Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Water Style
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The spot where we got out of the carriage was near the Volcanic Horned Dragon's tail.
The complete opposite side from the front, where the raid was in full swing. From there, we saw the Volcanic Horned Dragon spewing lava and Gideon moving as if he were flying before it.
"Phew—looks like we weren't too late."
"...But we are late."
"Hey. If we got here before it ended, we're not late."
If you're late for class, they mark you as tardy, not absent, right?
"More importantly, what are these little green specks?"
I'd seen them even before we arrived; green, grain-like particles were falling from the sky like snow. Evangeline, who had driven the carriage, explained.
"It is the blessing of Lady Yggdrasil."
"A blessing?"
"It's one of Lady Yggdrasil's abilities, which provides various beneficial effects to allies."
Ah. So this was the buff I read about in the novel. No wonder I'm feeling so energized.
'This buff is insanely good.'
This must be why healers always rank high in games. The effect is so good, I'm tempted to kidnap the World Tree and use her as a buff bot.
"More importantly... may I go now?"
"Yeah, sure. Go ahead."
Evangeline seemed eager to leave, so I let her go.
She'd built the carriage and handled all the driving for three days, after all. Besides, she's served her purpose. She then dashed toward the Volcanic Horned Dragon, even using her mana to speed up.
While I was talking, the others were staring at the Volcanic Horned Dragon, their eyes filled not with fear, but with wonder.
"Aren't you guys scared?"
"...When I think about what you have in your inventory right now, Sir Luke, an S-rank monster seems rather tame."
Yui and Liche nodded in agreement with Luna's words.
"Anyone would think I'd stuffed another S-rank monster in my inventory."
Anyway, we headed in the direction of the seal to join the others.
Along the way, the Volcanic Horned Dragon unleashed a lava breath, and my heart swelled with awe as I watched the World Tree's light green barrier block it. Of course, even though the barrier held, all the surrounding trees melted away.
As we were running,
"Luke. Isn't that Arthur over there?"
"Huh?"
At Liche's words, I turned my head about ninety degrees to the left. Though obscured by trees, I could see someone fighting.
I can't pass up a good fight, so I changed course and headed over. Just as Liche had said, Toilet and his crew were battling some unknown demon.
Toilet was covered in blood from head to toe.
So much so that it looked like he'd die from blood loss in a few minutes. Still, the demon he was fighting was just as bloodied, which meant he'd put up a decent fight.
"You guys go on ahead and help with the raid."
"What are you going to do, Luke?"
"Skill farming."
Can't pass up on skills.
***
I sent the three of them off toward the Volcanic Horned Dragon and sauntered over to where the demon was.
Then, I stopped at a certain point to prepare for a surprise attack.
I'm not stupid enough to ruin a perfect ambush by shouting something like 'Take this!', so I silently drew a greatsword from my inventory and launched myself at the demon like an arrow.
Without so much as a breath, I swung my sword, but the demon must have sensed the danger to its life, as it quickly dodged to the side. The one who was surprised wasn't the demon, but Toilet.
"Kihik! Who are you? To launch such a terrifying attack out of nowhere. I almost pissed myself—khihik!"
"No, I'm the normal one here. I don't get why people don't just use their strongest attacks from the get-go."
Where's the sportsmanship in a life-or-death battle? Whether you spit in their eye or ambush them from behind, all that matters is winning, right? And after winning like that, teabagging your opponent in front of them is the best feeling.
"You, where have you been all this time?!"
While I was having a brief chat with the demon, a nearly-dead Toilet spoke up from behind me.
"Who are you?"
"Stop talking nonsense!"
I pretended not to know him because I didn't want to deal with him, but it didn't work at all.
Is this guy really wondering where I've been and what I've been doing in a situation like this?
I only showed up now because it was the perfect time for an ambush. Should I have just waited for him to die before making my move?
"We can win this without your help, so just go help the elves!"
"Really? Well, I think I could use some help, so I'll be taking yours. Oh, and your opinion doesn't matter, of course."
"What... Aaargh—?!"
"Go, Toiletmon! I choose you!"
I grabbed Toilet by the legs and hurled him toward the demon.
Then I leaped after him.
Unable to change direction mid-air, Toilet swung his sword forward to survive the demon in front of him, and the demon backed away to avoid the wild swing. I used that opening to launch a flanking attack.
"Where are you looking? That's just a toilet."
"Khik!"
I felt the blade connect, so I knew the ambush was successful, but seeing the demon pull away again, I realized the cut wasn't very deep.
There was a laceration on the demon's side, about five centimeters deep.
It must have managed to dodge pretty well under the circumstances.
"Tsk. If you'd just died quietly, it would have been a peaceful end. Why does everyone choose to suffer?"
The easy path is right in front of them, so why do they all insist on taking the hard way around? If both Toilet and the demon had died from that last attack, it would've been a win-win. Wouldn't that have been great?
"Hihihihi—You've done it now, haven't you?"
Stop laughing so damn loud. Are you bipolar or something?
"Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
"No clue."
"Then I'll show you—You'd better watch closely. If you can, that is. Kikik."
I really don't get why there are so many guys in this world who spout third-rate villain lines.
I know what lines will get you killed, so I avoid them, but I don't understand how these guys who don't even know what a death flag is can so nonchalantly raise every single one.
After that, the demon ignored Toilet, who was sprawled on the ground, and charged at me.
Its speed was far greater than Evangeline's, whom I'd fought before.
It definitely wasn't that fast just a moment ago. It must have some kind of speed-related ability. This is why I planned to kill it before it could use any abilities. Now it's too late, and things have gotten annoying.
"Haa... I should've swatted a fly like that in one go."
The fiend charged at me in a ninja-like running stance.
I saw it stretch its right hand forward mid-run, but it didn't look like a killing blow, more like an attack meant to inflict a superficial wound.
'Look at this bastard.'
Judging by the elven corpses I saw before, this guy must have that kind of taste. A sadist who enjoys tormenting others. But I'm no slouch when it comes to tormenting others myself. I raised my sword and slammed it into the ground with all my might.
-CRASH!
The ground caved in, and rocks shot up from around where I stood.
This forced the demon to halt its charge, but it didn't mean it couldn't attack.
The demon used the protruding rocks to dart back and forth, attacking me.
As a result, wounds began to appear on my body, one by one.
The most common tactic for those with superior speed. Hit and run. In other words, strike and retreat.
That was the demon's strategy.
A cunning tactic where you land all your hits while taking none in return. I know it well, having used it a few times in games in my past life and receiving compliments on my shitty playstyle.
And of course, I know very well how to counter it.
In fact, I know so many counters that the real problem is deciding which one to use to mess with him. First, these wounds are stinging, so I should drink a potion.
I took a potion from my inventory and drank it. Just that one potion made the wounds vanish completely, without a single scar. No wonder potions are so expensive. This stuff is the real deal.
"Kihihi! What! You even have potions?! This is the best!!"
Watching me, the demon laughed tauntingly.
Its voice was thick with glee, probably because it was happy to have more to cut.
This process repeated itself, and I drank another potion for the new wounds.
"Yep~ Hit me all you want~ I'll just regenerate~"
"How long can you keep that up?"
He was right. Potions are still liquid, and they don't digest instantly. No matter how many you have, there's a limit to how much you can drink.
In that case, couldn't I just make some room right now? I undid my buckle and dropped my pants.
"Domain Expansion: Public Urination."
Psssss. Ah, what a relief. After emptying my full bladder and letting out a satisfying burp, my stomach felt less bloated, and I figured I could drink another potion.
"Khik! Kyahahak! You're hilarious—! But how are you going to win with that—?"
He had a point. What I was doing couldn't be called an attack by any stretch of the imagination.
I wasn't wearing some kind of thorns armor that reflects damage, and all I was doing was taking hits from an opponent that would never tire.
"That's why I'm about to stop."
"What?"
Potions are worth money if I sell them. Isn't it a waste to use them just to mess with a guy like this?
I hadn't originally planned on using it on him, but since everyone would get caught up in it no matter where I used it, I decided to just go for it.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique."