Volume 6 - CH 4.1

Part 1

Having come out into the corridor, Diablo confirmed the situation.

Looking from the location of the door, on the left, there was a Grasswalker Holy Knight. His name was Guryuun or something.

Maybe it was a Summoned Beast, but a black wolf appeared in front of him. However, it was faintly transparent. Was it an illusion created through magic? It resembled a Summoned Beast, but since there weren’t any signs of him using a crystal, the type of monster that appeared was also different.

It was an ability that Diablo didn’t know of. It was something that was not implemented in the MMORPG Cross Reverie. Was it called out using the book that he held in his hand?

He shifted his line of sight.

On the right side of the corridor, Horun was collapsed.

A large amount of blood was spilling out from her collar.

「U……Uu……Dan, na……」

Blood spilled out from the corners of her mouth as well. So her injuries even reached her lungs.

「Do not talk.」

While putting his fingers into his pouch, he headed towards Horun.

──Will I make it?

This would be his first time using it on someone who was on the verge of death to the point that they couldn’t be allowed to move even one finger, but if it went by the game’s specifications, as long as she wasn’t dead, there should be an effect.

The Holy Knight clicked his tongue.

「You came out from the confession room, didn’t you? Even though I warned you……You’ll regret that, you know?」

「Just wait for a bit──I shall make you regret making an enemy of me.」

Diablo knelt down in front of Horun.

Taking a potion out from his pouch, he pointed it towards her lips.

So she didn’t even have the energy to drink it.

If it was with this potion, there would be an effect even if he poured it on her head. That’s what he should do, is what he thought but……

Horun slightly moved her lips.

*Kokun* She swallowed it.

Behind him, the Holy Knight raised an irritated voice.

「Did you……tell me, to wait? It would seem that you do not understand your own position. Enough of this, The High Chief Priest is going to be similarly executed anyway. I will dispose of you here.」

The Holy Knight raised one hand.

Headed towards him──from within the confession room, clad in a green phosphorescence, a 《Squall Arrow》 flew.

「I won’t let you, lay a hand on Diablo and Horun-chan!」

It was Shera’s attack.

It hit the wolf.

The spot where the arrow hit waned, and its contour distorted.

However, it was hard to tell if damage was delivered to it.

The bow that Shera possessed, due to the power of Demon King Krebskrum, possessed an effect of 《Petrification》. That also was not exhibited. Maybe it was resisted, or maybe it couldn’t be petrified to begin with.

The Holy Knight’s awareness was turned towards Shera.

「Do you intend on getting in my way?」

「……Of course.」

Next was Rem.

She threw a crystal.

「Come forth……《Sabre Tiger》!!」

A tiger possessing sword-like fangs appeared.

Although it was a tiger, it did not have a black and yellow striped pattern, but had a shaded tiger pattern on a black background.

It was a new Summoned Beast that she acquired in Zircon Tower City.

Guryuun snorted.

「So? Although I can’t let my guard down against the Magician and the Archer, you are of a lower rank.」

「……Mu.」

Rem’s Summoned Beast, the 《Sabre Tiger》, sprang at him. Its abilities were strengthened by her equipment like the 《Layer of Secret Stone》

It struck its claws at the wolf that was in front of Guryuun.

Naturally, the opposition also made a counterattack, but the 《Sabre Tiger》 was higher in fighting strength.

As a result of several bouts of offense and defense, the wolf vanished.

Maybe because she felt that great of a response, Rem, who usually tried to continue through battles calm and collected, made the rare action of tightly gripping her fists.

「……What’s wrong? Wasn’t I of a lower rank?」

Guryuun turned to a different page of his book.

「Your Summoned Beast is of the Earth attribute. How many attacks of the Wind attribute can it endure? Book of Frey, First Passage of the Second Chapter──《The Arm That Runs Past》」

Once again coming from the book, this time, a green weasel appeared. It possessed a sharp front tooth.

And there were three of them.

Rem opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

The weasels that were born through magic circled around the 《Saber Tiger》, and minced it up with their teeth. It was a fairly sturdy Summoned Beast and had its abilities strengthened, but its HP was quickly shaved away.

The Summoned Beast was defeated, and transformed into a darkened crystal.

──*Gusha* (Squish)

A muffled sound was made.

The gigantic stone was aimed at the mass of beasts that was at Guryuun’s back.

The corpses of several crushed animals were left behind, and the effect of 《Rock Cannon》 vanished.

He disposed of the remaining beasts with 《Chain Lightning》 once again. Once the method to deal with them was known, they weren’t difficult.

Guryuun collapsed onto the broken floor.

「U……Uuu……」

「So you’re still alive. You are surprisingly tough, aren’t you?」

「Impossible……Magic that could hurl a boulder that I cannot cut at me……I have never seen that before……」

「Hmph, if this weren’t such a narrow place, I would have shown you a magic that could blast away an entire town though.」

「……A Demon King, huh……I thought those words were just nonsense but……Hiding that much ability, it’s certain. So, my estimations were insufficient……But, you guys lose.」

「Hou?」

「The High Chief Priest’s location, you don’t know it, right? Bishos is merciless……He’s that sort of man. With her as a hostage……he will, dispose, of you guys……」

「So you knew that guy called Bishos was a scoundrel. Why did you support him? Was it money?」

「Once you know of it──it’s impossible, right? Just look at the pure and righteous fool……Being on the side of being eaten, like that……」

「And you are on the eating side?」

「I misread your abilities……so my life plans……are out of order, though……My comfortable retirement plan……is ruined, now. Even though……you can’t win, against Bishos, anyway……How foolish.」

「Kukuku……I said it, did I not? I am a Demon King! If you all will use the believers, then I shall use an even more vicious means than that!」

「Using, the believers? What are you saying……Guh.」

Taking a rough breath, Guryuun made an anguished expression.

「Haa……haa……I wanted to see your appearance as you fail, and get exposed to disgrace but……I guess I’m at my limit……」

Diablo thought for a bit, and then made a proposal.

「Right here, I have the same HP Recovery Potion that saved Horun who was on the verge of death. If you plead for your life, then──」

「You must be joking. Such unsightly behavior……Telling me to sip muddy water at the hour of my death? That’s, why, you’re, a greenhorn──Book of Helma──Final Chapter, fangs of the night, devour me.」

「What!?」

One of the books that were scattered about on the floor opened up, and a black dog with a mane appeared from there. It was a hyena.

It ate Guryuun’s body as if it were sucking it up.

Diablo turned his staff towards it.

「《Explosion》!!」

It was blown away.

The beast’s figure vanished.

However, Guryuun’s body no longer remained. The books that he read also vanished.

Horun muttered.

「Ah, did he die……?」

「So it would seem.」

Rem and Shera came out from the confession room.

「……Battles, are that sort of thing. Whether they are people of the Races or monsters, unless they are defeated, we will be the ones killed. Horun, becoming strong, is to be on the killing side──That’s what it means, you know?」

「U, un.」

「……It would be nice, if you understand that though.」

Shera pointed to the end of the corridor.

「In any case, let’s search for Lumachina-chan!」

Rose also came out from the room. The broken up floor made creaking sounds.

「Master, do you have any injuries?」

「They are just scratches. I also have potions, so there are no problems. More importantly, it looks like the floor will fall through due to your weight, Rose. Let’s hurry.」

What do you plan on doing, is what Rem came to ask him.

I said that I would be Demon King-like, didn’t I──is what he said as he daringly smiled.