Volume 2 - CH 10

Chapter 10 – Introspection

While smiling creepily with its bearded face, the Manticore swung its sharp tail, aiming at Eto’s nape. And due to the pain caused by the wound and the poison, Eto couldn’t move.

But when he was about to give up, Sorano came and cut the tip of the Manticore’s tail off with her dagger. Running from behind, Amou also swung his great sword towards it. The Manticore managed to dodge the blow, but it seems to judge that the two were difficult to handle, as it immediately moved to work with the other Manticore.

“Why did you suddenly rush in by yourself, Eto! Do you want to die?”

Kohaku placed her hands on both sides of Eto and dragged him backwards to get a little distance from the Manticore.

“S-sorry…”

Eto replied with a quivering voice.

“Mou, I was really surprised, you know! Here is the antidote.”

Kohaku then throws an antidote potion which they have prepared in advance to Eto’s mouth. Then, after confirming that Eto had drunk the potion, she immediately proceeds to treat his wound. She also seemed quite accustomed to it.

Meanwhile, Sorano is standing beside them, guarding, while holding her bow to support Amou from a distance.

In some distance in front of them, Amou was using his great sword to defend from the attacks of the two Manticore, while running around to keep them away from the place where Eto were.

“In the end, I- failed to overcome my past, huh…”

Eto muttered while breathing very feebly.

“Far from overcoming your past, you almost lost your future, you know!”

Kohaku shouted while still treating Eto’s wounds.

“Kohaku… T-that’s a- good one.”

“Mou, just be silent and focus on recovering!”

After waiting for the antidote potion to take effect, Kohaku gave Eto a healing potion. She also sprinkled a small amount of the potion to his wounds, making the wounds on Eto’s thigh closed in a blink of an eye.

“Sorano, Kohaku, I will cast some support magic on you two, so go to support Amou. I will be fine.”

Eto then cast both Strength and Haste on the two. In addition, he also imbued Sorano’s arrows with wind magic.

“Dad, let’s do this together!”

Kohaku called out to Amou, who was fighting alone.

“Ou!”

Immediately after Amou replied, Sorano shot an arrow, with its speed and penetrating power increased by wind magic. And that arrow pierces deep into the eyes of the beard-faced Manticore.

“GUWAAAA!”

That arrow successfully stopped the movement of the Manticore, as it raised a pained cry. At that precise moment, Amou swung the great sword toward it, slashing Manticore’s nape, spilling a large amount of blood.

Amou didn’t look at the fallen Manticore and headed for the other Manticore right away. By that time, the arrows shot by Sorano had pierced the other Manticore’s face and body.

Then, after calmly defending himself from the rampaging Manticore’s counterattack, Amou took a chance and cut off its front leg. He also cut its tail, as the Manticore lost his balance. Lastly, he sharply stabbed at its nape, making the sword pierce the other end of its body.

Although those are the Manticores that almost killed Eto, thanks to his reliable party members, they succeeded in subjugating the two Manticores.

Later, Eto once again was scolded by Kohaku, making him reflect upon his actions. He realized that he has to leave such a way of fighting alone to someone who only believes in individual strength, like Hero Ronaldo. What he had to aim for is a way of fighting while fully utilizing his support magic with his party.

Yes, it was Eto’s first major failure since he left the Hero’s party.