Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Demons Unleash Poison on the Dwarf Principality! (3)
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Deciding that capturing Viral Darsa in that short time was the better move. And then the Royal Knights members effortlessly rescuing Viral Darsa without much trouble.
That level of combat... is it even real? It really makes my chest swell with pride. If only I weren't here, that is. Right now, I felt an immense burden, like a rookie soldier stuck on two weeks of standby.
Anyway, no touching for two whole weeks. No assignments either. So the veterans busted their asses while the rookies just stood back and watched. That's exactly the vibe.
The doppelganger—more precisely, its ringleader—kept pressing the attack relentlessly without pause. The horror of invisible tentacles erupting from the floor was beyond imagination.
The only reason I could dodge them was purely thanks to time stop. Seeing them burst up right where I'd been standing, without a millimeter of error, sent chills down my spine.
If I'd stayed put, they would've pierced me from below straight up. I glanced around quickly. The other knights were evading with plenty of room to spare.
Some were even counterattacking. As expected of the Royal Knights! I believed in you guys! Damn! Looks like they can handle this without me stepping in.
"...What an absurd monster."
"Demons are all like that by nature."
"I can finally believe it."
Thanks to them, I was hanging back now, chatting with Viral Darsa. Of course, I had an excuse. Protecting the most important figure, Viral Darsa, as my justification.
Screeeeech!!
A chilling screech echoed as the doppelganger spat out tentacles like bullets. At the same moment, the world turned gray. Time had stopped again. I clicked my tongue.
Time stopping automatically meant, in other words, I'd nearly died if I'd stayed still. And sure enough, the doppelganger's tentacle was frozen right in front of my eyes.
I swiftly drew my sword and slashed at it. Maybe because it was blessed by the elves, it was a bit tough, but I managed to sever it. And then time resumed.
Was that attack the doppelganger's trump card? Its movements suddenly seemed thrown off in panic. The Royal Knights were startled too.
"Wh-what the hell was that just now?!"
"It means we couldn't react!"
"Don't worry about it! The captain's back there!"
"We just do our jobs!"
"..."
Captain Yuren and Cluna rallied the knights, launching an even fiercer assault. So that tentacle strike really was its ace in the hole. Suddenly, I'd blocked the trump card.
Bayard roared as he threw a punch. Overwhelming raw power crumpled the doppelganger like a tin can. With half its body shattered, it finally retreated.
I couldn't let it get away like that, so I ordered the knights to pursue. They moved to chase immediately. If not for the little monster the doppelganger had summoned.
"Buying time with useless tricks!!"
"Everyone, go on ahead. I'll handle this one alone."
"Teacher...!!"
"Yuren, Cluna. Take care of Helia."
"Leave it to me."
"We'll protect her with our lives."
I sent the knights ahead and stayed behind alone. To guard Viral Darsa. To be more honest, I just couldn't stand sitting idle while everyone else fought.
Imagine everyone else working their asses off while you're just standing there spacing out. Nothing more stressful or maddening. But I wasn't about to rush to the front lines either.
They say an incompetent person being overeager causes big trouble. So, I'd stick to opponents on my level. Like this slimy thing dawdling in front of me right now.
"What the hell is that? Doesn't look that strong."
"Don't let your guard down. Why else would it leave that behind?"
"You're right."
No, you're spot on. He said that, but no matter how I looked at it, it screamed "random mob slime." That's why I stayed behind. To suck some easy honey...!!
I could claim I did my part. And protect Viral Darsa too. Killing two birds with one stone—eat the pheasant, eat the egg, beat the bush and catch the crawfish.
That's what I thought, for a fleeting moment.
A piercing screech ripped through the air, slamming my eardrums. Right then, I saw it: razor-sharp spikes hurtling straight at me. The slime had conjured them itself.
It was similar to the doppelganger's earlier attack. Except this one difference: the doppelganger had just one. These spikes closing in? Easily dozens.
Slicing them all would blow my cooldown. So I hoisted Viral Darsa over my shoulder and bolted. Boom! Kraaaang! Massive explosions hammered my back.
If I hadn't evacuated fast, Viral Darsa and I would've been riddled with bloody holes by now. I sighed in relief inwardly but frowned all the same.
"Wh-what the hell was that?!"
Viral Darsa, caught off guard that such an attack came from that pathetic-looking slime, spoke in a panicked voice. Sadly, I had no answer for him.
Because I didn't know either. It looked like a total slime no matter how you sliced it. The problem? Slimes aren't magical beasts. They're one of the fairies living in the forests with the elves.
So when the doppelganger first spat it out, I wondered why bother with something like that. But one thing was clear now. This was no ordinary slime I knew.
"Too bad. I was hoping to take one out in that opening."
"What the hell are you?"
"Me? The chief's loyal subordinate."
"..."
The slime soon reformed. But not like the chief. While the chief had collapsed into a mess, this one took a humanoid shape. If I had to describe it...
It resembled a boy. The more I looked, the worse my premonitions got. It called itself the chief's loyal subordinate. So why did the underling look stronger than the boss?
"Royal Knights remnants are threatening as expected. Especially you, the new captain—you're the biggest threat."
"So?"
"So I'm going to kill you. You knew that and stayed behind, right? Am I wrong?"
"..."
Nope. I stayed because I thought it was a mob.
Thought it was cannon fodder, turns out it's the final boss?!
Save me.
Though greatly weakened now,
Yuren was still a dragon through and through. Gauging an opponent's strength was child's play for her. So she instantly realized the squishy thing was stronger than the self-proclaimed chief.
At first, she'd planned to handle it herself. She didn't want to burden anyone else. But then her eyes met his. Her new captain.
Hans. Without a word, he stepped forward first. Drew his sword confidently and aimed it at the thing. From that, Yuren understood immediately.
I'll handle this as captain.
You all do your jobs.
That's what he was saying. Yuren turned her head. Cluna nodded back at her, having grasped the captain's intent. They charged ahead.
Clara, Ruby, and Bayard followed right behind. No words needed—they could read the movements and act accordingly.
"What the heck is that? It looked super weak!"
"Clara, judging by appearances alone is a bad habit."
"Huh?! Really?!"
"Yes. That's probably the real deal."
Not on the level of the progenitor they'd fought before. But clearly one of the stronger Blood Tide demons. Normally, either Cluna or she should stay behind.
But the captain refused. Probably because of the human girl trailing behind. Yuren glanced at the tiny girl running alongside, still struggling to keep up.
She was panting hard, overwhelmed for now, but gritting her teeth to match their pace. At that young age. Overwhelming talent—something even more.
Is that why the captain treats her so well? Yuren's thoughts wandered there, and she hurriedly shook them off.
Pathetic of me.
To feel jealous of such a young human girl. She didn't want to sink lower. Besides, he was human, she a dragon, right? A swarm of stray thoughts bubbled up.
"Yuren. I see the doppelganger up ahead."
"R-right. We'll subdue it immediately."
"Yuren's so reliable!"
"Not former captain for nothing!"
Startled by the sudden voices from behind, Yuren bolted forward. Clearly, it was to hide the blush on her face from everyone. A secret, for sure.
"..."
Save for one person. Helia, smiling faintly but with cold, dead eyes. No one else noticed Yuren's flush.