chapter 27

A group of girls who looked just like Sixteen attacked us.

They were the Armed Series Troop, led by One.

So they’re the prototypes of Sixteen.

“So you’re the man who went head-to-head with Sixteen. Hand over Rifill Gheil, and we will spare your life.”

“Do you really think I would give her to you just like that?”

Glenn and I positioned ourselves to protect Rifill.

“Then there’s no choice but to fight. Two, Three, Four, Five, deal with that black-haired man with me… Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten, destroy the red-haired one.”

The Armed Series Troop nodded at One’s orders and attacked in unison.

“Glenn! I’ll leave those five to you!”

“Gotcha! Leave ’em to me!”

We split off and headed into the woods near Aquarth to keep Rifill out of the fight.

Glenn started fighting Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, and Ten.

Though a five-on-one fight was disadvantageous, Glenn had no concept of the word “retreat.”

Six and Seven slashed at Glenn with chainsaws.

Glenn avoided them both.

“(Those chainsaws are something that’ll hit you even if you keep defending against them. Just gotta keep dodging!)”

He fired multiple small fireballs at the girls to get them off his tail.

“Too slow!”

However, as they avoided the fireballs, Eight and Ten appeared right above Glenn.

“Well, gotta use that… Flame Bullet!”

Flaming arrows in the shape of blades pierced Eight and Ten, causing them to fall.

As he leaped towards them, Glenn swung his sword at them, slashing them to bits, the girls exploding with a bang.

Nine equipped her swords and came at him, but Glenn continued defending.

He found an opening and landed multiple kicks on her body while covering his sword in flames.

“Searing Slash!”

Nine also exploded into bits after receiving the flaming slash.

“This man’s threat level is also high…”

“Yikes…!”

Six and Seven began to be wary of Glenn after they saw the other three get destroyed.

The girls split up on both sides and tried to launch a pincer attack.

Unable to avoid it, Glenn stuck his sword into the ground and put power into it.

“Your armor is strong, sure, but my flames will burn them up! Blazing Sky!”

Flames erupted from the ground around Glenn, enveloping Six and Seven.

The girls were turned to ashes by the power of the flames, exploding and disappearing…

“Don’t look down on my flames!”

Glenn shouted but nobody heard him…

While I was fighting One, Two, Three, Four, and Five…

I had a general idea of their weaponry from my fight against Sixteen, and I could use my skills to go against them.

As Four came at me with a chainsaw, I placed my hands on the ground and used Chill, freezing her feet.

In order to help Four, Two turned her right arm into a gatling gun, and fired a barrage of bullets at me.

“Oh, so they have gatling guns too!”

After defending with Barrier, I aimed my revolver at Two and Three.

“Dimension Bullet!”

As I attacked the girls with countless bullets, I used Flash to get behind them, and then cut through them with Ice Slash, freezing them in place.

Five then swung her sword at me, but I parried with Enzetta and kicked her away. After that, I aimed at Two and Three, who were frozen solid, and used Ice Stick.

An icicle hit the girls directly, and they crumbled to pieces.

Then, I stretched my hand out towards Four, who was frozen in place.

“Flamethrower!”

Four, having been hit by the flamethrower, burned up and turned to dust while screaming.

I then fired two rounds of Poison Bullet at Five who was approaching me from above with a jetpack.

Having been hit by Poison Bullet, Five got paralyzed and dropped to the ground.

As I was about to reach her, One came to strike me.

I blocked with Enzetta, pushing her back.

I then approached Five, who was paralyzed, and pierced her with Poison Thrust, completely stopping her from functioning.

“What the hell, you…?!”

One’s voice shook as she saw her sisters get destroyed so easily, and she backed away.

“You’ve made it this far… I have no intention of destroying you, I just want to protect Rifill. Just step aside without a fight.”

I advised her to stop the needless fighting, but despite that, she clenched her fists tighter and started shaking profusely.

“Cut the crap! You destroyed my sisters, which means you’re an enemy. I shall eliminate you here and now! Iron Knuckle!”

I used Barrier to protect against One, who struck me with fists of steel.

“Seems like there’s no way around it… you’ve been warned. Get ready for this!”

As soon as Barrier wore off, I kicked her away and pointed my revolver at her, letting energy build up.

One similarly pulled a gun barrel out of her right palm and allowed energy to build up.

Both of us built up energy and were ready to fire…

“Photon Beam!”

“Beam!”

As both beams of light collided, sparks flew in the surroundings.

But gradually, my beam pushed forward…

And One was enveloped by Photon Beam.

When the ray of light disappeared, One could be seen, her entire body scorched and battered.

Sparks flew from her whole body.

“Mission… failed… But you won’t… be able to win… against Fifteen…”

After leaving me with those words, One was defeated and ceased to function.

“I had a hunch, but it seems like there are still more of them…”

While surveying my surroundings, I sighed…

Around the time Glenn and I were fighting the Armed Series Troop…

Meryl and Captain Gil were protecting Rifill.

Rifill prayed for me and Glenn’s safety.

“It’s alright, Rifill-san. If it’s them, they won’t lose.”

“Right…”

Meryl tried to cheer up the downcast Rifill.

Rifill smiled at what she said.

But…

“They might be fine, but you aren’t.”

They heard a voice, and turning around warily to see the source, they saw a blue-haired girl.

Behind her were four Armed Series girls.

“So they still had allies!”

Gil led the knights to protect Meryl and Rifill.

“You’re in the way.”

A gun barrel came out of her right palm and fired a beam of light, blasting Captain Gill and the knights away.

“Gil-san! Everyone!”

“… you’re next.”

The blue-haired girl—Fifteen—set her sights on Meryl, and dashed in.

“Ugh…! Fireball!”

Meryl continued to shoot Fireballs at Fifteen, who was approaching, but she avoided all of them, and Meryl found herself within her reach.

“Aah!?”

She was kicked away.

“Meryl!”

As Rifill tried to run towards Meryl, Fifteen pointed her sword at Rifill’s neck.

“…!”

“According to master’s orders, I cannot kill her. However, I can kill the blonde girl over there.”

Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, and Fourteen, who had been standing behind Fifteen, pointed their guns at Meryl in accordance with Fifteen’s orders.

“Stop! Do whatever you want to me!”

“Rifill-san… no!”

Meryl tried to get up, but she was too injured.

“You’re a good person, Princess Rifill.”

Suddenly, a man’s voice could be heard, and a familiar man from town appeared.

“Y-you’re…!”

“Keith…!”

Yes. Keith Rifapein, the noble charged with protecting Aquarth.

“I’m taking you hostage to use as a bargaining chip. Of course, the blonde will come as well.”

Eleven and Twelve apprehended Rifill, and Thirteen apprehended Meryl, as Keith ordered.

Despite being held captive, Rifill glared at Keith.

“So those rumors about you were true!”

“Yes. I dislike people with good intuition… so I had to get my hands dirty.”

Hearing this, Meryl noticed something.

“So… those ten magic dolls were decoys to distract Aruto-san and the others?!”

“That’s right.”

“What a coward…!” Rifill glared at him.

“Now then, let me show you to my facility.”

The Armed Series units deployed their jetpacks and flew off with Meryl and Rifill.

Shortly after, Fifteen, and Fourteen, carrying Keith, flew off as well…

After defeating one and the rest, I met back up with Glenn.

“Aruto!”

“Glenn! From the looks of it, you won.”

“Of course I would!”

Though Glenn was smiling with a victory pose, I had an affronted expression.

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Those guys went down too quickly…”

Hearing me, Glenn started to think.

First off, we should return to where Meryl and the rest were…

As it happened, from there…

“Aruto! Glenn!”

Hearing Rifill’s voice from the skies, we looked up and saw her and Meryl being ensnared by Armed Series units.

“Meryl! Rifill!”

However, we immediately turned our gaze to the man with them.

“Mwahahaha! Nice job falling for the bait, adventurers!”

“This man…” Glenn grit his teeth when he saw Keith.

“That’s definitely… Keith!”

“Who?”

“The noble in charge of Aquarth. Just as Rifill said, he’s an enemy…!”

I shouted beside Glenn, who was clenching his fists in frustration.

“What do you plan to do by kidnapping both of them!?”

“I don’t care about the blonde girl, but I’m taking Princess Rifill as a hostage. Using her, I can become the emperor of Gheil!”

“Like I’ll let you do that!”

Glenn quickly shot a fireball, but the surrounding Armed Series units defended against it.

“Just silently stay and watch… this is the moment I become emperor!”

Saying that, Keith and the rest flew away.

“They’re running!”

I activated “Wing” and approached them, but an Armed Series unit—Fifteen—appeared in front of me, and I was dealt a spinning kick.

That sent me to the ground, and when I looked up, they were already gone…