Chapter 238: Rave I
Chapter 238: Rave I
In the middle of the plain, His Majesty had set up a camp.
However, it was a rather lonesome camp, with only some piles of miscellaneous stuff strewn haphazardly about the place.
Well, for a man who can scatter an army so long as all his limbs are intact, I suppose he doesn’t need to make any more preparations than this.
「You there, you’re His Majesty Ashtalia, who’s known as one of the four strongest Myriad Kings, I presume?」
「………………What are you doing?」
「Y, your loyal vassal, Souya, sent me to――――――」
「Souya, what are you doing?」
It seems that His Majesty isn’t going to go along with this charade.
「I’m a mysterious mercenary hired by Souya」
His Majesty stormed up to me and swung his fist down on top of my skull.
Gong! A ringing sounded in my ears.
「Owwww」
When I took off my dislodged helmet, I found an indent in the shape of a fist on the part protecting the temple.
It appears that His Majesty’s fists are harder than steel.
「So, what are you doing?」
He looks somewhat seriously pissed off.
「I thought I’d join the battle by pretending to be someone else」
I was currently dressed up as a knight in chainmail, complete with the same helmet and apron as the Gunmerrys, and carried a great-sword on my back.
「Don’t pull stupid stunts like that!」
He yelled at me really angrily.
「But Your Majesty, if I said I also wanted to fight, you would stop me, right?」
「I would stop you」
「So I figured I’d just pretend to be someone else then」
「You fool」
「Yes, I’m a fool」
「Go back」
「I’m not going back」
「Go back to your wife」
「I’ll go back when the battle is over」
「………………」
「………………」
We stared at each other, neither of us willing to give in.
Because the way we think is similar at the core(roots), it’s pretty clear that we won’t be able to resolve this issue through discussion.
So, what now?
His Majesty grabbed the great-sword at his back.
I also put my hand on the katana at my hip.
My opponent is who he is. Even if we’re just testing each other out, I’ll do it with the intention of killing him. Otherwise, I won’t be able to touch him.
I loosened the katana from its scabbard――――――
「Huh?」
His Majesty retreated by doing a backflip.
It was quite the acrobatic feat for a big, muscular man.
I was taken aback, but I immediately realized his aim.
The distance between us. He had gotten just beyond the reach of my blade.
After landing on the ground, His Majesty supported the tip of his great-sword with one hand, holding it like a spear. He started to gather strength in the muscles in his legs, preparing to launch himself forward.
I felt the same sense of foreboding as I would when facing a semi-truck.
On top of that, what’s coming is a deadly attack from outside of my range.
Even if I wanted to attempt a counter, my sword techniques are too refined.
I can cut the flesh and bones of any living thing, but I can’t do anything about the massive energy about to be unleashed my way. Blocking it would kill me instantly. It’s not going to be an easy blow to dodge either.
「Here we go, Souya. Don’t die on me」
The earth below His Majesty erupted as he threw himself forward. A terrifyingly fast and heavy blow was launched.
In that case, I’ll just shout.
「Agathion!」
What came out of the scabbard on my back was a large, misshapen great-sword with a reddish-black blade. It collided head-on with His Majesty’s deadly attack.
A high-pitched screech rang out, tailing off and echoing. The air shook with the impact.
The tips of the swords met and vied with each other for a moment before the magic sword was sent flying.
But this was my chance.
I slid the edge of my blade into that tiny opening. With the fastest iai-draw I could muster, I targeted His Majesty’s leg.
With a speed that not even I could perceive.
No matter what kind of person I’m facing, this―――――――
「You’re kidding」
His Majesty jumped again.
He leaped well beyond his height and my sword range added together. That was a leap well beyond the jumping ability of any human.
He swung his sword at me as he plummeted.
Oh, there’s no way out of this.
I can’t dodge it. Even if I blocked it, my body would be crushed.
I saw the smile on His Majesty’s face.
「………………」
The pressure of the sword expanded, making the air whip past my face. The sword itself stopped right at the tip of my nose.
「Good」
With that, His Majesty stowed the great-sword away on his back.
Even though the average person would find it difficult to even lift that huge weapon, this man handles it like it’s a twig. Of course, it’s not just his strength that’s amazing. His mind and skill are also brilliant.
I can’t picture him losing.
Of all the people I’ve fought so far, His Majesty is undoubtedly the strongest.
And yet, why do I have this nagging feeling in my heart?
「Hmm, that’s some fine swordsmanship. I commend you for that」
「Thank you for your high praise. It didn’t work at all though」
In sharp contrast to earlier, His Majesty was in a good mood.
“Whatever it is, first show your strength.” That’s the way of the Myriad Kings.
「No matter what kind of swordsmanship I’m facing, so long as I can see the user’s hand, I can see the sword’s “path”. No, that’s only true until just now. I’m astonished that there’s a sword technique that cannot be seen. Be it the sword or martial arts, there’s still so much for me to learn」
「Well, thank you」
The core of the technique seems to have worked against him.
「But don’t be overconfident in it. Even if it cannot be seen, it’s still only a sword. It’s no threat once your opponent steps out of its range. An opponent who has a certain level of “flexibility” can deal with it easily」
「I’ll bear that to heart」
His Majesty’s “a certain level of” is quite high-end.
I had kinda thought that it was quite the sure-kill technique, but I guess there’s always someone better.
I called Agathion back and checked its blade.
All of the armor had been removed and the magic sword was pretty close to its original state. Though it had just barely completed regenerating, it was still able to match His Majesty’s blow, albeit only for a brief moment.
It should be fine to assume that it has regained its original performance.
That Makina, she sure did a good job.
「So, you have no intention of letting me do this alone, do you?」
「None, Your Majesty. If I’m not allowed to fight up close, I’ll keep butting in from a distance」
「Nothing would be more annoying than that. I can take down all kinds of enemies, but an interfering ally would be quite the nuisance」
「That’s how it is, so please let me stay by your side. It’s easier to deal with nuisances if you keep them close by, right?」
Haaaaa, His Majesty sighed deeply.
「Be it one thing or another, you’ve been going against me from the very beginning, haven’t you?」
「It’s because I worry for you, Your Majesty」
「Good grief」
Pressing his fingers to his eyes……
「In the eyes of others, you’d be the picture of a loyal vassal, but……………… Fine, do as you please」
……His Majesty folded.
「Then I’ll make us some food」
「No alcohol. Leave that for after the battle」
It was a bit late, so I opted for a simple lunch.
I made sandwiches with croquettes, His Majesty’s favorite, and ginger ale with a lot of honey. As well as a variety of pickles cut into thin sticks.
After we had filled our stomachs, His Majesty began doing practice swings while I looked over the information that Makina had sent me.
I frowned at the projected data.
Sure, there’s indeed that possibility.
But if her projections are correct, would it even be a contest? As His Majesty had shown me, the most important thing in battle is “distance”. If we can’t bridge that distance, no amount of skill in swordsmanship will do us any good.
It seems that Makina is working on a countermeasure with the help of the Demon King and the goblins.
However, it’s going to be tight in terms of time. The final battle is tomorrow.
It’s not going to be easy after all.
「Souya, who are those people?」
「Eh? Oh, they’re my acquaintances」
There were two people walking across the plain towards us.
One was clad in black armor and the other was someone unexpected.
It was an elf with a sword strapped to his hip.
Though I didn’t really want to admit it, he was my father-in-law, Melm.
「Are they enemies?」
「The armored one is an ally. The elf is Rana’s father, but he has a long-standing relationship with King Lemuria. I’d say he’s neither friend nor foe」
「Then he’s a spy, huh? That’s rather bothersome」
「I’ll deal with him appropriately」
I put on the helmet, and then, out of some strange force of habit, I also donned the pointy hat that I had brought with me.
「Whoever’s there, proceed no further!」
When I raised my voice, Gunmerry and Melm stopped in their tracks.
With a flick of my finger, I indicated to Gunmerry, “You, proceed,” leaving me and Melm alone.
「All that lies ahead is the camp of a Myriad King! What brings you here?!」
「Souya, if you’re going to disguise yourself, you’re going to need to wear something a lot better」
「………………」
Shut up. This outfit was the only thing I could get on short notice.
「I’m Souya’s……… Dammit, it’s in the way!」
I threw away the helmet and put on the pointy hat again.
「What do you want, Melm?」
「If a pompous bunch sets up camp in my neighborhood, it’s only obvious that I’m going to go take a look, isn’t it?」
Well, that’s true.
「Let me」
His Majesty pushed past me and stood in front.
「My name is Ra Dainsleif Riog Ashtalia. For reasons of my own, I’ve taken control of a portion of the plain, but I intend to vacate this camp tomorrow」
「In other words, you have no intention of invading my forest?」
「That’s right」
「I don’t believe you」
Well, that’s only natural. But……
「I can vouch for this personage. Does that satisfy you?」
「No, it doesn’t. What makes you think I would trust the words of some random adventurer?」
Hey, I’m still your son-in-law, you bastard.
Where’s the gratitude for hiring you to take care of the store and everything?
「Then what about this?」
His Majesty tossed something to Melm.
Melm caught it, looked at what it was in his hand, and then……
「Oh-ho」
……he exclaimed with a hint of surprise.
The object in his hand was a thin black crystal. It looked like the tip of a primitive spear.
I studied it closely and felt a shiver run down my spine. It gave me the same feeling as my katana.
「That’s a dragon’s hidden spine that has been passed down in the royal family of Ashtalia. It has been in my family’s possession since my ancestor was but a child. I’ll leave that with you until this is over」
「This dragon’s spine, regardless of its authenticity, is indeed imbued with a rare kind of magic power. I’ll certainly keep it safe」
Melm put it away in his pocket without hesitation.
Is this really a good idea? Don’t sell it, okay? The forest will get burned to the ground by the Myriad Kings’ armies, alright?
「Your turn」
「Huh?」
Melm extended his hand towards me as if asking for me to give him something as well.
You damned greedy elf.
「Why do I have to?」
「I’m only doing this in passing. Recovering keepsakes from the battlefield is a chore. Since I’m here, you can leave them with me」
Oh, so that’s what he meant.
Well, I happen to have just the thing.
I took out the box that contained the rings from my pocket and tossed it to him. Melm caught it and opened it without any reservations.
「Hmm? Rings, huh? For someone like you, that’s quite tasteful」
「Bite me. I was going to give them to Rana and Lanseal after the battle was over, but I’ll leave them with you」
「I get the gold and the silver, but who were you going to give the black one to?」
「That’s……」
I was thinking that it was for myself, but in that case, should I just put it on now? It’s not something I’d need in the upcoming battle though.
「I see. There’s another woman, huh?」
Misunderstanding, Melm smirked.
Explaining would be too much trouble, so I’ll just let it be.
「Well, I’ll take care of it. I’m curious about who your third woman is anyway」
「Whatever you say」
Satisfied, Melm turned on his heel and started to walk away.
「Oh」
Very deliberately, he paused and offered a few words.
「This is just a rumor, but I heard that Lemuria has transported large amounts of “a certain item” to the nearby port at Elysium’s request. I’ll be spectating from afar to see how a mere three of you deal with this」
「A mere three, huh? Is that how you see it?」
The man next to me is the strongest in the world, you know? I don’t know about Gunmerry though.
「You’re telling me you have other reinforcements? Don’t expect me to help you, alright?」
「Who knows? I’m not gonna tell that to someone who’s neither friend nor foe」
「Hah, that’s fine. I’m looking forward to watching you guys fight」
The king of elves left without showing his true feelings.
He makes it look easy, but that way of life must be difficult.
「So, Souya, what about him?」
The black Gunmerry was down on one knee. He struck quite the dignified figure.
「Myself is a humble hired knight called Guns-Memory. Since myself has been hired by Souya, myself will pledge my allegiance to you. Please use myself as you see fit」
His Majesty shot me a look that said, “Hey.”
「He can be trusted」
He remains an enigma, but I find myself trusting him for some strange reason.
Is it because he was brought here by Yukikaze? Even I can’t put my finger on why.
「Three is not much different from two, I suppose. Do as you wish, Guns-Memory or whatever your name is. But if you do anything to betray my vassal’s trust, I’ll kill you」
「Rest assured, myself will definitely be of service to you, Your Majesty」
「It’s fine then. Otherwise, death is all that awaits you」
His Majesty is being rather harsh, but I guess that’s how the Myriad Kings are at heart.
Now……
「Your Majesty」
「What?」
「What do you want for dinner?」
「Meat. And it should be thick」
「Leave it to me」
I’ll roast a whole pig.
In case you didn’t get the “out of some strange force of habit”, Souya was dressed exactly like the small Gunmerrys as his disguise. And they wore pointy hats over their helmets as well. So it probably felt wrong to him not to wear the hat over it too.
Also, Souya has realized something about Melm’s personality before this(mostly in the last volume but the clues have been there since vol 1). That’s what he’s talking about when he commented about Melm’s way of life. In case you haven’t seen through it yet, it’s a personality trait that starts with “T”.
Tomorrow, the First Hero arrives. And no bait and switch this time, it’s the actual day of the battle next chapter. So stay tuned! The battle is starting soon!