Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: 11-3. You're Always One Step Behind.
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Armored bees have a certain instinct.
One of them is that if a single bee is caught, it releases pheromones, drawing the others to come rescue it.
In the real world, people exploited this with traps,
"Good. Bait secured."
And that's exactly what I'm about to do now.
I captured one of the Armored Bee minions and had Mardol use his glass magic to encase it in a cage-like structure.
Now the other worker bees should come rushing to help their comrade.
─Weeeeeng.
Fortunately, the Armored Queen Bee hadn't noticed us yet. She was just hovering in the air with her massive body, storing the sugar flowers the bees had brought in a pot on her back.
"Now's the time. Kainel, Ariel."
I signaled the hero couple on the opposite side with a hand gesture.
Some of the bees had taken flight to search for their captured ally. We couldn't miss this timing.
"Got it! Helmet Guy!"
"Let's go, Ariel!"
Shine Fireworks!
Joint attack unleashed toward the swarm.
A combined strike fired at the swarm of worker bees heading straight for us.
The moment Kainel's sword energy detonates like fireworks from a festival is key.
'That's why her nickname isn't just Crimson Flame or Scarlet.'
Blazing Flame Mage.
A fitting power for the Light Hero's partner.
It's a title that suits her specialty of fireworks-shaped magic. At this rate, they'll probably unleash their ultimate move together too.
─Popopopow!!
Explosions bursting in various colors.
A blend of gold, blue, and red. The colors of the hero couple's hair and eyes mixed together.
The multicolored flames swirled and engulfed the Armored Bees.
"Weeeeeeng-!!"
The swarm looked chaotic. The bees, like black mist, scattered and returned repeatedly. A gap had opened in the forces guarding the queen.
"Mardol. You know what comes next, right?"
"Yeah, Licht."
Howling Wind.
Sonic wolf howl debuff.
Awooooooh──!!
As the glass knight in heavy armor swung his sword forward, a wolf's howl exploded like a sonic boom.
In the game, it was a powerful skill used by Emperor Locke, inflicting a stun debuff on enemies.
..I can't learn it now since it uses mana.
'The original Licht would have mastered that sword form.'
At least the first form, Wolf Fang, only requires the body, so that's a relief. Mardol and I used Wolf Fang to burst from the bushes, targeting the hive on the queen's back.
"Be careful, Licht."
"Huh? It's full of openings..."
Mardol sensed something and warned me.
Why? There was plenty of time for a Void Slash. I took the Drake-style stance but halted.
'Something's off. Think.'
That's when it hit me. Plenty of the queen's guards had fallen stunned to the ground, but a chilling sensation crept in. Their numbers were way too low.
No way. I turned around on instinct.
"Weeeeeeeeeeng!!"
A explosive wingbeat assaulted my ears. It meant only one thing.
'She split her forces into two from the start. She knew we were coming.'
Things had gone seriously wrong. Another swarm of Armored Bees wheeled back to protect the queen, leaving Mardol and me exposed.
Void Slash.
Aimed at the queen with no physical resistance.
Armored Bees ahead, queen behind—we were cornered. Prioritize the queen without armor resistance. The armored ones are tricky for me.
─Thudududuk!!
But the queen's black eyes sneered as her remaining forces recovered, deflecting my wind pressure. Then the reserves from behind swarmed in.
Can't dodge this. I'm done...
Oh, right—I'm not alone. Mardol erected a glass wall around me, blocking the bees. Glass magic is seriously OP up close.
"Thanks, Mardol."
"That was close, Licht."
"..You're right."
We caught our breath amid the melee, separated by a single wall. Maybe I shouldn't underestimate a 6-star monster after all.
I pondered as I eyed the encircling forces.
'Feels tougher than the game...'
The queen's too smart. Seeing our barrier, she prepared to charge. Her house-sized body heaved.
"Mardol, can we hold this?"
"..Probably. I'm stronger than that thing."
Chills ran down my spine at the sight, but he nodded as if to say not to worry.
─Bam!!
The queen rammed the transparent crystal wall. It held against Mardol's glass magic. But the boss kept slamming relentlessly.
"You sure we can tank this?!"
"..Not sure."
Bam, bam echoed repeatedly as cracks formed in the glass. Grass and earth attributes must have bad matchup. I racked my brain for a breakthrough.
"Helmet Guy!"
"Licht, Mardol! You okay?!"
Our other two teammates burst from the bushes too, turning it into full chaos. This wasn't good—the queen could target anyone now.
"Kainel, fire a Shine Strike! Aim for the queen's wings!"
"Ariel, hit the Iron Hive! Burn it all!"
Now she'd have to choose. As a massive, sluggish beast, we had to strike fast while she was committed to breaking the wall.
"Got it! Helmet Guy!"
"On it, Licht!"
They unleashed magic and holy sword strikes the instant I spoke. They're a match made in heaven. I chuckled softly inside my helmet.
─Thwoooom!!
A massive firework fireball and condensed light sword energy targeted the queen. Panicking, the Armored Queen Bee repositioned her forces toward the hive.
A opening appeared.
"Mardol, now—give it to me!"
"..Yeah, got it."
The skill the glass knight showed this morning. A bizarre magic creating transparent crystal clones. Mirror Mirage, was it?
'It uses magic for sword strikes, so it should work to some extent.'
With the queen confused, now was our chance. I readied to combine Void Slash and Reverse Scale Thrust. The enemy's weakness was crystal clear.
The right flank's forces were thin. A blunder from hastily forming the barrier. I exploited it without mercy.
─Thudududuk!!
Heavy wind pressure focused on my right hand. Ignoring it, I unleashed a mix of second and fourth forms. Boosted by Mardol's magic, the combo's power surged.
Psssh. The queen fired stingers, but Reverse Scale Thrust relentlessly pierces weaknesses. No way it'd land.
"Mardol, watch out."
"..Y-yeah. Thanks."
I slashed incoming attacks aimed at the glass knight and hammered the hive on her back with successive sword energies.
The Armored Bees' barrier peeled away like fruit rind.
'Now. The shadow's sharp.'
The moment I'd aimed for arrived. Void Slash struggled against physical resistance, but a magic swordsman's skills might break through.
Finally, a clear light-dark contrast on one target.
─Slash.
I severed the queen's intact shadow on the ground. With Shadow Slash as first form and Void Slash to finish, I cleanly bisected the hive and her torso.
"..We did it."
As the queen died, the Armored Bees fled in perfect order. I collapsed onto the spot.
"..You okay? Licht."
Mardol spoke to me, sitting drained on the ground.
"..Yeah, I'm fine."
"As expected. So strong."
It was fascinating to witness the glass knight's combat prowess firsthand.
I wonder if bringing him to fight Magic Hat in Black Heart could've saved our saintess.
"It'd have been tough without you, Mardol. Thanks."
The crown prince stared at me intently. Inside my black helmet, I smiled faintly with pride at our success.
Around the time Licht's party conquered the Armored Queen Bee.
"Just answer the question."
"I don't know! Heroes, dungeons down below—I've never heard any of this..."
The white-haired woman in a magic hat was threatening a female student from Grand Hearts Academy.
"Not too bright, are you? No way someone who's not a hero could unravel a Demon King's power."
"That's why I really don't know.. Hic.."
The orange-haired girl sobbed, tears streaming down.
She looked like an oni with horns on her forehead, but the surrounding students ignored her cries completely.
"Hah. You're no fun at all."
As if they didn't exist from the start. Like the girl's desperate sobs were inaudible.
"Please.. just spare my life. My friends too..."
"Won't kill you. My darling hates that."
Students from the academy passed right by without a glance. Like two invisible people.
"Really, no unusual people? Someone with a holy sword, maybe."
"..Ah, I think I saw someone like that among the new students!"
Tilting her magic hat, Magic Hat kept pressing the girl.
Terrified, the orange-haired oni racked her memory.
"..What'd you say?"
"Kainel. His name was Kainel. Blonde hair, weird sword!"
"Aha, so that's how it is?"
Her golden eyes widened slightly at the intriguing answer, a sly grin curving her lips.
"..Where's that hero now? Things are finally getting fun."
"Heard he's off on group assignments. So, we're done, right..? Please restore my friends..."
"Good. Promise kept."
Her mood brightened at the response, white hair fluttering. The orange-haired girl stopped crying, hope dawning.
"But you? Need a little work. Can't risk you catching my darling's eye."
"..Huh? But, but.. you said you'd let me live if I answered..."
"Yes! Of course I'll let you live?"
Ignoring the girl's confusion, the Truth Demon King shuffled a deck of cards, preparing something.
"What to do.. Can't kill you.. Ah! Erase your face?"
Delighted by the idea, Magic Hat smiled ecstatically. As if her actions were perfectly normal.
"Kyaaaaah!! Somebody help! Please!!"
The girl fled screaming at the chilling smile, but the other students didn't even glance their way.
"..No one's coming to help, no matter what. Fool."
As if no one had been there from the beginning.