“I see… So you are trying to make yourself as light as possible.”
“Your axe, very strong. I cannot, take another, hit.”
He set down any weapons that would just weigh him down. And then he gently took up his bow once more.
“Sorry, to make you wait.”
“Really! You have some nerve, changing so slowly right now.”
Berganda’s breath remained deep and steady. He settled into his stance and stared at Sheto, looking just as he had before.
However, there was definitely a difference.
Blood was seeping from his side. And there was a coarseness in his breathing.
“I believe this will be the last time we meet.”
The demon general said calmly.
“And so let me ask you this. Sheto, will you come and join me?”
His voice was so sincere that even Sheto did not suspect a trap. This was not an attempt to deceive or distract him.
“You are strong. Even without a god’s blessing. With such strength, no one will underestimate you for being a kobold. Would that life not be better than spending every day fighting as a servant, with hatred turned towards you from every side?”
The general’s voice was filled with sincerity.
Even now, he was only thinking about Sheto’s well being.
“If you wished it, I could see to it that one or two kobold settlements were granted peace. Not only that, but you could become their chief and create a future for your own kind.”
“And then…you use that voice, and send us charging, until we die?”
Berganda’s face twisted with anguish.
And Sheto smiled sadly.
At himself for saying such surprisingly harsh words.
“You, obey everything the Demon King says. Then, we will be crushed, whenever the Demon King decides.”
“And where in this world…do servants not obey their kings!”
“No, Demon General, Berganda!”
As though to tear apart the fleeting blossom of friendship that had bloomed during their brief time together, Sheto drew back his bowstring.
“Kobolds, have no kings! Not now, or ever!”
With those words, a farewell to something that had slipped through his grasp, the minotaur’s face silently hardened into a mask of fury.
The nocked arrow of light was engulfed in a brilliant white radiance.
Berganda turned his body sideways and twisted slightly, settling into the stance for a killing blow.
Both searched with every fiber of their being for the slightest opening in the other. Their bodies tensed with anticipation.
And then, the instant their gazes locked perfectly together…
“Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”
Kicking up the earth beneath him, Berganda became a charging mass of flesh and iron, hurtling straight forward.
“Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”
And Sheto’s bullet of light streaked through the empty air, splitting into eight separate projectiles that shot towards the demon general.
The enhanced bolts of magic flashed like a pack of ravenous wolves, converging on Berganda from every direction.
Reading their trajectory in an instant, Berganda smashed aside the one that aimed at his face with his clenched fist.
“Grraaa!”
The skin on the back of his hand split open, and he could feel some bones shatter. But without slowing his charge, he kicked away another bolt aimed at his knee with his greave.
Two more burst against his shoulder, while two others struck the axe against his shoulder.
Sheto drew his bow once more, causing a silvery arrow of light to appear.
A bolt crashed harmlessly against Berganda’s back and shattered. The general gripped his axe with both hands and prepared to bring it down with all of his might.
“Gahh!?”
The last one exploded against Berganda’s side, throwing him off balance.
Without missing the opening, the follow up attack came flying. But every one of them were knocked down by the axe head.
But the impact was overwhelming, and Berganda had to use all of his strength to prevent his weapon being torn away…
“Ga…hh!”
Pain tore through his wounded side that was being pulled, and his body froze.
And just at that instant, the kobold charged right at him.
Bonus chapter courtesy of Photo. Thank you so much!!