“What…what is happening!”
Gardekie muttered as his mouth hung open. In front of him, was a stupefied god who had turned into stone.
“Calm down, Gardekie. That one wasn’t too cooperative to begin with. Losing him is nothing!”
“Our Heroes are still in good shape. And the kobold has lost most of his armor and weapons!”
The kobold was currently running while holding the snakebite sword and the hatchet.
Indeed, he was already weakening by the moment. And things would only get worse for him.
“However, he has not used the blessing yet.”
The others fell silent at this. There was an ominous feeling in the air. And they could feel the eyes of the others watching them.
“Bah! All of you! If you are not participating in the games, then get out! Be gone!”
He shouted, and the spectators scattered. However, there was one person who stayed. A young, tall and thin man with an amused expression.
“You! Why don’t you go and chase after the goddess as well?”
“Lady Saliashe’s Hero really is interesting.”
The elf said with a shrug.
“Right now, you all remind me of Zephalis.”
“What did you say!”
“Marigial. You bastard!”
But he ignored them and blew into his flute once, before staring into the mirror.
“You may not have noticed it, but that kobold has been expertly manipulating the Heroes.”
“What?”
“Passing through shadows and bushes, climbing hills and rocks, hiding in holes and staying out of sight.”
“And what of it! He has always acted like that.”
The elf chuckled and pointed at the mirror.
“When this fight first started, the kobold was burdened completely. But now, he is light as a feather. Do you understand?”
The others looked surprised. Indeed, they saw that the gap between the kobold and the Heroes was widening.
“Out of sight, out of range, and way ahead. And just as the sun is starting to set. And it does set so quickly on the mountains… Do you know of the horrors he is capable of during the night?”
Marginal said. And then he left them.
“You stinking bastard! Is that all you have to say!”
“Still, he has a point. They should not be like this during the night.”
“I will send my Hero up ahead and stop him. Considering what he has now, he will not be able to take down a Hero who is in the sky!”
“Very well. I will have mine catch up as well.”
Said Gardekie, as he summoned a mirror.
“Hero. Can you hear me!”
Fuminori was starting to feel tired, and that voice annoyed him greatly. Still, he managed to sit up and open his mouth.
“Yes, yes! It is I, the cowardly Hero!”
‘Kareinia’s Hero will go on ahead and attack. You are to follow and help keep the enemy in check.’
“Who the hell is that! Ah…”
He looked up and saw the Hero flying overhead towards the kobold.
“What about the timing?”
‘If you use your ability to pin it down, then that will increase the accuracy! In any case, that doesn’t matter now. Push forward and defeat him!’
“Yeah, yeah.”
He felt like a subordinate whose superior was an idiot. In fact, before this quest, he had meant to try to talk with some of the Heroes he felt could be useful. However, things didn’t go well, due to the interference of their gods.
Obviously, they were just thinking about what happened after they defeated the kobold. Like which gods would be a threat to them.
“It’s counting your eggs or whatever they say…”
“Before they hatch.”
Ayano said with a smile. Fuminori turned to see the two members who accompanied them. Yes, with them, they just might succeed.
“Alright, let’s take down that kobold ourselves! We can talk about experience point distribution later. Is that fine, old man?”
‘Very well. I will leave it to you.’
His stupid superior finally agreed. And so it was with renewed enthusiasm that Fuminori swung his greatsword.
A thunderous shockwave passed by right next to him, making his whole body feel numb. The greatsword wielder was glaring at him, and the healer was protecting his back.
He was close enough to shoot, if only he had a bow.. However, the only thing Sheto had now was a weapon that he was not used to using, and a hatchet. Also, the sorcerer was up in the sky, waiting for the right moment.
‘Sheto…’
“I’m…fine.”
How long had he been running like this? Aside from a small bite of roasted acorns, he had not eaten or even drunk anything for a long time.
Fatigue and hunger were tightening around him.
“I knew it.”
The greatsword wielder rushed forward. Sheto thrust out his sword to keep him in check. However, it was not originally his weapon. It did not obey his will.
“You, must be tired.”
Behind the swordsman, the three others were drinking water from bags. As was the sorcerer in the sky.
Sheto gulped.
“Yeah, and thirsty too. But from what I saw, you haven’t eaten or drank anything. Now that I think of it, this is like the reverse of what you once did.”
Two of the Heroes stepped forward, and then the greatsword wielder drank some water as well.
“Though, it did not take as long this time.”
“Good, Hero. You know everything I did.”
The Hero grinned.
“As they say, if you know the enemy and yourself, then you will win a hundred battles.”
“…Yes, something like that.”
“Ayano-san. I’m actually quite smart when it comes to Japanese history!”
“I’m sorry. But that…is from Chinese history.”
“In any case, sorry to end things so soon. But you have to die now.”
“…Go ahead, try.”
“Shogo. You do it.”
A Hero covered in black stepped forward. He was dual-wielding short swords that had a strange shape.
“Shattering Slash.”
The snakebite sword tensed up suddenly and sparks flew. Then blood sprayed from the hand that gripped it.
“Gaah!”
“Shattering Slash – Chaotic Blade.”
He could not see the blade of the boy in black. No, he could see it, but he could not react in time. As if to avoid the snakebite blade, it slashed at his arms, legs and face.
“Gaaah!”
“Masaki-kun, you got this.”
“Yeah.”
Beyond the curtain of blood and sparks, a boy tapped the ground with his staff.
“Ugghaa…!?”
His shadow stretched from the ground and grabbed Sheto’s ankle.
“You can do it now. Disarm the break art.”
“And in exchange…”
The sword moved faster and faster, carving away at his defenses.
“Ahhhhh!”
“My ‘Wings of the Fallen Angel’ will tear you apart.”
The swords swung as to chip away at his consciousness. The sword he held up to protect his vitals, now had a crack. It was proof that the power of his opponent’s god sword was stronger than his.
Without three layers of protection, he would not be able to withstand it.
‘Sheto!’
As the voice came down, Sheto gritted his teeth and shook his head.
“Don’t!”
‘But!’
“Never! Just watch me, until the end!”
He would not let her use it. Not until he said so.
That was the promise she had made before this battle.