Chapter 293: Elf Village Battle ③

293 – Elf Village Battle 3

「You are Wakaba-san, right? Just what is going on here!? What was done to Shun!?」

Ooshima-kun yells that out, but I’m just about to put the screws on the likely suspect who did something to Yamada-kun, so please wait a moment.

「Shiro-san, we truly haven’t done anything.」

Just as I had seized vampire girl by the scruff of her neck and was about to make her confess everything, there’s an unexpected defense motion from oni-kun!

「Shun did something to the half-elf who is collapsed over there, and then suddenly he was in pain. Based on the situation, isn’t it likely that Shun used some skill and then experienced a side-effect from that?」

To oni-kun’s calm analysis, vampire girl nodded her head quickly in support. Suspicious. That vampire girl’s eyes are swimming a bit, is extremely suspicious.

「Well, the one who caused the situation that forced Shun to use a skill was Sophia-san though.」

「Besides all that, Kanata. Didn’t you make rather too much fuss over Shun merely losing consciousness?」

While I’m pondering how to conceal to truth, oni-kun conveniently changes the subject.

「Shun is still alive. He’s not dead. Also, this is a battlefield. It’s not unusual to die here. Despite all that, why did you get into such a panic over something as minor as him losing consciousness? I hope I’m wrong, but surely you are not standing here with neither the resolution to die, nor the resolution to lose others, right?」

A sense of intimidation surges out from oni-kun, like an electric shock. Perhaps they were overwhelmed by the intimidation, as the Imperial Army and elven army fighting a short distance away stop moving. Even the zombies that are already lifeless seem to have stopped moving out of dread. Ooshima-kun, who is faced with taking that intimidation head on, has a torrent of sweat running down her while quivering. As if she had had a bucket of water thrown over her, a ridiculous amount of sweat is pouring off her. Her body is visibly shaking in fear. It’s to the degree that you wonder how she can even be still standing.

「If you are standing here with such half-hearted resolution, then I am disappointed. Without knowing the truth, without having the resolution, yet you are convinced that you are on the side of justice or something? That’s so not funny that it could inspire rage. When I think that my former friend has become such a fool, it’s repellent in the extreme.」

Oni-kun, unusually for him, is hurling abuse at someone without even trying to conceal his disgust. That rage, perhaps being overlooked amongst all the intimidation, somehow feels fishy. Well, since his former friend is his opponent he might be thinking about various things. That opponent, known as Ooshima-kun, is only half-conscious due to being overpowered by oni-kun.

「Kanata. This is your first and last warning. Lower your weapon and surrender. Otherwise, even though we were once friends, I will cut you down. That’s what it means to be resolved.」

I’m sure he actually has no intention of doing so, but oni-kun declares that with plenty of intimidation. That was the clincher. Ooshima-kun goes weak at the knees, and sinks to the ground right there. Having already comprehend the gap in strength between them so much so that it hurts, she yielded by instinct rather than by reason. Well, that’s when you go “it’s impossible” after all. The despair that Ooshima-kun is feeling now, would probably be similar to what I had felt in the past when I met Alaba for the first time, I guess? That it’s impossible to win, just from feeling the other’s presence. That’s just how much of a difference in strength there was.

Ooshima-kun loses the will to fight and retires. Yamada-kun, sensei and the half-elf are unconscious. Only Hyrinth, Kuro, is left. Yep. I guess I can leave this place to oni-kun and vampire girl already.