Vol 2 Chapter 21 (1/2)

Translated by mranon

Edited by OnionRings

Volume 2, Chapter 21 【Ties, Cutting】

The south of Aesha Continent, where Lech.e.l.le Kingdom and Souven Empire were situated, was inhabited by demons. There was no one living on Aesha Continent who was not aware of that. Demons came in all forms. While there were those that resembled monsters, there were also those that didn’t differ much from humans.

However, every demon possessed crimson eyes. Therefore, they were easily recognized.

The southern part of Lech.e.l.le Kingdom, where such demons and strong monsters resided, was called unreclaimed area. The country held history of gradually progressing reclamation concurrent with development. Presently, there existed several forts along the border. They served to prevent demons from flocking, and to defend against invasion from demons. In the past, the border existed further in as compared to now. (Translator’s note: Uninhabited area has been changed to Unreclaimed area)

As for the forts that served their purpose, following progress in reclamation, many laid foundation for newly developed towns. However, the rest of the structures were left as they were.

Disconnected from the highway and away from activity, it gradually moldered.

At one such place, where no one would come in normal course――two men were standing guard. Their attire was entirely black and their faces were concealed.

The men who were gazing at the sky, dyed in madder red, discovered a silhouette in the distance.

The men, who had wielded their weapons and had a.s.sumed a vigilant stance, stared fixedly at the unraveling form of the adversary.

Under the red of the setting sun, the greenish black scales of the scaled dragon were reflecting red here and there. The person astride the mount descended slightly away from the men.

Not minding the men, that person caressed the throat of the scaled dragon and praised it.

「Your ride was quite comfortable. Well then… Fall back since it will get dangerous now.」

「Kuo」

「…Who are you?!」

「…Fuhahaha」

Upon the man’s question, that person’s lips curved into a fearless smile as the person turned their face.

――Their skin was swarthy. Their silver hair was extending to their waist. Their body was clad in armor made from leather of only G.o.d knew which monster. Their hand was holding a dragon spear sharper than keel. On their back, a large bow could be seen.

Although their figure would garner compliments for their womanly beauty, the men voiced in surprise――the moment their eyes met.

The color of her eyes―― A pair of eyes that were far deeper than even the color of the madder red sky… Her eyes were emitting crimson light.

「――Is this enough… for an answer?」

「De… demon!? In… such a place… oi, inform the captain!」

「B-but… isn’t our opponent alone? We’re two. If we grouped up, what could such a woman――」

「What… did you just say?」

The demon-――Alba, almost gave in to the rage over the insulting remark of the other side. However, she thought something and held back.

「Abstain from killing as much as you can… was it? Seriously, what a bothersome request…」she muttered in a voice inaudible to the people in front of her.

「Uooo」

With respective weapons in their hands, the men launched an offensive. One of the men who, similar to Alba, was wielding a spear, swiped.

Alba, who was confronting it, caught it with the spear of her own. The two spears *girigiri* gratingly screeched.

「Wah! Even though she’s a demon, with such a delicate arm… a… gugi, gi… 」

「…What, is that all?」

Even though the man was pus.h.i.+ng the spear the best he could, he couldn’t advance an inch. When Alba’s, thus far unmoved, feet took a step forward――

A peculiarly shaped axe, thrown by the other man, grazed Alba’s nose. Had she not pulled her face back, her head would have been sliced. Without missing a moment, the axeman leant another large axe back, and was about to slash Alba.

Alba shook the crossed spear off and caught the axe strike. However, simultaneously attacking her from behind was the axe thrown moments ago. Although the blow was small, it grazed Alba’s shoulder and returned to the man’s hand.

「Hou… You can handle different types of axes at the same time, huh… Interesting. But――」

Saying so, Alba jumped back and gained a little distance. In pursuit, the two men simultaneously launched an offensive――As the spear was thrust out, the axe was thrown again.

「――Don’t think the same trick would work a second time!」

Upon Alba’s raising her hand, the axe flying through the air came to a sudden halt. Following a strong gust, the axe flew back. The man stared wide eyed at his own weapon coming back at him. while something red was gouged out, he somehow managed to dodge it. The thrown axe stuck into the stone wall behind him and stopped moving.

「Wha――」

The axeman’s words paused right there. Alba slipped past the side of the spearman and cut the distance to the man’s, whose stance had broken due to evasion, bosom. Before he could swing the large axe, she kicked into the mid-section of his abdomen.

The big man’s body floated gently in the air. After rolling several meters, his body slammed into the wall.

「Gu… a, ribs…」

「What… was that? Isn’t this demon… too strong?」

Uttered the man who was wielding the spear while he stood dumbfounded.

「Over already? Why don’t you call your mates over for help?」

「Ga… ha, inform- the captain…」

「G-got it.」

Nodding, the spearman ran inside the building. Alba stared in silence.

「Ah, right. It’s fine to report… that a demon attacked——?!」

Alba was once again attacked with the projectile axe. The man, who had yet to catch his breath, grabbed the projectile axe stuck into the wall and threw it as feebly as his breathing.

Even though Alba safely dodged, it still managed to cut 2 to 3 strands of her hair.

「You’re a tougher nut to crack than I thought, aren’t you――but… don’t get ahead of yourself.」

She raised the dragon spear and swung it down with a lightning-esque force. It pierced through the abdomen of the man, who was leaning against the stone wall, and bored into the wall. By the time Alba let out an 「a…」 the enemy was already dead. As she extracted the spear, a pool of blood formed.

「As much as you can――wasn’t it? I’ll be careful next time. N? Fuahahaha… Am I not being too obedient… to that fellow? Even I’m a bit surprised.」

Saying so, Alba slowly set foot inside the building.

――Having received his subordinate’s report, Serdio couldn’t hide his unrest. Why would a demon invade this place? Considering demons and monsters occasionally slipped past the forts further south from here, it was hardly worth being surprised over.

However――why would a lone demon attack――this place――at this hour?!

A possibility suddenly crossed Serdio’s mind. However, he shook his head the next moment. A demon following a human being was just that unthinkable.

The threat of demons wasn’t any different in Souven Empire, and Serdio was well aware of it.

This left him with only two options.

‘Fight? …or take Marita and run away?’

Serdio and his subordinates were people who had received tactical training. Soldiers? They took pride in their skills which were not inferior to even excellent adventurers and mercenaries.

Even if their opponent were a demon, they could take them down if they teamed up. However, that was only if the said demon were average. From his subordinate’s account, Serdio judged the demon who came invading to be endowed with surpa.s.sing individual talent.

(Including me, there are about ten people here… We would of course not lose, but the opponent’s strength is not known. Here――)

Hence, Serdio chose the latter. Exterminating the demon was not what they had to give priority to.