41-Encounter with the enemy

"There are a lot of rumors flying around about Gant, but it seems that his barbaric behavior is true, as his abominable name 'Dojo Eater' suggests, he breaks down the dojo from one end and takes the signboard from the other.

At the site of the seal (dungeon).

I was in the middle of a mission, taking a pause and engaging in a conversation with Karius-san. Myl is also with me.

It's not that uncommon to see dojo-busters in the adventurer's town. It's a good thing that you can't get away with it. If the dojo approves of the challenge, it is treated as an official match, so the power of the guild does not extend to it.

So, you're saying that Gant's dojo-busting isn't against any of the guild's rules and regulations?

That's what it comes down to.

Karius shook his head as he said it.

'But come on, though. What does that mean if the dojo people lose?

'Needless to say, they will take away your signboard. In some cases, they may even expel you from the dojo. Also, once the dojo's signboard is taken away, the dojo tends to fall because its authority is diminished.

''What's the point of taking a dojo-breaker if you're going to risk that?''

'Proof of power,' he said. For an adventurer, and for many of the dojos in the City of Adventure, proving your strength is important as a foil, and it makes you stronger. Besides, a person becomes stronger through many fights. It also serves the purpose of building up one's own strength through matches against people of other styles.

'To briefly summarize what you just said........Dojo-breaking is not an uncommon story, nor is it something that the guild's power extends to, so it cannot be banned. In order for a dojo-breaker to take place, the dojo must approve the challenge. Is this the kind of place you're talking about?

'Yes. By the way, the dojo often makes some kind of demand of the challenger. Often it's money or goods. The challenger, in that case, has to pay when he loses.

Now that we've talked about it, I generally understand what a dojo-breaker is.

Meir crosses his arms with a difficult face.

''Well then is dojo-breaking good or bad, after all, which is it?''

It's a bad thing from a public standpoint, I suppose. But if it's done with the consent of both parties, it's not for anyone else to interfere.

Karius-san answered Meil's question while tilting his water bottle.

'In fact, it was done in such a way that you could only say that. In that man's case.

...What do you mean?

One hundred and fifty. And that's in just one week.

"Huh?

For a moment, I couldn't swallow what Karius-san had said.

Seeing me in such a state, Karius-san adds an explanation.

'Gant has taken away a hundred and fifty signs in just one week in this city.

Other than that, Karius told me a lot about Gant.

Gant Belfort. He is from the Kingdom of Léoseine, which covers an area in the northeastern part of the continent, and his family is a baronial family.

However, Gant himself doesn't often open up about what happened in his homeland.

It seems that Gant originally belonged to the Knights of the Kingdom.

The Knights of the Kingdom of Léo Seine are frequently described in terms of discipline, honesty and honesty. This is the kind of knightly order where it is joked that the knights are whipped every morning for every wrinkle in their military uniforms.

That's how well-disciplined and well-coordinated they are.

But that was not the case with Gant. It's a good thing that they're not the only ones who have the same passion for the game.

After that, he traveled around the adventurer's towns and sealed sites (dungeons) throughout the continent, honing his sword skills.

For the past two to three years, he has been using this Zet City as a base, and if he hears rumors of a strong man inside or outside the city, he is said to be stretching his legs. He is probably the most knowledgeable person in this city on the subject of "kill or be killed," according to Mr. Karius.

He has been given many nicknames because of his hunger and pursuit of the powerful. He has been given many nicknames because of his hunger for battle and his pursuit of the powerful, and he could not even count them on the fingers of his hands.

There are other nicknames, too numerous to count, such as the fact that there are more women in the red light district than both hands and toes combined, or that their bodies are actually barrels of liquor, not blood, flowing down their bodies, and the list goes on and on.

Ha, ha...

The former may be possible, but the latter will never happen........well, I guess that's how fierce his drinking habits are.

The more I hear about him, the more I get the sense that he has tremendous military prowess. He's exactly like a beat-up warrior........Is Mei Fan trying to deal with someone like that?

I'm sure he's pursuing a warrior's career. I've heard that you don't miss a day of training. But if you ask me, it's the carelessness of an adventurer who drinks and takes naps in the dungeon. There's no such thing as being too cautious in such a place, that fool...

"...drinking and napping here?

I was with him once on a mission. In my mind's eye, he looked like a demon that wanted to kill me.

That's when. A voice that shouldn't have existed in this place interrupted.

''Ha ... hey hey, that's a lot of talk, you're a coward.

You are.

Long time no see, you f*cking Elf. And those two are with you?

When I looked back, I saw that the person there was someone I had passed on the training ground not long ago.

........I didn't sense any sign of him at all. He didn't even get caught by my magic detection, so what's going on?

His dull brown hair was trimmed short, and his face was fearless and wild. The face is fearless and full of wildness, and although it may depend on one's preference, it is a beautiful shape that explains why rumors of him surrounding women in the double digits.

He is a manly man. It's understandable that some women like this sort of thing.

The body is also strong and strong, and is superior to me and Karius-san in width, height and thickness in every way. He looks huge, but he doesn't look fat or dull.

Rather, its well-trained and polished body even seemed as light as a feather, although it might seem like a contradiction in terms.

This may be due in part to the silvery white armor it wears. I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one.

I'm sure you're not the only one who wants to play house with the women and children," said Karius. I recommend you do it in the bed at the inn. After all, we are in the middle of f*cking here and we are--

I won't have to deal with your bullshit. You might as well talk to the women who make eyes at you, 'cause we're on a mission. Besides, we're in the middle of a mission.

Gant's words, which could be taken as an insult, are cut off and discarded by Karius-san.

''Oooh, that's boring. I'm sure you'll be able to find it. ........hmmm, let's see.

However, Gant didn't care about Karius-san's swift words, he came closer to me and poured his unreserved gaze on me and Myl.

That gaze stops at Myl's chest.

You're going to be able to find out more about this in the future. How do you like it? I'm not a bad-looking guy, so how about I make you my mistress in the future?

What?

What the f*ck's the matter with you? Or do you want me to make it sound even weirder?　I don't enjoy kids, but after five years, I'm going to make you sick of yoga, man.

Myl's shoulders shake with a bobbing of his shoulders at the fondness of the whole statement and gaze. Apparently, she is frightened.

If it was the usual Meill, he would say, 'I'm going to marry Gerald!

I stepped forward to protect Mei Fan from Gant's gaze. Then, Gant burst out laughing, seemingly unintentionally.

''Kukku........kahaha!　You're a little rough around the edges, but you're still a knight in shining armor, aren't you?　I know who you are. The newcomer of our time. A star of promise. The boy mage who is now famous around here. His name is Zacord?

This is Gerald.

Oh, yeah. I'm gonna kill it.

What?

In front of me, who sounded dumbfounded, Gant suddenly draws his sword slickly in front of me.

Pointing the tip of it at me, he raises the corner of his mouth in a grin.

''What's up?''　I don't know what to do. Mage or not, I'll cut you down.

What...?

"Don't do it, Gant!　You're in the woods, right?　You don't know when the demons are going to attack you...

"Hey, come on out here, wagging your finger at me. Or do you want me to kill you, Karius? I'll take you both out, okay?

From Karius-san's story, I had imagined that Gant was quite a belligerent person.

However, it was beyond my expectations that he was a mad dog to this extent. I didn't expect him to launch a fight in the seal site (dungeon).

''It's insane for adventurers to fight each other in a place like this!　The forest is especially dangerous now..........................Quickly get your weapons.

I was about to tell him to put it back together when I felt a presence.

But it wasn't a sign of Gant attacking me, it was a sign of a demon approaching.

And this presence.........

''A flock of Rushbirds?''

I mutter. They're pretty nasty demons.

They are bird-shaped demons that fly around in groups at high speed, attacking by sending their wings flying. I wonder if it has been magically enhanced, and even though it's a feather, it can easily pierce through at least steel, so armor isn't much use either.

The Rushbirds soon appeared. A flock of more than ten of them formed a formation flight and flew in the sky at high speed.

The swarming and high speed flight is the reason why it is considered a difficult enemy, but to put it another way, if you say it, it's not so amazing if you can seal it off.

And it wasn't that difficult for me to contain that high-speed activation.

A single one of the combatants will send dozens of feathers flying towards us. If it hits you, you'll be easily skewered.

However, I wipe out the first of its deadly moves by casting a single word of the spell.

''Turbulence.''

Immediately afterwards, the feather that had been flying towards us fell to the ground with a flop and without power.

By violently disrupting the air currents in the space ahead of it, it killed the momentum of the feather's flight.

And the disruption of the airflow did not only affect the feather. It also affected the flock of rushbirds that followed behind the feathers.

The turbulent air currents carried the rushbirds up and down with their bodies. Even though they flapped their wings desperately, they were unable to move as they should.

Inevitably, it would be impossible to maintain the formation that had been neatly formed. On the contrary, there was even a rush bird that crashed into the ground.

If you stop moving like this, the rest is easy.

"Now!　"Be a bow that cannot be carried away by the wind.

Oh!

Karius-san quickly nails the arrows to the bowstring and then fires a series of arrows.

I cast a spell on the bow to prevent the arrows from being affected by the turbulence I've created.

Well, I could have chanted the spell, 'Be the bow inevitable'. But with Karius-san's skill, there's little to worry about missing at this distance.

In fact, the arrows that were released shot through the rushbirds one after another. It was a masterful and outstanding technique that I was in love with.

I'm coming with you!

The rush bird that fell to the ground was dealt with by Myl.

He held the sword that he had already pulled out and released in his right hand and ran out with his expected speed.

Deftly, he stabs the end.

A bird that crawls on the ground is as good as a baby. Such carelessness may possibly have been present in Myl.

''Ah........''

Watch out!　"It's a windbreak!

The last one to fall to the ground shoots out its feathers and showered Meille with them, hoping to reward him before he dies.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it, but I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

''Agh!''

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't get rid of your sword. As if to take advantage of the opportunity, the rush bird readied its stance and jumped at Meiru.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's not a bad idea to have a good time.　"Come here!

As soon as I shouted that, Myl's body, which had been in a distant position, was instantly settled in my arms.

So I literally 'called it back' to me.

In the meantime, Karius-san fired an arrow at Rushbird, who had Meiru chase the wound.

Rushbird blew blood from his chest and died.

''Humph..........Did you pick up your life?''

Boringly, Gant muttered as he watched the game.

But I don't have time to deal with that. It's more important to see how the injuries sustained by Myl.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Gerald. I didn't mean to drag you down...

I'll deal with it later. Come on, let's get on with it.

As he said it, he took Meir's hand somewhat forcefully. The wounds had penetrated the wrist of his right hand, and even his fingertips were slick and wet with dripping blood.

I knew it would hurt quite intensely, but Myl's cheeks were limp and sweat was floating on his forehead.

"'Ease the pain. Disinfect the wound. Stop the bloodshed. Power of healing, gather here.'

As he chanted the spell in succession, a faint light gathered on the wound.

By the time it disappeared, the wound had already healed completely.

........In truth, if you heal up so neatly, it would be dangerous in the long run because you would be left with the awareness that 'no matter what kind of injury you get, you'll be fine because of my magic,' and that would be dangerous in the long run.

It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what you can use, but if you get into the habit of easily relying on magic, you'll shorten your life.

But after all, I can't help but feel that I don't want to see Meir suffering from his wounds for too long. That's probably my naivete.

It must be the influence of my parents that I become infinitely sweet when someone close to me gets hurt. I'm not very good at being a demon at heart.

'....Gerald. I'm sorry.

I mean, thank you for that, right?

Yeah. Thanks.

The words are exchanged briefly.

It's an awkward thing to say. You lack experience and skill. You might as well quit being an adventurer and become a prostitute, huh?

Gant made a crude joke from behind me.

But it was an unforgivable insult to Meir, which was unforgivable to me.

''.......What?''

Oh yeah, you've got blood all over your head. I thought you were a beastly, bestiality-loving, bestiality-minded guy, but you're the one who's keeping him around, you f*cking little bastard. You can f*ck all you want every night?

Shut up!　Neither Meir nor Mei Fan are like that!　Don't say anything that could bring you both down!

Without a second thought I draw my sword.

The man in front of me is my enemy. He is the unforgivable man who took away Mei Fan's place and insulted Meiru in a vile manner.

I don't care what I have to say, I can't imagine how much blood I have to drink.

"It's fun, isn't it? Not only do you like to f*ck, you like to fight, you're with me, kid. And by the way, I'm going to kill you right here.

Gant also held his sword at the ready. He stood obliquely toward me and swung it wide over his head.

Is the fact that he is showing both his chest and belly a sign of composure? Is he licking me to the hilt?

........If so, it's convenient. You can regret it after you've been defeated, and that margin was fatal.

I put all my strength into my hand that grasps the hilt and tried to attack from here as if I were the first to strike.

What are you doing, kid?

It was Karius-san's voice, which sounded like an angry voice, that poured cold water on my head.

'Gant. You too!　What are you getting so worked up about with the new guy?　And besides, you're in the middle of a job right now, right?　This is not the place for adventurers to be fighting each other in this place!

'Oh....'

I was just so hot.

But Karius-san is right. There's no point in trading swords in a place like this.

Besides, it doesn't matter if we are attacked by a demon at any time. If you're distracted by other things, you could be in danger.

''Humph ... you're making me go blank.

Gant tucked his sword away in an entertaining manner.

'Karius. You're still a boring piece of shit, you know. That's what I call a cowardly coward.

"I'm not willing to bid my life to redeem my name. I'm not a knight. I'm a hunter. I don't have a reputation to live up to.

Ha, say it, small fry.

With those last words, Gant left the scene.

''Karius-san I'm sorry, I...''

After Gant left. I bowed to Mr. Karius.

'Don't worry about it kid. I don't know how you feel.

But still, I...

If it weren't for you, I'd be drawing my sword.

What?

The only reason I'm not furious with you is because you made me angry first. And I thank you.

It's not like he's going to thank me for that.

I stammer, and Karius-san loosens his cheeks in a rare huff.

"You should cherish the thought of your fellow man. It will save you one day.

Yes!

Karius's words made me feel like my heart was saved.

''And.

...I see...

'I don't know the true meaning of this alias, but I had to stop it because I thought it was dangerous. By the looks of it, though, the little guy has something on his mind.

Yeah.

I think it's all pretty much connected.

It makes sense.

But for some reason it didn't make sense to me. It's impossible to explain in words, but there are still cogs in the wheel that don't fit together....

'I wouldn't say everything, but I think I have most of it figured out. There are parts of it that are take-home cases, but... well, I'll think about that when I get back.

'Yeah. Well, it's a place like this. Now it's time to focus on fulfilling the request.

'Yes, sir. Being distracted by other things at the seal site can be fatal if something unforeseen happens, right?

Hmm.

We'll think about it later.

Now, let's just focus on getting the job done.

I don't think I can go on like this.

"?　What's the matter, Meir. Does it still hurt?

Uh-uh!　We're okay now!　I'm fine now that I'm hurt (...)!

I see. Still, if you're not feeling well, you tell me right away.

Depending on how well Meir is doing, we might want to consider cutting up a little early.