Chapter 40 (2/2)

Haruka activated her monster trapping skill.

It's a simple skill with simple effect, but it turned to be a merciless skill when used in this world.

Intimidated by Leon's strength, the soldiers took a step back but failed to do because strong sticky objects stuck on their feet, hampering their movements.

It was a skill called 『Gummy Trap』.

It was a floor trap resembling torimochi. (TL: torimochi = birdlime. Gluey substances from trees that are used to trap birds)

It was sticky enough to trap small monsters, but it could barely capture medium-sized monsters.

But still, it was enough to buy time.

「GaAAAaa!?」

「Too laate~ I've gotcha~」

It was too late for the soldiers. Haruka's vines already grew to the point of covering their knees. They could try cutting the vines, but by doing so, they would reveal an opening. Leon wasn't that kind to miss such opening. His blade traveled at the speed that no eyes could follow, beheading one of the defenseless soldiers.

The other soldier managed to raise his sword as a s.h.i.+eld and block Leon's sword.

It managed to endure Leon's attack with both hands, but Haruka's vine already grew and wrapped its torso.

Soon the vines extended to the soldier's shoulder, then to its arm, then wrapped itself around the head. The vines tightened and crushed the soldier's body. The plant humanoid was killed by the same kind of plant that turned it into a monster in the first place. Ironic.

「That was stunning, Harukdono. I never knew that there are this kind of plants」

「Of cooourse~

Actually, I don't like using it on people. But since Masaki-san said that these people are made of plants like Barry-san and I had confirmed that they aren't people anymore, I can use this skill.

This is the best skill I ever used~」

The sound of Haruka's vines crus.h.i.+ng the monster flesh was enough to send s.h.i.+vers down his spine.

But even so… her smile…

Haruka's smile was so fascinating.

If the other otherworlders saw this, they would mutter『Ah, love is really blind, after all』.

Haruka hopped and whispered into his ear.

「Let's do our best and make Masaki-san's plan succeed, kaay~?」

「E… YES MA'AM!」

Her smile was so close to his face. Leon dashed to the gigantic tree with his hand on his chest, suppressing his happy heartbeat and b.u.t.terflies in his stomach.

***

「Hey Schwarz…… Never thought we'll settle our scores like this… I wish to fight the real you but…… such a shame…」

Tatsuma faced against the ex-captain of the emperor's royal guard, a group that consists of the strongest people in the Empire.

Schwarz Rondway.

If Tatsuma was the strongest spearman in the Empire, Schwarz was the strongest s.h.i.+eldsman. Meanwhile, Iro stood behind Schwarz, wriggling his silver tentacles that sprout from his back.

What Schwarz held in his hand was a relic of the past otherworlder.

The s.h.i.+eld of Aegis.

The original wielder had already died peacefully from old age. After the death, the equipment was scattered all around the world, either sold or auctioned by various merchants from various countries, which included the Empire. The one that happened to land in the Empire was the Aegis.

The s.h.i.+eld was pa.s.sed to the captains of the royal guards for the sake of protecting the royalties.

However, the one that it protected now was Iro.

「Schwarz!! Get rid of that eyesore!!」

Schwarz struck Tatsuma as per Iro's order. Under normal circ.u.mstances, there was no way for Iro to make the royal guards do his bidding like this, especially Schwarz as the captain of the royal guards. Sense of superiority filled his heart. His grin spread from ear to ear.

That grin really p.i.s.sed Tatsuma off. He dashed for an attack, but Schwarz blocked his way with Aegis.

A dull pain ran throughout Tatsuma's body.

Aegis bolstered a high defense point and had an ability to reflect damages. Tatsuma winced as he received a portion of damage from his own attack. His armor values helped to reduce the damage, but Tatsuma had a high attack value to begin with. It was like receiving his own attack at full force. With the current lack of recovery means, Tatsuma couldn't rush recklessly.

Schwarz's skill with his s.h.i.+eld was known throughout the empire. Even during mock fights, his skill had repeatedly sent Tatsuma to several near-death experiences. The fight could go both ways for either them.  But there was this sense of discomfort Tatsuma felt during the previous exchange.

(Why didn't he parry with his s.h.i.+eld…? No way… Schwarz? Are you… resisting him too?)

Even deprived of his will, Schwarz used not his s.h.i.+eld, but deftly handled many attacks with his sword. And even when using his s.h.i.+eld, he moved so as to take as little of the impact as possible. Avoiding a direct hit meant taking less damage from the shock of it, and this was a fact that only Tatsuma and Schwarz truly knew.

This proved that while his mind was eroded, there was still some form of consciousness inside.

Schwarz bashed with his s.h.i.+eld, which Tatsuma responded by jumping backward to reduce the impact. They had been doing this exchange several times and would continue to do so again and again.

Tatsuma betted on Schwarz's remaining consciousness, the last shred of Schwarz's wish to fight with everything he got. Tatsuma gripped his spear tightly. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, readying his stance.

The two of them dashed, pa.s.sing through each other.

Tatsuma's 『True Yellow Dragon's Spear』 collided with Schwarz's 『s.h.i.+eld of Aegis』. Fierce metallic sounds resounded across the room.

ーGakiinー

Tatsuma's spear danced in the air.

Iro smiled. Tatsuma was now disarmed. He barked his last order to kill Tatsuma.

But instead, what he saw was Schwarz's figure falling, not from being pierced by a spear, but stabbed by a sword.

「What……!?」

Tatsuma definitely crashed against Schwarz's s.h.i.+eld. But when Schwarz slightly tilted his s.h.i.+eld up, Tatsuma took the chance and mitigated the impact by deflecting it with his spear. As Schwarz bashed the spear away, Tatsuma also brandished his sword.

But Schwarz's sword never reached.

A sharp sword stabbed Schwarz instead.

The impact knocked Schwarz's sword away, planting it into the wall behind him.

Sure, Tatsuma was disarmed.

But in reality, he intentionally let his weapon go to create a gigantic hole in Schwarz's defense, which he used to take a sword from his waist and stab Schwarz in the chest.

It was the Emperor's sword.

The ex-captain was pierced by the sword who was once being held by the Emperor whom he was supposed to protect.

ーklatak, klatakklatakー

Schwarz lost his grip on aegis, the legendary s.h.i.+eld tumbled twice before finally lying motionless on the floor.

But still, Schwarz was smiling.

At least he could settle his score with his rival, though he couldn't say his final words. He vanished with a satisfied smile on his face.

Tatsuma caught his spear with one hand.

「Schwarz… Please wait on the other side.

I'm sending this f.u.c.ker to you right away……

You're next, Iro!

Don't you even dare to think things will be over even after you die!!」

<script>