Volume 3 - CH 32

Act 3-32: Wacky Battle in The Sweet Castle 3

「GUH!」

Omiros used his shield to block Goz’s sword.

「Take this, fireball!!」

When Goz’s sword got hindered, he stepped back and hurled fire magic from his palm. But, the magic was also blocked by Omiros’ shield. Since his shield was a magic shield, it wouldn’t burn like the shields made from wood or pelt.

「ACCELERATION!!」

Goz recited the aria of another magic in no time. Goz’s moving speed accelerated and arrived right beside Omiros in a flash.

Omiros felt that his shield was moving on its own. With a loud metallic sound, his shield clashed against Goz’s sword. But, Omiros’ posture crumbled to receive that strike and he fell on his rear.

And due to the constant use of magic, Goz had to retreat instead of sending another attack to Omiros.

Omiros stood in hurry and readied his shield again.

「WHAT IN THE HELL IS THAT SHIELD!!」

Goz shouted with an annoyed voice.

Even Omiros couldn’t help but be mesmerized by the power of the shield. It was a shield that would move on its own to protect him if his reaction wasn’t fast enough. Omiros recalled the words of the minstrel when he gave him the shield.

「You mustn’t give this shield to Parsish.」

That was the minstrel’s words to Omiros. As if he had already known about Parsish beforehand.

Thus, Omiros was curious about the identity of the minstrel. But, now wasn’t the time to worry about that since Goz was coming again.

「DAMMIT, YOU WOULD’VE ALREADY BEEN DEAD WITHOUT THAT F*CKING SHIELD―――!!」

Goz was right, Omiros wouldn’t be able to dodge his attacks without the shield.

（It’s vexing, but Goz is much stronger indeed.）

Omiros could only focus on protecting himself from Goz’s sword. Since he first met Goz a long time ago, he had always been vexed, he felt that he was too weak at that time. He couldn’t do anything but cry as he called Regena’s name.

That’s why Omiros had always been training since then. He wanted to become stronger so that he could protect Regena. And yet, Goz became much more powerful too. Omiros was no match for Goz if not for his shield.

Omiros felt extremely incensed as he recalled that dark memory. At this rate, he would fail to protect Regena again. That was something that he could never accept.

Goz slashed with his sword again and again, Omiros somehow managed to parry the slashes with the shield’s assistance. But, he was almost at his limit.

Omiros barely managed to fight up till now due to the power of the shield, but his defeat was imminent. And yet, despite knowing that, Omiros decided to fight till the bitter end. He absolutely couldn’t let Goz take Regena.

「Goz, I won’t let you have Regena!!」

Omiros mustered his willpower as he pushed Goz back with his shield.

Omiros recalled Regena’s past.

Regena had always been too scared to go outside of the rampart after that day, the day when both of them met Goz. He always felt sad whenever he saw Regena like that.

Thus, one of the reasons for him wanting to become stronger was so that Regena would feel safe with him protecting her.

But, Omiros realized that he wasn’t good enough. He was far too weak to protect Regena.

Omiros went to Regena’s side, protecting her from Goz.

「Listen, Regena. I’ll stop Goz in this place, you have to call for help during that time.」

「Uhm… I understand… Omiros. Be careful, I’ll get help as fast as possible.」

「Yeah, leave it to me.」

Omiros let out a worryless smile as he said so to Regena.

Goz had blocked the way to the ladder to prevent Omiros and Regena from escaping.

「Stopping me? With your measly skill?」

Goz who heard Omiros and Regena’s conversation let out a fearless laugh.

「Goz, I’m indeed weaker than you! But, I’m at least strong enough to keep you at bay!」

When Omiros pointed his sword toward Goz, Regena ran from his side.

「Kukuku, that’s a nice plan, but… I suggest that you cease such foolish ideas.」

「What do you mean, Goz?!」

「Because no one will come save you two! Listen carefully!」

Omiros strained his ears upon hearing that.

And somehow managed to hear a shout.

「OH NO, OMIROS! THERE’S AN ARMY OF GOBLINS APPEARING BELOW! THE GOBLINS ARE TRYING TO INVADE ALGORE!!」

The moment he heard Regena’s scream, Omiros looked down to confirm it.

Though the sun had set, tonight was a cloudless night, so it was actually quite bright thanks to the moonlight. That’s why even if he couldn’t see in the dark, the moonlight enabled him to see the situation below.

He could see several short shadows inside Algore.

There was no mistaking it, it was the shadow of goblins. As if to confirm that, the sound of screams followed right after that.

「GOZ!! YOU BAST*RD!!」

Omiros glared at Goz.

「Indeed your highness, I’m the one who let them come inside Algore! By now, they must have already killed a few Algore citizens who are too distracted by the Dark Knight!!」

Goz’s laugh resounded in the watch tower.

「THIS IS THE END OF ALGORE! ENJOY YOUR DESPAIR, PRINCE――――!!」

◆

Meanwhile, Kuroki and Kaya were facing each other in the suburbs of Algore.

「Hundred Fists, Hundred Steps, God Fist」

Kaya unleashed a shockwave from a distance with her punch.

Kuroki spun his body as he received the shockwave to redirect its power as he closed in toward Kaya.

He was in a hurry to go as fast as possible toward Kuna and yet, he had to defeat Kaya first. Thus, Kuroki was detained in this place for quite some time now.

「Finally willing to stop, eh. Nevertheless, how strange… Regena-san’s location should be the other way.」

「My bad, I’m just a diversion… I already sent someone else to retrieve Regena.」

Kuroki told her a lie without any hesitation.

That “someone else” was a total BS.

Even though Kuroki’s status in Nargol was second only to Modes, he had no one to call a subordinate.

「I see… Unfortunately, the reason we came to this country is you, Kuroki-san. Even if you manage to retrieve Regena-san, our goal is achieved as long as we can stop you in this place.」

Kaya had no intention to trust in Kuroki’s lies, she didn’t let her guard down.

「You think you can stop me?」

Kaya nodded upon hearing Kuroki’s question.

「I know that you’re unwilling to attack me. You might be far more powerful than me, but you won’t be able to defeat me if you stay passive.」

Kaya punched at him as she spoke.

Though Kaya was also unwilling to kill Kuroki, she resolved to break one or two of his ribs, or some of his bones since it could be healed.

In addition, even if Kaya’s remark was a bull’s-eye and he managed to speak with a calm voice, Kuroki in fact already wanted to cry.

He wanted to save Kuna as soon as possible, and yet, Kaya was standing in his way.

Kuroki was getting impatient. And that impatience created a gap in his defense. An adept martial artist like Kaya wouldn’t miss such an opening.

「HEAVENLY WAVES PALM!!」

Kaya closed in the distance between them at that moment, and unleashed a palm strike toward Kuroki’s armor.

The next moment, the shockwave struck Kuroki.

Kuroki barely managed to ward off the power of the blow that penetrated his armor. He didn’t miss the chance to seize Kaya’s wrist, pulled her to the right, and then flung her to the left.

「WHAT THE!!!」

But, Kaya managed to land a kick just before he flung her off. Kuroki twisted his body and barely managed to dodge the kick as he praised inwardly Kaya’s splendid counter.

Incidentally, he also confirmed that Kaya wore black laced panties with a garter belt beneath her skirt when the latter unleashed the last kick. That was another splendid thing that he saw by accident.

""

Kaya who got flung away managed to turn her body in the air and landed on the ground with her feet. She stood up, holding her left arm.

Kuroki’s last technique managed to incapacitate her left arm. He was apologizing inside for hurting her like that.

「Not bad… But, don’t you think that technique is a bit too kind? Are you worried about my safety? Turns out you really are a kind person.」

Kuroki wanted to retort that she misunderstood upon hearing Kaya’s remark.

But Kaya was right, his technique just now was too kind. It was supposed to be a technique that incapacitated the other party by hurling them to the right and left, but he failed to do so.

And the reason for that was because he saw the black, lacy underwear.

Naturally, he wouldn’t say that even if she tore his mouth. He heaved a sigh upon seeing her misunderstanding his actions.

「It seems normal attacks won’t work on you… But, how about this!!」

Kaya suddenly stopped unleashing her punches, and then, she spread her arms while diving into Kuroki’s range.

「WHA?!!!!」

Kuroki was also really surprised by the sudden turn of events. The current Kaya was full of openings. Kuroki’s attack might accidentally kill her if he attacks her in her current state.

But, it was precisely because she was full of openings that she managed to circle her arms around Kuroki’s waist without him being able to do anything.

The flowery smell peculiar to a woman assailed Kuroki’s nostrils at once.

「TAKE THIS! TOURMALINE GLOVE!!」

A powerful electric current flowed into Kuroki’s body as Kaya shouted. A few seconds later, Kaya stopped hugging him.

「I unleashed the entire thunder spirit’s power stored in this glove. You might be powerful, but we already know your weakness.」

Kaya released her hands as she spoke.

「Your body must be paralyzed right? I’ll ask Sahoko-sama to heal you later. Though there’s no need for you to hear this again but, someone who can’t attack won’t be able to win the fight.」

Kaya spoke with a triumphant look on her face.

But, Kuroki noticed the gap in her defense the moment she did so. He didn’t let go of that chance and rushed at once, grabbing Kaya’s head.

「Eh?!」

Kaya couldn’t hide her shock when her head was suddenly grabbed by Kuroki, who should be paralyzed right now.

「Sleep!!」

Kuroki didn’t waste any time and applied sleep magic on Kaya.

「Ah…」

Kaya’s body jerked, and then she fell on her knees.

She didn’t sleep immediately, she was glaring at Kuroki instead.

「Good job on resisting the magic, but this should be enough to hinder your movements.」

Kuroki heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the magic did its job. This magic wasn’t supposed to work on an opponent like Kaya unless the other party let down her guard.

「How… did you resist such a powerful electric shock…?」

Kaya asked while massaging her temple. Electric attacks had worked on him in their previous clash in the Holy Dragon King’s mountain, she thought that the same attack would work again this time.

「My bad… Electric attacks won’t work on me ever again.」

Kuroki replied while apologizing to Kaya. He had already prepared countermeasures against electric attacks. Though he might really be in deep sh*t if he hadn’t prepared this counter measure.

He shuddered upon realizing that Kaya had used such a dangerous attack without hesitation.

Kaya was struggling to stand on her feet. She had already been incapacitated.

「Sorry, but I’m racing against time right now.」

「W… Wait…」

Kaya tried to stop Kuroki, but Kuroki was already far away, paying no mind to her call.

「Please, let me make it in time.」

Kuroki was speeding toward the sweet castle as he made such a wish.