The beast Sabnock has reigned as the apex predator of the demon realm plains for over a hundred years.
Its kin, the Corrosion Beasts, were also formidable — not quite on Sabnock's level, but dangerous all the same.
About five Corrosion Beasts appeared, roughly matching their number, excluding Rail the priest, who served as their healer.
Whether it was because their companions had been killed or their territory on the plains had been burned, they charged forward with furious roars.
"Everyone, watch out!"
Rest called out a warning to his companions.
For the other four besides Lubeth, these were enemies they were seeing for the first time.
"Their saliva has a corrosive poison! Even a small amount is fatal. Don't get close recklessly!"
"Understood!"
Despite his affirmative reply, Lubeth kicked off the ground and launched himself forward.
Despite being told not to approach... he closed in on one of the Corrosion Beasts.
"GYAO!"
"Too slow."
The Corrosion Beast tried to meet him head-on, but by then Lubeth had already finished his attack.
A slash so fast it was invisible to the naked eye shredded the Corrosion Beast's long tongue, then severed its front leg.
"GYA..."
"It's over."
And then... as it lost its balance, the final flash of his blade.
The Corrosion Beast's head was cut clean off and hit the ground.
This was Lubeth's second encounter with them, but it was an overwhelming victory where the enemy never stood a chance.
"Hah!"
"GYAAAO!?"
Meanwhile, Yuri kicked a stone at his feet toward another Corrosion Beast.
The kicked stone flew like a bullet and embedded itself in the Corrosion Beast's skull.
"Finish it!"
"GY...!"
As the Corrosion Beast flinched and its movements slowed, Yuri closed the distance in one burst.
A kick like a grim reaper's scythe cleaved the Corrosion Beast's body in two, killing the enemy instantly.
He hadn't used any body reinforcement magic, yet his leg strength was extraordinary.
If that had been a soccer ball, it would have burst the moment he kicked it.
"[Thunder Cannon]!"
Isis fought like a textbook mage.
Namely, unleashing powerful spells from long range.
She kept her distance, firing magic from a safe zone without letting the enemy close in.
She had deliberately chosen lightning attacks to paralyze her targets and slow their movements.
The Corrosion Beast might withstand the first hit, but taking two or three in succession proved too much, and it collapsed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The one intercepting the advancing Corrosion Beast was the veteran knight who hadn't stood out much until now — Argil.
Rest couldn't help but worry, but Argil nimbly dodged the corrosive saliva the Corrosion Beast spat at him and unleashed a mana-infused slash.
"[Sky Slash]!"
"GYAO!"
The wind magic carried by the slash tore through the Corrosion Beast's face.
The Corrosion Beast was still alive, but... the second and third slashes struck home.
"Hmph!"
And then... as the enemy weakened, the finishing blow.
Closing the distance, he drove his thrust through the back of the Corrosion Beast's neck... piercing the brainstem, the center of life support, and ending its life completely.
He hadn't had any role in their investigations until now, but seeing him in battle, he was genuinely strong.
He really was a veteran knight — no lie.
"GYAO!"
The last remaining Corrosion Beast turned on its heel and tried to flee.
Having watched its companions fall, leaving it alone, it apparently judged that it couldn't win.
"...Well, not a bad judgment, all things considered."
A wise decision, for a beast.
Of course, Rest had no intention of letting it escape.
"[Amaterasu]"
"GYA..."
He fired a beam of light at the fleeing Corrosion Beast's hindquarters.
Rest hadn't been sitting idle just watching his companions fight, either.
Even as he watched... he had been absorbing the surrounding light into his Dark Star, storing it up.
*(This time I tried changing my approach, conserving the amount of light I absorbed... but against enemies at this level, it looks like I have more than enough.)* The beam Rest fired pierced the Corrosion Beast straight through from hindquarters to head, taking its life in a single shot.
Having considered that plunging everything into complete darkness would inconvenience his companions, he had limited his light absorption this time to only slightly dimming the surroundings.
The energy gathered would be smaller as a result, but given enough time, he could still accumulate enough to defeat enemies.
"Yep, no problem. Battle's over."
There was no sign of enemy reinforcements.
It seemed the last fight of the day had concluded without incident.
Rest, Lubeth, Yuri, and Isis — plus Argil — all had more than enough combat ability.
As long as they didn't let their guard down spectacularly, they should be able to carry out future investigations without trouble.
"...Th-thank you for your hard work."
The only one looking uncomfortable was Rail the priest... but they had finished the entire battle without a single person getting hurt, so surely that deserved some credit.