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Then, “something” stuck out of the cloud of dust aside from the flock of stone statues, rushing towards our direction.
A horse-drawn carriage with an unpleasantly aggressive form.
It’s so ragged that it looks as if it’s been through a grueling battlefield.
And a multi-legged, burning-eyed black horse.
On the carriage pulled by such a humongous horse—– is a sinister dark silhouette with red eyes.
He is kneeling on one knee, while his overcoat flutters behind his back.
Aside from this person who had his hand on his fly mask, there are two other people in black coats with masks that look almost similar to flies—– They were standing with their overcoats fluttering behind their back while their hands were placed on their weapon.
[Henceforth——]
The air of the battlefield was shaken by a powerful distorted voice, announcing in a calm tone.
[The Great Demon Emperor’s army, as well as the Golden-eyed monsters on this battlefield will be dealt with by my Fly King’s Squadron, formerly known as Ashinto—–]
His calm, powerful tone carried absolute conviction, just like a demons king proclamation.
[And will be trampling them down.]
Chapter 188
The Existence Beyond the Limits
—–Ker-chak—–
Removing the Gem of Voice Amplification from my mask, I toss it into a small, sealed container.
I then put the container of the Gem of Voice Amplification into a pouch, in which I tied up its opening.
This way, my voice won’t be amplified even if it still has some magic energy remaining.
Our conversation from here on out will be at a normal volume.
Incidentally, that sealed container is a lightly modified version of a modern food container that was transferred by my leather bag.
[——“We made it in time.”…is what I’d like to think but…]
I look at one of the maelstroms in the battlefield.
[For the time being, it looks like the military flag of the Holy Kingdom of Neia hasn’t fallen down into the ground yet.]
We’ve been madly rushing through the Demon Zone until just a moment ago.
While the voices of battle were growing louder in our ears—- it happened.
A scream that closely resembled the Kuchiyose once again shook the vast monster-filled forest.
Another golden-eyed tsunami began washing over the area.
The scale of this wave has far surpassed the previous one.
The clusters of underground ruins where monsters are said to have once fled into.
This time’s “Kuchiyose” probably went even deeper than that.
Even the ones dwelling within the depths have finally crawled out.
From that point on, it was impossible for us to be regretful about anything we need to sacrifice.
And now—- We’ve managed to push through the monster stampede and arrived here.
Eight hooves.
Four wheels.
The violent stomps crashing down on the ground.
I look back in the direction of the Demon Zone we had come through.
[In the end, we’ve almost used up all the weapons we borrowed from Erika…]
However, there wasn’t any need for us to hesitate.
There was only one direction those monsters were aiming at.
They’re heading north—– towards the Anti-Demon White Castle.
It’s the place where the princess of Neia is probably still present.
Golden-eyes spring forth from every direction.
If we can destroy them before they reach us, we should be able to reduce the threat to the princess.
If we’re going to kill them anyway—- why don’t I just kill them when they’re within my reach?
However, the amount of monsters that flooded over was more than I could have imagined.
They have almost exhausted all the weapons made by the witch, but I still failed to completely annihilate them.
And so, in the end—– I have to use my “trump card”.
“The Final Army”
It was originally a small gem carved with a seal and placed into a satchel.
But when a certain amount of magic is poured into it, the gem will “return” back to its golem form.
“This is Erika’s trump card against those golden-eyes. I’ve built this one from scratch, you know? There are super-compressed combat golems sleeping in this one. In this gem, let’s see… I wonder how many golems I’ve packed into this one? These are golems that reacts and attacks only Golden-eyed monsters, so it doesn’t attack other creatures.”
Erika explained.
“I can’t have you looking down on this Erika Anarveil, don’t you think? I’ve been concerned about a future where the Great Demon Emperor would attack this place.”
“However…” Erika remarked.
“”Reverting” the compression of this gem will require a tremendous amount of magical energy. That’s why I originally thought of using it at a place like this where I have an abundant amount of magic energies stored, generated by the Holy Tree. However—- With the amount of magic energy you’re able to produce, there’s a chance that you should be able to “revert” it.”
Yeah—- I’ve managed to “revert” it alright.
…It’s just that, I’m sorry.
Now, I won’t be able to return this trump card that she lent to me.
She explained to me that the effect duration of these golems are limited.
Taking out my pocket watch, I checked the time remaining.
[………]
I guess we need to finish this battle as soon as possible.
Right now, half of the golems should be holding back the monsters around the area outside the Demon Zone.
The other half was following us past the castle and into this battlefield.
One after another, the cluster of golems that followed us started to separate from each other.
The golems rushed straight into the battlefield where the humans and demons fought.
The soldiers on the human side initially attacked the golem as well.
It turned into a free-for-all battle.
It’s not unreasonable for them to think that they’re enemy reinforcements.
However, the golems didn’t fight back at all.
Even when attacked, they don’t even seem to care.
The golems just keep on only beating down the golden-eyed monsters to death.
Thereupon, the humans began to realize that the golems’ only target monsters.
…Gradually, a united front is beginning to take shape.
[Now then…]
I look out over the raging battlefield.
[It’s quite different from our original plan but… Well, it doesn’t really matter as long as we can accomplish our goal.]
We would lend our strength to Princess Cattleya, and help her out if she needs it.
I extend Pigimaru’s tentacles to a war horse that has lost its rider.
[Pigii!]
There was still some burden Pigimaru was carrying from when we used the combination technique in the Demon Zone.
That’s why we can’t use our combination technique right now.
However, he has recovered enough that he’s able to play the role of a wire.
I pulled the horse to keep it from getting away too far.
[Seras.]
I called out to Seras who’s in the form of the Fly Knight.
[You should go to the princess. After that… You’ll be acting on your own for a while.]
[—-Understood.]
Seras, who was also equipped with a Gem of Voice Alteration on her mask, enquires with a distorted voice.
[Umm, Touka-dono…]
[As for me… If it’s possible, I want this battle to end quickly.]
I direct my g
aze to a certain location.
[It’s just as I’ve informed you before, but I’ve still got someone I’d better deal with first.]
[In that case, I think I should help you out there first…]
[Even if we finish my business quicker, all of it will be for nothing if that princess dies… It’s just for today, so go back to being the Princess Knight of Neia and serve your former master well.]
Seras paused for a bit before replying.
[—–Yes.]
Seras leaps onto the saddle of the horse, her black overcoat fluttering behind her.
She gently settled herself on the horse.
Apparently, the power of the wind spirit softens the impact of her fall.
[I will be responsible for the protection of our lord.]
Seras looks up at Eve in her Fly Knight form from her mount.
[I’m glad you’re here. I will leave Touka-dono to you.]
Eve, who has already transformed into her human form, nods her head.
[Umu, don’t hesitate and go.]
Seras left the chariot and galloped towards the Neia flag.
Eve removes her gaze from Seras who’s taking distance away from us.
[Then, what are we going to do?]
An army of Ogre Soldiers are waiting for us at the destination of our carriage.
In the middle of their army, I saw a stupidly big portable shrine that really stands out.
In front of that portable shrine—-
A huge, bipedal purple beast is standing imposingly.
He had his arms crossed while observing us.
[We’ll kill that one.]
[…I understand. That one is more intimidating than the Ogre Soldiers and the monsters nearby.]
[Taking a quick look around… There are two of them that look like bad news. That’s the executive demons that Erika mentioned huh—– I think she called them Confidants? That one doesn’t feel like a Human-Faced.]
[That pretentious being… is the commander of the Great Demon Emperor’s army here?]
[That’s probably so. And whenever it’s a group battle, whenever the head falls, the other people follow its downfall. Most of all, I’ve heard that the Confidants possess a dense amount of Tyrant’s Miasma, which greatly influences the battlefield.]
To be more precise, these Confidants are also a type of monster…
Their experience points would be really promising.
Even though they’re Confidants, they would end up being fodder for the 2-C bunch sooner or later.
Behind the mask, my mouth naturally forms into a smile.
If that is the case, this fodder…
For the sake of the future, how about making this fodder into a sacrifice for the Fly King?
In that case…
[It’s harder for me to find a reason not to crush you here.]
It’s just that…
[It seems that someone is already dealing with that demon with the 6-shaped horn over there… From his movements, he looks like he’s injured but…]
Still, he’s still struggling to gain the upper hand against that monster.
However—- The heck is that?
That one who’s dealing with that demon with the 6-shaped horn.
There’s something strange in his weapon.
His huge blade is clearly visible even from where I am.
…No, no matter how you look at it, that’s too huge.
That’s obviously not the right size for the user to wield.
However, it seems that the user is able to handle it without any problems…
It’s either he’s an absurdly strong muscle man—- or he’s holding onto a special weapon which possesses no weight.
[………]
Wait.
He can move that much even near the Confidant…
I guess I won’t be mistaken if I think he’s a Hero from Another World.
However…
[………]
[Touka, what’s the matter?]
[—–That is…]
Is that Sogou…?
A Hero of 2-C.
Although there was a near miss with them in the Demon Zone…
This is the first time I’ve seen a 2-C student in person since I’ve been disposed of.
[I didn’t get any information about the Heroes, aside from Vysis and Kirihara’s departure though…]
I see.
So, Sogou is here huh.
If that’s the case—– I guess it’s right for my group to stand united with their group.
The only possible obstacles would be… Oyamada, Yasu, Ikusaba and Kirihara’s lackeys huh.
So far, I couldn’t see them anywhere.
Well, I doubt that they can afford to get in my way in this situation.
If they dare screw around, I’ll just think of how to respond to them at that time.
I don’t have the time to devote towards that uncertainty right now.
…From what I can see, Sogou is somehow able to hold her own against the Confidant.
If I’m not mistaken, she’s an S-Rank Hero.
If that’s the case…
[We’ll take care of that demon with 8-shaped horns over there first.]
[…That’s fine, but are you sure it’s alright if we don’t support that one fighting the demon with 6-shaped horns?]
A smile lifting up in one corner of my lips, I snorted.
[Even if we support that one, that demon with 8-shaped horns would come over anyway.]
That demon with 8-shaped horns must have seen the scene where I killed that Human-Faced which was composed of countless limbs.
The reason why I killed that was to recover my MP through level up, but—–
[I easily killed that Human-Faced with a mysterious power, and even brought a horde of golems while I proclaimed of “trampling down” all the enemies in sight. If he’s smart enough, the first thing he would do is deal with us.]
[Were you originally planning to deal with the enemy’s general with your trump card?]
[If I’m able to use the Abnormal State Skill against him, I should be able to slaughter the higher-ups among the demons. That’s what I want to try out.]
[But is that alright? You also claimed to be a former-Ashinto. However, I heard that you planned to have Ashinto remain “missing” the entire time…]
[If events unfolded as we originally planned, that’s what I planned to do. However… It’s not as if we can just support the princess in the shadows and slip in among the mercenaries they would be recruiting now that this happened. A large number of people would inevitably witness the power of the Abnormal State Skill.]
And that’s why I chose to declare this “identity”.
[If I call myself a former Ashinto, I may be able to impose that the true identity of my Abnormal State Skill is our prided “sorcery”.]
A group of sorcerers who disappeared from Urza.
The mysterious power of “sorcery” that annihilated the Black Dragon Knights, led by the “Humanity’s Strongest”.
The destruction was done by the unidentified power, “sorcery”.
That’s what those Ashinto bunch were buzzing about when they were still alive.
[Fumu, the true nature of the sorcery was actually a special poison but… we may be the only ones who know about it. If that’s the case, then maybe we can get away with insisting that we’re using the power of sorcery huh.]
[Eventually, Vysis will find out that I’m still alive. I’ve already taken being revealed into account… but it’s never too soon for us to be detected by her. We’ll try covering up our tracks as long as we can. Therefore… We’ll just have them know that my Abnormal State Skill is “sorcery”.]
[U- Umu… So that was your purpose in naming ourselves as such huh.]
Pouring my magic energy into the magic spear made by Erika, I look behind my back.
[…Alright, you lo
t, don’t just keep following behind me, go attack the enemy.]
A flock of golems are following behind our chariot.
Or more precisely, they are aiming for that demon with 8-shaped horns and the Ogre Soldiers around it.
Lowering my gaze, I spoke to Slei who was roughly breathing as she moved forward.
[Sorry. You only have to hold on for a little longer, Slei.]
[Bururururururu!]
“Leave it to me”, or so she neighed back.
Incidentally, I’ve figured out why Slei’s behaviour has been strange lately.
It appears that she held a bit too much power.
Or perhaps, it would be more accurate to say that she was confused by the sensation of being full of power.
If you think about it, it had only been a short while since Slei was born.
She should still be a baby, so to speak, and she should still have been in her “growth phase” from now on.
Apparently, Slei has grown even more during her time with Erika.
Her body was also more built up.
Her stamina is also higher than before.
if she had been running with the physical strength she had before we reached the Witch’s home, she might have ran out of strength sooner than now.
[Slei, this operation wouldn’t have been possible without you.]
Eve and the golems are killing the monsters swarming around them.
Without slowing down, the chariot went straight, aiming towards the demon with 8-shaped horns.
[We’re almost in range.]
[You can do it, right? Touka.]
[That’s under the premise that my Abnormal State Skill will also work on that demon with 8-shaped horns though.]
However, I don’t think I’d see any problem.
I’m one of the Heroes from Another World, the being who could get close and absolutely counter the Root of All Evil.
If the Heroes have been crushing that Root of All Evil all these time…
It should be infinitely less likely for that being to have a skill-disabling ability.
[If he could invalidate the Heroes’ skills, then there wouldn’t be any point in summoning the Heroes. Perhaps, the problem would be that demon with 8-shaped horns—-]
I stared at the demon with 8-shaped horns.
[I wonder what kind of being is that?]
I instruct Eve to detach Slei from the chariot.
Then, I jumped on Slei and glanced behind me.