Stone.”
[GA────!?]
But the “Iron Sphere”, already embedded in the skeleton’s body, began to glow intensely as it absorbed the heat.
——If this thing’s here, the labyrinth’s already been cleared. Evacuate immediately. You’ll die.
It was a tool used to seal off labyrinths after they’d been cleared, ensuring they didn’t become new dens for monsters.
A “Labyrinth Demolition Bomb”—a special iron shell filled with explosives.
[GAAAAAAAAA！！？]
The next moment, it exploded. The blast, occurring inside the Starving Skull, shattered its skeletal frame. The body, halfway through reaching for the tower, crumpled and broke.
“Bullseye, you bastard!!”
Seeing this, Ur laughed loudly to mask his tension and fear. The results were better than expected. But it still wasn’t enough. He had to separate the Starving Skull from Shizuku and the others as quickly as possible.
[Kid!!]
“Guh!?”
Just as he thought this, a flying kick from the Death Knight sent Ur tumbling across the ground. Bloodied and bruised, he wanted to yell, “Damn it, you old bonehead!”
[KAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!]
At that moment, a searing beam of heat erupted from the Starving Skull’s mouth, striking the spot where Ur had just been. Even at a distance, the heat burned his skin. His disposable protective amulet cracked, on the verge of shattering. A direct hit might have been too much for his body to handle.
“……!!”
[Oops, interfering with the boss’s attack—never mind! Don’t let your guard down, kid!]
“Sorry and thanks, you bastard!!”
Ur could only offer an apology and gratitude to the shouting Death Knight.
This was truly life on the edge. Walking a tightrope where death could come at any moment wasn’t something to laugh about.
But no matter how close he was to the edge, Ur had indeed done his part. He’d successfully diverted that terrifying beam of heat away from Shizuku.
[Glacial Spirit’s Shattering Spear]
And with the beautiful chime from the communication device, a silvery-blue light shot down from the tower.
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