𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟗𝟕.𝟐: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝟏
When we left the room, intermittent explosive noises were already audible from various parts of the fortress.
Not only that, sounds like clashing weapons, large crowds making noise, shouts, screams, and various ominous noises.
ㅤ
🔹𝐀𝐰𝐞b𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.𝐜𝐨𝐦 ― 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧s𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 “𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬” 𝐚n𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬🔹
As I confirmed my bad premonition, I ran and arrived outside the fortress, where the commotion was happening.
What I saw there… was hell.
ㅤ
“Stop it!”
“Why are you doing this?!”
“All to exterminate our divine enemy!”
“Just hand over the fake hero peacefully!”
“Like we could do that!”
ㅤ
While arguing in this manner, people are killing each other everywhere.
It’s not against the monsters who are enemies of humanity.
It’s humans killing each other.
“What’s… happening…?”
ㅤ
My thought process nearly stopped at the spectacle.
Why, when the threat of the Demon Lord’s army is right nearby, are humans, allies, killing each other?
I don’t know.
Whose side should I take?
That’s not even the issue.
I don’t even know who’s an enemy and who’s an ally.
I’ve been full of things I don’t understand lately.
I just want this to stop already.
ㅤ
“Die! Fake hero! 《Atlantis Break》!”
“Huh?!”
“Look out, Yuma! 《Apollo Slash》!”
ㅤ
Ivy-san defended the incredible water flow attack that was naturally released on my behalf, as I was unable to move.
The heat of the flame instantly evaporates the water, creating steam.
But, the enemy broke through the steam and approached.
ㅤ
“《Sonic Lance》!”
“Guh…?!”
ㅤ
This time, I managed to defend myself somehow.
However, I was astonished when I saw the clearly revealed enemy.
Why is this person…?!
ㅤ
“Commander-san?!”
“《Tidal Wave》!”
ㅤ
Whether he disliked our close combat or not, Commander-san activated his water magic at close range, riding the flow to create distance.
In that moment, Ivy-san took a position to protect me.
ㅤ
“Submarine-dono! Have you lost your mind?!”
“There’s no point in talking to the enemy! 《Water Cutter》!”
“Huh! 《Flame Sword》!”
ㅤ
Commander-san continues to attack, as if it’s beyond question.
What’s going on?
Just the other day, he’s like a completely different person.
What should I do?
I have no choice but to fight.
But, how?
Do I kill the people who are attacking me?
…No, I can’t do that.
ㅤ
In that case, there’s only one thing to do!
ㅤ
“Commander-san, I’m sorry…! Shine—《Excalibur》!”
ㅤ
To demonstrate my will to fight, I manifested my true equipment.
By doing so, my status increases dramatically.
Ivy-san’s already activated true equipment.
Combined with its unique effect [Winner’s Blessing], my current status is incredibly high.
So high that an ordinary person wouldn’t be able to cope, no matter how strong.
ㅤ
Using that overwhelming status, I launched an attack on Commander-san.
ㅤ
“Ha!”
“Guh?!”
ㅤ
What I let loose was not a skill or an art, but a simple body blow.
However, it was released with a speed and power that Commander-san could not handle.
Taking that blow, Commander-san lost consciousness and fainted.
ㅤ
“Phew… Ivy-san, this is…”
“Ah, he’s probably being controlled by brainwashing or something. Whether it’s a strategy of the Demon Lord’s army or something else…
Either way, all we can do is do what we can.”
“…You’re right.”
“Well, first of all…”
ㅤ
Ivy-san was about to say something, when…
ㅤ
“Shindou-sama!”
ㅤ
A familiar voice echoed from the sky.
It was Emma, another member of our party, flying through the air, manifesting the wings of her True Equipment.
However, something seemed off.
She seemed… extremely flustered…
ㅤ
“Please, get out of the way!”
“Eh?”
“《Feather Storm》!”
ㅤ
Before I could comprehend her sudden words, Emma cast a high-powered wind spell.
Directed at me.
Why…?!
Could it be… even Emma has been controlled?!
ㅤ
“Yuma!”
“Ah…”
ㅤ
Once again unable to react in the nick of time, I was shoved away by Ivy-san, dodging the spell.
But Ivy-san took the hit in my place.
ㅤ
“Guh…!”
“Ivy-san!”
ㅤ
I immediately rushed to her, lifted her up.
Then, hiding from Emma, who had started casting the next spell, I checked her injuries.
…They were deep.
Not life-threatening, but the damage would make continuing the battle tough.
Neither Ivy-san nor I can use healing magic.
Because Emma is the one in our party who does that.
I quickly had her drink the potion I had on hand, but its effects were weak compared to Emma’s healing magic, with her magic power stats over 20,000.
Damn it!
If it had come to this, I shouldn’t have prioritized boosting my combat strength!
ㅤ
But, it seems I don’t even have time to regret.
With Commander-san and Emma absent, enemies kept coming one after another.
ㅤ
“Fake Hero! I’m taking your head!”
“It’s my kill!”
“Die! You’re the pest destroying our nation!”
ㅤ
People who seemed clearly out of their minds attacked one after another.
Because each one of them was weak, I was able to subdue them without killing, but I don’t know how long I can keep this up.
When I run out of spare time, what will I do?
Can I resolve myself to kill people…?
I feel like I’m going to break.
ㅤ
“Roar━《Fenrir Force》!”
“?!”
ㅤ
But, I immediately lost the leisure to ponder such thoughts.
A beast-like person, enveloped in some sort of aura, charged at me.
I just barely blocked the attack with Excalibur.
But I was being pushed back by sheer force.
ㅤ
This person is strong…!
Incredibly so!
Honestly, even better than a fully fit Ivy-san!
ㅤ
“You’re the Hero, right?”
“…”
ㅤ
I can’t answer.
From the others’ words, for some reason, these people are targeting me, the Hero.
I can’t possibly announce myself as the target in this situation.
ㅤ
“If you won’t answer, that’s fine too. It doesn’t change the fact that I’ll kill you.
However, even if you won’t introduce yourself, I will!
I am the esteemed executive of the Demon Lord’s army! the fenrir, Shiro!
The name of the one who will kill you! Etch it into your heart as you die!”
“?!”
ㅤ
The Demon Lord’s army?!
They’re showing up at this time, does this mean this situation is indeed a plot by the Demon Lord’s army?!
In that case, if I can defeat this executive in front of me, who’s introducing himself, the situation might improve.
A glimmer of hope.
ㅤ
“《Wolf Slash》!”
“《Photon Blade》!”
ㅤ
Our attacks collide.
The result… my attack was stronger.
ㅤ
“Nuh?!”
ㅤ
Overpowered, the fenrir was blown away.
It seems my stats are higher.
As long as I don’t receive his attacks in an unstable stance like earlier, I won’t lose.
Probably, in a one-on-one fight, I could win easily.
But, right now…
ㅤ
“Die, you fake hero! 《Slash》!”
“《Smash》!”
“《Flame Lance》!”
“《Voltic Lance》!”
“《Earth Bullet》!”
“Guh…!”
ㅤ
Even when the fenrir appears, the surrounding people continue their assault, not paying it any mind.
Yes, this is a battlefield.
There’s no way one can fight in a one-on-one situation.
ㅤ
I somehow block the attacks coming from all directions.
Counterattack… No good, I can’t kill them!
Even if I try to steel myself, my body won’t move against my will.
At most, I can only manage to knock them unconscious.
But, if I fight while being cautious not to kill, the number of enemies doesn’t decrease at all.
On the contrary, reinforcements keep coming one after another.
Moreover, while using the controlled people as shields, even the fenrir joins the attack, and I end up completely on the defensive.
This can’t go on… It’s bad!
ㅤ
“《Fire Wall》!”
“Huh?!”
ㅤ
At that moment, a wall of flame with tremendous momentum engulfed my surroundings.
This isn’t an attack on me.
Rather, it’s magic to protect me from other attacks.
ㅤ
“Ivy-san!”
ㅤ
I call out the name of the person who cast this magic.
At the end of my line of sight, Ivy-san was standing up, albeit unsteadily.
ㅤ
“Yuma! I can still move! Leave the others to me! You target the big one!”
“…You’re a lifesaver!”
ㅤ
In truth, I don’t want someone who’s been so badly wounded to fight.
But, I can’t say that now.
If I’m to consider Ivy-san’s sake, there’s only one thing I can do.
That is, to end this fight as quickly as possible!
ㅤ
I steeled myself and tried to head towards the fenrir.
ㅤ
“Let’s play!”
ㅤ
At that moment, I heard an out-of-place, high-pitched voice like that of a little girl.
And then ━━ in the next moment, a sword had sprouted from my belly.
“…Huh?”
“What?!”
ㅤ
I heard my own dumbfounded voice and Ivy-san’s shocked voice.
That’s to be expected.
I recognize the sword that’s now sticking out of my belly.
This is the first true equipment I saw in this world.
ㅤ
It was Ivy-san’s sword, Tillfang.
ㅤ
“Yuma?! Damn it! What’s happening?! My body… I can’t move it at will?!”
ㅤ
As she yelled, Ivy-san pulled the sword out of my belly and immediately swung it at me.
I barely managed to block it with Excalibur.
My strength is failing because of the pain.
But, I was able to stop it.
It was much weaker than Ivy-san’s usual attacks.
ㅤ
“Yay! A new doll to play with!”
“Ugh…?!”
ㅤ
I heard that voice again.
Ivy-san’s body was flung towards the owner of that voice as if being pulled in.
ㅤ
I turned my eyes in that direction.
ㅤ
There was a new monster there.
A girl of about ten with the lower half of a giant spider.
The very image of a monster called arachne on Earth.
ㅤ
“Yay! Yay! There are so many dolls to play with!”
ㅤ
And, around the arachne, there were many people.
People who, like Ivy-san, appeared to be deprived of their freedom, and with agonized expressions, were readying their weapons.
Among them, I could see Emma.
ㅤ
So, it’s her.
She was the one controlling the others.
No, that’s not right.
That alone doesn’t explain everything.
ㅤ
“Yay! Yay!”
“Nico! Stop playing around and get serious!”
“You should do the same, Shiro-san. I told you not to take actions at your own discretion, didn’t I?”
“What?!”
ㅤ
The arachne and the fenrir were having a conversation.
A character joined in the conversation.
A girl leading a suspicious duo wearing hooded robes that hid their faces, followed by some people who seemed like bodyguards.
ㅤ
Seeing this figure, my eyes widened.
ㅤ
Because that girl looked like someone I wanted to see, but also didn’t want to see.
ㅤ
“We’ll definitely finish the Hero here. Both of you, get psyched.”
“Yessir!”
“Hmph! We know!”
ㅤ
With that, she pointed her sword at me.
ㅤ
“Go.”
ㅤ
As if that was the signal, a large number of manipulated people started to attack me.
[insert page=’4633′ display=’content’]
[insert page=’4587′ display=’content’]
Leave a Reply