CH 99

Chapter 99 - Adversity and Qualifications

With the help of Souya’s Material Transfer [Aport], he succeeded in narrowly freeing the trapped girl who was surrounded by bronze demons.

The hazel-haired girl was a short, young girl, no more than ten years old. Her face and clothes were stained with soot and the smell of smoke, and her shoes were tattered with mud.

She had no idea what had happened to her, and her eyes were wide open in a dazed expression as Souya held her in his arms.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

“U …… Um …….”

Souya apologized briefly, and at the same time, narrowed his eyes and made up a smile, but the girl’s expression showed only confusion. It was no wonder since the girl herself was about to be killed just now, as Lingen was in ruins at the hands of the demons. 

This fear is probably due to a sense of distrust. It’s not a very convincing way to claim that you are not a suspicious person. If I had been dressed in a more heroic way, or if Mia had been there, she might not have been so alarmed.

But now was not the time to worry about such trivial matters.

“Shamil, take her and run.”

Souya left the nameless girl in Shamil’s care. She looked a little hurt on her feet, but since there was no one to use the sacred art, there was nothing she could do but endure.

Of course, there was no way he could give her first aid with a cut cloth. The reason is that a pack of five bronze demons noticed our appearance. 

The distance is about 20 meters. In ten more counts, we’ll be within striking distance. 

“What about Master?”

“We’ll need a rear cover. Don’t hesitate. Protect her at all costs.”

“Yes …… Safe travels! Little Lady, excuse me!”

“Oh!”

Shamil held the girl with the hazel hair and injured leg in his arms and began to head back the way he had come, desperate to get back.

It’s not that he’s slow, but there’s a limit to how fast he can move with a single person in his arms. It is difficult to maintain speed while carrying a person for a long time because of his physical strength, and there is a high possibility that he will be caught up sooner or later.

After all, I need to stop them here. Souya confronted the five Bronze Demons that were making their attack. 

(Five bronze demon soldiers. –I would’ve been able to handle it if it’s the previous me. What am I afraid of?)

There is the nasty sword that can cause a huge explosion, but even with that, there should have been nothing to be afraid of. Souya has the blessing of the goddess Eris. It is possible to regenerate to bring about a complete recovery once.

If it’s the Silver Rei, he’s going to take into account suicide, fight, and then come back from the goddess’ garden.

But Souya had a strong resistance to that tactic.

It is not far from the Silver Rei, who is called one of the six heroes, after all.

This might be because of the blank brought about by the peace of twenty years, or because of the determination to become a hero, or because he lost some of his youthful aggressiveness.

It’s a shameful past that I don’t want people to know about, but that’s a problem before that. First of all, I don’t have the qualifications to make a name for myself.

Of course, it does not mean that Souya is cutting corners. He’s been able to demonstrate his abilities to the point where he can be called perfect. It is just that the boy, Silver Rei, has been demonstrating all of his potential at an astonishing level.

The way he was always on the lookout for any kind of strategy, and his high level of awareness to make the best use of his available resources. I guess I should describe him as a gutsy guy.

I wondered how close I could get to that level, now that I’ve gotten older. I have no choice but to regain my intuition through practice.

“–Open…”

Souya took out a Western saber made of Mithril from the different Dimension Box and stands ready.

Of the five, three of the Bronze Demons moved forward with a red sword, and the other two Bronze Demons had begun chanting magic. The battle had already begun.

” “O demon snake, pursue your target and devour him to death. Tracking Magic Bullet [Homing Missile]” “

What the two Bronze Demons in the rear chose was the Tracking Magic Bullets [Homing Missile].

Four magic bullets each, a total of eight magic bullets, aimed at Souya, draw a swelling orbit, and peel off with their fangs.

“–All magic is dispelled by magic. Magic Rejection [Anti-Magic]”

Just before the distorted and flying magic bullets bite into his body, Souya’s chosen magic was completed.

All eight magic bullets disperse like a faint fog just before landing.

(Magic Rejection [Anti-Magic]. Since I can’t count on backup, it’s more than effective.)

This is a magic that rejects any magic that comes at you. It’s a double-edged sword that also targets support and recovery magic, so it’s a difficult magic to use, but it’s perfect for the situation where you’re fighting alone.

However, it was impossible to hide by magic or to escape by flying until the Magic Rejection [Anti-Magic] wore off. It may be what you call a backwater strategy, where you cut off your own path.

They must have seen that the effect of the magic had been canceled and made a decision. The two that fired the Tracking Magic Bullet [Homing Missile] from behind are also approaching while holding the red sword in order to attack in close combat.

This would make it a group battle of one against five. Souya remembered how he had confronted the thieves in the meadows where he had met Mia.

The difference was, that time it was a group of thieves, and this time it was the Bronze Demon called “Colored”.

“Hah!”

Souya’s cheeks twisted, and he laughed fearlessly. It’s a bad habit he gets into when he’s going through adversity. And Souya knows that it is in this adversity that he is at his strongest.

Perhaps the reason why he usually wants to be at peace is because he knows that he deeply prefers this kind of adversity. If Merylou hears about this, she will be furious.

“Well, let’s get up close and personal, shall we?”