Chapter 280: The Moment We’ve Been Waiting For

Two women were breathing heavily.

They are still alive.

How impressive.

Waka is essentially a human, but in terms of his nature, he is more of a human-ja.

Watching Waka constantly by my side, I learned about the strength of these living beings called humans…or at least, that’s what I thought.

Tenacious bodies, immense magical power, unique tactics born from their special abilities, and most of all…their will to never give up.

It might also be due to the fact that these guys have lived far longer than a normal human, but they show no signs of breaking.

So, this is a human, huh.

Even when their opponent possesses far more power than them, they never give up on winning, struggling relentlessly.

The moment I shed blood I hadn’t intended to shed, I stopped holding back because it might worry Waka.

Needless to say, this is the enemy base; the moment Mio, Waka, and I entered this floor, they activated a large-scale spell.

We are in no way fighting on equal terms, and can’t say we’re displaying our full strength.

But, in the first place, a battlefield is not a place where you can wish for ideal conditions.

Complaining about that would make you lower than a greenhorn-ja.

Because this also counts as strength and luck.

And so, I have seriously acknowledged them as enemies, and fought.

Even so, I am still unable to finish them.

“Illusion, illusion, illusion. Moreover, she overwhelms us in close combat as well. What’s with that?”

“I completely agree. Just lowering your guard for a little bit will result in being swallowed by illusions, and the match would be decided. She isn’t giving us a single moment’s respite in our movements. What a terrible opponent.”

Only seeing my advances as annoying, I’m the one who wants to cry.

In our first encounter, even Waka was engulfed by the illusion mist, and on top of that, I learned illusion magic from Shiki.

I also utilized normal elemental magic attacks.

Of course, my body has learned swordsmanship too.

I have thrown all of that at them, and yet, they resist it, cancel it, and create distance.

These two continue to stand before me.

That’s what’s been happening all this time.

“To think that the priest there would be able to use a bow as well. You really got me good there.” (Tomoe)

That’s right.

I permitted even more opposition and got injured.

I thought that the woman called Ginebia was someone specialized only in close combat and support. But the second my attention strayed from her, her partner Haku kicked the bow she let go in an instant, and with a stance that looked exactly like Waka’s, Ginebia shot me.

The power was also plenty enough.

I don’t know if she aimed for it, but the arrow pierced the same place that her partner had shot me last time at.

That first battering at the beginning, the joint lock that followed after; I have been caught in their unpredictable attacks all this time-ja.

Well, everything has been healed, and—obviously—I have not been receiving them all without hitting back.

I have been paying them back little by little.

And so, the fruition of this is shown in the painful figure of those two.

“If that’s the case, I would like you to show a little bit of a pained expression to visualize the damage.”

“I see, it does sound reasonable. Next time, I will show you an illusion that fits your request.” (Tomoe)

“…”

The patterns in the opposition of these two, and the magical power expenditure that this requires.

The former I have been observing it, and at times, when I receive damage, I had them pay by analyzing those attacks.

I have mostly grasped them all-ja.

Well, even if I say that, we are talking about these two here, so there might be some sort of trap set up somewhere. I can’t lower my guard.

The latter one, the longer the fight goes on, the more magical power it is expended.

It is at the point where the end is finally at sight.

It was a pain to the extreme, but the magical power of these two is on the level of the heroes.

Their ability to manage their magical power and the way they use it is unbelievably good-ja na.

That’s why, for a temporary amount of time, I even misinterpreted that both of them had the same amount of magical power as Shiki or even more than that.

“Sometimes, silence can be an easy to understand answer. Right, it’s like you’re telling me your falling point is close.” (Tomoe)

“…Says the dragon. Also, if you are a superior dragon, go for the more rough and easy to understand attacks or it will be troublesome for us.” (Haku)

As usual, the tone of Haku sounded as if she still had leeway.

No matter how cornered she is, no matter how much damage she receives, the attitude of this girl doesn’t change.

So humans can grow to have such tenacious strength of mind as well-ja na.

“Fukuku, if I did that, I would have already fallen beneath your feet. You two would be able to hunt Superior Dragons with just the two of you, no joke.” (Tomoe)

…If Waka wanted to, he would be able to do that while humming though.

Seeing that these two are compensating for their lack in strength with technique and experience shows me that these two clearly have something that surpasses Waka.

Especially their teamwork, it is already polished to the point that it can be called art.

“Doma-kun told us that too.” (Ginebia)

Ginebia showed her tiredness in her eyes, but she doesn’t lose her composure.

Those two have been analyzing my illusions and observing them, and even at this time, they are still trying to come up with a plan to reverse the situation.

Their healing and support is also fast and calm; their sense is top-tier.

If I show an opening, I will get a taste of her fists—no, I have to take into account her bow as well, huh.

On top of that, her attacks synergize and bring out the full potential of the straightforward and highly accurate attacks of Haku.

They are truly strong.

“Even if that NEET dragon tells us that, it doesn’t make us happy at all, but it also doesn’t make me happy hearing that from you. Even though this is a compliment that’s on the level of only being directed at heroes, and yet, I wonder why…” (Haku)

“Sleep for a while. Everything will end with that.” (Tomoe)

“…It is finally the time where we have no choice but to use all the strength we have left.” (Ginebia)

“[Dancing Bow, Septen—?!” (Haku)

“Septentrion, right?” (Tomoe)

Aiming for a surprise attack, Haku’s hand shone, and her whip shot seven light arrows.

Right now, I can’t use my ability of changing reality to illusion.

But, if it’s the opposite…to bestow temporary reality to illusions, it is possible.

What appears are seven arrows.

The arrows that appeared from the illusion mist and had obtained substance followed the same trajectory as the seven arrows of Haku and offset each other.

It is a skill that I have shot several times in my mind, moreover, it is a skill that I have seen in reality once already.

Reproducing it is easy.

“Skill copy?! What a copycat!” (Haku)

“A high-power skill that destroys seven magic pressure points of the target. Even if it doesn’t manage to defeat the opponent with all attacks hitting, it would still seal their magic. It is incredibly handy-ja na. I can understand why you rely on it.” (Tomoe)

“…I see, memories. So that’s how it is huh. We have an unbelievable opponent.” (Haku)

Haku Mokuren.

Her insight mixed with instinct is also polished to an extreme.

“It means that I have as many methods to throw off your teamwork-ja. And…methods to cut it off completely as well.” (Tomoe)

“!! Illusion?!” (Ginebia)

I appear right in front of Ginebia.

That’s right, just like she saw through in that one second, it is an illusion-ja.

But, from that illusion, only the blade of the sword has substance.

If it’s with this, no matter how excelling that person is, this should be enough. Well, even if they manage to deal with this, I won’t be surprised though.

“Ah, this is cheating!” (Ginebia)

She probably noticed the possibility that it has substance, she instantaneously prepares her arm and was intending on dealing with the katana.

Splendid reaction speed-ja na.

By the time she noticed the sword slipping through her arm without making contact with it, it was already too late.

The katana made a big cut on her shoulder.

“[Blessing of the Eccentric God, Almaty]!” (Ginebia)

…And with almost no space in between, she healed herself.

She did it in the instant she was cut-ja.

Seriously, the fact that they don’t even show an opening for a second really doesn’t let me take this with leisure.

In that second where Ginebia was concentrating to heal, I arrive right in between the two of them even faster than the time it took for the illusion just now to appear.

These fast legs I have been concealing from them until now.

I am truly glad I continued training diligently.

Seriously thinking this in that instant, I place a finger on Haku and Ginebia’s nape.

Now that I am directly touching them, have caught them off guard, and, on top of that, have shaved off this much magical power from them, it should be possible.

“[Fifth Hamlet, Mist Gorim]” (Tomoe)

It has degraded quite a bit, but it is still one of my special moves-ja.

This is something that I had warmed up to use against an army, but these girls have a lot more backbone than your regular army.

I don’t mind. They are fitting targets for it.

Glancing at the two that slowly fell into deep sleep, I heaved a big sigh.

They were without a doubt tough opponents.

Even if I was holding back, even if I was swelling in anger, I can’t say it is a win.

…Wise huh.

I have learned a lot.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

(A long section follows, describing the situation from the perspective of Makado Takane and others, detailing the unexpected delays and the arrival of Aznoval.)

… (The translation continues in the same format and style.)