The feeling of approaching presences aren’t far away—– but they’re not close either .
There’s still time .
[Nyaki . ]
[Y…… Yes nya . ]
There’s a hint of fear in Nyaki’s voice .
Perhaps, it’s because of the change in my mood .
I inwardly clicked my tongue .
……I freaked Nyaki out… What should I do…
Stifling the anger within me, I changed the tone of my voice .
[Nyaki…… I have some questions to ask you . However, if it’s really too hard to answer, you don’t have to force yourself to answer them . ]
Nyaki sits in seiza .
[I- It’s alright nya…… Nyaki is alright with it nya!]
Nyaki’s eyes lit up with determination .
“The questions I am about to ask her are very important . ”
—as if she perceived such things .
[………………… . . ]
We don’t have enough time to say that we have plenty of them .
Narrowing down my questions to a few points, I began asking her questions .
The first thing I wanted to know was the number of members of Heroic Sword .
After that, the ranking of strength among them .
However, what I needed to know most was……
[I see . ]
I thoroughly understand .
[So, all of them participated in killing the Speed Tribe…… And none of them felt a hint of regret for it huh . ]
No, regretting their actions didn’t enter their mind at all .
I still don’t know the reason why they did that but……
I’ve heard that the annihilation of the Speed Tribe is a “glorious memory” for them .
It’s a turning point for the Heroic Sword .
She said that they often compare the battles they fought at that time .
As if it’s a chapter they’re reminiscing .
Nyaki had been told about that story many times along the way .
That’s why that story had left such an impression on her .
[Ummm…… Ruin-san used to talk about it with a nostalgic look on his face nya……]
“That time—— is the beginning for all of us”
That’s what this Ruin fellow said as he looked up at the sky .
Thereupon, the other members would also look absorbed and look at the sky as well .
……They’re disgusting .
[H- However, I still think it’s dangerous nya! I heard that the Heroic Sword members are the strongest hidden blade of Alion’s Goddess nya!]
[……Heehhh…]
So they were living on the same tune as that goddess huh .
The reason why there was extremely little information about them was that they were a group that emphasized secrecy huh .
[It feels convenient for me—— that I’m starting to think it’s too convenient . ]
[Funyaahh!?]
To Nyaki, this seemed to be another unexpected reaction .
[In that case, all the more reason to crush them here and now . ]
Let’s try to sort out the information I got here at once .
The Heroic Sword is currently made up of nine people, after they apparently lost one of them .
Two of them are exceptionally strong .
One of them is Satsuki, the “Final Blade” .
The other is Ruin Seal, the “Heroic Sword” .
\nThe name of their group was dubbed after this Ruin fellow huh .
How misleading .
Anyway—— that large number of corpses I found along the way .
I’m sure they were also the people who killed those Human-Faced too .
[…………………]
Hearing their information though, should I say a question appeared in my mind, or rather……
I felt my interest piqued .
The Heroic Sword members are so powerful that the Human-Faced tried to escape .
However, these bunch didn’t participate in the previous battle against the Great Demon Emperor’s army .
They don’t even know about Civit’s death yet .
That’s probably because they were avoiding human settlements while on the move .
They must move while hidden beneath the eyes of masses—— well, I can understand that .
In fact, it’s also possible that they don’t even know about the recent invasion of the Great Demon Emperor’s army .
In that case .
“What” is that Sh*tty Goddess making them do?
If they’re good enough to kill Human-Faced, they should be among the foremost line within the front lines .
However, these bunch didn’t participate in the previous battle .
Even though the Demons have conducted a great invasion .
It should be more important than stopping the Great Demon Emperor’s invasion—— or perhaps, as important as that .
[The places near here are Urza, Mira and…&hellhellip;]
And lastly…
[The Faraway Country . ]
A phantom country where the survivors of the Forbidden Race are said to be located .
A place where the only race that holds the key to the Forbidden Curses resides .
In short——–
[……………………… . ]
Good work, Sh*tty Goddess .
You have shown the place we are looking for yourself .
For her to send the Heroic Swords, her powerful pawns, all the way here to search for it……
That would mean…
That paradoxically—– is the proof I needed .
The credibility of the Forbidden Curses working on her increased .
“The existence of the Forbidden Curses is a real threat to the Goddess . ”
The Heroic Sword, who could have been a great pawn for the battle against the Great Demon Emperor .
However, Vysis put the Great Demon Emperor aside and used them to search for the Faraway Country instead .
The Forbidden Language .
The Forbidden Curses .
[That means—–]
In other words…
[You’re the Divine Beast huh, Nyaki . ]
[T- That is what they had told me nya . They said that Nyaki was needed to open the door beyond the Great Illusion nya……]
Still sitting on a seiza, Nyaki put her hands on her lap .
*clench*
Nyaki tightly closed her tear-stained eyes and tightly gripped her hands .
[Nyaki—— Nyaki will do her best nya! Nyaki was always being taken care of by Mama Ninya, and now, Nyaki finally has an important role to play……! I thought I could finally repay my beloved Ninya a little bit by fulfilling this role nya! But… But……]
Nyaki was at a loss for words for a moment, before she spoke again .
[It seems that when my role is over, Nyaki will be killed by the Heroic Sword people! Nyaki endured a lot nya! Nyaki held out to fulfill her duty nya! But… but…… If I die here, Nyaki won’t be able to meet Ninya again nya! That’s why, Nyaki had——-]
\nThat’s why she escaped from the Heroic Sword .
From what I heard, Nyaki had fainted .
And—– when she woke up, that is what she heard .
“After we finished our duty, let’s kill Nyaki . ”
And so, she decided to run away .
Nyaki looked up, her eyes filled with tears .
It’s just that…… she only has a desperate smile on her face .
[You should understand nya…… Nyaki isn’t human nya…… Nyaki weeaaallly knows that “fake humans” like Nyaki is just a hindrance for humans nya! But, Nyaki…… to Ninya, to Mainya and everyone back home, even if it’s just to see their faces once more——– F- Funnnyyaaaahhhhh~~……]
“Funya, funya, funya . ”
Intermittently, her voice rang out .
Nyaki began to cry .
Seras came up beside her and kneeled down, gently putting a hand on her back .
[I don’t know what the members of the Heroic Sword said to you . However, by no means would you ever be a hindrance . Such a pure person like you is……]
Seras’ voice was filled with unconcealed anger .
[……………………]
Anyway .
The presences of the people pursuing her are in a distance .
Nyaki is weak .
Hence, in terms of speed, it should certainly be inferior to the Heroic Sword .
Moreover, the color of her hair is conspicuous .
In other words, she’s easy to find .
On the other hand, Nyaki has escaped quite a distance……
The Divine Beast, Nyaki, is an important key to entering the Faraway Country,
[……………………]
Doesn’t that mean the Heroic Sword had noticed that Nyaki had escaped for quite a while?
No matter how I look at it, it looks strange .
They had noticed too late that they didn’t even send some of their members as pursuers for her .
When Nyaki woke up, she mentioned that the area was like a sea of blood……
[……Oh, well . ]
The presences are finally drawing near .
Held in her chest, Seras gently hugged Nyaki’s head .
Then, she said .
[I won’t forgive them . ]
Her white face is filled with righteous indignation .
[I—–]
[No, you’ll stay here and keep Nyaki safe .
“Fuuu……”
I let out a long—– deep exhale .
[I have to listen to her in a short amount of time and calmly compile the information…… I can’t let my anger control my actions . It’s just that—– It’s pretty hard to stay calm . ]
This isn’t just about the Speed Tribe anymore .
I turned towards Nyaki and glanced at her arms and legs .
Bruises .
She tries to act cheerful, but her depression can’t be concealed .
Who is it that “I’m looking” at?
I can see it in my mind .
Those days…
Those days when I was on the verge of being killed, both physically and mentally……
Moreover…
It seems that even with all she did, Nyaki still doesn’t hold any grudge against the Heroic Sword .
It’s just that she doesn’t want to die .
She just doesn’t want to be killed .
She just wants to live and see “Ninya” .
It’s fine even if it’s just one more time . \n
[………………]
“Even if it’s just one more time”?
If she was allowed to see this person again, she was willing to be killed?
Also, if she isn’t human, she’s a hindrance?
……Screw all that .
Whether it’s getting killed…
Or being a hindrance…
Heroic Sword .
Aren’t you b*stards the one who should be saying that?
[Take care of Nyaki . ]
I said to Seras .
[If you feel that this place is unsafe, ride Slei and both of you move out of here . After that, it’s up for you to decide . ]
[Yes—— Understood . ]
I put on the Fly King mask .
Then, I walked away while Seras and the others went in the opposite direction .
Crickle, crackle!
I stomped hard on the twig on my path .
If I make a sound, they might hear it and think it’s Nyaki .
Of course .
Part of the reason for the strength of my stop on the twig is due to my anger .
My eyes bared—— I glared at the direction of the approaching presences .
*clench*
I grind my teeth .
If I show my emotions in front of Nyaki in a strange way, I might scare her away .
But, from here on out—— It doesn’t matter at all .
[Geez…… Just when I’m getting angrier, this way . ]
The distance between me and the presences are closing in .
……These fellows .
Perhaps, if it’s just the two of them, they could capture Nyaki again .
These two have the strength that shows they aren’t just mere cronies .
If these two are either the “Heroic Sword” or the “Final Blade”, I would have dealt the first strike after I fused with Pigimaru but… . .
I’m not sure if it’s those two at the moment .
There are at least seven other members of Heroic Sword .
If it’s possible, I’d like to use my fusion against those two extraordinary members .
Straining my eyes, I observed the two men approaching from a distance .
Incidentally, I’ve already obtained the information on their physical characteristics from Nyaki .
[……………… . . ]
They’re different .
They’re neither Ruin, nor Satsuki .
Based on my information……
Those two should be Toad and Bardwitcher huh?
……I guess I’ll reserve my fusion with Pigimaru for now .
Taking off the Fly King mask I just put on, I close my distance towards them .
Then…
[The guy over there!]
[Come out!]
Appearing in front of them, I patted my chest .
[Ahh, I’m glad I found you…… I have come bearing a message from Goddess Vysis . ]
I then add a wry smile .
[It’s really troublesome finding you in these woods . ]
[……Wait! Don’t come any closer!]
One of them stopped me .
I see .
Since they can’t confirm my identity, I’ve already expected they’d do that……
Stopping my approach is the right thing to do .
[You’re suspicious…… Are you really the Goddess’s messenger?]
[W- What are you talking about!? That’s Bardwitcher-sama and you are Toad-sama…… You may not know me, but I have seen both of you a few times in the past . Ummm…… To be honest, I look up to the members of the Heroic Sword . And that’s why, this unworthy me is trying to imitate you, as one of Vysis-sama’s spies……]
The two of them glanced at each other .
“I look up to them . ”
Few people are offended by being told that .
That’s why the two of them loosened their guard for a bit .
[By the way…… Have you seen the Divine Beast?]
[Her pink hair should be really conspicuous . ]
My eyes turning wide, I turned pale .
[Could it be, t- the Divine Beast got away?]
[……I’ll catch up with it immediately, so don’t worry about it . That fake human was courteously leaving traces all over the place, so I can easily tell the direction where she escaped . So, the two of us will catch it right away . ]
I completely crushed all those traces on the way here though .
The other man continues .
[That fake human has considerably weakened already…… Oops, there’s no need to report this to Vysis-sama, okay? Well, I’m sure it will be alright, but that thing is still Vysis-sama’s possession……]
The two of them are finally becoming distracted .
They began walking up to me with a trusting look on their faces .
The fact that both of them are walking up to me…… is their mistake .
I’m supposed to know them, but they don’t know me .
If I were to quickly approach them, they would definitely be vigilant .
[So? What’s the message you brought to us?]
[By the way, did you know that the Great Demon Emperor’s invasion has begun?]
[——It has finally arrived huh . ]
They didn’t know this information either .
[However, my message isn’t related to that . It’s more about the current mission……]
Holding out my hand, I raised three of my fingers .
[There are three things you need to know . ]
[Three?]
One of them nodded his head .
[Stop with the roundabout way of speaking . What are those three?]
[The first one would be <Paralyze> . ]
[ ? ]
—————Crackle, crackle—————
[Huh? What… are you—– ……!?]
[…… . ? ——–!? I…… can’t… move——-?]
Slowly…
I also held out my thumb and my pinky towards their direction .
Making my palm open wide .
[That Sh*tty Goddess…… didn’t send me any freaking message . ]