As I’m flustering around, Zeke and the others launch a coordinated attack on the basilisk.

Sometimes the basilisk’s attacks graze them, but…

Heh, heh, heh.

Actually, by drinking a special anti-petrification potion, we can resist petrification for 30 minutes, no matter how many attacks we take!

Ermine told us about it, and we all drank it. The effect seems spot-on. Now we can fight without worry!

And since I’m wearing speed-focused gear, naturally, I can easily dodge the basilisk’s attacks—

“Or not!”

Wait, why?!

The basilisk seems to have focused on me, the slowest one, targeting me with its sharp beak and claws.

Thanks to some mysterious defense, its attacks don’t land, but still—this is supposed to look like I’m swiftly, gracefully dodging each attack!

I twist my body to avoid the basilisk’s claws, and the claws slide right past me with a slippery feeling.

Without that barrier thing, it would have definitely hit me—perfectly!

“Ermine, I thought this gear was supposed to enhance my speed! This is more like prioritizing clumsiness!”

For some reason, Ermine, who hasn’t been attacked by the basilisk at all, waves at me from a short distance away.

This is no time for spectating!

What’s going on?!

“Oh, right. You have to say ‘Auto Mode, activate!’ to engage it in battle.”

“Urgh! Why is it always like this with you?!”

How could I forget something so crucial?!

I’m definitely telling Koko about this later.

And may Koko give you a good scolding!

“Auto Mode, activate!”

The moment I say that, feathers sprout from my boots.

Why feathers?!

“What the… my shoes have wings on them.”

“Those are Hermes Boots.”

The black short boots now have white feathers attached.

And they’re fluttering.

“Matching with me~!”

Ermine-san looks so pleased, but now’s not the time for that!

You’re seriously a piece of work, you know that?

“Whoa, whoa! My body’s moving on its own!”

With feathered boots, I dodge the basilisk’s attacks without thinking.

Not just the boots; even my clothes seem to move on their own, avoiding attacks with acrobatic grace.

“Urgh!”

My stomach is pulled back sharply, making a most unladylike sound escape me.

“Is… is this… Auto Mode?”

With my body moving on its own, even talking is a struggle!

“Wow, Mei! I’ve never seen you move so fast. Amazing, amazing!”

“Ermine, this is NOT something to admire!”

Though I managed to get that out, Auto Mode keeps me busy, having me dart behind Zeke’s back, then behind Alex, repeatedly.

Wouldn’t it be better to just cling to Zeke’s back for safety?!

But no, I have to jump away whenever the basilisk’s snake-like tail lashes out at me.

“This is… way too intense!”

Hurry up and take it down, Zeke!

Then I remember something.

Oh, right. I was supposed to throw the Thorny.

“This is my chance to attack! Here!”

I throw the Thorny I pulled from my bracelet at the basilisk.

“Yes, I did it—wait, what?!”

Hold on a second.

It dodged?!

“One more time!”

Maybe my timing was just off.

This time, I’ll aim properly.

“Take this!”

The basilisk dodges it easily.

“This time, for sure!”

Take that!

But once again, it misses.

“Huh?”

No matter how many times I throw the Thorny, not one of them hits.

“Whyyyyy?!”

At that moment, Ermine-san’s relaxed voice reaches my ears.

“Well, Mei, you’re using speed-focused equipment. To make Thorny hit, you’d need accuracy-focused equipment. Even so, Thorny should have a feature that lets it hit one in every three throws. I wonder why it’s not hitting?”

If anyone should know why, it’s me!

“Maybe using Slowling would help? Slowing your opponent’s movements might pair well with speed-focused gear.”

“Really? I’ll try it…”

So I throw the Slowling instead of the Thorny to reduce the basilisk’s speed.

Poof!

The item lands on target without a problem, as if all my earlier struggles were just a lie.

The basilisk, which was moving quickly before, noticeably slows down.

Yes! Now’s the perfect time to take down the basilisk!