After sweeping away all the offspring of the Tentacle Trees with the power of [Turbulence], I proceeded toward the location of Tentacle Lilith.
As soon as I mentioned this decisive plan, Ludmila summoned me privately.
“This doesn’t seem like the kind of conversation that warrants a private summons, Miss Ludmila.”
“Are you out of your mind!?”
Ludmila’s face turned red as she yelled at me.
“Just now, in front of everyone, you said ‘Turbulence’…!”
“If you shout like that, others might misunderstand.”
“You’re the one who made it sound like something to misunderstand!”
She grabbed me by the collar, shaking me violently back and forth.
Of course, since an A-rank Hunter was using her full strength to shake me, my body could have been destroyed. Thankfully, it was just enough to shake me to my senses.
Still, it left me feeling a bit dizzy.
Entrusting my body to Ludmila’s grip, I raised a hand toward her with a swaying gaze.
“Calm down, calm down. Do you really think I’d ask you to do something so ridiculous in front of others?”
“T-then what…!”
“I’ll assist in controlling it.”
“…Control?”
“Yes. You’ll use the power of [Turbulence], but in a way that’s not embarrassing to perform in front of others.”
“…”
Ludmila released my collar and put some distance between us.
“And how exactly do you intend to do that?”
“It’s simple. If you use your signature long-range attack, I’ll guide the flow of [Azure Flame] to enhance it without making it awkward.”
“Let’s start by changing that ridiculous name.”
Ludmila materialized a spear crafted from her mana and aimed it toward the forest filled with Tentacle Trees.
“To something more appropriate!”
With a sharp breath, she hurled the spear forward.
“Wow.”
Boom!
The spear, imbued with Ludmila’s mana, shot straight through the forest.
It pierced the trunk of the first Tentacle Tree and embedded itself into the second one behind it.
Screeeeech!
The skewered Tentacle Tree let out an eerie screech as its tentacle-like branches unfurled.
Its intertwined fingers suddenly spread wide apart, taking a defensive posture, ready to attack any intruders.
At the same time, its lower branches began probing the wound on its trunk, desperately trying to stop the sap from leaking out.
The behavior was unsettlingly human, resembling someone instinctively covering a wound.
This led to two possible interpretations.
First, the intelligence of these Tentacle Trees was comparable to humans.
This would be the conclusion most would arrive at.
But those familiar with the nature of angels might consider another possibility:
Second, these Tentacle Trees were inhabited by fragments of an angel.
Specifically, these were the remnants of an angel’s soul, which had absorbed earthly mana to create copies of itself, spreading its influence.
Thus, not only Tentacle Lilith but also her offspring—the Tentacle Trees—displayed bizarre behaviors like intertwining fingers or rubbing branches together to soothe injured individuals.
There was a reason behind these unsettling actions.
“Do you see, Phoenix?”
Naturally, their true nature wasn’t visible to most people.
“These offspring of Tentacle Lilith move to protect one another whenever one of them is harmed.”
Ludmila created a second spear and threw it forcefully toward the forest.
“Though they are plants, they possess learning capabilities. For example, if I throw a spear like this at them again, watch what happens.”
Squeeech.
“Like so.”
Crunch!
“They attempt to block it.”
Another Tentacle Tree layered its branches defensively to block the spear.
Although Ludmila’s spear was powerful, piercing through multiple layers of branches and leaving holes, the tree’s trunk still managed to catch it, spilling its opaque white sap.
“What do you think?”
“Unlike the first throw, it’s not a one-hit kill?”
“Correct. By the third attempt, it’s likely I won’t even pierce through anymore. This is why.”
Ludmila stomped on the ground beneath her.
“Though it’s not visible, their roots are tangled underground. Unlike ordinary plants, these roots intertwine, reinforcing each other and receiving mana from the boss, Tentacle Lilith.”
“Are you saying it’s essentially a hive mind?”
“Yes. As the central entity, it’s not something you can recklessly attack from the perimeter.”
“But harvesting happens periodically, doesn’t it?”
“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying.”
Ludmila formed a third mana spear.
“The method to subdue that monstrous entity isn’t by damaging its core or continuously bombarding it with ranged attacks to let it learn and adapt.”
Vwoom!
“Instead, it’s by methodically cutting down the trees from the outskirts, leaving only stumps, so it can’t adapt.”
Ludmila swung her spear like an axe.
Unlike her previous mana spears, this one had an exceptionally sharp blade, honed for cutting.
“So, it’s close combat—cutting off all the tentacle branches and harvesting the core piece by piece?”
“Exactly.”
“What if there were a ranged attack method capable of achieving the same result?”
“…”
Ludmila eyed me skeptically.
“What are you planning to do?”
“Naturally, with [Turbulence].”
“…Fine, let’s hear it.”
Ludmila planted her mana spear into the ground and approached me, grabbing my face with both hands to hold my cheeks firmly.
“You’re asking me to take an embarrassing stance in front of others? Fine. If it can make defeating these monsters easier, I’ll do it.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that this power isn’t something I can control.”
Ludmila’s expression was deadly serious.
“As you saw when I turned the practice field into a wasteland, I can’t predict where my magic power will go. How can I recklessly use it in this state?”
“Why not adjust its direction?”
“Adjust…what?”
“Like this. Evangeline! Could you come here for a moment?”
I called over the most appropriate team member from those watching our exchange at a distance.
“What is it? Did you two come to an agreement?”
“Just stand still for a moment. Don’t resist.”
“Don’t resi—Kyaa!?”
I lifted Evangeline into the air and positioned her into a particular stance.
“W-What are you doing!?”
This time, it wasn’t Evangeline who yelled in protest, but Ludmila.
“Are you saying you expect me to…!”
“Wow, you figured it out right away? That’s Miss Ludmila for you.”
Ludmila’s voluptuous body pointed downwards.
If she assumed a position like the one I’d just demonstrated with Evangeline—something akin to an exaggerated pose straight out of a risqué Western movie—it could direct her power with precision.
“Evangeline, can you form a V-shape toward Miss Ludmila?”
“Like this?”
Evangeline, playing along, struck the pose.
Although she seemed a bit embarrassed, she smirked at Ludmila’s flustered reaction, her lips twitching mischievously.
“Ludmila, what’s the issue? If Phoenix supports you like this, can’t you use that ‘Turbulence’ technique?”
“Th-that’s not…!”
“Then why are you so embarrassed? It’s not like Phoenix can even see the position from his perspective.”
Sometimes, when someone feels embarrassed, there are others who delight in teasing them further.
“He’s just holding you up from behind, isn’t he?”
“Exactly. Evangeline, do you feel uncomfortable?”
“Not at all. Honestly, it’s way better than being lifted by the armpits. I don’t see why Ludmila finds this awkward~.”
“Evangeline…! You’re only saying that because it’s not your problem!”
“Oh, please. If I could, I’d totally use this stance to take out those monsters myself.”
While Evangeline’s royal demeanor might make one question her playful tone, the camaraderie within our group—formed over the past month in the Old School Building—allowed such banter.
“Phoenix, what do you think? Could I use this position to clear out those monsters?”
“Unfortunately, only Ludmila can pull off something like this effectively.”
“Ah, shame. If I could, I’d strike this pose and sweep away those monsters!”
“You…!”
Grinding her teeth in frustration, Ludmila glared at Evangeline and me before turning to seek assistance.
“Miss Yunia! Say something to them, please!”
“Say something?”
“Miss Yunia…?”
“Is there really a need to be embarrassed?”
Yunia tilted her head in confusion as she approached, smoothing out Evangeline’s skirt and sighing softly.
“If this position would help, I’d gladly assist. Should I give it a try?”
“Miss Yunia, for you, I’d probably need to support your mana pockets from behind.”
“Then shall I try controlling my mana? I can give it a go.”
“It’s fine. We should probably clear up Miss Ludmila’s misunderstanding first.”
I signaled to Evangeline, and she gently lowered her legs, stepping down from the stance.
“Even if you’re using [Turbulence], Ludmila, there’s no need for you to assume such an exaggerated pose. It’ll be more like the stance Miss Yunia would take.”
I helped Evangeline stand firmly on both legs, then reached around from behind, clasping my hands upward and downward in a supporting gesture.
“!!”
Evangeline shuddered in surprise, clearly startled, but I calmly extended mana through my hands, letting it flow over her torso.
“By doing this, I can channel mana into Ludmila’s spear. The power of [Turbulence].”
“So that’s what you’re calling Ludmila’s wind magic? Wow, it’s a great name.”
“It does sound like a true magic ability. Is it a unique spell?”
“Y-You…!”
Ludmila trembled with visible frustration but ultimately let out a long sigh and turned her focus back to the forest.
“…I won’t be assuming the stance Evangeline demonstrated.”
“Of course not. That’s why I’m here—to help control Miss Ludmila’s mana, isn’t it?”
I positioned myself behind Ludmila, guiding her into the proper posture for throwing a spear, and pressed closely to support her movements.
“Relax. Just focus on conjuring your mana. I’ll stabilize everything from behind.”
“…”
“You can do it. If it’s you, Miss Ludmila, you can handle this. The Hunter’s way.”
The task was simple: sever all the trees’ trunks without damaging the core.
“Eventually, you won’t need my help. You’ll be able to command the wind by yourself.”
“…!”
“And that will be the path to you becoming S-rank, Miss Ludmila.”
I began gently stimulating the secondary core of mana deep within Ludmila’s abdomen, helping her channel her power.
“Want to try?”
“…I’ll do it.”
* * *
Moments later.
BOOOOM!
A storm erupted in the forest.
