252 An Unknown Formidable Enemy

The West Forest lay a short distance from the Wizard Kingdom. Deep within its heart, in a primeval reach where ferocious monsters prowled in abundance, the Hot Spring of Mana Enhancement was said to exist.

Or at least, it was supposed to.

"Master Weiss, are you absolutely sure it’s here?" Lilith asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

"It should be in this area," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Let’s try searching again tomorrow once the sun's up."

"I don't mind! Camping out like this is actually quite lovely," Cynthia added.

We had spent hours scouring the woods, yet we hadn't found a single trace of the spring. On the bright side, Lilith was handling her broom without any issues, and Cynthia’s jewels were in peak condition. I’d even taken my own new staff out for a test flight, and the compatibility was incredible.

Currently, we were making camp in the middle of the forest. We planned to take shifts keeping watch by the fire until dawn. We’d gone through field exercises like this back at the Noblesse Academy plenty of times, so I wasn't exactly trembling with anxiety. Still, I desperately wanted to avoid the embarrassment of tucking tail and heading home without a single clue.

Our vacation was almost over. We’d come all this way; I knew both of them wanted to return to the Academy on a high note just as much as I did.

"Mmph! This meat is incredible! It’s roasted to perfection!"

Lilith handed me a skewer of the pig—or whatever pig-like creature she’d hunted earlier that evening. I already knew from our classes that she was a natural in the dark, but her survival skills were truly top-tier. Note to self: I really need to learn how she does that.

"Thank you, Lilith. And you too, Cynthia."

"Oh, please. I haven't done a thing," Cynthia demurred. "Lilith has been handling everything."

"No, I mean... thank you for coming along with me."

I was truly grateful. They were putting up with my sheer selfishness without a single word of complaint. I had originally planned to soak in the hot spring and use the relaxed atmosphere to finally talk to them about everything that had happened up until now. It’s always easier to open up when your mind and body are at ease.

But if we couldn't find the place, the plan was moot. Actually, maybe now is the best time. They’re just waiting for me to say something. I need to stop leaning so hard on their kindness.

"—Lilith, Cynthia."

"Yes?"

"What is it, Weiss?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but at that exact moment, a terrifying surge of mana washed over us. It was a raw, powerful force of a magnitude rarely seen even within the Academy walls. And it was close. Very close.

A formidable enemy out of nowhere? No, that’s unlikely. It feels more like the level of the entire area just spiked... wait. That’s it!

"It’s the Hot Spring of Mana Enhancement. There’s no mistake. Dinner’s on hold—let’s move!"

"Understood!" Lilith chirped.

"Let us be cautious," Cynthia warned, her expression sharpening. "This mana... it is tremendous."

Lilith and Cynthia straddled their brooms. I, on the other hand, stood atop my staff, mimicking Sierra’s signature style. It was a high-level technique, but I hadn't trained myself so poorly that I’d just tumble off. Okay, mostly I’m doing this because it looks cool. I’d nearly eaten dirt a few times during practice, but I refused to back down on this one point of style.

We soared high into the night sky, racing toward the source of the mana.

However—

"—Get back!" I screamed.

In the next instant, a gargantuan Mana Cannon erupted from below. The sheer density of the blast was easily on par with Carta’s total mana capacity. It was impossible. If that had scored a direct hit, we would have been annihilated.

This sub-episode isn't just some fluffy side-quest. There’s a monster down there comparable to a Main Story boss!

"—We’re going all out!"

The girls nodded silently in response to my command, their mana surging to the absolute limit. Real combat was different from an Academy exam; there was no time restriction to worry about. Serious battles were decided in an instant. You concentrated everything into a single point and deleted the enemy.

I couldn't see our assailant yet, but I’d certainly received their "rough greeting." It only stood to reason that I should return the favor.

"Ready? One-Hit Kill!"

"Ice Lance!"

"Futousatsu!"

I unleashed a strike with every ounce of my strength. Cynthia followed suit, and Lilith threw her mana-enhanced knives in a blur of her new technique. The attacks tore through the air, converging on the target. No matter who was down there, there was no way they could possibly block—wait, what!?

DOGOOOOOOOOON!

Just before impact, a massive Shield—matching the strength of Coco’s—deployed over a wide area, effortlessly neutralizing our combined assault.

I was utterly speechless. As I hung there, frozen in shock, a dark shadow floated up toward us. When I finally realized who it was, my jaw hit the floor.

"Oh my, I wondered who was making all that racket. It’s just my darling juniors! Sorry about that. The water felt so good that before I knew it, I just sort of 'let it rip.'"

"...What in the world are you doing here?" I managed to choke out.

"Don't you know? The water in this spring feels absolutely divine."

"Wa-Weiss-sama, no! You mustn't look!" Lilith shrieked, covering her eyes.

"Weiss, are your eyes closed? Tell me they are closed," Cynthia said, her voice dropping to a dangerous, icy register.

"Er... well..."

The problem was, if I closed my eyes right now, I was terrified she’d attack me while telling me "not to look away."

But I could understand why the girls were panicking.

"...Senior Eva."

"Yes, dear?"

"Could you... please put some clothes on?"

"Fufu, you're so cute when you're flustered. But I can't. My things are all the way down there."

Floating right in front of me was Eva Avery, in her well-endowed, bouncy, completely natural born-this-way state.

I had no idea she was the "hidden talent" type who looked that impressive once the clothes came off. Was this more undisclosed information? Honestly... not bad.

"Weiss. Are your eyes properly shut?"

On second thought, it looks like I might lose my life before I get to enjoy the view.