Chapter 106: The Lord is With Us (27)
Chapter 106: The Lord is With Us (27)
The smell of earth was thick. The raw, grassy scent tickling the tip of my nose was cloying.
Despite the stench, I couldn't stop rolling across the ground. If I didn't, I wouldn't be able to withstand the coordinated attacks of the eleven monkey-like demonic beasts.
Thuck.
The claws of a monkey beast slammed into the soft earth—right where I had been standing a split second before. I cursed inwardly and channeled Aura into my sword.
One might expect the beasts to grow cautious at the sight of the faint, shimmering haze of energy, but they lunged even more frantically, as if emboldened.
They were like moths to a flame.
The only problem was that I wasn't the flame; I was merely a soft lump of flesh that could easily lose its life to those swinging claws.
Holding my breath, I fired off a silver line of light.
My target was the monkey beast whose claws were still stuck in the ground. It was a strike launched from a posture I’d barely managed to recover after throwing myself aside.
I couldn't put my full strength into it, but with the assistance of Aura, it was more than enough to pierce through a single demonic beast. However, something blocked my blade before it could connect.
Clang!
Sparks flew in midair. Another monkey beast had leaped from a tree, swinging its claws downward. My strike had already been unstable due to my shifted center of gravity.
My trajectory wavered instantly. Seeing this, the beast flashed a characteristically grotesque smirk.
Arrogant bastard. I snorted and reached for my waist with my free hand.
The eyes of the monkey pressing down on my sword went blank. That was the last expression it ever made.
Crunch.
My hand axe claimed another life. Its skull shattered, the monkey slumped to the ground like melting wax.
Ten left.
But before I could catch my breath, I heard the sound of more beasts kicking off the dirt. Three of them this time. It was a pincer attack from three directions with exquisite timing—a difficult combination to counter.
It would have been one thing if they all charged at once, but with this staggered timing, I couldn't cleave through multiple targets in a single stroke. If I tried, they might try to grab my sword.
Just like the first monkey I had killed.
Steeling my resolve, I reflexively pulled back my sword and hurled the hand axe I was holding.
Crack!
The hand axe buried itself in the forehead of one of the charging monkeys. Combined with the beast's own momentum, the impact was devastating; blood erupted from the gap where the blade was wedged deep.
It was a beautiful fountain show, fitting for a moonlit night.
But I had no time to admire it. Another monkey was closing in, following a virtual trajectory drawn before me.
A straight-line lunge—a thrust.
My muscles were stiff, not yet recovered from the force of throwing the axe. Even so, I gritted my teeth and forced my body to twist.
The claws grazed past me by a hair’s breadth. That was when my hand clamped onto the monkey beast's arm.
My body reacted on its own. Every muscle and nerve ending moved in a seamless sequence, as if the motion were second nature.
Holy Kingdom Secret Martial Art: Moon Reversal.
Having already slipped into the monkey's guard, I pulled the arm I’d slung over my shoulder with all my might. The monkey beast charging from behind let out a horrified shriek.
But it was already too late.
Blood sprayed in every direction. The body of the monkey I had flipped was shredded by its own comrade's claws. Of course, I didn't forget to show a special kindness to ensure he didn't feel cheated.
Boom!
A shockwave that shook the very ground rang out. It was a technique that combined mana-enhanced strength with the secret art of the Holy Kingdom. Its power was terrifying.
"Kieeeeeek!"
Naturally, the comrade who had swung its claws was crushed into a pulp beneath the slammed corpse. A pitiful scream echoed through the forest.
It was still groaning for now, but that wouldn't last long. No matter how tough a demonic beast was, it couldn't withstand that much impact from a clean hit.
Three gone in an instant.
Seven left.
Then, another monkey beast caught my eye as it reached out with its long arms.
A flash of light poured from my scabbard.
A single strike. No matter how long the monkey's arms were, they couldn't compete with my reach when combined with the length of my sword.
Another corpse thudded onto the ground.
Right. Six left.
It was much easier than at the start. I caught my breath and glared back at the monkeys who were now silently watching me.
"...What are you looking at? Am I handsome enough for even a monkey to notice?"
The monkeys immediately growled, baring their hostility at my words.
That hurt a little. Would it kill them to admit I’m good-looking, even if we are enemies? I’ve never heard anyone call me ugly in my entire life.
Irritated, I kicked off the ground. Two or three monkeys lunged at me, and a subsequent dance of blood decorated the silent forest clearing.
With every step I took, blades met claws, and the number of corpses grew.
Step by step, until finally—the last one.
The sword I threw pierced through the head of the cowering monkey.
Squeltch. Blood sprayed into the air. The beast's body collapsed onto the grass.
Of course, my own body wasn't unscathed. There were deep lacerations on my arms and back—wounds earned during the heat of battle.
I could still move my arms, but the amount of blood I felt flowing from my back was more than I’d expected.
My head felt dizzy. My back muscles couldn't properly support my spine, causing my body to stagger slightly.
Panting, I bent my upper body and yanked the hand axe out of a monkey's forehead. Blood spurted again, and the corpse convulsed once, a final testament to the life that had inhabited it moments ago.
This was the hand axe I’d thrown when dealing with the three monkeys at once. Since I’d just thrown my sword, this was the only weapon I had left.
Then, a giggling, mocking sound tickled my ears.
My eyes turned toward the source. There sat Senior Delphine, curled up and trembling violently.
"S-Stop! I-I was wrong... I won't, I won't ever defy you again... Hand Axe Young Master, no, L-Lord Ian..."
The problem was that it wasn't just Senior Delphine there.
A monkey beast was grinning, its claws pressed against Senior Delphine's pale neck. It looked as if it would kill her the moment she made a move.
I thought they were only interested in me, but it seemed there was at least one individual with superior intelligence.
A long silence followed.
The distance between me and Senior Delphine was considerable. While it wasn't impossible to neutralize the beast with a throw, its claws were already aimed at her throat.
The moment I took a throwing stance, it would be over.
For a long time, my eyes and its blue pupils stared each other down without yielding an inch.
Eventually, a sigh escaped my lips. As if I had no choice, I tossed the hand axe into the air.
The axe spun as it soared upward. Now, I was completely unarmed.
I raised both hands in a gesture of surrender. At that, the monkey beast shrieked in delight.
Those burning blue eyes glinted with desire. It looked as though it was contemplating how to use this hostage to toy with me.
And so, the monkey failed to notice. It didn't realize that my hand axe, which had been spinning in the sky, was now plummeting toward it in a bizarre trajectory.
Thwack!
By the time the hand axe buried itself in the crown of its head, the beast's eyes were wide with disbelief.
That was the end. The beast's corpse slumped to the ground, splattering blood and brain matter.
"...Thirteen. Finished."
My voice had finally regained its calm, but Senior Delphine, smelling the blood splattered on her body, had not.
"P-Please... hic, s-stop... sob, uugh..."
She was now openly sobbing. I watched her with a grim expression for a moment before speaking softly.
"...Senior Delphine, it's over."
"I-I was wrong... I was out of line to challenge you, I-I'm sorry..."
"Delphine Yurdina!"
Realizing this would never end if I didn't intervene, I shouted her name. Senior Delphine finally snapped out of it with a start. However, her eyes were still filled with terror as she dazedly looked around.
"...I said it's over."
My murmur overlaid the landscape filled with demonic beast corpses. Senior Delphine stood up with a bewildered face, only to discover the corpse of the beast lying right next to her.
Its wide-open pupils had yet to close. And from the top of its head flowed thick blood and yellowish brain matter.
"...H-Hieeeek!"
Senior Delphine flailed her legs in terror. The force of her panic dragged her body backward across the ground.
Her eyes were fixed squarely on the hand axe.
So the hand axe was the trigger. I massaged my throbbing temples to soothe the headache. Regardless, blood was streaming down my back and arms.
I had to get back quickly. It wasn't as if I’d gained nothing, though.
The abnormal behavior the monkey beasts showed during the fight wasn't a characteristic typically seen in ordinary demonic beasts.
I needed to discuss this with someone knowledgeable like Reto. Or perhaps someone with extensive field experience.
And if I disposed of these corpses, kept some for myself, and gave the rest to the orphanage for operating expenses, the children would be happy.
I didn't strictly need to give anything to the orphanage, but I’d grown fond of the place and wanted to be of some help. It was a place where many children couldn't even get proper meals.
I was a noble, so I didn't have to worry about making a living. Furthermore, Mr. Guildford was a trustworthy man; I was certain that if I entrusted him with the funds, he wouldn't use them for his own gain.
A noble should know how to share what they have. It was the duty of those who possessed much. I simply wanted to put that spirit into practice.
Besides, I was the one who killed all thirteen beasts, so no one would have grounds to complain.
As I was thinking this while looking around at the corpses, I noticed something.
Senior Delphine, who had tentatively stood up, was staring at me in silence. I only realized it when I glanced back over my shoulder.
The moment our eyes met, Senior Delphine bit her lip and looked away.
It seemed shame had finally caught up with her. I had no intention of comforting her, so I simply asked for her decision.
"...What will you do?"
At my words, Senior Delphine's body flinched. Her terror-stricken eyes turned toward me. Her blood-red pupils were shaking violently.
After staring at me for a long time, Senior Delphine hung her head low, looking utterly dejected.
"...I'm going back."
"A wise choice."
I trudged over to retrieve my sword and hand axe. Senior Delphine remained unresponsive, merely gnawing on her lip.
Her trembling shoulders testified to the fact that her mind was far from peaceful.
I looked at her with a momentary gaze of pity. Then, I suddenly remembered a resolution I’d forgotten.
I placed my hand on Senior Delphine's shoulder. Her blood-red eyes stared at me blankly, and I showed her the warmest smile I could muster.
"...Well then, shall we receive some punishment before we go?"
Clatter.
The sword Senior Delphine had been holding fell to the ground.
Her face turned pale in an instant, and intense horror clouded her eyes.
It was time for punishment.