Chapter 137 (2/2)

I pick up a pebble near my feet.

And then, vigorously threw the stone in its direction.

When that pebble hit the surface of the stairway, it bounced a bit before falling.

[Eh?]

Baffled, Seras frowned.

[It didn’t move this time……?]

The Human-Faced didn’t even react towards the flying stone.

[Muumuuu…. Muuuuunnnn…. mmuuuuu…]

It was just groaning creepily like before.

[I see. If it’s too far from its tentacles, it won’t react huh.]

It won’t just reflexively react to every single thing by hitting it with its tentacle huh.

Or is it because I don’t really have the intention of attacking it with the stone before?

After it ascertained the intent, it would then possibly decide whether to move or not.

If that is so, it is necessary for us to make a move that it could determine as an “attack”.

[Pigimaru.]

[Pigii!]

Instructing Pigimaru, we started our preparations.

[Touka-dono? As I thought… You’re going to use that power?]

————Crreeeeaaaakkkkk—————

[I certainly won’t be able to win against it if I did the same thing I did in those battles against Civit and the Ashinto. However… After I saw the Human-Faced’s movement earlier, I thought of a means through this.]

Troublesome attacks seem to be meaningless against the Human-Faced.

Therefore, this battle would be settled in just a really short time.

————Crreeeeaaaakkkkk—————

As long as I could see the bright light of victory, I no longer need to be stingy with my methods anymore.

The turning point of this match is in just a moment—

[Mhmm… This form, I’ve only heard of it from Seras before but…]

[Hmm? Ah, speaking of which, this should be the first time Eve had seen our combination technique huh.]

[U- Umu. Is it alright to say that this form is a fusion of humans and monsters… I see. So this is the power that has destroyed that Ashinto?]

[Rather than fusion, it feels more like a “connection”. Well… I also feel like this looks like a fusion.]

————Crreeeeaaaakkkkk—————

Alright.

Preparations complete.

[Seras, can I ask you to shoot your arrow over there again?]

[Once more? Understood.]

Seras takes out an arrow from the quiver on her shoulder.

I then went close to her ear.

[Could you shoot it just barely outside of its range? I want to make it think that you have the intention of attacking it as much as possible.]

I asked with a whisper.

Just in case that the Human-Faced could understand what it hears.

Preparing her bow, Seras whispers back.

[No problem. So, it would be better if I release my fighting spirit, right? Then, please leave it to me.]

I finished leaving that task to her.

After my signal, Seras would fire an arrow again.

Her target would still be the same place as last time.

Somewhere a little bit out of range from the Human-Faced’s tentacles—–

[!]

Seras became surprised after she shot her arrow.

On the other hand— My attack which had already been prepared also failed.

[Pii?]

[……It also didn’t move this time huh.]

The first arrow was struck by the tentacle.

However, it didn’t respond to the second arrow.

This b*stard…

[It also decided that it didn’t need to move for this huh.]

It may have sensed that we were trying to infer something.

Unlike the pebble that I’ve thrown before, she should have released her fighting spirit towards that thing…

I see.

This Human-Faced isn’t as thick headed as I thought.

[In the end…]

I looked back— towards Slei behind me.

[From now on, we need to make an “attack worthy to make it take out its tentacles”.]

Not just a fake, but a “real attack”.

It can’t be helped.

At that moment, Slei trotted forward.

[Pakkyyuuu~]

She turned her crystal part that functions as her magic supply towards me.

[…………….]

Wait, don’t tell me…

Did it manage to know what I was planning to do now?

[……Slei, I’m going to apologize for now.]

[Pakyuu!]

Its cry was filled with excitement.

There weren’t any complaints nor fear.

Fuuuuuu…

A small smile spontaneously leaked out.

In this situation, how can it behave like this?

As much as I’m thankful, I kind of dislike how it could have such courage…

The only thing I could see from Slei’s eyes was trust.

That is… absolute trust in me.

[……………..]

Even if it hurts my heart, I don’t have any choice but to rely on Slei.

I turned around.

[Seras, Eve, I am now going to—]

[Touka.]

Eve grabbed my shoulder.

[That role, leave that to me.]

It seems that they’ve also realized what I was thinking.

Eve walked around outside the ruins.

[That guy won’t move with just a half-hearted trick anymore.]

[……Are you sure?]

[Fufu, even so, I was still the person who was once called as the “Strongest” Blood Champion in Monroy. Moreover—]

Eve looked towards Slei.

[I am far more superior to you in handling horses.]

That is… a fact that I can’t refute.

[……It would be dangerous.]

[Fuuuu— Of course, I fully know that. Besides, even you yourself should know about it already. The more you concentrate on that single move of yours, the better our chance of winning will be.]

“Fuuuu….” I exhaled.

[I understand.]

Whether it’s Slei or Eve…

It seems both of their decisions were resolved.

I deepened my connection with Pigimaru once more.

———–Creeeaaakkk, cccrrraaaacccckkkk, Plop———-

I can’t afford to lose the two of them in this place.

Without a doubt.

[Slei, Eve.]

Just like an oath, I said.

[I am also fully resolved.]

I started supplying my magic energy into Slei’s jewel.

This would be a certain kill.

I would kill it without exception.

[——————————–]

Against the Human-Faced, commence attack.