Chapter 58

I'm late, sorry!

"Are you... trying to make Yu deal with that person even though you know who they are...!?"

"Huh?"

Koushin looked at me with eyes that couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Idiot! Luna is a high-ranking officer in the human army! There's no way Yuzu can win against someone like that!"

"Hmm..."

So, the black-robed ones are assigned as officers.

That makes sense, no matter how strong they are, they won't be trusted if their identities are unknown.

But since Elka and the others didn't tell me anything, the country must have done something.

"Move out of the way, Sasaki...! We have to stop Yu right now or he'll die!"

"No, it's fine. He can beat that woman now."

"...What are you saying?"

"Rather, you should worry about yourselves a bit more, shouldn't you?"

You need to get a bit more serious, or it'll be too anticlimactic to be killed instantly.

I am in a hurry, though.

Koushin and the others must be in the same situation.

"Let's get started, we're in a hurry, right?"

"You... You insolent bastard! <Lava Orb>!"

Endo, veins popping, rushed forward and launched a large lump of lava.

It's either the completed form of the magic used before or a unique technique close to Endo's own magical power.

But it's slow.

Slow enough for me to easily move behind my classmates.

"Did it work!?"

"It didn't!?"

The puddles turned to steam with a loud explosion.

Seeing this, Endo started saying something stupid, so I kindly told him where I was.

"! Behind!?"

"What!?"

Mizuki was the first to notice and react, but it was too late.

If the opponent had murderous intent, half of them would be dead in that instant.

"Long-range group, fall back! Close-range group, move to the front!"

Jiro's orders rang out.

They don't seem to be arrogant enough to challenge me one-on-one.

"Come on"

"Whoa!"

A male student, whose name I don't remember, rushed at me with a sword.

Others followed, attacking from both sides.

Their coordination is good, but what do they think they're doing by all rushing at once?

"Here it is!"

I swung the black sphere.

The lightly swung black sphere swept away the group that rushed at me.

"Attack together! Remember what you learned in the dungeon!"

Seeing the group that was swept away and groaning on the ground, Koushin shouted.

The front-line fighters paused for a moment, then started moving separately.

No, they look scattered, but they are well-organized.

Proof of this is that they launched their attacks with perfect timing.

"Ora!"

"Whoa..."

"Sei!"

"Here, here"

"Ya!"

"Try and hit me~"

I deflected, parried, and blocked the punches, swords, and knives that were thrust, swung, and thrown at me.

Surrounded by about ten people, not one of them could touch me.

Compared to this, monsters are much better.

"Why can't you hit me!?"

"Who knows? Maybe you're just too slow?"

"You...!"

No matter how angry they get, they can't hit what they can't hit.

And, the long-range group is casting spells from a distance.

I'll put these guys to sleep before they hit me.

"Here, <Electric Floor>"

"Ah!"

Electricity from my feet burned my classmates.

The puddles formed by the heavy rain helped the electricity flow well with a small amount of magic.

"Magic! Go!"

"<Wind Blade>!"

"<Flame Spear>!"

"<Water Cannon>!"

"<Rain of Rocks>!"

"<Lightning Spear>!"

With Jiro's command, the spells were launched all at once.

There are a lot of them, and they're coming from all sides...

"!"

...I can't dodge them all...

...By the way, why are these guys doing this for Yuzu?

It was clear to everyone that Yuzu was conscious.

Still, they're fighting on the premise that Yuzu is being controlled by me, but it's strange that no one doubts Yuzu.

Moreover, everyone trusts Endo too much.

(No... that's not it. Everyone trusts Yuzu too much.)

Indeed, Yuzu was loved by everyone.

Since I've been near Yuzu since my reincarnation, I've never seen anyone who dislikes Yuzu.

Even those who have never met Yuzu are said to have a good impression of Yuzu.

Frankly, it's abnormal to be loved by strangers.

Does Yuzu... have something...?

"Whatever. Later, later."

It's not something to think about now.

I want to check it out later, but for now, I'll deal with these guys in front of me.

"Move! I'll take care of it! <Lava Orb>!"

"Pathetic."

I deflected the magma ball launched by Endo with one hand.

Seeing my magic, which exploded in mid-air and turned to steam when it hit the ground, Endo froze.

"No way...?"

"...Everyone, fall back."

Koushin, seeing this, gave orders while stepping forward.

Others who stepped forward bravely were Jiro and Mizuki.

And Endo, who stepped forward but couldn't move.

Probably, the others can't launch attacks stronger than the magma ball.

Koushin's judgment that they wouldn't be of any use in this battle is correct.

The classmates who looked like they wanted to say something hesitated but stepped back, understanding their own abilities.

"Hey, if you're leaving, take these guys with you."

I grabbed a few classmates who had fallen behind and threw them.

Ignoring the surprised group, Jiro caught all of them, stopped their momentum, and put them down on the ground.

All with one hand, not bad.

"Hey, hey, they're our classmates, can't you be a bit more gentle?"

"Then don't gang up on me. I'm alone here."

"Sorry, but I have no sympathy for those who attacked Yu."

"Whatever, I don't need it anyway."

While talking, the group fled in the opposite direction from me.

They seem to be on guard, but I won't chase them.

Goodbye, nameless everyone.

"Still, Koushin, it was a good call to let everyone retreat. If Endo's magma ball doesn't work, we can't deal with you."

"I feel bad for everyone."

"It can't be helped! This way, we can move more freely!"

The ones left are three of the popular group and one idiot... that's reasonable.

"Poor guys who were declared useless."

"Better than dying, I think."

"True, but..."

I won't kill them... but, there's a chance. With so many people, one might die accidentally.

With fewer people, it's less troublesome for me too.

"---Let's go, Sasaki."

"Okay."

Koushin and Mizuki disappeared.

Fast... I can see the form of Grain.

I blocked Koushin's Excalibur, which appeared right next to me, with the black sphere, and stopped Mizuki's dagger attack from the opposite side by grabbing her arm.

When I said they were fast, I meant within the realm of common sense.

To me, they're still slow.

The two looked surprised, but it seems this isn't their main attack.

With both hands occupied, Jiro appeared in front of me.

"Take this! <Iron Fist Punishment>!"

A magic-infused fist hit my stomach.

The foot that stepped in shook the ground and created a small crater.

Good teamwork, followed by a high-power attack... but.

"I should have trained more with Grain."

"What... Are you serious?"

I didn't flinch at all.

It seems Jiro didn't expect no damage, as he instinctively pulled back his fist.

Before he could retreat, I first threw Mizuki, who I was holding, and then punched Jiro with my free hand.

Mizuki, while getting up, glared at me, and Jiro rolled in a puddle, groaning to a stop.

"Jiro! Sasaki...!"

"Where did you get such strength?"

"!"

You look like you want to know.

If I were in your position, I'd be curious too.

"Well, I won't tell you!"

"Damn!"

I pushed Koushin back with the black sphere.

Normally, the black sphere would be instantly torn apart by a holy sword, but Koushin's holy sword is still far from fully awakened.

It's just a stick that's leaking power.

Excalibur, which continuously emits light, only gains its sharpness when it condenses the light within itself.

And the hero reaches a higher level.

What I'm trying to say is---Koushin is too inexperienced to be a match for me.

"---Why are you siding with the demon army?"

"Huh?"

Koushin, while maintaining his distance, asked me.

"We were supposed to take up the sword when humans asked for help... yet, why are you on their side? Why are you trying to take Yu away?"

"..."

The reason is that I, as a person, became friends with them... but it's not just that.

Simply, I'm annoyed by Toshima's free rein and the fact that I have to kill him again.

Most of all, I hate the human kingdom.

And one more thing, if I add one more reason for this situation---

"The main reason is that I have important people among the demons and beastmen. If humans try to harm them, it's only natural to side with them, right?"

"..."

"Also, personally, I don't like that you asked Yuzu out on a date."

"Could it be... that's the reason you want to take her away?"

"Yes."

I can't leave Yuzu with someone who might lay a hand on her.

Well... I know Yuzu will reject advances from guys with ulterior motives.

I also know that Yuzu isn't as weak as she looks.

So I know that Yuzu has never gone out alone with any other guy.

Still... this guy won't stop asking her out because he likes Yuzu.

I have my own possessiveness too.

"I like Yuzu Hana. I really, really, really like her. I won't give her to you, I'll defeat you here. That's all."

"...Thanks for the most straightforward reason. Then I can't lose either."

There's no reconciliation.

So, we can only fight.

I raised the black sphere, and Koushin raised the still incomplete Excalibur.

There was no signal.

Still, we kicked off the ground at the same time.

The swords clashed, and sparks flew---

Setsu-kun also speaks clearly when he needs to.