◆ Port Town Suluard, Tavern: Seafarer’s Table ◆
“After killing this one, we can take care of the rest. That’s what you were thinking, right?”
A destructive force loomed over me, as Sogokku’s arm stretched out, piercing through the ceiling. It looked as if his arm could extend endlessly like a long pole. He then swung that arm downwards, but before it could reach the King and Belmund, I quickly scooped them up in my arms and carried them to safety. Just after that, the descending arm crashed down, splitting the ceiling and embedding itself into the tavern’s door and floor.
It left a mark as if a massive pole had been slammed down, and Sogokku’s arm instantly reverted to its original size. Sunlight streamed in through the torn ceiling.
“Well, my raising my arm serves as a signal. That was just a warning to them before the battle began. If I do it again, this town will be reduced to rubble in less than an hour. Kihihihihi!”
“…Rua, could you please sit still?”
Kirkton instructed me in a low voice without looking my way. It was a clear indication that he wanted me to refrain from doing anything unnecessary. I had almost ruined everything because of my impulsiveness. But that didn’t mean I was going to back down. I had just shown that monkey my grip on the sword, and my blood was boiling, making it hard to think straight.
So, what was I going to do? That was easy.
“Did… did you save me…?”
The King finally grasped what had happened, looking down at the cracks in the floor. Kirkton stood in front of him, trying to mask his frustration, while the soldiers surrounded us. Only the King and Belmund were in the path of that arm, but it could have easily been more than just the two of them.
Sogokku, on the other hand, was watching the scene with a bottle in hand, as if he were enjoying a spectacle.
“Lord Sogokku, regarding your demands. This continent is home to four other nations besides the Kingdom of Avangarde. Of course, we pride ourselves on our prosperity and achievements, but we cannot decide this matter unilaterally. We accept with pride that you have designated the Kingdom of Avangarde.”
“I don’t care. That’s what I’ve been told from above, and if you lot keep squawking here, I might just go on a rampage.”
“…Could you wait for a week? With that many people, we need some preparation time. If the designated period passes, then you can take my head right here.”
“Your Majesty?!”
I was taken aback when the King pushed through the guards, stepping boldly in front of Sogokku. Kirkton and the soldiers hurriedly tried to protect him, but he waved them off, shaking his head.
“Does that mean you’re offering yourself as a hostage?”
“Yes. I came here of my own volition. I have that much resolve.”
“Kihihihihi! What a noble monkey! Fine, I’ll accept it! There are things I don’t like about it, but I doubt that Rua-chan will stay quiet any longer.”
“Your Majesty! You cannot do something so reckless!”
“That’s right! There’s no need to accept such unjust demands!”
“Stay strong!”
Despite the chorus of voices trying to persuade the King, he simply replied that this was fine. It shouldn’t be fine; the tavern’s uncle was fighting against fear while being spat on and hit on the head by those monkeys. I wouldn’t let them continue to act as they pleased.
“Alright, then the deadline is—”
【Rua’s Surprise Attack! Dealt 500,192 damage to Sogokku!
Sogokku the Monkey King has been defeated! HP 0/3420】
One down.
“Ki?!”
【Rua’s Surprise Attack! Dealt 5,432,091 damage to Soldier Monkey!
Defeated 6 Soldier Monkeys! HP 0/460】
Against such weak opponents, it took less than two seconds. In the past, it might have taken me ten seconds. I wiped out the monkeys surrounding the tavern uncle without leaving a trace. I knew Sogokku had been keeping a close watch on us, ready to pounce at any strange movements. Even when Kirkton clicked his tongue in annoyance, Sogokku didn’t miss the slightest twitch of his finger. With such keen awareness of his surroundings, it was no wonder he was a captain of some squad.
And that arm of his, capable of stretching and retracting. I could only imagine how he would use it in battle, leveraging his extraordinary instincts to gain the upper hand. But none of that mattered to me. I didn’t want to engage in a fair fight with someone who resorted to such despicable tactics; this was more than enough.
“Everyone, just wait a moment. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Rua-chan, wait!”
Roel shouted something at me, but I didn’t have time to listen. It might have been a warning, but I couldn’t hold back any longer.
◆ Port Town Suluard ◆
【Defeated Vampire Beast! 0/1120】
【Defeated Soldier Leo! 0/805】
“Is this the last one?”
It took me two minutes just to dash around this vast crescent-shaped port town. But it was better than when I faced the Kingdom of Normitz. There, the plant monsters lurked in the shadows of buildings, ambushing with their tentacles, while here, the beasts charged straight at me, making it easier to deal with them.
I was surprised to see several ships adorned with the emblem of the Garden of Beasts docked in the port. When I noticed another group waiting there, I felt a surge of panic. They had said they would kill me if I made any strange moves, and they would have acted immediately upon spotting me. Thinking back, Sogokku wasn’t the only boss; I might have been careless. If they hadn’t been there, I could have wiped them out much faster.
“I thought it would be easy to take them down before being spotted, but this is tougher than I expected…
Even against such opponents, I’m feeling worn out.”
If I had sprinted full speed, I could have wiped them out without taking the long way around, but I was still human. I was tired, not to the point of breathlessness, but enough to feel parched. The townspeople still didn’t know that the monsters had vanished. The quiet port town continued to assert its calm.
“First, to the tavern… huh?”
I caught sight of a monkey fleeing down an alley. There was still one left. If it got away, it would cause trouble, so I had to catch it. I quickly scaled the building walls and leaped onto the roof, but I could have done that with just a small jump.
Grabbing its tail, the monkey let out a crushed-sounding cry.
“Ukiiiiii! Damn it! Don’t think you’ve defeated the Garden of Beasts with this!
We, Team 139, are the weakest unit in the Garden of Beasts! We’re basically a reconnaissance squad!”
“How many teams are there?”
“There are over ten thousand of us just in the lower ranks!
Once Team 139 doesn’t return, the Garden of Beasts will launch a full-scale invasion of this continent!
Especially that one’s battalion, which, with just a handful of people, has already destroyed a nation on the Ballad Continent!
Kikikiki, I can’t wait to see your face in despair!”
【Defeated Soldier Monkey! 0/460】
I couldn’t stay silent after hearing that. I had to rush back to the tavern and inform everyone.
◆ Port Town Suluard, Tavern: Seafarer’s Table ◆
“Rua! What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’ve defeated all the monsters in town. There were plenty at the docks, but it’s all clear now.”
“…R-Really? Is the town safe?”
“More importantly, actually…”
Kirkton was the first to spit and scold me, but I didn’t have time to deal with that. Thanks to Roel’s clear explanation of my clumsy recounting, I managed to get through to them. Roel didn’t mention anything about acting on her own; she trusted that I would handle it.
After I finished explaining everything, it was Belmund, the Prime Minister, who spoke first.
“This is troubling. Even for our nation, we lack the military strength to face such a large force.
It would be safest to lure them into the plains and take them out with Gigas Horses, but the problem is if we’re attacked from all directions, it would be quite difficult.”
“The Kingdom of Normitz has virtually no military power left. That leaves Negesta, Kashiram, and Fron.
In any case, we must coordinate with the other nations immediately.”
“B-But this port town was practically occupied, so it would be difficult to confront them head-on…”
“How dare you speak so disrespectfully to His Majesty!”
“Yikes! I-I’m so sorry!”
Roel, who had interjected, was scolded by one of the soldiers and retracted her head like a turtle. Even in such a situation, I found it somewhat cute, which made me think I might still have some composure left.
“Well, it’s not rude if it’s the truth. If I hadn’t shown up, they would have handed over a thousand innocent lives to those monsters. If we’re being pushed around by such a small group, then when that so-called battalion the monkey mentioned comes, we’ll be easily defeated.”
“We must urgently convene a conference of the five nations. Send messengers immediately to the remaining four nations, including the Kingdom of Normitz,” the King commanded.
“Please wait, Your Majesty. Using soldiers as messengers will take at least a month to reach each nation from here. Given that we don’t know when the Garden of Beasts will attack, we can’t afford to be on the back foot,” one of the advisors cautioned.
“Then propose a solution,” the King replied.
“I suggest we ask Lady Rua. With her speed, having defeated the monsters lurking in this port town in the blink of an eye, she could accomplish the task in less than half the time.”
“Wait a moment, don’t use me without my consent!” I thought, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Sure, I had taken on this task because Ritta asked me to, and the lives of the people in this port town were at stake. Of course, I wouldn’t just sit idly by in such a situation. But being asked to do this was quite troublesome.
“Um, may I say something?” Roel interjected.
“What is it, Lady Roel?” the King asked.
Roel raised her hand and stepped between the King and Belmund. Just moments ago, she had been scolded and seemed timid, yet here she was, showing remarkable courage. The old Roel would have stayed silent in such a situation. I couldn’t help but admire how much she had grown, just like with Formas.
“As I mentioned earlier, even if the five nations cooperate, we can’t be sure we can stand against the Garden of Beasts. I have an idea. If we can’t manage it ourselves, why not ask another nation for help? For example, the Kingdom of Metallica…”
“The Kingdom of Metallica…!”
Even without this crisis, Roel and I had been planning to go there. To seek assistance from Metallica, a nation currently under attack by the Neo Demon Lord Army. At first, I wondered if they had the power to help us. But despite the mystery surrounding them, they were undoubtedly one of the strongest nations in the world. In fact, they were the only nation that had successfully repelled an invasion from the Neo Demon Lord Army.
“Metallica, you say? I considered that as well. However, it is impossible. I have personally attempted diplomatic relations with them numerous times over the past decade, but I have never achieved any fruitful results. The technology they possess has drastically changed our way of life—complete sewage systems, electricity supply, and the list goes on. But that is all.”
“Metallica is solitary, and that has always been the case. In any case, it is impossible to move that nation. Furthermore, if we provoke them, they could become a threat equal to the Neo Demon Lord Army. Especially their S-rank…”
“I can’t say it’s impossible, but there is hope. Please, allow us to handle this.”
The King and Belmund exchanged bitter expressions, remaining silent for a moment before the King muttered, “I suppose we have no choice.”
We didn’t actually need the King’s permission; we were going to head to Metallica regardless.
“…But can we even enter their territory?” Belmund’s remark, tinged with sarcasm, caught my attention. However, Genia had indeed said that if I cooperated with Platiu, it would be beneficial. If it wasn’t a lie, then surely we would be fine.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Repopopo
This is becoming quite interesting. If the Garden of Beasts attacks that continent, Rua alone won’t be able to protect everything. If many humans die, Rua will grieve and lament. The weak point is the crybaby, and when she cries and cries, her tears will dry up, and her fighting spirit will vanish.
I no longer want to fight.
Hehehehe.
This Shin Report is nearing its end. This Shin has long since surpassed Rua’s weak points. There’s no need for me to intervene.
However, I am concerned about Metallica. They alone pose a threat to the Demon Lord Army. If they were to cooperate, even the Garden of Beasts could find themselves in a precarious situation.
Ah, I’m tired. I want to eat something delicious.
Mantan-go… Where is it? I want more… Ah.
Monster Compendium
【Sogokku, the Beastman King – HP 3470】
One of the hundred magical beasts of the Garden of Beasts. His extraordinary instincts allow him to evade attacks from all directions, far surpassing mere wild instincts. He can freely alter the strength and length of his arms.
【Soldier Monkey – HP 460】
A subordinate of Sogokku, this monkey is smaller than an adult human but possesses incomparable physical abilities. While its stamina is not remarkable, it boasts incredible evasion skills, making it difficult for average Adventurers to land a hit.