CH 80.1

-In front of the port of Rivière on the continent of Ballard-

[A horde of vampire beasts has appeared!]

[A swarm of red horns appears!]

[Soldier Leo’s swarm appeared!]

“Hold the front line! Do whatever you can to stop the invasion!”

It was the newborn Demon King’s Army that attacked this port, which was said to be the gateway to the Ballard Continent. The leader of the army was in the lead, and there are about 50 to 100 of them, probably all of them classified as beasts. Even compared to the demons in this area, they are incomparable.

In contrast, the population density of Port Rivière was accompanied by a large number of adventurers and vigilantes: the only A-rank adventurer was Botham, but there are about 20 B-rank adventurers and 6 C-rank adventurers. There are more than 100 people in the city. If you add the vigilante groups to that number, there are roughly more than 100 people. If we look at the numbers alone, we are not disadvantaged, but if we look at the quality, it was clearly hopeless. 

For example, even a single red horned bull, the Red Horn, was a formidable opponent for a party of B Rank adventurers. Soldier Leo was a step above Red Horn in terms of strength and ferocity, and two of them could destroy a B Rank party. Then, there was that vampire beast, which seems to knock you down into despair.

It was a quadrupedal beast similar to Soldier Leo, but at that size it can feed on Poison Salamander, which was much larger than it is. Any creature pierced by its fangs will be sucked dry of every drop of blood. Blood was his staple diet, and he will not touch flesh.

“Silver, Jean, hurry.”

You don’t have to tell me.

Although the vigilantes of this port are a group of talented individuals, they are not used to dealing with demons, as they are an organization that maintains order in the city. Therefore, the C-rank members and I will be providing logistical support. When I saw the beasts charging toward the harbor in a hail of dust, it didn’t seem to matter at all that there was a huge storm that had hit us at sea the other day.

The new Demon King’s Army. Starting with the attack on the Kingdom of Avangard, they are now raging across the world. Some countries have already lost contact with them because they have their hands full defending themselves.

“It’s Botham-san! This was a sure way to get through!”

We know that. Even the hail of bows that was pouring down on that horde from behind was hardly enough to finish them off. That vampire beast in particular was more than a nuisance. The cat-like, dog-like, four-legged demons are all heaped with human-like muscles. As proof that it was not all it seems, even normal magic, let alone bows and arrows, have not done much Damage. When we finally defeated one of them with concentrated fire, it was nothing more than a burnt stone.

“Hore hore! My cute little pets! Those filthy humans over there are your food!”

[Kama the Beast master appears!]

[Bloodthirsty Beast appears!]

A man riding on the back of a gigantic, indescribably huge demon with short limbs growing out of its round, pig-like body. He was slender, but his skin-tight costume, which looks like a woman’s bathing suit, was too tight to even be seen. His entire body was extremely hairy, and his skin was purple. Perhaps that man directed the group. He was controlling a whip in both hands and leading the demon beasts.

“Aim and shoot at that creepy whip man! Perhaps he was the leader!”

A mixed force of adventurers and vigilantes clashed with the demon beasts. But the result was nothing short of spectacular. Some were pierced by the fangs of the vampire beasts, and then spat out their corpses after every drop of blood was sucked out of them. Some were pierced by the horns of red horns, others had their heads gnawed off by Soldier Leos.

The other party was a high-level demon, or so the excuse goes. But such words mean nothing in the face of the exchange of life. The strong hunt the weak. This has been the case for an astonishing number of years since the birth of living creatures. Watching them reminds me of such a providence that we humans have long forgotten.

“Ya-oh! I’ll kill you!”

“Hey! Calm down and aim only at that man!”

[Vida Lv: 26 Class: Swordfighter Rank: B]

[Vida the Adventurer unleashes a double slash!]

[Vida deals 43 Damage to Red Horn! 567/610 HP]

Not heeding my instructions, the young man boldly went at the ferocious bull, which stood on edge and glowed with red horns.

However, even the young man’s full force of the blow was not enough to injure the muscular fibers of the mighty monster. Even after being cut through its thin skin, the red horn did not care, and pierced through the Vida.

[Red Horn used thrust! Vida was hit for 130 Damage!]

[Vida has collapsed!]

“Ch…ku…sou…protect…him…”

Whether his loved ones were in port or not, Vida died without saying his last will. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. In my view alone, roughly five or six lives have ended.

What if I, one of the few A-Ranks, was not placed here? It should be my duty to take the lead and raise their command. But what about it? It’s the same as the time of the ghost ship. My body and instincts want me to escape.

“I guess I’m still a wimp after all…”

“Botham-san, I can’t hold it any longer!”

“Jean and Silver, they have fought well until today. We’ve been drinking, we’ve been living, we’ve been surviving, we’ve been fighting. You’ve been really good guys for sticking with me all these years. I wouldn’t want you guys to die if I could.”

“Hmph, it’s boring not to be able to hunt like this.”

[Kama, the Demon Beast Master, cracks his whip! The demons’ attack power has increased!]

“But this is for my beloved Master Pansard. Please don’t feel bad.”