Chapter 95 – Resolve

The monster, who was slightly knocked back, scowled at Camus

Desert Monster [ Guraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! ]

As things didn’t go its way, a current of anger flowed through the monster as it became enraged. As if expressing irritation, it showed off the severed tail that swung hummingly from side to side.

Camus [ Are you okay? ]

Jin-u [ C-Chief……I’m sorry. ]

Jin-u’s face was distorted by pain as he apologized while bitterly thinking he had caused someone trouble.

Hiiro [ Oi, what’s that? ]

Taken aback by Hiiro’s words, they glanced in the monster’s direction. The sight that met them had shocked them both.

Desert Monster [ Gurururururu! ]

Somehow, the severed part of the tail had grown back.

Hiiro [ Oi Oi, it can even regenerate itself? I guess the usual methods won’t work, huh. ]

Silva [ How shall we proceed, Hiiro-sama? ]

Hiiro [Let’s see, I’ve got something in mind, but……]

Honestly, if all he had to do was kill it, Hiiro could somehow manage it alone. However, in this case, he had restricted himself to being a helper since the |Ashura Tribe’s| Chief Camus was the person expected to defeat the monster.

Silva [ As I thought, we will be exclusively supporting Camus until the end? ]

Hiiro [ Hou, you seem to understand, huh Jii-san. ]

Silva [ Nofofofofo! Well then, let us try our best to do that! ]

At that moment, the shadow at Silva’s feet twisted and coiled upward into his hand, taking the shape of, what appeared to be, a table knife.

Silva [ Lets go! Chaotic Butler toss! ]

Silva flew up into the sky as dozens of knives rained down upon the monster. However, the wall of sand materialized next to the monster once again, blocking them.

During this, Hiiro approached Camus and whispered to him.

Hiiro [ Listen up – similar to before, I’ll make the sand surrounding its body become soft. Although the sand covering the tail seems to have quite a lot of strength, it’s got nothing to do with defeating him. As such, your attacks should pa.s.s through. Focus all your efforts into piercing the core. ]

Camus [ ……Got it. ]

As he took his hands away from Jin-u, he glared at the monster with a piercing gaze.

Hiiro [ When I give the signal, move forward. ]

Camus [ Yes. ]

Although Silva was still attacking, when the wall of sand suddenly collapsed, the monster was nowhere to be seen.

Silva [Mu?]

Upon also noticing the situation, Silva furrowed his brow.

*Dobaa-!*

Silva [ What is going on!? ]

The monster somehow flung itself upwards underneath Silva while he was still in the air. It appears that the monster had burrowed itself under the sand.The stinger on its tail pierced Silva’s body.

Silva [ Muu! ]

As expected, Hiiro also opened his eyes wide upon witnessing such a sight. Certainly, the monster’s stinger was similar to a mad scorpion’s. Upon lodging its stinger into the body, it would release a paralysing neurotoxin that deprives the victims movement. Following this, it would seem that the scorpion would then eat its prey, little by little. A similar stinger was currently lodged in Silva’s body.

Of course, Camus began to move in an attempt to try and save Silva. However, Hiiro stopped him by holding his arm in front of Camus.

Camus [ Hiiro……? ]

Hiiro [ Be still. ]

Camus [ But……Jii-chan is…… ]

Hiiro [ Listen……be quiet and watch. ]

Camus tilted his head, giving off the feeling that he did not understand what Hiiro’s was talking about. Why shouldn’t he try to save a wounded ally? Although he doubted Hiiro’s actions, Camus looked up and watched Silva and the monster.

Desert Monster [ Gururururu! ]

Silva [ Gufu….uh… uu… ]

Silva looked like he was going through intense pain. Looking at it, you would think the monster already had him. However, he somehow grabbed the tail.

Desert Monster [ ……? ]

Silva [ Ku……..Nofofo, did you perhaps think that I was taken out? ]

Silva, who was just suffering a second ago, loosely puffed his mouth.

Silva [ Shall I hold onto this dangerous thing? ]

As he said thus, Silva lifted his right hand, as if he were lifting a winegla.s.s. Following this, a black sphere appeared in his palm. It seemed to be about 20cm in diameter. Next, he gripped the tail with his left hand. Finally, the globe disappeared as it was absorbed into the tail.

Silva [ Pool Ball…… ]

At that moment, an extremely thin rectangular object appeared from where the sphere had been absorbed. It was clearly caused by the black globe absorbed a moment ago.

The black rectangle quickly sliced apart the monster’s armor. It was like paper being cut with a razor. Once again, the monster’s tail was severed from its body.

Desert Monster [ Gura-!? ]

Silva [ On account of this sultry embrace, kindly separate from me. ]

*Buuuun!*

The black rectangular object morphed back into a sphere and shot out like a cannonball.

*Doga-!*

The monster’s body bent forward as the sphere superbly struck the monster’s stomach. The attacked monster had a dumbfounded expression, as it crashed into the ground without any means of protection.

Silva, who was stabbed by the monsters stinger, nonchalantly left the location .

Hiiro [ Oi, isn’t there something stuck in your stomach? ]

Silva [ Oya? How inconsiderate of me. ]

Silva gently plucked the tail out of his body and tossed it on the ground.

Hiiro [ Heh, you were fine after all ]

Silva [ I’m afraid I am not fine. It made a hole in one of my good suits… ]

Hiiro [ …….You’re basically unharmed……Seriously what in the world is your body made of? ]

Silva [ Nofofofofo! It’s because I am a butler! Nofofofofo! ]

After he spoke these words, Silva was dismayed due to the fact that he will be scolded by Ojousama about his tattered uniform. Meanwhile, Camus and Jin-u were blinking in surprise as they watched the embodiment of strangeness known as Silva.

Camus [ Eto…..you are……fine? ]

Camus couldn’t bear remaining silent and asked thus. However, Silva, who seemed to have his usual appearance, expressed a smile.

Silva [ Nofofofofo! My apologies for having worried you! As you see, I’m quite well! ]

When Hiiro saw how he bowed politely, he did not notice anything abnormal in his physical condition. Although he wasn’t surprised at this inexplicable situation because he’d seen it before, it was different for the other two. Still, Camus could now understand the reason Hiiro stopped him from helping Silva.

Camus ( He was trusted…..by Hiiro…….That’s somehow nice……. that sort of thing )

As Camus had definitely felt their mutual trust, he was slightly envious of it.

Hiiro disregarded the gaze of the pair who seemed to want an explanation since he did not have time to explain in detail. Their top priority was to eliminate the enraged existence in front of them.

Hiiro [ Jii-san, can you destroy that monster’s wall of sand again? ]

Silva [ Nofo? Most certainly! ]

Silva headed toward the monster again after he said that.

Hiiro [ Listen, I’ll say it again. We will have a chance after this. Promptly….Kill it. ]

Camus [ u….un ]

He swallowed loudly before nodding.

Immediately after Hiiro confirmed his response, he channeled magic into his fingertip.

|Tracking| |索敵|

Hiiro ( With this, I can find it no matter where it hides. )

In response to Silva’s knife attack, the monster erected another wall of sand, all according to plan. Following this, it then disappeared by once again diving into the ground. However, this time, Hiiro’s senses were able to capture the monster’s position. It was as if his eyes were capable of locating his target’s position via use of thermography. Hiiro knew that it was moving through the sand with incredible velocity.

Hiiro [ ..Alright. ]

Hiiro quickly wrote a word and waited for the moment when the monster tried to go out of the sand. Following this, Hiiro clenched his fist in antic.i.p.ation. And,

zuba!

At the same moment the monster came out of the sand, Hiiro vanished. He then reappeared next to the monster. He had used the character |Transfer| |転移|, a two word spell he had set up before this fight. He was thankful for his lvl 80 abilities as he was now able to instantly activate |Two-Word Chain| spells without having to write them on the spot.

The monster’s eyes were wide with surprise when Hiiro suddenly appeared before it. Following this, Hiiro pointed his fingertips at the monster. Hiiro proceeded to shoot the other word he had written. Normally, he would be hard pressed to hitting such a quick foe, however, it was currently caught off-guard. The situation was similar to how a moving car is unable to make a sudden stop.

Hiiro ( In other words, it can’t avoid this! )

Hiiro activated the effect of the word he set up before teleporting close to the monster. He used |Soft||柔| – the same one he had used before. With this, the defensive power of the sand armor was nullified.

Hiiro [ Next is this! ]

The back of Hiiro’s fist shone as he activated another word he had set up using ||Word Magic||.

|Colossal Strength| |剛力|

He felt power gather in his right hand.

bakiii-!

Hiiro’s fist shot towards the face of the monster, upon impact it made an unpleasant sound, as of flesh and bone being smashed. Blood trailed behind the monster as it was sent flying away.

*dosun-!

It plummeted to the ground and created a plume of sand. With the defense of the sand armor nullified, in addition to the increased attack power from the word |Colossal Strength|, the monster received a lot of damage, even though the soft sand broke its fall.

The monster rose unsteadily.

Hiiro [ Here’s another one! ]

Hiiro used |Air Writing| to write |Hard| |固| and shot it at the sand under the monster. Like the time with Camus, it has now been rendered unable to manipulate the sand.

Hiiro [ Now! Do it! ]

Hiiro shouted at Camus who was nearby waiting for orders. Hearing the voice, Camus narrowed his eyes and gripped the twin katanas in his hands.

Camus [ …. Daddy ]

From where he was standing, Camus charged full-speed at the monster. The pulsing core in the monster’s stomach was reflected in his eyes. As far as Hiiro was concerned, the sand’s defensive force was practically non existence. Furthermore, the monster could no longer erect a defensive wall as the sand had been rendered unusable due to the word |Hard| |固|. If Camus reacted too late, he might suffer some damage. However, if he attacked now, he would definitely defeat the monster.

Camus [ ……kill….I will kill it ]

In that moment, the question of [Who was he to kill?] surfaced in his mind. Following this, his father’s smiling face flashed before him. A nostalgic scent tickled Camus’ nose.

Camus [ …..Daddy……? ]

Everyone thought it was over. Thanks to Hiiro’s plan, they were perfectly prepared. Although Jin-u suffered a little damage, no one was killed. Above all, they were all liberated from the monsters terror.

Watching from afar, the people of the |Ashura Tribe| were confident in their victory……………until just now.

Involuntarily, everyone stiffened at the unforeseen spectacle reflected in their eyes.

Hiiro [ That idiot! ]

Hiiro was the only one that, in response to that spectacle, had…actually, Hiiro couldn’t help but reveal his frustrations towards the author of such a spectacle.

Because next to the monster’s core, the crossed katanas had stopped. Looking closely, the monster was still standing. Although it wasn’t that the monster somehow stopped the attack. Actually, Camus intentionally stopped his ongoing a.s.sault.

Camus [ ku…. ]

His dual katanas trembled slightly. No, it wasn’t just the katanas, it was Camus’ entire body that was trembling. Still leaning forward, his face was slightly raised. Even though his eyes were set on the monster, Camus’ face was distorted by sorrow.

Camus [ …I can’t…..do it. ]

Also puzzled by the unexpected action, the monster remained still.

Camus [ Because…… Daddy…….his smell was there… ]

Hiiro [ What are you doing! Quickly! Give it the finis.h.i.+ng blow!]

Hiiro descended from the sky and shouted at Camus.

Camus [ I…..I…. ]

As he said thus, a single teardrop was shed from Camus’ eye.

Camus [ I…..can’t do it……Daddy… ]

Upon seeing the tear, the monster was taken aback. In that moment, Hiiro clearly felt the monster’s blood thirst diminish. However, this was truly only for an instant. The monster’s l.u.s.t for blood and rage surged, surpa.s.sing their previous levels.

Following this, the imperceptibly regenerated tail’s stinger moved in an attempt to stab Camus.

Jin-u: [ CHIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEFFFFFF!!!!!!! ]

Jin-u embraced Camus as he jumped to the side. However, they did not completely dodge it. The stinger had gouged a chunk of flesh from Jin-u’s back.

Jin-u [ Guu-! ]

Camus [ Jin-u!? ]

The two simply fell to the ground in such a state. Camus used his body to cus.h.i.+on Jin-u’s fall.

Hiiro [ Jii-san! Buy me some time! ]

Silva [ As you command! ]

It would seem that Silva grasped the current situation. He created another one of those knives and threw it. However, the monster avoided it by jumping away from its current location.

Hiiro ( Chi, and just like that, it’s already recovered! )

The monster appeared to have recovered from Hiiro’s attacks as its movement had been restored

Desert Monster [ Gururururu! ]

As the monster provokingly looked at Hiiro and the others, it opened its mouth wide and-

*kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin!

It released a considerably high pitched tone. As they were struck with an unpleasant, almost ear-ringing sensation, Hiiro involuntarily frowned.

Hiiro [ I-I see, this is! ]

At the same time Hiiro realized the meaning of the monster’s behavior, in response to the monster’s cry, similar cries sounded nearby. Following this, the sand from both sides of the Desert Monster ascended into the air with a bas.h.i.+ng/spluttering sound. From within the sand, new monsters emerged.

Hiiro [ As I thought, this is the monster’s ability to call reinforcements! ]

Silva [ It seems to be so. Apparently, they are coming here in groups from afar?]

It was as Silva had indicated. Even though it was quite a distance away, they were able to discover several monster-like shadows scattered here and there.

Upon confirming thus, there were people that could be seen attacking the monsters in the distance……they were the |Ashura Tribe|. This situation was one that they group had more or less expected. As such, it was unlikely that the surrounding monster’s reinforcements that headed in this direction would not be capable of approaching Hiiro’s location.

Hiiro (Maa, Aka-Loli did say that she’d move if push comes to shove. I guess it should be fine to ignore the other monsters. The real problem is……these three here.)

Naturally, one of which was the Desert Monster. With regards to the other two, one was a giant monster known as the |Gray Golem|. The remaining monster was called |Mud Man|, a monster that possessed a mud-like body.

They had only heard about the information regarding these monsters from the 『Ashura Tribe』. They were Rank S monsters. In all honesty, they had wanted to resolve this before the Desert Monster had called for reinforcements. However, now that it has come to this, it was imperative for them to think of an alternative method to resolve the situation.

Hiiro [ Jii-san, mind me leaving the rest to you for a bit? ]

Silva [ …What are you planning to do, may I ask? ]

Hiiro [ I’m gonna give that idiot a wake up call. ]

As he shot those words out while wearing a disgruntled expression, a blue vein surfaced onto Hiiro’s forehead.

Silva [ Nofofofofo! Oh dear, oh dear. In which case, I shall also strive to try my hardest. ]

As Silva sharpened his gaze, he stood in front of the three monsters. Upon seeing this, Hiiro changed the direction of his body quickly before moving his feet. In front of the direction he was heading in was…………the place where Camus was currently in.

Upon seeing Jin-u raising a voice of agony due to receiving the attack from the stinger, Camus was fl.u.s.tered. As Jin-u’s face grew pale, the wounds he received on his back began to painfully ooze crimson blood.

Camus [ Jin-u……I……I…… ]

It was clearly Camus’ own fault that Jin-u had received such an injury. As he was torn between the self that was unable to do anything for Jin-u and the self that had his will to fight warped, Camus had fallen into a state of panic.

At this time, Hiiro had approached. As Camus thought that Hiiro would be able to do something, he raised his head.

*Baki-!*

However, before he had been aware of it, Camus’ face was distorted due to a stinging in his cheek, sand heated by daylight entering his mouth. Camus had now understood that he had fallen to the ground. Furthermore, he realized that Hiiro had hit him.

As he slowly got up, Camus simply stared at Hiiro, his eyes opened wide. It was an expression that indicated that he was unable to comprehend why Hiiro had hit him. In the face of such a Camus-

Hiiro [ You’re really unsightly, aren’t you? ]

Camus [ ……eh? ]

As Hiiro pierced Camus with a chilling glare, he folded his arms and looked down upon him.

Hiiro [ How’d this situation happen? ]

Camus [ …… ]

Hiiro [ You made your resolve, right? Even so, what’s with that shocking display? There are limits to how unsightly one can be. ]

Camus [ H-Hiiro…… ]

In the face of those ruthlessly ejected words, Camus was rendered unable to answer.

Hiiro [ The reason for that Top Knot b.a.s.t.a.r.d’s suffering is because of you. The fact that the Desert Monster was able to call for reinforcements, turning this into a pain in the a.s.s is also your fault. Most importantly, the reason why I’m so d.a.m.ned frustrated is also your fault! ]

Hiiro’s words, loaded with anger, continued.

Hiiro [ That stinger probably has a neurotoxin, right? A poison that steals away one’s ability to move. But if the place it lands is near the heart, it will stop even the heart’s beat. The one receiving the attack will die. ]

Camus [ T-that can’t be! We have to do something! B-because of me, Jin-u is…! ]

Baki!

Hiiro hits Camus’s face once more.

Hiiro: [ Aa, that’s right. All of this is your fault. Incidentally, those from your |Ashura Tribe| who are fighting other monsters may make a mistake and end up receiving a fatal wound. That would be your fault as well. ]

Camus [ Uu… I… I… ]

Camus grinded his teeth as he slowly shed tears once more.

Hiiro [ What is it that you want to do? ]

Camus [ … Uu… uu… ]

Hiiro [ When you said you wanted to protect everything, was it a lie? ]

Camus [ It was… no lie… ]

Hiiro [ … You said it, right. That you could smell your father’s scent from that monster. ]

With tears still running down his face, Camus turned his eyes to Hiiro.

Hiiro [ Then perhaps a fragment of your father’s consciousness continues to dwell in that monster. ]

Camus [ … -!? ]

Camus took a deep breath as he looked at the monster. He saw the figure of the monster matching blows with Silva, an incredibly angry expression plastered on its face. It definitely didn’t seem like the sort of expression his father would make. Still, it was undeniable that the scent of his father, Rigund, emanated from the monster.

Following this, a different scene entered Hiiro’s eyes. For a brief moment, upon seeing Camus’s tears, the monster’s hostility abated. Perhaps it was the sliver of Rigund that continued to dwell within the monster. His response to seeing his son’s expression of sorrow.

Hiiro [ Watch closely. ]

Hiiro glared at the monster.

Hiiro [ If that monster’s your father, then will you do nothing but cry in his presence? Is that all you can do? ]

Camus [ ……Daddy ]

Hiiro [ Don’t mistake what you’re showing for kindness. ]

Camus [ ………… ]

Hiiro [ Familial piety. You’re thinking of your family. Even when he looks like that, you can’t kill your father? ]

Camus silently hung his head. Hiiro took that as a sign of affirmation

Hiiro [ If that’s your father, then isn’t that all the more reason for you to end this with your own hands? ]

Camus [ My own… hands? ]

Hiiro [ Not hurting your family. That isn’t kindness; it’s just you acting spoiled. Looking at him now, you know what you have to do. You know what you need to do for your father, don’t you? And all you can do is cry? ]

Camus [ I… am… ]

Hiiro [ True kindness only has meaning when you can use it as strength. At the very least, that’s what I believe. ]

Camus [ Hiiro… ]

In truth, it was a line he had read in a book once before. However, it was also true that it had left quite an impression on him.

As the two’s eyes met, Hiiro slowly opened his mouth.

Hiiro [ Go save him. With no hands other than your own. ]

Camus [ …………. ]

Hiiro [ The one who can truly free him from his suffering is no one but his son. Are you sure that you’re just going to watch him without doing anything? ]

Life returned to the pupils of Camus’s eyes.

Hiiro [ Or will you let a simple traveler, an uninvolved bystander like me kill him? Your father? It’s not like I really care though?. ]

Camus [ … No. ]

Hiiro [? ]

Camus [ I won’t let… you do that. ]

Hiiro [ … Then what will you do ?]

Camus placed his hand on the fallen Jin-u’s shoulder.

Camus [ Jin-u… I’m sorry. But… It’ll be alright. ]

As he spoke, Jin-u faintly opened his seemingly heavy eyelids that had been closed until now. A slight smile floated on his face.

Jin-u [ Y…yes… I’ll leave… Rigund-sama in your… hands. ]

Camus [ Un. ]

Camus gave a strong nod, and stood up straight. He turned to Hiiro.

Camus [ Take care… of Jin-u. ]

Hiiro [ …Just go put an end to this already. ]

Camus [ Yeah! ]

Camus started off in the monster’s direction. Hiiro moved his eyes towards Jin-u.

Hiiro [ Oi topknot. This is a loan. You’ll pay it back later. ]

Jin-u[ … Ha? ]

Although Jin-u was unable to understand the words that flowed out of Hiiro’s mouth, his body was suddenly enveloped in a warm light.

Jin-u ( W-what is this light… it… feels nice… )

It was as if he was resting under a warm sun, experiencing the sensation of a cool breeze ma.s.saging his body. It was a sensation that resembled being immersed in a bath, its warmth adjusted to the perfect temperature. As he was overcome by the urge to continue experiencing this phenomenon forever, his eyelids naturally began to gradually descended over his vision.

|Complete Recover| |完治|

By the word Hiiro used, all of the wounds Jin-u sustained began to close themselves. Moreover, Hiiro’s magic gently wrapped around Jin-u’s body, and a whimsical expression appeared on his face as the power lulled him to sleep.

Hiiro felt some fatigue well up in his body. That one cost quite a bit of MP. He took out an MP Recovery item from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth. He had made it a regular practice to carry them with him just in case.

Hiiro ( Good, now all that’s left is that idiot over there. )