Chapter 393
The race is safely over. In other words, this battle is our victory.
Huh? Isn't it too overconfident to claim victory when we haven't even fought yet?
"Claudia, well done." "Liberta. Yes, it was quite a good match."
Since it's a decisive battle against a World Monster, we can't exactly meet up leisurely. So, I brought the Entertainers with me, used the track to jump down, and ran over.
There, the Gardener Retainers and Nell were surrounding the tunnel, and Claudia was waiting for the drawback period of Heavenly Fist to end.
"However, it was quite an unusual experience. It was perfect training to grasp the feeling of ultra-high-speed combat." "You're unbelievable. This was a serious, real battle against a Class 9 World Monster. It was genuinely dangerous, you know?"
I smiled wryly at Claudia's boldness as she wiped her sweat and declared it was fun, then gently offered a potion.
"It's a Stamina Potion. Drink it. I'll need you to work again afterward." "I was planning on it from the start. The conclusion hasn't been reached yet."
The way she drank it all in one go was so smooth it could be used in a sports drink commercial. Even after an ultra-high-speed battle in her own flesh-and-blood body, she's so energetic.
"Then focus on recovering your stamina now. Even though we've immobilized it, we haven't dealt a single point of damage to Runner Runner yet." "Yes. I know."
The atmosphere is quite relaxed considering we haven't defeated Runner Runner yet, but I don't mind. For now, I judge it's fine as long as Claudia is okay and walk towards the tunnel.
"Nell, how does it look inside?" "At first, it was thrashing around, but its movements have gradually decreased."
The Gardener Retainers were blocking the entrance tightly. I called out to Nell, who was peering inside, probably twitching her ears to pick up sounds from within.
"The direct adhesive hit must have worked, huh. How much longer until it fully solidifies?" "Just a little more. Should we use a hardening agent?"
The inside must be as terribly disastrous as I imagine.
After all, Claudia, enhanced by Heavenly Fist, accurately stepped on the pre-designated safe points on the ground, which was laid out with adhesive-filled containers in a honeycomb pattern. Then, in the enclosed space of the tunnel, using her Class 8 leg strength, she kicked off the ground, scattering adhesive behind her.
Let me say it again: She kicked the ground *towards the rear*.
What happens then? That's right. The adhesive-filled containers carefully embedded by the dwarves are kicked up along with their contents by Claudia's kick, scattering into the air.
Ultra-strong adhesive rains down like a storm. What happens if Runner Runner, in the enclosed tunnel with nowhere to evade, charges into it?
For the first ten meters, it could probably push through while being coated. For the next twenty meters, its movements might slow down, but it could manage with some deceleration. However, around thirty meters, joint movement becomes sluggish, causing critical deceleration. As it advances forty, fifty meters, the storm of adhesive scattered by Claudia's kicks, mixed incidentally with mud, assails Runner Runner further.
Completely decelerated, with its feet immobilized, Runner Runner has no means of evasion.
On top of that, even if it tries to destroy the tunnel walls, they are mixed with the Mark of the Weakling and are absolutely unbreakable. Runner Runner cannot break this situation.
If it had learned at least one or two breath attacks like dragons, it might have managed something. But with a skill build entirely focused on running speed and evasion, even as a Class 9 World Monster, there's no way to break the current situation.
"However, my lord, even I cannot cut through this adhesive. What do you intend to do?" Even though we've trapped it inside, a Class 9 monster isn't so weak as to fall just from that. Its durability isn't ordinary. If we waited for it to die naturally, it would take years, no, decades.
"For now, waiting for the adhesive to solidify on its own would take time. Let's use a hardening agent to solidify it quickly. Then we can cut away the excess and dig our way in." "Got it." "Understood! Everyone, let's go!" "「「「「「Yes!!」」」」"
So, to finish this quickly, I approach the tunnel holding a fire-extinguisher-like object we prepared together.
"Is everyone's mask on properly?" We put on gas-mask-like items prepared for this occasion. Rustling sounds of them being put on are heard behind me. By the time I finish putting mine on, Nell and Genjirou's Gardener Retainers have also equipped their masks.
A group of samurai emitting the characteristic *shugō shugō* breathing sounds of gas masks. Well, the visual is quite dangerous, resembling the villain army from a B-grade superhero team movie, but trusting their words without concern, I nod and turn back towards the tunnel.
Through the gas mask, the inside of the tunnel looks like a web spun by a spider over many years, with strands of adhesive stretching everywhere, mixed with soil kicked up by Claudia's steps.
Touching this would lead to the same misery as the dwarves. Gently, I pull the trigger of the sprayer containing the hardening agent.
Then, white powder sprays from the nozzle in my other hand. Upon contact, the adhesive rapidly hardens. You might think losing viscosity and stickiness would make it brittle, but this adhesive was originally designed for restraining monsters.
Once hardened, it exhibits strength surpassing iron. Tapping it through leather gloves gives a hard, *kon kon* sensation.
"Good. Genjirou, take over." "Understood!" The Gardener Retainers proceed to cut through the hardened material one after another. We repeat the process: spray hardening agent, then cut, advancing into areas where the agent hadn't reached. This continues for about twenty minutes.
"I hear a sound." "It's ahead." Then, a sound different from our movement or adhesive removal begins to echo around us.
It's the sound of struggling, groaning—Runner Runner.
There's no light in this tunnel. Only the lantern-like magic tools held by the Gardener Retainers provide illumination. As the path ahead is lit by that light...
"Oh—" "It's a dumpling." "It certainly can't move like that." Runner Runner was there, perfectly stuck by the adhesive, limbs glued to its body, having likely fallen to the ground.
The struggling is probably an attempt to writhe its body, trying to free its limbs even slightly to regain movement.
However, that seems futile.
"Shall we spray the hardening agent quickly?" "That's right." "Understood." The adhesive around Runner Runner hasn't fully solidified yet. Then, while it still can't move, we spray the hardening agent.
Naturally, Runner Runner recognizes this as an attack and tries to evade, but not a trace of its former high-speed movement remains. Even if it activates its clone skill, they just multiply while already restrained.
It tries to move with strange motions, but those also fail because the adhesive fixes its body in place.
Meanwhile, the hardening agent rapidly solidifies the adhesive coating Runner Runner, and its movements continue to slow down.
"Good, its movements are completely sealed." "It was the same with the swamp dragon and Azhdaha—you always think about sealing the enemy's movements first, don't you, Liberta?" "Because that's the safest, right?" And finally, when Runner Runner can no longer move at all, what do we do?
"Alright, let's restrain it further." "An abundance of caution, sir!" "That's right. Also, if we attack now, the adhesive might peel off. If that happens, it would regain freedom." We proceed to restrain it further over the adhesive.
I take out steel chains with a *jarari* sound. They're enhanced with the Mark of the Weakling, so there's no worry about them breaking. I also have padlocks made together. Leaving gaps for attacks, we diligently wrap it up with chains.
Runner Runner's eyes dart around, probably thinking, *'What are you doing? Eh? What is that!?'* We ignore its gaze completely.
"My lord! We have brought the cart!!" "Alright! Let's load Runner Runner and take it outside!" "Yes, sir!" We can't fight at full strength here, so we'll move Runner Runner outside first.
Ignoring Runner Runner's *'Where are you taking me!?'* squeaks, we exit the tunnel.
"Phew, my stats have returned to normal." Claudia, who was shadowboxing outside, greeted us. It's wonderful she's so motivated.
"My lord, where shall we secure the chains?" "Stretch them tightly in eight directions and fix them with stakes. Don't forget the magic items with immobilization spells on top of the stakes." "Understood!" Well, from here on, it's not a fight but a one-sided trampling.
The Gardener Retainers drive iron stakes into the ground with mallets. Chains connected to the ones restraining Runner Runner are attached to these stakes, and immobilization magic items are placed over them.
With this, there's no worry about them being pulled out, so we can defeat it safely.
"Preparations are complete, right?" "Nothing has been overlooked." "Then, shall we kill it?" With everything perfectly prepared, we each take hold of our weapons.
"Honestly, if it had come here and wasn't golden, I might have let it go. But coming here was its unlucky end." I sharpen my gaze and look at Runner Runner. It flinches and trembles. It desperately tries to escape, but its body is fixed by adhesive and further bound tightly by chains.
A group slowly raising their weapons, surrounding it cautiously—some might call it unsportsmanlike against an immobile opponent.
But let me say this clearly: This is the optimal action for hunting monsters. Sealing the monster's movements, creating a state where we can continuously deliver full-powered attacks unilaterally.
Isn't this the ideal attack formation?
If some justice-preaching fool were to appear, saying, *'This is cowardly! Fight fair and square!'* I'd proudly retort:
Is there any reason to maintain "fair and square" fighting by intentionally providing openings for the enemy to counterattack, taking on the risk of receiving damage?
If this were a duel or something similar, I'd consider such aspects. However, this is a battle against a monster. The primary objective is to defeat it.
My belief is that justice in such a battle is only necessary at a bare minimum.
Overwhelming numbers? Perfectly fine. Frequent use of traps? Recommended, highly recommended. Weakening the enemy? That's the basic of basics.
As we gradually tighten the encirclement, Runner Runner looks at us with eyes that seem to scream *'Coward!!'* Silently, I fire a smoke signal into the sky, signaling Amina to change from the tailwind song (movement speed increase) to the song of acclamation.
Somehow, the previously speedy tune shifts to an aggressive, almost execution-style melody.
"Fortune's Summoning!"
And the moment Nell's skill activates, we simultaneously begin our assault. Our tactic is simple: continuously unleash our strongest attack skills without pause—a brainless, attack-focused strategy ignoring DPS and hate management.
My Heart Strike or Neck Hunt, Nell's Diamond War Axe, and so on.
"You got to run away earlier, but from here on, it's our turn for a one-sided attack!!" And then, Claudia's barrage of combos, as if venting the frustration from being chased.
Seizing opportunities, Genjirou and the Gardener Retainers also deliver slashes, steadily whittling away Runner Runner's HP.
It can do nothing. We allow it nothing. This is the battle of efficiency-focused safety enthusiasts.
Once recast times are over, attack. Coordinate attacks not to overlap with others, maintaining continuous, uninterrupted assault—that is optimal.
**'■■■■■■■■！？'**
With a final death cry, Runner Runner turns into black ash.
"They appeared!!" "Yeah, as expected of Nell." "Magnificent work, sir." "It seems our efforts were worthwhile."
And so, Runner Runner transformed into two rainbow-colored treasure chests.