Chapter-08 · EP-120

Episode 120: Archery Practical Training

Come to think of it, who were those guys like Josh? Level 45 – they were probably top-tier explorers worldwide. What were such explorers doing in Shinjuku? What did they want with Yuno? I was curious, but I'd ask later after the officials finished questioning them.

And Susa being there was a coincidence, but in the end, I managed to shake his tail too.

Knowing that a monster of that level was watching me made me uneasy, but now I could focus on exploration without worry.

The usual four of us – me, Yuno, Maika, Iori – plus Professor Kushinada, a group of five, passed through the Shinjuku Dungeon portal and descended to the fourth floor.

Our party consisted of me, Yuno, Maika, and Iori. Since parties could only have up to four members, Professor Kushinada, who was just accompanying us out of concern, would not join the party.

I thought it would be a chance to copy Professor Kushinada's Ice Magic… Oh well. I didn't think having more magic skills would be useful for someone with no magical aptitude like me.

That aside, I had to make something clear to Professor Kushinada.

Walking at the front, I quietly spoke to her walking nearby.

"Professor Kushinada, you know Susa-san, don't you?"

"Huh?!"

Hearing my words, Professor Kushinada's eyes widened, clearly flustered. That reaction confirmed they were acquainted.

"What are you trying to do by tailing me?"

"Wh-what are you talking about?"

She tried to maintain her composure, but her voice was strained.

"You're not fooling anyone. Both of you looked uncomfortable when you saw each other just now. The reason you came to the academy is the same, isn't it?"

She faltered for a moment, then answered in a low voice.

"Even if that were so, do you think I could tell you?"

"I see, so it's a secret mission. Fine. Well, I'll ask Susa-san about it after we're done exploring."

Professor Kushinada looked very troubled. Her inability to retort meant I had hit the mark.

"Ah, right. Sorry to have you come all the way here on your day off, but today we're just exploring. There's nothing here that you're looking for."

Probably, what she and the others wanted to know was one of my secret pieces of knowledge: my Skill Camouflage, using Water Magic to gather slimes, the method to level up Healing Magic, or the potion rank-up method. But I wouldn't be showing any of that today. Sorry, Professor, but this is a wasted trip.

"Hey, Shirou, what are you talking to the teacher about?"

Oh, Yuno had noticed our conversation.

"Nothing. Well, let's start practicing."

I looked around, searching for a place with monsters.

Most monsters on the fourth floor were insect-type, crawling on the ground or trees, or flying. Except for those hiding underground, many made noise, so I listened for signs of monsters.

I heard the rustling of something crawling over fallen leaves. Walking toward the sound, I found a Caterpillar.

"Yuno, a Caterpillar. It's slow-moving. Try attacking it with your bow."

"Okay! Got it."

Yuno nocked an arrow nervously. She seemed tense.

Then Iori placed her hands on Yuno's shoulders from behind.

"Yuno, you're too tense. You won't shoot well if you don't relax. Even if you fail, we'll protect you. Don't worry, just focus on your attack."

Yuno lowered her bow at that. She took a deep breath and raised it again.

Her stance was far better than before.

Lately, Iori had been instructing the Second Swordsmanship Club, and she seemed to be getting better at teaching.

Then Yuno released the arrow at the Caterpillar.

With a sharp whizz, the arrow flew and pierced the Caterpillar. Impaled, the Caterpillar writhed in pain.

"One shot isn't enough to defeat it. But being able to land a long-range attack without taking a counter is nice."

I gave my impression of Yuno's archery. Looking at Yuno, she seemed satisfied that she had hit it on the first try, even if she didn't defeat it.

Professor Kushinada spoke up.

"Defeating a Caterpillar with just a bow and arrow seems difficult. You'll need to finish it off with another method."

The Caterpillar was thrashing, but it would likely take multiple arrows to fully defeat it. So I called out to Maika.

"Maika, want to try your Compressed Water Ball in practice? You haven't used it in real combat yet, have you?"

She had fired it at a rock wall on the first floor as a demonstration, but never at a monster. I wanted to know how effective Maika's Compressed Water Ball was against monsters.

"Yeah! I'll try."

Prompted by me, Maika quickly formed a Compressed Water Ball and launched it at the Caterpillar.

Bang! The moment the water ball hit, the point of impact burst, and the Caterpillar turned into a gem.

"Amazing power!"

Yuno marveled.

For the next Caterpillar, we had Maika attack first. The Compressed Water Ball pierced its abdomen, leaving a hole, and the Caterpillar thrashed about.

"It seems one hit of Maika's magic isn't enough to defeat it either. Yuno, can you hit that thrashing Caterpillar with an arrow?"

"I'll try."

This time, Yuno, relaxed and focused from the start, hit again.

"I hit it!"

And the Caterpillar turned into a gem.

Watching, Professor Kushinada murmured.

"Well done. I thought hitting a moving target would be difficult."

"At the Archery Club, Takamiya-senpai predicted the movement and shot, so I tried anticipating the monster's movement in my own way!"

"I see. Excellent."

Professor Kushinada praised Yuno.

Maybe Yuno and archery were a good match after all? She hadn't seemed very good at it in class, but perhaps she had learned something at the Archery Club.

"Shirou, would you let me defeat at least one?"

Iori, watching the two of them succeed, was fidgeting impatiently.

Hadn't she said she was going to focus on supporting Yuno today?