The Spearmaster and the Black Cat-Novel

Chapter 94 – The Awakening of Templar Knight Leader Claude

“Will you let me have some booze?”

“Ayes, one drink, 3 copper coins.”

The master places the alcohol on top of the counter.

Receiving the change after giving him one large copper coin, I drank the alcohol.

The booze is cheap. It was disgusting beer.

It makes me want to frown since it’s bitter and has no carbonic acid either, but I ask the master about the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】 without letting it show on my face too much.

“Master, is there anything you know about the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】?” (Shuuya)

“The 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】, eh? I dun’ know nothing but it bein’ filled with swarms of demons.”

Even if you tell me something that obvious…

“Only that?” (Shuuya)

“Yeah, however, even though ya ain’t a knight of the kingdom, asking such stuff, you a newcomer adventurer, ain’t ya?”

“Right.” (Shuuya)

“In that case ya gotta go to the fortress 【Sole】 located at the eastern front. Dare-devilish adventurers gather over there. Ya will be able to get plenty of information and there’s probably an abundance of demon extermination jobs available.”

The master explained while wiping a wooden goblet with a cloth.

“Hee, I see. Thanks.” (Shuuya)

Accordingly I wrap it up here.

Sole Fortress, eh?

Leaving a bit of the nasty booze, I left the bar.

Coming out of the alley with its many drunkards, I enter the main street.

As expected, unlike during the day, it’s quiet now.

The shops located on both sides of the street are closed.

It’s inevitable for this time of the day, I suppose?

If there was a magic tool-like shop, I wanted to search for books about water magic.

Though I guess it’s not necessary at the moment since Helme is with me?

However, sooner or later I will go to a professional store, I think.

As I walk along the street, the bright sunlight of the morning glow dyed the scenery.

While feeling a refreshing wind on my cheeks, I pass the tidy street that continues with a carefully laid-out stone pavement.

And then I arrive at the east gate.

Since the east gate was closed, I kindly asked the guard at the station and had him open the gate.

“You a travelling adventurer? Do your best and defeat lots of demons at the front-line fortress.”

For some reason the soldier encouraged me.

It seems there are many adventurers who head to the fortress.

After returning a suitable smile to the soldier, I pass through the pulled-up east gate and go outside the city.

The earthen road supposedly leading to the eastern front-line vanished into a forest.

It’s not that different to the road to the holy city I travelled together with the princess.

Basically the geographical topography around here is a forest adjoining to the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】?

I walk along the road while harbouring such an impression.

『Your Excellency, there’s an abundance of vegetation, isn’t there? I’d like to come outside.』 (Helme)

『Okay, that’s fine with me.』 (Shuuya)

The Crystal Spirit of Everlasting Darkness Helme is released in a spiral from my left eye.

She materializes on the ground turning into a beautiful woman’s body and runs up to the flowers blooming along roadside. She stretches out her arms, which have blue, leafy waves on their skin, towards the pretty flowers.

Water sprinkled from her fingertip in trickles like a water pistol.

Adopting a peculiar posegradually standing up, the appearance of Helme admiring the flowers is truly lovely.

I think it’s nice to advance in a laid-back manner while marvelling at her like this?

The way of advancing through the sky or along the trees is faster, but this time I will pass.

Currently I want to savour the travelling feeling as it’s not the usual back alley walk.

It will be fine if I get rid of demons once they appear.

While enjoying a stroll with the Helme in such an idle mood, we walk the road towards the east.

At the time when I pondered whether I should have a look ahead from above once after calling back Helme since she lost interest in watching the flowers.

I felt magic source responses closing in from behind.

“Your Excellency, something’s approaching from behind.” (Helme)

I know. Helme seems to have realized it as well.

Their speed of coming this way is fast, isn’t it?

Looking back, I wonder whether it’s a carriage heading toward the fortress?

Pondering that, I carefreely take a look…

The ones who appeared behind me were mounted temple knights wearing yellow crosses on their chests.

Them, huh?

Did they maybe expressly chase after me?

A knight, who’s wearing a priest’s robe and galloping at the lead, stopped in front of me.

He is carrying a silver plate with a crystal attached in his hand.

That crystal was flashing redly.

“You were here after all! The recently detected reaction matches the reaction we pursued! Even the magic tool of black curse Grasselya shows a strong reaction.”

“In the end it was correct to chase after it.”

There’s Claude who had ordered my arrest in the royal palace.

“It’s the people who insulted His Excellency. Here I will—” (Helme)

“Helme observe. I have a little idea.” (Shuuya)

“Ha!” (Helme)

Helme kneeled down on one knee, bowed her head, stood up swiftly and took some distance.

“Captain Claude, this guy is indeed…”

“Yeah, Seni Almayer, be careful. I suspect him to be a demon of the highest rank. It’s also possible that he manipulated the soldiers of the 【Holy Kingdom】.

What’s this about, to manipulate them… involuntarily I smile bitterly.

It’s also possible to escape by quickly firing a chain towards the trees located in the vicinity here.

But I decide to talk directly to them with my fists for a bit.

At any rate…

What’s that red-flashing silver plate held by one of the knights?

Though I guess it’s a magic tool, going by its name.

“Helme, do you know that?” (Shuuya)

I asked Helme who’s at the edge of the road.

“I feel mana from it. It’s a mysterious tool.” (Helme)

*falls over*

“That’s obvious.” (Shuuya)

“I’m sorry.” (Helme)

“Don’t mind it.” (Shuuya)

That blinking seems to be a reaction towards Helme and me.

Is the new race Light Demon Lucival treated as demon* as well? (T/N: demon here as in 魔族 (mazoku) aka demon race)

Is it reacting to the powerful darkness attribute I possess?

While I’m staring at the magic tool and thinking about such questions, the yellow-crossed knights dismount their horses.

They started to encircle my vicinity centring around their leader Claude.

There are eight knights in total wearing yellow-crossed clothes.

As it was merely three when they were at the audience hall, they apparently gathered their comrades.

I confirm with Magic Observation Sight.

All of them manipulated mana in their bodies.

The knights’ equipment are yellow-crossed priest robes worn over chain mail, longswords, round bucklers and maces.

By conjecture the combat jobs are around the types of magic heavy knight, monk and armed priest?

That might be the case since they introduced themselves as temple knights?

I guess they use light magic after all?

“Don’t let him escape! Finish that man before he can, he’s a demon!” (Claude)

“Keep surrounding him!”

They seem to be brimming with the will to kill me.

“Your Excellency—” (Helme)

Helme created a water ball in her right hand.

“Helme, be patient.” (Shuuya)

“Yes…” (Helme)

Helme bows, transforms her lower body into liquid and floats in mid air.

“Rollo, hide yourself. I will deal with them. You don’t have to help me.” (Shuuya)

“Nya.” (Rollo)

Rollo jumps off my shoulder and leaves towards the back.

It looks like the knights don’t mind Rollo leaving either.

They shortened the distance, the fighting* distance, by shuffling. (T/N: 間合い (maai) … basically the distance/range between martial artists)

Let’s try talking with them once as I have nothing to lose anyway?

“I’ve told you several times, but I’m no demon. Please don’t misunderstand.” (Shuuya)

“There’s no use in arguing—”

Uhe, he slashed at me.

All of a sudden when I started a conversation?

I swiftly take my left and right hand out of the overcoat and switch over to a stance of interception.

I summon the Magic Halberd in my right hand. While dodging the sword I slashed diagonally from the shoulder by turning my body to the left side with a half rotation and made him eat the spear butt on the left side of his stomach as counter.

“Gueeh.”

The slashing knight groans and falls to the ground with an expression full of anguish.

I immediately took some distance by stepping back.

While keeping up my fighting distance, I set up the Magic Halberd in a seigan stance.

It was a counter, but I kindly took it easy on him so that he doesn’t die.

As I’m thinking about that, knights holding maces and longswords come attacking from the left and right direction next.

I make free use of Gyration by lightly using the tip of my toes as pivot centre to turn once.

I avoid them. I take the side of the knight using a mace while moving in order to avoid being surrounded. I slowly swing the Magic Halberd diagonally downwards.

I lightly cut the knight’s shin.

“— Uaaah!”

The knight topples over while blood sprays from his foot.

Do I pursue the fallen knight a bit more—!? There, the other knights extended the blades of their weapons from my front and back trying to pincer attack me.

In reverse, I will use that against them.

Dodging a sword thrust from the front by tilting my head slightly, I performed a light half rotation using the balls of my feet as if I had eyes at the back of my head and shifted into dodging motions.

The longsword, which was thrust out from behind me, painfully grazes the side of my ear.

While evading with the bare minimum distance, I got to the back of the knight using that longsword.

I consciously decide to twist the joint of his arm which he stretched out straight ahead.

“Hiiyaaaa.”

Because of having his deformed arm entangled by the magic spear, he raised a scream not befitting a knight and dropped his longsword to the ground.

I seize the back of the knight who had his joint immobilized.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it? My rotational evasion has penetrated your position.” (Shuuya)

While addressing the knight who’s screaming from behind I put strength into my arms with Magic Combat Steps, forcibly pushed him by pressing my hands against him, and made him collide with the knight who came assaulting from the front.

“— Guahh.”

“Ouch.”

The knights, who had their heads crash into each other, stagger as if seeing stars and collapse.

At that moment half of the knights have fallen into a state of being incapable of fighting.

Their high-spirited vigour from the beginning has vanished.

Each of them revealed expressions filled with panic and they didn’t close the distance anymore.

Well, I guess it’s my turn then?

I slowly close the fighting distance with the way of walking initiated by the Achilles style.

“Wh-What’s that? This guy’s movements are far too strange and fast. You guys, Seni, stop this spear user’s movements. I will stop him with high-ranking light magic.” (Claude)

“— Yes!”

“Got it!”

“Let’s go.”

Three of the instructed knights raise battle cries at the same time.

“Oh, Light God Lulodis, in response to my mana—” (Claude)

Having taken some distance, Claude began to cast.

The straight-ahead-like movements of the knights raising battle cries are easy to understand.

They attack me while freely launching series of blows with their longswords and maces.

As I dodge the vertically-lowered mace and evade the longswords’ sweeping strokes, I counter the assaulting knights while going easy on them so that they won’t die.

I gave them counter-kicks to their solar plexus and against their feet as presents.

At the time when all the knights went down to the floor,

“Representing the beam of light which serves as light of lurid judgement, materialize what will become the punishing spear of light—” (Claude)

Claude finished casting in the rear.

It’s a text that’s easy to remember.

“《Light Spear of PunishmentShining Lance》!” (Claude)

Claude creates a thick light spear while revealing a triumphant and broadly grinning face.

He released the spell.

The thick light spear heads towards me as ray in a straight line as if it’s a flash of lightning.

“Your Excellency! As a high-ranking spell rank—” (Helme)

In accordance with Helme’s warning— phheew, it’s fast.

I will move to dodge it— geh, it pursues!?

Moreover, when I tried to hit the approaching light spear with the red axe blade of the Magic Halberd, it smoothly evaded collision with the magic spear and the light spear followed my right arm which has no armour.

A shield with , no, it won’t be in time!

The light spear clashes against my swinging arm.

— O-Oouchh, ouch! The head of the light spear dug into my arm and scattered blood.

However, it only hurts at the beginning.

While causing a sound similar to the *chyupon* when pudding stands up after being pressed down, the light spear was absorbed below the right hand’s wrist.

“— Eh?”

“Huh?”

There’s no impact on my right hand anymore. It hasn’t pierced my arm?

The spirit Helme reacts with surprise as well.

※Extra Skill: Confirmation of Multi-Chain※

※Extra Skill: Conditions for derivation skill of Granted Seal of Light cleared※

※Extra Skill: Conditions for derivation skill of Chain Factor cleared※

※Piing※ skill acquired※

Oh, lucky~, got a skill.

Aah, which reminds me, my race had invalidation and absorption of light and darkness, didn’t it?

“Amazing. It got absorbed!” (Helme)

Helme was delighted and caused sheets of spray to be created from her waving and trembling dark bluish, leafy skin.

“An Extreme class spell of light v-vanished!? F-For r-reeeall? A-Aaaaahh, n-no way, Holy King…. -shama…” (Claude)

Claude was apparently quite shaken. His mouth trembled with an “awawawa” and white mucus is sticking to its edges.

Is this facial cyanosis and consternation?

“Well, that’s how it is. I’m no demon. I’d like you to understand with this.” (Shuuya)

While erasing the magic spear, I approach the blue-eyed Claude-kun.

“Hiiyaaaaaa, I, I, I am, aah, pleash, my goodness, doon’t coome o-o-o-oover h-here. Pleash f-f-fooorgive mee.” (Claude)

It seems Claude’s mind went completely haywire.

Though it’s an exaggeration to say that his hair has grown grey and long out of worry, he retreats timidly while showing a pale expression as if his blonde hair has changed into white hair.

I clench my right hand into a fist similar to a stone.

“That’s no good. I won’t be able to settle down unless I give you one good punch. With that said— I will break that illusion of yours*— or rather, I will crush it!!” (Shuuya) (T/N: Probably a reference to Touma from Toaru Majutsu no Index)

Tightening my flank and twisting my waist, I launch my right arm in front— divine punishment!

His ikemen face received my right straight Galactic Magnum.

“Bubuh—” (Claude)

His nose is broken by my normal fist and his body makes one revolution.

Claude fainted with his body twitching and spasming while kissing the ground.

I think he will be alright since I didn’t clad myself with magic combat style.

Given that I went easy on him… he shouldn’t have died.

With this all knights became incapable of fighting.

“*gasp* C-Captain… everyone was defeated…?”

The knight with the injured foot looks at the current situation while being out of breath as he endures the pain of his injury.

This person might die if left alone like this. In a hurry I directly sprinkled a potion over his wound.

The wound heals.

“Your Excellency, you are kind… even though it’s fine to thrust the jar into his ass…” (Helme)

I pay no attention to Helme’s scary remark in a manner of Hoichi the Earless*, no, with utter indifference. (T/N: Hoichi the Earless is the name of a tale and title character in an adaptation of Japanese mythology. I think the meaning here is clear though)

“… Thank you very much.”

The saved yellow-crossed knight showed an uneasy expression, but still thanked me.

I don’t really care if I’m labelled as demon by these guys, but did the misunderstanding get resolved, I wonder?

However, since I more or less have the blood of demons in me as Light Demon Lucival, I understand the reason for these guys chasing me.

“… No, I just did what is to be expected. However, please don’t spout such screwed-up stuff such as me being a demon anymore, okay? Please tell that captain-san as well. After all I saved your life.” (Shuuya)

I speak with a “friendly” smile.

“Y-Yes! Your kind words are wasted on me… Saint-sama…”

Saint? Claude called me Holy King or such as well.

Therefore I sent a look at the magic tool tied to a horse’s saddle.

“Saint? Putting that aside, I have a question; what’s that magic tool bound to the horse saddle?” (Shuuya)

“It’s the magic tool of black curseGrasselya. It’s a valuable item created in the Vatican where the Demon Extermination AgencyDisorte resides. It works against high-ranking demons, pursues them and discovers hidden demons. It’s an important magic tool we directly borrowed from the Vatican’s 8th Demon Extermination AgencyDisorte.”

“Hoo. Is it fine for me to take it?” (Shuuya)

“Y-You must not… n, no… please take it.”

The knight hates it, but as he seems to be scared, he lets me have it.

Let’s try accepting it, I guess?

But, if I use it, it will end up reacting to me, won’t it…?

There’s no point, is there? Let’s stop.

“I see. If you are against it, I will stop. I’m no bandit but an adventurer after all. And it’s fine for me to heal your collapsed comrades since I’m carrying some healing potions with me.” (Shuuya)

Saying that, I retrieve several potions from my item box and place them on the ground.

“Thank you very much.”

“And, please don’t pursue me anymore.” (Shuuya)

Glaring at him, I present him with the smile I have shown many times.

“Y-Yes, though it might be an abrupt question, but…”

One of the knights speaks while staring at me.

“What is it?”

“Just now you have absorbed the holy spell of light… there’s a famous phrase in the 16th verse of the holy script Azaya. “The one who absorbs light skills, bears a light cross on his chest. They are someone who will proven as Holy King, saint, holy woman, shrine maiden or divine child”, it says. Aren’t you the reincarnation of the Holy King-sama, the Divine Son-sama… or Saint-sama?”

Certainly I bear the cross of the Granted Seal of Light on my chest.

But, since I’m not suitable for being a holy king, shrine maiden or saint, I naturally tell a lie.

Since his look is completely like that of seeing me as god, I don’t think he will believe me, but…

“… I don’t care about something like holy king, divine child or saint. For me…” (Shuuya)

There’s something I have to do.

“It’s farewell. Helme, come back.” (Shuuya)

“Yes, Your Excellency—” (Helme)

Helme, who changed into liquid, returns while spiralling into my left eye.

I turn on my heels and advance on the road by walking, extending a chain towards the trees and flying through the air.

“Nnn, nyaooon.” (Rollo)

Rollo come running while releasing a throaty voice like a bell from behind.

Erasing the chain, I used and landed on the road.

“Sorry, I hurried ahead too much.” (Shuuya)

Once Rollo jumps on my shoulder and assumes her usual place, she stretches out one tentacle directly ahead as if saying 『Go forward nya』 with a short purr of 「Nya!」

“I know.” (Shuuya)

Seeing such Rollo, I laugh a bit while walking.

Shall I try the skill I acquired previously on this occasion?

Skill Status.

Obtained Skills: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Permanent Skills:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Extra Skills: , , ,

I check .

※Chain Spear of the Ray System※

A native light attribute skill resembling the Extra Skill .

It has additional effectiveness thanks to the effect of the Extra Skill .

A unique derivation rip and pierce skill of the Extra Skill system.

It turns into a special Light Chain Spear.

The explanation ends with only this much, huh?

Even when I touched it, it wasn’t displayed in detail.

I guess I have to test it?

“Rollo, I will test a skill.” (Shuuya)

I invoke and place the aim on the centre of a tree’s trunk.

After creating the light spear in an instant, it flies out and the chain revolves in a spiral like a trail of light in its rear.

As planned, it pierced the centre of the tree’s trunk.

It seems to possess a pursuing ability.

Moreover, there’s a light chain growing from the rear of the light spear like a sea anemone.

— I will also test it out while running.

— Oh, it’s useful.

Can I make the light chain move? The instant I wondered about that, the chain located at the rear of the light spear stuck into the tree’s trunk draws a small spiral and completely split.

It’s shredding vascular cracks as if a net was spreading throughout the surrounding bark of the trunk which had the light spear stuck into it.

Does it have a capture function as well? Rather than capturing, it’s a net attack, huh?

This is handy. I can use it for attacking and restraining.

My choice of long-range attacks besides has increased.

Let’s lightly test things around this area. I hasten my travel speed a bit.

“Rollo, I will ascend to the sky to check our location. Can you go inside my hood?” (Shuuya)

“Nn, nya.” (Rollo)

Rollo dives from the shoulder into the hood.

While feeling the weight of her cute back, I used and and climbed high into the sky.

After forming a foothold out of the Hand of Distorted Mana, I float in mid air… and confirm our destination.

I can faintly see a part of the Mahaheim Mountain Range at the far horizon.

It’s inevitable for it to look distant right now. On this side, the road curls ahead like a small snake.

Ahead of it there was an artificial area that has no forest. I realize that it’s a cleared up land.

And, something like a fortress was visible as well.

The front line fortress is over there, I suppose.

Using , I descend from the sky while shooting a aiming at a tree with thick branches and a tall height. I advance swiftly along the road by jumping along the trees.

After a few hours.

The road vanished and a large fortress surrounded by a wooden wall with fields spreading in front of it became visible.

On the other side of the large fortress there is a large forest covered densely with tall trees.

Furthermore, once I approach the fortress, magic light suddenly flew about and the scene of a battlefield came in sight.

A fierce battle between demons and people is unfolding.

Grizbells, lesser demons and… oh, a huge eyeball monster, which was covered by black hair and which I had never seen before, are located at the right rear.

The huge black-haired eyeball shot green light spheres from its large pupils at the adventurers fighting against it while floating in mid-air.

The adventurers are on the defence centred around big shield users. It looks like several of them were hit by the green spheres. Their feet have changed their colour to green and there are also some who became unable to move with their feet connected to the ground after they melted.

This place is the front line 【Fortress City Sole】.

It’s quite the violent welcome.

Is it time for Crystal Spirit of Everlasting Darkness Helme and, after a long time, the burning knight-kun’s turn?

『Helme, leave my left eye and crush all of them.』 (Shuuya)

『Ha!—』 (Helme)

“Rollo, go on a rampage, But, don’t cause troubles to those fighting humans, okay?” (Shuuya)

“Nyanya.” (Rollo)

The liquidised Helme follows my orders, jumps out of my eye, causes a sheet of spray and drops down as if flying.

“I will get down as well.” (Shuuya)

I jump off the thick branch as well and land on the ground.

“Nyao.” (Rollo)

Rollo gets off my shoulder and changes into the black panther.

She extends her tentacle bone swords into a herd of grizbells at once and gets rid off the fighting distance in an instant by contracting the tentacle. It’s not like she’s imitating Helme, but… she buried her fangs into a grizbell’s black-haired butt.

Was she influenced after seeing the battle the other day?

Well then, do I use the Prison of Darkness Bone KnightsDark Hell Bone Knights after a long time?

Touching the ring, I summon them.

“Red Burning Knight Adomos is now here, awaiting orders.”

“Black Burning Knight Zemetas, present.”

“Yo, it’s been a while. Did you stay in good health?” (Shuuya)

“— Ha! We enjoyed hunting gordo in the spirit world.”

“I’m full of spirit.”

They have solemn voices as usual.

“So here’s the deal, I plan to exterminate the demons rampaging around over there. By the way, this place is next to the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】. I’ve been told that there’s a tear connecting to the spirit world, where you reside, in that large forest.” (Shuuya)

“W-What did you say!”

“A tear toward Sela in that forest ahead…”

The two burning knights lifted their faces while shouting out their surprise.

It felt like their red eyes shone even brighter.

“Did that surprise you?” (Shuuya)

“Ha!”

“I was surprised.”

“I’m sorry for having surprised you, but I will have you exterminate those guys. Once they have been annihilated, I will have you return to the spirit world, okay?” (Shuuya)

“Certainly! Let this Black Burning Knight Zemetas show you how I annihilate all of them with this dark bone sword, Your Excellency!”

“Understood. Let this Red Burning Knight Adomos show you how I pulverize all of them with my shield.”

The black burning knight and the red burning knight roar vigorously.

Getting their shields ready, they began to advance towards the spot where Helme and Rollo are fighting.

While watching that, I invoke and .

I made the Magic Halberd appear in my right hand while dashing as if jumping through the air by using as foothold. I lowered the red axe blade on the head of a lesser demon I picked as target and defeated it in the process.

Of course the lesser demon couldn’t react.

— It’s split into two halves from its head to the crotch. The red axe blade even reached the ground.

The blood, which spew out from the corpse’s cut sections, evaporates around the red axe blade.

I land and place one knee on the ground.

That also served a little bit as brake. There’s no counter-attack from the demons in the surrounding.

It seems they are surprised by our sudden assault.

Thinking that, I look around right away.

… I see. They don’t have any leeway to counter-attack, do they?

Helme, the combination of the burning knights and Rollo were going berserk.

Helme’s ice spears pierced the feet of a grizbell and stopped its movements. The black burning knight stabbed the torso of the grizbell that had its movements blocked with his longsword.

Moreover, the red burning knight, who moved from the back of the black burning knight as if suddenly gushing forth, delivers a finishing shield bash against the grizbell’s head and destroys its skull.

His bone armour, which is releasing a black steam, was dyed in blood spurts.

Amazing. They are naturally cooperating.

What entered my view at that point were the tentacle bone swords extended by RollodeenBlack Panther Mode.

Fixing the tentacle bone swords to the lesser demons’ feet by piercing them, she dragged along the lesser demons’ bodies just like that and ran around the battlefield in order to get the surrounding demons dragged into it as well.

Haha, the surrounding demons fall over and collapse.

Due to the scenery of her one-sidedly tormenting, teasing and killing them with her tentacles, the adventurers, who were fighting against the other demons, were taken aback.

Well then, I can’t get defeated by them either.

I set that huge black-haired eyeball in the rear as my target.

First I will get rid of the grizbells next to it.

Slanting the Magic Halberd while running, I mow them down in fan form and cut a grizbell from its torso to its feet.

Next I release the skill which I just picked up.

Since it’s a skill, there’s no chanting.

The magic light spear stabbed the head of a grizbell that was on my left side in an instant.

Without sparing a single glance at the monsters as they continue to fall down, I run towards the location of my target, the black-haired eyeball.

Did it notice my direct approach while mowing down one monster after the other? The black-haired eyeball turned its huge pupil, which was right in the middle of it, at me as if operating a mobile fortressDeath Star.

That means it has noticed me, doesn’t it?

The black-haired eyeball flashily shoots green light spheres.

Avoiding heading straight towards it, I dash diagonally and dodge the light spheres.

The green light spheres created holes in the ground where I passed through.

They don’t appear to pursue me.

However, by continuing to release a barrage, I can’t stop running because it chases after me.

At that moment a lesser demon prepares its pike and attacks me who is running while avoiding the barrage.

Tsk, this lesser demon is a nuisance.

Ah, but, it fits just right—

While running I immediately implement the idea I came up with.

I shoot .

I stab the lesser demon with the chain. After wrapping the chain around it, I jumped into the air while dragging it along and tried to clash the lesser demon’s body into a green light sphere.

The lesser demon’s body collided with it causing a thick sound and a hole appeared in its body after a part of it was melted away.

— I think I don’t wanna get hit by those green light spheres.

But, if I run while making use of the demons as shields against the shooting trajectory…

Will the light spheres stop?

Pondering that, I move while using demon monsters such as lesser demons and grizbells as shields.

However, it doesn’t seem like that black-haired eyeball considers the demons as its comrades.

It appears to stay calm even if it kills the demons.

It ceaselessly shoots green light spheres without stopping.

Once the lesser demons and grizbells are hit by the green light spheres, they scream in death agony as holes are burned into their bodies and collapse.

Are these guys morons?

In that case, I will guide the demons in the surroundings into the shooting trajectory of the black-haired eyeball.

I repeatedly move around in order to change lesser demons and grizbells into shields. One after the other the demons are penetrated by the black-haired eyeball’s light spheres and melt away.

Thanks to that, there was no one left in the vicinity of the black-haired eyeball.

Alright, ah, but that means that the obstacles ended up vanishing.

— Sure enough. The light spheres keep coming at me endlesslyyy.

— There’s no place where I can hiiideeee.

— Running diagonally to the side, I evade the flying green light spheres with good timing.

I wanted to directly strike the red axe blade into that black-haired eyeball which looks “soft and flabby,” but…

I give up.

I fire a chain at the black-haired eyeball while running and following that, I also release a .

It pursues behind the chain, which is advancing by drawing an arc in mid-air, as if tearing the space with a single ray line.

Immediately after the chain pierced the surface of the black-haired eyeball, the shining light spear also stabbed deeply into it’s huge pupil.

The instant it pierced into it, the gathering of chains, located at the rear of the light spear, spreads, splits up and wriggles in a helical shape. Turning into a net of light similar to one used for catching fish, it creates many crack-like netted fissures on the surface of the black-haired eyeball.

Penetrating into its soft-looking interior, the wounds of the net cut deeply into it.

It’s cut apart into pieces in a beautiful manner.

The flabby, black-haired eyeball turned into small chunks of meat and those dropped down.

Even a single strike of the light spear is powerful, but the second attack with the light chain net is even more brutal.

A large amount of jelly-like meat pieces are scattered on the ground.

If I eat those, they might really taste like jelly-like sweets…

Once the black-haired eyeball was defeated, the demons, who were fighting at other places, apparently decided to retreat individually and withdraw in separate directions.

The demons, who attacked the 【Holy City】 of the 【Holy Kingdom】, operated systematically, but it seems those guys are different.

Once I return the burning knights to the spirit world by touching the ring, Helme and Rollo return while running.

“N, nyanya~” (Rollo)

Does Rollo want to boast once again? Lesser demons are hanging down from her tentacle bone swords.

“Rollo, you did well. I’m putting you through trouble each and every time.” (Shuuya)

“Nya.” (Rollo)

Rollo drops the corpses on the spot and makes the blood spurts on her fur fly away by shaking herself as usual. After being satisfied with that, she began to groom herself by licking her stomach.

“Your Excellency, the demons have retreated.” (Helme)

Next to Rollo who’s licking her stomach, Helme puts one knee on the ground.

“Seems so, doesn’t it?” (Shuuya)

“The one who was defeated by Your Excellency, that eyeball monster, might have been the one giving instructions.” (Helme)

“Well, going by the circumstance it’s correct to think so, but since it didn’t look like they were understanding each other, unexpectedly they might have simply retreated because their numbers decreased.” (Shuuya)

“Such possibility exists as well.” (Helme)

We talked while walking, but stopped once.

It’s before heading to the fortress city.

“Helme, please take off the blood sticking to Rollo and me.” (Shuuya)

“Ha!—” (Helme)

Turning into a watery state, Helme covers Rollo and me with a liquid.

It’s a sensation of being wrapped up by that liquid. It might feel slightly nice.

Rollo and I became clean in an instant.

With this there should be plenty of blood stored inside Helme’s body.

Helme changed from her liquid state into a human shape.

“Helme, please give me the blood.” (Shuuya)

“Yes, with pleasure.” (Helme)

Helme kisses me on the spot to deliver the blood to me.

It’s a passionate version to the degree of causing a *chyupan* sound after the kiss ends.

“— The replenishment is complete. It’s fine for you to return into my eye.” (Shuuya)

“Yes—” (Helme)

Helme turns into water and plunges into my left eye while rotating in a spiral.

Well then, let’s go to the fortress? The gate is in its rear.

Placing Rollo on my shoulder, I walk towards the location of the fortress’ gate.

The surviving adventurers had gathered in front of the gate.

At the time when we entered their field of vision, uproars and cheers start to happen.

“Oi, it’s that guy. It’s a face I haven’t seen, but he finished off that black-haired eyeball, the B++ Arbiter, by himself, you know…?”

“Yeah, that startled me. That spear user, no, magic spear user since he used magic, huh? It’s the same class as the stringed large sword Bertran which is led by War Princess Swane who is on an expedition right now.”

“A class, eh? It’s possible, I guess.”

That flabby, black-haired eyeball was called Arbiter?

“The spear user over there~~, you saved us. Thanks.”

“The one who pulled off that massacre is a new face?”

“Where’s the black panther which seemed to be his familiar?”

“There’s a black cat on his shoulder. Isn’t that the one? The black panther ran around while dragging along demons. That was amazing.”

“In addition it looked as if there was also a female magician, but she’s not here…”

“I also saw knights who wore bone helmets and were releasing red and black smoke from their bodies, but it looks like they ended up dying.”

is what they seem to say. It looks like I ended up giving the adventurers, who have been active here from the very beginning while being attached to the fortress, a shocking image.

While revealing a non-committal, forced smile, I walk towards the closed fortress gate.

I arrive before the gate after crossing the abatis which is likely the final defence line.

The gate stayed closed.

“Oi, won’t you open it?”

“Please wait, we are opening it right now.”

The person on top of the fortress’ wall said.

After I take a little distance, the gate is opened.

Passing through the opened gate, I proceed into the fortress.

Most of the houses inside the fortress were made out of wood. The width of the roads isn’t wide and there are many crossroads.

It doesn’t look like there are that many buildings here.

But, among them I discover a signboard with Adventurer’s Guild written on it.

Shall I try having a look at some requests while I’m procuring information in the guild?