“Eh…?”

Yuya let out a bewildered voice.

It seemed he was surprised for a different reason than before.

“Arios-kun…? What was that just now…?”

“………..”

To be honest, I was also shocked.

The specified A-grade monster—a Giant Orc. In other words, a terrifying creature that even three A-rank adventurers couldn’t defeat.

To think that such a monster could be knocked down so easily…

As expected, this ability exceeds the scope of a normal 《Attack Power Up (Small)》. It’s too strong.

However…

This isn’t the time to be lost in thought.

First, I need to tend to the injured. This is a chance while the Giant Orc is down.

“Are you alright? Are you conscious?”

I rush to the side of the female adventurer, kneel, and speak to her.

“U……”

It seems she’s conscious.

But she’s in a dangerous state.

If I leave her like this… at worst, it could be life-threatening.

“Excuse me!”

I hurriedly pull an Elixir from my pouch and pour it into the adventurer’s mouth.

An Elixir.

It’s a rare item that heals wounds almost instantly.

Ray secretly gave it to me before we went into battle.

Even though an Elixir is a rare item and shouldn’t be used so casually, I can’t just leave someone to die.

“U…!”

The female adventurer’s eyes widen. She must have regained her clarity after drinking the Elixir.

“Is it… not painful? Did you just… give me that…?”

“Yes. It’s an Elixir.”

“Th-then… for me… I feel terrible…”

“NUOOOHHH!!!”

The female adventurer’s voice was cut off.

The Giant Orc, in a fury, let out a ferocious roar. The shockwave from its cry seemed to distort the surrounding air.

This… it’s really angry.

Its single eye was bloodshot.

“Ugh…! Monster…!”

The female adventurer crouched down, taking a defensive stance and distancing herself from the Giant Orc.

I stepped forward to stand in front of her.

“Focus on helping your comrades. I’ll deal with this creature… alone.”

“W-what!!”

The female adventurer’s eyes widened.

“I understand that you’re strong! But this is also a monster! It’s impossible to defeat it alone!”

“…Then, will you fight with that sword…?”

I glanced at her sword.

To be honest, it was in pretty bad shape.

Perhaps due to the battle with the Giant Orc, the tip was completely broken. It couldn’t possibly deal any significant damage with that.

“…Huh.”

The female adventurer sighed in resignation.

“Did you notice? I thought I was hiding it well.”

“Well, I was trying to become a swordsman myself. I should be able to tell.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on dying. I’ll find a way to survive and escape.”

“…I see.”

The female adventurer sheathed her broken sword and looked me straight in the eye.

“Please, tell me your name, brave swordsman.”

“Arios. Arios Macba.”

“Arios Macba…”

Upon hearing my name, the adventurer’s eyes widened.

“I see. You are…!”

Then, she turned around quickly and murmured under her breath.

“My name is Kaya Luthis. No matter what others say, you are a fine swordsman. Please… survive.”

With those words, Kaya ran back to her comrades.