We all get on guard as the man walks carefree with a smile across his face.

We all raise our now materialized slime swords at the two.

"Just how did you get here, John smith?!"

The man in the suit gives us a wide grin as he says

"I followed the road of course! How else would anyone go anywhere?"

Instructor Lambada sneers at the man as she readies her whip.

"I dont know who you really are or how exactly you got here but since you've found this place, its safe to assume the worst, isn't that right?"

Suddenly the woman speaks up, sounding almost like Lady Alpha but more carefree and relaxed.

"The worst? That anyone can follow the obvious path you leave when you enter? Why, if thats the case, then yes! Of course!"

The man turns to the woman with a bit of a surprised look for a second before smiling a full blown smile, after which he quickly turns to us again.

"Obvious path we leave..?"

"Hmmm? You didnt notice? Your master must be very lousy... or i guess i should call him shadow, isn't that right?"

Suddenly as if we were a beehive poked, we all started sneering at the two.

The therianthropes were growling while the elfs grips on their swords were trembling in anger.

Suddenly, instructor Lambada whips the ground as the man walks forward completely unbothered.

However the whip was a signal.

The signal to attack at will.

All of a sudden, a brown haired woman held a slime dagger at the mans neck...

As soon as she went for it, however...

She seemed to begin struggling.

Struggling to deal the finishing blow?

No. This was Shadow Gardens very own, Nu.

Hesitation is impossible so he blocked it..?

But how?

Suddenly the man and woman begin laughing.

Instructor lambada is still heavily sneering at the two despite the surprise of Nu's attack being blocked.

Suddenly the man and woman stop laughing as the male speaks up.

"A surprise attack, eh? Not bad not bad! However, your unable to pierce my threads!"

Suddenly Nu's face twisted in surprise as she was thrown to instructor Lambada's side.

"Nu, report..."

"Strong. Ridiculously strong and agile. Heavily aware of his surroundings on a detailed level."

"For you to say that about someone... it seems we have a tough battle ahead."

Nu nods and turns her eyes forward to look at the duo.

The male suddenly calls out to the female.

"Amelia! Do you wish to fight alongside me or are you content watching this time?"

The woman is lazily stretching next to him as she says

"Id like to stretch my muscles a bit if you dont mind, John"

Bastards... underestimating the enemy will lead to your downfall!

"Charge!"

With the command from instructor Lambada we all begin attacking the masked duo.

However the male and female are easily capable of dodging and infact...

"You put too much pressure into your grip so your swing loses speed! Relax your hands, young lady!"

He said that as he used some kind of weird threads to grip her hand and restrain her only to throw her away.

"Ack! You- you bastard..."

The girl gets up shakily as another 3 numbers attack the masked enemy.

"Hahahaha! This is the spirit!"

The masked enemy then restrained the therainthrope number but to his surprise, that was their plan as she takes on and restricts what seems to be all his threads as the other two were still advancing.

"Hyah!" "Hmp!"

The masked enemy only smiles as their attacks are blocked for him by the other masked enemy.

"Oh my oh my! How uncivilized!"

The other masked enemy said as she kicked away both the numbers into the therainthrope number.

"Lousy speed, stupid of you to sacrifice your strongest and fastest as bait for a couple strings!"

The other masked enemy said as she shook her head, however she never lost her smile.

The masked enemy retracts his threads as he stands next to the other masked enemy.

"Now now Amelia, we still have so long to go before one of the key players appear!"

Instructor Lambada looks at a number and orders her.

"Go inform one of the Seven Shades! We will buy as must time as we can! Go!"

The number hurriedly replies.

"Yes ma'am!"

As she runs to the main office to inform one of the Seven Shades.

With them with us, it will be impossible to lose!


Fuuuuuuuu~ all these novel ideas suck!

Theres no excuse for the villain to be so weak in every single one!

Ive been warning the readers about him forever!

If i just defeat him in a single volume and in such a roundabout way!-

Suddenly someone barges into my room.

A number.

Shes panting and putting hands on her knees to catch her breath.

As i was about to scold her for barging in she raises her head and in a panicked tone says

"Forgive me, lady Beta but this is an emergency!"

"Whats wrong?"

"In-intruders! As strong as lady Alpha! Bo-both of them!"

!

I quickly put on my slime suit and tell the number to lead me there.

As were moving, i ask her

"Are there any dead?!"

"N-no... strangely the intruders are giving our numbers tips and they are able to fight equally with lady Nu and instructor Lambada..."

Ehhhh? On par with Nu and Lambada?

And their magic on the level of lady Alpha individually?

This could be serious trouble...

"Go! Inform the others!"

"Y-yes lady Beta!"

Why didnt they send more numbers?!

I must hurry!

If i can make it in time, there wont be any deaths!


Me and my squadmates attempt to hit the masked enemy.

He dodges everything we throw at him narrowly!-

How annoying!

Suddenly, the other masked enemy shows up behind me and my squadmate and now were back to back against the intruders.

"Having each others backs? How admirable! However..."

The masked female intruder said as she prepared a swing.

"Too naive!"

The masked male said quickly as my teammate dodged the strings but forgot to tell me so i got tangled up.

"Hey!"

"Without communication, your strategy is weak!"

The masked female swung at us with the blunt edge of her sword sending us crashing into a recovering group of numbers.

The masked duo stare at us with mocking smiles.

However the masked female sensed something and seems to get on guard a little more.

The masked male notices this and his smile turns into a wide grin.

"Until next time! I hope you have learned well this training session young shadows!"

The masked female chuckles before saying

"This might not be the last time you see us, who knows! Bye for now~"

The masked duo leave the scene before suddenly, i sense it...

I think my squadmates sensed it aswell but this magic can only belong to-

"Numbers, report!"

-Lady Beta!

I was about to report until suddenly instructor Lambada salutes and speaks.

"Lady Beta, i believe it is best we speak of this in private with the other shades."

Lady Beta looks worried but-

"If thats what you think then ill look for Lady Alpha and Master Shadow."

-Ultimately decided to agree with the instructor.


Alpha follows me as we run into the forest.

As soon as i think we got far enough, i slowly slow down until i stop fully.

Alpha was behind me the entire time.

I take off my mask and look at her.

"So?"

She took off her mask and looked at me with a big smile.

She chuckled before speaking.

"I see what you meant by this being fun"

I smile as i respond.

"I know right?"

We chuckle a bit as we recall how badly the numbers failed at hitting us despite both of us holding back.

I think this day was a great success!

"Im sorry in advance for the paperwork thats gonna be forced on you"

"Ah- please dont concern yourself with that Master Shadow."

Her smile doesnt falter while saying this.

"Come on, its about time we head back"

"Yes, Master Shadow"


Apologizes, i thought about crossposting on ao3 and got the consequences delivered to my front door in the form of a broken arm and leg but im back now!