Chapter 46

"I don't want to admit it.

From halfway through, I understood that my strength was completely ineffective against this man.

However, it should never happen that a beast person is defeated by a human.

That's why I can't admit defeat.

I fought with all my might.

My magic and physical strength were completely drained.

But he hasn't even lost his breath.

I realize the difference in power.

Still, I can't admit it.

Loa... I can't accept that the man who is worthy of being her husband is him.

She is my woman... mine and mine alone――――――

'Hmm... It seems your love and hate have built up quite a bit, haven't they?'

Who could it be...?

There shouldn't be anyone to speak to me while I'm hanging my head like this...

Beast people are harsh to the defeated.

Especially someone who is overwhelmingly dominated by a human like me shouldn't be spoken to.

But this voice... it seems to be heard directly in my head...

'I don't care about the habits of beast people, but do you want that girl? If so, is it okay to give up here?'

It's not okay... but with a straightforward approach, I can't beat him――――――

'Really... Why do you think I implanted that <cherished tattoo> in you?'

Tattoo? What are you talking about?

'Oh, right... Sorry, sorry. I made it invisible, so you couldn't see it. But it seems Setsu could see it...'

What are you talking about...? Who are you?

'Hmm? Me? Well... I'm just a passing sorcerer, I guess. Do you really want that girl?'

I want her... but...

'Would you want her even if it costs your life?'

...If I can get her... I would give this life, no matter how many times.

'If you have that resolve, it's enough. I'll give you power.'

...Why are you doing this?

'I also have something I really want. Life, wealth, dreams, friends, I want it no matter what sacrifices I have to make. And that can be obtained if you beat that man. This is a mutual benefit. I'll give you as much power as you need to win. So――――――win at all costs, no matter what sacrifices you make...'

◇ ◇ ◇

"What is it?"

Ruga's behavior seems strange.

I take a step back in caution, and suddenly the tattoo on his shoulder starts to wriggle.

"Ah... Aaaaaaah!!"

"!?"

The wriggling tattoo extends over Ruga's entire body, emitting a sinister miasma.

As the black pattern spreads over his entire body, his muscles begin to swell, gradually changing even his skeletal structure.

(This magic... It's definitely that bastard Fuyuma...!)

The miasma emanating from Ruga is undoubtedly the same cursed magic as Fuyuma's.

How did this guy come into contact with him...?

No... it's pointless to think about it.

Fuyuma is unpredictable, and it's impossible to know where and what he's involved in.

It's not surprising that he would be involved with a beast person here.

Considering he's involved with Shiro Neko, it's not surprising.

Still, for that guy, who hates other races, to be involved... is he that desperate?

"Gaahhhhhh!!"

"Oh... Not the time to be thinking about unnecessary things."

The tattoo spreading over his entire body is gradually fading, as if being absorbed into his body.

On the contrary, as it is absorbed, it dyes his body black, making it difficult to find the original Ruga.

His upper body, swollen with muscles, is now disproportionate to his unswollen lower body, and he is using his arms to balance himself on the ground.

The image is that of a gorilla... but he was better off as a dog...

"...It must be painful."

"Gaah! Gaahhhh!!"

Ruga's screams are filled with a tone of agony, and eventually, blood starts to flow from his mouth as if his throat is torn.

Still, he doesn't stop screaming.

It's a painful sight to behold...

"Damn... I have to do something――――――what!?"

"Nuuhh!!"

He's fast, much faster than before.

In the instant I was distracted, he closed the distance and struck me with his powerful arm.

I crossed my arms to defend, but the strength was greater than expected, and his arm strength alone slammed me into the Colosseum wall.

"Oof... That hurts!"

'Ohhh!! Good job!!'

'Attack! Attack!!'

"Gaahhhh!!"

The audience is carefree.

They probably only see Ruga as having become stronger.

"Setsu! That's Fuyuma's!!"

"I know! Roa! You don't have to come down!"

"Eh!? I, I understand..."

I stop Roa from rushing out.

If I don't, she might get hurt...

From the punch just now, the current Ruga probably has power and speed on par with a Beast King.

Most likely, that tattoo is the cause of the power-up.

And if it's something given by Fuyuma... it can't just be a power-up.

As I said before, to reach the level of a Beast King or Demon King, one must seek power with their life on the line.

They possess the talent to stand at the top and have achieved their strength through immense effort, even at the cost of their lifespan.

In other words, if the talentless Ruga is approaching that level...

"He's... burning his life...!"

"Gaahhhh!!"

Ruga's muscles, swollen to the point of tearing, start to bleed from various places.

But the torn parts quickly regenerate, and other parts tear and regenerate just as quickly.

By repeating this astonishing cell division and instant destruction and regeneration, he seems to be increasing his strength every second.

While I wasn't particularly good or bad at health and physical education, the principle is the same as muscles getting stronger.

But to do this at such a speed, his body can't possibly hold up.

"Rocks... All... Fall!!"

"Don't say such dangerous things!!"

I pull out the black sphere from my magic bag and charge towards the transformed Ruga.

"Rocks!"

I dodge his sweeping arm by leaning forward and get into his guard.

"Close call!"

"Yah!"

I slash upward with the black sphere, cutting off Ruga's thick arm.

This should unbalance him and make him unable to move――――――

"What...! It regenerates in an instant!"

"Gaah!"

My plan fails spectacularly as his arm regenerates instantly from the cut and strikes my right side.

"Ouch!"

I can't be hit twice.

I throw the black sphere and grab his arm, which is twice as thick as my torso, with both hands, bracing my feet.

"Haah!"

"Ugh"

I kick his torso, forcing him to lose balance.

Because he was close to the wall, his body is deeply embedded in the Colosseum wall.

But――――――

"No damage...?"

No, it must have affected him a little, or it just regenerated immediately.

I thought I put a lot of force into it.

"Jine... All... Jineee!!"

"! Shit!"

Ruga lets out a roar.

At the same time, a pitch-black wave emanates from his body and spreads around.

The audience, who are hit by it, start to act strangely.

'What... is this...?'

'My body feels heavy...'

'It's... hard to breathe...'

"This is <Curse Infection>!?"

<Curse Infection>――――――one of the vicious techniques Fuyuma can use, where the infected person becomes the source of infection, spreading the curse to the surrounding area.

Since Fuyuma himself doesn't directly implant the curse, it takes a considerable amount of time for the curse to fully take effect, but it can still cause severe physical discomfort, as with the current audience.

I can dispel this level of curse on my own, but if the others are exposed to it for too long, it could be disastrous.

"We need to stop this quickly...!"

But... I can't kill Ruga with my own hands...

I know I don't have time to hesitate... but still――――――

"Setsu-san!"

"!? Mineko!?"

Mineko is running through the audience.

Why can she move normally?

"My sister, the Beast King, and Roa suddenly collapsed...!"

"Damn, even they can't handle it... Why can you move?"

Mineko, who has jumped down next to me, looks a bit pale but shows no signs of abnormal movement.

Even though she came this close, why can she move?

"Well... I do feel a bit sluggish, but it's dozens of times better than when I was possessed by the curse."

"...I see."

Resistance to curses... After being possessed by strong curses for a long time, Mineko's body might have become quite resistant to sorcery.

Especially with curses that have a negative impact on the body, many of them work like pathogens, and it's not surprising that her body has developed antibodies.

This... is a fortunate turn of events.

"Mineko... lend me a hand."

"Eh? Y, Yes!"

"Gaahhhh!!"

We face Ruga, who is still roaring and spreading the curse.

Just a little more... we'll have to be rough.

It's about time Setsu's principles start to hold us back...