World Strongest Rearguard – Chapter 16

Translator: pinky onee-sama    Editor: Ozlarus/Flare    Proofread: anirhapsodist    TLC: Kalepie


A New Tactical Order

After preparing our equipment and preferred emergency provisions from the plaza, the time has finally come for our second exploration.

“Oh, I just saw you a while ago but you were busy doing a lot of preparations. Ane-san, I’m glad that you have finally decided to join Arihito.”

“Oh, please refrain from addressing me as ane-san. I am still younger than Atobe-kun.”

“Ha ha ha. My bad. Don’t take it literally.”

Things have changed. I remember that she had this ‘complex’ from just hearing those words. It’s because she was younger. I’m four years older than her, so I have to demonstrate what I’m capable of, both as her senior and now, her leader. She won’t clobber me up, but she probably will be mad if I mention that word.

“Tread carefully, you guys. Since it only got three levels, you should reach the depths of the ‘Plains of Dawn’ by noon. And be sure to plan your return as well, the vastness of that place is incredible.”

Rival slowly faded away from our sights as we made it inside the labyrinth. What greeted us was the same brightness as yesterday. — Does time even change inside this labyrinth? Maybe it’s always daytime here.

Party

1: Arihito – * $ □ Level 2
2: Kyouka – Valkyrie Level 1
3: Theresa – Rogue Level 3(Mercenary)

“Both of you are my vanguards for today, Igarashi-san, Theresa.”

“Yes, I know. I’m itching to use my new weapon already.”

“……….”

I organized our positions, but for now, I am only limited to setting Theresa as a mercenary. With a voice command, the license changes display.

Tactical Order

1: Arihito: Rearguard
2: Kyouka: Vanguard
3: Theresa: Vanguard

I won’t entrust the vanguard role solely to Igarashi-san just yet. A shared target can be easily defeated when they work together. They also got close proximity weapons, so the task becomes easier for them if they collaborate. One defends, while the other engages.

If only I got someone with a job specializing in shield equipment, like those heavy infantries, then I would be able to assign that person as a defensive wall. Physical strength increases as their level rise, and so is the weight of their equipment. Moreover, I have yet to see a person using shield equipment in the 8th district. They don’t sell such equipment there and it would seem that it needs an incredible amount of ore to produce them.

“Let’s try to move around a bit, and test our new formation against those watadama.”

“Understood. I’m very thankful to have some companions this time.”

She says it so wholeheartedly. Have you been walking worriedly by yourself yesterday? If not for Theresa being there for me, I wouldn’t be here either.

We ended up waiting for three minutes before Theresa properly sets up her equipment. Rogues seem to detect enemies at a wider range and she was quick for both of us to even notice.

Demon Encounter

Watadama: Level 1 <Caution> Drop: ???

(Huh? The watadama itself is the drop, isn’t it? Is there something else aside from its body?)

“――Here I come!”

Now I can’t get any opportunities to shoot because of my vanguards. If they won’t give me a space to shoot, then I won’t be able to test my slingshot. Would it be better if I do a test shot? Should I execute the preemptive strike?

There are still so many things that I need to try. But first things first, will my skill activate only to a selected party member? Or to all of them who are in front of me?

“Allow me to ‘Support’ you, Igarashi-san”

“……….”

While pointing a gesture towards her, I called the skill before the watadama springs-out, then activated ‘Support Defense 1’.

Activity Log

Arihito’s ‘Support Defense 1’ activated target: Kyouka

The watadama’s violent body slam attack gets blocked as it comes in contact with the barrier protecting Igarashi-san. She held onto her shield, but seeing the enemy got blown away, she realized that it was an opportunity and she lunged forward with her spear.

“――Hiyaaa!”

Activity Log

Kyouka attacks ‘Watadama’ <Hit> – Support Damage 10
1 ‘Watadama’ defeated

(So the support skill activates, even without reciting it. Moreover, it really works as long as I am behind them.)

A concealed power helped in defeating the watadama as it got thrown off, proving that the lance’s attack has connected along with its supporting damage. It was a strange sight to behold. How would Igarashi-san respond to it though?

“Igarashi-san, that was an incredible thrust. As expected from a former Naginata user… Huh? What’s wrong?”

She slowly looks back, revealing a face filled with exuberance. –Damn, she looks so happy.

“You deflected the enemy’s advance and increased the output of my attack? This was all because of your supporting skills, am I right? Atobe-kun…?

“Y… Yes, my job can support the vanguard and it is different from wizards or monks.”

She speared her lance to the ground then embraced her shield with one hand. Breathing-in, breathing-out, as she rests her naked palm over her cheek.

“Was it perhaps… a pleasant experience?”

“Yeah… it felt so… good.”

(Quite a terrible remark that could’ve been easily misunderstood… Do you feel the pleasure having been supported? No refreshing feelings like becoming peerless, perhaps?)

These are my support skills that make a war maiden so exhilarated. Maybe that’s why Theresa, too, thinks that I’m a nice person.

“It took me five attacks to defeat that yesterday. But now, Zashu…! And after that, Supaan…!  …so graceful.”

“Igarashi-san… you’re saying it like you’re relieving stress from a batting center.”

“No, it’s not at that level anymore. With the way I am now, it feels like I’ll be able to perform on every Sunday morning TV show.”

Honestly, it was my first time to see this shrieking demeanor of hers. I’m glad and it humbled me for using my skills. By the way, Sunday morning programs are those that animate transformations of a squadron or those of a modified human being.

“Hey, Atobe-kun~, let’s do it again! Watadama sells for five copper coins.”

“Gladly. Now, look for the next enemy. Theresa’s enemy detection range is a bit wide so you can move back a little. One thing more, allow me to do some cover fire. Next time, can I ask you to leave a good empty space for me to shoot? It’s only for the first attack.”

“Understood, I’m also afraid of you getting hurt if the enemy reaches the backline.”

I also want to avoid a case of friendly fire. As a ‘Rearguard’, I wonder if I can acquire skills that will prevent an offensive allied attack on my frontline’s back. — Hurry up and rise to level 3.

Come to think of it, I still have a skill point left. Should I check for level 2 skills? I think that my three current support skills are good enough though, and it is wise to take only the necessary skills, then reserve a skill point.

I started picking up the watadama while thinking, only to notice that something stone-like is poking out of its head.

“This is like a drop item, isn’t it?”

“Did we get a treasure? A shining, shimmering and beautiful stone, perhaps?”

The object is a round-shaped, green-colored metallic stone. Is this an ore?

So depending on the demon, ore can appear from its body. Is this a part of the bone or a secret drop? I’m starting to feel like I’m unraveling the secrets of demons.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

We encountered more watadama after that when I saw something like a green stone registered on my drops column.

It shows ‘Wind Agate’1. Watadama moves like the wind. Are they some sort of wind demons with wind attributes?

So you can get ores, even if you don’t dig. The ores we can amass will increase if we keep on defeating watadama, but never did I expect, that this is the way to obtain ores from these fields. Watadama are weak demons though so ‘wind agate’ based equipment may not be worth that much.

“Hnn?”

A floating creature suddenly appeared, along with the watadama. It was larger than the size of a fist.

“Hey, Atobe-kun… is that… is that giant beeee…? Kyaaah!”

“I’ll help you Igarashi-san. After defending, evade sideways, please!”

The floating demon attacks her, and the watadama on Theresa. I threw a prayer then observed, hoping that my move would eventually succeed.

Activity Log

Arihito’s ‘Support Defense 1’ activated  Kyouka

(Alright… both my vanguards should take my support)

Clanging sounds reverberate after the bodies of the enemy got denied by my support defense. Igarashi-san evades sideways as instructed, giving me a moment to shoot ‘Blaze Bullet’.

“Gotcha…!”

Activity Log

Atobe’s ‘Blaze Shot’ activated   ‘Dokuyaribachi’ – <Hit>
‘Dokuyaribachi’2 in Burning status

“Ehh.?!”

I don’t know how much damage got registered, but ‘support defense’ impaired the bee’s movement, allowing me to hit it with my aim.

“Hiyaah!”

“――!”

Igarashi-san lunges her spear towards the burning bee while the silent Theresa dispatches the watadama with her short sword.

Activity Log

Kyouka attacks ‘Dokuyaribachi’ – <Hit> – Support Damage 10
Theresa attacks ‘Watadama’ – <Hit> – Support Damage 10

1 Watadama defeated.
1 Dokuyaribachi defeated.

“My word, that was scary. That’s a bee… and if you get stung by that, you could die from the complications of ‘Anaphylaxia’3.”

Will it be dangerous if both of them gets stung by these types of bee? Maybe, but it’s the poison that I won’t tolerate. Not even once. This demon might be the reason why Louisa came running to me worried, asking me if I got poisoned yesterday.

“Because the bullet from your slingshot hit it, its wings started to melt. The movement slowed down, so I was able to hit it with my spear. Were you able to predict it’s movement, Atobe-kun?

“No, It was just a coincidence, but it was so good to look at.”

“Oh, forget that. I’m just glad that you made a weapon that can utilize ‘Blaze’.”

I was certain that it was impossible to kill that bee, given its agility, without getting poisoned from its attack.

Is this the extent of the usefulness of this weapon in this area? Or is it just because it was made from the redface’s material? Well whatever, at least we’re in a good start.

“Shall we proceed to the second level now? Be sure to watch out for demons along the way.”

“Sure, I don’t feel tired at all. I still need to raise my level, so we definitely need to proceed. Let’s just be careful with the bees.”

We defeated fifteen watadama and six dokuyaribachi on the first floor alone, before arriving at the entrance of the labyrinth’s second floor.

My bag no longer had the space to store more watadama. Sure, they are light, but they are bulky. If possible, I would like to only take the lightweight materials along with the demons that could fetch a high price. Or maybe, it’s time to enlist a party member with a dismantling skill.

  1. Agate /ˈæɡət/ is a rock consisting primarily of cryptocrystalline silica, chiefly chalcedony, alternating with micro-granular quartz. It is characterized by its fineness of grain and variety of color. Although agates may be found in various kinds of host rock, they are classically associated with volcanic rocks and can be common in certain metamorphic rocks.
  2. Dokuyaribachi – (ドクヤリバチ) – Poison Needle Bee/Poisonous Stinger Bee
  3. Anaphylaxis (an-a-fi-LAK-sis) is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction. The most common anaphylactic reactions are to foods, insect stings, medications.

19 thoughts on “World Strongest Rearguard – Chapter 16”

  1. Kyouka acting so cute. Thanks for the chapter~

    Some of the wording seems a bit awkward, but I couldn’t tell you how to fix it. XD

      1. “You hit me. Look, my feathers are melting. My movement was a bit late, and the spear tipped me. Do you even calculate, Atobe-kun?”

        This seems so random from Kyouka, I think this needs a bit of rework.

        Huh? Did he really hit her? I thought he hit the watadama? Maybe it grazed her.
        She has feathers? Did she mean her leather armor is melt… burning or was scorched?
        The spear tipped her? Does she mean the spear caused her to be off balance?
        And for the last sentence, after reading it all I can think of is… Do you even lift, bro? 😛
        I’m guessing the last sentence was supposed to be something more like, Did you even try to aim?

  2. Thanks!!!
      + +
     +     +
       ∧_∧ /
    +  ( n ´ ∀ ` n NEPUUUUU~~~♪
      /  ノ \
     +(__)_)+
    .

  3. Ane-san, I’m glad that you have finally decided to join Arihito.

    Refring to himself ?

    Please fix.

    Thanks for doing this chapter!🤗

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