◆ Outside the Town Southeast of Avangarde Royal Capital ◆
The ambush from Donboss underground was easily dodged. I could tell it was coming from below, and the faint sound of digging made it easy to prepare. As soon as he popped out, I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, immobilizing him.
“What are you doing, Don?! You can’t do this to me!”
“This is how it’s done.”
Using Donboss as a shield prevented Lester from casting that fire magic. Since it was a linear attack, this tactic made it simple to counter. Of course, it wouldn’t work against reckless allies like Vandalsia. And I wasn’t really using him as a shield; I just threw him aside when he hesitated.
“Whoa!”
“Don’t come this way—!”
Even if I told Donboss not to come my way, it was pointless since he was thrown and couldn’t do anything. When they collided and fell, it momentarily halted both of their movements. The one I needed to close in on was Captain Baste.
“You little brat!”
“If you’re over Level 1000, you can take this much! Here it comes!”
“Ugh!”
I landed a punch to his stomach, and when I saw he could still stand, I followed up with another strike. The moment Baste crumpled to the ground, Fenfuu caught up from behind. Just as Donboss and Lester were finally trying to get back up, it was already too late.
“Experience the cutting art of my hundred ‘slashes’! Heehee! Rending Slash!”
“Yes! Yes, yes, yes!”
“Wha—?! Hiiieee!”
I deflected the blade once, twice, three times, and when his guard was wide open, I struck with a punch. It was the same technique I used on Baste. By this point, Fenfuu and I were overlapping, so Lester couldn’t cast that fire magic again. I figured the Baste Squad was still new, so their fighting style was limited. Plus, they had been winning purely based on their level difference.
“And here comes Donboss!”
“Don! Don’t get cocky! Drill In-Fight!”
He retracted the claws on his gauntlets and began unleashing a flurry of thrusts. It was slower than Fenfuu’s attacks, but it looked powerful. However, it wasn’t fast enough to be unmanageable. As he became engrossed in his thrusts, I ducked under and swept his legs. As he lost his balance, I caught him again and charged forward. Of course, my destination was Lester.
“Not again! Ugh, Donboss! Don’t take this the wrong way!”
“Wha—?! No way!”
“Don’t involve your allies!”
I wasn’t in a position to say that since I was using him as a shield, but it was still something you shouldn’t do. Just before reaching Lester, I released Donboss and slammed both hands down on his back.
“Get down!”
“Donboss! Isn’t this a bit unfair?!”
“The Comet Wolf Brigade does even worse things. If you can’t handle this kind of fighting, you won’t survive.”
Donboss curled up, making strange noises, but he wasn’t dead. I see, if he’s around Level 1000, he can take a hit without dying. It made it easier to adjust my strength.
“Heat Tornado…”
“Alright, this settles it.”
With one punch, Lester went down, and everyone in the Baste Squad except Nikka fell over. He was coughing and couldn’t get back up, so I thought it was safe to say I had won. Platiu was oddly crouching and poking at Baste, but I wished she would stop.
“Damn it… I still can’t win…! Damn it!”
“No matter how high your level goes, it’s all about how you fight, Captain Baste. You fought poorly this time… That time we fought Branburm… Metalican didn’t hesitate to drag everything down with him.”
“After a crushing victory, now I’m getting lectured! I’ve endured so much humiliation, and now it feels pointless! I thought I could finally stand on a grand stage!”
“…I didn’t use any skills in that fight.”
Baste, who had been pounding the ground with his fists, suddenly stopped. I didn’t fight that way to lecture him, but the main reason was that using skills could lead to killing him, which I’ll keep to myself.
As Baste stood still, Rash approached cautiously. Ritta, Nikka, and the others followed, watching with concern.
“I could use almost any magic, so I don’t understand how you feel, but…”
“You’re Rash, right? That illusion magic was impressive. Your control and power with attack magic are outstanding. You have a terrifying talent. I envy someone like you…”
“But in the end, I still lost.”
“You lost…?”
“I lost easily to Sage Hast. Not to mention, there’s someone even more amazing above me. I graduated from the magic academy early and got a bit cocky. I can only use one attribute, yet he’s far stronger than me and has accomplishments that put me to shame, even managing to rank A without being able to use attack magic.”
Hearing this about himself made Baste uncomfortable again. Rash, trying to meet Baste’s gaze, sat cross-legged on the ground.
“You couldn’t even stand up to the monsters attacking your own country, and you lost to Rua-neechan and the Comet Wolf Brigade. So, I finally realized something recently. To put it in Hast’s words… the one who can manage their hand of cards better is stronger than the one who has more cards. I was just feeling good about having a lot of cards…”
“That’s fine. At your age, realizing something important is commendable. Sage Hast… I wish I could have been his disciple when I was younger…”
“Important things… So, Captain Baste…”
“To be lectured by a child like you, I truly have no standing.”
Noticing he was still in no position to stand, I almost laughed.
“You’ll grow stronger, Rash. I, with fewer cards, say this.”
“Uh, no, I wasn’t being sarcastic…”
“It’s the truth.”
“Captain Baste, I can hardly use attack magic, and I can’t use healing magic at all.”
Even though I was speaking to Baste, Rash looked shocked. I hadn’t used attack magic much since leaving the Abyss Cave. It was understandable that I didn’t know much about it since I hadn’t used it, but there was no need for him to tremble in surprise like that.
“Rua-neechan can… use magic…?”
“Of course.”
“Impossible… How can this be?”
“Even you, Baste?”
“Rua-san… You’re lying, right?”
“Even you, Ritta?”
Everyone was shocked, as if they were being attacked with disbelief, and there was someone muttering about how it couldn’t be true in the tool pouch. Should I pull them out?
“Rua-chan is incredibly strong, but she actually has very few skills. That’s why she always envies the skills of others… like Platiu-chan’s Machine Maiden.”
“Y-You shouldn’t say that.”
“Hmm.”
She circled around, as if she had caught a tail, and flaunted her Seraphim. In the end, they said Rua would need to live three lifetimes to master it.
“Indeed… I was completely outmatched in that fight. In the end, we were too full of ourselves. We overestimated our levels and abandoned strategic thinking. But it will take some time to cool our heads…”
“You don’t need to cool down, Captain Baste.”
Lester finally stood up, still holding his stomach. He looked like he might kneel again, but he kept his face forward, refusing to bow to us.
“You’re giving a grand lecture, but remember who caused this in the first place.”
“Yikes! That’s right! Heehee! Most of them think this way! If only the Flash Strike Girl wasn’t around!”
“N-No way! What do you mean?!”
Even though Fenfuu was wobbling and in a precarious position, she was trying to assert her presence. If only I weren’t here, not again. I was getting fed up with it.
“Of course! Heehee! Just when we thought we had climbed up through hard work, a pile of cheats swoops in and steals our thunder! Heehee!”
“So, this isn’t my fault.”
“Ah, that’s right! Hee! You haven’t done anything! Heehee! You have no responsibility! You just exist! Heehee!”
“Think about it, Don. Before you showed up, this kind of thing was impossible. Remember that things started going haywire after you appeared.”
Donboss seemed sturdy enough; he was standing normally now. He rounded his back even more and looked up at me from a low stance.
“…I understand how you all feel.”
“Ritta…”
“I can’t really blame my brother. I understand all too well how the desire to become stronger can drive a person to madness. That’s why I wanted to stop him… I mentioned the mayor’s request, but honestly, that was secondary. I dragged Irene and Shuri into this too, but…”
“I’m sorry for being such a pathetic brother.”
“That’s the truth.”
Nikka’s face looked like it was about to crumble as he absorbed Ritta’s response. He probably never expected to be consoled like this. Ritta has Nikka by her side, and Elmera has Meria. Having siblings is nice. I can’t quite put it into words, but it feels different from what I have with Kurinka.
“Nikka, you’re the one who lamented your own powerlessness the most. And in the end, that detestable Hecaton was defeated by the Flash Strike Girl… Don’t you find that pathetic?”
“…I do. But I can’t articulate it well; I just don’t have the energy to do anything right now.”
“Captain Baste, Nikka is beyond saving.”
“I’ll inform Commander-in-Chief Argil. However, Nikka, you will accompany us. I will do my utmost to support you.”
Nikka, who had been looking downcast, raised his head, bewildered by Baste’s unexpected words. Baste himself seemed somewhat exhausted. It might not just be because they lost, but mainly due to Rash. Perhaps it would be more convincing if someone younger, like Rash, said something rather than me, the Flash Strike Girl. I think I can be clumsy in situations like this.
It’s true that I caused this chaos, isn’t it?
“Captain Baste, you’re being too lenient. Having someone like Nikka in the squad will disrupt discipline. Besides, it’s a fact that he’s disobeyed orders.”
“Just like Lester said! We should execute him right here!”
“Shall we challenge the Flash Strike Girl again?”
“Ugh…”
If they challenge me again, I’ll use my skills. Drawing Disballade and showing my full intent to protect Nikka made Lester glance at me and quiet down.
“…If you say I caused your madness, then the next time something attacks, you handle it all by yourself. I won’t lift a finger.”
“I-I’ll do just that. I was careless this time, but if we gather all our forces outside of the Baste Squad, we can defeat Vandalsia. You don’t need to meddle anymore.”
“Sure, good luck with that. You think you can win just because you saw the opponent I defeated? By the way, Vandalsia’s Catastrophe can be nullified by any skill.”
“Wait, Lua-chan…”
I started to head back to town, accompanied by Kurinka, who was trotting along, and Platiu, who floated effortlessly. I hadn’t intended to leave, but I felt an urge to get away from this place.
“Um, Rua-san! The Royal Quake Faction still has forces remaining! Including those lurking in various locations, their numbers are…”
“I took them all down. That’s why it took me so long to get here.”
“I-I see…”
“If we had left them alone, it would have turned into a disaster. There are people who can defeat anything, but I got tired.”
“Damn it! Let me say it!”
Lester was furious, but Baste stopped him. It was absurd for him to get angry after mocking me first. I almost wanted to let Elmera hear that ridiculous song.
“Stop it, Lester.”
“But!”
“Even if you get worked up, you’re facing an opponent you can’t win against. Commander-in-Chief Argil said to devise a strategy to defeat them, but you only understand the reality of the situation once you fight. The gap in our abilities is so vast that we can’t grasp the true nature of the opponent.”
“So in the end, we receive their power… ugh…”
“Lester?”
Lester’s loud voice suddenly cut off. When I turned around, he was clutching his chest, breathing heavily. His body began to tremble, and blood started to seep through his robe.
“Ugh! Uwaaaah! Aaaahhh!”
“Lester! What’s wrong?!”
“Captain! My body… it’s tearing, tearing apart!”
“Get away from him!”
Kurinka rushed over without hesitation and began to heal Lester. Normally, it wouldn’t take her more than a few seconds to mend him, but he continued to writhe in agony. He twisted and rolled on the ground, struggling desperately. His robe became drenched in dark blood, and when Baste pulled it off, I could see the flesh on his body beginning to tear.
“Why… why isn’t he healing even with the recovery magic?!”
“Isn’t Kurinka’s regeneration supposed to work?!”
“It’s not working! It’s not working!”
“Ah! Gyaaaaahhh!”
As the upper garment was removed, his arms and chest split open, blood gushing out. When he coughed up foamy blood from his mouth, it felt like everything had come to an end.
“…He’s dead.”
“No way, Kurinka’s regeneration should have worked…”
“I don’t know… I tried my best…”
“Lester… Lester! What happened? What is going on?! Lestaaaaaar!”
Kurinka, on the verge of tears, continued to cast healing magic on Lester, even though she knew he was dead. He was a terrible person, and I was angry, but I never wished for him to die. Especially not in such a way. Behind the screaming Baste, the members of the Baste Squad, including Nikka, could only stand there in shock, frozen in place.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Rua is casting magic, magic, ma, magic
Hehe, magic, maho maho
It’s amusing, that’s why I can’t stop the Shinju Report
Oops, if I’m seen, I’ll die
Having the power to break through means being noticed by everyone
You must accept both the good and the bad
However, what I can’t stand is that after all the trouble, Rua, who stopped me, is now trying to challenge me just because her level has caught up a bit
Adventurers are creatures that live in competition, I have come to realize
Kurinka is crying because her regeneration power isn’t working
Recently, she has grown stronger, but she hasn’t had the chance to experience this sense of helplessness
In other words, it’s Rua’s fault
Half-joking aside
The fact that regeneration isn’t working means, well, I see, I see
By the way, I was supposed to do it twice, time to sleep.