Ch 160
『Title: By the way, what’s the standard for how strong a Guardian Spirit is?』
Content: This is the World Class Guardian Spirit that Yoan is taking around.
Thunderbolt that cuts through the atmosphere?
Looking at him, they say he was a Level 7 Warrior when he was alive.
Why is he better at fighting than the Sword Master’s Guardian Spirit that I saved?
If they had Physical Combat, that brat wouldn’t even be able to make eye contact with Sword Master.
But inside Starland, he steps on Sword Master and flies around?
-: There’s a saying, Inner Strength, Outer Gentleness.
The weaker the body, the stronger the inner self.
-: Was that what that meant…?
-: “You should do that.”
“Ah~ Inner Strength, Outer Gentleness~”
-: I really wish I could block the brat above me.
-: That’s the rule for Guardian Spirits.
-: Originally, Guardian Spirits aren’t about pure Martial Prowess.
Their Level is determined by Rank.
-『Author』: Isn’t Sword Master a Higher Rank?
-: Rank < The more people they served,
The more Achievements they made in their lifetime, the higher it is.
-: That Thunderbolt who raises the Pig
For real.
He went around beating up Demons and Demon Beasts until he died.
And he was praised to the point of boredom among the Anthropomorphic,
So he’s really World Class among Guardian Spirits.
-: Thunderbolt who cuts the Pig, his Top Rating
Was it that he caught a Level 70 Demon?
If it’s that level, he’s definitely a Legendary Hero.
-: Cutting the Pig, raising it, what a mess.
What is he, a Butcher?
-『Author』: But what about the Thousand Maggots< that come with him?
Even Guardian Spirits who caught High-Ranking Demons get beaten by him?
-: Like the name suggests, he’s made up of about a thousand Evil Spirits gathered together.
So his pure physique is crazy.
He’s Top Tier in Starland.
-『Author』: Seeing him fight inside Starland, it’s really hopeless.
Can that guy even be killed?
-: You can’t kill him.
The best thing to do is to make him retreat.
✦✦✦
“Ah… Aaa…”
Yoan thought as she watched the Horde of Evil Spirits rushing in.
The Worst.
That was the biggest problem for the Astrologer-
At the same time, it was a Consolation.
The Situation had already reached the Worst.
There was nothing more to worsen, and only Improvement was left.
If she just endured.
And if she just bought time for Hamun’s Guardian Spirit to intervene, everything would be resolved.
That was a single ray of Hope that moved the Astrologer, who was already driven to her Limit.
However.
The sight unfolding before her eyes now.
Yoan shuddered.
Any Astrologer in this place would have felt the same as Herself.
Sandstorm.
Pillar of Fire.
Swamp of Blood.
Swarm of Insects.
Each one was a Catastrophe with a Rank comparable to the Horde of Evil Spirits.
And not just one, but several such Catastrophes occurring in succession.
‘Hamun’s Guardian Spirit…’
Yoan recalled the Existence with that powerful and Mysterious power, which could be said to be her only Hope.
With its help, she tried to think as positively as possible.
But. The deeper her thoughts went, the more Despair increased.
No matter how powerful the Guardian Spirit was-
No matter how high the Rank of the Existence’s Clone was-
There was no way it could handle all of those.
“Why…”
Durakta muttered.
He sacrificed his life to protect Yoan from the Evil Spirits’ offensive.
Now the Evil Spirits’ offensive had stopped. But, he couldn’t be happy about it at all.
The Evil Spirits’ offensive, which they could barely withstand even with all their Last Ditch Effort-
The Disaster that had ended it as if it were nothing was approaching them.
At this point, his Doubt was one thing.
Why on earth.
Why had those Disasters gathered in one place?
To take Hamun’s Star, which the Horde of Evil Spirits coveted?
‘Just that?’
That thought came to him naturally.
No matter how brightly a Star shone and how defenseless it was-
It couldn’t gather such Great Evil in one place.
“Not yet… I still don’t know…”
An Astrologer muttered.
His appearance, as a respected elder of the tribe, looked particularly shabby today.
“There’s no way those Great Evils can coexist. No matter what their purpose is, they will surely drive each other out and try to Reign alone. If we only aim for that gap…!”
Others nodded at the persuasiveness of that statement.
That Rank. That power. That scale.
They would surely all be Imperial Existences Reigning.
If such Existences gathered in one place, a dispute would inevitably arise over one seat.
“Certainly, that makes sense. Right now, we won’t even be on their minds━”
In other words.
What they had to face was only the last remaining Great Evil.
And, that last remaining Great Evil would be weakened by the already fought dispute.
It was the only hopeful Observation that could be derived from this Despair Situation.
However.
If there was a problem-
“Can we really endure it? In that aftermath?”
“…”
With trembling hands, they steel their Determination.
Everyone in the place faced the Situation with an Expression where Hope and Despair coexisted.
Except for one person.
Except for Roera, who was talking to someone only she could see.
It was then.
Ah.
Aaa.
Aaaaaaaack!!!
Kyaaaaaaaack!!!
The Evil Spirits that filled the ground screamed all at once.
Swallowed by the Sandstorm.
Swept away by the Pillar of Fire.
Submerged in the Swamp of Blood.
Devoured by the Swarm of Insects.
A terrible dissonance forms a single melody.
And, the scattered Evil Spirits gather into one.
Soon the Horde takes the shape of a face.
-Aaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
The face writhed and spewed out a scream.
“Ugh━”
They unknowingly covered their ears at the roar that shook the heavens and the earth.
“That is, the True Form of the Horde…!”
The hand covering the ear trembles due to Instinct Fear.
That sense of oppression felt through the skin.
They realized anew.
That Horde of Evil Spirits was definitely a Great Evil comparable to those four Disasters.
At that time, the face’s Gaze turns to the Sandstorm.
-Ver, Ver, Verbandes!!!!!!!!
A cry filled with malice.
It contained both anger and Doubt.
-Why!!! Why! Are you, interfering in the Fate of a mere Mortal!!!
-…!
Thunderbolt that cuts through the atmosphere.
The body of the Warrior, who had spent his life in Combat and entrusted himself to the exhilaration of Combat even in the face of death, trembled.
-My Descendant.
She said to Yoan.
-That is dangerous.
“Ancestor…?”
-Sand Mountain that obscures the sun… That is not an Existence we can handle.
The Astrologer’s Expression was dyed with shock.
Her valiant Ancestor-
Because his Expression was dyed with clear Fear.
-If a Situation arises where you have to fight that, don’t hesitate and give up the Star.
“…”
A valiant Warrior who never knew Fear until the moment of his death.
What could be a more effective Warning than the Fear conveyed through his mouth?
At the same time.
Other Astrologers were also hearing the same story from their Guardian Spirits.
Sand Mountain that obscures the sun.
No matter what happens, do not dare to oppose that Higher Rank Demon, ‘Verbandes’.
-I see… Sahilla… Has even That person’s Sacrifice gone to waste…?
Yoan couldn’t understand the old story that the Ancient Great Warrior was telling.
Ancient Great Warrior.
An incomprehensible Legend conveyed through his mouth.
It further fueled their imagination, and the enlarged imagination caused even greater Anxiety.
Then.
If that Sandstorm is such a powerful Existence.
What on earth are those things that show off a majesty comparable to it?
-Aaaaaaaaaaaaa…!!!
At that time, the Horde roared as if sobbing.
-Answer me, Verbandes…!!! I have no intention of opposing you…!!! Lead your Servants away right now-
The Horde’s words, which sounded like a Warning and a Plea, are interrupted midway.
Crash!
Sandstorm.
Thunderbolts arose within it, creating vibrations.
As if talking.
-What…? You’re saying you’re not Verbandes…? Then what on earth-
Crash!
-Verbande…
…Crash!!!
-…What on earth are you talking about!!!
The huge face created by the Horde of Evil Spirits Distorts violently.
-What is it! What is it…!!! Majestic Sand Mountain! What is Imitating you!!! If not, what are you Imitating…! What made you like that!!!
The Horde writhed in Fear.
Was it just a feeling?
That Fear seemed to be directed at something other than the Sandstorm.
-Ah, I see…!
Soon, the Horde trembled in Ecstasy.
Gathering the Evil Spirits to form the shape of an arm, it shook off the Swarm of Insects clinging to its body with it.
-Is that so…!
It struck the Swamp of Blood that was pooled on the floor.
-Is that how it happened…!!!!!
It drove away the Pillar of Fire.
-Once great Existences…!!!
Bang!
The Horde and the Sandstorm collide.
-That figure parasitizing in the Shadow is clearly visible in these eyes…!!!
You have fallen.
The Horde muttered.
Then, the size of the Horde becomes even larger.
The Evil Spirits that had seemed to have disappeared, swept away by the Disaster, had returned.
Lifting those two arms, which had become so huge, with all its might, the Horde slammed them down towards the ground.
Ku-gugung-
The vibrations shake the heavens and the earth.
The Presence of the Disaster threatening the Horde of Evil Spirits subsides.
Just when it seemed that the Horde was overwhelming the Disaster.
-Kuhahaha!!!
The Pillar of Fire writhes.
The one that seemed to be subsiding in the Horde’s Presence, burns fiercely again.
-Blind fool!!! Look again!
The wick of the Black Flames takes on a new color.
It spreads to the whole in an instant, mixing with the existing jet-black.
Thus, a newly created grayish-white Pillar of Fire.
The Evil Spirits that touched it no longer screamed in Pain.
They didn’t burn.
Instead, the distorted shapes that had been distorted are changed.
Some into Wolves.
Some into Humans.
They are restored to their appearance before they became wicked Evil Spirits.
-…!!!
The Horde retreated from the grayish-white Pillar of Fire in Confusion.
The grayish-white Pillar of Fire willingly mocks such a Horde.
The shape of the writhing flames resembled a mocking face.
-Fallen?! Shadow!?! No! This is-
The Pillar of Fire’s words were cut off there.
Was it a Last Ditch Effort?
In the end, the flow was not reversed, and the four Disasters seemed to have subsided, pushed back by the Horde’s Presence.
On the surface, it was definitely so.
However.
The reality was different.
The Horde realized belatedly.
The four Disasters.
The fact that they were actually just branches that had split off from one Source.
Like the Horde of Evil Spirits that it had unleashed-
The fact that it was just a Fragment of the power someone had shown.
-Eugh━ eughhhh━ euaaa━ aaaaa━ agagagagak-
The Horde let out a grotesque groan and bit off one of its arms.
That fingertip.
The flow of Purification was spreading from the area that had touched the grayish-white Flames.
That Presence was more intense than a Dried wildfire in autumn.
-Where is it…!!!
Even though the Disasters had disappeared, that power still remained.
The Horde’s face moved busily, chasing the Source of that power.
-There it is!
“…!”
Yoan’s party, who had been blankly witnessing the Mythical spectacle, trembled greatly.
The Horde’s Gaze was directed towards them.
“Could it be…?”
The center of all this.
Just as their Gaze was about to turn to the Beastkin Girl, Hamun, who had lost consciousness.
“Lisir…?”
Hero Roera muttered quietly.
“What, what suddenly!?”
“This person━”
Her Comrades beside Her-
Rotna and Gelard look at one place in surprise.
In that place, a Man had appeared before they knew it.
The Gaze of Yoan’s party is also focused on the Man.
Because the Horde’s Gaze was clearly directed at the Man.
“…!”
At that time, Roera was startled and stood in front of the Man.
The Horde.
As if to protect the Man from it.
“Hero!?”
“Wait, Roera━”
Confused Comrades.
“Roera! Step back!”
And Yoan, She shouted at Roera.
“That’s probably not the person you know!”
“…!”
Roera was already bewildered by his sudden appearance.
She turned her Gaze to Yoan.
As if asking if there was something She had in mind.
“The Energy felt from Hamun is now being felt from you!”
“That means…”
“Hamun’s Guardian Spirit has Manifestation by borrowing your power!”
“Hamun’s Guardian Spirit? But why━”
Roera’s Gaze scanned the Man’s face.
There’s no way she could be mistaken.
No matter how she looked at it, he was the Man she knew.
Older Brother.
Roera repeated that word in her Heart.
“In the process of borrowing your power, it must have been influenced by you! Tell me, Hero! Does that Man have the appearance of the person you rely on the most!?”
At Yoan’s words, the Man-
No, the Guardian Spirit looked at Roera.
Was it just a feeling?
The Guardian Spirit’s Expression seemed strangely mischievous.
As Roera remembered, it was definitely the face of a mischievous Older Brother teasing his Younger sister.
“…!”
The face of the cynical Hero turned red.
No way!
Her shy Heart was shouting at Her to deny it.
But. Now was not the time for that.
Above all-
Roera now knew that ‘That’ was not her Older Brother.
When you think about it, it was obvious.
Roera.
She knew about Lisir’s Magical Talent.
She knew that he was a Genius who wouldn’t be strange if he was already a Rank 6 by now.
But-
‘This isn’t it.’
An Existence that controls such ‘Disasters’.
A Guardian Spirit.
It was a Situation in a realm that even Roera, who alone shouted ‘Rank 6’ when everyone else was shouting ‘Rank 3’, found difficult to accept.
Therefore, Roera readily accepted Yoan’s words.
That’s not that guy.
It’s just a Guardian Spirit that has that guy’s appearance.
That’s why.
Roera easily said something that she would never have been able to say in front of ‘Him’.
“Yes.”
She looked at the Guardian Spirit’s face and answered Yoan’s question.
“Certainly, he has the face of the person I rely on the most.”
The cynical Hero’s Expression twitched for a moment.
The ‘Guardian Spirit’, who heard Her words, seemed a little surprised for a moment, and then created a sly Smile.
Roera felt a small Dissatisfaction inside.
Damn it.
Don’t even imitate that.
In fact.
Roera was inwardly disappointed.
‘I thought it was definitely that guy…’
In the current Situation where her dramatic reunion with him had been thwarted.
Would it be too ungrateful to have the thought that she was unpleasant with him Imitating him to the Guardian Spirit who was trying to save Herself and her Comrades?
Roera tried to put her Dissatisfaction aside.
“Great Existence…!”
Yoan knelt down towards the Guardian Spirit.
When the other Astrologers followed suit, Roera’s party also awkwardly bowed their heads.
“We will definitely repay this Grace. So please, protect these insignificant Stars…!!!”
A huge Shadow looms over them.
Before they knew it, the Horde was slamming down the arm it had lifted with all its might towards them.
The Horde’s arm, which easily obscured their sky even from a distance, slowly approached.
Despair and Hope.
In that precarious middle ground, they desperately waited for the Miracle that the Guardian Spirit would create.
“Ugh!!!”
A moment later.
They are crushed by the strong air pressure.
And-
That was all.
The Horde’s arm stopped.
It was something that happened just before it touched the arm that the Guardian Spirit had lifted.
It was as if a small twig was supporting the sky.
-Ah, Aaa━ Aaaaaaa…!!!
The Horde withdrew its arm and brought it to its face as it was.
Staring at it intently, it created a grotesque groan.
That Emotion that was in the Voice spread throughout the entire body.
The Horde writhed grotesquely.
The power that created that writhing is concentrated on one point.
Once again.
The Horde lifted its hand with all its might.
Even higher than before.
And, it slams down even more fiercely than before.
-Im… possible…!!! An impossible━ thing…!!!
It was only the air pressure that the movement could create.
Even so, Roera’s party was crushed by it and couldn’t stand up.
Only one.
Only the Guardian Spirit was standing firm, raising his arm upwards.
Like that-
It was the moment when the Horde’s and the Guardian Spirit’s hands touched.
“…Huh?”
The air pressure that had been crushing them dissipates.
They raised their heads and looked up at the sky.
A refreshing Wind blows.
Following it, the grasses that have regained their vitality scatter.
The Beasts that have regained their vitality run wild.
It was a sight of Evil Spirits who had been subordinated to Negation for their own reasons being liberated.
It was a scene as if a dead tree was blooming in full bloom.
“Ah…”
Roera’s party stared blankly at the wondrous sight.
Like that, all the Evil Spirits scattered and became Stars.
What remained in the place was Roera’s party.
And━ only the Guardian Spirit.
“Huh?”
The Beastkin Girl, whose complexion had clearly brightened, got up.
She looked around in Confusion.
“Ah…!”
Indeed, it was a quick Nunchi suitable for the appearance of a small animal.
Hamun saw her Comrades and immediately knelt down to the Guardian Spirit, following them.
An Atmosphere that is gradually being organized.
At the end of it, Yoan carefully opened her mouth.
“Great Existence… These insignificant Stars sincerely thank you for the Mercy and Grace you have bestowed upon us…”
“…”
The Guardian Spirit looked at Yoan without saying a word.
Yoan, feeling the Gaze of that great Existence, felt both Ecstasy and Fear at the same time.
As an Astrologer, receiving the Interest of an Existence with an immeasurable and supreme Rank was such a thing.
“These insignificant Stars wish to inherit your light… So, great Existence… Please illuminate our future…”
There was no way that such a powerful Existence would have given help for no Reason.
They belatedly asked the Guardian Spirit’s purpose-
What they wanted.
“…”
Gulp.
Someone unknowingly swallowed.
It was a powerful Existence that had repelled that terrible Horde of Evil Spirits with a single Gesture.
Such an Existence’s request.
What kind of heavy burden will they have to bear?
And, what Fate will that burden lead them to?
There were those who were Worry on the one hand, and Expectation on the other.
The Guardian Spirit opened his mouth.
“Please take good care of our Younger sister Roera.”
Silence flowed.
In that Silence, they raised their heads one by one.
The first thing they saw was the face of the Hero, Roera.
“…”
Her eyes and mouth, which had been creating a cynical Smile, were wide open.
At that time, the Guardian Spirit looked at Roera and made an Expression.
A very mischievous and sly Expression.
-Certainly, he has the face of the person I rely on the most.
At that Expression, Roera recalled the words she had said.
“…!”
The face of the cynical Hero, which had been creating a cynical Smile, flushed as if it would burst.
“Younger sister…?”
The party was looking at such Roera with a Gaze of Awe.
✦✦✦
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