A.S.A.P.
I've still got the upper hands. I would surely win if we were to fight fair and square.
The goblin seemed to be aware of that fact as well and made its escape after exchanging a few blows with me.
『Kiiiiikyaaaaaaaaa!!』
"Hold it right there youuuuuuuu!!!"
Fleeing goblin. Pursuing me.
This is no time to play a game of tag but this goblin is unexpectedly good at it.
Its base stats are higher than mine, nevertheless I could overtake it with a slight energy-boosted buff.
But this goblin would make a sudden turn whenever I accelerate, and dash at full power whenever I slow down a bit to adjust my course.
I've been trying to catch it with remote mana control but it keeps dodging the invisible mana like it's visible.
Magic beasts at this tier are unbelievably perceptive. It can likely detect through its other senses asides from vision.
That's a Lv90, Unique Monster for you. It's second only to Oni-sensei.
Though since it's been forcibly produced through cultivation, or rather a Forbidden Magic, it lacks the overwhelming ability of Oni-sensei.
From what I can tell, it's trying its hardest to stay as far away as possible from me while utilizing Ultimate Martial Arts and Shield Arts it copied from Hero-kun.
Oy oy, that thing's gonna arrive at the other battlefields at this rate--
...!?
This crappy goblin, so that's its aim!
"O-oy, something's coming over here!"
"Is that, a goblin? No wait, how is it so fast!?"
I could hear soldiers' voices.
Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap! We're already at the south side all the way from east!
This should be where Radia-kun's group is fighting. This goblin might copy their Skills if I don't act fast!
"Move iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!"
I shouted out loud to make the soldiers stay away from the goblin.
Why do I gotta intimidate my allies, sigh.
"H, hii, hiieee!!?"
"W-what's the deal with that flying masked man!!?"
...Why are they screaming at me instead of the goblin.
I mean, I know that shout was menacing and all. Ah one of them fell on his butt.
But that wasn't in vain, those soldiers scattered away before the goblin got to them... Or rather, they're running away from me?
We're still in the outer circumference of the battlefield. I gotta kill the goblin dead before it could start copying everybody's Skills for real.
Wait oy!? There's people fighting among themselves without a care in the world where they are!
What dumbarses pick a fight in the middle of a war! This is no time for... Hm? Looking closer, isn't that Radia-kun?
He's fighting someone looking real shady wearing a hood and all... Just like me.
Ah hey hey, he's looking so mad while slashing at the guy, can't you save that for later.
Heck, who that anyway? No really.
<<...From his features, he may be a family member of Radiasta. Likely Radiasta's biological brother.>>
Brother? Eh, you're saying that's Radia-kun's elder brother?
So that hooded guy switched over to demon's side... No, that doesn't matter.
I mean that's not it, the goblin! The goblin's heading their way!
『Kikikikikiiiiii!!』
"!?"
"Aa? The hell's that thing?"
Radia-kun was too absorbed in the fight to notice the incoming goblin.
Meanwhile, his opponent stared at the goblin with drowsy eyes. Like he's got it all under control.
"Don't get in my way!!"
"Yep yep. It's a long awaited reunion between brothers, interrupting our brotherly fight's real boorish, ya know?"
The two slash at the goblin with their Daggers.
『Kii! ...Kihihihihi!』
The goblin blocked their attacks with a shield made of Master Skill 'Goblin Bone Gear' and laughed.
It got two new Skills, Dagger Arts and the upgraded version, Short Blade Arts. Dang, it managed to copy them!
『Gii!』
"Hahn?"
It immediately created a dagger made of bone and slashed at Radia-kun's opponent.
Mwu, should I stop that? No wait, he's on demon's side, guess there's no issue in him getting beaten up...
"Whoa watch it dangit, the hell yer' tryna' pull!"
"Wha."
『Gi!?』
"Ga, ha...! B, ast, ard...!!"
He...!
He grabbed Radia-kun and used him as a shield against the goblin...!
The goblin's dagger is stabbed deep in Radia-kun's abdomen.
Radia-kun spat out blood, fell on his knees and glared hard at the hooded bastard while breathing roughly.
"Hm, ah, my bad my bad. I mean thing went for me outta nowhere. No hard feelings there. Sorry."
"Screw... you...!"
"Well, ya know. Elder brothers have the rights to all their lil bro's stuff ain't it? I been drivin' that common sense to you since we were little. Yer life's mine, just so happens it got used up here for my sake."
What's with this guy.
How is that something a brother says.
He thinks absolutely nothing of anyone besides him.
What does he think his family are...!!
"Ga... a...!"
!
...Calm down me, Radia-kun's safety takes priority here.
I approached Radia-kun with Mana Flight and poured in my life force to heal his wound.
That did the trick but he's passed out from the shock of being stabbed.
...I'll use Fast Travel to send him somewhere safe later.
『Gii!!』
The goblin attacked me with a dagger.
Shove it.
『Gyabee!!?』
I created a giant fist made of energy-boosted mana and knocked it down.
Seems like it used True Beast Release just before my attack connected and managed to survive, but the damage it suffered was no joke.
It took some distance away and kept staring at me while on high alert.
Watching all that, the hooded bastard spoke up.
"Hm? Who're you?"
"...Isn't this kid your little brother?"
Something cold is running throughout my body.
I can tell I'm acting weirdly composed despite the blazing rage in my head.
"Eh? Sure is, and? What? You wanna know 'bout our family situation or what?"
"Radia-kun has been chasing after you all this time. He braved through many dangers and near death experiences just to join Firie Kingdom's army and see you."
I still remember when Radia-kun grumbled everything away in his drunken rambling during the party at the capital.
He said he can't forgive his brother yet he's still family to him so he just doesn't know what to believe.
"Yeah yeah. Good work him. So? You ain't gonna tell me to pat his head or something, are ya? Eew, gross. He's like a baby who won't wean."
"...He was so shocked to find out you went over to demon's side after arriving at the capital."
"Hmph."
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself. As a brother, and a human being. Don't you feel anything seeing how hard your brother worked even though it hasn't been a year since he came of age."
"Oh please, are you here just to lecture me? You're annoying, get lost will you?"
"You're only gonna get killed one day on that side. Demons won't ever see humans as an ally."
"And I'm just gonna get hanged real quick going back to human side. Might as well live longer over here. Besides..."
The hooded bastard whispered while smiling, sounding almost grim.
"Mankind is going extinct regardless. There ain't a way to win against that. Ain't no defeating that."
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
A moment later.
Sound of explosion roared from the direction of the royal castle in the capital.
The ground and the air shook hard as if an earthquake hit.
Then a mushroom cloud rose up from the royal castle's direction... It can't be.
<<The royal castle has been destroyed. There is no survivor inside including the king.>>
...No, way...!?
"This presence... Oy oy, are you for real. Didn't they say... He can't get out from that place."
The hooded man muttered while twitching and sweating profusely.
Presence, who is he--
I sense tremendously overwhelming life force and mana from the castle.
Utterly beyond Alma's parents', even Oni-sensei'ss pale in comparison.
And an aura so wicked, it tops any demons I've come across. Even simply sensing it puts a huge strain on my mental state.
I can tell even without reading its Status. That thing's base specs must be over five digits--
<<Advice: Abandon everyone besides Radiasta and Fast Travel away.>>
Menu let out a warning with a big text on a red glaring display.
Just what is...!?
<<E S C A P E A.S.A.P.>>
"His Status won't display."
Someone was standing behind me without me realizing in the slightest.
"The hero is over there. Who are you."
Long black hair. Umber-colored eyes. Nearly translucent white skin, yet it's got a healthy fleshy color to it.
A fair face. So fair you'd think it's a specifically sculpted work of art.
He looks the very picture of human, yet you somehow won't ever think he's one looking at him.
On top of it, I can't get his Status displayed. It shut outs my reading?
No way
There's no way, he's
"Your majesty, Demon King...!!"
The hooded bastard next to me got on his knees and whispered.
He's, the Demon King...!?
"Fumu."
Demon King is looking at me with the mask I had on my face on his hand.
When did, he snatch it away!?
"I recognize, that face."
Demon King thus spoke with a gentle yet clearly hostile look on his face.
"It's you, Kajikawa Hikaru."
"Wh, at...!?"