The battle lasted for about five minutes.
That Lv40 elite-class [Rockback Armored Bear], under the joint assault of Alice and Liana, finally let out an unwilling howl.
Its massive body crashed heavily to the ground.
[You have slain Rockback Armored Bear (Elite), EXP gained: +15,800]
Watching the experience bar on the System Panel suddenly leap up a large chunk, Leo exhaled in satisfaction.
Elites really do live up to their name—the experience they give is substantial.
Even more importantly, he had just witnessed firsthand the strength of these two intelligent units.
Alice’s defense was like a Sighing Wall, and her control skills were as precisely timed as if following a Script.
Liana’s spellcasting was a joy to behold; she always chose the best spell at the most critical moment to deal the highest possible damage.
“Well done.”
Leo stepped forward, offering heartfelt praise.
“Yes, Master.”
Alice sheathed her sword and shield with crisp, clean movements, then quietly took her place at Leo’s side.
She was as succinct as ever.
On the other hand, Liana’s face was all radiant smiles as she ran over lightly like a little bird.
“Master, Master!”
She threw herself straight into Leo’s arms, wrapping her hands around his neck and hanging completely off him.
This was definitely a foul move.
Soft warmth and a faint fragrance instantly overwhelmed Leo’s senses, his mind short-circuiting for a second.
This elf onee-san was way too forward!
He instinctively wanted to push her away and keep a safe distance, but Liana clung on tightly, showing no sign of letting go.
Leo could only cast a pleading look toward the only normal person in the team.
“Alice, um… tell her the rules.”
He figured it was time for the team’s discipline officer to step in and straighten out this overly lively atmosphere.
Receiving the command, Alice nodded earnestly.
She stepped up to Liana, her expression as stern as ever.
“Liana, you shouldn’t make such intimate contact with the Master so quickly. That is overstepping.”
Instead of loosening her grip, Liana rubbed her cheek even harder against Leo’s chest.
She blinked those pure yet enchanting violet eyes at Alice, her face radiating innocence.
“Overstepping?”
“I’m just expressing my joy and affection to Master.”
“And besides…”
Liana’s tone shifted as a sly smile curled on her lips.
“Alice-onee-san, don’t you want to do this too?”
Leo’s heart gave a jolt.
Crap, this elf really knows how to push buttons.
“If you think it’s unfair for me to hug Master alone, why not join in too?”
“That way, we’ll be equals.”
No way, Alice isn’t that kind of person.
Leo mentally braced himself.
She’s the cool and aloof silver-haired knight, the absolutely loyal guardian.
There’s no ‘intimate contact’ option in her persona…
Er, at least not during the daytime, right?
Yet Alice really paused to consider for a moment.
Then, facing Liana, she slowly nodded.
“Your suggestion is logical.”
With that, Alice stepped forward, walked up from the other side, and gently hugged Leo’s other arm.
He froze completely.
His mind went blank, his CPU about to burn out.
No! This isn’t how the Script is supposed to go!
Alice! Where’s your cool knight persona? Where’s your emotionless setting?
How has this elf managed to sway you in less than half an hour?
Where’s my silent, reliable Alice, who only follows orders?
…Wait, come to think of it, maybe she was never truly a hundred percent obedient in the first place?!
In Leo’s mind, bullet comments were scrolling at several hundred words per second.
He felt his entire worldview take a massive hit.
“See, Master, isn’t this nice?”
Liana winked smugly at Leo, like a cat that got the cream.
Alice, meanwhile, looked at him calmly, as if just following a perfectly normal command.
There was even a hint of inquiry in her gaze, as if asking if she had done well.
Leo opened his mouth but couldn’t make a sound.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing himself to calm down.
If this kept up, there’d be no way to lead the team.
He placed a hand on each of their beautiful heads, and with a firm, irresistible force, gently pushed them a bit apart.
“All right, that’s enough, no more fooling around.”
His tone was filled with helplessness.
“That kind of thing… save it for tonight.”
“Right now is work time. We’re here to grind, not for team bonding.”
At the words “save it for tonight,” Liana’s eyes immediately lit up brilliantly.
Even Alice tilted her head slightly, a stream of data flickering in her blue eyes, as if she were seriously processing this new command and adding it to her to-do list.
Seeing this, Leo knew he had to change the subject at once—who knew what mischief the two of them would cook up next.
“The earlier test went well, but for leveling up, this efficiency is still too low.”
He glanced at his remaining mana.
Summoning Liana earlier had cost 900 points. Adding in earlier expenditures, he’d naturally recovered up to 1560 points by now.
He couldn’t summon a massive Army like before, but assembling a small elite party for efficient grinding was no problem at all.
“Come forth, my Army!”
Leo raised his hand, magic light once again flaring in his palm.
This time, he didn’t summon the mana-consuming [Skeleton Army].
Instead, it was a more refined unit combination.
Magic circles began to unfurl on the ground, one after another.
The hulking [Dire Bear] appeared first, letting out a sky-shaking roar that buffed the team for the upcoming battle.
The thick-skinned [Earth Guardian] and [Bone Golem] followed, their heavy footsteps proclaiming them as the sturdiest shields of the party.
Two [Two-Headed Hellhounds] bared their fangs and growled low, the air filling with the stench of sulfur—they were the core physical damage dealers.
A [Abomination] wielding a giant meat hook lumbered out, ready to drag any hiding enemies to the front lines.
Finally, over a dozen floating [Fire Elementals] and rapidly scuttling [Venom Spiders] would provide area damage and control.
In less than a minute, a compact but well-rounded elite squad was assembled, every role covered and responsibilities clear.
Leo looked at this Army entirely his own, then at the two dazzling intelligent units at his side, and a surge of pride welled up within him.
“All right, ladies.”
A confident smile spread across his face.
“Time to get to work.”
“Target: Middle area of Black Forest—clear the field!”
“Yes, Master!”
Alice and Liana replied in unison.
One voice was cool and steady, the other lively and cheerful.
Leo swept his arm forward.
“Move out!”
The mighty Army of summons began their grand march into the forest depths.
A feast of experience points, all for Leo, was about to begin.