Chapter 530: A Puppy?

And soon, the third group battle began.

『Fran, let’s go a little easier on them this time. It’s not good for the exam if we keep defeating them instantly』

(Okay)

And she then began to circle the adventurers who were trying to intercept her in a formation with a speed that even created an afterimage.

She sometimes kicks the low ceiling to jump over their heads, while tapping the shoulders of the adventurers to provoke them.

「Sh*t!」

「That was just an afterimage」

Wha? Fran wasn’t that the line from Flying Shadow-san…! Well, that was a good one to hear. I need to thank these adventurers for that. As thanks, I’ll wish them a gentle defeat.

(Note: Yuyu Hakusho references)

「There she is!」

「So naive」

「Wha!? She stopped my spear with her finger…」

「Don’t break our formation!」

As the adventurers began to attack recklessly, Fran gradually increased her pressure on them. She increased her speed, even more, fooling them with a speed that doesn’t even leave an afterimage, and occasionally stepping into their formation and tapping them on their backs.

They were suddenly struck on the back by her who could take them down with a single blow. In addition, she also whispered 「Yes, you’re dead now」 or 「Your back is full of openings」 into their ears but they found no one there when they turned around with a pale face. It must be quite a horrible experience for these adventurers.

(It’s about time to end this)

『What would you do?』

(I’d like to see their reaction to magic. I’m an examiner after all)

Fran muttered that with a smug look on her face. Well, at least she hasn’t forgotten that she was the examiner.

「I’ll end this now. Haaa!」

「Sh-she’s using magic now!」

「A-aren’t you a sword―」

The shivering adventurers were attacked by multiple activations of stun bolts. The adventurers, who had been frozen in place, were struck by the pale blue electric shocks and collapsed.

「Th-that was amazing. That was an example of how even lower-level magic can be differ based on the user」

「You’re right. That was how a first-rate magician uses their magic」

Both of the Guild masters were praising her, but I was worried about something else.

『The floor got a little burnt… I wonder if that’s okay…』

Seeing the adventurers crying made me feel sorry for them, but Grandma Jill and Grandpa Gull were merciless. They woke up the adventurers and started the mock battle again.

However, the adventurers that have lined up looked confused.

「Umm, are we going to fight this puppy now?」

「Oh my~, he’s so cute~」

「You fools! No matter how he looks, he’s the kid’s follower, you know!?」

「Y-you’re right…」

「Woof!」

「B-but he’s so small…」

「However…」

They seemed to be completely confused between the relief of not having to fight Fran anymore and the fact that their next opponent would be a pup-sized Urushi.

At first, I thought about making him look a little bigger, but when Grandma Jill saw Urushi come out of the shadows in puppy size, she insisted we keep it that way.

「If he can manipulate his body size… He must be a high-rank magic beast. It would be more shocking for us to lose against the small one than to the big one, isn’t it?」

「That’s right. This time, our goal is to let you witness how strong a beast-type magic beast is. I’d be grateful if you could have a decent fight with him」

「Is he the type that changes his fighting power based on his size?」

「He’ll be fine」

「I’ll leave this to him then」

「Okay」

「Woof!」

The adventurers then formed a formation while looking puzzled.

「Don’t underestimate him just because he’s a puppy!」

「Y-yes!」

「Let’s make a preemptive strike with magic!」

With the E-ranker as their leader, the F-ranked adventurers obediently followed. Their teamwork was the only thing that looked good though.

Water magic was released sporadically by several adventurers, and that was the signal for Urushi to start moving.

「Wooof!」

「Wha?! So fas―Ghaah!」

「Ghaaah!」

Two people were immediately blown away by Urushi, who had evaded their water magic and approached them. Urushi didn’t do anything special. He just lunged in a straight line and lightly patted them with his paw.

The adventurers, who had fallen on their asses, looked at Urushi in astonishment as he dared to attack them from the front.

「Wh-what the hell was that…!?」

「Short distance teleportation, huh?」

While they were puzzled by what had happened, he really used his teleportation this time. The adventurers were pushed away by Urushi, who instantly moved behind them.

Urushi’s attack continued for a while. But no adventurer had retired yet. It was because they were asked to show off their strength, so they don’t want to let this fight end so quickly.

But I think their adventurers’ pride has been torn to shreds already. Because they’re being beaten one-sidedly by something that looks like a puppy.

Urushi too seemed to be starting to think that it was about time to end this. After all, they looked at him with a very frightened look, so it must have hurt him a little.

「…Woof!」

「He can even use magic!? What the hell is this!」

「Th-the shadows are entwining us!」

「Sh*t, it won’t come off!」

Although it was not that strong, it seems that most of the adventurers are unable to shake off Urushi’s magic. In the end, only two E-ranked adventurers managed to escape the restraints.

「L-like hell I’ll let this puppy defeat me like this!」

「Ah, wait!」

A male adventurer ran to Urushi out of desperation. It seems he couldn’t stand the fear of losing. I guess this was what Grandpa Gull meant by calling them “Naive”.

「Uwooh!」

「Woof」

The two-stage thrust that he must have put all of his power into was not even able to graze Urushi as he was able to easily slip into his bosom. And then, with a headbutt from below, he was blown up and hit his back against the ceiling. He then fell to the floor unconscious, but he’ll be fine because an E-ranked adventurer would not die easily.

After that, the female adventurer who remained until the end was hit by water magic and a slap with his paw. She even has a paw-shaped bruise on her cheek.

「Wh-what the hell was that puppy is…」

「Of course, a magic beast, right?」

「I know that, but… he’s scary!」

「Surely. If I encounter that thing in the woods, I won’t even imagine being able to defeat it」

As requested, he was able to show them how scary a beast-type magic beast could be. Urushi was freaked though, and he was depressed. Basically, he’s a friendly guy.

「Urushi, good job!」

「Woof!」

Nevertheless, when Fran held him in her arms and stroked him, he was in a good mood in no time. I wouldn’t call it too easy to comfort him. But that’s just how much he likes Fran.