> Kira PoV

It’s now been 35 days after we left Runetap. This expedition of ours is taking longer than we planned, but we decided to gather information from the villages and towns on the way, so it can’t be helped.

Based on what we heard, there’s been a bandit group in these mountains that has gotten really successful with their raids lately. I had a hunch they’re also the ones who were gathering up the [Starshards].

We’re currently stopped over in a nearby village, making preparations. We’ll be leaving the carriage behind and proceeding on foot. It should take a few hours to reach our target in the wilderness.

Nano had brought one of the flying eye golems from home, but it was left sleeping to conserve energy. Since it can only fly around for about two days before collapsing, we decided to keep it only for emergencies.

I think bandits getting their hands on [Star Magic] is as good an emergency as any.

So for once, Nano is actually doing a job! Well, technically the golem's the one doing the scouting, but Nano's helping, right? It's not like I think Nano's a freeloader. How can someone be a freeloader when they don't even eat?

In the meantime, the rest of us are getting ready. Kelly’s already wearing her armor and is double-checking its condition. Ellie’s confirming the state and count of her weapons while I intently stare at her adorably focused face.

Hmm? I should get ready too?

No no no, I’m preparing plenty right now. Burning Ellie’s rare expressions into my memory will give me a superhuman will to live on, you know? Seeing that completely serious face while she’s inspecting her knives has a profound effect on me. Spiritually. Mostly.

And those fuzzy ears twitch randomly like they have a mind of their own! That’s cheating, right? That’s definitely cheating! I want to touch theeeem!

{Kira, I’m looking at the bandit camp right now. As usual, your intuition was spot on.}

Gah! How dare Nano interrupt my preparations! These are vital you know!

“*Cough* What are we dealing with?” (Kira)

I got carried away slightly, so let’s get back on track. The sooner we get this over with the sooner I can get back to Ellie appreciation.

{They’ve occupied a rather wide cave. Wooden fortifications and a few buildings around the entrance.}

{I’m seeing 50 bandits on the outside. 30 of them are armed with a >}

{It’s a weapon that spits metal shards with extreme speed and frequency.}

{Five of those bandits have something that’s a weaker version of Kelly’s golem armor.}

{The other 20 bandits I see are typical ruffians armed with swords or axes.}

{I can’t see inside the cave, but it looks deep so more of them are likely inside.}

“What do you mean weaker versions of Scrappy?” (Kelly)

{There's a concept similar to your golem armor in [Star Magic]. The way it works is different, but the result is similar.}

{However, the current Scrappy is heavier, tougher, faster and stronger than their defective products.}

“That’s how it is huh? Any suggestions on fighting them?” (Kelly)

{Just be wary of their strength and speed. They’re still bandits inside so their movements will not be ideal.}

“Nano, those metal-spitting weapons you mentioned, what’s that about?” (Kira)

It’s hard to imagine what the effects are, hopefully Nano can give us a good picture.

{You know how fast Ellie’s throwing knives are?}

“Yes, I can’t even see them until they strike their target.” (Kira)

{Like that, only even faster and they throw out 2 of those every second.}

Geh! That’s terrifying! It’s the first time I hear of such a terrifying weapon! Actually, the bandits should be the same, right? Won't they injure themselves if they don't handle them properly?

“These weapons, do they know to use them?” (Kira)

{They’re holding and handling them properly, so yes, it’s likely.}

“Are they really that easy to use?” (Kelly)

That can’t be, right? Even something that seems simple like a sword still takes years of practice to use properly. There’s no way these meat-heads figured out how to use [Star Magic] infused weapons in just a few months, right?

We’re talking about that completely incomprehensible and endlessly absurd [Star Magic], right? The one even Ellie and Nano don’t fully understand, right?

{In a way. You need very little skill to use them, but even that much needs to be taught.}

“So in other words, they definitely have someone who knows of [Star Magic].” (Kira)

{Yes.}

I hate it when I’m right.

“Red, uh, any chance I can renegotiate my contract?” (Kelly)

In mercenary speak, that means she wants to run away right now. As an employer, I really wish she’d be more composed at times like this. Just look at Ellie!

“Also, can you two stop flirting already!?” (Kelly)

We’re not flirting though. We’re properly focusing on Nano's scouting report.

*Scritch Scritch*

*Prrrrrrrr*

My fingers and Ellie’s ears have no bearing on the matter at hand. This and that are completely unrelated.

“Nyaaaa... Kelly should have a drink and calm down.” (Ellie)

“Right! Good call!” (Kelly)

At Ellie’s completely relaxed suggestion, Kelly opens both of her flasks and empties them together in one go.

Is that okay? They do call it [Liquid Courage] after all, so it’s probably okay. But in Kelly’s case it’s also [Liquid Violence].

Actually yeah, that’s definitely okay. Perfect even.

“Ahhhh! Much better! As usual, Ellie’s the only one that makes sense around here.

C’mon then, what’s the plan?” (Kelly)

“Well, for starters-” (Kira)

{Actually Kira, I will be giving the orders on this one. I insist. What's waiting for us isn't one of your battlefields.}

{It’s one of mine.}

* * *

We approach the bandit camp carefully. We made it to a small ridge in the mountain forest where we can observe the situation.

It looks just like Nano said. The metal-spitting in the report are visible from here. From this distance, they look like gray steel plates with deformed and engraved surfaces.

The bandits are holding them in a way that resembles holding a baby. A few of them are wearing shiny silver armor. Those must be the Scrappy knock-offs.

{Let’s go over the plan of attack one last time.}

We huddle around out of sight at Nano’s voice.

{First, Kira will create a distraction and seal off the cave. She will hang back and provide support. I will coordinate.}

I nod in response.

{While that’s happening, Kelly will charge right at them since their attacks will just bounce off the armor.}

Kelly said that armor was a mix of [Orichalcum] and [Star Steel]. The blood-red [Orichalcum] allows mana to flow easily, it’s a necessary requirement when creating golems.

The dark gray [Star Steel] is the same metal that Ellie’s blades and sword are made out of. It’s several times heavier than steel and nigh-indestructible.

The end result is that Scrappy is probably the toughest piece of armor in the world and none of their weapons, [Star Magic] or otherwise, can penetrate it. Technically that’s just Nano’s one-sided assumption, but Kelly trusts it. Therefore I have no right to complain.

I will still complain a little bit inside my heart though.

{Ellie will flank them from the side. Her job is disarming them while they focus on Kelly.}

{Once there’s a gap, Kira will regroup with the others and invade the cave.}

{Inside, we focus on suppressing the enemy while keeping an eye out for hostages.}

According to the villages that were attacked, the bandits had taken some people. Obviously we’re going to save them.

{Okay girls, is everyone ready?)

We all nod in silence. In case of emergency, we will follow every order Nano gives without question. Nano’s earned that much, at least.

{Then Kira, start us off whenever you’re ready.}

At Nano’s words, I take my staff out of its sling and stab it into the ground head-first. I’m trying to keep a low profile so that I’m not noticed.

“-------- [Quake]” (Kira)

I use a lower-tier spell from the one that buried the Monster Hole. Thanks to Nano’s training I’m able to control it a lot better.

The ground starts churning and shaking. The bandits panic and their fortifications start collapsing. Kelly and Ellie take advantage of it their confusion and assault the base. Kelly is moving in from the front, Ellie going to the left as planned.

Their speed is amazing as expected.

I force a piece of rock from the earth and block out the cave entrance. Like this, we’ve cut off reinforcements as well as their retreat.

“We’re under attack!” (Random bandit)

One of the bandits finally realized it’s not a regular quake. They immediately turned their attention away from the state of their camp and they notice the dark-red lump of metal charging at them.

Since the distraction is now no longer effective, I cancel the spell and take cover. It doesn’t look like they noticed me yet.

The bandits start attacking Kelly with the metal-spitters. I see plumes of blue flame come out of the weapons while they make noises like pouring gravel into a metal bucket.

Kelly makes a beeline through the bushes and trees while sparks fly off her armor. Just like Nano said, they can’t penetrate it.

“Heeyaaaa!” (Kelly)

*THUD*

“Urk!” (Bandit)

She reaches the first bandit and bends him in two with a mace strike to the his mid-section. He falls over and remains on the ground, twitching with foam coming from his mouth.

She doesn’t lose any momentum as she strikes the next one. And the next. She gets into the middle of the group.

{Everyone. Prepare for Flash on Kelly in 3… 2…}

The sword-wielding men surround her while the others take aim with the metal-spitters.

{1… Now!}

“-- [Flash]” (Kira)

At Nano’s word, I create a burst of light directly above Kelly. All the bandits looking in that direction recoil, clutching their eyes. Kelly and Ellie shielded theirs at the right time, so they’re unaffected. Probably.

“Ah blast it!” (Kelly)

Looks like Kelly got slightly affected anyway and randomly swings her mace around. She should have closed her eyes, maybe the flash was a bit too much anyway?

*Swoosh* *THUD*

Her blind upward-bound swing caught one of the bandits in the jaw. He flies through the air doing multiple backflips before crashing into the ground. He spun around so violently his boots flew off...

Meanwhile, Ellie had slipped in from the side to flank them, just as planned. I see her throwing knives at the [Star Magic] weapons, knocking them out of the bandits' hands or puncturing them, causing smoke and sparks to fly out.

She quickly moves in on her disarmed opponents and then-

*Snap*

“GYAAAAAA!” (Victim 1)

*Snap*

“AAARGH!” (Victim 2)

“Nononono please no- *Snap* GYAAAAA!” (Victim 3)

-the usual happens. The sudden violent screaming throws the bandits into even more panic.

One of the armored bandits seemed to have regained his senses. Probably one of the officers in the group. He approaches Kelly with inhuman speed and takes a swing at her with his sword.

It's a fast strike, but that sword is still made of normal unenchanted steel you know? As expected, it snaps in half when it smashes into Scrappy's [Star Steel] shell.

Kelly, who had recovered her sight, smashes him in the stomach with one mace. The officer lurches forward involuntarily before the other mace bashes him right in the temple, making him fall on his side. Kelly then swings both her maces down several times, denting and crushing the armor's knee and shoulder joints. He's trying to move, but he can't even stand up.

Another officer tries to attack Ellie. She parries several of his sword swings with her own, eventually knocking the blade from his hand. She then makes numerous swings that leave only light trails.

*CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG*

Some loud metallic sounds ring out and the metal armor falls off the bandit like peeling an onion.

“Huh? Wha? But- *Snap* GYAAAAA!” (Victim 6)

The surprised officer barely has time to realize what happened before Ellie snapped his right elbow.

{All [Star Magic] weapons destroyed. Kira, move in next to Ellie and use [Thunder] on the other armored targets. Ellie, protect her.}

Nano gives me a brief report on the situation. I put my staff back in its sling and prepare the gauntlet. I finally get to show off a little!

I focus and measure the distance between me and my destination. Reach out, grasp the mana, grasp the space and-

“-- [Blink]”

I move instantaneously to a spot next to Ellie. It's not a spell I can afford while I'm being attacked. A bandit immediately swings his axe at me, but is instantly thrown back by an invisible force.

That was close! I'm glad Nano's coordinating or that could've been very bad. For now, let's focus on my part.

"--- [Thunder] --- [Thunder] --- [Thunder]" (Kira)

Lightning bolts strike towards the three metal-clad figures in my sight. One of them had tried to dodge, but this is a lightning bolt and he's covered in metal. In the end, all three of them get hit full on. Their movements instantly seize up, sparks and smoke coming out of them.

{Don’t worry, they’re alive. The suits just refuse to move so they're trapped.}

That Nano has room to think about me and my worries at a time like this? Damn it, why are you so cool even though you’re not a person? No wonder Ellie trusts him unconditionally.

I start throwing [Firebolts] with my gauntlet. I aim at legs, arms and shoulders to disable the bandits. Most of them pass out from the searing pain.

Pretty soon, the bandits realized they’re outmatched. There’s only three left standing now. Two of them make a run for it, but Ellie delivers a swift set of kicks to each of their knees. Let’s magnificently ignore the disturbingly loud snapping noises.

“Okay! Okay! I give up okay! I’ll surrender so keep me safe from those things okay?” (Last bandit)

The bandit drops his weapon and gets down on his knees, begging for his safety.

“No.” (Kira)

*SMACK*

I bash him over the head with my staff, knocking him out. How dare he refer to Ellie as a thing!? Does this guy actually want to be beaten? Actually, I hear there’s men like that, so it’s not impossible.

That should wrap up the ones outside. They’re all sprawled out on the ground unconscious or writhing in pain. All that’s left is-

{Everyone get down!}

All three of us instantly drop to the ground. After a few moments, the rock that had been blocking the entrance to the cave explodes with a roar of fire and smoke.

Pieces of stone fly through the air, a few towards us. Ellie blocks them with her [Star Magic] so we’re unhurt.

Something flies out of the smoking hole at high speed. It looks like a flying fish, close to a bass, but much shorter. It’s covered in metal with several metal bits sticking out from underneath and the sides. The upper half of its front is covered in a reflective yellow glass-like material.

It's as big as a house! How did that even fit in that cave?

It soars silently through the air before stopping in one place, floating impossibly like a certain disembodied voice’s golems. It turns toward us, who are still on the ground.

“>” (Flying fish)

There’s a voice coming out of the thing. It sounds like a man, but it’s way too loud for that to be a human. I don't recognize the words either. I somehow expected it to go *Blub Blub Blub* but-

{Kira! Don’t space out!}

Nano’s words snaps me back to reality, now isn't the time for that! I quickly get back on my feet!

{Run away! Now!}