My vision is blocked, but by using Map along with Presence Detection and Magic Energy Detection, I can see where they’re headed.
I’m about to chase them, when I hear a monster howling like it’s shrieking.
It’s a pained howl like nothing I’ve heard before, so I look in the direction where it came from, and see blood spraying as a monster attacks someone.
It looks like it has lost all sense of reason, and its mouth is hanging open with drool flowing down.
It swings its arm to attack, and more blood sprays from its body. It’s so gruesome, that for a moment I forget that it’s a monster and feel sorry.
“They’re much stronger than before.”
Sera crosses the axes she’s holding in each hand to block an attack, but is completely outmatched in terms of raw power.
We need to take down the monsters first, or the damage is going to keep increasing, so I focus on attacking rather than chasing the others.
Half-hearted attacks are just going to prolong the battle. I pump more magic energy into my mithril sword, and start slashing.
But the tigerwolf jumps back and dodges, and when it lands, it jumps at me like a bullet.
I quickly activate a shield and block it, killing the tigerwolf’s momentum.
I slash at it again, but it dodges by jumping back again.
I thought the exact same thing was happening again, but this time, Sera’s waiting when the tigerwolf lands.
The attack comes from a complete blind spot, and since its movements are limited as it lands, the tigerwolf is cut in half without any resistance.
Surprisingly, the upper half still wants to fight, and is still dragging itself to attack… But then stops.
With all the tigerwolves down, we go help the others.
The orcs are also fighting like they’ve gone crazy, but Rurika is keeping calm. She knows how strong they are, and she’s prioritizing evading their attacks rather than blocking them with her sword. And she’s not chasing them too far, because she’s fighting two at the same time.
Chris is also using spirit magic more defensively, rather than to try to take them down. She’s mostly using wind spirit magic to hinder their movements. Of course, she also attacks when there’s an opening, but none of it is fatal.
Still, the small wounds pile up, and as the orcs’ movements get progressively worse, probably because they’re losing too much blood, Rurika attacks and drives them back.
“Nice going, Rurika.”
“I was waiting for you or Sera to come. It was getting hard to dodge in the end, because it felt like they lost all sense of reasoning and were just attacking.”
Says Rurika, and I see damage from the orcs’ attacks all over the ground.
I can picture attacks with that much force being fatal. It’s incredible how she managed to stay calm among all that tension.
“Oh, what about Hikari and Mia?”
Rurika says as she turns their way, but they look fine. And the golems are still there too.
I’m pretty sure they’d be destroyed instantly if they were attacked, but the monsters never went their way.
Shuuza knows Hikari, so he was probably thinking about capturing her after taking us down. Maybe the same goes for Chris. I saw a different look in his eyes the moment he realized she’s an elf.
Drett’s letter said elves were being sent to Elesya, so maybe they really are gathering them in secret.
“Sera and Rurika, look after them for a bit.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going after them. They know who Hikari really is. I can’t let them get away.”
I check Map, and see they’ve gone pretty far.
They’re moving faster than should be humanly possible. They might be using skills, but in any case, I can’t let them get away.
I get an EX mana potion ready, and look in the direction where they’re running.
Of course, I can’t see them, but what I need is visual confirmation.
I activate Transfer, move, check my position, and move again. I keep repeating this, and along the way, drink the potion and keep an eye on my MP.
The skill levels as I go, increasing its maximum distance, and eventually, I can see them.
I see three people riding monsters.
I set up a Firewall in their way, scaring the monsters, who drop the people on their backs.
Shuuza lands on his feet like nothing happened, but the other two hit the ground hard.
“W-what…”
I finish the others before Shuuza can fix his posture.
First I take out the monsters before they can be a nuisance, and then I kill the other two with magic.
Ever since that time, I haven’t felt hesitant about killing people.
Obviously it wouldn’t be the same if they were good, normal people, but they were the ones who attacked us, so I don’t need to hold back.
“D-damn you…”
I put my sword near his neck before he can say anything else, ready to kill him at any time.
“Answer succinctly. I know you’re from Elesya, but why did you come here?”
Shuuza stays silent.
Judging by the fact that he’s not wearing a slave mask, I think it’s safe to assume he doesn’t need one.
“…W-who the hell are you?”
He responds with a question.
“Wait, that hair, and number thirteen… Are you the otherworlder from that time?”
He immediately reaches a conclusion. And the moment he mumbles that, his body suddenly explodes.
I didn’t do anything. Did he intentionally blow himself up?
Did he see Hikari with me, and assume I was using some sort of skill to make her obey me?
I’m guessing he took his own life because he thought I was going to use it on him and make him tell me what he knew.
Or maybe people from Elesya made it so he would blow up when he was on the back foot like this.
If that’s how they raise these people, Hikari was pretty lucky.
I look around, and after seeing nothing that could be a clue, I walk back to the ruins.
I can’t use mana potions one after the other, so I have to walk until my MP recovers naturally.
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Thanks for the treat.
Wow he chose to blow himself up rather then risk getting caught. Reminds me of cynaide