> Kelly PoV <

The next morning, we gather around the campfire. After finishing breakfast we start planning our assault.

"Fighting inside's going to be troublesome. That ruin is likely to fall on our heads if we do that."

I start by voicing my biggest concern.

"We could try luring some of the undead out, but that has its own risks."

Bart offers another option.

"Yeah, the Dullahans won't stand for that. I think we can take one or two no problem. 

But if more of them show up while we're luring their mates, it'll get dicey."

"There’s a way to stall them. My [Holy Chains] spell can bind them for a time."

"Will it work on the Dullahans?"

"Yes, but it'll take a lot of strength. I can bind one for maybe 15 minutes but I'll be dry after that."

We've discussed this yesterday as well. In the end we can't find a good strategy.

"Why don't we just collapse the building?"

Ellie chimes in with an idea, but Bart immediately denies her.

"We'd get caught up in it if we do that."

"Why?"

"Because we have to knock down the load-bearing walls ourselves."

"Kira can do it with magic."

"Please, that's preposterous. If you don't have a serious suggestion please keep quiet."

Bard was a little harsh but he's right.

There's no way that-

"I can do it, you know."

That's unusual, Red cut in with a firm boast.

"Red, I know you're a good mage, but that's just ridi-"

"Ellie doesn't lie. I can do it."

She actually insisted she can do such an absurd thing.

"Quasse, there's no mage alive that can do that."

"I'm not any mage though, I'm the [Red Sage] remember?"

A [Sage] title?

If I recall right that's given to distinguished mages within the guild. She even held up her adventurer card to prove it.

[Pioneer of Magic] too huh?

Pioneers are known to introduce new spells or techniques. Doesn’t this make Red a genius?

I respect titles way more than Rank when it comes to adventurers.

Rank is more about working hard, it's not the same as strength or skill. Plus, it’s bogged down by paperwork and regulations.

I mean, that Rank A Flatface was particularly useless.

How did he ever get anything done with that slow unwieldy weapon and snarky attitude? His team probably does most of the work.

Ah, my thoughts went in a weird direction.

Someone who’s earned two titles like Red is clearly exceptional. It’s not something you can accomplish with just hard work.

"Alright, I vote we give Red's magic a try."

"Kelly, please think about this. Even if she could do that, there's no-"

"I vote Kira also."

"Well Bart, looks like you're outnumbered. Shall I have a try at it then?"

The girls mercilessly corner Bart. There's something going on here.

"Oi Bart think about it. If we fight in there then it's going to come down anyway.

I'd much rather Red give it a shot. Even if she messes up we don't lose anything."

"But... it's just..."

He's being awfully evasive. The girls are acting dumb.

"Red, you guys learned something I haven't, right?"

She looks at me and nods.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"The monster hole is actually an excuse. That tower is hiding an artifact which His Lordship wants."

Bart's face went ghostly pale in an instant.

"And if we bury it then it'll be nearly impossible to recover."

Red drives the final nail in.

Well, that settles it.

"My contract said I just have to help clear the area. I don't remember a 'Save the relic' or 'Don't break the castle' clause."

I’m not risking my life over something I wasn’t paid to do.

"... fine, I can see where this is going. Let's get this over with."

Bart gave up already huh.

Poor guy, the baron probably ordered him to keep silent about it. And now that we know, there's no way we'll listen to him.

At least he's not throwing a tantrum, I can respect that.

* * *

We gather on a clearing where the castle is clearly visible. I can still see traces of yesterday's hunt here and there.

Well, to be fair I also doubt Red will manage it in one go. It'll probably be a series of precise shots, causing a chain reaction.

Judging from yesterday, her control is superb but the power is only so-so. So I’m expecting something clever suitable for a genius.

"Okay, give me a minute to prepare."

Red takes her staff out of its sling. She stabs the ground in with the staff at an angle. The octahedron shaped head is buried in the dirt.

Is she trying to dig with it?

"-------------------"

Oh she's putting mana into it.

"-------------------"

That... feels like a lot of mana.

"-------------------"

Wait, this isn't just a regular spell is it?

"-------------------"

Bart's staring with his jaw hanging open. Ellie is... jumping up and down in anticipation.

Nothing good will come of this.

"------ [Grand Quake]"

There's a slowly rising rumble coming from the distance.

The ground is moaning, quivering. It's starting to shake.

"Oof!"

Bart falls over, unable to keep his balance. I keep standing, barely.

*GGGRGRGRGRGRRGURRACKK*

There's a terrible sound as a giant piece of rock juts out from the earth.

I see, I was wrong. Or rather, I was right in the beginning. There are no sane mages out there.

A deep canyon opens up right under the castle ruins. Everything that is stone, wood and undead falls into it.

There's nothing left but a few stray rocks.

Red starts twisting the staff handle around. It looks like she's operating a lever.

The rumble changes every time she moves. She's controlling it!

The giant chasm slowly closes up and the tremors begin to subside.

*KKHHHURRRYYYAAAAAAHHHNN!*

An unearthly howl echoes through the still closing gap.

A giant white blur leaps out of it.

With a loud crash, the wound in the ground finally closes up. All that remains of the castle ruin is a deep scar.

And above it, I see the white blur from earlier.

Just as I'm wondering what that is, Red's shout helpfully informs me.

"BONE DRAGON!"