Episode 139: The End of the Battle
“Finally defeated it, huh…”
Yuma returned his right hand to normal and sighed in relief. It was a monster with terrifying regenerative abilities. Not quite as much as a Chimera, but he might have struggled if he didn’t have his Metal Armor.
–Well, I need to get out of here quickly.
As Yuma thought that and looked around, he saw several Seekers running towards him. They were wearing expensive-looking battle suits, so they seemed to be high-ranking Seekers. From another direction, the Self-Defense Forces were approaching with large rifles. Armored vehicles were coming from behind as well.
“Are they… targeting me!?”
Yuma’s bad feeling was right on the mark. The Self-Defense Forces took a knee and pointed their guns at him. The high-ranking Seekers also drew their weapons, channeling the Magical Power of fire and Lightning.
“This is bad, this is bad!”
Yuma immediately took off running, fleeing the scene.
◇◇◇
“He went that way!”
“Surround him, don’t let him escape no matter what!!”
A Self-Defense Force member with an anti-tank rifle shouted as he chased after the Black Lord. Several others raised their guns, ready to fire.
“Take this!!”
A simultaneous volley of shots. Bullets fired by ten snipers struck the monster, but they were all deflected with a sharp clang.
“Damn it! Where are the tanks!?”
“They’re already entering the city!”
As the Self-Defense Force members shouted, a tank with rotating treads came from the monster’s direction. It was a highly maneuverable Type 10 Tank. Despite its appearance, it was surprisingly fast, and its turret locked onto the monster.
The 44-caliber 120mm smoothbore gun spat fire–
The Type 10 120mm Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot round struck the Lord head-on. At least, that’s what everyone thought. At that moment, the monster swatted the bullet away with its left hand. As if swatting a fly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Hey, no way… that was an armor-piercing round! And it just blocked it so easily?”
As the Self-Defense Forces were stunned, high-ranking Seekers who had rushed to the scene chased after the monster.
“W-we’re going too!”
“Y-yes sir!”
The Self-Defense Force captain ran forward, and the members followed after him. The Black Lord had gone behind a building, so they all chased after it.
◇◇◇
Tennoji somehow managed to stand up, staggering. He had used up all his Magical Power, and his stamina was at its limit. He couldn’t chase after the monster anymore.
“Are you alright? Ishikawa, Taizen.”
Tennoji pressed his left arm and called out to Ishikawa and Taizen, who were sitting down.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I just won’t be able to move for a while.”
Ishikawa grimaced in frustration.
“I’m done for too. My Electromagnetic Throw Gauntlet is completely busted.”
Taizen looked at the Magic Enchanted Armament equipped on his right arm and gave a wry smile. The Magic Gem was shattered, and the exterior was tattered. It certainly wouldn’t be usable.
Tennoji walked unsteadily to Rui’s side. Rui was kneeling, clutching his shattered Katana and looking down.
“…I’m sorry, Tennoji-san. Everyone created an opening for me, but I couldn’t defeat him… the Lord.”
His words were weak and strained, filled with regret.
“It’s not your fault. We were simply too weak to rely on a rookie like you. That’s all.”
Tennoji patted Rui’s shoulder, who was still looking down, and walked to the place where the Duke of Red had been defeated. The mountain of sand was being blown away by the wind, gradually disappearing. At that moment, Tennoji noticed something in the sand.
“What’s this?”
He crouched down and picked it up.
“This is–“
A jewel that shone with a blood-red, beautiful light. There was no mistaking it.
“The Magic Gem “Red Diamond”! And it’s so big… did the Duke of Red drop it?”
Tennoji was captivated by the red, shimmering jewel, and he gulped.
◇◇◇
The Self-Defense Forces and Seekers went around to the back of the building. But the Lord was nowhere to be seen. All that was visible was a white wall; beyond this wall was the outside of the city.
“Hey, he’s not here!”
“Did he go outside the wall!?”
The Self-Defense Forces came around from the opposite side of the building. He hadn’t gone that way. They looked around, checking the building’s outer walls and whether there were any signs of climbing the wall, but there was nothing. The only thing there was a small Shiba Inu.
Was it someone’s pet? The Shiba Inu trotted away. He was a little curious, but this was no time for that. The Self-Defense Force captain contacted headquarters.
“We cannot confirm the monster’s presence. It seems it has gone outside the wall.”
“Pursue it immediately! We absolutely cannot let it escape.”
The Self-Defense Force captain agreed with Honda’s anxious voice.
“Understood. We will join up with the unit waiting outside and pursue the monster!”
The captain called out to his subordinates behind him, “Let’s go!” and left the scene. Watching them, the small dog stuck out its tongue, panting, and ran off in the opposite direction.
◇◇◇
Kanzaki and Tanaka had separated from the other Seekers and were in the parking lot where their car was.
“President! Is it okay for you to be relaxing in a place like this? Yuma-kun has gone somewhere, right!?”
Tanaka was sweating as he worried about the missing Yuma. In response, Kanzaki leaned against the car, smoking a cigarette and looking up at the sky.
“It’s okay, Tanaka-san. He’ll be back soon. It’s better to wait where there aren’t many people.”
“Not many people…?”
As Tanaka looked puzzled, a Shiba Inu approached his feet. Where did it come from? Just as he thought that, the dog suddenly looked up.
“President, I managed to defeat it. The Red Oni.”
Tanaka’s eyes widened in shock at the dog’s sudden speech.
“T-t-t-the dog spoke! The dog!!”
Contrary to the surprised Tanaka, Kanzaki started talking to the dog normally, saying, “Oh, is that so! Good job.”
As Tanaka was confused by the incomprehensible situation, the dog wriggled its body and turned into a metallic-colored liquid. The liquid gradually rose and took shape. It was undoubtedly a human, transforming into Yuma.
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”
Tanaka was dumbfounded.
“Come to think of it, you could transform into a dog too.”
Kanzaki spoke to Yuma while smoking a cigarette. Yuma also checked his body for any problems before opening his mouth.
“Yes, it’s the dog I keep at home. So, what happened to Rui and Tennoji-san?”
“Ah, they all seem to be safe.”
“I see, that’s good.”
Yuma sighed in relief.
“The other Seekers and the Self-Defense Forces seem to be searching for you.”
“I shook them off, so it’s fine.”
Unable to follow the conversation between the two, Tanaka asked Kanzaki with a bewildered look.
“W-what’s going on, President! Please explain properly!!”
Kanzaki and Yuma exchanged glances and laughed together.
“Well, Tanaka-san. I’ll explain it to you later. For now, should we return to the accommodation? The battle with the monsters should be over for the time being.”
Kanzaki extinguished his cigarette in a portable ashtray, and the three of them headed towards the accommodation building.