Published: July 3, 2025
And for a moment.
After finishing lunch and taking a break, they returned to the training ground.
The seven members of the Hero Party, along with Fiona, Oscar, and Jurgen, were in the arena.
Excluding the medical team waiting by the side of the training ground, everyone else was in the audience seats.
"I, Jurgen Bartel, will oversee the match. Instant death attacks are prohibited. The match will end if either side concedes, faints, or if the referee determines that continuation is impossible."
"Then, I will watch from the audience."
With that, Fiona walked toward the audience seats.
"Then we will too..."
Graham said, and the members of the Hero Party, excluding the hero, began walking toward the audience seats.
"No, you guys have to fight."
Oscar declared.
"Huh?"
The voice that replied in confusion was from the Fire Attribute Mage, Gordon.
"Aren't we the Hero Party of seven? Then it wouldn't make sense if all of us didn't participate in the fight."
"No, do you even understand what you are saying?"
Gordon retorted sharply.
"Gordon, watch your words."
Graham admonished him, then continued.
"However, Oscar-dono, what Gordon says is reasonable. In a seven against one scenario, even if you are a blazing flame mage, it won't be a fair match."
"I observed the previous seven against seven match from the middle, and if your abilities are 'that level,' then it wouldn't have been a fair match anyway."
Oscar shrugged while speaking and frowned.
Naturally, anger flared up from some members of the Hero Party.
"Captain, you're totally provoking them."
"The opening bombardment of the team battle was impressive too. This division knows how to provoke well."
Scout Maurice and Wind Mage Alicia whispered to each other so that the men wouldn't hear.
Having heard that, the Enchanter Ashkan silently nodded several times.
"This is interesting! Let's do this! Roman, I'm going in first. Don't interfere!"
"Even if you say it's tough with seven, one person is out of the question..."
Gordon shouted, and Oscar coldly replied.
"Shut up! That's for us to decide. Come on, referee, start the match quickly."
"Ugh... The deputy doesn't need to provoke them unnecessarily... Well, fine. Please take your positions."
Jurgen, the referee, sighed deeply while guiding both sides to their starting positions.
"Are you all ready?"
Oscar held a sword with a dulled blade in his right hand, while Gordon prepared his mage's staff.
"Then, begin the match."
"Die! [Blade Lang Trident]"
As Gordon cast the spell, three flames spiraled toward Oscar from the tip of his staff.
This was Gordon's most powerful spell meant for individual targets.
A strong attack right from the start.
He intended to defeat Oscar without letting him do anything.
In fact, the swirling flames could even create a hole in a castle wall; against an ordinary mage, it would be instant death.
However... Oscar was not an ordinary mage.
He casually swiped at the approaching flames with the sword in his right hand.
Just that action caused the swirling flames to vanish.
"Impossible! How can this be!"
The one who shouted in disbelief was, of course, Gordon.
"This level... is like child's play. [Flame Ball]"
"Guh!"
Before he knew it, a fireball the size of a human fist struck Gordon in the solar plexus, causing him to double over in agony.
"What just happened..."
Cleric Graham muttered quietly.
The fireball that had lodged into Gordon's abdomen had already vanished.
It was undoubtedly some kind of magic, but... to Graham's eyes, he saw neither the generation of the magic nor its trajectory at all.
"I definitely don't want to receive something like that..."
Wind Mage Alicia whispered while hiding behind Graham.
"Everyone! Strengthen me with enhancement magic!"
With Hero Roman's voice, the party members snapped back to attention.
"[Party Haste] [Enchant Wind]"
"[Holy Armor]"
"[Body Enhancement]"
"[Wind Protection]"
The Enchanter Ashkan, Cleric Graham, Earth Mage Bellrock, and Wind Mage Alicia each cast magic to enhance Roman.
"I see, so that's enchantment. Certainly, it's not something you find in the Central Nations."