CH 167

Explosions occur in many places in the village.

The flames ignited the oil, and the trail of fire snaked its way across the ground. In the streets, the black smoke grew thicker and thicker.

The echoing screams elicited fear and made death seem more real.

"Stay calm and evacuate! Put a wet cloth over your mouth so you don't breathe in the smoke!"

"There's not enough water! Damned demons!"

"Have the mages prioritize putting out the fire! Pull the cattle aside, they'll be dead before we know it!"

"Look out above, they keep bombarding us with those things!!!"

The screams and anxiety began to increase, the bells wouldn't stop ringing, and I ran against the tide in the crowd of people.

Old Hansel and I split up. He has the responsibility of commanding the army.

"Kaede! Frau! Panda!"

I shouted at the top of my lungs, but I couldn't find my friends.

Multiple Wyvern shadows were passing overhead, when I looked up, several of them were flying in a circle like birds of prey in search of their next kill.

A Wyvern swoops down and grabs a boy by the leg, then grabs him in its mouth and flies away.

Tch... I have to get rid of them first, otherwise it will be impossible to fight.

"Rosuke, Chupi, Kurata!"

As soon as Rosuke came out, he flew off like a silver flash and rushed through the sky. In the blink of an eye, he penetrated one of the Wyverns.

While Rosuke took care of them, Chupi and Kuratan were in charge of guiding the people.

"Get up or the demons will kill you!"

"But my leg...!"

A mother was trying to get her son who was on the ground to get up.

A demon riding a Wyvern plummeted at high speed towards the ground as it approached the parent and child.

"Gyahahahahahahaha, let's start with the child-- Buh-heh!"

I stepped in front of the family and a moment later, I slammed the Wyvern's head into the ground using my fists.

A crack formed in the ground and the Wyvern coughed up blood as its eyes rolled back in its head.

The demon on top of the wyvern fell off and slid face first into the ground.

"Uggh, who the hell are you to stand in my way!? I'll kill you right now!"

"That's none of your business. Worry more about what I'm about to do to you."

"What nonsense are you saying? I am Rudra-Sama's personal guard! Or are you such an idiot that you can't distinguish my rank and power!"

"Unfortunately, I am a bit of an idiot... You two run while you can."

I spoke to the small family urging them to run. They nodded and took off running.

I brought my hands behind my back to grab my sword and prepare to fight, but strangely I felt nothing.

….Oh right, I left it in the armory.

Oh well.

It won't be a problem if I face off against these little minnows barehanded.

"You're going to regret this, Human. I'm going to run you clean through."

"I'm in a hurry. I don't have time for threats, let's get this started."

"You fucking scumbag!!!"

Just before the man started to move, I immediately closed the distance and flicked his face.

Piiiiin

The moment my finger touched his face, pieces of his skull and flesh scattered all over the place.

Well, it wasn't a very nice way to win, but it was effective.

"Master～!"

"Kaede?"

I heard Kaede's voice somewhere. I squinted my eyes as I searched the other side of the fire to find her, and with her magic, she blew the flames out until they were extinguished.

"Are you hurt!?"

"No, I'm fine, this is the enemy's blood."

Kaede is relieved to see that I am unharmed.

"Where's Frau?"

"I was looking for her too. I thought I heard her voice from over here."

Suddenly, we both heard Frau's voice coming from somewhere nearby. We looked up and there we saw Frau with Panda.

Frau was carrying a rock rat while throwing a tantrum, and right behind her was Panda, stretched out like a disc, carrying several children that he managed to rescue at a considerable altitude.

"My lord!"

"Kii!"

She dropped the rat to the ground and flew towards me. The rat hit the ground on its butt and squeaked angrily at Frau.

"I was saving the kids with Panda, and that rat was just an afterthought."

"Kyui!"

"Well done. Kaede, you go with Frau and Panda. Get the children out of here, I'll take care of the demons."

"Yes, Master. Please be very careful please."

I left Kaede and headed towards the village.

"So here you are, former king of Big-Gear."

"Get away from me! Come any closer and my sword will end you!"

"That's very funny. Thinking that you can beat us, Rudra-Sama's great royal guard, I find it very nauseating to hear."

"I am more than capable of cutting your heads off, don't underestimate me!"

The king was backed against a wall by five men. Nearby lay about ten dwarven soldiers who had died trying to protect him.

Among them was the figure of Hansel. The old man's fingers twitched, but only slightly.

I was relieved to know he was still alive.

"Please run away..."

"Hansel! I'm sorry you had to come all this way, only for us to not even get our country back!"

"The important thing is that you live...."

A young demon stomps on Hansel, who was badly wounded.

"You are traitors! Big-Gear belongs to Rudra-sama now, and even your people recognize that. No matter how much you try to deny it, it's useless."

"Then why are they after us? Oh, I know, it's because the throne has no legitimacy, right? Since no one wants to recognize Rudra as king."

"Once I have your head and crown in my hands, that problem will immediately be solved. Where is the crown? Give it to me, and I will set you free."

Both swords clash, the king having predicted the demon's attack.

"I will never give it to you."

"You refuse to give it to me? Then I will kill you and take it.

"Wait!"

I shouted, drawing everyone's attention to myself.

"Who are you?"

"Just a simple adventurer who was hired by these people."

"So you're an adventurer... What about your weapon?"

"I don't need a weapon.... Or is it that you fear what I can do with my hands?"

The young man's eyes widened for a few moments, and then he burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Are you serious? You're funny. Captain, you don't mind if I play with him, do you?"

"We don't have much time. You have one minute."

"That's more than enough time to kill this guy, then we can get on with our mission."

A very burly man answers the young man's question. He must be the leader of this unit.

The young man re-sheathed his sword and raised his fist with a smile on his face.

"I'm going to match you in this fight, so it'll be more fun."

"Are you sure you won't regret it?"

"Oh come on, do you really think you're on the same level as me? Where did you even come from, you fool?"

"Beyond the open sea."

At once our fists collided.

A shockwave went through the air and the demon's left arm broke off and disappeared.

After a few heartbeats, the man shouted.

"My, my, my, my... My aaaaarm! Where is it!?"

The young man falls to the ground and screams loudly at his missing arm, while the remaining upper half of his arm drips blood.

I knew he would end up regretting it.

"What did you do to Luca's arm!? Who the hell are you!?"

All the men quickly surrounded me.

"I am Toru of the Manyuu Brigade."

"So you're the adventurer Rudra-sama has been looking for. This is good news. We will eliminate all those who interfere with our lord."

At the leader's command, three men attacked me at the same time.

I paused for a moment to inhale air and the moment the blades touched me, I held in my breath all at once, causing my muscles to seize up.

"Haaaaah!"

The three blades shattered as my muscles expanded.

"Aaah!"

Immediately, my fist exploded the heads of the three demons that attacked me.

"So you're the hero..."

"No, I'm just a simple warrior."

"Kugh! Retreat! We can't take on a monster like this!"

The leader jumps towards a nearby Wyvern.

"Captain, take me with you!"

"Don't be ridiculous, you got yourself into this mess in the first place! Do what you can to stall him!"

"Don't leave me!"

The Wyvern took off.

But a silver flash appeared in the sky and pierced the leader through the chest.

The leader loses his hold and falls limply off his mount. He surely died instantly from that attack.

"Sha!"

"Well done."

Rosuke had returned to me.

Apparently he already took care of the other enemies, they were probably the last ones left.

"Hueeh, I don't want to die!"

The young man started to crawl away as he saw me.

I think his name is Luso... or Luha... Agh, I forgot his name already.

"Rosuke... Make it quick."

"Sha!"

In the blink of an eye. Rosuke was through it.

Hey guys, some important news I've posted that will probably interest you, go read it. ????????