◆ Outskirts of Kashiram Royal Capital – North Side ◆
The sheer force of the flurry of thrusts and kicks was enough to strip the earth bare. The dance between His Majesty and Elmera resembled a raging storm, keeping anyone from approaching. Anyone inferior who dared to step even a single pace closer would surely lose a limb.
Why was His Majesty engaging Elmera without using that battle axe? If he intended to kill her, he could have done so long ago. No, he was doing this for a singular purpose.
“Your martial arts are truly magnificent! Where did you learn them?”
“Of course, I learned them myself. No one would teach me anything like this.”
“I see, I thought it might have been that beastkin, but your style is clearly different.”
Where could that slender body possibly find the power to contend with His Majesty? Even seasoned adventurers, who had spent decades in perilous lands and risked their lives to amass great wealth, would lose their pride in the face of such martial prowess. Even martial artists who had dedicated their lives to grueling training and stood on the brink of death to grasp the essence of their art would bow their heads in respect. Elmera’s techniques were nothing short of extraordinary, rivaling even Fist Saint Baran himself, and I would commend her even if she were my enemy.
“To be distracted in battle shows a lack of focus, human! It seems you cannot handle your opponent without me!”
【The Giant Race Leader Aslat has appeared! HP 53,900】
In the midst of life-and-death exchanges, one does not allow themselves to be distracted. Yet, despite his words, he did not attack, perhaps overconfident in his ability to exploit the opening. The imposing figure of the Giant Race leader loomed before me, his brutish image a stark contrast to the giant I had just defeated, Krop. He had chosen to remain here, believing that only I could handle him.
Aslat towered over Krop by three heads, yet in my mind, he appeared as a monstrous figure twice that size. This was not a skill of Aslat’s; it was merely my own sense of being overwhelmed. I maintained a facade of calm, but my chances of victory were slightly below fifty-fifty. It felt desperate, but even a forty percent chance was enough. Those who cannot defeat opponents stronger than themselves have no right to remain in the S-rank.
◆ Outskirts of Kashiram Royal Capital – North ◆
“The beastkin have come to know the joy of being needed. At the same time, it presents an opportunity to crush the humans.”
“Hm?”
“Do you not understand? There are countless ways to overwhelm humans without resorting to brute force.”
“Hmm?”
The torrent of attacks ceased. Perhaps multitasking was not his strong suit. While he pondered the meaning of my words, he lacked the dexterity to continue fighting. After a final spinning kick, Elmera slowed her rotation, balancing on one leg, and began to stand still with her arms crossed.
“I don’t understand!”
“Beastkin possess overwhelming physical abilities compared to humans. This means they can do far more than humans can. Do you understand? Humans are not a particularly strong race. Yet here we are, fighting on equal terms with beastkin and giants who are far stronger. Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t understand!”
“Because they have fewer options, humans strive to innovate. If they are slow, they find ways to enhance their speed. If they encounter strong opponents, they pick up weapons and hone their skills. They have survived by utilizing everything at their disposal. This ingenuity and drive have contributed to the advancement of civilization, allowing humans to gain the power to survive.”
“Ah, I see.”
To my surprise, he was quite engaged. He had completely halted his attacks, captivated like a child engrossed in a picture book. This innocent demeanor suggested that Elmera was not a bad child. Yet, something felt off. It was precisely this oddity that had led to such violent behavior.
Though I had only faced her briefly, her outward appearance belied an unusually childish inner self. She acted on impulse, dragging those around her into her whims, without consideration for consequences or benefits. Driven by mere amusement or frustration, her actions were steeped in childlike impulsiveness. A typical child would cry and throw a tantrum, only to be scolded by their parents. But this child possessed power. That was why no one had been able to stop her until now.
“Though technology has advanced, many primitive aspects remain. Particularly in labor, while Enhancement Magic can improve efficiency somewhat, it is still fundamentally human strength. Beastkin far surpass that. So, what if beastkin took on the labor that humans do? There would be no place left for humans.”
“Oh! I see! Hm!”
“There are monsters and animals that are difficult for humans to discover, capture, or hunt. With their heightened senses and experience in hunting, beastkin would excel at this. If they brought those to market, they could make a fortune in no time.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Elmera! What on earth are you—”
“Shut up!”
The fact that this little girl was treating the beastkin who had just arrived for assistance so dismissively showed how much my words had resonated with her. I didn’t want to dismiss her as merely a child, but her understanding was indeed a relief.
“What I’m trying to say is that there are countless ways for you to rise above humans. At first, there may be those who despise and discriminate against you. However, steady efforts will surely bear fruit. That time will be…!”
“Will be?!”
“The victory of the Phantom! With fighting spirit, we will look down upon the humans! We will stand in overwhelming superiority! It will be as if we have dominated the humans! This is what fighting spirit is! Fighting spirit means… to confront in order to live!”
“I see now!”
It seemed she had completely forgotten about the battle. With her head slightly bowed, she pressed her toes into the ground, swaying like a child waiting for her parents to return. The surrounding beastkin were either listening intently or perhaps bewildered, but both sides were clearly concerned about the actions of their leaders. The beastkin, in particular, were poised yet watching us closely.
“But… humans took my beloved sister…”
“I too have had my beloved wife killed by thieves.”
“Huh?”
“It was a long time ago. Since then, I have never allowed the presence of thieves in this land. I have eradicated them on sight. But they too are humans. I despise thieves, not humans. Are all humans thieves? No, they are not. I do not know what kind of race you belong to, but surely you have encountered various types?”
No answer came. I couldn’t tell if my feelings had reached her, but at least Elmera currently had no intention to fight. She continued to play with the dirt at her feet like a child.
“Sister…”
Small tears welled in her eyes. She must have had happy memories, and I regretted bringing them to mind, but I too had once felt crushed by sorrow. I had often wished to abandon the throne and find peace, drowning in despair.
There is no overcoming the sadness of losing something precious. No matter how many years or decades pass, the pain remains. What matters is what you live for at that moment. What brings you joy and for whom do you live? Without encounters after parting, survival would be impossible. Elmera lacked that. And she had no one equal to her. No one to guide the immensely powerful Elmera, to be with her at times. Loneliness is not determined by the number of people around you. It is determined by whether there is someone you can truly forgive from the bottom of your heart.
“Uncle, I…”
“Don’t be deceived, Elmera.”
The ambush came from behind. A grotesque arm, gray and wrinkled, protruded from my abdomen. Soon after, excruciating pain struck me, and once that arm was withdrawn, I could only kneel on the ground.
“Gah… how foolish, when did he get behind me…”
“Whether you were careless or not, it makes no difference. Sleep well.”
“G-Getou! Where have you been?!”
The one Elmera called Getou was the one who had pierced me. Just moments ago, he had been behind me, yet now he stood face-to-face with Elmera. It wasn’t an incredible speed; he had undoubtedly moved by some means. Wrapped in bandages, with only his eyes glowing a dark red, he sat cross-legged in the air. Beside him was a young girl clad in a black robe, reminiscent of that Eerlich, the demon.
I didn’t want to admit it, but this was the worst possible scenario. Just dealing with Eerlich was already overwhelming, and now there were two more like him.
“If you thought you could sit back and watch without getting involved, look where it has led you.”
“Come on, don’t joke about struggling against these guys.”
“Shall I kill you now?”
The girl and Eerlich strolled through the battlefield like tourists, observing the fierce combat without so much as flinching from stray arrows, while the warriors of both sides fought desperately, breathless.
“Don’t be swayed by the sweet words of humans, Elmera. Remember what they did to you. What did they say when they took your sister away?”
“Uh, um… let me think…”
“This research will surely contribute to the prosperity of all races. Didn’t I say that?”
This is a very troublesome development. It’s even worse since they initially listened to my words. If that’s the case, then trusting Getou’s words will lead to the next inevitable outcome. Elmera is, to put it bluntly, like a child whose sense of self is not fully established. She easily swallows every word and yet is a troublesome individual. Although we’ve only just met, I can say this for certain.
“That’s right… It’s all a lie! They were actually advancing research to turn themselves into monsters. Why did I almost fall for it? Damn it, it’s really infuriating!”
The lukewarm water began to boil again, bubbling violently. The scalding water splashed around, causing many to suffer severe burns. With me now fully recognized as a liar, there’s no need to think about my next move. I have no choice but to fight against Elmera and the Demon Race.
“I merely said that there’s no meaning in this fight. You, the Demon Race, possess such power, yet why are you so obsessed with revenge?”
“…Do you understand if I give you an analogy? A swarm of powerless insects proliferating and ruling the surface with impunity—this alone should be enough.”
I just realized. There’s no path to coexistence with these Demon Race. They are simply overconfident in their pride, showing no interest in anything else. They must have felt cornered because of those insects.
“Killing the king first would be amusing, but I’ve changed my mind. Just watch.”
Getou vanished from in front of me, and the next tragedy unfolded.
“Why are you here?”
“Ugh!”
The cavalry soldier disappeared from the spot, only to reappear in front of my allies, who were readying their attacks. The mounted soldier, launched high into the air, lost his balance and fell. He splattered on the ground like a crushed tomato, painting the earth a vivid red. It was as if a child was playing with toys, the cavalry was being swapped around one after another.
“Stop it! I won’t allow any more of this tyranny!”
Even if I swung my axe at the one floating in the air, I would only meet the same fate. Naturally, I couldn’t reach Getou, and instead, I was forced to attack my own allies. I managed to stop just in time, avoiding harming my comrades, but the humiliation and anger remained unquenched.
“It’s useless. I can freely connect spaces. You will never reach me.”
“How unfortunate… So unfortunate! You possess such power, yet your vision is so narrow!”
“Question yourself. The Barbarian King, who has killed countless humans out of hatred for thieves…”
“A thief is a thief! Those who fell willingly!”
“There are those who fell to survive. Perhaps if you had extended a hand, they could have been saved. Yet you only sweet-talked us Phantoms, trying to smooth things over. It’s truly disgusting hypocrisy.”
“Ugh…!”
I was struck with a force that nearly brought me to my knees, but as a king, I couldn’t yield. I had to admit that my words had faults. The faces of the thieves who had begged for their lives while shedding tears flashed in my mind.
“I’ll save you now!”
“Thank you! Die!”
“What…?! Ugh!”
Waiting for the cavalry to come to their aid was Eerlich, disguised as a soldier. Attacking while appearing as an ally, they couldn’t possibly grasp the situation. One after another, they transformed, completely toying with us.
“Mimmy wants to play too!”
“A child?!”
“Don’t let your guard down! That one is also a Phantom… a Demon!”
Weiss, battered from his fierce battle with Aslat, barely managed to rally our troops. He was putting up a good fight; that much was clear. Weiss’s spear couldn’t pierce Aslat’s skin, and he was being relentlessly pressured by Aslat’s attacks. It was as if he were swatting flies, Weiss fell to the ground time and again.
Aslat, the Giant Race leader, must have traversed hundreds, if not thousands, of battlefields with that massive body. His experience was on a completely different level compared to Weiss. If he fell here, ordinary soldiers wouldn’t be able to stop Aslat. If that happened, the onslaught from the Demon Race and Phantoms would escalate dramatically, leading to a total collapse of our forces.
“Meruhen Merahera Menheraru!”
【The Melhen Rabbit has appeared! HP: ?????】
【The Warpig has appeared! HP: ?????】
【The Logpig has appeared! HP: ?????】
【The Brickpig has appeared! HP: ?????】
Around the girl dancing in circles, creatures that looked like they had jumped out of a picture book appeared. A bipedal pig with a three-head height and an ugly, bulging-eyed rabbit, also bipedal. They approached the soldiers, cackling with laughter.
“A monster?”
“Doesn’t matter! Attack!”
【The Kashiram soldier attacks! No damage dealt to the Melhen Rabbit!】
The soldiers’ collective assault slid off harmlessly as the rabbit mocked them, shaking its head up and down. I had anticipated this, but the depths of these Demon Race were completely unfathomable. No matter how they thrust or slashed, it had no effect on those bizarre monsters.
“It’s no good! Violence against the Meruhen is unacceptable!”
【The Melhen Rabbit attacks! Deals 321 damage to the Kashiram soldier!】
The Kashiram soldier has fallen! HP: 0/143
The soldier, struck by the long ears, had his neck twisted in an unnatural direction and died instantly. The soldiers, realizing the terrifying power hidden beneath their appearances, retreated, no longer viewing the girl as a child. They ceased their attacks on the monsters and aimed for the girl instead.
“The Melhen Rabbit can fly too!”
【The Melhen Rabbit’s Ear Copter!】
【Deals 202 damage to the Kashiram soldier! HP: 0/133】
【Deals 198 damage to the Kashiram soldier! HP: 0/150】
【Deals 197 damage to the Kashiram soldier! HP: 0/164】
【Deals 204 damage to the Kashiram soldier! HP: 0/149】
Spinning its ears, the rabbit floated into the air, leaping towards the soldiers, tearing through them. The sight of the soldiers, reduced to bloody chunks, hitting the ground with a gruesome sound was horrifying. Yet, the cavalry maintained their formation, attempting to create chaos with their jumps.
“We must get close to that girl at all costs!”
“Mimmy, show them your power.”
Eerlich, disguised as a soldier, whispered something to Mimmy. In that instant, she grabbed a soldier’s head, helmet and all, and crushed it with a twist of her arm. After pulling out her bloodied little arm, the lifeless soldier crumpled to the ground. Even the cavalry couldn’t help but feel fear in the face of Mimmy’s display of strength.
“Th-this is absurd…!”
“See? You guys are fundamentally different from us. Didn’t I say that before?”
As Eerlich pointed out, the disparity in physical abilities was glaringly obvious. Even if I went all out, I doubted I could match that girl in a fistfight. Elmera certainly had exceptional combat skills, but she felt light. But what about Mimmy? Her physical prowess was superior in every aspect.
“Well, if you understand, then sit down quietly. It’s all the same whether you fight or not; you’re going to die anyway.”
Now was not the time to lose my fighting spirit. If I gave up my will to resist, it would mean I had succumbed to the Phantoms. I absolutely couldn’t let their envisioned outcome come to pass. This is my kingdom; I have no intention of letting these people dictate my fate.
“By the way, Getou, where’s that old man Aboro?”
“He says he won’t mingle with Kashiram.”
“Still as incomprehensible as ever… If that old man were here, this would have been over in seconds.”
Think, what should I do in this situation? What is the best course of action? How can I defeat these foes? How can I…
“I’m already bored…”
“Shall we go to that town later and eat whatever we want? I hear human food is delicious these days.”
They were already planning what to do after their victory. Here I am, Kashiram, standing against them.
“Getou, stop playing around and let’s end this already!”
“If that’s the case, why don’t you drop your transformation? There’s no point in disguising yourself as such a fragile being.”
“Yeah, well, I was surprised. I can’t believe they’ve survived this long like this. They can’t even walk outside without worry.”
I’ll be the only one to have my pride trampled upon. Behind me are the irreplaceable people of Kashiram. If I’m not here, who will protect them?
“I won’t let you… have your way!”
【Rua’s attack! Deals 4,821,029 damage to the Melhen Rabbit!】
The Melhen Rabbit has been defeated! HP: 0/?????】
A stuffed rabbit exploded right in front of me. It was a sight so swift that it felt unreal; I was probably the only one who could recognize it as an attack. This wasn’t a matter of skill—neither the Demon Race, giants, nor even the Beastkin would have been able to perceive it. That’s because I had witnessed that power once before. This was the very definition of needing to see it with my own eyes to believe it.
“H-Horrible… so many people are dead.”
“No, my body… I can’t heal anymore… I can’t do it…”
“What is the meaning of this?! You lot!”
“Cease your attacks!”
The girl before me still bore a youthful appearance, yet her rough demeanor was unmistakable. A cute blonde beauty who had transformed from a dragon into a girl. And descending from the back of a grotesque monster were two Beastkin. The one who had likely just arrived, unleashing a voice that shook the battlefield, was probably the leader of the Beastkin.
“…You came for me.”
I had never felt such relief in my life. If the situation turned in our favor, I would feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I had never experienced before. It was a salvation of that magnitude.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Sleep.