𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠
We watched Rest go, drowning in our sorrow.
Yet he emerged almost unscathed, blowing away the mountain of rubble he was under.
ㅤ
“Damn it! You filthy demon! How dare you!”
I won’t forgive you! I’ll tear you apart and feed you to the beasts. . . . . .Huh? Where did the demon go?”
“It’s already over.”
ㅤ
I approached the Beast King, who had suddenly started uttering such unpleasant and absurd things, with a ghostly, unhurried pace.
And then, using the power of the Storm Leg Armor, I accelerated.
Closing the distance with the Beast King.
With a clear intent to kill, I swung my wooden sword.
ㅤ
“Stop, boy! I understand how you feel, but restrain yourself!”
ㅤ
To my surprise, it was Ruberto-san who stopped me.
Stella was still holding onto Rest’s remaining equipment, crying.
Blade was incapacitated.
Doug-san was also severely injured.
Fortunately, the soldiers who had been manipulated were all incapacitated as well, and there were no signs of them reviving.
Presumably, the indirect control through Rest had been severed.
ㅤ
All the more reason that now is the time to settle the score with this guy.
ㅤ
“Step aside, Ruberto-san.
This man attacked Rest when we were about to save him and inflicted a fatal wound. We have to hold him accountable.”
“What?! Volf, you did that too?!”
ㅤ
Hearing my words, Ruberto-san directed an overwhelming fury at the Beast King.
But even so, the Beast King remained nonchalant.
I wanted to kill him right then and there.
I wanted to, but. . . . . .the one who had the right to exact vengeance wasn’t me, who was just getting to know Rest, but Ruberto-san, his grandfather.
I should leave it to Ruberto-san.
ㅤ
“Not content with just massacring innocent people who were being manipulated, you even killed my grandson. . . . . .and a candidate Holy Warrior?!
If you also have divine protection, you should be able to tell humans from demons. . . . . .and yet you call yourself a Holy Warrior?!”
ㅤ
Wait a minute.
He killed innocent people?
I remember hearing a massive destructive noise in the direction Ruberto-san was in charge of at the onset of the battle.
He was the one that forced Ruberto-san to divert his attention, which in turn fragmented our forces.
I thought it was because demons had appeared in sync with Rest’s actions, but could it be. . . . . .?
ㅤ
“Hah! What’s wrong with killing weaklings who are manipulated by demons?
I don’t think I did anything wrong as a Holy Warrior!”
ㅤ
Kill him.
Hearing the Beast King’s words, my killing intent toward him solidified.
This bastard didn’t just rob Rest of his life, but he also stole the lives of the people Rest had been struggling to protect.
He trampled on Rest’s brave efforts and spat on them as if they were nothing.
While the demon controlling Rest is the most to be hated, this guy is next in line—Rest’s enemy.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Earlier in the town, I should have told you.
It is fully possible to heal those who have been manipulated. Therefore, kill as few as possible.
If you can’t follow that, then leave this place to us.”
“I heard you, but why should I listen?
You might have been one of the strongest Holy Warriors back in the day, but now you’re just an old, decaying soldier!
Why should someone as strong as I am now have to listen to some antique like you?”
“This guy. . . . . .!”
ㅤ
Just as I was about to take a step forward with the intent to kill, Ruberto-san grabs my shoulder to stop me.
His grip was so tight it hurt, as if telling the tale of the magnitude of his anger.
The fact that a seasoned Holy Warrior, who has been with divine protection for many years, could slightly miscalculate his strength, showed just how furious Ruberto was at the moment.
ㅤ
“What you’ve done will have a significantly negative impact on humanity.
Killing just one person with divine protection is a major issue.
On top of that, if your needless killing destabilizes this town, it could have a non-negligible effect on supplies to the frontlines.
. . . . . .Still, you are a Holy Warrior. A crucial asset in the battle against the Demon King.
Therefore, I will turn a blind eye to your sins. For the greater good, I will swallow the grudge of having my grandson killed.”
“What?! Ruberto-san?!”
“Ha ha ha! Very wise!”
“But━━”
ㅤ
The moment I looked at Ruberto-san with eyes of astonishment, and the Beast King let out an uncomfortable laugh,━━Ruberto-san disappeared from my sight.
And when I realized it. . . . . .
ㅤ
“Guh?!”
“I’ll at least have to give you a taste of your own medicine.”
ㅤ
Ruberto-san’s lightning-fast fist struck the face of the Beast King.
Caught off guard by the punch, delivered at the speed equivalent to an Instant Slash, the Beast King couldn’t react, and his body was blown away by the force of the punch.
However, even with that, the Beast King was the most physically capable Holy Warrior among the beastfolk in humanity.
His toughness was extraordinary; he didn’t even fall to his knees.
He was merely pushed back, carving the ground with his feet.
ㅤ
“Ouch?! What the hell do you think you’re doing, old man?!”
ㅤ
Sure enough, he disregarded his own actions and began shouting angrily.
Disgusting and revolting to the end.
It made me nauseous.
ㅤ
“I find you utterly infuriating, but for today, I’m telling you I’ll let you go.
Disappear before I feel like chopping off your head!”
“Huh?! Don’t you look down on me, old man!”
ㅤ
The Beast King curled his body like a four-legged animal about to pounce on its prey, entering a serious battle stance.
Responding to that, Ruberto-san reached for the sword at his waist.
Naturally, if it comes to that, I won’t hesitate to join the fray.
I took my wooden sword and stood by Ruberto-san’s side.
ㅤ
A powder keg situation.
Ruberto-san doesn’t seem to want to kill the Beast King, but both the Beast King and I are fully intent on killing each other, and who knows how long Ruberto-san’s patience will last.
At any moment, someone could die.
What stopped it was. . . . . .a spine-chilling, extreme sense of dread.
ㅤ
“Enough already.”
ㅤ
The words, imbued with an icy, absolute zero degree killing intent, quietly dominated the atmosphere.
For a moment, I couldn’t tell who had uttered them.
It was so unlike the usual atmosphere of the person who spoke.
ㅤ
“The fight is over. Now, let us mourn for Rest-kun in peace.”
ㅤ
The source of the killing intent was Stella.
With her tear-swollen, dry eyes, she stared at us, exuding a cold killing intent.
Seeing the woman I care for like that, it was as if cold water had been splashed on me, instantly clearing my mind.
Even the Beast King, who was the strongest 『hero』 in terms of sheer strength, seemed to be subdued by Stella’s imposing aura.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Tsk. What a letdown.
Fine, fine, I’ll retreat and save face for Hero-sama. Consider yourself lucky.”
ㅤ
Leaving behind such thuggish parting words, the Beast King turned on his heels and walked away.
. . . . . .Honestly, I do feel like chasing after him and finishing this.
No matter how much of a Holy Warrior he is, I can never reconcile with that guy.
I even have a feeling that if I let him go now, he’ll come back as a clear enemy next time.
ㅤ
Even so, right now, it’s more important to be by the wounded Stella’s side.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .Sorry for making such a ruckus at a time like this.”
“No, what I said was directed at that molester.
Besides, I was happy that you got so angry on behalf of Rest-kun.”
“. . . . . .Is that so.”
ㅤ
I don’t know how much of a comfort that was, but if I was able to heal even a bit of Stella’s heart, then that’s all I can really do.
So at least let me offer as much comfort as I can.
ㅤ
I knelt down and gently hugged Stella, who was still clutching Rest’s equipment, from the front while stroking her back.
Stella buried her face in my chest and began to cry again.
She started to let out all the sorrow that she couldn’t express fully because of the commotion we caused.
Until her tears finally dried up, I continued to hold Stella tightly.
ㅤ
And so, the battle in this town came to an end.
Having lost a future hero, everyone was left scarred, and many lives were lost due to the worst kind of ally.
It concluded with nothing but a bitter aftertaste, a result that could only be described as a defeat.
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