—Perspective: Dale—

Although we couldn't gather information about the opponent using drones, there was no problem in determining their occupation and element.

Behind us in the dense forest, there were a total of 15 people crouching, one of whom, judging from the equipment, was a mage, but probably of low level, as this guy was holding a book in one hand and a staff in the other.

If I saw someone like this on the Lost Continent, I would probably still think they were an infra-magic knight, but this guy was obviously not even a propsmith, just fully immersed in practicing their magical skills.

Who gave them the confidence to follow us like this?

"Arcane·Fireburst."

On our end, however, Fran, holding a staff, didn't hesitate at all. With a look on her face resembling swatting a fly, she waved her staff, and a red magic circle appeared in the air in an instant. Following that, a huge fireball about a meter in diameter flew like a meteor straight into the bushes where the opponents were hiding!

Damn! With that move, they were left with only experience points by afternoon, while everything on the opponents turned into ashes.

But that wasn't the worst part. The worst part was triggering a forest fire, how about that? With an ice mage, an electric mage, a fire mage, and a plant mage on our side, who do you think would put out the fire?

However, as these thoughts flashed through my mind, the fireball was already nearing the forest. All I could do was pull my drone a bit further away to avoid any innocent impact.

"Arcane·Ice... Ice of the Imperial Palace!"

Suddenly, the opponents also used magic, and a massive ice wall appeared directly between them and the fireball.

The burning huge fireball, as expected, did hit the target directly, but blocked by the ice wall, it exploded on the spot, scattering sparks and ice debris everywhere.

Fortunately, the ice shards quickly melted under the heat of the fire, extinguishing the sparks, or else we would have been in trouble.

But even though they blocked the attack, the opponents were not feeling well. After all, they weren't the tough-skinned Careless mages like Fir. Having Fireburst exploding right beside them was no joke.

Although most of the attack was blocked by the ice wall, the explosive force created by the explosion was real, and a large crack had appeared on the ice wall, the people behind it definitely wouldn't be feeling good.

"Let's go and check it out."

I took out the stun gun and said.

Although I could also use magic, since I don't normally use it, even the most basic spells require an incantation for me to use them now.

So, using items is the simplest and quickest way for me to engage in combat.

"Did you count how many enemies there were just now?"

Mary asked.

"Yes, 15 people. This is their disadvantage, after all, protecting 15 people with magic is no easy task, and besides... I feel like the opponents must be very weak mages."

"Weak?"

Mary chuckled.

"Even weak mages on this continent can use ultimate magic directly? Isn't that too much?"

"No, no, no. I meant superficially. After all, I don't know how powerful the opponents really are. But that guy just now was definitely casting magic from a book... However, their speed in chanting spells was surprisingly fast. The time from Fran using magic to summon the Ice of the Imperial Palace shouldn't have exceeded 15 seconds. He was able to find a magic spell all at once and chant the incantation, which is quite impressive."

"So you're saying..."

Fran rested her chin on her hand and pondered for a moment.

"I see, I actually thought that guy Fir was on their side just now, with that exaggerated casting speed."

"Yeah, wait a minute!"

Just then, my drone captured several individuals emerging from behind the ice wall and running in the direction we had come from. I quickly directed one of the drones to follow them.

"Let's go! Some of them are fleeing!"

"They can run all they want, but I'm more interested in that mage. We haven't seen anyone like that since we arrived on this continent, and this guy is so peculiar. I really want to see what he's like."

As Fran spoke, she quickened her pace towards the ice wall. We followed suit rapidly.

Reaching the ice wall, which had already melted considerably due to the fireballs earlier, Mary unceremoniously pulled out her gun and fired two shots at the fragile ice wall, causing it to collapse.

"Tsk tsk tsk... This level of strength thinks it can still go around robbing people?"

Fran looked at the fallen individuals on the ground and sarcastically remarked, "Did a couple of them run?"

"About six? That leaves nine here..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a figure emerged from beneath one of the bodies, with a dagger in hand, lunging towards me.

But...

Before the assailant could land, they were knocked up by an electric net while in midair, crashing into a tree behind them and slumping to the ground lifeless.

Well, due to my relatively weak combat prowess, I had specially prepared an automatic defense electric net, which proved to be quite useful. However, I'd have to wait ten minutes before using it again after this time.

"The rest are all dead bodies."

Mary looked at the corpses on the ground and remarked, "Except for that mage, seems like they managed to survive because of some magic resistance gear."

With that said, she walked over to the mage in tattered blue robes and pulled her up.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Mary exclaimed, then proceeded to lift the mage and carried her to a nearby open space.

"This person's actually a woman... and doesn't seem that old."

As she spoke, Mary took out a bottle of healing potion and splashed it directly on the mage's face and body.

Hey, are you trying to make her drink it or give her a bath? You're wasting that healing potion. Lanya would be thrilled to know this.

"Ugh!"

Whether it was the effect of the potion or the water splashed on her face that woke her up, the mage furrowed her brow for a moment.

Well, this mage feels quite strange. Her name is Heidomi, level 34, but her occupation is odd, just listed as mage.

It was probably because of this neutral name that I didn't realize she was a woman earlier.

"Hey, wake up, kid."

Mary prodded Heidomi a few times, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Where... am I?"

"On the ground."

Mary replied with a smile.

This definitely wasn't a funny situation at all, Mary.

Heidomi turned her head to look around, initially confused. But after staring at the nearby corpses for a while, she suddenly jumped up.

"Don't... don't kill me! I was just here working for the holidays to make money, please don't kill me!"

Tears were evident in her voice as she pleaded.

"Working...?"

Mary looked at her and chuckled.

"Is it popular to work as a robber here?"

"No no no, I didn't know it was going to be a robbery at first. Everyone said mercenaries could make money, so I came out to make some money during the holidays. Please don't kill me... sniff..."

With that, the girl started crying.

Seeing that this girl looked about 14 years old, compared to Mary next to her, there was a feeling of the big sister bullying the younger sister.

We all looked at Mary in silence.

"Eh? Why are you all looking at me? Do you think this is my fault?"

Mary looked at us with a discontented expression.

"Not really..."

We chuckled.

"Alright, one question, what do you want to earn money for?"

"Well... even though school is free, but... I also want to be able to buy various nice clothes like everyone else~ But the professor always makes me study, doesn't let me work at school, so I ran out."

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled.

My goodness, why is this kind of dazzling innocence so blinding? Even Mary standing next to her took a few steps back unnaturally.

"Alright! That's settled!"

Mary patted the girl's shoulders and said.

"We'll pay you for working, and you can take us to your school."

"Eh... um..."

The girl thought for a moment, then looked at her clothes.

"Then... I need to go home to change clothes first, and then go to school... but, how much will you give me?"

Mary reached into her ring, probably didn't even bother to count, and directly took out a bag of money and handed it to her.

"Enough?"

"Ah... um..."

Obviously taken aback by the weight of the money bag, the girl quietly opened it and looked inside, her eyes widening.

"P-please... follow me... this way... no, this way."

It seemed like she was completely dazzled by the money.

No choice.

We were just too poor to save up money.