Chapter 74
"That's the boss. It looks pretty strong."
After we reached the Safety Area, Rana shared her first impression of the boss she'd never seen before.
"But it has such a cute look to it."
"Is that the 〈Quill〉 we saw on the way here? Maybe it's just a bigger one?"
Was Estelle into cute plushies?
The boss here did have a fairly cute appearance. Looks only, though. It was a boss, after all.
Shiera didn't seem to know much about the boss, either, so she asked me about it, and I answered.
"Don't let its looks fool you. It is a boss, after all. It moves nothing like the 〈Quill〉 on the first floor. By the way, it's called the 〈Bear Anteater〉."
"………Is it a bear? Or an anteater?"
"Oh, I asked the same thing."
Well, it did make you wonder.
Shiera looked unusually bewildered, while Hanna reached out as if to say she knew exactly what Shiera meant.
Still confused, Shiera met Hanna's hand. Were they declaring themselves comrades?
"It's an anteater. But it moves like a bear."
"Which is it?!"
I don't know.
I wanted to know myself, but the developers never answered that question. They must not have thought about it at all.
Ignoring Rana when she started picking a fight, I began preparing for a break.
Estelle seemed to know exactly what to do in situations like this, and I was impressed by how briskly she helped. I guess knights are used to camping out and stuff.
I wasn't exactly an expert at this kind of thing, either, so I ended up helping Estelle instead. This is educational.
After eating a light meal I'd taken out of my 〈Item Bag (Large Capacity)〉, we replenished our energy and challenged the boss in top condition.
"This time, I'm going to make myself useful!"
"I'm counting on your support and healing, Princess Rana."
"You can count on me!"
Rana, who hadn't had a chance to shine at all until now, was fired up.
Shiera cheered her on with a wry smile.
Still, it was debatable whether she'd really get a chance to shine.
I quietly stepped away with Shiera and consulted with her where Rana couldn't hear.
"Normally, the tank and healer would coordinate how to handle healing and support before a boss fight, but is it too soon for that?"
"I think Princess Rana would just get confused if we told her all sorts of things when she hasn't even used a healing spell yet."
"Then let's just have her practice healing magic this time. Even Shiera should take some damage from a boss."
"If she blocks with her shield, I don't think she'll lose much HP, but even without it, wouldn't it make little difference...?"
"Yeah. I think so too."
Having strong gear should be a good thing, but having to use healing magic is a pain. It's not like I can tell them to take off their gear and get hurt. I don't want to do that either.
But considering how disappointed Rana would be, this could turn into another headache.
"Well, I'll somehow manage by telling her to hang in there until LV20. Once the second tier unlocks at LV20, she can learn attack magic like 'Blade of Light' and 'Pillar of Light,' so she'll have more chances to shine."
"Understood. Let's have Princess Rana hold out until then."
Rana's moment to shine seemed a long way off.
We challenged the boss with a hint of tension.
Shiera went through the gate first, and the 〈Bear Anteater〉 fixed its attention on her.
Aggro initially went to whoever passed through the gate first, which was why Shiera went in ahead of the rest of us.
If we did nothing, it would head straight for Shiera, so the standard strategy was for everyone else to watch until the tank started building aggro.
That was the plan, but one person got impatient, probably because of nerves.
"'Blessing of Protection'!"
It was Rana.
As a defense-boosting buff enveloped all five of us, the 〈Bear Anteater〉 whipped around toward Rana.
"Graaah!"
"Eep!"
The 〈Bear Anteater〉 charged on all fours with such force that Rana screamed.
Oh, no. I'd told her to wait until Shiera used 'Taunt' before doing anything. She'd gone and done it.
The boss had no ranged attacks, so if it drew aggro from a distance, it would charge.
A bear-like charge. It was incredibly imposing. Though it looked like an anteater.
I moved into position to protect Rana. I couldn't let her get hit.
"Z-Zephyrus..."
I felt like Rana's Affection had gone up after I shielded her.
Mm-hmm. A moment where you protect a girl. This isn't bad at all!
Huh? Since when did this become my moment to shine?
If I beat the 〈Bear Anteater〉 to a pulp now, I might look incredibly cool. No, I'd definitely look cool!
Wait, this was the boss fight for the three of them. I was the instructor. The instructor.
I couldn't just jump in and fight. ...I couldn't, but...
But it would be okay if I helped out just a little, right?
I quickly settled the conflict in my heart and readied the 〈Sky Shield〉.
I was planning to use my newly acquired Skill, 'Defense,' to hold off its attack, then beat it down all at once, when—
A shadow slipped in from the side.
"'Cover Shield'!"
It was Shiera, leaping between me and the 〈Bear Anteater〉 with guts to put most men to shame.
She took the charge head-on, then used her Passive Skill, 'Flowing Shield Technique,' to deflect it.
It was a brilliant parry.
"Graaah?!"
The 〈Bear Anteater〉 lost its balance from the momentum and toppled over. It was down!
Huh? What about my turn?