Chapter 137 (1/2)

[…….Fuuu, you really are a strange man. Not only were you composed in front of that Human-Faced, you even look happy for some reason.]

“U- Umu…” Eve growled.

[However, I could now understand the reason why you said that the Human-Faced’s attack won’t reach where we are. Nevertheless, that only tells us that we’re safe as long as we stay here. Unless we can figure out a way to beat that thing, we can’t move away from here.]

Eve’s words were plausible.

I look back into the room where we stayed last night.

[I don’t think we can expect any other escape route.]

There were no hidden doors within that room.

There was only an altar in the innermost part of the room.

Perhaps, this ruins doesn’t have any other roles aside from being used for rituals.

Therefore, it isn’t practical to go back inside and waste our time looking for another escape route.

[Do all of you mind if everyone just lives happily inside that moldy room for a while?]

I joked.

Eve’s ears twitched.

[Mhmm?  Do you mean to wait for that Human-Faced to leave?]

[……Well, we wouldn’t have any problem with food even when this turns into a war of attrition.]

We still have the food sent by my leather bag.

It would send us some once a day.

That food could then be shared with everyone.

With that, I think it would be possible to survive for a fairly long time.

[Though I say that, I don’t intend to do such a thing. I would be troubled if that as*hole conveniently dies with ease.]

I didn’t tell Eve about my revenge.

Therefore, I blurred some information with what I said.

Seras who was holding her arms to lighten up her nervousness, unassumingly raised her hand.

[Umm, how about using that combination ability you used before with Pigimaru-dono?]

[Pii.]

Pop!

Pigimaru’s protrusion popped out from under my robe.

I lightly pat the tip of the protrusion.

[Pyyuuuu~♪]

[Even if I use the combination ability that I used on those battles against the Black Dragon Knights and the Ashinto— I would probably lose against that thing in terms of speed. All of Pigimaru’s protrusion would end up just getting knocked down.]

On those two battles, I had the element of surprise.

On the other hand, I can’t make use of the element of surprise in our current situation.

Also, I doubt that I could even match the speed of the attack of its tentacles with my Paralyze.

If those tentacles were parts of the Human-Faced, it may be enough range for my Paralyze to reach.

I could set my skill to match with the tentacles that are going to approach when it attacks.

However, even the “return” of those tentacles were extraordinarily fast.

It’s the so-called super fast hit and away tactics.

The tentacles would have probably ran away from my range even before I could finish saying “Paralyze”.

The speed may have dropped sharply just before it is stored in the mouths of the faces with sewn eyes.

At that time though, my Abnormal State Skills won’t reach it anymore…

The opponent’s movement is even faster than the time it takes for me to fulfill the activation condition of speaking the name of my skill.

I also had the same problem back when I’m facing the Soul Eater.

That was my bottleneck at that time.

I’ve already had it in mind when I mentioned “losing in terms of speed” earlier.

The point is…

[The opponent doesn’t have any gaps.]

Yes, it is necessary for us to make a gap first.

With a meek expression on her face, Seras put her white hand on her mouth.

[Hmm… A gap huh…]

[Seras.]

[Eh? What is it?]

[Could you prepare your bow and arrows?]

[—Acknowledged.]

Seras started preparing her bow and arrows.

Eve asked.

[Touka, is she going to shoot arrows again?]

[Well, yeah. However, she will be aiming for another place.]

I point towards a distance a bit away from the Human-Faced.

Finished with her preparations, Seras stepped forward with the bow prepared in her hands.

[I’m going to shoot towards that place, right?]

[I’m not going to give any signal this time. I will leave the timing to you.]

[Understood.]

Seras draws her bow to the limit.

[……………..]

No matter how many times I look at it, just the act of drawing her bow makes her look like she’s really in a painting.

In other words, her form was that beautiful.

There wasn’t any distortion in her movements.

Is it the characteristic of elves who are good with bow and arrows?

Or perhaps, is it the result of having a personality that doesn’t have any distortion?

It’s a big difference from me who is already distorted.

In the next moment…

Whizz!

The arrow has been released.

Swwoooppp—- Smasshhhh!

The arrow was shattered into pieces again.

[………….Heeeeh.]

When the Human-Faced first shattered the arrow with its tentacles, I had estimated its range based on what I see.

And the place where I told her to fire her arrow this time is outside its range.

How would it react with such an action?

The Human-Faced responded to the flying arrow, slightly moving from where it stood before crushing the arrow.

It doesn’t seem like it would just remain sitting there.

And, there’s one more thing I wanted to check—

[Good, good… It has moved from its place.]

The speed of its movement.

We’ve yet to see the Human-Faced itself move from its place.

Would it be quick?

Or would it be slow?

I wanted to know about this.

And…

[It seems just outrunning it would also be difficult…]

Even with its large body, it’s unpleasantly fast.

If it were slow on its feet, we could have just escaped.

Or perhaps, we could even easily use something as a decoy.

[As expected of the Human-Faced… It has specs that fits its reputation as the most frightening monster. However…]

When it moved, something delayed it.

“Something” that could potentially be a clue to killing the Human-Faced.

I placed my hand over my mouth.

My index finger crisply moved.

What could it be?

What is it that delayed it?

I need to remember.

The moment when the Human-Faced moved and attacked…

[———–I see.]

Now, I understand.

I found it— the chance that I need.

Seras gazed at the tentacles of the Human-Faced.

Pondering, she murmured.

[That time when it struck that arrow just now… Something’s different from the first one, something out of place…]

As expected of the well-known Princess Knight.

It seems Seras also didn’t overlook “that moment”.

[Seras.]

Looking at the tentacles returning back to the mouths of the faces with sewn eyes, I said.

[Your hunch is right.]