Episode 174: Demon

"Got it. I'll neutralize every one of the 'Chimeras' Father created—just focus on taking down Father, Warrior-san."

"But won't that put Yūki in danger?"

"You can't gain experience by killing monsters created by the royal family. Besides..."

From En's feet emerged the various "slimes" that I and the "Gambler" had defeated countless times in our dreams.

"Frankly, it's these guys we're supposed to fight directly. The reward rule doesn't apply to me."

I see.

Then, let's go with that plan.

Just then, the allotted hundred seconds were about to expire.

The skill to activate... I've already decided.

The skill I've always wanted to try out—《Demonization》.

I'm not entirely clear on its exact effects, but it seems to drastically boost combat power.

One deep breath.

—Doom!

Right after that, the "King" burst through the floor and appeared on the rooftop.

"Don't you dare run away, you fool."

"No, no. Dying there would've been far more foolish."

"Ah, you always act like this..."

The old man seemed, by nature, to dislike any kind of objection.

"Come, girl. I'll finish this now."

At the same time, the "King" gave birth to numerous "Chimeras."

Just as Yui had predicted.

"……!"

But it was far more grotesque than expected.

A horde of synthetic beasts, cobbled together haphazardly by randomly mixing animals that happened to be nearby.

Aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Gueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

They let out cries like those of someone at death's door... well, you know.

They seemed to be wishing for death as if begging to be killed.

"Warrior," follow the plan.

As En was silently chanting in her mind—mum mum mum—the ground suddenly surged upward, launching the creatures from the rooftop.

"Ah? You've noticed my trick. Good, En."

The figure known as "King" smiled, his expression one of pride, like a father praising his son.

"…Stop it! Don't pull that face now, after all this time!"

En grimaced, screaming in frustration.

What kind of feeling would it be to finally see a parent's face, even in the midst of killing each other?

But he didn’t have time to empathize with his own emotions.

"——'Demonization.'... Here it comes."

He activated a skill, the first ever revealed in this country.

Then,

"——!?"

Something completely unexpected happened.

From my hand... a black crystalline substance, hard as rock, had grown out like a protrusion.

"Yuck! So gross!?"

Don't those kinds of moves that look this messy usually not be learned by girl characters?

"It's not gross! It's cool! Looks just like a dirty Saint!"

Didn't you just say "dirty"?

Didn't you just call a Saint "dirty"?

Keep it up, "Warrior"!

I don't really pay much attention to Ena's follow-up either.

The black crystal not only covered the back of my hand, but began to spread over my entire body—and even my grandfather's heirloom sword.

Then, I realized something else.

Hair.

My hair has somehow become ridiculously messy. Would it look like this if I hadn't been to a barber in about three years?

...Yeah, right now, I don't want to look in the mirror. It's scary.

"Hoho. A skill to transform into a monster, huh?"

See? Even the "King" gets called a monster these days.

"...This is interesting. Let me see just how far I can push this."

Chūdō Ginga seemed to grow more excited the greater the threat looming over him.

In response, I ready my blade.

Since activating the "Demonization" ability, the blade had begun to feel lighter again, just as before.

"——huff!"

I exhaled sharply and leapt toward the "King"—and then.

"Wha—?"

An event beyond my comprehension unfolded.

I hadn't even pushed hard with my legs, yet...

I don't know what's going on, but...

I just jumped over the "King"'s head and landed far up in the sky.

"What the—?! No way!"

I never thought I'd lose control like this.

Flying past the buildings... launching myself onto the wide road beyond,

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm falling, I'm falling!"

...Just now, the "King" said something like "fall all the way down," but that wasn't what he meant, was it?

I can no longer control my body in midair.

Looking down, I see a horde of zombies.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Screaming, I land right in the middle of them.

Then,

"Oooooooh!?!"

A familiar voice shrieks in alarm.

Turning around, I see a familiar face holding a rifle.

"Wait, you... Could it be 'Guriguri Glasses'?!"

Aren't you that guy from the old cleaning shop, Sakata?

"Ah, hello. It's been a while."

"W-what the hell are you doing over there! And that outfit! And—there are zombies everywhere! This is bad!"

I lightly swung my sword, decapitating all the nearby "zombies" at once,

"Sorry, I'll catch up later!"

I pushed off with renewed strength, leaping across Akihabara like a grasshopper.

...Sakata-san looked utterly stunned. I'll have to think of a way to explain this later.

But perhaps it was for the best that I'd managed to separate myself from the "King" once.

As I raced through the streets, I began to grasp several characteristics of my demonic transformation.

The crystalline armor covering my entire body seems to emit black energy when I channel power into it. If I can master it well enough—though it'll probably take a lot of practice—I might even be able to fly through the sky like Superman.

For now, I'm just focusing on boosting my jumping power.

When I returned to the place of the "King," I found the "Slime" created by Enzan and the "Chimera" created by the "King" engaged in a Pokémon battle.

"——I'm back."

Feeling a bit awkward after making such a silly pose, I return with a slight unease.

"Y-You're back, Warrior-san! Are you okay?"

"Fine. Passing the baton now."

Saying that, I immediately charge toward the "King."

However,

"...Mmm."

Seeing the old man's defiant smirk, I veer off course mid-attack.

I had wanted to aim for an early decisive victory...

But I halt my assault upon noticing several mouse-like creatures clinging to the "King's" body.

...These mice are likely also magically enhanced creatures, refined by the "King" himself.

That means if I crush them, I’ll end up receiving a reward I never even wished for—from the "King."

I must avoid that at all costs.

I hesitated for just a few seconds.

"…………!"

Four or five "Chimeras" lunged at me from around my surroundings.

I dodged their attacks by soaring upward.

In that moment,

"Get back! You monsters!"

I had Yuzu's "Slimes" eliminate the "Chimeras" for me.

The building that had once been the "King"'s residence was now transformed into a single massive "Slime" due to En's influence.

"Whoa, En, you're actually pretty good at this!"

"Huff, huff huff huff... Uh..."

Still, this person looks about ten kilograms thinner than before—am I imagining it?

They might be nearing their limit. Even just standing there seems to leave them out of breath.

In any case, it'd be troublesome if he collapses right now.

Thanks to Oni-san, we're still able to fight properly on this rooftop swarming with monstrous creatures like ants.

Pushing him too hard at this pace might not end well.

If only the [Advanced Sword Technique] were active, I might be able to avoid the rats and deliver precise strikes to the 'King.'

Yet, even with my demonic transformation, I'm no different from a sword novice right now. All I could manage was swinging the blade wildly and imprecisely.

One more move.

Just one thing, that's all.

If I can catch the 'King' off guard, perhaps I can finish him.

Combining the pre-prepared strategy I had ready with the sudden, decisive strike, it might not be impossible to eliminate the 'King'.

【Challenge: How to avoid Chimera's defense and attack the "King"?】

Wait and buy time until a new skill activates?

⇒ That strategy is too slow, since we can't predict when Enzan, the time-wasting specialist, will be targeted by the "King's" attack.

We're already relying too much on the "King's" whim as it is.

Call for backup using telepathy?

⇒ I don’t have a sniper friend I can call on. It would take too long.

Can I push Yui-san a bit harder?

⇒ Impossible. Yui-san looks like she’s about to collapse.

…Hmm.

So the only option left is to figure out a way to—

① Execute within the next few seconds,

② Without relying on anyone else’s help,

③ And accomplish it using only my own abilities.

Is that right?

When cornered, you’d be surprised what ideas suddenly come to mind.

Whether it'll work or not aside, there's a promising approach.

"...— 'Your Majesty.' No, sorry, Mr. Chūdō Ginga."

"Something"

...I propose surrender once more, at the very end.

Say something stupid.

The old man grinned.

Are you really going to throw away a battle you know you can win?

The words of the "King" who said that... somehow didn't seem to reflect genuine belief that he could win.

It's not surprising.

Even if... I were to lose here, in the end, there's nowhere for the "King" to run to.

"I understand."

This person...

wants to die here.

I send a brief glance toward Enzan.

That was the signal.

He nods slightly, barely able to breathe.

After this is all over, let's eat plenty of delicious food.

Thinking like that,

I——ran.