Kamigami – 16 part 1

ReBirth Arc: 1 – Enemy of the World


Shuto Mikami ran over the soft floor of rotting leaves.
The forest trees were rather sparse now, which meant the view was clear. People tended to think of forests as being dense, but near elevated areas, there tended to be less plants. He had learned this in school.
School. That word had not entered his mind in over a month. Some time had now passed since he was summoned as a Hero from another world.

“Snap out of it, Shuto! Hurry! Or we won’t be able to catch up!”

Next to him, a tall, thin and dark-skinned man was running. The leather armor and short sword made him look closer to a bandit than a knight.

“I-I know!”

Shuto had been given armor and a sword, which were lighter than normal equipment. That being said, he had been a junior highschool student in a modern society. It was not realistic for him to be able to keep up with mercenaries and their ridiculous stamina.

“Bah, running will have to be added to your regimen starting tomorrow. I’m going on ahead!”

Came the deep voice from above. The female warrior wore heavy armor, and yet dashed ahead towards the target.

“Don’t go too far, Ammie!”
“Don’t fall behind then! Grind, hurry up!”

One of the most surprising things after coming to this world was how armored knights were able to dash so quickly.

‘Why not? Armor is like clothes for us. You aren’t a full fledged warrior until you can swim in armor.’
‘No, you’re the only one who can do that, Amule.’

Amule was from the southern marines, and the heavyweight in the party. He was almost as strong as Grind, who was like the leader.

“As long as there isn’t too much of a gap, falling behind is fine! Don’t worry too much, Shuto!”

Grind was like a classical knight. He had once worked at some church, and he was the first person to offer Shuto the Hero his help. After that, he had been something like a mentor.

“That being said, the protagonist of the hunt must be the Hero. Just wait a moment.”

He sheathed his sword, and then Noies, who was running parallel to him, pointed his finger up ahead.

“Voice without sound, will without intent, answer and sing with my voice, resonate and come forth, gentle woman.”

That’s all Shuto heard as words. And then, there was a weak cry like the sound of a bird, and then a wind suddenly enveloped his body, and he felt himself become lighter.

“A little better, eh? Now, let’s go!”
“Yes!”

The magic was cast without running, and he was not even out of breath. Noies wielded the power of spirits, and was Shuto’s favorite party member.
He had been the most against it at first, but now they were the closest. He protected everyone from behind the scenes.

“…Nordia, is she alright?”

It was easier to breathe now, and so he asked about her.

“Ah, she is tougher than she looks. The poison is gone now. But if you’re so worried about her, maybe you should go back alone?”
“You’re joking!”

Nordia was the sorcerer who was not with them right now. Near the beginning of the hunt, she had been hit by a poison arrow. And so she was now resting at a nearby town.
The one who had done it, was the single kobold who was now running in front of them.
He was wearing tattered clothes that looked like they were made from leaves, and on his back was a bow and quiver. And he ran through the forest like the wind.
As Shuto chased after him, he heard the voice of an invisible god.

‘The forest ends just up ahead! At that point, there will be no more spots where it could have set up traps!’
“Got it! Noise! The forest ends soon!”
“Who do you think you’re talking to? Let the god know!”

Apparently, Noies and the other mercenaries did not fear the gods. All their actions were their own, and they felt the gods should just sit back and watch.
A few seconds later, the view opened up, and there was a gentle slope of rocky terrain.

“The Anoshtat Plains. Water drains so quickly, that you cannot turn it into fields. A vast wasteland”

Noise liked to teach him about things whenever there was an opportunity. Sharing his wealth of knowledge was as natural as breathing for him. The two armored knights who had gone ahead were now blocking the path of the kobold, as if to prevent it from escaping any farther.

“It is a creature of the forest. Out here, it will not be able to use its favorite strategy. Traps.”
“Yes.”
“Oh. It’s not your time yet, Hero. Don’t move until I tell you to.”

Noies said as he unsheathed his sword.
The kobold nocked an arrow and glared at the party while dropping to a lower stance. And then his eyes went to Shuto.

“There you are, Hero.”

The voice was higher and younger than expected.
The furry creature was short and had a fluffy tail. The face was dog-like, and were it not for the lines carved between and under the eyes, Shuto might have even thought it was cute.
However, there was shockingly strong determination in those eyes. And even when surrounded by veteran mercenaries, he did not look like he was afraid.

“Thank you for making us run so much.”

Noies said, while moving forward as if to cover the Hero. The monster still looked perfectly calm.

“According to the god, defecating you will result in acquiring a lot of ‘experience.’”
“All of you, hunting me, for a Hero?”
“Aye. In spite of appearances, he is hiring us. And so we’ll do our job.”

Noies said as his free hand went behind his back. Shuto saw the words that the fingers drew in the air, and he clenched his sword again.

“Alright then… Let’s start hunting this ‘rare monster.’ Grind! Ammie!”

The two others jumped away from the monster, and the light warrior retreated to the side.
And then Shuto swung down with his sword at the kobold.

“Go! Excalibur!”

Gold light burst from the divine blade. In the shape of a crescent moon, it shot towards the kobold. But then the monster jumped out the left.

“Surround it!”

Armor blocked him after the dodge. Amule’s broadsword rushed towards the kobold.

“Eat this!”

A horizontal slash. The kobold just a little faster, and escaped the trajectory. Then with a quick movement, he unleashed an arrow. But it bounced off the defense magic on the armor, and fell weakly to the ground.

“As if such a puny arrow would be effective!”

Amule swung his sword again, not giving the kobold enough time to shoot again. Still, the kobold desperately dodged, and used its short stature to escape to the side.

“I won’t let you get away!”

This time, an attack like splitting logs. The dog jumped back frantically, and then the other armor came forward. Grind wielded a mace with spikes. He held it in a medium stance while pushing his shield forward.

“Hah!”

The shield filled the monster’s vision, and the gust of wind hit its face. And then the mace attack followed right after. The kobold jumped and then rolled on the ground, out of reach.

“Hmph!”

Grind brought up his shield again and then charged at the kobold. It was a strong enough attack to go through walls, and so it sent the kobold flying with ease.

“Gaah!”

The small body slammed into the ground, rolled, and stopped. And then it desperately tried to get back up.

“You’re tougher than I expected. Good.”
“You should hold back a little! You might have killed it!”
“Sorry. However, that should do it for buying time.”

Grind said as he looked at the light warrior. Noies was already murmuring with his palm on the ground.

“Powerful hand, bind the enemy.”

And then numerous hands made of soil came out of the ground and dragged the kobold down.

“Graahh!”
“Good. Now it’s secure. Shuto.”

Shuto had been watching this, stunned. But he finally understood what was happening. ‘Use the divine sword on the kobold.’ The order had been a surprise. But they had managed it.

“Your instincts seem to have improved?”
“It’s because I have a good teacher.”
“Hah, what nonsense.”

Noies said with a smile.

“Stop wasting time and get this over with.”

Amule said while gesturing towards the bound kobold, who glared at Shuto.

“There is something different about its face. It is a rare monster, after all.”
“Indeed. But it’s all the same once they are dead.”
“…Yes.”

The god had told Shuto. ‘It killed a different Hero and stole his power. The servant of an evil goddess.’ However, up until now, all it had done was shoot arrows and set traps in the forest. He had definitely expected something a little more evil and monster-like.
How had this thing acquired such power? How did it kill a Hero?

“Salia.”

Suddenly, the kobold opened his mouth.
The Hero and the party gripped their swords.

“Now the Hero, party members…you know what will happen …Yes. Will be careful.”

Salia was the name of the god who protected this monster. It was then that Shuto’s god shouted.

‘Shuto! It intends to do something! Hurry up and kill it!’
“Ye-yes! Go! Excalibur!”

He swung down with all of his might. A flash of light, and the ground was carved away in a straight line towards the enemy.
But beyond the light, the words of the kobold were clear.

“Hero. I challenge you, to a duel!”

Next Chapter

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