Just a Bit More

『GUVABYAA!!』


Black Dragon swung its claws sending mana blades toward Alma's side.
Each blades clearly contains enough power to kill all of us.


"Farslash! Shoot them down, no dodge! Dooodge!!"

"E, uh, can't, dodge--"

"Tch!!"


Reina and Hiyoko tried to absorb the attacks but unlike breaths, those blades have far higher explosive power, it can't be done!
They couldn't react fast enough because my instruction was delayed so I Fast Travel-ed them to safety instead.
Damn, Remote Fast Travel is handy but it uses up way too much mana. Calling them back here doubles that amount.

The ground where they were at exploded and glowed red. Like a volcano eruption.
The nearby ground also started exploding one after another, it was like the picture of hell. Blocking that would instantly evaporate you.

Black Dragon's status may be stupidly high but no Farslashes can output that much power.
It must be the effects of Master Skills. Looks like breaths aren't the only attack we have to be extra careful about.


I called back Alma's group with Fast Travel to resume our battle.
They were dumbfounded from the sudden teleportation and the erupting ground.


"Hiee, the ground is burning and melting...!"

"We'd have been dead if we stayed there."

『Pihie...!』


The three grimaced in terror.
How long must we go on with this super close call of a combat...?


"Kajikawa-san, I don't think we can deal with that by ourselves."

"I know, I know. Just one hit and we're toast, yet none of our attacks make a dent. There's no winning this fight."

"That's why we should call for backups. We might be able to hold it off for now, but at this rate..."


Yep, all it takes is one slip up.
Fast Travel may afford us emergency escape at a moment's notice but it'll be checkmate for us the instant we run out of mana potions.


"But you know, is there even anyone who can hold their ground against this thing?"

"...Mom and dad, or Neora's party."

"Alma's parents can't break away from their battlefield. They're fighting monstrously strong magic beasts over there. I could bring them here by force, but everybody else there would be killed off."

"What about Neora-san?"

"Not an option either. Apparently demons have taken some brainwashed people hostage. Him leaving or Fast Travel-ing those people will force them to take their own lives."

"Uwaa, that's just the worst. Might be an even worse hell than us in a way."

"That said, we can't exactly run away either. In the few minutes it takes to have a toilet break at our inn room, this Black Dragon is gonna shoot out breaths randomly, changing the landscapes in all directions at dozens of kilometer scale."

"Leaving Black Dragon be will spell doom to this continent. It might even set its sight on other continents."

"So we really gotta beat Black Dragon-san on our own... Kinda asking for waaay too much."


Yep, it is.
I thought I'd gotten plenty strong. I really did.
In reality, I can barely defend myself against that stupid lizard.


"Do you have a plan?"

"...It's gonna take a bit more time."

"Are you planning to wear Black Dragon down?"

"No, we shouldn't expect that. Demon King is apparently supplying him with mana and stamina continuously. Probably an ability of Tame Skill or something."

"So you're saying we'll have to wear down both Black Dragon and Demon King's mana and stamina?"

"Yeah, but it's no good. We'll run out of gas first."


At the very least, Black Dragon definitely won't run out of his mana and stamina before us.
...Damn that Demon King, why'd he go and prepare such an annoying pawn.


"But then, how are we even supposed to win?"

"...I know things aren't looking up but just bear with it for now."

"Are you waiting for something?"

"Yeah, it's gonna turn the table on him but it needs more time in the oven... Oh crap, incoming breath!!"

"Geh! Hiyoko-chan, let's do it!"

『Cluuck!』


Reina and Hiyoko absorbed the ambush breath.

However


"Ugwuuu...!!? I, it's more powerful, than ever...!"

『Cluuuuuuu....!?』


Black Dragon finally used Qi Clad to boost his Attributes further.
His breaths naturally became more powerful which made absorbing them harder.


"Haa!"


Alma shot an Offensive Magic spell at the remainder of the breath attack, narrowly stopping it.
Not good, these breaths went from easily being handled just by the two mascots to all three working together to stop one.
How'd we even supposed to take a break now.


"Anybody hungry should eat now! I'll distribute portable ration while you fight!"

"But what if it comes right out."

"Don't, swallow it back."

"I'm gonna get an upset stomach."

"Bear with it. Fust (just) aliffbiffmore (a little bit more)."

"You're seriously gonna eat while fighting!? Heck, I can't decipher your words!"


I focused my attention to the battle while nibbling on a calorie bar.
It's drying my mouth but I can't afford to care about that now.


『GAVAAAAAA!!』

"! Rapid Breath! Dodge!"

"I-it keeps coming one after another!"

"Hiyoko! Absorb and shoot back at those breaths! You too, Reina! Alma, throw off Black Dragon's aim with Gravity Magic!"

"Got it!"


I flew all over the place while stopping the breaths with Remote Mana.
This darned lizard just had to power up now after all this time.


『Va... aa...!』


...? I'm hearing a groan, could he be suffering.
No, his State is still the same as before, his HP has barely budged too... Must've been the wind.




<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >


~~~~~~~~~Hero's POV~~~~~~~~~







"The chief of this continent's demons awaits inside."

"...."

"This is as far as I can take you, quite a shame. Ufufu, please enjoy yourself."


We reached the interior depth without encountering any trouble.
...What are they scheming, really.


"Release the hostages, don't you dare forget."

"Yes, of course. Look over there."


As the female demon pointed, the purple flickers in the hostages' eyes grew dimmer before disappearing entirely.


"...Ah?"

"Huh, wh, what? Where, am I?"

"Dad, where are you?"


Checking the confused people's Status, the brainwashing really have come undone.
...Didn't expect that. I was sure she'd go, 'It's just work don't think bad of me. They'll have to die.'


"Well then, that will be the end of my role. You may go on ahead."

"...Aren't you scared I'm gonna kill you once you've released the hostages?"

"Oh I don't mind. My role has always been 'guiding hero to interior depth.' I don't care if me or these hostages are dead or alive as long as I have accomplished that."


This demon....
She sees not only the hostages but herself as nothing more than pawns.


"What is your goal? Shouldn't you try your hardest to keep this continent's chief alive and prevent Demon King castle from manifesting?"

"Yes, yes, you're exactly right. However, there is no sidestepping that end. No demon can stop Hero (you) anymore, nor can you be sealed, brainwashed or bound... How very vexing."


The demon glared hatefully with a hint of sorrow in her tone.
...Has she always known that the chief is going to be defeated regardless? I really can't get a read on this demon.


"Is that everything you wanted to ask?"

"There's a magic circle with a massive enough scale to destroy this continent in this hideout. What are you planning--"


"Ka, ha...!"


"...Eh?"


The female demon coughed up blood while I was asking.
A blade popped out of her chest.

A familiar looking sword stabbed her from behind.


"I already destroyed that crap. Sheesh, y'all so slow."

"You're...!?"

"Alancyan...!?"


The darned brat, Alancyan Brat, scowled as he said that.
Wasn't he supposed to be brainwashed like those people. Heck where'd he been gone off to.

The female demon asked with a mouth full of blood.


"You, couldn't, have been, trying, to destroy, the magic, circle, all this time...?"

"Ha, a parlor trick only possible cause yer' too damn incompetent to count your hostages."

"How did, the brainwashing..."

"I ain't saying."


I'm guessing he must have broken free with 'Mana Control'.
Kajikawa-san mentioned how 'Aizawa-kun has been making his moves in a half-brainwashed state'.
...Guy's pretty handy.


"Oy, okama. Go beat the demon chief inside, get on to it. I'mma take those hostages away."

"I'm no okama! Heck, why'd you even come here for!"

"Quit yer noisy yappin'... I don't hafta to tell ya 'bout that stupidly strong monster's presence outside, do I. Ya need to get outta there and help."

"Ah? You mean Black Dragon under Demon King? That's--"


"Hahaha, cough, a, ahahaha...!"


Just before we got into a debate, the female demon started sneering.
Her crazed laughter sends a chill down my spine.


"The hell yer' laughing for. Ya gone insane from dying or somethin'."

"Haha, hahaha, oh, do pardon me. Who could, have, thought, everything went, exactly as."

"Hah. Who said all that crap about not caring and dying. Look at you now. Pathetic."

"Ahahaha, gaha, hahaha, I can't, believe, haha, I can only, laugh."


She kept laughing eerily all while coughing up blood. But, she's nearing her limit.
She let out a very faint whisper at the very end.


"To think, everything truly went according to plan. Demon King, with your majesty, this world, will..."


Her voice was even quieter than a rat's dying scream yet it echoed vividly in my ears.
...Just what was her deal anyway.


"...That was unsettling. She made it sound like me breaking the magic circle was the plan all along?"

"Or it might be just her being a sore loser."

"That true?"

"...Beats me."


What was that female demon thinking when she said that.
Or to what extent is Demon King's plan. There's no end to speculating that stuff.
It's creepy... I'm worried we're gonna end up in a situation with no turning back if we keep this up.

Yet, I can't help with the battle outside if I don't beat the chief quickly.
I must do what I can do right now.


"The heck yer' spacing out for. Go beat the crap outta that chief already."

"Yeah yea. 『Valorous Fusion』."


I'm gonna go in already fused.
Levia and Olivier glowed before they fused with me.
What came out of the light was the usual bombastic bodied beautiful girl (me).
Ah geez, I can never get used to becoming a woman. It's gone breezy again.


"Now then, let's get this show on the road... Hm?"

"...."


That Aizawa brat is staring hard at me with a dropped jaw.
What's even that face. Flehmen response?
Ah, right, he's never seen me in this state.


"What are you looking at. Just so you know, I never asked for this appearance."

"........You, really are a girl?"

"No I ain't! I get to be like this if I use the Hero's Secret Move!"

"...Ah, err, sorry for calling you okama, my bad."

"Shaddup!"


I've got loads of things to tell him, but I'm fed up already. I'm just gonna go defeat that chief and be done with it.
...Oy, the heck you're blushing for, gross. Heck, what about Alma, you.

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