We finally arrived at the foot of the Divine Tree, or rather, the World Tree.
Among the towering trees, one particularly large tree stood before us.
A gigantic tree that seemed to reach the heavens… but that tree was decaying.
“This is terrible… Even I, who am not a healer, can tell. This tree is… dying,”
It was no wonder Seira was gasping.
Compared to Mei (the World Tree), this World Tree was… seriously on the verge of death.
Its leaves were withered, its trunk felt devoid of moisture, and its roots were rotting.
“Hey, Sinri. Is it okay to heal it in this state?”
Even a layman like me could tell without using Omniscience (Internet) that it needed to be healed immediately.
～～～～～～
Sinri: The condition will not improve unless the Magic Bugs inside are driven out.
～～～～～～
I see. So, we need to get rid of the Magic Bugs inside after all.
～～～～～～
Sinri: Enemies are coming this way. Magic Bugs… 5,000 of them.
～～～～～～
As Sinri predicted, a swarm of Magic Bugs appeared in the sky.
There were certainly about five thousand of them… maybe. There were too many to tell.
“M-Magic Bugs, so many…!”
“That’s strange. With my ward, the small fry Magic Bugs shouldn’t be able to recognize us.”
～～～～～～
Sinri: It seems a commander is giving orders to the Magic Bugs.
～～～～～～
A commander, huh?
The Magic Bugs all charged at us at once.
Time to take them down.
“Leave it to me!”
Seira took out a potion bottle from her pocket.
She slammed it onto the ground.
In an instant… a barrier that covered us was deployed.
The Magic Bugs burst into flames as soon as they touched the barrier.
“Is that also a Magic Potion?”
“Yes. A Barrier Potion. It creates a barrier that purifies anything evil that touches it.”
Wow… amazing. To develop something like that.
“To construct a barrier of this level in an instant!? How amazing… Seira-sama, are you perhaps a Saint…?”
“Unfortunately, the Saint is that goddess over there. I’m just an Alchemist.”
“There’s no way a mere Alchemist could create such an amazing barrier!”
“…That’s right. I’m not just a mere Alchemist anymore…”
Seira looked into the distance.
“That’s right, you’re not just a mere Alchemist.”
“…I know that.”
“You’re a genius Alchemist, right?”
“Mika…”
Okay, okay, I patted Seira’s head. She seemed a little down (though I don’t know why), so I gave her a head pat.
“You’re a genius, so it’s only natural that you can do this.”
“Mika…”
“Amazing, amazing, genius, genius.”
“…Thank you.”
She thanked me. I didn’t do anything that warranted thanks, though.
“I will drive away the Magic Bugs.”
Luciel readied the Sword of Omniscience (Hoteison).
It was then.
～～～～～～
Sinri: Enemies are coming. Please step back.
～～～～～～
Just as Sinri said, we jumped back and moved away from the spot.
“Get out of the way, you small fry.”
With a pahn! sound, all 5,000 of them vanished in an instant.
The ground in front of us was gouged out in a straight line.
“T-To wipe out a swarm of Magic Bugs in an instant…”
“Y-Yes… They’ve come…!”
Oberon trembled.
“They’ve come?”
“Yes… The Magic Bug King’s Four Heavenly Kings!”
The Four Heavenly Kings…?
Looking up at the sky, there were strange-looking people?
They were about the size of adult men.
They were bipedal bugs, or something like that. Like Kamen Rider, they were humans with bug elements standing in the air.
“Hoh… You managed to avoid my attack. Not bad. I might even praise you.”
What’s with that arrogant guy…?
There stood what could be called a beetle-human.
His whole body was covered in black armor. He wore a horned helmet on his head.
A large sword was hanging at his waist.
“Who are you?”
“I am one of the [Magic Bug King’s Four Heavenly Kings]! [Kabutank the Front]!”
“Eh, Kabutank?”
“It’s Kabutank. Don’t get my name wrong. You rude woman.”
Kabutank, or rather, Kabutank, glared at me.
Seira collapsed to her knees.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel immense pressure from Kabutank…”
Oberon also collapsed to the ground. Seriously? Can you really feel that kind of pressure?
I don’t feel anything in particular, though.
“Hoh… You seem to have some skill, woman.”
Kabutank looked at Luciel, who was standing next to me… not me.
“Mika God is inside Seira’s barrier. I… will go first!”
Tan! Luciel kicked off the ground and approached Kabutank.
“Zeyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Using the Sword of Omniscience (Hoteison), she slashed at Kabutank.
The enemy didn’t dodge. The attack landed. But… not even a crack appeared on his armor.
“Kuh!”
“Seriously?”
Even Luciel couldn’t damage him.
She wiped out 5,000 Magic Bugs in an instant, so I guess he’s pretty strong.
“Okay, Luciel. Time for a substitution…”
“Not yet…!”
Not yet…?
Luciel repeatedly attacked Kabutank with the Sword of Omniscience (Hoteison)!
Biki!
“Hoh… Damage to my armor. I see, a debuff effect has been applied.”
“Uoooooooooooooooooooo!”
Luciel unleashed a barrage of attacks.
Hey, um… Luciel…?
“You don’t have to push yourself so hard.”
Because the opponent isn’t that strong. If I just went out and poked him a little, I could probably defeat him.
Biki!
“Kuku…! Good, woman…! How long has it been since someone put a crack in my armor…? I’m happy. It’s like I get to fight a strong opponent.”
“Zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeei!”
Luciel swung the Sword of Omniscience (Hoteison) down from above, aiming for his head.
But…
With a pariiiin! sound, Luciel’s sword was deflected.
“Ah, that’s a super advanced technique, [Attack Reflection (Parry)]!”
Seira said.
“Parry…?”
“It’s a very advanced technique that deflects an enemy’s attack! You can’t reflect an attack unless you release it at the perfect timing… a very advanced technique.”
Wow… he was using such an advanced technique.
“And he reflected it without using his sword. He probably deflected it with that horn.”
Luciel was blown away and rolled on the ground.
“Okay, good job, Luciel. From here on out, it’s my…”
“No…!”
Luciel said with an unusually strong tone.
“I’ll do it…!”
“Luciel…”
“Please step back.”
Hah! Could it be that you’re…?
You’re fighting the Heavenly King to protect me from getting hurt…?
Kuh, what a thoughtful subordinate.
“What a beautiful display of Master-Servant Love…!”
Oberon said. Yes, yes, Oberon, you think so too, right?
But Seira shook her head with a serious expression.
“That’s not it.”
“Eh…?”
Not it…?
What do you mean…?
“What Luciel is worried about is that if you, Mika, go out, you might damage the World Tree behind you!”
Ah…
～～～～～～
Sinri: “Luciel’s True Intent”
→Mika’s attacks are too powerful and have a wide range. If she uses her power here, the World Tree will be damaged and wither. That’s why Luciel is doing her best instead of Master Mika.
～～～～～～
S-So it wasn’t Master-Servant Love…
～～～～～～
Sinri: Affirmative.
～～～～～～
Gakoon…
Even while I was doing that, Luciel continued to attack Kabutank.
And… finally.
Baki! Kabutank’s gauntlet broke.
“Hoh! I see… To produce this much power, you are quite something… woman.”
“Haa… haa…! H-Hard… what… hardness…”
Indeed, Luciel attacked many times, and only one gauntlet was broken.
He’s pretty tough.
“I see… It’s understandable that you would try to oppose the Magic Bug King. You’re strong for an outsider of the forest.”
But, Kabutank continued.
“Did you notice, woman? I’m just standing here.”
Certainly, Kabutank hasn’t used any attacks, defenses, or even his abilities.
“I haven’t even shown my true power yet.”
“Damn it! Uooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
Magic Power erupted from Luciel.
Using the Sword of Omniscience (Hoteison)’s effect, she buffed herself and slashed at him.
Bita!
“What!? He… he caught the sword head-on!? Such a fast sword!”
Oberon was surprised. Was it that fast?
Maybe it was? I don’t know.
“Kukuku… Woman, that was a good blow. So much so that I couldn’t help but defend.”
“Damn it! The sword… won’t come out! What power! Guwaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
Kabutank kicked Luciel in the stomach.
Luciel was blown away and crashed into the ground. She looked like Yamcha.
“Luciel…!”
“Well done, Luciel. Time for a substitution…”
“Not yet…!”
Luciel stood up with a groan.
“I can still… I can still fight!”
“Luciel…”
If this were Master-Servant Love, it would be beautiful, but the reason she won’t let me do it is for the sake of the World Tree.
“Kuku… what a beautiful Master-Servant Love. That loyalty is truly something.”
Well, it’s not loyalty, though…
“In recognition of that loyalty, I shall tell you one good thing.”
“A good thing…?”
“Yes. Among the Magic Bug King’s Four Heavenly Kings… I am the weakest!”
…Huh?
Because he’s the weakest… What?
Why is he so proudly declaring that he’s the weakest with such a smug look? Ugh… how embarrassing…
“That can’t be…!” “Impossible…!”
Oberon and Luciel wore expressions of despair.
Huh?
“What’s wrong? He just said he’s a small fry, right?”
“…With this strength, he’s the weakest. Then, the other Heavenly Kings are even stronger… is that what it means…?”
Ah, I see… that’s what it means.
“That’s right. And the Magic Bug King-sama is even stronger than us Four Heavenly Kings… Do you understand now? That challenging us is foolish.”
Kabutank had a smug look on his face.
Well, I understand the hierarchy. But so what? That’s how I feel.
“Leave, woman. You are a warrior too precious to kill here and now.”
“Haa… haa… Don’t underestimate me. I… won’t run!”
～～～～～～
Sinri: If Luciel runs here, Master Mika will come out and do something crazy with her crazy power.
～～～～～～
“Kuku…! As I thought, you are a loyal warrior! I like you.”
Kabutank smoothly extended his hand forward.
“Luciel, why don’t you become a Magic Bug?”
…Huh?
Become a Magic Bug?
“What are you talking about?”
“I wasn’t talking to you, you weakling who can only be protected by Luciel.”
Because of my God Protection, Kabutank doesn’t seem to grasp my strength correctly.
“If you become a Magic Bug, you can become even stronger, you know?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I would never do such a thing!”
Luciel stood up and readied her weapon.
“I will… fulfill my duty!”
～～～～～～
Sinri: Defeat the enemy before Master Mika goes berserk. That is her mission.
～～～～～～
Wow. These two are having their own theatrical movie, completely ignoring me.
“Luciel-sama! Please do your best!”
“Don’t lose, Luciel! You’re almost there to defeat Kabutank!”
～～～～～～
Sinri: Next time, [Kabutank Dies], Duel Standby
～～～～～～
【☆★Announcement★☆】
The short story from the other day
Has been serialized due to popular demand!!
There is a link at the bottom of the page!!
[Serialized Version] The Reincarnated Girl Travels Leisurely with Her Beloved Cat ~ I was abandoned because “I’m a little girl”, but in fact, I was a Saint loved by God. It seems I incurred God’s wrath, but I don’t know. I’m traveling freely in another world with my pet cat (the strongest God).
Or, please copy and use the following URL.
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n2793jy/