CH 71

Between Grandile Kingdom and the town where Kitsune was, paved road had been established, however along with it forest that grew as if a matter of course, there was also rocky mountain around.

Of course, there were demonic beasts; which were suitable to those places; living there.

—a shadow appeared in the forest.

Having the vicinity as its turf, even among its kind, it had a considerably large and robust body, that was the proof of how many victories it had accumulated during its struggle to survive up until now. Moreover it had a great self-confidence, and it had also high self-esteem as to how powerful it was.

And now, the past it which desperately fought to become more and more powerful, so that it wouldn’t lose to anything in its turf, had become the foundation of the current it.

Its name was “Crazy Monkey”.

Monkey type demonic beast, they commonly had bodies that were bigger than usual earth’s gorillas. They usually formed and lived in a group, however, this one was a mutated one.

From born, then grew, and ever since it was capable of fighting, it was always fighting alone by itself. Its body was even almost twice as their usual size, it was greatly different from the other from its kind, and its power exceeded even those of higher rank demonic beasts.

It was akin to a subspecies, and upon defeating and eating those of higher rank demonic beasts, it grew even stronger. Normally, they should be grouped as top of E class demonic beast, but upon mutation, its power was surely no less than those of top D class magical beasts.

Since there was none that could defeat it, it held its chest high. Drumming it like how gorillas did, when its sounds reverberated in the air, all demonic beasts and animals around would cower in fear.

Currently, of all existence there, it was surely… the strongest.

“Gururruaaaa!!!”

With thunder like sounds, the roar from its huge body was filled with two components, terrific force and intimidating air to its surroundings.

“—!?”

However, the next instant….

“…just when I thought there was this seemingly noisy guy around here… was it you, I wonder? The one that kept making that annoying sounds, it was disturbing the neighbors… ah, I mean, it was disturbing me, you know?”

Before it, a small human appeared. Donning black clothes, and his eyes were of different colors.

The monkey, as a demonic beast, it had fought adventurers numerous times already. They all thought it was of E rank, dropped their guard down, and died in its hand. As a demonic beast, it could be considered as quite a clever one, it could learn and understand that it could protect itself by wearing an armor and gauntlets. It understood that it could wear an armor that was no less sturdy than its thick and robust skin.

From that wisdom, it understand that by increasing its defense power it wouldn’t as easily to die, and also how convenient to had one, however the youth before it didn’t wear any protective gears whatsoever. Just with a glance, he was surely nothing before it.

However—

“You sure are huge, I seriously want to know what you ate to grow up to be that huge.”

—even while speaking as such, there was no hint of fear toward its huge body.

The monkey didn’t understand what he said. It was surely a clever one, but only at chimpanzee level at most, it didn’t understand human tongue, and it also could speak. Thus, still not understanding what his words meant, toward the youth that was speaking before it, it bore “fear”.

“Well then… let’s do it.”

At the youth’s hand, black miasma gathered and turned into a knife, and his left red eye shone jade green light. And then, from his tiny body, intimidating air was growing.

The monkey, all of its senses urged it to “run”. However, it immediate shook them off. After surviving battles after battle thus far, it was without a doubt powerful, to run away from such tiny human, its pride couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Gururururu….!”

Growling, summoning forth its full strength, it was prepared to the battle. As for the youth, he was staring at the monkey with faint smile on his face.

And then, with the sound of the youth’s step on the ground, that very instant, the monkey kicked the ground, and charged toward the youth in terrific speed.

The battle, had begun commencing—

◇　◇　◇

After discussing together with Leila-chan and the other and deciding what to do, I decided to immediately leave the town to hunt some demonic beasts to raise my level.

Back when I was at Miniera, there were many small fry demonic beasts around human’s settlement, so I was intending to go leveling by hunting such demonic beasts, but I happened to meet this clearly abnormally powerful fellow.

When I peek at its status, it’s really dangerous.

◇Status◇

Name                        : Crazy Monkey

Race                           : Monkey type demonic beast – subspecies  Lv.54

Strength                   : 3230

Stamina                    : 5400

Resistance               : 890

Agility                       : 4900

Magic Power          : 100

Skill                            : 『Superhuman Strength』 『Overpower』 『Strong Punch Lv.3』 『Body Enhancement Lv.4』 『Jump Lv.3』 『Intimidating Roar Lv.3』

Innate skill              :  ???

◇

It’s clearly not a monkey. Not just it’s way bigger than gorilla, such constitution is just ridiculous.

Isn’t its body no less than three meters tall?

However, when I invoked『Eerie Constitution』, it showed a hint of intention of running away. Mental power-wise, as expected seems like I’m the superior one. Well, that only means this demonic beast isn’t that of a great deal, huh. Its status is somewhat higher than mine, though.

Seemingly intending to fight me, I can feel that it focusing its full power. However, when I activate 『Demon Eye of Foresight』, I can see what moves it intends to make. As long as I can see it, no matter how fast it moves, I’ll have a way to deal with it.

When I stamp my leg on the ground, it vigorously rushes toward me.

“—I can see it.”

However, having foreseen its upcoming lariat-like arm, I crouch down and evade it. A bristle arm that’s thicker than even a log passes by just overhead my body.

I see, this is surely an amazing ability. If I know what attack coming next, I’ll be able to evade it, if I can evade it, I can use the opening to counterattack. The ability to foresee what happens next, for the current me this ability sure is very convenient.

“Fu…!!”

“Gaaaa!?”

Then, pursuing the passing by arm, I stab my black knife on it. The sharpness of the knife made of miasma is simply amazing, it can easily pierce through its thick skin. However, our strength are world apart. With its arm powerful momentum, my knife is stuck and taken away.

However, I then release the miasma and remake in on my hand. The one left on its arm is a knife cut.

“Gurururu…!”

“The first move is my win, come on, once again.”

Saying so, I beckon it to come at me again. And then, just like that, after getting slightly irritated over the injury on its arm, seems like such words are enough to provoke it further, it puts its whole strength into its body again.

◇　◇　◇

After that, we repeated such collision numerous times, and thirty minutes has passed since the battle began.

Speaking of the overall conclusion, in this battle I’m the superior one. By foreseeing its attack with 『Demon Eye of Foresight』, I could land my attacks, but it couldn’t.

Thus, right now I still have no injury on my body. On the contrary, there are numerous injuries on its body. With blood flowing out from those injuries, its furs are dyed in red. As the stance goes, its power will surely deplete from the blood losing. Perhaps it’s the very first time for me to be able to fight a powerful opponent by myself.

Exactly when I think as such…

For the xth-time, seeing that it takes the stance of charging in, I activate 『Demon Eye of Foresight』— no, I try to activate it, however it doesn’t activate at all.

“!?”

“Guruaaaa!!!”

Since I can’t activate it, I can’t see what happens next. The monkey’s approaching punch, however this time it isn’t the sensation of seeing it in the future, but seeing it approaching in the reality itself.

“Uga… aa…!!”

Perfectly and precisely, its huge punch lands exactly on my face. I can hear cracking sounds from my bones.

My upper body is bent backward, rather than blown away, as if thrown to the ground, my body smashed down directly on the ground.

I feel like I lose consciousness for an instant.

“Haa…! It’s… bad… I’ve… a nosebleed…!”

I don’t feel hurt, but seems like my mind is shaken by that single attack. I can’t move my body properly. Seems like I’m still alive only thanks to my high resistance, but the table surely has been turned with that single attack. This is bad…!

“Guruaaaa!!!”

Perhaps having anger accumulated after being injured numerous times, seems like it’s very happy that that attack connected perfectly on me, the monkey rises a delightful roar.

When the monkey drumming its chest, I’m assessing our current situation. Moving my body, I try activating 『Demon Eye of Foresight』again while standing up. However, it doesn’t activate.

“Ouch…!”

Moreover, sharp pain runs through my left eye. Seems like my 『Demon Eye of Foresight』 isn’t a convenient tool that can be continuously activated infinitely. Thirty minutes, perhaps it’s because I’ve been activating it continuously, if I put some interval between activation then perhaps it can last longer, but be that as it may, most likely one hour is already pushing the limit. After using it for such duration, I have to rest my eye for a while, huh.

“Next is battle using miasma, huh… is there any other use aside from turning it into weapon, I wonder….”

At this rate perhaps I’d die for a bit. I originally came here for the small fries, but to meet this monkey… what a terrible luck. Well, I was the one who approached it first, though.

Nonetheless, it doesn’t change the fact that the situation is dangerous as it is. Let’s try thinking some other ways to use these miasma for a bit.

Miasma— that means virus, but in reality it’s a miniscule cell-sized germ.

As for its traits, it doesn’t have cell that possess genes, so it’s not a life-form. You can even refer it as an unscientific existence. Devouring the life, living without a life as the strongest and the worst threat.

And then, that nature is….!

“…multiplication?”

Upon pondering about it a bit, I stumble upon a certain thought.

The possibility of trying it out, it’s plenty enough… it matches Leila-chan’s, or rather “Red Night”’s traits and conditions. Should I be able to perform it well, it’s depending on the miasma, but perhaps I can decide the victor by the next attack.

For that sake, well, let’s put our trust in Leila-chan a bit. In S rank’s threatening power.

“Gurururu….!”

“…well then… once again, king of the mountain.”

I face the monkey that’s staring at me, and then I release miasma from my staggering body.

I don’t form it into a knife. Just once, should I be able to strike these miasma onto the monkey’s large body, victory is practically mine!

One step each, I and the monkey take some distances, and analyze what move the opposite side might make next. Now that I can’t use『Demon Eye of Foresight』, I can’t overlook even a single millisecond. I can’t afford to overlook the very moment it moves and charges toward me.

It slowly makes it stance, while glaring at me.

And then… the monkey kicks the ground…!

“Gururuaaaaa!!”

With intention of putting the finishing blow, it throws its large fist along with the fiercest roar I’ve ever heard. That isn’t a speed I can evade, the moment I sense that, I kick the ground and my 『Intuition』 says to jump sideway. Nevertheless… I keep my eyes locked firmly on its arm.

Fortunately, the punch passes by exactly next to my face. That very moment, I wrap all the miasma on that arm.

And then, still with miasma on its arm, the monkey moves in a lightning speed to my rear, the ground is shaved where it stops.

There’s no pursuit. The monkey shakes its arm to shakes off the attaching miasma.

However, now it’s my turn to attack.

“—I think you better stop doing that… it’ll eat you, you know?”

Saying so, I control the miasma. With “The thought of invading the monkey’s body”, the miasma are forcing their ways into the monkey’s body.

Then, I can sense that the miasma are entering through the hole where the furs grow. Perhaps thanks to its space sensing trait, I can even sense the monkey’s blood pulse from the miasma that invade its vein. It’s a very vague sensation, but the most important part is the ability to corrode its inner body.

Miasma is virus. Then this virus has a certain nature from its structure and trait.

That’s “the ability to multiply itself using other life-form’s cells”.

A virus that can multiply by corroding cells. Moreover, the virus I’m controlling is the strongest and the most dangerous world destruction (S Rank) monster… “Red Night” virus. Its corroding speed is, second to none in the world.

“Ga, aaaa…. Gu…. Ruaa……!!”

Evidently, the monkey’s around three meters tall body is solidified as if a broken doll. And then, from its large mouth, ear, and nose, black miasma are overflowing. The number are way more abundant than the one I released before.

That’s right, the miasma are multiplying by eating the monkey’s cells.

If my conjecture is true, then perhaps the miasma I could release before was equivalent to the amount of meat I’ve eaten up until now in this world. I think the miasma Leila-chan can release is also equivalent to the amount of cells she’s eaten every night ever since she was still a child.

That’s why she could release such massive amount of miasma, enough to make a large sized guillotine, right? Ultimately Leila-chan is a demon that can turn the meat she eats into miasma, and then control it at will.

That means, these miasma that were born from her, they should have the nature of multiplying by devouring cells as well.

And then, seems like my conjecture is spot on. The miasma that are corroding the monkey’s inner body are admirably devouring the cells at an astonishing rate, and the amount are increasing in accordance to how much cells devoured.

In the end the miasma are even overflowing from the monkey’s pores all around the body, and its whole body is completely covered by the miasma.

After waiting for a bit more, all of the miasma return and gather around me. The amount is, enough to imitate the three meters tall monkey’s body. With this, seems like I can make a hundred of knifes with ease.

After the miasma dispersing, at the location where the monkey was there… nothing’s left there.

Either it meat, pelt, bone, innards, everything has turned into miasma. As the result, that huge monkey that boasted as the strongest in this area… has disappeared, as if it never existed in the first place.

“She’s really out of ordinary, huh… Leila-chan, I mean….”

Dispersing the floating miasma around me, I murmur so while floating a bitter smile.