Episode 3『Five Nail Which Rips The Ground』

Translator: Norva

Editor: Oscuras

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The mud bear came closer while turning its bloodshot eyes this way.

We intercept the two of them which came to us.

The mud bear is a ferocious demon but is a coward at the same time.

When its being attacked by their opponents, they would get frightened by the pain.

Furthermore, they should escape from that place if you inflicted more damage to them.

「Hah!」(Iori)

It evades my downward blow that had all my strength in it as the mud bear scoops it up in a

flash.

Though its blood gushes out, it seems that it isn't enough to cut it off.

While groaning in pain, the bear once again swung down its arm.

Countering that, I avoid it by sidestepping it off. E/N:Changed dance it off to sidestepping.

At the same time, I concentrate my attack on the part that I cut earlier.

The blood is scattered all over as the movement speed of its right arm has fallen as it is.

So, I back off deliberately to provoke the mud bear to go on offensive.

Toward the arms that flung against the ground, I swung down my sword from an overhead

position.

Thus, the right arm of the mud bear falls to the ground.

The mud bear should try to escape after being inflicted with damage that cost it one of its

arms――

『――――』

Or it should have, as it swung down its remaining left arm.

I elude it with the Jade Longsword while I jumped backwards using the recoil created by it.

「These mud bears condition is strange」(Iori)

「You're right, I've performed some light observation with my demon eyes on them, too. Far

from being frightening it seem they're going all out」(Elfi)

The line of sight from all six mud bears is facing our way. They seem to have regarded us as a

threat rather than those people who are riding that carriage. There are some mud bears

receiving the attack from Elfi's demon eyes and losing parts of their bodies, but they do not

seem to feel any pain from it.

「Its probably a new species born during those thirty years」(Elfi)

「That might be the case too, however………」(Iori)

Six mud bears have begun to move at the same time. Running on the ground with their four feet

and making a semi circle fighting formation. Obviously, they are working together.

「For now, let's eliminate it with my arms and Iori, you withdraw from there」(Elfi)

Thus, Elfi steps forward.

「Now, pay attention closely to me. So, you can worship me the moment I show you the real

power of the (Former) demon king……!」(Elfi)

Elfi said those lines in a high-spirited voice while she says those (Former) part in a subdued

voice. Not on her eyes, but the magic is concentrated on her right arm. She spreads five of her

fingers as she takes a stance that was about to stab her nail.

「――"Devil Arm・The Destructive Ripping Of Judgement"――」(Elfi)

The magical power which covered her arm has formed five huge claws. As it is, Elfi mows her

right arm at the mud bears that were headed towards her.

Nails that are reminiscent those of the dragon kind are being thrusted toward the mud bears

and reaches them simultaneously. With that, the body of five mud bears were torn up to pieces

and scattered all over. While, five deep scars are carved on the ground, the shock wave

produced out of it is shaking the neighbouring trees and plants intensely.

Indeed it's an overkill.

The one which could avoid that was only one of them which got a late start. That sole mud bear

has been blown away after receiving Elfi's shock wave, too.

『――――』

That last one of them is turning its body around to changed its target from us to the carriage.

It's the one which I cut off its right arm earlier.

The people at carriage seemed to be distracted by Elfi's blow and because of that, they reaction

is delayed and being catched off guard by the sole mud bear which turned over toward their

direction.

……It's inevitable.

「Fu――!」(Iori)

Aiming the hind leg of the mud bear which ran toward the carriage in its four pairs, I threw two

knives. That knife has pierces the hind leg of the mud bear which turned its back on us deeply.

That was the knife forged by Zoorutsu and it has considerable sharpness.

The mud bear stopped moving after being stabbed by the knives.

Passing by Elfi's I came close to that mud bear. It turns its body at me while opening its mouth as

it trying to intercept me.

I concentrate my magical powers as I fired rocks at――

「――Fuh!」

The mud bear wasn't able fired its magic.

The reason is because it was killed swiftly before it able to do so.

The head of the mud bear with its mouth open fell on the ground.

The six mud bears which disturbed the highway were wiped out and the battle was over.

◆

「Thank you very much!」

After the battle with the mud bears.

A woman quickly jumped out of the carriage and thanked us loudly. As it is, she comes running

over toward us.

The lady running is a woman in her twenties who is in a dress. Besides the dress, she's wearing

ornaments such as necklaces and rings, too. From her appearance, she's probably an aristocrat.

「……probably an aristocrat, don't behave impolitely because it's troublesome when you make

them angry」(Iori)

「Of course, I wouldn't」(Elfi)

Simultaneous when I give a warning to Elfi in a low voice, that woman has arrived in front of us.

「Haa……Haa…….Thank you so much for helping me who was in a dire situation!!」

With long red hair which showed its been taken good care off, it was a woman with

characteristic big madder red eyes. Wearing some light makeup while having some attractive

red lips. She seemed to wear perfume as a sweet smell drifted softly.

…… It is supposed to be my first meeting with her, but somehow I have a sense of deja vu from

it.

Apart from that, I felt a different magical power from her. Rather than human magical power, it

is close to Elfi and Mazoku ones.

「You don't need to thank me, but is it fine your side over there?」(Iori)

「Yes, although it was a dangerous situation, none of us had serious injuries」

According to the woman's story, when they passed the highway with a horse-drawn carriage, it

seems that they were suddenly ambushed by the mud bears. This neighbourhood is a

maintained one, so there should be a few demons. As a result, that's why they don't have

sufficient fighting power and it seems that they were in a grave situation if we were not here to

help them out.

She had a loud voice but her good upbringing is transmitted from her tone and conduct.

However, unlike those aristocratic in the kingdom, she doesn't have that arrogant attitude on

her.

That alone is a good impression.

If its those guys, they would be shouting from the very beginning something as「Why did you

not help ME earlier!」

「Karen-sama!」

From the carriage, a man who looks like an attendant came over here. It is a yellow-haired man

just before his thirties.

「We do not know whether it's really safe, please don't move around mindlessly」

「It's OK! Because these people have beat those demonic beings and it's safe!」(Karen)

「…………」

A man who called that woman Karen, turned his eyes *Chirari* glancing toward us. From that

gaze, I felt something like there are sharp thorns from it.

「……Judging from your clothes, it looks like both of you aren't from around here. Excuse me

for my rudeness, where did you come from?」

With a sullen look, the man asks for our identity. Do you want to say that "a lowborn shouldn't

get close to a lady?" As a result, it is a very attitude of the person which received help from me,

huh.

「……We are these sort of people」(Iori)

While not showing it on my face, I just took out my guild card from the pouch. For this kind of

occasion, I was an adventurer.

「Adventurer of the Federations…….In addition to that, both of you are A

ranked……!」(Karen)

Amazed, that woman is putting her hand on her mouth. That man narrows his eyes while

staying silent. At least, with this, we won't be made light of.

「Forgive me for my late introduction, My name is Karen Rayford!」(Karen)

「……I'm Karen-sama's attendant, Jean」(Jean)

Karen emphasised herself as an imperial aristocrat and was the lord's daughter of the Rayford

territory that lies ahead.

I have heard a family named Rayford.

That deja vu that I felt when seeing Karen a short while ago, could it be…….

「I'd like to ask……Did you know Gouache Leonard?」(Iori)

「That is my father's name……do you know my father!?」(Karen)

「――――」

Gouache Reynard.

It is the noble who I got to know when I came to the empire thirty years ago. We have fought

together and that alone left my impression at him. He was one of those who I wanted to meet

the most.

「He's like an old……acquaintance of mine」(Iori)

「Really?……」(Karen)

Karen darkened her expression at my words for some reason.

A slightly bad feeling is float across my chest.

「By any chance, did you come here because you had some business with my father?」(Karen)

「No, it is a coincidence. We had some business with the Labyrinth of Death Swamp」(Iori)

Karen holds her tongue while shaking her head.

「……Unfortunately, you can not enter the labyrinth right now, even if you're an adventurer

that probably came here to subjugate the labyrinth」(Karen)

「…………Why is that?」(Iori)

I have a bad premonition from it. I heard Elfi letting out some small breath while keeping her

eyes closed.

I feel the same, too.

「……This is because the barrier has been set up in the labyrinth」(Karen)

「The barrier, isn't it?」(Iori)

Karen said.

The barrier is being set up in order to prevent the demonic being from going outside.

It is good until that.

The barrier should have been set in the labyrinth of the Kingdom.

Judging from Karen way of talking, there seem to be some complicated circumstances

happening too. But that was a good thing, too.

But the problem was her next word.

「The one who put up those barriers to Labyrinth are――――」(Karen)

The name of the aristocrat who set up the barrier to the labyrinth are.

「It's the aristocrat called――Olivia Elieresire」(Karen)

Unexpectedly, my body has shaken a bit. However, Karen does not seem to be able to see it as I

suppressed my mouth.

「……Iori?」(Karen)

I was surprised that the woman who I helped was a daughter of my former acquaintance.

It was a wonderful coincidence itself.

However, it was something unexpected for me to heard that name from the woman(daughter of

my former acquaintance) itself.

Olivia Elieresire.

It is the name of the woman who betrayed me.

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