◆ Avangarde Port ◆
The unrestrained Sonic Ripper reached Dedrov in less than a second. As I swung it back, the crescent-shaped slash grew larger, creating a dangerous aura around us. Perhaps I held back a little, but even so, it was a speed that rivaled Schwelm’s light speed. To an ordinary person, it would seem as if I had struck and Dedrov had been cut at the same moment.
“Muuhhh! Haaah!”
Yet, despite that, he merely crossed his arms and nullified the Sonic Ripper. He braced himself so hard that I wondered just how far he would be sent flying. Still, it was clear that it hadn’t been easy for him. After bracing himself, he dropped to one knee, groaning in agony from the intense pain in his arms, like a beast in distress.
“Ooooh! Hah, hah… What is this power…?”
“Your arms are useless now. Just give up.”
“That’s true… But even with such power, it only destroyed my arms. Do you understand what that means?”
“It got absorbed, didn’t it…”
A smirk spread across Dedrov’s face as he responded without words. An electric-like sound crackled around his drooping arms. After a noise loud enough to pierce the ears, Dedrov raised his arms.
“I’ve taken that power for myself.”
As if to show off, Dedrov flexed his bicep. The energy he had stolen from me was now coursing through those bulging muscles, and I couldn’t help but applaud the legendary thief. He was the first human to survive a direct hit from the Sonic Ripper, and I was genuinely impressed that someone like him existed in this world.
“Rua, Rua-chan. Did you just use the Sonic Ripper?”
“Yeah.”
“Yikes! This is bad! No way!”
“That guy… he’s a monster…”
Kurinka, who had always believed in my abilities the most, was in a fluster, her blonde hair a mess as she pressed her hand to her cheek. Seeing her like this was somewhat endearing, but I felt sorry for Rash, who was completely trembling. It might be best to end this quickly.
“That’s amazing… Uncle could probably go deep into the Abyss Cave.”
“I know about the Festival of Calamity. You’re quite the amusing girl. However, I once attempted to challenge it in my youth. But alas, I was deterred by the formidable seal.”
That’s right; the Abyss Cave is sealed off, and ordinary people can’t even approach it or recognize it. Looking back, I realize I could enter because I possessed the Power of Destruction. Yet this man had managed to reach that point on his own. I could only think how incredible that was.
“I’ll put this power to the test right away… Tsuuhh!”
I swung my right hand, poised like a blade, and unleashed a slash resembling the Sonic Ripper. To be precise, it wasn’t the Sonic Ripper, but rather a mass of orange energy taking that form. I countered that vicious crescent with Disballade in my right hand. The pressure of the wind didn’t just shake the walls of the buildings; it shattered them. The ships moored at the port didn’t just sway; their sails and masts were torn away. Thankfully, Elmera managed to protect the fallen people.
“Rua-chan! Hurry up and finish this!”
Elmera’s jeer was spot on. I wasn’t holding back; I was just lost in thought for a moment. Attacking recklessly would only lead to me being countered like before, so I was considering my next move. Well, I had already thought of two methods.
“It seems the power in your right hand has been lost.”
“Did you become a legendary thief using this power?”
“My skills as a thief are something else.”
“Are you really intent on destroying this country as part of the Comet Wolf Brigade?”
“That leader… can take away what I could never steal in my lifetime. I want to see what such a leader can create.”
“Is that all there is to it…?”
“I could steal anything—women, gold, wealth—there were no limits. In my youth, I simply desired everything according to my whims. I crushed those I disliked and took the women I wanted. Gradually, there were no situations I couldn’t fulfill. And then I realized the emptiness of having everything.”
Emptiness… What does that mean? I still didn’t quite understand what he was trying to convey.
“As I said earlier, you feel it too, don’t you? Deep down, you’re dissatisfied with the lack of equal opponents. Though you’ve gained power, you soon find it boring without a target to unleash it upon. You must have felt the urge to fight at some point.”
— I have.
When I fought Lord Daigami, when I battled the Dragon God. I felt a flicker of joy at having an opponent who could push me to my limits. I rediscovered how much I loved fighting. Dedrov must have lived his life according to those words, seeing through to the core of my being. The villagers were safe, and I had reclaimed what was precious to me. But when I looked at the members of the Leopardess Guild, I couldn’t help but wonder what I truly wanted for myself. Perhaps, as Dedrov said, I just wanted to fight endlessly.
“With that much power, you can’t deny it, can you? Otherwise, there would be no reason for you to gain strength.”
“That is…”
“Rua-chan possesses a strength that won’t drown in power.”
Kurinka’s strong words enveloped me, and she shot a cold glare at Dedrov. Though Dedrov’s expression remained unchanged, Kurinka refused to look away, her gaze filled with contempt.
“You’ve been lecturing Rua-chan from a high horse, but you’re just an ordinary man who has indulged in power for his own whims. You have no right to mock Rua-chan, who wields her strength for someone else’s sake.”
Kurinka approached me, mercilessly glaring at Dedrov. The fierce look she shot back at her seemed to have struck a chord.
“For someone else’s sake, huh? Wasting your efforts on weaklings who mean nothing to you… What a way to put it. Did they ever thank you? Have they ever called this power… a monster?”
Suddenly, Dedrov launched a fierce counterattack. He channeled the energy he had stolen from me directly into his fist. A straight punch, akin to the Sonic Spear, struck me square in the stomach. Feeling it again, I realized just how painful it was. I braced myself, forcing my stomach to absorb the blow, managing to stay grounded despite being sent back a few steps.
“Ngh…”
“If you received my power, then just surpass it. And your skills have weaknesses.”
This was child’s play. If I couldn’t surpass my current self, I wouldn’t survive in the Abyss Cave. The fact that my last attack hadn’t affected him as much as I expected surprised Dedrov, who finally opened his tightly shut mouth slightly. I couldn’t let such a foolish opening go to waste; it was easy to take advantage of Dedrov’s moment of distraction.
But as expected of a legendary thief, he reacted faster than anyone else. He threw an elbow at me as soon as he realized I was behind him. I dodged it again. Though he was a beat or two slow, the fact that he could react at all was impressive. When Dedrov turned to face me, I was already right beside him—diagonally behind, in front, to the left. Despite being thrown off, Dedrov calmly unleashed precise strikes one after another.
And finally, it was my turn to retaliate. I jumped and brought my fist down on his left shoulder, then immediately followed up with a strike to his right shoulder. He looked up at me through the pain, but at that moment, I leaped off his head and distanced myself.
“Tch, you’re fast… Guh…!”
“Just as I thought, Uncle’s skills can’t handle attacks from directions he doesn’t anticipate. To steal, you have to be aware of it.”
Now it was Dedrov’s drooping arms. At this point, the outcome was already decided, but there was one more thing I wanted him to understand.
“Could you return the energy you stole from me?”
“Do you think a thief would return something once taken…?”
“If you don’t, things are going to get really bad.”
“What… Nnnggggghhh!”
Dedrov began to writhe in agony, clutching his arm. Despite having stood strong even after his shoulder was destroyed, he couldn’t endure this. It felt as if a hammer had struck from within, causing cracks to form, and blood began to pour out. In the end, his entire arm exploded, and Dedrov completely lost everything from the shoulder down.
“Nugaaaah! Wh-what is this!?”
“Hey, old man, you were boasting about absorbing Rua-chan’s energy, but that also means you took in the Power of Destruction, right? Well, it’s too late now.”
As Elmera explained, Dedrov couldn’t endure it any longer. Even so, the fact that he could still move freely for a brief moment while being consumed from the inside was impressive. Blood flowed from his shoulder like a waterfall; he was finally receiving the consequences of the lives he had taken from others.
He gritted his teeth, barely managing to put on a brave front, but that arm was beyond anyone’s healing. Even Elmera’s Imagination Magic would be powerless against such destruction. If there was anyone who could heal him, it would have to be Kurinka.
“Destruction, you say…”
“Divine Nature, you know, I don’t really understand it myself. But I think it’s a trait that one possesses. Fire burns things, water soaks things, and soil nurtures plants. It’s like those inherent qualities? In other words, to sum it up, ‘If Lua-chan attacks, whatever it is will be destroyed.’ Scary, right?”
After explaining, she exaggeratedly rubbed her arms, feigning fear. Is that really what Divine Nature is like? I found myself feeling a bit scared too.
“But there are times when healing is possible, right?”
“Yeah, it’s happened many times before.”
“That’s probably because Lua-chan became aware of that power and could control it freely or something? Beyond that, I can’t say for sure.”
“Hehe, hehehe…”
For some reason, Dedrov, who was surely facing death, began to laugh. Despite losing both arms, he still had this composure.
“Even with such power, you don’t wish to obtain everything… How naive.”
“What, are you still saying things like that?”
“…Perhaps that is happiness.”
“Eh…?”
“As long as there is desire, one imagines what they would do if they could obtain this or that. That’s what makes one strong. However, once you obtain it, you find yourself feeling disappointed, realizing… that a life without goals is the most boring of all.”
Dedrov, kneeling, spoke as if he had no will to fight left. Even as he turned pale from blood loss, he continued.
“Such a person cannot be respected; rather, they are pushed away. One by one, my followers and lovers disappeared from my side. All that remained were the treasures I had stolen… I never truly obtained the people, the country, or anything else. No matter what skills or powers I acquired, I could never capture a person’s heart.”
He suddenly looked down, a hint of loneliness in his gaze. The legendary thief had, in that moment, become just an uncle. After exhausting all his desires, he was left with nothing but boredom. I began to wonder if perhaps happiness lay in the pursuit of goals.
“Then… why did you raise me and her?”
Stumbling slightly, Amane walked over to Dedrov. Elmera must have healed her wounds, but the energy she had lost left her in that state.
“It might just be self-satisfaction. By nurturing the next generation, I could bask in a sense of superiority, hoping to capture their hearts. But that one was more than I expected… the leader, Vattel…”
“So, the notorious thief who shook the entire continent was just a mere human in the end?”
“Heh, I told you to use honorifics…”
With that, Dedrov suddenly collapsed forward. When I confirmed he had stopped moving entirely, I noticed the dark shadow cast by Amane standing behind him. Her hands were bloodied, and something had pierced Dedrov’s back. I said nothing.
“With this, the Comet Wolf Brigade’s Second Squad has been annihilated.”
The blood dripping from Amane’s hands seemed to tell a story of its own.
“…Well then. Heavy, isn’t it?”
“Amane, what are you going to do with him?”
“Even a man like this has given me a lot. At the very least, I will see him off with my own hands.”
Without a hint of sorrow, Amane hoisted the heavy Dedrov as if he were just a burden. But the way she spoke seemed to hide some emotion.
“…I want to live slowly. I don’t want to become like him.”
“That’s why I told you. You’re young, so just worry about things for now. Now, Randa! How long are you planning to sleep?!”
“Ugh… I feel so drained.”
“Honestly, how pathetic. Can the others wake up after a little rest?”
“「「「「It’s tough…」」」」”
Not just the soldiers, but the Leopardess Guild had suffered greatly. There were casualties, and with the recent Demon Lord Army attack, this country had truly been through hell.
“Hey, Rua, long time no see. I really can’t thank you enough for your help.”
“Bottom-san, and Silva-san and Jijinia-san too…”
“Let’s keep the pleasantries short. You can leave this place to us. The others are likely struggling as well. If you can, would you help them?”
“I was planning to, but the energy Dedrov took…”
“It’s over, Lua-chan.”
After Kurinka spun her staff towards the sky, one by one, those who had fallen began to rise. Kurinka’s Power of Regeneration had restored even the energy that had been stolen. Seeing this made me wonder if Kurinka’s ability to regenerate could save far more people than my destructive power.
“Just as expected from someone with Divine Nature!”
“Hehe!”
Kurinka puffed her chest proudly in response to Elmera’s sarcasm. I couldn’t tell if she was playing along knowingly or if she was genuinely happy.
“Indeed, you two are different… I thought it would be easy since I was up against thieves, but I ended up dragging everyone down…”
“No, no, if it weren’t for Rash-kun’s Illusion Magic, the damage would have spread even further. There’s no need to be pessimistic; after all, you’re still young.”
“Hmm, is that so? Hearing that from you old folks makes me feel that way.”
I had suffered under Rash’s Illusion Magic too, so I thought he should have more confidence. By the way, didn’t that kid just wet herself a moment ago?
“Amane-neechan! What are we going to do now?”
“That’s obvious. We help the injured.”
“Eh?! But they’re men…”
“What? What are you saying at a time like this?!”
“Get to work! Come on, stop dawdling!”
“That’s right, get moving!”
This exchange felt like just another day. Even Eikichi was shouting loudly next to Randa, and I wondered why he was here. I thought he had gone to the Nation of Normitz with Nanoka and the others, but here he was. I had so many questions, but now wasn’t the time.
“Rua… I also want to thank you…”
“Oh, right. By the way, why are Truppo and the others here?”
“That’s right!”
Rash dropped his triangular hat as he suddenly remembered something and looked surprised. No, I was the one who was surprised.
“Truppo-neechan! About that thing!”
“Yeah… actually…!”
Suddenly, the ground began to shake, causing everyone to lose their balance. We stumbled but managed to stay upright, only for the ground to shake again.
“An earthquake?!”
As someone voiced what we were all thinking, the third tremor lifted us slightly off the ground. It felt more like an impact than a shake, as if something was pushing up from below. Cracks appeared in the walls of the remaining buildings, alongside the warehouse destroyed by Dedrov.
“That was quite a strong one! Lua-chan, should we fly?!”
“But what about the others…”
“Don’t worry about us! The Leopardess Guild will take responsibility for this!”
“…Let’s fly!”
I hesitated, unsure if it was really okay, but there was nothing we could do. As I climbed onto Kurinka’s back, a voice thundered in my ears.
“Ah, you guys are putting up quite a fight, huh? But this is just how it is.”
“Wh-what a loud voice…”
“It’s magic. Some idiot is just amplifying their voice.”
Elmera answered Kurinka’s and my questions, but she had no idea about the identity of the voice.
“Well, to be blunt, I’m really sorry about this. But this is a victory for the Comet Wolf Brigade.”
A mysterious voice declaring a mysterious victory. And this sudden earthquake. I had a terrible feeling; what were we supposed to do about what was about to happen?
◆ Shin Report ◆
Dedrov, to think he could hold out against Rua.
He’s surprisingly more skilled than the Demon Lord Army’s Twelve Generals.
I never knew there were still humans like this in the world.
Hehe, things are getting interesting.
What would the Demon Lord say in such a case?
The time before obtaining what you desire is the most enjoyable.
Is this sweet? Is that delicious? Imagining such things is the fun part.
Life is at its happiest when you are imagining something.
Dedrov has fulfilled his lifelong fantasies.
Compared to that, girls like Rua still have a future.
Yes, yes, now is the most enjoyable time.
When you become an adult, you turn into a boring human and remember your childhood.
Shin has also become quite dull.