Mika and Saori-chan’s faces were tight with nerves as they spotted the monster in the distance. The flashlight beams struck its back, and the creature turned to face us. Two eyes, reflecting the light, glinted like jewels in the darkness.
At the sight, both girls flinched, their shoulders trembling.
"That’s... a horn rabbit."
"Right. As an opponent for their first battle, it’s probably the perfect choice, don't you think?"
"True enough. The movement patterns for horn rabbits on the first floor are simple. Not a bad choice for a first fight..."
Ignoring the two girls paralyzed by the pressure, Yuji and Hiiragi-san kept their eyes fixed on the monster—the horn rabbit—caught in the light. They were calmly evaluating whether it was a suitable match for the novices.
As they said, a horn rabbit wasn't a bad opponent for a first encounter. The reason was simple: horn rabbits on the surface floors almost always charge in a straight line, attempting to gore their target with the single horn on their forehead.
Charging in a straight line meant that as long as you timed it right, dodging was easy. It wasn't much different from a telegraph punch.
"Are you two okay? You’re looking pretty stiff."
W-We’re fine...
"You don't sound like it..."
I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle as they tried to put on a brave face. My voice seemed to help them relax a bit, but it was obvious at a glance that they were still far more keyed up than usual.
Still, this was much better than them letting the adrenaline go to their heads and launching a reckless charge.
"All right, you two. While the enemy isn't moving, let’s review what we know. Don’t take your eyes off it, though."
I began my lecture on monster combat in my usual tone, keeping an eye on the horn rabbit. It was currently frozen, unable to find an opening to attack because Yuji and Hiiragi-san were keeping it pinned with their Intimidation.
Normally, chatting leisurely in front of an enemy would be unthinkable, but the conversation was a necessary tool to help the girls settle their nerves.
"You both know the name of that monster, right? You should have covered the basics in the lectures for the explorer exam."
"Y-Yeah. It’s a horn rabbit... right?"
"Correct."
Mika sounded uncertain, her expression clouded with anxiety. It was an easy question, but the stress of facing a real monster had clearly shaken her confidence.
"Next question. What are the horn rabbit’s traits and attack methods? Saori-chan, you answer."
"Right! Um... its main traits are the horn on its head and its jumping power. Its primary attack is the leaping charge, where it stabs its horn into the target while jumping. It can accelerate instantly, so a leaping charge from close range is very difficult for a newcomer explorer to dodge without getting hurt... I’m pretty sure that’s what the lecture said."
"Exactly. It looks like you've got the essential information down."
"T-Thank you!"
When I praised her, Saori-chan’s face finally softened into a smile.
Mika watched our exchange with a slightly grumpy, almost glaring expression. It looked like the tension had finally broken and her usual temperament was back. Seeing that they had both reached a good state of mind, I got down to business.
"Okay. Now that the review is over, let’s do this for real."
...Yes!
This time, their response didn't sound rigid. They were ready.
"Mika, you're up first."
"M-Me!?"
"Yep. You can do this, right?"
"U-Uh-huh. Got it... I'll do it."
"Good. Then... Yuji! Hiiragi-san!"
As Mika gripped her spear with renewed resolve, I called out to the two mentors holding the rabbit in check.
"Change of plans?" Yuji asked.
"Yeah. Mika’s going to handle this one."
"Mika-chan? All right, we've got it."
"Also, once Mika steps forward, stop the Intimidation and back off a bit. If you’re standing in front of her, the rabbit might not target her."
"Roger."
"Understood."
It was a necessary precaution. If they stayed in line with her, the rabbit would likely prioritize Yuji or Hiiragi-san over a novice like Mika.
...Alright, preparations complete. I checked on the girls one last time.
"Mika-chan, good luck!"
"Leave it to me, Saori-chan!"
Saori-chan was giving her friend a final push of encouragement.
"You look ready. Mika, are you set?"
"Yeah! I can go anytime!"
"Good. I'll be right here to back you up, so don't let it get to you. Give it your best."
"Right!"
After a spirited reply, Mika took a deep breath and stepped out in front of Yuji. She leveled her spear at the horn rabbit and focused every bit of her attention on it, waiting for the moment it moved.
"..."
She was focusing remarkably well—a testament to the training she’d received from Juzo-san. Even through her nerves, her stance radiated an intent that suggested she wouldn't miss a single twitch from the monster.
Unfortunately, she was focusing too much on the rabbit. She had tunnel vision. I supposed that was unavoidable for a first fight, but it was something I'd have to help her fix soon.
"Yuji, Hiiragi-san."
...
They caught my drift immediately. Both nodded silently and retracted the Intimidation they had been projecting.
The instant the pressure vanished, the horn rabbit let out a high-pitched screech and charged. I saw Mika’s face stiffen for a fraction of a second, so I called out to her.
"Mika! Just like we practiced—don't take the charge head-on! Time your dodge! Since you haven't had a level up yet, that horn will go right through your armor if you're hit!"
"I know! I'll dodge it!"
Mika’s voice was steady as she replied. She’d regained her composure. If she could maintain this focus with a monster charging right at her, she probably wouldn't even need our help. Still, I kept myself ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
The horn rabbit rapidly closed the gap. Using its momentum, it kicked off the ground about five meters away, launching into a leaping charge aimed straight for Mika’s chest.
"...!"
The moment its feet left the ground, Mika stepped diagonally backward, sliding her body out of the rabbit's path.
The horn rabbit sailed through the empty air and landed five meters behind her. It skidded across the ground, its powerful legs absorbing the impact as it came to a halt.
"There."
I didn't wait. As the monster stopped to reset, I used the special tool I’d prepared to provide some support fire.
"Gyueeeeeeee!?!?"
The rabbit, struck by my attack, turned beet red. It let out a blood-curdling scream and slammed its face into the ground, thrashing and rolling in pure agony.
In my hand was a small, crimson-stained water gun.
...
Mika and Saori-chan could only stare, their mouths hanging open in shock.
"Yep, it still works wonders, even on monsters..."
"Sure does," Yuji agreed. "Unless they have a resistance, most monsters are completely incapacitated by a single hit of that stuff."
"True," Hiiragi-san added. "But we shouldn't use it too much. If you're going to keep being an explorer, you can't let yourself become dependent on it."
"You’re right."
We kept a watchful eye on the rabbit while discussing the merits and dangers of the hot sauce gun. It was as effective as ever, but the risk of over-reliance was a very real concern.
Mika and Saori-chan finally snapped out of their daze and turned to me, their voices raised in disbelief.
"O-Onii-chan! What did you just do!?"
"Yeah! No normal water gun makes something writhe like that!"
"Calm down, you two. I’ll explain everything. For now, we need to finish the horn rabbit off. It’s disabled, but we can't just leave it there."
I gestured toward the rabbit, which had stopped rolling and was now just convulsing on the ground.
...
"What’s wrong, Mika? Go on, finish it."
"Ah, right. Um, about that..."
Mika hesitated, glancing at Saori-chan with a pained expression.
"Onii-chan... do I really have to?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean... seeing it like that, it’s just..."
Ah, I see. She was feeling pity. After seeing the creature rolling in agony, she was finding it hard to deliver the killing blow. The sight was certainly pitiful enough.
However...
"You have to. Mika, finish it with your own hands."
I pointed toward the spear she was holding, my voice flat and devoid of emotion. It was harsh, especially for her first time in a dungeon, but letting her walk away now would be a disaster for her future career. If she set a precedent of letting a monster live out of sentimentality, she would likely hesitate again in a much more dangerous situation.
"But..."
"Listen, Mika. If you let a wounded monster go and it ends up killing another explorer later, what will you do? You’ll spend the rest of your life regretting that you didn't finish the job when you had the chance. It’s one thing to retreat from a monster you can't beat, but letting one go out of pity when it’s right at your feet... that’s something else entirely."
...
The girls fell silent, looking down as they processed my words. They were likely visualizing the consequences.
Finally...
"...I understand. I'll do it."
Mika looked up, her eyes filled with a hard resolve. She was gripping her spear so tightly that her knuckles were white.
"Good. Be careful. It’s incapacitated, but don't get sloppy. Always assume your enemy can strike back, no matter what state they're in."
"...Understood."
Mika approached the convulsing horn rabbit with her spear leveled.
"Hah!"
"Gyue!"
With a sharp exhale, she lunged, driving the spear into the rabbit's torso.
The spearhead struck true, but her aim wasn't perfect.
"Gyueeeeee!? Gyueeeeee!?"
The rabbit, which had been merely twitching, suddenly erupted into violent motion. With the spear still lodged in its body, it began to thrash wildly.
The frantic movements caused the spear's blade to tear through its flesh, and blood began to spray across the floor, forming a dark pool.
"Wah!? Wait!? The blood!?"
"What are you doing, Mika! Pull the spear out and stab it again!"
"Eh!? B-But!?"
"Don't underestimate a monster's life force! Unless you take the head or pierce a vital organ, they don't die easy! Hurry!"
"Right!"
Mika yanked the spear out of the thrashing creature and thrust it again, this time aiming for the neck. The rabbit's movements made it hard to aim, but the spearhead sank deep into the side of its throat.
"Gyue!"
The horn rabbit let out one final, short shriek before collapsing into the pool of blood, motionless. Because it hadn't been a clean kill, the area was splattered with blood—a truly gruesome sight.
"...Is it over?"
Mika stood over the creature, her spear still embedded in its neck, looking dazed and uncertain. I quickly used Appraisal Analysis to confirm.
"Yeah. It’s dead. You did it."
"...I see."
"The body will disappear in a moment. Pull your spear out."
"...Okay."
Mika pulled the spear free, her movements mechanical.
A few seconds later, the horn rabbit’s corpse dissolved into particles of light and vanished. In its place, a single chunk of meat remained—a drop item.