Nihon 13

In the early morning, we loaded our belongings onto the Mado Tricycle and pushed it together, the three of us.

Starting up the Mado Tricycle would produce a loud hissing sound from the steam, so we decided to push it instead. There's nothing secretive about it—just that it's early in the morning, and we want to move quietly.

Thanks to our early departure, before the sun had even risen, the streets were empty. We made it to the gate smoothly and without incident.

There should be a gatekeeper here—once we reach this point, activate the Demon Road Tricycle and speed through in one go.

We arrived at the gatekeeper’s station as planned... but there are... two of them.

"We’d like to leave the country. Is that acceptable?"

"Leaving at this hour?"

"We really need to move quickly today..."

"...Something feels off. From my experience, people like you always cause big problems later. Arrest all three of them right here."

"Wait a moment—I have the guild's authorization. As an adventurer, I should be able to pass without issue."

"Such documents can be forged easily enough."

Coil pulls out the paperwork, but receives no hearing.

This is bad—being caught here will cause serious trouble. Worse, I have a terrible feeling about this.

"Sorry."

Slowly, he raises the lightning crystal.

Before the gatekeeper can react, he paralyzes him.

The purple lightning reached the two gatekeepers in an instant—one fell, the other spun inward.

"What?!"

The lightning was only powerful enough to stun, not to send people flying.

Yet the one struck was still thrown backward.

The one who was knocked back gracefully adjusted their posture midair and landed silently.

The three of them froze, each in their own place.

Of course. No one could stay conscious after taking that attack.

"Whew, that was close. That actually landed well. Did you feel the excitement building up?"

Saying that, he removed the deep helmet covering his head. The face was one I recognized.

"Mr. Takagane? Why are you here?"

"Such familiarity. Even I am a minister, you know. What do you think you're doing, sneaking around and disappearing like that?"

"I wasn't sneaking around for any particular reason... Well, there are deeper reasons behind it."

"Then I have my own deep reasons. Share them with me, and I'll let you disappear."

With that, the minister charged forward with astonishing speed, surprising for someone of such a massive frame.

Instinctively activating the Fūma Stone, I summoned a sudden gust of wind directly in front of me.

Feeling an odd loss of momentum in my own body, the minister abruptly leapt backward with a large, powerful bound.

"Go ahead now—get going, I'll catch up using the Fūma Stone!"

"But—"

"It's fine. Once we buy some time, we'll fly through the sky."

After a brief hesitation, the two nodded, and Coil activated the mystical tricycle, readying it for immediate departure.

"Hmph~ So I was played for a fool, was I?"

The minister readied himself for another charge.

"Enough! Run!"

I pretended to summon a lightning attack, flashing a powerful burst of light—what's known as a flashbang.

The minister, unaware of this technique, swiftly adjusted his stance and managed to keep one eye intact.

A seasoned warrior, indeed.

But this was part of our prearranged plan. Knowing the flash was coming, both of us pushed the magic tricycle to its limits.

It charged forward with only one eye. Though the minister had damaged part of the cargo bed, we barely managed to get through.

Seriously, how can you destroy a cart with your bare hands? What kind of strength do you even have?

"Hoho, impressive. I never thought you'd escape... Impressing me with a powerful attack, then pulling a trick like this—quite clever. I like it. Magic is wonderful. This should be fun after such a long time. Then, I'm coming."

Such a minister would emit a shockwave from their forehead.

"Huh?"

Normally, a hand without a mana stone couldn't produce a shockwave like that.

A thunderous roar and impact struck his body, freezing him in place.

"Come to think of it, you're quite knowledgeable about mana stones... Can you tell me what this is?"

Before he could react, something shot toward him at an impossible speed—no, not a bullet, but a body itself.

Using the fuma stone equipped at his waist, he generated a sudden gust of wind, hurling himself sideways into a side path. He managed to slow his momentum just enough as he fell.

"Ah, you dodged that! Unusual movement, but quite impressive. Very well, if you've seen through my magic, I'll let you go—enjoy yourself to your heart's content."

The giant's face lit up with a grin, assuming a stance once more. In the next instant, he charged forward with overwhelming force. This time, having prepared, I accelerated and fled swiftly. The minister's fist slammed straight into the ground.

Instantly! A depression formed in the earth—so perfectly shaped it seemed beyond human creation.

What in the world is going on?! It doesn't look at all like he's holding a spirit stone. And what exactly is that high-frequency sound coming from nowhere?

But such physical phenomena can't be produced by an ordinary person. It's beyond human limits.

Ordinary person? Human limits?

Suddenly, I remembered something—about the demon beasts.

I activated a detection spell originally meant for demon beasts, not humans.

The minister, anticipating what was coming, assumed a defensive stance.

The gemstone lamp attached to his body glowed brightly red.

"Are you a demon beast?"

"Hoh, that's an interesting question. Close enough, but not quite. I'm merely a human."

Then why is the gemstone lamp reacting? It's because he's hiding a gemstone with power rivaling that of a demon beast somewhere. In Japan, gemstones can transmit magical energy. It's not uncommon for it to be invisible to the eye.

The minister once again shows a charging motion.

...If we don't engage in real combat, I'll be the one overwhelmed.

Fighting without killing people is unfamiliar, but there's no other choice...

This is the first time I've aimed a crossbow's barrel at a human.

"Hmph, you've finally decided to fight, have you? I was just starting to warm up myself."

"If possible, please let us pass. I don't wish to use these on people."

"You dare speak such nonsense at a time like this. You claim you won't resort to force in battle? How arrogant."

I say nothing and nock the crossbow. If I'd known this would happen, I should have improved my accuracy to aim for weak points.

Come here! Little one!

As the minister shouted, I shot an arrow aimed at his legs. Of course, with the magic stone's effect加持, it traveled at a speed unimaginable for a regular crossbow.

"Too slow!!"

The targeted minister, timing his movements perfectly, kicked up the launched arrow.

! How can he do that? No way...

What on earth is going on? He dodged the next shot with ease and deflected the others with punches, rendering them harmless.

In any case, he must be using some kind of magical gem's effect.

Activate the magic essence detection immediately.

...I have to get close, but I need to stop his movement somehow.

Fire off another special arrow. Once again, it's shattered directly.

"Having second thoughts? You're running out of options, you know?"

"No worries at all, but don't you fret."

The broken arrows are scattered enough. Now, just reduce the power and unleash the lightning spell.

He unleashed lightning toward the closest arrow. The electric current traveled through the arrow and propagated to the others.

A high-current ground formed. Naturally, the minister surrounded by lightning was struck by more lightning.

"Guh!"

Got him! That one definitely hit hard. The minister knelt, bowing his head in pain.

Or wait—how is he still standing after that!?

Now, cautiously approaching while on guard, activate magical sensing.

I approached the minister and began examining his body. Where on earth could he be hiding that magic stone?

Suddenly, I felt a massive impact to the side of my body. I couldn't react in time and was sent flying.

What just happened?

The answer came immediately.

"Phew, I knew it would work. Your attack, it's effective."

The minister was standing up...

This is impossible! I just shocked him with a current stronger than a stun gun!

I myself was blown back, my whole body numb from the shock.

But thanks to getting close and investigating, I’ve managed to figure a few things out. Still, I need to confirm them further.

I’ll step back and observe from a distance. Activating the wind crystal at my waist. With a roar, I feel my body lift into the air.

I accelerate quickly, reaching heights beyond human reach. Through gradual improvements, I’ve managed to hover in midair for short periods now.

"Ah, so you can fly through the sky now! What an odd human. Just as the rumors said. But do you really think you can escape like this?"

The minister forcefully stomps the ground. The recoil lifts him astonishingly high into the air.

But that's not all. He pushes off the air once more.

At the same moment as a shocking sound, his body rises again.

"!?! No way."

"That's my line, actually."

Caught off guard, I realized too late that the minister had closed in on me in an instant.

I did my best to defend and recover.

At the same time, I was struck by an overwhelming shock beyond words.

Cold. Hard.

I was lying on the ground.