183 Then, wear it.

The stratagem by my people was more effective than I had imagined. The benefits of the Scarlet Witch King's power were consumed in vain, and he was forced to fight with only the price on his back. When I was told not to check on Harpy, who was flying in the air, I could not have predicted the development to this point.

I was just showing off the power that Yugra gave me when he used it to destroy my army. Even now, the Scarlet Witch King probably doesn't have an accurate grasp of the situation.

The more I hear about it, the more I hate this plan. I doubt his humanity.

You don't even know what you're talking about. We have the Butler Army, you don't. Even though the situation is much improved, the enemy still has a unique class-compatible advanced class and an advanced class-compatible intermediate class. Even if the intermediate class is dying, it's still a very difficult opponent for Mejis to deal with. Ecdysium and the others should be able to make a good breakthrough or keep the advantage. We'll send reinforcements when we're done.

The majority of the enemies are dwindling, and the remaining ones are weakening. The Scarlet Witch King may or may not be aware of the current situation, so this would be the perfect time to inflict further damage. If we can get rid of the unique class of each squad here, the war situation will be further tilted.

"Understood. I'm sure you're aware of the anomaly.

I'm sure you're aware of the anomaly. There's a good chance they'll use their power for now. Don't push it. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on with your mother.

...... Well, it didn't look too good.

In fact, it was worse. I'll tell it like it is, and Lakra will just run away from it.

I can't help it! You can't help it! If only Shosho had given you more precise advice in the first place, it would have been all right!

"It's my fault? The reason why Lakra ran away anyway was because she didn't want to lower the value of her current life by being apologized to, or something like that.

"Ugh ......, you say that as if you've been watching all along.

I'm not sure what to make of this. He never misses a guess, and he always gets right to the point. It's really scary how he can control people's minds and take away the option of making enemies.

"Well, I understand how you feel. But if you keep running away, you're going to leave each other feeling uncomfortable.

"Because ......

"Oh, I'm sorry. That was cruel of me. I'm going to give you some advice - no, some magic words - to make up for it.

"Magic words," I respond. No, but I'm pretty sure you can't use magic on your own people. .......

I'm sure you're not the only one with a talent for magic, but you're hopelessly lacking in it.

I'll buy that fight later. I'll buy that fight later.

I'm not sure what to say. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on. But don't let it bother you. But don't worry about it. I'll repaint it as much as I can. I'll give you a taste of the best life there is. I promise.

"...... is so easy to say.

"You think I can't?

"...... I think you can. Master Shosho doesn't make promises he can't keep.

You know exactly what I mean. You know exactly what I mean. That's why you should have a little trouble. I'll give you something in return.

How will you do that? Can you do that? There's no room for such questions. No one in this room can doubt the words of my compatriot, who is so confident. My people have shown themselves to be just that. Oh, the magic words.

I understand. But it's absolute! I'll demand a do-over until you're satisfied!

Got it. But that can wait. Just do your job well. See you later.

We're losing contact. We're already in battle at Gahne. We've got to get to the battlefield as fast as we can.

Let's go, then. Gilista, after you give Harkdok the details, you're free to go into battle. But be selective about your targets.

I know... We can fight unique class demons in the first place, not holy knights later.

No later than later. If you do anything against your own people, you'll be stabbed in the back by Hark-dog.

How dare you, when I'm on your side? I'm off!

Gilista staggered off, her steps somewhat light. At last, an enemy who could be fought appeared in front of me. I can understand her feelings, if only a little.

We're going with you. I don't know how that man can say such a thing without hesitation.

Yes, I do. I wish I could say the same thing to Aoi without hesitation. I wish I could say the same thing to Ao, but I'm inexperienced in that area, so please forgive me.

Really, this guy is also ......

I'm sorry, did I offend you again? It seems I'm not ready to imitate my compatriots after all. I have a lot of work to do in the future.

Perhaps because of the exchange with my compatriot, Lakra is more motivated than usual. If I'm not careful, I might lose all my targets to Lakra. I don't have any intention to compete with her. ...... No, I think she wants to compete with me secretly. The competitive spirit is not a bad thing when it works in a positive way.

I'm not sure.

"Mr. Koganeioss! What should we do?

Don't panic! As long as the enemy is coming, it is our duty to show them our strength!

Even if I tell you not to be upset, there's nothing we can do in this situation. From the time the enemy set up wards around us until now, events have been happening that I don't believe were orchestrated by the Demon Lord. Low-ranked demons repeatedly assaulted on a small scale and reaped what they sowed. If that was all, I thought there was no need to use the Demon Lord's power.

But the Demon Lord always unleashed his power and made us defend this place with all our might. Even when I told him that the strength of his soldiers was in danger, all he replied was, "Maintain the status quo. And just when we thought the enemy was finally getting serious, they unleashed their power. As a result, we are now in a terrible situation, with our troops being overwhelmed by enemy troops that are normally no more than mid-level.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

I felt the Demon Lord's power reach me with a sensation as if it were pushing me back. And at the same time, I could feel the power coming into the soldiers. Good. We can still fight with this. We can still--

"No, no! The soldiers are clearly moving too slowly! Master Cogarjos!

"Don't make a fuss! As long as the Demon Lord has power, we can't allow ourselves to be defeated! Thoroughly engage them!

This guy, as the second-in-command, went to the trouble of being given the Demon Lord's power so that he could speak, but all he does is whine. But the soldiers, once they paid the price for activating the power for a long period of time, were too slow to move. The beast becomes more ferocious when it is pushed into a corner, but it must be weaker than when it is in full strength. The enemy is not letting its guard down. Rather, now that the Demon Lord's power has reasserted itself in our troops, they are more cautious and will surely try to reduce their numbers. On the other hand, our soldiers are more reluctant to attack, and are creating their own gaps.

And that's not all. There's a group of strangely dressed men in the distance, and their strength is clearly alien. They're probably demons, but all of them are at least as strong as the unique class. They're starting to overrun us. If we were fully prepared, we might have been able to take them on, but fighting that group in this state is going to be tough. We need more power than that to break the current situation, and there is a way to do that: ....... Yes, the power of our unique class.

All of us unique classes receive magic power directly from the Demon Lord and can release it at will. The burden is not too much, thanks to our strong bodies. You can use it only when you are in a tight spot. .......

"There you are. I've been looking for you.

You're the Volveraktian!

The knight of Tarz who had stirred us up so much, the man who could be called the enemy's main man, stood before us. I'm sure he's not the kind of guy who would let his guard down at a time when we need to deal with a group of demons.

"It looks like we won't have to retreat any further. Since it looks like we won't have to retreat any further, let's go at it the way you want us to.

"...... Fine. The enemy's morale will be lowered if we hold up your head, the mainstay of the human race. Let's reap all the benefits of our past exasperation!

"No, I don't... that's okay.

Let's go!

Borbelaktian, I've seen you a few times and I know how you move and how strong you are. He is a hammering blow from an unbelievably strong old body, and you must avoid taking him seriously. The secret of his power lies in the high level of his magical enhancement. The secret of his power lies in his high level of magical reinforcement, but he does not deploy any protective wards. It seems to be wearing it at all times, but its defensive power will not prevent a blow from coming.

He swings his sword sideways as a check. If it ducks down or moves backward, I will hit it and knock it down. If it flies upward, grab it immediately.

"What an uninspiring swing. I can see your thoughts.

What?

As if from beneath, he swung his hammer and struck my sword. His arm was slightly numb, and he had accurately hit the center of the sword as it reamed out to the side.

Without losing momentum, the mallet spun around and aimed sharply at my jaw. You can't evade it in time because your center of gravity was thrown forward for the hit. Then--

"Hmph!

Before you can be hit in the jaw, you lower your forehead to meet the mallet with a headbutt. The weight of the mallet makes it a light blow. And then his attack stopped, a good opportunity for us to follow up!

"Nnngh!

"What?

As soon as he raised his voice, the force applied to the mallet swelled up and you felt your head and body float in the air. As soon as we showed our will to fight back, he switched to brute force and threw us backwards. Amazing instantaneous power and arm strength. This old soldier is, after all, much stronger than any other human being.

He rotated his body in midair and landed on the ground. The distance between us is a little wider than before. Neither of you is injured, but you've wasted no time in blocking the other's attack.

"That's a tough neck bone. I was going to snap it, but it floated away.

"Well, well, well! That's why this is worth fighting for!

Any half-hearted attack will be dealt with. Then there's no need to wait and see. I'll swing each blow as if it's my last!

I kick the earth and swing my sword in all directions. But he calmly assesses its trajectory and evades it with lean movements. But I can't keep up with his movements.

"How long can you dodge?

I can't dodge anymore. Here.

What?

Just as I'm about to swing my sword, his hammer strikes my sword first. I lost my stance, but immediately regained it and attacked again, but his hammer struck my sword first again.

You're saying that you were able to see through my sword after only a few evasive moves? No, I'm not surprised. From the very beginning, he smelled the signs of our attack and responded quickly. Then, even if he could do such a trick...

"You seem to have a lot on your mind for someone so stupid. But don't overthink things when you're in the middle of a fight.

"What?

Impact to the side of the head, a hammer blow? No, his hammer is used to pierce swords. I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I'm sure it's a good idea. ....... But it is naturally weaker than a blow from a mallet. It doesn't matter how many shots are fired at you like this.

So you are thinking too much.

A more powerful blow is struck into the abdomen. This time it was definitely a hammer blow. This time, it was definitely a hammer blow. He had regripped his weapon in time, and hit the part of the body where there was an opening.

My armor shattered and my body was flung backwards. He landed on the ground, taking a defensive stance in anticipation of a follow-up attack. There is no ...... pursuit. No, he has not moved from his previous position.

"...... why are you letting up on the chase?

There's no way he's going to chase you out of the circle.

"Circle ......?

If you look closely, you will see that a circle has been drawn around the place where they were fighting. It was not gouged out by a weapon. It was probably done with magic. I can't believe he had that much energy left in the middle of that attack. ...... But what is the meaning of this circle?

What's the meaning of this circle? "It's the way we ragdolls play at hand. I'm sure you've heard of it. This is why we decide where to fight. Those who get hit are to come back as soon as possible. Here, good morning.

"...... You've got to be kidding me!

Those who stand only in the circle and get hit are inexperienced. Such a sideshow. I'm saying you're going to fight me with that kind of restraint. It's like you're underestimating me.

I jump in with one foot and attack, but am easily evaded. I knew he could read my movements. His eyes are watching my entire body.

"Hey, outside again. You want to shoot each other, come on in.

"...... Fine. I'm going to crush your pride!

I'm better than you in physical prowess, that's for sure. I'm better than you in physical ability, that's for sure, but you're better than me in skill. This gap is not easy to close, and I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes.

So let's admit it. And let it be known. I am the beneficiary of the Demon Lord.

Now is the time to unleash the power of struggle.

I'll be back.

You called yourself Kogakioth. Your appearance is changing. It's not just that he's more deadly like the other monsters around him. His flesh has gone from beastly to bulky. I'd say she's finally played her trump card.

"I'm coming!

This time, it didn't jump in, but walked leisurely into the circle. This time, he didn't jump in, but moved into the circle on foot, with less thought and less gap than before. Then I'd better check him out.

As soon as he is in range of the hammer, he aims for the head. If you are too slow to react to the blow, you will be hit...

"Nuh-uh!

He parries my blow with a swing of his sword. Nice of him to return the favor. But now I know some things. He's much stronger and faster. I thought I had the advantage if I only used my full strength, but at this rate I'll be behind even that.

He then swings his sword at me. You can avoid it once, but it's tough to avoid it continuously. I use my hammer and handle it without haste.

However, its speed is gradually increasing, and it is difficult to follow it with your eyes. You can anticipate it with your body movements, but at this rate the hammer will not be able to keep up. So, I dare to take a direct hit with the hammer and ask him to create distance.

It's a much heavier blow than I expected, but I've taken hits like this many times before. I'm really worried about the future of the man who will become the husband of the Iliad.

"Come on, Borbelaktian! You're out of the circle!

A taunting provocation. You're becoming arrogant with your increased power. Then it's time to finish it off.

So it seems. Then we must return immediately. ......!

"Then we must return immediately. I'm not going to be able to do that. If you're not a birdbrain, you'll remember this blow because you've taken it before. Thank goodness for Kobolds.

"Come, Ivor Veracutian! Let's see what you can do with your biggest blow!

I'm telling you, if you take this, you'll be buried in the ground for sure.

No! It's only a human technique! I'll make you know it's useless!

He knew the next blow was coming and took a defensive stance. Normally he'd avoid it, but now he's confident he can take it. The Scarlet Witch King's power has increased his survival instincts, so he's not wrong in his assessment. Well, at that point, it's a dead end.

"Nnngh!

I'll slam the hammer down on his defenses with all my might. The biggest blow I could muster, and he certainly blocked it. But it was only that one blow that he blocked. He was oblivious to the magic in the circle that was activated at the same time until the very end.

"What the hell?

I'd planted my magic in the circle beforehand. The magic you cast will turn the earth into soft sand and leave a void the size of his body. No matter how strong he is, if he is hit by my power from above, it is only natural that his body will sink to the ground at once. His body sinks into the ground, leaving his head behind. Originally it was just a small move to break his foothold, but this is the first time I've done it on such a grand scale.

"See? It's buried, isn't it?

You! Is this circle a trap?

"In a hand-to-hand combat with the Ragdolls, you don't go to the trouble of blowing up your opponent. We all hurt our backs with that kind of force. But there is one girl who is not so reserved.

"Konnasuna!

Oh, not so fast. As soon as you step in, you harden the earth around his arms. If he's strong enough, it won't affect him too much, but he won't be able to move instantly if there are no gaps.

Now, let's see how many heads fly off.

"What?

Look down at his head in front of you. Hold the end of the handle firmly and swing the hammer. Instead of lifting it straight up, swing it horizontally from left to right and right to top. Bring the mallet to the back left of the head and stop it firmly. Then rotate it around your waist and swing it at once. Do not swing down, but swing forward as if you were going to blow his head far away.

"Bolveraktiaaaaaaaan!

He shot Kogagyos in the head with the center of his hammer.