◆ Avangarde Castle, Inner Wall, Backyard ◆
【Black Beast Kirkton’s attack!】
【Black Beast Grundom’s attack!】
Without using any skills, I relentlessly continued my assault, relying solely on my high physical abilities. The monster I encountered that night fought in the same way. It learned its opponent’s movements and unleashed a flurry of attacks using only reflexes and instinct. Strong, yet for something gained through such horrific experiments, it felt weak.
It wasn’t a simple matter; too much had been lost. What did this person hope to become, having discarded memories, human emotions, and pride, reducing themselves to a mere rampaging beast? Was it because of the country’s orders? Because they were a soldier? I couldn’t believe they truly thought that way. They were far more intelligent than I, and they must have opposed such experiments vehemently.
Yet here they were, showcasing the results of their research with their own body. I couldn’t understand; I had no grasp of Kirkton’s feelings. Why? How? Even if I asked, there would be no answer. After all, the one standing before me was Kirkton. A monster.
【Lua deftly dodged!】
“Kurinka, is there really no saving these people…?”
“Maybe those who conducted this research… But you know, even if we can restore their bodies, if we can’t restore their hearts, it’s meaningless.”
Hearts, that’s right. The people from Ikana Village that Eeks brought still had theirs. Even if they looked like monsters, as long as their human hearts remained, there was hope. For instance, Grundom, who was rampaging with his massive arms, clearly spoke, begging to be killed. If they were suffering as humans, it was proof they were still human. I resolved not to give up hope, to never surrender until the very end.
“Kurinka, these people are still human, right?”
“As long as they can converse, they are human. As long as they’re not the kind of people who can communicate but can’t understand each other.”
Kurinka was referring to the Twelve Demon Generals of the Neo Demon Lord Army. They harbored nothing but hatred for humans, spreading uncontainable malice. There was no kindness or reason left in them as humans. If they hated humans, there was no way they could understand human words.
But these two were different. They didn’t harbor resentment towards humans like the Twelve Demon Generals, and the three others besides Kirkton had likely been forced into this form. It was worth trying; I would leave it to Kurinka.
“Kirkton, what are you suffering from?”
“For the sake of protecting this beloved country… I have lived…”
Kirkton’s movements slowed. He swung his arms as if swatting away a fly and then crouched down. Grundom, too, had become sluggish, now lying on the ground, desperately writhing. These people, battling their last remnants of reason, were undeniably human.
“I owe a debt… Just before the previous captain passed away… I promised… No matter what happens, this country is… your birthplace…”
“Birthplace…”
“I wanted to get closer to that honest captain… To protect the beloved Kingdom of Avangarde with my life… To become human…”
“To love this country so much…”
“To love means… to embrace even the dirty parts… If not, then… love is just a deception…”
I had never thought so deeply about love or affection. Kirkton loved the Kingdom of Avangarde so much that even knowing this research was horrific, he couldn’t bring himself to admit it. I didn’t know what the previous captain was like, but if Kirkton said so, he must have been a good person.
I love Kurinka. But if that love is what Kirkton calls a deception… If Kurinka were doing something I would despise, I would have to accept that too. Otherwise, I couldn’t truly say I loved her. Could I really say I loved Kurinka, knowing that?
“By becoming a test subject, I have… shown my loyalty to the country… I am not wrong…”
“You are wrong.”
“W-What…?”
Even though he had become a black monster, he was still Kirkton. Yet Kurinka, undeterred, countered his words as if to challenge him.
“Do you really believe this research is correct, Kirkton?”
“That is… for the country to decide…”
“I’m not asking the captain! I’m asking you!”
Kurinka’s fierce voice seemed to crush Kirkton. No, it was to drag out the Kirkton hidden beneath the shell of captain. After a brief silence, Kirkton whispered in a voice that seemed to fade away.
“I am… wrong…”
Not Captain Kirkton, but Kirkton’s true feelings.
“Isn’t it strange to accept everything just because you love someone? Because you love them, you should point out their mistakes… That’s what true love is, I believe. Ignoring someone who is rotting away from doing wrong is far more… cruel. That is… that is not love!”
She began to choke on her words towards the end. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she quietly began to cry.
“Kirkton… can you show your current form to Ritta and the others?”
“T-That… is…”
“Can you proudly say that this is the captain trying to protect the country?”
“I… I…”
“If you are the kind-hearted captain who has been watching over Ritta’s efforts from the shadows… you should know that this is not the time for such things.”
A single tear flowed from Kirkton’s eyes, now a monster, revealing his human heart. What would his beloved subordinates think if they saw him like this? They wouldn’t accept the notion that their captain had no choice but to become this way to protect the country.
“Protect the country you loved, not one that does this. Please.”
“Without… strength… what… can I protect…”
Perhaps this person had misjudged in their pursuit of strength. When I first met Eeks, the Funeral Knight, he had been powerless. Given the circumstances, it was understandable to panic with the Demon Lord Army rampaging about. It was because of his desire to protect the country that he couldn’t make sound choices.
But do I have the right to say such things? What can I protect without strength? If asked, I wouldn’t know how to answer. I was the one who sought power, aiming for the depths of the Abyss Cave. If I hadn’t gained strength, what would have become of me? Would I have chosen a path that led to becoming like that? I couldn’t help but think about such things.
“But I haven’t lost my human heart.”
“Lua-chan?”
“If I lose my heart, I won’t understand what’s precious, and I won’t be able to protect anything. Even if I gain strength, I would lose too much. Kirkton, I have a heart, which is why I’m trying to help the villagers in the research facility.”
“Uwaaa… Ugh… Gaaah…!”
He began to writhe again; he might start rampaging. No matter what we said, it ultimately meant nothing unless Kirkton fully regained his human heart. I was at a loss for what to do.
“…Bind!”
【Black Beast Kirkton is unable to move!】
【Black Beast Grundom is unable to move!】
【Black Beast Kank is unable to move!】
【Black Beast Marilyn is unable to move!】
“Mugen?”
“I shall hold them down. If there’s any clue in the research facility, I will return immediately. Unfortunately, I do not know the location…”
Before I knew it, the other three had also stood up. They looked as if they had been liberated, their expressions somehow refreshed. With Mugen’s skill, the monsters were immobilized, while Laurel played a melody, and Shinbu stabbed a dagger into the shadow of a monster. In other words, they had all come to our aid.
“…Thank you.”
“I was too caught up in strength and trivial matters. What is right is that heart.”
“I’ve shown an unflattering side in front of a child. Your innocence has awakened me.”
Next to Laurel’s smile, Shinbu silently gazed at Kirkton and the others. I was glad that they hadn’t thought from the beginning that we were part of the Demon Lord Army and that they ultimately cooperated with us. With these four by my side, I felt reassured; we had to reach the research facility quickly.
“Nishi… Rou… Ka… no… Tsuki Atari… Kabe…”
Kurinka immediately understood Kirkton’s words. With this, I didn’t need to think about it any longer. It took mere seconds to leap into the castle, carrying Kurinka on my back.
◆ Avangarde Castle, Inside ◆
As soon as we stepped into what seemed like a back entrance of the castle, bolts of electricity struck from all directions. Dodging while carrying Kurinka was no trouble, but then spears suddenly shot up from the ground beneath us. Traps were springing up one after another to attack us.
“Ugh! Stop getting in my way!”
I thrust the Sonic Spear into the wall next to the trap’s master, which had blended into the wall. A small round hole pierced through the sturdy wall, and the effect was immediate. The wall changed from its original color to that of a human, and emerging from it was an adventurer wearing a hat.
“Trap Master” Rap, Level: 27, Class: Ranger, Rank: B, HP: 153
“I give up. I surrender.”
The Adventurer raised both hands in a gesture of submission. The others, who had been poised to attack from the shadows, began to emerge one by one. A quick check with my Detect Ring confirmed that they were all B-rank Adventurers. This meant they had likely been Adventurers longer than us, perhaps harboring feelings similar to those of the Five Elites. It was a bit disappointing to see so many of them still around.
The only solace was that they believed we weren’t part of the Demon Lord Army. Or perhaps it didn’t matter to them either way; otherwise, they wouldn’t have chosen to engage in such a fight.
“Are there still many Adventurers lying in wait?”
“There are quite a few responsible for the castle’s interior, but they’re scattered. However, it’s best not to proceed any further.”
“Why not?”
“Destroyer Habaku is waiting ahead. He’s B-rank like me, not very well-known, but his strength is said to rival that of Tiferia.”
Equal to Tiferia? That might be impressive. But right now, that didn’t matter to me.
“I see, thanks.”
“Hey, wait!”
A few of them still seemed to have fighting spirit left. If they could keep up with my speed, I’d have to deal with them, but of course, no one could. Behind us, the Adventurers who had slipped past us remained oblivious, still facing forward. I wished they would give up on trying to kill me, but I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. Jealousy towards strong opponents was certainly necessary to grow stronger. Without it, I wouldn’t have survived in the Abyss Cave. But I never expected it to be this bothersome when I found myself on the receiving end. I wondered if the monsters I had defeated felt the same way. It was pointless to think about that now.
If I wanted to grow stronger, I had no choice but to keep pushing forward. That was all I understood. Overcoming walls felt great, but the frustration of failing to do so was something that tears alone couldn’t wash away. Those Adventurers were in that very situation now.
Avangarde Castle, Interior, West Corridor
“Oh…”
I had intended to ignore whatever was there. Having surpassed the Five Elites, the only ones left were Tiferia or Aleid. I couldn’t think of any other formidable foes. Or rather, there was no one else I needed to defeat. That’s what I thought until that moment.
“These guys are your acquaintances, huh…”
But what stood there was… what he was trampling on.
“If that’s the case, you should have backed off. My intent to kill is rising, and that could become a hassle.”
“Rua…”
Aord lay there, barely alive, crushed beneath a large foot. Ai and Mai were bloodied and unmoving. Crouched in the corner was Mi.
“I’ll say this upfront: I have no personal grudge against you. I’m not entirely uninterested, but this is part of my mission.”
“Hey… what are you doing?”
“Just quieting him down a bit since he was being noisy. Nothing for you to worry about.”
Before I could even think about his name or why he was doing this, my body moved on its own. It was strange that I still had some semblance of reason left, but I charged at him barehanded instead of drawing Disballade. I aimed a punch at his face, enough to obliterate his head. I was ready to take his life if it came to that. I poured my strength into the blow.
Even if I killed him, I wouldn’t feel anything in my current state; my blood was boiling. Even if I ended up regretting it later, I couldn’t control myself.
“Bufooh!”
My punch must have broken his nose, nearly shattering his bones. After the strike, I regained a bit of calm. The oddity of the situation was evident.
“Ugh, guhh! It hurts…”
The one I hit stumbled but managed to rise, rubbing his face. He was bleeding from his nose, but there didn’t seem to be any other damage. Perhaps I had become numb to the sensations from all my previous battles. If I hit with all my might, I could take down most opponents. Especially against average Adventurers, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
But the fact that he stood up meant he was anything but average. In fact, he might rival Aleid or Tiferia. I considered the possibility of some skill at play. But truthfully, I didn’t know many skills, so I had no basis for judgment.
“Heh, this is heavy. But too bad… you lack the intent to kill. This is… something else.”
He easily reset himself, performing a light warm-up before taking a stance unarmed. The only thing I could discern was that his fighting style was barehanded.
“Those are the fists of someone who has never killed. Am I wrong?”
He had deduced that from just one punch, scratching under his nose with his index finger. I didn’t even need to ask his name anymore; I already knew who he was.
“I am Habaku. My specialty is not being an Adventurer or anything else; it’s killing.”
“Destroyer” Habaku, Level: 62, Class: Destroyer, Rank: B, HP: 603
I felt no surprise at the results displayed by my Detect Ring. B-rank, not even A. There was something about him that the numbers didn’t reveal. With a cooled head, I finally began to think.
Shin Report
O-oh?
I never expected that, even in that state, some reason would remain.
It seems different from the Demon Lord Army.
They have their own past, so they can’t be compared outright.
The one from the Kingdom was spouting some pretty words, but what the fool said also holds some truth.
If those who serve the country act on emotions, it becomes a problem.
Especially if a human of high rank acts on feelings, what do you think will happen?
To put it bluntly, kids like Rua or the one from the Kingdom, who act on emotions, aren’t suited for the military.
These guys might disregard orders and act on their own.
Even if there’s a human on the verge of death in front of them, if ordered to kill, they would do it.
Heh, another one has fallen into my grasp. I want to know about the loser.
So, this is Habaku.
Hmm, I see. Shin has understood.
He possesses a power that is closer to us, the Demon Lords.
No wonder. He’s… what did they call it again?
Ah, I can’t remember. If this continues, Rua will be on the same level as that fool.
I’m not losing; Shin is not losing.