“Zero? What do you mean by that? It’s not over yet?”
“It means the demon hasn’t died yet. A 4th grade demon wouldn’t die so easily!”
“4th grade!?”
As the children were startled, demonic energy flashed like lightning from the body of the demon Bineus.
Bineus’s body slightly lifted off the ground, and then he was pulled out from where he had been impaled on the sharp rocks.
The holes in his upper body began to heal gradually, and the various other minor wounds vanished in an instant.
When Bineus opened his eyes, a whirlwind of magical energy swept through the area.
“Ugh! Such tremendous magical energy!”
The children slightly bowed their bodies to resist the magical energy.
I just stood there.
‘It feels just like a breeze to me.’
I can’t feel magical energy because I don’t have the related skill.
They always play among themselves, saying, ‘Ugh! Magical energy, ugh! Tremendous magical energy!’
They are really petty. I want to join in on the magic play too.
‘Well, this isn’t the time to be playing around.’
Bineus’s Phase 2 gimmick is quite intense.
The condition for activating his ultimate magic [Meteor Shower] has changed; the number of flames needed has decreased from five to three.
Although there is 100% additional damage when there is one flame and 200% additional damage with two flames.
The risk we have to take is a vague payoff.
And now the biggest problem is.
‘I can no longer rely on Silver Flash.’
The cooldown for Silver Flash is five turns.
During Phase 1, I had the upper hand in the turn battle, but now Bineus has the advantage.
‘Whether there’s one flame or two… I have to keep attacking to reset it.’
Bineus’s wings, which had been behind him, merged with his body, becoming one with his back.
Other protruding body parts also retracted inward.
He had entered a state that discarded unnecessary appearances in favor of efficiency.
“Ah… The cells of my brother cry out. You must be Rodelin.”
“…You know me?”
“Of course. The pain of my brother is our pain. From now on, you will live a life being hunted by our kin. You will live in constant fear until you die.”
Bineus continued with a sinister smile.
“And this applies to you as well.”
Bineus’s finger was pointing at me.
“Me? Why?”
“Your brazen attitude has been deeply etched into my cells. My brothers will never kill you easily. They will tear you apart, consume you, burn you.”
Eek, how horrifying.
“What have I done to deserve this?”
“It’s exactly that attitude that’s the problem.”
The children nodded in agreement.
What? No, why are you agreeing with him? You can’t agree with a demon, you idiots!
“That’s not right!”
It was Raymon.
Oh, it’s our Raymon, believing in me!
He stepped forward and shouted.
“Zero is just living up to his looks! It’s only that he acts as he appears, why is that a problem?”
…That guy?
It’s definitely your Raymon…
“How amusing.”
Rodelin let out a light laugh.
It’s genuinely a laugh finding it funny.
Then suddenly, her gaze sharpened.
“What? A life of being hunted? Don’t make me laugh.”
Rodelin stepped forward.
Her steps were heavy. Not only us, but even the demon just watched her.
Under the light filtering through the forest.
There, Rodelin pointed her sword at the demon.
“I don’t run away. It doesn’t matter how many there are, come find me. In the name of the Lucid family, I will cut you all down.”
Despite the demon’s fierce threat, she was not intimidated at all and even countered.
I approached her sneakily and whispered.
“Keke, senior. Won’t you take my part as well? I’m too scared of demons.”
“It’s your own duty to take care of your matters, Zero. That’s how you become a great person.”
Ah, yes. Thank you for your wise words.
Though I feel like I’ll be torn apart by a demon before becoming a great person.
“No need for further talk. Rodelin! I will avenge my brother!”
Boom!
Magical energy burst forth from Bineus’s body.
This meant the battle was starting now.
“I can’t believe it. That he’s the demon’s shard’s brother.”
“Keke, if you look closely, they do resemble each other. In ugliness, in pettiness, in being quick to finish?” (TL Note: Premature ejaculation joke, in case someone didn’t understand)
Rodelin’s face turned slightly red.
Everyone knew it was just a joke to ease the tension.
It was definitely not meant to tease Rodelin.
“Comparing the one eye’d demon to who? And I am magnificent!” (TL Note: Now it’s a dick joke)
It was unclear what exactly was magnificent, but it was enough to embarrass Rodelin.
“Demerits… This is a reason for demerits! I will assign demerits to you two!”
She was even giving out demerits to the demon.
Indeed, Rodelin is an interesting girl.
‘To continue enjoying this life, I must defeat Bineus.’
I took a deep breath and shouted loudly.
“He will use fire magic! Sometimes he’ll launch physical attacks! The demon’s magic seems to be a type that requires accumulating flames to use! Originally, there were five spaces in the Pentagram, but now there are only three! We must absolutely prevent the emergence of three flames!”
My voice echoed loudly through the forest.
Rodelin smiled broadly and responded.
“That’s it! Understood! Everyone, don’t stop attacking! We’ll divide into groups of three and attack relentlessly!”
Rodelin, Alex.
Raymon, Yuridia.
Me, and Luna.
Considering it was hastily arranged, the balance wasn’t bad.
‘Could it be that they even thought about synergy?’
The versatile Rodelin and Alex.
The defensive Raymon and the offensive Yuridia.
The handsome me and the not-so-handsome Luna.
Looking at it from any angle, the balance was good.
Well, it seemed like me and Luna were placed together thinking our coordination would be good.
“What are you thinking about now?”
“Keke, Miss Luna is quite cute even in such situations, was what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking the opposite? You’re really dead if this ends.”
Hmm, maybe dying by Bineus’s hand here would be better.
After all, Luna’s fist is quite fearsome.
The first flame blazed up.
“Ah, Mr. Demon. Hello? My name is Raymon.”
“Die!”
“Eek!”
Clang!
“!?”
Bineus’s eyes widened because his punch was blocked by Raymon’s sword.
‘As expected of a character that’s cheating.’
It was surprising enough that he blocked a giant fist with a sword, but there was a tremendous stat difference between the two.
Yet, he blocked the attack just by adjusting the angle of his sword.
“This, this guy…!”
Whoosh! Bam!
Clang! Clang clang!
Raymon’s sword moved like lightning, blocking Bineus’s fists.
Raymon has a unique character trait where his evasion rate increases the closer he gets to his opponent.
Despite the significant stat difference, he could block about seven out of ten attacks.
“Trying to kill people! Did your mom teach you that?”
A fearless retort.
“I, I don’t have a mother! I only have someone I serve!”
“I knew it. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise with your nasty personality! It’s actually a relief, isn’t it? To not have parents who’s heart you can break, I’m envious.”
“Kuhuk!!”
Was it because of Raymon’s fiery retort, or because of the sword Alex had plunged into him from behind?
Bineus coughed up black blood.
‘As expected of Raymon.’
Annoying when he’s an opponent, but incredibly reliable when he’s on our team.
This time, in the battle against Bineus, it was Raymon’s turn to shine.
“Everyone, back off! Rain of Fire!”
Dududududu!!
Yuridia’s magic exploded next.
[Rain of Fire], a spell that required a whopping 3 turns of casting time.
With Raymon’s provocation, those 3 turns were a piece of cake.
“Kraaaak!!”
Crimson flames blazed from Bineus’s body.
The characteristic of the Rownter family was that their magic imbued a crimson hue.
Especially, they were a family specialized in fire magic.
The Lucid family’s first secret technique.
Earth Flip.
Boom boom boom!!
“Ugh!”
Bineus was overwhelmed by the attack of Rodelin’s party.
The flames in the pentagram flickered on and off, staying at one.
Interrupting [Demon Magic] was good. The current problem was.
‘Proper attacks aren’t hitting.’
Currently, I can’t use [One Flash] and [Sky Splitter].
Too many eyes are watching.
‘My One Flash is Grade A, so it’s too noticeable. Rodelin would immediately notice it’s Lester family’s swordsmanship.’
[Sky Splitter] was the same.
If she knew I was using her family’s swordsmanship, she would start keeping her distance.
Even in such a situation, I had to think about the future.
This place is not the end, but the beginning.
It wasn’t good to arouse suspicion among the main characters.
‘I’d use it if it were really an emergency…’
But now is not the time.
Thump!
“Ugh!”
Raymon, who had been blocking Bineus’s fists with his sword, fell backward.
Even the unparalleled Raymon couldn’t overcome the overwhelming stat difference.
“Fire Ball!”
Bineus’s magic was cast next.
Rodelin dragged the fallen Raymon out of the magic’s range.
The second flame in the pentagram blazed up. At the same time.
Alex’s first original technique.
Hungry Wolf.
Taking advantage of the moment Bineus cast his magic, Alex’s secret technique struck Bineus.
Crack!
“Krah!”
Like a starving wolf tearing into flesh, Alex’s sword tore into Bineus.
However, it didn’t cause significant damage.
Only a small piece of flesh fell off.
“…Miss Luna! Could you take my place for a moment?”
“Yes! Senior! Leave it to me!”
Luna, who had been resting with me, was thrown into the battle.
“Zero, how have you been fighting such a monster until now?”
“Keke, I was just lucky.”
“I came to discuss a strategy. Is there any way? Like a weakness or characteristic.”
Agh!
This time, Alex was sent flying far away.
The overwhelming difference in stats.
Raymon was doing his best to play the tank’s role, but there was a limit.
And that limit was rapidly approaching.
“Keke, we have no choice but to block the [Demon Magic] and keep attacking.”
“…Is that so?”
The situation was not good. That’s when it happened.
“Senior, can you buy us some time?”
Yuridia, who had been using magic near me.
She successfully used a shield to protect the children and looked back at us again.
“Time? Do you have a plan, Miss Yuridia?”
“I will use a forbidden technique from my family.”
“…Are you sure? It might cause problems later.”
“It’s okay. It wasn’t forbidden because it’s strange, but because it’s too powerful.”
Rodelin thought for a moment and then nodded.
Rules are important, but stopping the demon was the highest priority.
“I see. Then I’ll trust you and leave it to you. The timing is up to you.”
“Thank you. I will definitely succeed!”
Rodelin rushed back to the battlefield.
“…Aren’t you going, Zero?”
“Keke, I’m not fully recovered yet. After fighting that thing one-on-one… Ugh! My back hurts from slamming him into the ground!”
Yuridia’s eyes narrowed.
She seemed to doubt my words, maybe even disdain them slightly.
“…Well, never mind. Just watch over me for a moment.”
Yuridia stood in front of me.
She loosened her hair and began to concentrate.
‘The demon is important, but I can’t miss this chance to observe.’
In fact, I knew what magic Yuridia was about to use.
“O darker than the blackest darkness, redder than the blood flowing through my veins…”
A spell that exists, with a casting time of 5 turns.
[Demon Slave].
–TL Notes–
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Haha, I guess I should’ve expected a Slayers reference somewhere down the line, considering how things started out.