Make the best use of everything

According to the map, the workshop is not connected to the dormitory area and teaching building. If you start directly from the base, you can go out from the gate here and go directly through the atrium to reach it quickly.

But the courtyard is open and there are no very tall trees planted. If the defense devices attack from a high altitude and encounter monsters on the way, we will be in a passive position.

There's no way around it, since Ximu, who serves as the vanguard, is not a heavily armored soldier.

If they could have such a tough and strong profession in their team, they would just need to bring enough defensive items and lead the others to charge forward - as for those elegant and thin magicians and kingdom knights in the academy, it is hard to say whether they will be chased and hit by magic afterwards, but they can definitely be knocked away by the collision.

“…Let’s do this.”

Ruixia pondered for a long time, then observed the distribution of the bots. She pointed to a few screens and said, "I'll create a connection point here, here... and that spot over there. I'll directly draw an energy barrier to cover the area above you. If you follow this route, as long as you reach this area, the crossbow on the roof won't be able to hit you."

The direction and scope he planned were clarified in an instant. After a simple deduction, Xi Mu nodded in agreement, but soon raised corresponding concerns.

"But for such a large area, is the barrier strong enough? How long can it last?"

She didn't ask Ruixia when she placed so many eyes on the exterior buildings of the dormitory and teaching building. She thought that while they were running around outside, he was naturally not idle in the base.

"I'll extract some of the battle puppets' energy cores. As long as you can get through quickly without being delayed, we should be fine in the short term. After confirming you've entered the workshop, I'll close the barrier and recharge the energy. When you come out, I should be able to provide cover for another wave."

"Can't you find a way to take those things apart?"

Morina was dissatisfied, obviously still remembering the crawling on the covered bridge.

"Actually, I've tried..." Ruixia even looked apologetic when she said this, "But those attack facilities can't distinguish between friend and foe, and the mecha bugs have limited functions. If the combat puppets go up there, they'll be attacked. Unless I go up there myself, I'm afraid..."

"It's okay."

Ximu interrupted him, fearing that he would really go up alone to face danger out of her sight.

Although Ruixia has a lot of props, her skills are average. The crossbow's attack power is so fierce that it can even pierce through the stone bridge surface. If she fails to defend in time or the barrier is broken... she dare not think about it anymore.

"Or, before we set off, we can go to the roof opposite and dismantle those crossbows first?" Morina suggested.

"But if you want to go to the roof opposite, you have to go to the workshop first..." Sorens, who had been listening quietly on the side, added weakly.

That’s true.

Judging from the attack trajectory of the crossbow arrow, this object is most likely located on the top of the large library adjacent to the workshop.

These two places are independent buildings, and if you want to go there, you have to go through the atrium first.

“Ahhhhh…”

The short-haired girl uttered a series of desperate howls and buried her face in her arms weakly.

"That's fine. Let's see if there are similar devices elsewhere. We can find them and dispose of them together."

Ximu's speculation was not unreasonable. Since there was such an ambush on the top of the library, there might be some in other places as well. It might just be that the scope of their previous exploration was not large enough, so it had not been triggered yet.

Hearing this, Ruixia's face changed and she quickly replanned the range of the defense barrier.

"In that case, the barrier needs to be extended a little further this way, and the height should be raised a bit more. Hmm, it seems I need to dismantle a few more battle puppets, otherwise the strength may not be enough..."

The black-haired boy was thinking hard, his face full of worry and distress, as if he was saying, "I'm so poor, and the things I have are becoming less and less enough."

——So cute, like a puppy, I want to pat its head.

The moment the thought came to mind, Ximu was startled, and calmly smoothed out the unintentional curve of his lips.

Why did she have such a horrible and offensive association?

People always become busy subconsciously when they are embarrassed. She turned her head and soon saw many scrolls and potions piled in the corner of the desk. They seemed to be those she and Morina brought back when they were sweeping... no, exploring the dormitory building.

Seeing Ximu stand up, Ruixia raised her eyes and came back to her senses, then reminded him suddenly, "Ah, I almost forgot to tell you... I have confirmed these supplies, they are 'real', so they should be usable normally, but... because they are very old, even though they look new, their actual effectiveness is probably better than nothing."

"Real" existence... In other words, these things are not illusions, but items that actually exist in the academy.

Inanimate objects will not be affected by the rupture of laws, but this also means that their functions will gradually weaken over time... Although they are still as bright and clean as new under the blessing of a certain huge illusion that envelops the entire hospital, in reality they may have already deteriorated and become ineffective.

Of course, magic items can be preserved much longer than ordinary items. Many burial objects dug out from ancient tombs still retain their magical power despite their age. However—

A potion like this, which may have been placed in a desolate land for hundreds of years, would probably not have the courage to challenge it even if there were a priest serving the God of Life by his side.

Fortunately, this place makes people feel neither hungry nor thirsty, otherwise, I really don’t know what the food found in such a place would taste like after being eaten.

"Don't take the potion, but you can still use the scroll." Ruixia said with a smile.

Forget about the entrance stuff, but if you are judged as a "part of the college" and gradually become a "local", it would be a waste of time and effort.

However, as an external object, the scroll can indeed relieve some resource pressure if it can be activated normally.

Ximu took out an acceleration scroll and had an eye contact with Ruixia, "Do you want me to use one?" "Yes, but be careful. Call us if anything happens." After activating it with magic power and burning it out, he rushed towards the farthest door with all his strength.

In terms of speed, no one present was as authoritative as Xi Mu, and they couldn't figure out anything for a moment, so they all watched her jumping up and down, moving and drifting with interest.

Occasionally, when they were too close to the area of ​​precision operation, Ruixia was about to speak out a warning, but Ximu would change direction in time as if he had eyes on his back, which made him smile. He even stopped working and just followed his companions to watch the fun.

After a while, Ximu stabilized himself with a beautiful landing, stood up and returned to the desk.

“…It’s really not working.”

Frowning slightly, a rare occurrence, she sat down and shook her head slightly, saying in disappointment, "Compared to the regular model, the speed boost is only about 5%, and the duration is also very short, only about ten seconds. It's definitely better than nothing."

Looking at each other, Ruixia and Morina, the three of them sighed softly at the same time.

Compared to their distress and regret, Sorens' expression seemed more shocked.

No... just now, Ximu's speed, which was only a narrow strip of light, was only increased by 5%? If he had used a normal scroll to accelerate, wouldn't the enemy's head have already flown into the sky before he even saw them?!

Suddenly realizing that the other person had not used his full strength when dealing with him before, Sorens touched his still intact neck, feeling awe and a hint of relief.

"Might as well take it with you. It's just gathering dust if it's left alone. I don't feel bad about using a defective item like this. I might as well make the most of it."

After all, scrolls are much lighter than potions, and a lot of them can be put into them, so Morina, who is mainly responsible for carrying supplies, has no objection.

Since Ruixia asked, she made a special space in her small bag and prepared to use up these expired scrolls first.

"By the way...Come to think of it, I've never asked you what kind of magic you're good at."

Ruixia was indeed busy. While checking and adjusting the position of the mechanical insects being laid, she also took the time to ask Sorens a question.

Hey? Isn't he just a guide?

Are they planning to include themselves in the combat team?

Sorens was terrified, but under the curse, he didn't dare to speak without thinking. He could only answer honestly: "My attainments in offensive magic are very average. I am better at defense than combat, and I can also make some simple scrolls..."

"Can you make scrolls?" Ruixia's eyes lit up.

This is good news! If the facilities in the workshop can still be used normally and there are enough parchment reserves and ground magic crystal gas for writing, they can make magic scrolls by themselves!

"Um."

Sorens nodded and quickly showed everyone how useful he was.

"To earn credits and pay, I often volunteered at the workshop, helping the craftsmen. After getting to know them, I occasionally used the workbench, and they didn't say much, just pretending not to see anything. But I only knew the more basic ones. I hadn't actually operated the complex ones, so I didn't have much confidence..."

"It's okay. Being able to replenish some elementary scrolls is already a great help to us."

The scroll can save lives at critical moments, and Ruixia's happiness at this moment is beyond words.

He turned his head to look at Ximu and blinked. The latter said nothing, glanced at Sorens, and nodded slightly.

"That's great."

Molina nudged him with her elbow and whispered teasingly, "Now you don't have to worry about being killed by Ximu on the way."

"……ah?"

Faced with the clear question in Sorens' eyes, Morina rolled her eyes at him in feigned disgust.

"Ximu has always listened to Ruixia. He said that he would protect you together, so Ximu will not abandon you easily... You should do your best and don't do anything suspicious."

After the priestess girl finished speaking, she jumped to Ximu's side. While waiting for Ruixia to finish the arrangements, the two of them carried out the final confirmation of supplies before departure.

Sorens stood there blankly, at a loss as to what to do, his mind full of questions like "Did they just speak?" "Can you talk without making any noise?" "Does this mean I've officially joined?"