At the edge of the battlefield.
A girl wearing a Hannya Mask-though it covered only the upper half of her face, leaving her delicate lips and chin exposed.
Was complaining as she swung the long blade in her hands.
"Seriously..."
"Why are there so many of these rabbits?!"
"There's no end to them!"
"I want to go back and eat, too!"
Though she complained.
The blade in her hands never stopped.
It was a long blade, pitch-black from end to end-[Black Crow].
Every swing sent a sharp streak of black blade light flashing through the air.
Though her movements looked somewhat broad and sweeping, even a little rough.
That strength, though...
"Clang-!"
An Al-Miraj swung its stone axe down.
The girl neither dodged nor ducked, meeting it head-on with her blade.
Metal clashed.
The stone axe was split straight down the middle!
The rabbit behind it was also cleaved diagonally from the shoulder by the same slash, turning into a cloud of black ash.
"Such strength..."
Mikoto was inwardly startled.
Though her technique was somewhat unpolished, her raw strength probably already rivaled Mikoto's own as a Lv.2.
And in the shadows on the other side.
There was another girl with blond hair, holding a slender Rapier.
Every thrust struck precisely at a vital point, such as a monster's throat or eye.
One strike, one kill.
Never a wasted movement.
What was going on?
Were these people Lv.3 adventurers?
Just as Mikoto thought this was a party of veteran adventurers.
Her gaze swept over the edge of the battlefield.
Suddenly.
She shuddered.
On a slightly safer patch of high ground.
Stood a figure.
A distinctive red eyepatch, a relaxed, casual stance, and a large red naginata resting on her shoulder.
-Tsubaki Collbrande.
Captain of the [Hephaestus Familia].
Orario's renowned Lv.5, a