I received a review from Kairi Yoinagi-sama. Thank you very much.
I managed to make it this week, so it’s a two-part story, front and back.
“…What?”
One of the Gouma Clan warriors looked up at the dungeon ceiling, sensing a faint anomaly.
“Xiao-dono, is something the matter?”
“…No.”
In response to his subordinate’s words, Xiao slowly shook his head, still wary of something.
The Gouma Clan are a warrior race. Among the Evil Race who revere strength, they embody it the most, believing in strength as if it were a religion, and honing themselves.
However, there are drawbacks to this. The warriors chosen for this Ceremony of Selection were originally from small clans that had been annexed. Xiao followed the orders of Dowhill, who had defeated him and whom he acknowledged as superior, but he was always aiming for a coup.
Even in this “Ceremony of Selection,” each warrior did not act with Dowhill, but only brought his own subordinates who had joined him in the dungeon, plotting to become the Evil King himself if possible.
If they were just ordinary warriors, moving separately would only make them easy targets for other clans. However, only the Gouma Clan was allowed to do so.
This was due to the strength of the warrior himself, as well as the bonds with his subordinates, who were like family from the same clan, and the high level of training of the entire clan, which enabled small-scale actions by individual warriors.
Even if they were attacked, ordinary warriors or assault squads would be defeated. Knowing this, the assault squads of other clans were cautious, but there was one who didn’t care.
“Xiao-dono, look at that!”
One of his subordinates, close to old age, found a human figure collapsed ahead in the passage.
“Which clan is it? Yoma? Or the military?”
“Probably the Yoma Clan. But this is…”
Even the battle-hardened Gouma Clan members frowned at the overwhelming stench of blood.
All of those who had fallen were Dark Elves of the Evil Race. There were about six of them within sight, but all of them had been killed with a single thrust to a vital point, or had died in agony as if they had been poisoned.
“Xiao-sama, this man is still moving!”
A young Evil Race member, who had been examining the corpses, found a man collapsed in the back and raised his voice.
“Hmm…”
Hearing this, Xiao considered that there was too much blood for the way they had been killed, and that the enemy was still nearby. He was about to step forward to interrogate the man himself about who had defeated him, but the old warrior stopped him with a laugh.
“Leave it to me, Xiao-dono! I’m good at this kind of torture from the human wars!”
Xiao smiled wearily at the words of the old warrior, who had probably lived for over four hundred years and had been sent to war since Xiao was a child.
“Don’t overdo it.”
“Leave it to me!”
The old warrior was more enthusiastic than necessary, hoping to make Xiao the Evil King instead of the great clan leader Dowhill, now that the “Ceremony of Selection” had begun while he was still alive.
Xiao dismissed the “bad feeling” he had felt earlier, like a faint killing intent spread through the air, as overthinking, and decided to leave it to his trusted subordinate.
“Hyahaha, if you talk quietly, I might even kill you easily!”
“――――”
He looked like a “corpse” in every way, but at that barbaric voice, he twitched slightly. The moment the old warrior kicked the wound where the Evil Race member’s chest had been gouged out—
BOOM! The wound burst open, and fragments of what seemed to be shattered weapons scattered.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”
The old warrior, who had been showered with fragments on his face at close range, collapsed instantly, and another subordinate screamed as he took fragments to his face, hands, and feet.
The moment Xiao and the other subordinates tried to react, a slender figure jumped out from behind an exceptionally large corpse and released an arrow that pierced from the eye to the brain of the subordinate who was trying to rush over.
Xiao’s eyes widened at the tragedy that had occurred in an instant and at the figure.
“Who are you!?”
The burst “trap” was made by compressing fragments of weapons shattered in battle and 【Wind】 into a small Dark Magic closed space. It took time to compress, but if the opponent was careless, it had enough killing power. Aria, who had set the trap for the enemy, moved the corpse with a thread while hiding behind other corpses, covered in the enemy’s blood.
Aria killed one person with the first blow, and then slashed the throat of the screaming man with a Black Knife. At that point, Xiao finally came to his senses and swung a naginata-like single-edged Spear.
“You bastarddddddddddd!”
The “bad feeling” that Xiao had felt was correct. However, the long-term dungeon exploration without sunlight had worn down Xiao’s mind more than he thought, dulling his judgment.
Xiao’s Overall Combat Strength was 1300, and even if he was a high-ranking Rank 4 close to Rank 5, his combat power would be drastically reduced if he lacked the composure to deal with a surprise attack.
“――【Phantom Pain】――”
“Guaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?”
“What!?”
The 【Phantom Pain】 that Aria released was a first-time kill, but high-ranked opponents could endure it. That’s why Aria targeted the only remaining young Evil Race member.
Xiao, who had been ambushed, had his family-like subordinates killed, and had his only remaining subordinate targeted, thought it was bad, but he was focusing his attention there.
“――っ!”
Xiao lost sight of Aria. The next moment, Xiao realized that she had approached him to the point where they were rubbing against each other, and instinctively rotated his Spear to ward off the “Shadow” that had jumped into his chest before he could even see it.
“――Gah!?”
The warded off 【Phantom】 shattered, and a Black Knife slashed Xiao’s throat from behind, cutting it open, and his consciousness disappeared into the darkness.
＊＊＊
“――【Purify (Clean)】――”
After defeating the Rank 4 warrior and the last Evil Race member, I erased the enemy’s blood that I had used for the trap.
After defeating the Vampire clan leader, I had been diving deeper into the dungeon, targeting and eliminating the small number of enemies I encountered. I had crushed four warriors and three assault squads so far, but the number of enemies I encountered had decreased, so I felt that the battle was coming to an end.
I put a small amount of salt and nutritional pills in my mouth and used 【Water】 to replenish my moisture.
I don’t need a proper meal for about two weeks. I don’t need to sleep soundly if I take a few minutes of sleep every now and then.
It may be different for other people, but for me, it’s just an extension of what I’ve been doing. But, as expected, my supplies are starting to run out. I have only a few Crossbow arrows left. I’m stealing Hidden Weapons from the enemy, but I haven’t been able to recover many of the Throwing Knives I threw.
The remaining Potions are also just one HP Recovery Potion and one Mana Recovery Potion each, and I had almost no poison left.
Just a little more… Until Camille and the others safely reach the deepest part of the dungeon, I just need to keep the enemy’s attention. It’s a pretty bad gamble, but it’s the only way we can win right now.
…But, the guerrilla warfare is reaching its limit.
“Come out.”
As I muttered that, I felt a presence surrounding me, and a giant figure emitting an intense Intimidation appeared from the depths of the passage.
“I’ve finally found you, little girl. You’re the one who’s been killing our men, aren’t you?”
“Dowhill…”
【Dowhill】【Race: Dark Elf ♂】【Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 255/280】【HP: 485/513】
【Overall Combat Strength: 2172 (Body Enhancement in progress: 2688)】
Gouma Clan leader, Rank 5 warrior Dowhill. Not only does he have the combat endurance due to his Mana Capacity, but he also has Status that probably rivals that of an Evil Race member of the same rank.
The people surrounding me overflowed with Killing Intent at my calling him by name, and Dowhill, who stopped them with a wave of his hand, grinned without even trying to draw the huge sword on his back.
“As promised, let’s have a match, little girl. If you can defeat our warriors, I expect a good fight.”
“Are these people your subordinates?”
When I pointed to the warriors collapsed in the passage in response to Dowhill’s words, he made a regretful face and slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
“Xiao was a good warrior, but he was too concerned with his position and hadn’t been improving as a warrior lately. Well, let’s just say he was useful in the end.”
“I see.”
As expected, he was “bait” for Dowhill to find me.
“You’re a pitiful one. If you had a decent employer, you could show your true potential, wouldn’t you?”
“There’s no reason for me to change horses now.”
“Is it because His Highness has human blood? We of the Gouma Clan are also tolerant of the strong.”
“I have no use for a man who can only see superficial strength.”
The Killing Intent swelled up again from the surroundings at my words, and this time he didn’t stop it, and Dowhill made a face as if he had found something fun.
“Is that Highness that great? I’ll have you prove it with your strength.”
“Try it.”
The exchange, leaving me unsure if it was serious or a joke, ended the moment Dowhill drew his Greatsword with a speed that blurred his hand, instantly closing the distance and swinging. I dodged, having been on guard, and the distorted Greatsword he swung cleaved even the solid dungeon wall.
“A Demon Sword, huh?”
“Indeed!”
Unlike Camille’s daggers, which enhanced strength, Dowhill’s Greatsword felt like a true Demon Sword used by warriors. I couldn’t possibly engage in a sword fight with that thing. Judging so, I tried to retreat further to gain distance, but one of the warriors who had been watching attacked me.
The curved sword wielded by the warrior clashed with my Black Dagger, sparks flying. The warrior, using his greater physique to knock me back, launched a follow-up kick, which I met with my heel, using the force as a springboard to leap over him and attempt to release a Pendulum, but Dowhill, having caught up, swung his sword down.
“I won’t let you escape!!”
“Tch.”
The Greatsword, cutting a few strands of my hair with its wind pressure, shattered the dungeon floor. I rolled aside, and the previous warrior returned to his original position.
…I see. They’ve sealed off my tactics to force me into their so-called ‘warrior’s battle.’
“…Haa.”
I exhaled as if to cool the accumulated heat and quietly readjusted my grip on the Knife. Dowhill, sensing something, stopped his pursuit and slightly raised an eyebrow.
Dowhill is strong. But he’s not invincible.
Combat power is just a guideline, not absolute. No matter how high your durability is, your skin doesn’t become as hard as steel, and no matter how high your HP is, you die if you stab the heart.
If you insist on strength as a warrior, then I’ll fight with the strength to survive.
“…Interesting.”
Dowhill muttered slightly and raised his Greatsword overhead. It was a deadly stance that maximized the size and weight of the Greatsword.
However, on the other hand, if the enemy dodged, it would create a fatal opening, a strike of life or death. Dowhill knew this, and that’s why he showed me that stance, as if to provoke me, trusting in his own power.
Tension filled the air, and even the sound of a falling needle seemed to echo in the silence. I could feel the seasoned warriors holding their breath.
“…………”
I edged closer, toeing the floor, until I was just within the Greatsword’s range. Suddenly, an eerie Mana, like vibrant colors, swept through the area.
“To be enjoying yourselves with just you people in a place like this… I want to join in too.”
A beautiful Dark Elf in lavish attire, accompanied by several warriors, suddenly appeared, seductively smiling as she licked her bright red lips.
The Yoma Clan leader, Charleschan…!
Can Aria find a way out of being caught up in the three-way battle between the Gouma Clan and the Yoma Clan?
As usual, it got long, so it’s in two parts. The second part is scheduled for tomorrow.