Chapter 12 – The Unseen Trap
“The declaration is made. This place is hereby appointed the field for the duel.”
Yesta’s voice rang, carving itself in the conscience of the gods. As if to obey, the arbor rose silently, pushing just Salia and Zephalis up into the air.
The place without sound had a giant mirror projected over it, and an invisible wall surrounded them as well.
“As the rules dictate, only one of them may leave this place. Gods, and the chosen Hero.”
Yesta said with a strange smile.
“And you, small monster. Use everything you have, and fight well.”
Under the arbor, a change had occurred as well. The stone chairs changed shape, and the table transformed so that there was a beautiful mirror on top of it.
The brother was now sitting on an extravagant golden throne. While Salia sat on a small stone bench.
“What is this…”
He said in disbelief.
“Salia. Do you really believe that your monster can defeat my Hero…”
“I do. My monster… No, Sheto the kobold, shall strike your Hero down.”
“Impossible!”
‘He-hey! What the hell is this!’
The Hero was just as stunned as Zephalis as he shouted. Salia chuckled at their similarities, and then she turned to Yesta, who stood in the air nearby.
“I wish to temporarily remove the restriction so that my brother can speak to his Hero. However, if he even tries to offer advice…”
“I understand. Very well, Lord Zephalis.”
“Tsk… He…Hero. Can you hear me?”
‘Ah! Finally a connection! What the hell are you doing! Do you have any idea what I’m going through!’
“Silence, you fool! I will explain it to you now.”
And so he did. That there would be a duel with his sister’s monster. And how he was forbidden from helping or offering advice.
‘What the hell! Why would you do such a thing without even telling me!’
“Shut up! A god does not have to confide with a lowlife like you! And you have shamed yourself with the way you’ve been fighting!”
‘You can’t be serious! If you hadn’t agreed to that, I would have…’
“Shut up! Shut up! Just win this! Understand!”
It was hardly a proper conversation with these two.
“Now then, I shall also speak to the Hero a little… Hero, can you hear me?”
The Hero looked around as if puzzled, and then his gaze went up to the sky.
“I am Saliashe. The master of that kobold.”
‘So you’re the one who set that thing onto us! What the hell is wrong with you!’
“Do not worry about your friends. While the poison may numb and cause fatigue, it will not kill them. Besides, the monk has already recovered and is tending to the others.”
‘I…I see…’
She almost felt bad when she saw how genuinely relieved he looked. However, she would not sympathize.
“You will now fight against my subordinate. The space you are in has been closed off for this purpose.”
‘So it’s a barrier. And I can get out after defeating that thing?’
“I’m glad that you understand. The binding will continue until the fight is finished, or the time limit reached. The limit will be the evening, three days from now. In addition, there is no one in that area, except you and my subordinate.”
Normally, both the Hero and the party members should be able to go inside. But now that the duel had been declared, and they were not within range, they were excluded.
‘…Is that why…is that why he did it!?’
“That is it for the explanation. But let me tell you one last thing, Hero.”
Sally said mercifully.
“My kobold is strong. Do not underestimate him.”
The conversation was over, and Salia sat back down.
“You think that your monster is strong?”
“Does he not look strong?”
“…But, he will not be able to win!”
At this point, he could not deny it completely. Still, Zephalis shouted as if to persuade himself.
“Your monster’s arrows cannot reach my Hero! He may have used up his magic today, but it will be replenished tomorrow! Do you think those little tricks and evasions will still work!? In the end, you cannot win without dealing any damage!”
Salia did not feel like responding. There was nothing to say. She would not deal the final blow, he would.
“Sheto.”
‘Aye. I can hear.’
“Our hunt will be finished soon.”
‘I will, hunt the Hero. No matter what.’
As a goddess, there was no one for her to pray to for good luck. And since she had no power, she could not bestow it herself.
Still, she would watch and fight with him.
“Let’s do it, my Ganari.”
‘I am counting on you, Nagayubi.’
On the other side, Sheto gripped his bow firmly.
With bow in hand, he nocked an arrow.
His breathing was calm, almost surprisingly so, as he looked at the Hero. In the forest, night fell quickly, and you could see the light fading.
And yet, the Hero was staring at him, sword in hand.
No, he was desperately trying to look for an opening. But failing.
He did not know how to look. His eyes kept going to the face and arrow. He did not notice what was important. Such as how the legs were bending and preparing to rung.
Without that barrier, the Hero would likely take the arrow between the eyes in one hit, and die.
The great power made him forget any danger. He was like a sheep or child who wandered in, thinking this was a playground.
“Ah… You are a child.”
“Wh-what are you talking about!”
Sheto realized how blinded he had been by fear.
The flat, young face with no wrinkles or scars. Those who were born as farmers tended to have wrinkles from the sun and labor, even at that age.
Perhaps this Hero was of that noble class he heard about, but had never seen. Such people did not work. They were soft and weak creatures.
“You, why did, come here.”
“…Do you really think you’re in a position to be asking questions?”
The Hero waved his sword. However, it was like a praying mantis trying to intimidate. Another bug may have been scared, but a wolf or bear would see it as a dance.
Besides, Sheto was out of reach.
“Yes. I, only have to hunt. You, are pray.”
“What a joke! As if I would lose to you!”
The words lacked weight. When talking to the sorcerer, there was tension. If he was drawn in, he could be left open. And he had to use his own words to take the other off guard.
But with the Hero, it was just conversation.
No measuring or luring. There was no point in it.
“You, scared of me?”
“I would never be scared of you!”
“No. You, don’t know what I will do. That is scary.”
The doubt showed up on his face. His character was too weak for a hunter.
“Th-that’s not…”
“Then, cut me. Easy to do with that sword. The goddess protection, not that strong.”
“…I-I will then!”
He said angrily. He was easily provoked.
“But, you, aren’t you worried?”
“What is it now!?”
“It is night.”
The last lights faded completely.
Just then, Sheto’s pupils narrowed, and he saw the Hero as clearly as if it was still day. At the same time, he could smell the scent of sweat that poured from the Hero’s body.
“Woah!? Shit. It’s alrady…”
The smell of fear and shock. He could tell the Hero’s mental state easily.
Peeling. Peeling away.
“You. Can you see me?”
Without making a sound, he swiftly moved back. The Hero squinted desperately in the dark.
However, humans could not adjust to such quick changes of light.
“Shi-shit! You were talking to buy time.”
The kobold chuckled. It was the Hero who hesitated to attack, and then answered for no reason.
He would peel him. One layer at a time.
The lie that is a Hero. What makes one strong.
Sheto unleashed the first attack.