CH 327

Just like the Yamata no Orochi……

Multiple golden dragons attack one after another.

That skill———-

If can activate it, he can manipulate it at will.

At the time of that great invasion……

It certainly matches the skill that was witnessed on the Eastern battlefield.

[It’s quite discomforting that you’re still alive———- Mimori.]

Saying this, Kirihara brandished his arm.

Three golden dragons intertwined with each other and attacked with a horizontal sweep in sync with the movement of the arms.

Seras flicked them away with her Spirit Sword.

At the same time, Seras deployed multiple ice shields———- making them float around me in the air.

Seeing this, Kirihara clicked his tongue.

[Protecting Mimori, tell me, what is the meaning of this…… Get out of the way, Seras……]

Additional golden dragons undulated and attacked.

[<Paralyze>]

I unleashed <Paralyze> on the golden dragons themselves.

However, the dragons’ movements haven’t changed.

It seems like it doesn’t have any effect on those golden dragons.

It would probably be the same for my other skills.

………………………

I finally encountered an opponent like this huh.

An opponent with the ability to negate Abnormal State Skill other than the Goddess.

Seras cut the golden dragons one after another with her Spirit Sword.

……They’re exchanging blows.

The power of her Spirit Sword is flawless.

The golden dragons, which she couldn’t block on rare occasions, collided with the floating ice shields and disappeared.

In this case, the ice shield is also shattered.

However, Seras only added more of those ice shields.

Kirihara spoke.

[Don’t worry, Seras…… I’ll save you…… Now that I’m here, you’re safe———- No matter how much that Low-rank being struggles……]

[……………….]

Looking at Seras’ back, I could feel that she was shaken.

Those words Kirihara said just now.

It wasn’t a lie.

Those words————- They were spoken without any lies, the truth for Kirihara Takuto.]

[Don’t take Kirihara’s words seriously. It certainly is your strong point that you were able to understand others easily, but relying on that ability would also be a bad habit———— Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed with every information you hear.]

[—————, ……Yes.]

Seras responded to my words and repelled the golden dragons with a quick cleave.

Her shaken thoughts seemed to have dissipated.

The sharpness in her movements has completely returned.

The momentum of Kirihara’s attacks also increased.

However————- Seras dealt with all of his attacks.

Everytime she moved, the raindrops sticking on Seras’ body snapped away.

To tell the truth———– Watching her fight sends shivers down my spine.

Seras is dealing with the many undulating golden dragons closing in on her, and she is doing it all by herself.

She’s able to handle them.

Looking at this, I suddenly realized that perhaps, her body really wasn’t able to keep up with her.

No, I felt sure of it.

Even when Seras consciousness decides to move in a certain way, her body hasn’t been able to keep up with it until now.

Her physical abilities don’t allow her to do that.

However……

Now that she was clad in the Origin Regalia, her physical abilities were much more advanced.

Her body has finally caught up with it———— Seras’ “natural talent”.

Moreover, Seras is also moving in a way that makes it easy for me to move.

I certainly am moving in line with Seras’ movements, but it’s strangely easy for me to position myself.

The ground is slippery due to the rain.

Some of the spots here and there are muddy.

However, our footing aren’t getting caught in the mud.

If we weren’t in such a situation, I would have watched her footwork in fascination……

She’s flawless.

As a sword that I can rely on.

Back in Mills Ruins, when I had fought that Skeleton King……

I remember my thoughts back then.

“I want a sword.”

This must be it.

The vanguard————

The sword that I wanted at that time.

[Seras…… It seems like you’re completely mind-controlled by Mimori. I suppose there’s also that…… Stockholm Syndrome. Even when I’m having you realize reality, such a thing is difficult for you. I really can’t forgive you———- Mimori.]

[The current me isn’t anyone else’s……]

[ ? ]

[———but Touka-dono’s……]

While changing her posture, Seras quickly changed her grip on the Spirit Sword.

[———Touka Mimori’s sword———]

[……Don’t make light of me. I couldn’t help but pity you…… I see, just like Vysis said, a sheltered woman clueless about society…… Not knowing about divine providence, you could only settle as a work of art grown in a greenhouse. As expected, just as the case in my country, education really is the root cause for everything…… If the education received is broken, everything would just turn out to be a mess. It’s exactly because of this that you should seek this King’s education, Seras Ashrain……]

[You are not my King———- My King is Touka-dono, no one else……!]

[Mimori———- I really can’t show mercy on you…… Not knowing your place———- How dare you do such a thing to Seras……]

[……Seras, can you close the distance between us?]

[I will try. I’ll somehow get you as close as you want.]

[I’m counting on you.]

At my command, Seras leaped forward.

Seeing this, Kirihara snapped his neck.

[Fuuu…… You’re finally coming——— into my embrace. Fine…… Come closer. What’s with that fighting spirit……, ————<Dragonic Sword>.]

Receiving Seras’ attack, Kirihara’s sword is imbued with a golden light that is as bright as the Spirit Sword.

It’s clearly different from the sword that was clad in that aura until now……

That he too has such a weapon———– A high-output Golden Light Sword.

For a few seconds……

A dazzling exchange of attacks and defense unfolded.

A clash of white and gold.

Their power was almost equal.

However, I could feel that Kirihara was being slightly outpushed.

Seras is making use of Hit & Away tactics, striking with small increments.

Kirihara’s swordsmanship was indeed quite fast.

However, that “speed” of his was due to his status compensation.

He doesn’t have the technique that Seras has.

Perhaps…… He has probably just been bulldozing everything until now.

I think that’s why Seras is able to even deal with him and his golden dragons at the same time.

If Kirihara actually had the technique———- the skill to properly make use of his abilities, I wouldn’t be able to tell who would win between them.

However……

Although I feel like he was being slightly overpowered……

Even Seras, wearing her Origin Regalia, when fighting against Kirihara along with the numbers brought by his golden dragons……

Her limit was just being able to fight evenly against huh.

No———– The current Kirihara had a Status that allowed him to defeat the Great Demon Emperor.

In other words, it’s safe to assume that his level had risen considerably.

The fact that Seras is able to fight against him on even level is probably close to a divine feat in itself.

Of course, there’s also the fact that Kirihara wants to get his hands on Seras.

Therefore, I should take into account the possibility that he is holding back against Seras.

In this case, what I should do———-

[————<Freeze>.]

———–Bakiiiiin!———–

Just in case, I decided to try my other Abnormal State Skills.

Trying out just in case there’s something different when I try out my other skills.

Finding an opening within their exchanges of attack and defense, I unleashed my skills.

However, all my Skills that I hadn’t tried out before were nullified.

[Good work. You can take your distance now, Seras.]

[Yes.]

[……Now then……]

From here on out……

How should we make————

[Fuuuuu…… I will be the judge……]

[—————-]

Kirihara, this guy……

[Seras…… How long can you fight against him?]

[I don’t know. However…… If he doesn’t have any more tricks in hand, I can hold him off for at least half an hour.]

[————Excellent.]

[D*mned Low-rank……]

Saying that, Kirihara, accompanied by a dense golden dragon, pointed the tip of his Golden Light Sword towards me.

[Aren’t you ashamed of yourself…… Mimori?]

[……What now, Kirihara?]

[Sneaking around behind a woman….. having her protect you———- I can’t help but feel ashamed of you.]

[Hmph, man, woman, all that doesn’t matter. It’s all about the right person for the right job.]

[Silence…… A person who is merely being protected by others doesn’t have the right to call himself a King. Only those who can move and show their royal authority should be recognized as Kings. In other words, you are not a King. Are you listening? The kanji for king “王” is just horizontally mirrored “E”…… Do you understand, halfwit? That is why you’re a fake…… Your nature is that of a Low-ranker…… In the end, you could only be an E-Rank Hero———- for that is divine provi……]

[Hmph…… Having such a rough time against an E-Rank Hero, how…… splendid of you, O great king. Heh.]

[Mimori……]

Kirihara leaped forward.

The golden dragons behind him also followed Kirihara’s move, surging for an attack.

[……………….]

Just from a glance, those golden dragons seem to be automatically protecting Kirihara.

Are those responding…… to Kirihara’s emotions and movements?

Those golden dragons———- They weren’t moving automatically?

They seemed to be being manually controlled, but was that actually not the case?

Were those things…… deeply connected with Kirihara himself?

Consciousness and emotions…..

Were those things moving…… in conjunction with Kirihara’s consciousness and emotions……?

[……………….]

A golden dragon that managed to slip through Seras’ attack range hits an ice shield protecting me, extinguishing each other in the process.

Thereupon, Kirihara adds more golden dragons.

[D*mned ultracrepidarian…… Everything you grasped was originally supposed to be mine…… Seras, I defeated the Great Demon Emperor…… I saved your world. However, what did Mimori do? Did he save the world……?]

[This man———- He saved me.]

[Tsk, what a difficult woman……, ———-Get out of the way! By this Kirihara’s will, I will now rectify this world……]

Seras continued to exchange blows with the golden dragons.

Occasionally, Kirihara also jumps forward, but Seras safely repels him.

Meanwhile……

[<Paralyze>.]

———–Bakiiiiin!———–

Noticing my action, Kirihara looks at me.

[ ? Don’t you understand that it’s useless? Hmph…… I see. All you can rely on is your puny sh*tty skills…… I suppose it’s understandable. In other words———– You could only pray…… that if you keep at it, it would eventually work against the odds…… Praying for the probability of something occurring, the very gesture of weaklings who pray to change their lives from gambling…… Being constantly tossed about by the odds and being betrayed by reality is exactly the proof that one is a weakling…… As expected, this proves that your nature is only that of a weakling! That’s why, come here, Seras……]

[<Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>.]

I kept shooting.

[<Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>, <Paralyze>————]

With the sound of glass breaking, the skill was nullified.

With the sound of glass breaking, the skill was nullified.

With the sound of glass breaking, the skill was nullified……

[Hmph…… Was it so humiliating to be so weak before Seras? Or are you so afraid to admit…… that your Skills are useless…… that you are useless? You are too sh*tty. Clinging on Abnormal State Skills, dressing it up under the guise of Sorcery…… That’s too pathetic, Mimori…… Fuuuu…… So this is what happens…… when one reaches the pinnacle of patheticness huh.]

[……Hmph.]

At his words, I snorted———– and laughed.

[ ? What’s funny? Ahh…… You have lost your mind with your own patheticness huh……]

[You still haven’t realized it huh, Kirihara.]

[What is this sore loser saying……]

[You…… since a while ago, you have been breathing a little unevenly…… Moreover———- I wonder what that sweating is?]

At my words, Kirihara gently touches his cheek.

[———–, ……Don’t tell me…… You’re still struggling?]

[Your movements…… Little by little, you’re getting slower…… Don’t you understand yet? That is getting accelerated———– by the constant exposure to my Abnormal State Skills.]

[…………………]

[It may look like I’m being blocked…… but in fact, even if it’s only slightly, it’s actually working.]

[ ! ]

[Thinking about it again, that <Dispel Bubble>…… It’s not like the original, right…… In that case————]

In other words……

[It isn’t necessarily as effective as the one around that sh*tty Goddess.]

[Tsk, Vysis…… Always so useless……]

[The true identity of that feeling of your movements slowing down…… is probably the result of a buildup of the meager effects of my skills. In fact…… You’re aware that your breathing is starting to become erratic, aren’t you? I noticed it and just kept shooting my skills. Turns out…… it wasn’t as “useless” as you put it.]

[Hmph, no matter how much you try to chip away, your Abnormal State Skill is also a Unique Skill…… and it would have very high MP consumption. You can recover by leveling-up…… but in anticipation of that, I didn’t bring any of the Golden-eyed monsters here that would give you EXP to prevent that from happening…… I had precisely read through the future. Now then——— What now? How long can you keep this up…… Mimori?]

[It’s 10.]

[ ? ]

[The MP consumption of my Abnormal State Skills, it’s only 10.]

[What stupidity are you saying now…… That’s a Unique Skill. Are you trying to bluff your way out now?]

[Then…… Why don’t you see for yourself? I could continue doing this, until it’s already too late for you———— <Paralyze>.]

[Mimori———]

Bam!

Kirihara intensely kicked off the ground.

And then……

Kirihara and his golden dragons’ momentum increased.

Perhaps, they had felt some sense of danger.

Even though he hates to admit it———- but perhaps, he had sensed it.

He had realized it, that he would be at a disadvantage if this battle continues any longer.

Thus, he decided to switch up, opting to end the battle fast.

[Here he comes———– Hold your ground, Seras.]

[Please leave it to me.]

This would be the most intense part of our battle.

Seras’ breathing finally begins to be disturbed.

The pressure of the battle was so great that the air around them seemed to vibrate.

Kirihara’s offensive, unlike before, was quite fierce.

It was like he became the incarnation of violence.

During this time, I continued unleashing my Skills.

And the more I unleashed, the more Kirihara’s impatience grew.

[Kuku…… Even so, Kirihara……]

[Fuuu…… Your laughter is entirely offensive, Mimori. For you to displease me so much, it’s even unbelievable…… Extremely unbelievable———– Even more so because you’re merely being protected by Seras……]

Ignoring whatever he’s saying……

[You claim to have defeated the Great Demon Emperor…… but isn’t that guy something even Sogou can defeat?]

[…………………………….You b*stard, Mimori……]

[I’ve heard about it…… The story of the Great Demon Emperor’s attack on Alion’s royal castle. The Great Demon Emperor, unexpectedly, was about to be defeated by Sogou…… so you went and betrayed her, and hurriedly joined the Demon Emperor’s side?]

[Mi…… mori……]

[Kuku…… In the first place, I’ve been traveling quite a bit, but I’ve never heard of it, you know?]

[What are you talking about……]

[I’ve heard about Sogou and the Elder Takao’s reputation. However, Kirihara…… I never heard anything about you————- <Paralyze>.]

[……Jealousy huh? Have your taunting skills been the only thing that you improved…… It’s too unsightly.]

[Jealousy? Hmph…… What are you talking about? If anyone’s being jealous here, it would be you, understand? After all, the one who got Seras was me———— <Paralyze>.]

Pikri……

A vein popped out on Kirihara’s temple.

[I’ll definitely kill you———— Golden dragons. This King declares.]

[Who the heck is even a king here…… In the first place, you weren’t like that back in the former world, were you? What’s with that way of talking…… you trying to put on airs or something?]

[It’s because I am a King.]

[You say you’re supposedly a King…… you claim that you’re someone great———– but there’s probably no one who listens to you, right? Whatever it is that you’re blabbing.]

[——————Mimo……]

[That’s why, you’re choosing to say words that are a little different from those usually spoken…… trying to exert your individuality———— trying to make yourself stand out. To make the other Heroes look at you. To make others recognize you.]

……Gi…… ri……

Kirihara violently grits his teeth.

[Mimo…… ri……]

[Kirihara, your true colors, you see…… You’re a man who is driven by inequality, by the concept of the strong and the weak…… Putting on those silly publicity phrases set up to make money…… On top of that, consciously thinking that you’re some sort of ruler…… However, your most important desires and reality don’t mesh at all…… and in the end, you just end up looking like a selfish kid who was earnestly rampaging to accomplish the same thing over and over again……]

[………………..]

[You’re nothing more than a pathetic, self-absorbed, pretentious b*stard.]

[………………..]

[And so, when you opened up the lid of the can of reality, you just find out that you don’t have any popularity or any sh*t at all…… You say you’re a King? Kuku…… Good grief, isn’t that just laughable———— Hey, don’t you think so, Kirihara!? Even you think so too, right, Pigimaru!?]

[PIGIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!]

[MIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMORIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII———————!]

[Come on, Kirihara.]

[I will————

[————–Binding Curse, Unleash————–]

—————-kill you!]

Yes……

There’s only one way to break through that <Dispel Bubble>.

That is————–

It would be through a Forbidden Curse.

□

First, what he sought Mira to turn over was “Fly King’s head” and “Seras Ashrain”.

In this regard……

“Fly King’s head and Seras Ashrain wouldn’t be here for a while.”

This is counterfeit information to make Kirihara relax.

I asked the Mad Emperor to prepare that instance for me.

Of course, Mira’s group carried it out.

The information in the message that the Fly King had been killed by Mira’s side was also intended to catch Kirihara off guard.

Whether or not it would lead to a positive result, I wanted to make the moves I could make.

Meanwhile———– the real us had arrived here earlier than the designated date and time.

It’s for us to prepare for our ambush.

After Kirihara had arrived, it would be all over if we succeeded in catching him by surprise with my Abnormal State Skills in the building where I was hiding.

But the “worst-case scenario” that I had anticipated occurred at that moment.

The Goddess prepared countermeasures against my Abnormal State Skills.

However, if Vysis had realized the true identity of the Fly King, I had already considered such a thing occurring as a possibility.

No———— It was exactly because it was the “worst-case scenario” that I thought such a thing was possible.

What is considered as the worst-case scenario for us……

That would be the best move for the other side.

If it were possible, it would be a move they would definitely want to make.

Anticipating this worst-case scenario turned out to be a lifesaver.

In this way, after my Abnormal State Skill is nullified———–

After somehow escaping from the building, I moved to the pillar with the rope-shaped Pigimaru.

Behind the pillar is a pile of rubble.

We had made a space here in advance, where one person could hide by tampering with this pile of rubble.

At first glance, it would appear to be nothing more than a pile of rubble.

We had meticulously created such a camouflage.

Thereupon, I had Seras hide behind it, clad in her Origin Regalia, so that she could start fighting at full power as soon as she was needed.

Incidentally, if Kirihara headed toward Seras instead, I could use my escape window and immediately rush to Seras’ place.

I made it so that I could respond to either pattern of events that could occur.

I had obtained information on Kirihara’s Unique Skills in advance.

This being the case, we would require countermeasures against the golden dragons and their energy body.

Would Seras be able to strike them with her Light Spirit Sword?

Would she be able to defend against its attacks with her floating shields of ice?

I thought that if those golden dragons had mass, it might be possible.

In fact, both of those things were able to deal with the golden dragon’s energy body.

But even if Seras could deal with those things, if my Abnormal State Skill doesn’t work, we would need another effective countermeasure.

When I broke through the slatted shutters and escaped from the building———–

Pigimaru let out a loud cry.

That was a signal.

A signal for Munin that tells her, “the Forbidden Curse will be needed”.

From the time that signal was rang out, Munin, who had been waiting at another location, moved in with Slei.

When she reached a certain distance within the vicinity, she was to dismount and quietly approach Kirihara from his blind spot.

The familiar’s report confirmed that there were Golden-eyed monsters in Kirihara’s vicinity.

At the very least, those things weren’t sighted within Munin and Slei’s field of activities.

Naturally, Vysis was also not around.

And from here———–

We need to bring Munin closer to Kirihara, to a distance where her Forbidden Curse can reach.

Then, what should we do so that Munin could get closer?

Kirihara’s awareness.

His emotions.

We need to make him turn his attention to something other than Munin.

However, Kirihara seemed strangely composed.

No……

Rather than composed……

There was this certain bizarreness from him.

Although the way he speaks certainly has this peculiar strangeness……

His thoughts themselves seemed to be very clear.

It was as if he was strangely observant.

That being the case, I had to deprive him of his thoughts.

I had to make sure that his antennae weren’t pointed at anything else but me and Seras.

And in the midst of the battle————- I noticed something.

Kirihara’s deep breathing from time to time.

Is he tired?

Is he being overloaded with the burden of continuously manipulating that large amount of golden dragons?

Moreover……

Kirihara himself didn’t seem to be paying attention to the burden of his skill in him at all.

Was his attention too focused on Seras?

Without a care about anything else, he kept on carrying on the conversation.

Here, I’m going to take a gamble.

I would use my Abnormal State Skill on a wild goose chase.

Fortunately, the MP consumption of my skills is low, so I can use it as many times as I want.

“Albeit slightly, the Abnormal State Skills are working.”

“The accumulating effects of my Abnormal State Skills may be infinitesimally slow, but it does exert its effect.”

This is what I wanted him to think.

Thereupon, with the passage of time, Kirihara began to notice it.

He realized that, as he continued to be subjected to my Abnormal State Skills, his movements were becoming slower and slower.

“The longer this battle goes on, the more disadvantageous it becomes.”

If I can keep on using my skill, Kirihara gets impatient.

His thought process would be to beat me as soon as possible.

Of course, the cause of the burden in his body isn’t the accumulating effects of my Abnormal State Skills.

In fact, my skills must not have been even slightly effective.

That <Dispel Bubble> can only be broken by a Forbidden Curse.

It’s not the original, so it isn’t necessarily as effective.

That’s what I told Kirihara.

In fact, I didn’t see my abilities being effective at all.

However———– I couldn’t let the prerequisite victory condition be broken.

Hence……

“My Abnormal State Skills were slightly effective.”

I could only speak out such a bluff.

However, that bluff made it possible for him to think that……

“He must defeat Mimori Touka as soon as possible.”

If I manage to make him have such a misapprehension, then my goal would be achieved.

In a situation like this, Kirihara’s awareness would be focused solely on crushing me.

His unusual obsession with Seras is also encouraging him to do that.

""

At this moment, Kirihara’s consciousness would be exclusively occupied by me and Seras.

Another thing I realized was the properties of his golden dragons.

The golden dragons seemed to be linked to Kirihara’s consciousness and emotions.

What I feared most was the case where they were automatically defending their wielder.

However, was this perhaps a characteristic of Kirihara’s intense ego?

The golden dragons are deeply interlocked with Kirihara———— That is what I judged from my observations.

In that case, I will continue rubbing his emotion the wrong way, and turn his consciousness and emotions completely toward me.

Also, Kirihara, driven by his emotions, was fighting rather close with his golden dragons.

If he had been fighting in a way where he hides himself and fights from a distance……

We may need to come up with another solution against him.

Originally———– I wanted to end this battle while Munin was still waiting on standby, without her needing to do anything.

The safety of the Forbidden Curse User must be absolutely ensured.

Her existence is necessary toward the decisive battle with the Goddess.

Hence……

Since the situation turned out like this, I wanted to incite his hatred to the maximum, and eventually, if possible, focus his everything on me.

His consciousness……

Emotions……

Everything, including his golden dragons.

Bring about illusions in his mind.

And then……

As a final touch……

With the “greatest insult” to Kirihara Takuto————

I will create the opening that will lead to his end.

At that moment……

""

“You think so too, right, Pigimaru!?”

Pigimaru’s earlier cry———– That was the second signal.

A signal conveying to Munin…..

“Now!”