Chapter 770 - Chapter Eight: The Demon Race Executive's Attack ②
The wounded one was either unconscious or dead, lying face down and not moving. This was our chance. While keeping an eye on Number Two, we moved to a higher altitude, and after confirming its face wasn't turned toward us, I fired an Overflow from the hole in the bottom of the bowl. Of course, it was an eight-shot burst with reflection plates.
The bowl rapidly ascended as soon as I fired.
GOH!
Number Two must have fired [Tempest], as the sound of wind rang out several times below.
"They noticed as soon as you fired. Their aim is also accurate. They fired three times centered around where Jeanne fired her magic. It seems we can't aim from directly above."
They completely used their ally as a decoy. They must have read that the ally would be attacked before them.
As for the wounded one, this time it hit the back. It twitched for a moment, but that was it.
"It's dead. The reaction is gone."
As we watched, Germana told us. It's a detection ability almost on par with a wide-range [Sense Living].
"Then, there's only one left. It seems the other side has noticed their comrade's death as well."
Told by Eleanor-sama, I looked toward Number Two, but it was nowhere to be seen.
"It entered the hut. Probably near the entrance. In other words, we can only attack from the front."
It utilized the Anti-Magic Stone. It must be planning to counterattack from directly in front at the same time we attack. [Tempest] can't be blocked by [Magic Reflection] alone, and since its activation is fast, it will be difficult to dodge.
"Then, shall we accept the challenge?"
The battle maniac's true nature came out. She intended to fight Number Two head-on.
The bowl descended. A split-second difference would decide the match.
In front, the demon could be seen standing at the entrance of the hut. It was just as Eleanor-sama had predicted. I wonder when it prepared that. It was probably one of the stone materials Wilson-san had stacked to block the entrance. It was sitting on one of them as if it were a chair. It held its sword in its left hand as if thrusting the blade into the floor, and its right hand was in front of its chest. It was staring straight ahead... in other words, at us. If we hadn't been hidden by magic, our eyes would have met perfectly. It was an imposing figure for an enemy.
Since the hut was hovering slightly south of the peak, if we moved away from the hut, it would be seen from the front even while flying in the sky. We entered inside the outer wall and moved as if sliding from west to east, so no shadow fell beyond the first wall. However, since the sun was behind us, the shadow was created in front of the bowl. If we moved forward from here, the shadow would cross the wall faster than the bowl. At that moment, even if we did nothing, the other side would fire magic. Of course, if I fired [Holy], it would detect it the moment it crossed the [Magic Reflection] and fire magic.
On our side, if we dragged this out any longer, we would have to retreat once to remake the bowl. If we couldn't settle it in one shot, we would have no choice but to withdraw. I wonder if we can win?
"Here we go!"
With Eleanor-sama's signal, the bowl accelerated.
We proceeded as if chasing our own shadow.
The enemy was directly in front. I carefully took aim.
"It's almost time."
Bonnie told us the timing when the shadow would cross the wall. The moment it crossed, the plan would be activated.
"Here it go-es... it's crossing!"
The field of vision turned pitch black. Now!
"Ei! ...Ya! Gwaa!"
It was an eight-shot [Holy] Overflow with reflection plates, twice, plus an additional shot from my mouth. I fired toward the pitch-black wall the demon had created. I left a slight gap between the first and second shots. The second and third shots were fired without a moment's delay.
As soon as the first shot was fired, the blackness thinned. The white light reached it, thinned and diffused it, and the second and third shots were sucked into the mist.
There was no counterattack from the enemy. As the bowl ascended and passed the hut with the basement, it dispelled the [Camouflage] and revealed itself.
"Good job!"
The Priestess jumped into the bowl. We reapplied [Camouflage] and changed positions.
We had coordinated with the Wetlands Priestess beforehand. If the enemy was in the basement, they couldn't see us. If we dispelled the [Camouflage] and revealed ourselves—we wouldn't dispel [Magic Reflection], so we wouldn't be found by the demon's magic detection—she was to return to the bowl. After merging like that, I had the Priestess go out again. While invisible, I had her fire [Dark] at the entrance of the basement. [Dark] absorbs magic. If you fire it yourself, it's from the back, but if it's fired by someone else, it's from the front. The demon became unable to fire attribute magic. However, it was only for an instant. The Priestess dispelled it at the same time I fired my magic. It didn't matter if the demon dispelled it. In that instant, the second and third shots of magic would reach it.
"How was it? Did it go well?"
"I think it hit, but they escaped."
The Priestess asked and Germana answered. They should have been there when I fired. Because I aimed visually. But they must have planned to flee into the basement from the start. They were that quick. Honestly, I couldn't tell. When I fired and the mist thinned, I saw their figure. But in the next instant, they vanished. That's how it looked to me.
"Eh? Where to?"
"The basement."
"Then, we can finish them off, can't we?"
"Is it really that easy?"
"It is, because Jeanne is here."
That's not based on anything, you know.
Since the demon had retreated into the basement, we gained some time. Eleanor-sama remade the bowl on the roof of the hut and we took off again. This time the Priestess was with us.
"Germana, the demon's position hasn't changed, has it?"
"Yes. It's still in the basement."
"Thank you. Then, let's resume the attack. Wilson, please."
"As you wish."
Wilson-san dispelled the magic. It was [Ice Cube]. The ice melted and became water. It began to flow out like a river.
"UOOOOOOOH!"
A roar was heard from underground. The demon must be angry. Well, of course. We poured a massive amount of holy water into the basement.
Wilson-san fired several [Ice Cube]s to create a pool of ice inside the hut. Then, he stored water with [Shower], and I sanctified it. To a demon, it's like boiling oil. No, judging by the experiments we did in the Eastern Plains, it's even worse.
The demon must have used magic, as water erupted grandly.
However, it was being bounced back by the wall of air Eleanor-sama had created. The entrance to the hut was narrow. And the interior was wider than the entrance. Since Eleanor-sama had created a wall of air the size of the entire room inside the room, even if it was pushed by water pressure, the walls around the entrance supported Eleanor-sama's [Wind Barrier]. It was the stone wall made by the Dwarves and Elves. As they boasted that it wouldn't break unless a Fire Dragon struck it with its prized spear, it didn't budge at all against the pressure of something like a [Maelstrom] with a small amount of water.
"They used [Freeze]."
"Understood."
Germana saw through the magic the demon fired, and Wilson-san dispelled it. They probably tried to freeze the holy water, but we won't let it end so easily.
"They used [Ice Cube]."
"Understood."
They upgraded to mid-level. It's tough that there's no space to use [Glaciate] or [Cocytus]. But if they can use basic level, they'll use mid-level too. They're quite flustered.
"This time it's [Wind Barrier]."
"Understood."
Did they float themselves? They might have noticed the secret of flight magic. Even Eleanor-sama's wall vanished, but the water had already flowed in. We just have to remake it.
"They're about to release mana."
"Retreating!"
The bowl began a rapid ascent toward the sun.
Holy water sprayed out from the entrance of the hut.
As we watched, a [Wind Barrier] plate extended. They were walking on it, but they seemed to be in considerable pain and couldn't walk satisfactorily. They were finally walking using their sword as a cane. Their left leg was barely moving. They didn't seem to be able to fly either. Their bat-like wings were also torn in places.
"Hey, that left leg, can't you see the bone?"
"Yes. It's been burned quite badly."
Seriously?
I was shocked to hear the words of the Priestess and Germana. I had [Sight] active, but since their legs were pitch black to begin with, I couldn't tell. How can they even walk?
"A duel. I demand a one-on-one duel."
They must have realized they couldn't win the magic battle. They proposed a duel.
"A duel with that thing?"
The Priestess was surprised. She must have never seen one.
"Hey? What are we going to do? Are we accepting? If we do, it has to be a former hero, right?"
Perhaps because she was so surprised, she was going around asking Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama.
"Henry, what shall we do?"
"They can't even walk properly, can they? They probably can't even hold their sword properly."
Until now, I've seen them settle things with various wounded opponents in duels. The one who fought was Price-sama, though. But even Henry-sama, who I've seen play a decisive role many times, and Eleanor-sama were hesitant. Did they think they couldn't fight in that state?
"Will they surrender?"
I asked just in case.
"Probably not. Most likely, they want us to deliver the finishing blow."
"Eeh! Why?"
The Priestess interjected at Germana's words. I almost interjected too.
"Is that so?"
Even Eleanor-sama was surprised.
"Yes. In that state, they'll die even if left alone. Not only that, since they can't be easily healed, they'll suffer for a long time. Rather than being monster food or being lynched by humans, they probably want someone with certain skills to kill them in one go. Besides, even if they die, they can be resurrected."
I see, they realized their defeat was certain.
"What do you think? Henry."
"Now that you mention it, there might have been such a sign."
He crossed his arms and let out a deep breath.
At this rate, they might not be able to return to their original place. If they die, they can return.
"Wilhelmina, do you want to try?"
"If you say so."
Henry-sama seemed to have decided to let Will do it.
"Germana, I'm sorry, but could you heal that guy's legs?"
Will knows no fear. Or rather, in everything, she doesn't even imagine failing when she takes on a task.
"Wilhelmina, wait, wait! After they're healed, it will be tough for you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Challenge them with the intent of putting a suffering, wounded enemy at ease."
"Understood."
We circled behind the demon and dispelled [Camouflage] and [Mute]. In that state, we dispelled the bowl and everyone landed on the hut with a thud.
The demon, who had been walking as if crawling, stopped moving. It slowly turned around.
"I accept the duel!"
Will called out. Her weapon was a silver spear made by the Elves, though it was borrowed. It would be appropriate for a duel.
"You, you're a spirit second only to the Four Great Spirits."
"No, I am human."
Will, they're probably not talking about you.
Being an executive, it saw through Germana's true identity at a glance.
"That's right."
"Why are you here?"
"I was once human too. I'm just acting with humans. Also, my name is Germana."
"Germana?"
"Yes, my friend gave it to me."
As she spoke, she looked at us.
Hearing Germana's words, the demon laughed a little. Or so it seemed.
"Moreover, those with you are the ones who defeated me before. Two of them have defeated the Demon Lord once."
It remembered. Setting aside Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama, I didn't think it would remember even us.
"Indeed! We are the Henry Party of Sertoria!"
It's fine to make a grand display, but I'm not part of it, you know. Also, the Priestess and Germana.
"I see. Then, are you Jeanne?"
"I am not Jeanne."
"Then, are you?"
"Wrong again."
To be mistaken twice in a row. It seems my identity isn't known at first glance. No, that's not it. Why does a demon executive know my name? Could it be they heard it from the Demon Lord?
"Are you... Jeanne?"
Because Bonnie pointed at me, I was found out. Moreover, they had a somewhat surprised face. If you exclude Will and Bonnie from the current group, there's only me.
"Yes, but why do you know my name?"
When I asked the demon, it just laughed.
"Then, the duel."
"Yes. Let's begin."
"Yeah."
I was completely ignored.
The duel itself was settled easily. The demon could barely stand. It was a wonder it could even hold its sword. Honestly, I wanted to heal it as much as I could, but if I did, someone on our side might die. I turned a blind eye.
Will placed her spear point-blank against the opponent's chest, and with Henry-sama's signal, she lunged and pierced the heart just like that.
After that, it was the same as usual. I offered prayers for the two demons and sent them both. Both demons crumbled like dust and vanished.
I checked the basement, but the anti-magic material made by the Dwarves and Elves was impressive and there was no apparent damage. In one spot, probably made by the black sword, there was a single scratch-like line. It was at the password for the teleportation magic circle. It was as if to say, 'don't mock me.'
I contacted the fortress at the foot of the mountain to have them lift the alert, and we returned.
On the way back, I asked Eleanor-sama.
"Why did they know my name?"
"Isn't it because Jeanne became famous?"
I don't want to be told that by one of the most famous people on the island, though.
"Perhaps they heard it from the Demon Lord."
Hmm, I guess it comes down to that.
"After all, the fact that you get along with various monsters is officially recognized by the Demon Lord."
If my name is known among demons for that kind of reason, I suppose it doesn't feel too bad.