BGM: Lost in Green – YS VIII
===
『――The trait of the Demon Prince Jilbagias, is it?』
『Yes, tell us, even if it's just a trivial matter.』
Hessel said that and gave a nod to Palm, the forest elf archer.
While they were on standby at the forward base, everyone, including Barbara, was desperately trying to get any information they could from Palm.
『Whatever you saw, whatever you sensed, even the smallest impression is fine. It might become a clue to cracking his power, so please, tell us anything you can.』
『… Y-Yes.』
With everyone’s serious gazes fixed on her, Palm shifted uncomfortably, but then fell deep into thought with a troubled expression on her face.
『As I already mentioned… The said individual looked very young, about the age of a human child in their early teenage years, but was remarkably skilled for someone of that apparent age. I released an arrow timed with the cover of the Hero’s blinding light attack, but he handled it without the slightest sign of being shaken.』“So the blinding light tactic didn’t work on him, huh…” muttered one of the heroes.
『Jilbagias slaughtered over a hundred soldiers within just a few minutes… But if my senses were accurate, it felt like his magical power grew slightly stronger with each life he took.』
…Someone let out a groan, as if begging for mercy.
『In addition, he was also wearing silver scale mail. It was hard to tell because of the prince’s own magical power, but it was likely a masterpiece, probably imbued with protective enchantments. Judging by the texture… I’d say those were White Dragon scales.』
And with that, everyone’s expression turned grim. There was only one possible source they could think of for the White Dragon that had become the Demon Prince’s armour.
The Demon King Castle Assault Operation.
『Also, if I'm not mistaken――』
Palm glanced briefly at Barbara and the others, hesitating for a moment, but then continued speaking.
『―― Jilbagias wielded a very unusual spear. It looked like he had deliberately fashioned the tip with a human sword, an enchanted masterpiece no less, just to serve as the spearhead…』
『… Such bad taste.』
Hessel scowled and spat out the words with disgust. The surrounding humans wore bitter expressions as well.
Barbara, too, felt far from pleased. To see a symbol of human strength, the sword of the Sword Saints, reduced to a mere demon’s weapon… It was simply repulsive. Demons were supposed to take pride in their spears as well, but the fact that someone would do something like this likely meant there was some vile, devil-related reason behind it.
『What an utterly… repulsive bastard.』
Barbara murmured quietly, but the rage seeping through her words was impossible to hide.
――If I find him, I won’t let him off easy.
And in that moment, the hearts of the humans present united as one.
†††
Good day. Jilbagias here, I’m currently advancing steadily along the streets of the royal capital, Evaloti.
Some time had elapsed since the battle to seize Fort No. 4. After a brief respite to take care of our needs, we were currently heading back out in full force. I heard there were some who rushed into the city ahead of us, and Kvirtal was absolutely losing it, screaming, “How dare they charge ahead without waiting for His Highness!”
I guess I should be angry too, the more those glory-hounds kill ahead of me, the fewer kills I get.
However, I didn’t really care.
I knew it was not something I should be shrugging off, however…
Let them do as they like…
It was my own body, yet it felt like a puppet. Right foot forward, left foot next—one, two, one, two. It’s almost comical, like I’m some kind of wind-up toy.
「Hahahahaha」
The laughter that slipped from my mouth echoed, distant, so distant. If I let my guard down even for a second, I might throw up right here. The immense magical power that Ante couldn’t fully absorb was still churning inside me――
BLEEAAARGH—! Just like that!
「Fufufufufufu」
Kvirtal, who was walking ahead of me, turned around to look at me with a puzzled expression, so I gave him a cheerful smile in return. Looking slightly bewildered, he turned his gaze forward again.
We ran along the main street, cluttered with rubble and furniture piled up like makeshift barricades. Kvirtal was ahead of me, his subordinates covering the flanks and rear, and, as usual, the job of leading the charge had been dumped on the Three Idiots.
The Alliance had prepared the traps beforehand, yet the Three Idiots handled them with ease, without breaking a sweat.
「Ah, this is the one we did at the training grounds!」
Okke Night, leading the way, quickly spotted the wire trap and casually tossed a chunk of magical energy at it.
That was all that was needed to destroy the trap.
Or rather――【Dissect】 it.
Okke Night, who had formed a pact with the 【Devil of Dissection】, had finally awakened his talent after gruelling training. Once he understood the structure of a trap, he could use the power of 【Dissection】 to dismantle it.
Originally, 【Dissection】 was a power that was supposed to be used on living creatures, so it’s said that he couldn’t fully unleash its power in this context. Nevertheless, its practicality was undeniable. Even the Dothrotos clan gave his power their wholehearted stamp of approval.
Well, it kinda feels like how Ante twisted her 【Taboo】 into 【Constraint】.
「Hahahahaha! It's like killing two birds with one stone!」
Okke Night was in high spirits as he neutralised trap after trap. Thanks to learning how to apply his authority creatively, he could now grow his magical power just by dismantling traps.
「Yeah.」
Even Kvirtal looked satisfied from the rear, as if to say, “You’ve finally reached this level, huh.”
―― However,
His expression changed immediately.
Because I sensed it too. The shift in the air. The battlefield instinct honed through numerous battles. The air felt rough… like rusted metal.
I scanned the surroundings— And my eyes were drawn to a pitch-black house.
There was something in there.
I saw a black dot in the moonlight.
「IT'S AN AMBUSH!!」
An arrow flew straight at me, but it had been almost completely neutralised by my 【Constraint】, and got knocked away by Kvirtal.
「――UWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!」
Humans and beastfolk, who had apparently been hiding, came swarming out from the surrounding houses, wielding crude weapons.
… Here we go again.
Another nightmare――of mass slaughter again.
With a sensation akin to blood being drained from my body, my thoughts sharpened, stripped of all excess. The shrill sound of a whistle being blown—piiiiit—faded into the distance from my mind…
I pushed Kvirtal and the others aside, who had stepped in front of me to shield me, moved in front of them, and with a single swing, cut down the human who had leapt at me. What the hell? That slash was pathetic. They were just some random guy swinging a sword around, nothing more. The next one too, and the next! Wasn’t there a single proper soldier among them!?
「ORAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!」
Seyrey Night wildly swung his spear, sending both humans and beastfolk flying with the brute strength of the 【Devil of Brute Strength】. Meanwhile, Alvar Auril used curses to freeze their movements and steadily took them down one by one.
The others were just as steady. There wasn’t even a hint of urgency on their faces――
「The sound of that whistle is bothering me.」
In less than a minute, the ambushers were utterly wiped out. Kvirtal stomped on the whistle, crushing it underfoot, all while keeping a wary eye on the surroundings.
「It might be interesting to wait here for a while.」
I swung my spear-sword to the side to get rid of the blood clot on its blade.
「Shall we wait?」
「You guys want more merit too, right?」
Kvirtal and the others only smiled wryly when I asked them with a sly grin on my face.
During the fortress raid, I pretty much took all the glory for myself. The only real highlight for the others was Alvar taking down a forest elf spellcaster with a thrown spear.
If they’ve set up an ambush and whistle system like this, it was safe to assume someone decently powerful was on their way to this location.
They might arrive in a few minutes.
===
Wuthering Waves Trailer – Hiyuki and Denia
===
New Project:
The tamer who "ABUSED" his tamed monster.
Honoured By All Immortals
A rare, romcom xianxia story
(~’.’)~More and Cheaper Advance Chapter in my patreon~(‘.’~)
(~’.’)~Support Me With Ko-Fi~(‘.’~)