CH 100

(Izumi POV for the whole chapter)

“Here is far enough…”

“Let me down, Izumi!”

Following Ichiko nee-chan’s instructions, I take Ryo onee-chan away from the battlefield, and when the distance between the two parties is sufficiently great, I set Ryo onee-chan down on the ground.

“What the hell did that Shigan girl do…?”

“I don’t know. But that was a mess.”

All of the mercenaries have gathered around Ryo onee-chan and me.

And then, I witness the power concentrating in Houki onee-chan’s weapon, and the moment Ichiko nee-chan leaps for the weapon, a wave of unbelievably potent power is released from Houki onee-chan’s weapon with a roaring noise.

With that blow, everyone in the mercenary group, including me, simultaneously drops to the ground to endure it.

“What a… blow!”

“Houki herself is not capable of this, no matter how you look at it.”

Everyone is astounded by the blow that just occurred. It seems that some people are paralyzed with terror that they can’t even stand up.

“…Everyone, listen up.”

Ryo onee-chan’s holds up her weapon with eyes that look as if she is determined to do something.

“I have no clue how Shigan managed to transform Houki into such a form. However, what we have to do now is to save Ichiko. Everyone, let’s go to…”

“Unfortunately, I can’t let all of you do that.”

At the moment when Ryo onee-chan is about to issue an order, an unfamiliar male voice is sounded.

I turn to the direction of the voice in a panic.

“The only one permitted to be involved in that battle is you and her. Nasu Ryo-san.”

In the direction of the voice is something in the form of a figure clad in a robe similar to that donned by a high-ranking priest, bearing an iron mask and iron armor on both hands and feet as well as a long pewter staff in his right hand.

“Who are you…?”

The unexpected entrance of the man triggers a surge of alertness from everyone.

“My name is the Demon King, ‘Priest of Absolute Peace’. Under the authority of a certain one, it is my responsibility to prohibit anyone aside from Nasu Ryo-san from participating in that battle.”

With that, the Priest lightly waves his pewter staff in his right hand, and a cage of light is spread forth as if to confine everyone except Ryo onee-chan.

“This is…!?”

“Please rest assured, it’s only a barrier skill. It is impossible to break it from the inside or outside. Now, if neither of you takes any action, my part in this is over. And I have no reason to aggress against any of you,” the Priest crosses his arms and says so.

“Damn it… Mugi. Look after everyone, will you?”

“I understand.”

Ryo onee-chan entrusts Mugi onee-chan with our safety and storms off to the battle between Ichiko nee-chan and Houki onee-chan.

According to the Priest’s remarks, if we don’t do anything, he will not take any measures either. But I…

“≪Bio Weapon Creation Axe≫.”

“Izumi!?”

“Oh. Is that your intention?”

I can’t just stand by and watch Ichiko nee-chan fight.

“Well, give it all you can. As long as you stay inside, I won’t do anything, and even if you step outside, I will only exercise force against those who try to enter the fray. Besides, my ≪Photon Cage≫ is not something that can be breached by a mere kin,” the Priest looks at me as he states this.

“…”

After activating ≪Muscular Strength Enhancement≫, I slam the axe into the ≪Photon Cage≫ with all my might. Yet, not even a single crack develops.

If that is the case…

“Oh? What are you…”

“≪Bio Weapon Creation Axe≫ Custom – ‘Thousand Joints Continuous Axe Blades’.”

I create a single axe. The handle of that axe is attached to the next axe like a joint, and the handle of the successive axe is also connected to the subsequent one. I then produce as many as I could do.

A great number of axes made of bone lie around me, each linked to the following one, and the axe at the very base is pinned down, growing directly from my arm.

“≪Muscular Strength Enhancement≫.”

Having applied ≪Muscular Strength Enhancement≫ to myself, my arm is raised while spinning on the very spot with maximum speed. Thereby, the axe linked to my arm is gradually lifted by centrifugal force that increases as the speed of rotation rises, and once the speed is maximized to its limit…

“Impact!!”

“What!?”

The axe at the base, whose generation has been halted midway, is now fully generated. Accompanied by the centrifugal force on its own part, the generated axe collides with ≪Photon Cage≫ at a breakneck velocity accompanied by a rumbling of wind.

Clang!!

In exchange for the self-destruction of the edge, the ≪Photon Cage≫ is destroyed.

“This is ridiculous… hah!?”

The Priest is dumbstruck as if this sight is inconceivable. I, of course, do not miss such an opportunity and draw closer to him. Although I attempted to strike him with a newly generated axe in full strength, it is guarded by the pewter staff.

“I never dreamed that someone could penetrate my ≪Photon Cage≫… looks like I still lack the necessary diligence.”

“Let me through…”

“I can’t let you pass. That’s what I have been commanded to do.”

I say so while brandishing an axe at the priest, but it seems that the Priest has no intention of conceding to me, “Then… I’ll force my way through!”

“I won’t let you do it. ≪Photon Binding≫.”

“!?”

As I try to deliver a second blow on the Priest, a chain composed of light entangles me, restricting my movement.

“Excuse me, but it seems unsafe to have you loose. Therefore, this is how you will be restrained.”

Despite strenuous efforts to tear off the chains, I am unable to move, and eventually, I end up on the ground resembling a psychidae thrashing around.

“Why… are you doing this…”

I utilize ≪Bio Weapon Creation Axe≫ in an endeavor to push the chains apart with the momentum created, but I gradually lose control and ultimately find myself in a position where I can no longer exert any force into my body. In this case, I must at least try to seek out some information.

“I was simply commanded to do so, even if you question why. It is not a will of my own.”

“Command…?”

I could not help but wonder. Who on earth could issue an order to the Priest, a Demon King?

“Yes, it is a command. The one who issued the command is the girl you refer to as Manokami Shigan. She… no, I am now bound by that thing’s command.”

“!?”

Shigan has issued a command to a Demon King! But how can such a…

“It is likely the Demon King is equivalent to a kin for that thing. That thing seems to be able to create barriers that mislead people into believing that the range of my skills are effective, and I would have to say that its capabilities are phenomenal.”

But that kind of thing.. that’s just like…

“It’s the power of God.”

An involuntary shudder arises from my body at the priest’s words, for I now come to the realization of why I have been experiencing such a negative presence from Shigan, and who sent Ichiko nee-chan away and defeated Kurokiri nii-chan on that day a decade ago.

“Well, I wonder what will be awaiting the world from now on.”

The Priest’s eyes have a touch of sorrow in them, and there is nothing I could do.