5
“Shiba!”
It was Kuraia who intervened to protect the fallen Goz.
With her vivid jade-colored Soul Equipment, Kusanagi, in her eyes, she swung diagonally with a battle cry.
If it had hit me squarely, it would have cleaved my body diagonally from my left shoulder to my right flank.
However, for me now, dodging Kuraia’s slash was easy. I avoided the blade with minimal movement and quickly slipped into her range.
Then, I grabbed Kuraia’s kimono collar with my left hand, which wasn’t holding a weapon.
“Oh no!?”
Kuraia hurriedly tried to remove my hand, but once I had gotten this close, victory was mine.
Using the principle of a shoulder throw, I put my hips into it and lifted Kuraia’s feet off the ground.
It was a rough move with just one hand, but unlike Goz in his heavy armor, Kuraia in her kimono and hakama was surprisingly light. With my strength enhanced by my power, she felt no heavier than cotton.
I threw Kuraia’s lifted body towards Klimt, who was just about to slash at me from the side.
Klimt’s eyes widened in shock, probably not expecting his sister’s body to be used as a weapon against him.
“What!?”
With the power of Soul Equipment, it would be possible to cut through me along with Kuraia, but of course, Klimt couldn’t do such a thing. He couldn’t dodge either, as that would result in his sister’s body being slammed into the ground.
Klimt had no choice but to catch his sister with his own body.
“Ugh…!”
“Ah!?”
The siblings fell to the ground, entangled and crying out in pain.
I was about to unleash a technique on the two while they were completely exposed, but Goz regained his stance faster than I could execute my move.
I aborted my technique and once again faced off against my former mentor, who was charging at me fiercely.
“Ooooh!!”
“Haaaah!”
Turning our fighting spirit into words, we clashed head-on.
However, the outcome was already clear. I had crushed the blade of Goz’s Blue Dragon Sword earlier, and my black sword, which had become sharper due to the sudden level up, was slicing through Goz’s incredibly tough void equipment like paper.
Moreover, it seemed that the efficiency of my [Soul Eater] ability had also increased, and I could feel a large amount of soul flowing into me with each slash.
It didn’t take long for the head-on sword fight to turn into a one-sided onslaught.
“What’s wrong, Goz! Surely the Shiba of the Mitsurugi family isn’t giving it his all at this level!?”
Goz didn’t respond to my taunt. Though I couldn’t see his expression behind the bull-faced helmet, he couldn’t hide his labored breathing.
Feeling the certainty of cornering Goz, I let out a chuckle.
Well, this result was to be expected. They had just faced a rampaging magical beast for three days and nights. The same goes for Kuraia and Klimt; frankly speaking, the three of them are weaker now than when we confronted each other in Ishka.
On the other hand, while I had also fought for three days and nights, I had gained incomparable strength from leveling up through Soul Eater. Moreover, the source of my power—my magic—is a dragon’s heart. Even if I maintain full power for three days or so, the gushing magic won’t run out.
From the beginning, Goz and the others never stood a chance.
“Hahahaha!!”
Backed by the power of a transcendent existence, I kept slashing and slashing at the enemy before me. Soon, the siblings, having regained their stance, joined the fight, but even then, my advantage remained unshaken.
Not only is it powerful as a weapon, but Soul Eater also has regenerative abilities. As long as my head isn’t cut off in one blow, I can recover from most wounds. I easily deflected, dodged, and sometimes even took the attacks of the three head-on while concentrating my attacks on Goz.
During one of my many attacks, my sharp thrust hit Goz’s forehead directly, and with a sound like shattering glass, the bull-faced helmet split open.
As Goz’s bare face, bleeding from the forehead, was revealed, I pulled up the corners of my lips. And with that expression, I swung my Soul Equipment and deeply slashed Goz’s right elbow.
Probably due to the joint being cut and the nerves damaged, Goz’s right hand lost its strength and drooped, the Blue Dragon Sword falling to the ground. Following suit, Goz himself fell to his knees.
However, it seemed he hadn’t lost his will to fight, as Goz reached out with his uninjured left hand to pick up his dropped weapon. Just as his large, rough hand grasped the hilt of the Blue Dragon Sword, I stomped on that hand with my iron boot.
“Guh…!”
“Hmph, how does it feel to kneel before the opponent you’ve constantly denied, Goz? How do you intend to correct me in this state?”
To further corner Goz, who was pale-faced and breathing heavily, I placed the tip of Soul Eater against his left hand.
Then, I thrust it down carelessly.
“Ngh… Agh!”
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A cry of agony escaped from Goz’s mouth as his left hand was pinned to the ground.
Hearing that voice and seeing that face, I revised my earlier thoughts.
Is it known that I slew the Jijinbou? Is it known that I defeated a Mythical creature? Has the existence of Suzume been revealed?
So what if it has. If the Mitsurugi family sees me as a threat and comes to kill us, then I will simply devour every assassin they send our way. Four days ago, I wouldn’t have been able to do that, but now I can.
As proof, look – Goz, the esteemed disciple of the Sword Saint, is writhing and groaning. Even the renowned banner-bearer of Onigashima is kneeling before me!
“Hahahaha!!”
The surging joy bursts forth as laughter.
I repeat, my current level is [26]. The amount of souls required for the next level-up is incomparable to four days ago. During the day, I hunt the monsters of the depths, and at night, I consume the souls of the Lunamaria. With the previous methods, it would take months, or even years, to gather the necessary amount.
That’s far too tedious.
So, I’ve decided to let the ones in front of me live. That way, I’ll receive food from my beloved homeland on a regular basis.
“You, Sora!”
Seeing my treatment of Goz, Klimt flew into a rage, his hair standing on end, but his voice was no more than the distant howl of a beaten dog.
“And you, Klimt, don’t keep howling either.”
I quickly close the distance to Klimt, putting strength into both my legs. The Soul Eater has already impaled Goz’s hand – in other words, it was a bare-handed attack, but since I don’t need to hold back, this is easier.
Even with the powerful Goz present, I was able to handle all three of them simultaneously. Now that I have incapacitated Goz, I have no reason to fear the remaining two.
I catch the descending slash of the Kurikara with my left hand. Immediately, a searing pain pierces my head, and a foul smell of burning human flesh assails my nose – but that’s all. It’s nothing compared to the power of Goz’s secret technique earlier.
While closely observing Klimt’s contorted face, I drive my right fist into his unguarded abdomen. With all my might, my fist sinks into his gut, and I can feel several of his ribs break.
“Guhoh!”
Saliva, agony, blood, and gastric juice. Spewing these, Klimt’s body folds into a “U” shape.
Quickly withdrawing my fist from his abdomen, I bring my elbow down hard on Klimt’s shuddering back.
“Gubu!?”
Unable to withstand it, Klimt is violently slammed face-first into the ground.
I place my iron-shod foot on Klimt’s right arm, which is convulsing on the filth he had vomited.
Seeing this, Kuraia hastily opened her mouth.
“P-Please, wait, Lord Sora!”
“What idiot would wait for someone holding a weapon to tell them to wait?”
Hinting that she should drop the Kusanagi, Kuraia, with a pale face, stuck the jade longsword into the ground and took several steps back.
If I so desired, I could easily seize the Kusanagi before her.
I exhaled through my nose with a snort.
“Is this to be understood as you [surrendering]?”
“Yes. I’ve determined that further fighting is futile.”
“Good judgment, but it seems your brother still intends to fight. Isn’t that right, Klimt?”
While I was conversing with Kuraia, Klimt, who had tried to sweep my feet, glared at me hatefully.
“Damn it, get out of the way!”
“I refuse.”
Responding to his curses with a smile, just as I had done to Goz, I ruthlessly crushed Klimt’s right arm, intent on breaking the bone.
Immediately, a dull sound rang out through the area.
“Aaaaaaah!?”
“Klimt, stop! – Lord Sora, I beg you. If there is anything you desire, I will accept it. Please, sheathe your sword.”
Saying that, Kuraia knelt down with both knees and bowed deeply towards me. Clearly, she had judged that Klimt would be killed if this continued.
I was taken aback, not having expected Kuraia to go that far.
–I may have gone a bit overboard.
That thought fleetingly crossed my mind.
But if I were to loosen my grip here, I would gain nothing. I decided to continue injuring the brother and compelling the sister.
“You’re quick to understand. Then, you will serve as a hostage, Kuraia-Beruhi.”
“…A hostage, is it?”
“Yes.”
My plan was a simple one.
Even if I said I would let them all return alive, it would be too kind to let the three of them go together. First, I will send Goz and Klimt back to Onigashima and have them convey my demand.
By “demand,” I mean Suzume. I will make the head of the Mitsurugi swear to entrust Suzume to me and have the Mitsurugi family never interfere again.
Kuraia will be the hostage until that oath is made. Of course, if the head refuses my demand, they will have to be prepared for the consequences.
As I conveyed this, the first to react was not Kuraia, but Klimt.
“You’re joking… There’s no way they would do that…!”
Still crawling on the ground and clutching his broken right arm, Klimt’s voice grew hoarse.
To that, I nodded deeply, as if in complete agreement.
“Well, you’re right about that. There’s no way that head would heed the words of an outcast. Even less so if it’s about sparing an oni. That’s why I’m letting you live, Klimt.”
“Wh-What…?”
“If you want to save Kuraia, you’ll have to risk your life to see my demand through. Otherwise, your sister will wish she were dead when she hears your screams. Isn’t it obvious why I’m keeping the woman Kuraia as a hostage instead of you, the man Klimt?”
“You…!!”
Grasping Klimt, who had realized my intent and was lunging at me with a demonic expression, I forcefully pulled him away. Then, I approached Kuraia, who was kneeling with her lips bitten.
Grabbing the beautiful white hair flowing down her back, I yanked her up, ignoring her cries of pain.
“Normally, I would have severed the tendons in your limbs to prevent resistance. But since you’ve knelt down of your own accord, I’ll spare you that. Klimt, let me make this clear – if you return to the island without obeying, I will kill your sister at that moment. Goz, you understand as well.”
Turning to Goz, who was pinned to the ground by the Soul Eater, the former retainer responded in a suppressed voice.
“Lord Sora.”
“What is it?”
“It was I who entrusted the demon’s daughter to you. I shall dutifully convey this to our lord. However, the matters of the Jijinbou, the Mythical creatures, and the Soul Equipment – these must be reported truthfully. Then, our lord will surely order you to [return].”
“I couldn’t care less about that. Who would fight under you people?”
I scoffed in response, and Goz continued with a stern expression.
“The Mitsurugi family commands the wielders of the Illusion One-Sword Style. Our lord will never allow someone capable of slaying Mythical creatures single-handedly to remain outside the Mitsurugi. If this continues, you will be branded a rebel. Kuraia and all will be crushed, but will you still stubbornly persist?”
“Enough.”
I sharply cut off Goz’s words.
“Execute me? By all means, feel free. If the Mitsurugi accepts my demand, good. If not, that’s fine too. I don’t care either way. Make sure to convey that to your lord.”
If they accept the former, I will have forced my demand through with might and secured Suzume’s safety. It will cause a slight delay in my leveling, but there are people everywhere suffering from the attacks of magical beasts. As for the night, I can increase the number of my food suppliers, among other solutions.
As for the latter, it’s as I said before. I will drive Suzume away and devour the horde of assassins one by one.
It doesn’t matter which way it goes. I am the one presenting the choice.
Imagining what that father will think and how he will act in response to the demand of his disowned son fills me with a tremendously delightful feeling.
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