“Hmm…?”
Clarity returned to Rodelin’s eyes, which had lost all reason.
Alex embracing her defenseless self to protect her.
My figure deflecting the thorn shot by the demon, and Lowell collapsed and gasping for breath.
Having grasped the situation, Rodelin’s eyes blazed with fire.
“I’ll handle the demon! You two protect my sister!”
Rodelin tossed the potion bottle as if passing it off and departed.
“Senior! It’s dangerous to go alone!”
Alex, who tossed the potion bottle to me, followed after her. Treating and protecting Lowell naturally became my responsibility.
It was when I arrived beside the gasping Lowell.
“Is it you? Did you bring her here?”
Lowell grabbed my collar and shook me violently.
To display such monstrous strength even after suffering a fatal wound—was this really someone who seemed about to die at any moment?
“How could I possibly die with my cute Delin right before my eyes!”
I see. Her siscon disease has flared up again. A disease that makes someone on death’s door fly around energetically.
If this were reported to the academic world, wouldn’t it cause quite a stir?
“Keke, we’ll talk later. Let’s treat you first.”
“Why bother? If I die, this goddamn contract can be nullified.”
“Death by excessive blood loss doesn’t count. Just like how you killed Second Legion demons by making them fall into traps, Lowell.”
Lowell’s eyes narrowed. Her expression asked how I knew that.
I replaced my answer with a “kekeke” laugh.
“…Fuck. So that was it after all. That demon bastard should’ve made the thorn bigger. How can he call himself a male like that?”
Lowell, what on earth are you saying?
To utter such lines in a 12+ game—she must not be in her right mind from losing too much blood.
“Kuk!”
The makeshift bandage made from torn clothing—as soon as I unwrapped it, blood gushed out profusely.
I sprayed about half the potion Rodelin gave me on her stomach and had her drink the remaining half.
Perhaps because it was a high-grade potion, the gaping hole closed up and pure white flesh replaced it.
“Keke, congratulations on surviving.”
“Yeah, I’ll congratulate you too when you die.”
…? Isn’t this when you’re supposed to say thank you?
“I need to get rid of that demon quickly… kuk!”
Lowell, who tried to stand up, clutched her stomach and sat back down.
“Damn it… this little wound…”
She dismissed it as nothing, but this was Lowell who until moments ago had a fist-sized hole in her stomach.
Even for the Mad Lion, fighting in that state would be too much.
‘It was the same in the game too.’
That’s right. The battle against Grade 6 demon Orobas.
Rodelin, Alex, and the player character.
These three were all and the protagonists of this battle.
‘Well, when playing as Rodelin or Alex, the two of them have to handle it alone.’
Which also meant the difficulty wasn’t that hard. But with me here too?
It was like swimming on solid ground, eating rice cakes while lying down, arm wrestling Rezé and winning—that level.
Anyway, before the fight, there’s an event dialogue, so let’s have some snack time while enjoying it.
“Rodelin! Fall back immediately! While I hold out, go call Caron!”
“He didn’t look like he had any leeway either!”
“Then go help him! How do you expect to beat an opponent I couldn’t! Fall back! That’s an order!”
“…I cannot do that.”
Right. Rodelin had her own reasons for not being able to retreat.
‘There’s no way my sister would lose to a demon like that. Which means…’
That it belonged to the Second Legion.
Understanding the full story, Rodelin gripped her sword firmly.
“Don’t worry. I’ve been building my strength for this moment.”
“No… you can’t.”
She tried her best to stand somehow, but her body wouldn’t obey.
“Come at me! I’ll be your opponent from now on!”
“Impudent brat! You think you can be my match!”
Swish!
Kakakang!
The moment the fight between Rodelin and Orobas began—
Lowell closed her eyes. Then she firmly covered both ears with her hands.
Because she couldn’t muster the courage to watch.
‘I’ve worked so hard to avoid a situation like this.’
She’d lived to prevent Rodelin from fighting demons, to stop her from taking up the sword to protect her family.
The nightmare she had every day.
That horrific nightmare was becoming reality, right before her eyes.
She couldn’t bear to watch.
“…Nothing has changed.”
It was the same as when she was young.
Rodelin, who was caught in the Legion Commander’s grasp.
Lowell, who could do nothing even seeing that.
It was exactly like that day. Despite all her efforts, nothing had changed.
She was powerless. So powerless she couldn’t even protect the younger sister she loved.
It was when Lowell was sobbing with her eyes and ears covered.
“What do you mean nothing has changed?”
The voice of a certain boy she’d grown familiar with.
Lowell opened her eyes. Vision blurred with tears.
Within that vision, she saw Zero munching on snacks.
Chap chap—.
Was now the time to be eating snacks?
She’d known he was crazy for a while, but she didn’t realize he was this crazy.
“What are you doing! Stop playing around and go help her!”
“I will help. If you properly face your sister’s appearance.”
“…What?”
“Watch closely.”
Our… no.
Everything Rodelin has built up since that day.
I hurried to join Rodelin’s side.
Because Lowell snapped, “If you have time for bullshit, go kill the demon!”
What good is a cool line when no one appreciates it?
“Keke, you’re having a hard time.”
“Embarrassingly so. Despite appearances, he’s quite clever.”
Strength entered Rodelin’s hand gripping her sword.
Stalling for time and waiting for Caron would be best, but if that happened, suspicions would begin.
Because it was impossible for Lowell to lose to a Grade 6 demon.
Whatever doubts arose, they wouldn’t lead to good results.
In the end, Rodelin had no choice but to reach out.
“Alex, and Zero. I’m sorry, but please lend me your strength.”
“Of course.”
Alex’s golden smile and Rodelin’s starlight smile.
Ah, so bright I can’t keep my eyes open.
Though of course, with my slit eyes, I wasn’t keeping them open to begin with.
“…”
Unlike Alex, I didn’t answer.
Then Rodelin tilted her head and asked again.
“Zero, are you ready?”
“Keke, please wait just a moment.”
“…In situations like this, saying you’re ready would be the cool thing to do.”
Rodelin grumbled.
An appearance you couldn’t see normally. She was so cute I wanted to pat her head.
Don’t rush me, just wait a little. If I remember correctly, it should be any moment now…
[Sub Quest —
Defeat Grade 6 demon Orobas.
This is the demon that brought dark clouds over the poor but happy Trash Village.
Help Rodelin defeat Orobas.
However, the final blow must be dealt by ‘Rodelin de Lucid.’
Reward: 200exp, 10 gold, slight increase in Rodelin’s favorability, significant increase in Lowell’s favorability
Rejection Penalty: None
Failure Penalty: Caron will become suspicious of the Lucid family]
After waiting a bit, the quest I’d been waiting for appeared.
Fighting without a reward is what amateurs do. No matter how small the reward.
The quest content wasn’t much different from what I knew.
If there was any difference, it was that the reward included ‘increase in Lowell’s favorability’?
‘And a significant increase at that?’
It was a suspiciously generous reward.
The fact that there was no rejection penalty too—anyone could see it was strongly pushing you to accept it.
‘In cases like this, there’s usually a high probability it’s a trap…’
But I had no choice. This wasn’t a game right now—it was reality.
Abandoning the Lucid family was impossible.
‘Well, I won’t have any reason to meet Lowell again from now on. It’ll work out somehow.’
[You have accepted the quest.]
“Keke, let’s go.”
“Huh? What changed your mind?”
“I needed time to calm my heart. Since I’m fighting alongside such a cute senior…”
“Wh-who’s cute! Soldiers aren’t cute!”
“But the fact that Senior is cute is an undeniable truth.”
“Y-you…!”
Pyupyupyut!
Rodelin tried to retort, but she couldn’t continue. Because Orobas launched thorns.
We retreated slightly to create distance. Rodelin’s briefing began immediately.
“From fighting briefly, I’ve learned a few things.”
A demon named Orobas. Grade 6.
Main attack method was thorns. Though they couldn’t separate from his body, they could extend in all directions.
The speed of extending thorns wasn’t particularly fast, but the speed when launching them was beyond imagination.
“We should avoid close combat. Mid-range or long-range attacks seem better.”
“The problem is he uses some unidentified demon magic. He deflects all attacks from a distance.”
Right. Orobas’s demon magic, [Wandering Storm].
A troublesome demon magic that changed the direction of ranged attacks aimed at him.
“Keke, interesting demon magic. But there must be an opening.”
“Right. There must be a limit. I’d like Zero to show his skills.”
But contrary to Rodelin’s thoughts, the [Wandering Storm] Orobas deployed had no limits.
Because it was an episode designed to render Lowell unable to fight, it received the privilege of 100% activation.
An always-active passive skill that didn’t even use mana.
It meant ranged attacks had a 100% chance of not working.
“The targets are Orobas or Baron Kelven. Incapacitate both of them. Depending on the situation…”
Rodelin cut off her words, but it wasn’t hard to infer what came next.
It meant killing Baron Kelven was acceptable too.
A demon without a host would naturally meet death.
“I’ll draw his attention! Zero, use magic, and Alex, provide protection!”
The battle began with Rodelin’s charge.
I quickly secured the rear and immediately used magic. Magic I’d acquired using [Predation] in Carpathia.
White Lightning.
Bzzzzt—!
White lightning rushing toward Orobas.
The moment it reached his body, the lightning bent at a 90-degree angle and slammed into the wall.
Kwang!
I tried two, three times, but the result was the same.
“Even lightning is deflected! This is absurd…!”
Perhaps thinking close combat was the only answer, Alex, who had been protecting me, rushed forward.
Pyupyut!
“Ungh!”
“Be careful!”
The speed at which thorns burst from Orobas’s body wasn’t something we could handle at our current level.
As soon as Alex retreated, a thorn extended toward me.
I barely blocked the thorn with my scabbard.
“Kuhuhuhuhuh! How do you like that!”
“I see… just as Lowell said. Fast, yet small. That’s why…”
“Th-that’s why what?”
“Kekeke… Fast, yet small… one could say it’s the worst.”
Perhaps hurt by my mockery, Orobas began raging.
“Kraaaaah! You impudent brat! Fine, I’ll show you my true power!”
Orobas shot a thorn at me.
A much thicker thorn than before. Though still not as much as mine (?).
Huh? Not as much as what? Well…
I’m talking about the ‘skill’ rank.
“Zero!”
“Zero! Watch out!”
The thorn flying straight toward me—
Thuduk—!!
It bent abnormally, and the thorn crashed into the mine wall, spouting dust.
“Th-that’s…!”
Orobas’s single eye widened. His surprise was natural. Because the skill I’d just activated was—
Wandering Storm.
“Kekeke, is this your demon magic?”
Aah, really.
It was so pathetic I wanted to die.
–TL Notes–
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I was wondering whether Zero would get Wandering storm from predation because it unusual for him to get such an OP skill yet the author took the time to explain it to us in such detail! So it Divine imitation time!
Hehe and such dirty joke is effective against Demon whether it Demon fragment or this one
And Lowel almost died uselessly there the Demon side also have loop holes,Perhaps that also how she died normally
Also why is swimming on land and arm wresting Reze in the same difficulty bracket!?
Zero teasing Rodelin is cute,And Lowel is not one to appreciate dramatic…
And significant increase in her favoribility? Cut scene incoming she will see how Rodelin can gallantly fight on her own and appreciate Zero who help her see that?