9 - Calamity Comes Suddenly
Both Ray and Kamiira's group believed that their peaceful days would continue, but the world would not allow it. A major turning point for Ray, and a tragedy beyond compare, arrived suddenly one day.
"Something is wrong. Something is happening,"
Kamiira muttered with a grim expression. The anomalies of the past few days had been troubling her. Magic beasts were appearing near the cave. Their numbers increased day by day. Now, it had reached a point where Kara, Kai, and Ray could no longer step outside the cave.
"Has this happened before?"
"No, not since we came here."
"I see. What are the possible causes?"
"Who knows? I haven't the slightest clue."
"...You're frightened, aren't you?"
"Eh? No way. Even if there are many, I can handle magic beasts of that level. Though, it'll be a bit of a pain if the numbers keep growing."
"No, not you, Kamiira-san. The magic beasts are."
"Eh?"
Kamiira wore a look of surprise at Ray's unexpected words. She wondered why he thought the magic beasts were frightened.
"Just a feeling I got when I looked at them."
"Could it be that?"
"Probably. It seems the small amount of magic beast instinct remaining inside me is reacting."
"Honestly, Ray-kun..."
By absorbing the madness of the magic beasts, he was able to sense the feelings of other magic beasts. She didn't know if such an existence even existed among the Demon Race.
"I'm quite inhuman, aren't I? I think so myself."
"But if that's true, there is one possibility."
"What is it?"
"Something the magic beasts fear has appeared in the forest. Perhaps a more powerful magic beast?"
The world of magic beasts is also one of the survival of the fittest. When a strong one appears, the weak become the ones to flee. The problem was who that strong entity was.
"For example?"
"If it's just a matter of strength, a dragon."
"Huh? So dragons actually exist?"
"You know about dragons?"
"Just the usual knowledge of them as mythical creatures. A dragon... how strong are the dragons of this world?"
The strongest creatures. In Ray's knowledge, they were often portrayed as such. If such an existence had appeared, it would be an unthinkable threat.
"It depends on the species. Lower species are strong, but they aren't unbeatable if you gather enough people."
Even among dragons, there were various types. That was the case in this world.
"Doesn't that mean higher species can't be defeated even if you gather numbers?"
"Well, yes. But a higher species dragon won't appear. Probably."
"What do you mean, 'probably'..."
"Besides, it's odd for me to say this after just mentioning it, but the possibility of it being a dragon is quite low."
"Why?"
"If it were a dragon, it would have shown itself long ago. They fly through the sky, after all."
The area in front of the cave was an open space with no trees to block the view. If a dragon were moving through the sky, they should have confirmed its presence by now. Even if it didn't appear before them, the magic beasts had been rampaging for days. It wouldn't be strange if it had already fulfilled its purpose in coming to this forest.
"I see. But even if it's not a dragon, it's something many magic beasts fear, right?"
"Right."
"What if it comes this way?"
"We fight."
To Ray's question, Kamiira answered immediately and without hesitation that they would fight.
"Is fleeing not an option?"
"There is nowhere to flee to."
"Like temporarily evacuating to other members of the Demon Race?"
"If only that were possible."
"...Is it perhaps because of me!?"
Ray thought that no member of the Demon Race would accept him, as he was perceived as part of the Human Race.
"No, it's not. I told you before, didn't I? Mutual non-interference. That is the promise for living in this forest."
But Kamiira immediately denied it. It truly wasn't Ray's fault.
"But this is an emergency, right?"
"Precisely because it's an emergency. We don't involve other families. One dies so that many may live. If you don't make that distinction, the Demon Race cannot survive."
"I can understand the logic, but..."
Ray wondered why they didn't think of uniting and refusing to allow even a single sacrifice.
"That is the promise. For the Demon Race, promises and contracts are absolute. They cannot be broken."
"...I see."
"If only we knew what was coming."
"If you knew?"
"We could prepare. Besides, if it really were a dragon or something of equal strength, I would actually flee. There would be no chance of winning."
Kamiira had no intention of fighting knowing she would die. If she died, her children wouldn't be able to survive either. She didn't want such a situation to happen.
"That's true... Shall we try something?"
"What?"
"To see if I can synchronize more with the magic beasts. If I can, I might be able to find out the true identity of whatever appeared."
"...An attractive proposal, but how?"
Knowing what the magic beasts feared would be helpful. However, Ray's proposal was not something that could be easily accepted. Strengthening the synchronization with magic beasts—the method for that could not be a sane one.
"I'll have to make contact. Touch a magic beast directly. Depending on the situation, absorb its magic power once more."
"It's dangerous."
As expected, the method Ray was thinking of was dangerous.
"I'll leave the fighting to you. I'll only deliver the final blow. If I do that, I think the danger will be minimal."
"It's not that, it's what happens after you absorb it."
"I'll probably be a bit confused... but I can do it. I believe so."
If he couldn't contribute to the fight, he wanted to be useful in some other way. That was the thought behind Ray's statement.
"...All right. Depending on the situation, you might have to faint again, okay?"
"Yes. Please."
However, Ray would regret making this proposal for a long time.
◇◇◇
They didn't have to wait long for the appearance of magic beasts. Many magic beasts were moving around the cave. But the problem was that most of them ran past without even glancing at the cave. This made it clear to Ray and the others that the situation was urgent.
"Amazing. This is the first time I've seen so many magic beasts."
Rui was surprised as he looked at the magic beasts. Besides Rui, only Ray and Kamiira were outside the cave. Kara and Kai were inside the cave to avoid danger.
"I'm starting to feel like it would be faster if I went on reconnaissance."
"That might be true. But there's a possibility it will appear while you're away from here."
"True. Let's wait a bit longer."
"Huh? Mother, can't you sense their presence?"
Rui, who had been listening to their conversation, questioned Kamiira.
"There are too many presences around. There are so many that I can't recognize what is what. Right now, I'm narrowing the range significantly."
"You can do that too?"
"Yes. Most of the Vampio race can do presence detection and, conversely, conceal their own."
"Huh? What about Rui?"
"...Shut up."
"Can't you do it?"
"Rui is too obsessed with combat and doesn't practice that kind of magic."
It wasn't something anyone of the Vampio race could do automatically. Just like martial arts, one had to polish their skill.
"Because it's plain."
Rui hated the training required to polish that skill.
"You think so? Rather than plain, isn't it refined? Besides, it seems like it would be quite useful."
"I'll practice eventually."
"When is 'eventually'?"
"Eventually!"
"There you go again, getting angry so quickly."
"Hey!"
Then, Kamiira's sharp voice of restraint flew in.
"Ah, sorry."
"That's not it. Something is approaching... Rui, prepare for battle."
"Eh? Me too?"
"I sense a big one. We might have to take it on together."
"Isn't it better to avoid that?"
A magic beast that Kamiira thought she couldn't defeat alone would have to be something extraordinary. Rui, unusually using his head, thought there was no need to force it here.
"I can't quite judge. It might be the real threat."
"The real threat?"
"The entity that is driving away the magic beasts whose identity we're trying to find."
"Is that how it is? All right, got it!"
"Ray-kun, step back inside the barrier."
"Ah, yes."
Ray felt anxious about what kind of magic beast would make Kamiira this alert. He wondered if it really was the real threat. And the magic beast that appeared had a form that made Ray certain of it. Dull silver glowing fur. Sharp fangs peeking from its mouth. Although the color was different, its appearance looked like a wolf, just like Shiro. However, its body was many times larger than Shiro's. It was larger than not only Ray, but also Kamiira.
"Murder Wolf..."
Kamiira whispered what seemed to be the name of the magic beast. Ray didn't know if it was an opponent beyond her expectations. What he did notice was that the aura Kamiira emitted changed significantly. It wasn't her usual gentle atmosphere. It was an atmosphere that made one feel a fear that could freeze the heart, truly fitting for the name vampire. Normally, that's how one would feel.
"...Beautiful."
Ray no longer felt any fear toward Kamiira at all. Her white skin, which seemed to glow even more than usual. Her red glowing eyes. Even the pointed canines extending over her lips seemed beautiful. In one way or another, he might still be under the effect of Charm.
"Rui, be careful."
"Mm, yeah."
As for Rui, far from showing bloodlust, he even showed an atmosphere of being somewhat intimidated by the magic beast.
"Rui! Don't be scared!"
"Shut up! Just stay quiet and watch!"
Only then did Rui finally enter a combat stance. Though not as much as Kamiira, Rui's body also began to glow white. The color of his eyes glowed red, and the red of his lips increased in luster.
"...Huh?"
Ray was surprised by the glamorous femininity Rui showed the moment he entered his combat stance.
(You, seriously, take a more serious stance. This is probably a dangerous situation.)
To such a Ray, the other Ray spoke up in his mind, sounding exasperated.
"Sorry. I was just a bit surprised."
(You've become way too dull.)
"You think so?"
(Now is not the time to be saying things like that.)
The first to move was Kamiira. With a speed that Ray's eyes couldn't follow, she entered the magic beast's range in an instant and swung both arms sharply to the left and right. However, the magic beast's speed was not inferior. It leaped back to dodge Kamiira's arms, and from there, it leaped straight over her head and went for Rui. The magic beast's maw opened wide, and sharp fangs attacked Rui.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Rui took a low stance and kicked the magic beast's maw upward with all his might. By then, Kamiira had leaped so high it seemed as if she were flying. As it was, she launched a kick toward the magic beast's head.
"Amazing."
The magic beast's head was slammed into the ground. Rui's kick flew toward it further, but it was dodged by the magic beast, which leaped quickly to the side. Thus, the magic beast and Kamiira's group faced each other again.
"Does it look okay?"
For now, Kamiira and the others were dominant. Ray felt a bit relieved, but that relief was blown away in the next instant.
"Gruaaaaaaa!"
The magic beast let out a great roar, and its silver body glowed even more. It was the same as Kamiira earlier. The aura emitted by the magic beast swelled up all at once.
"Stop holding back, you beast!"
Rui headed toward the magic beast without flinching, but the opponent's movements far exceeded those from before. The magic beast leaped left and right as if stepping.
"Tch!"
Unable to follow those movements, the sound of a click of the tongue leaked from Rui's mouth.
"Rui! Dodge!"
"Tch! Uwaah!"
Despite Kamiira's warning, Rui took the magic beast's swinging front paw head-on and was blown far away. As the magic beast tried to pursue him further, Kamiira's kick flew from the side.
"Kuh!"
However, unlike before, the magic beast did not lose its balance from that kick. Still, while it was held back, Rui was regaining his stance.
(...Can it become this strong?)
(It's magic. Basically, it's body strengthening, right?)
(A magic beast using magic. Does that mean it's a higher-tier magic beast?)
(I don't know how they express it in this world, but that's what it is.)
After that, a back-and-forth struggle continued. Kamiira gave up on dealing damage to the magic beast with blunt strikes and switched to slashing attacks with her sharply extended claws. As for Rui, he stopped the direct clash and focused on harassment. Rui would harass to create an opening in the magic beast, and Kamiira would attack there. In response, the magic beast also stopped its large movements, defending attacks by swinging its four legs, and conversely, aimed for openings to attack the two with body slams and leg strikes.
(That magic beast is smart. It's matching the attacks of those two, right?)
(Don't ask me.)
(Is this going to be decided?)
(I told you, don't ask yourself.)
How much time had passed since the battle fell into a stalemate? The magic beast was bleeding from all over its body, but they were all shallow wounds, far from fatal. There was still no change in Kamiira's condition. However, Rui was starting to show considerable fatigue.
(Which is it? If it drags on, who is at a disadvantage?)
(It's still too early to take a gamble. You know that, right?)
(I know it in my head! But my feelings!)
Ever since the stalemate became apparent, Ray had been thinking about whether there was anything he could do. However, for Ray, who had no means of fighting, anything he could do was nothing more than a gamble of all or nothing. If he failed, Ray would undoubtedly die. He knew in his head that he shouldn't act in haste. It wasn't as if Kamiira and the others had become clearly disadvantaged yet. However, the fact that he could do nothing but watch was irritating Ray.
(Now is the time to be dull. Kill your emotions. Judge calmly.)
As the other Ray, he didn't really want to say such things, but in this case, it couldn't be helped. He couldn't just jump out blindly.
(Got it. Right. I'll take the gamble when Rui looks like he's in trouble. I'll decide that for now.)
(Yeah, that's fine.)
Erasing his impatient feelings, Ray continued to watch the battle situation calmly. It was clear that the situation was becoming disadvantageous. Rui's movements had become completely dull. Now, Kamiira was covering for him, but as her burden increased, the opportunities for Kamiira to take hits increased.
The magic beast called a 'Murder Wolf' was just that strong.
Even so, if Kamiira had maintained her previous strength, it was an opponent she could have won against. However, Kamiira had given birth to Rui, and a few years later, to the twins Kara and Kai. When a woman of the Demon Race gives birth, she also shares a part of her own power. To recover that takes many years. The current Kamiira was far from the Kamiira of her prime. And this was the first time Kamiira realized it. This was the first time she had fought such a strong magic beast since giving birth. A look of impatience gradually appeared on Kamiira's face as well.
(It's almost time.)
(Yeah.)
(You know the division of roles, right?)
(Don't make me say it again. Stop asking yourself questions.)
And then, slowly, Ray stepped outside the barrier.
"Uwah!"
For Rui, whose movements had slowed, dodging the leg the magic beast swung was the limit of his ability. Trying to dodge forcibly, he lost his balance. The magic beast was not one to miss such an opening. It leaped at Rui all at once, attempting to sink its fangs in.
"Uwaaaaah!"
"Rui!"
Kamiira launched a kick toward the magic beast. She knew it wouldn't be effective. It was to divert the magic beast's attention from Rui. However, before that, the magic beast's attention was diverted elsewhere. Small pebbles were being launched one after another toward the magic beast's face. Their accurate trajectories were concentrated on the magic beast's eyes. Even if they didn't cause damage unless they hit the eyes directly, it was incredibly annoying for the magic beast.
"Ray-kun! No! Get back!"
Seeing Ray's figure at the end of where the pebbles were being launched, Kamiira screamed. Kamiira knew that the position where Ray was standing was outside the barrier.
"Gru, grurururururu"
To the magic beast, a new and, by all appearances, powerless existence was there. The target of the attack changed to Ray. The magic beast ran toward Ray with tremendous speed. Without panic, Ray stared at it. While slowly stepping backward. At the moment the magic beast's maw was about to reach Ray, Ray collapsed into the barrier. The sound of the barrier shaking from the impact, which he heard for the first time. The magic beast's body was barely stopped by the barrier. Seeing this, Kamiira and Rui were relieved, but Ray's actions didn't end there. He stood up quickly and slammed his own arm into the open maw of the magic beast.
"Ray-kun!" "Idiot!"
No matter if it was inside the mouth, the magic beast wouldn't take significant damage from a strike of Ray's level. It closed its maw to crush the arm that had jumped in of its own accord.
"Guh, uwaaaaaaaa!"
Ray's scream echoed.
"Gru, gruaaaaaaa!"
However, it wasn't only Ray who screamed, but the magic beast as well.
"You! If you're that smart, you already know, don't you!"
"Gruaaaaaaa!"
"Tell me! What did you see! Or are you the real threat!?"
"Gugaaaaa! Gua!"
"If you don't want all your magic power drained, tell me!"
"Gru, gu, grurururu"
"...What!?"
Along with Ray's voice of surprise, the magic beast collapsed powerlessly on the spot. Ray also stood there dazed.
"Ray-kun!"
Ray finally turned his gaze toward Kamiira's voice.
"Ah, wait a moment. I'll organize the things in my head."
"I-I see. Then..."
"W-Wait a second."
Kamiira tried to deliver the finishing blow to the magic beast lying there, looking as if it were at its last breath, but she was stopped by Ray.
"What? If we're going to kill it, now is the time."
"...Are you still going to fight? You don't have the luxury, do you?"
Ray was speaking toward the magic beast.
"Wait, Ray-kun!? What are you doing?"
"If you have no intention of fighting, leave this place quickly. You can escape, can't you?"
"Gru, grurururu"
"Just run! Do you want to die!?"
"Gu, gururu"
The magic beast slowly stood up. The aura it had been emitting had completely vanished. The magic beast stared at Ray, and then lightly bowed its head as if giving thanks.
"Live on."
Ray spoke further to the magic beast.
"Gru"
As if replying, it let out a short growl, turned around, and began to walk slowly. It looked back at Ray once, and then ran away from the spot at full speed.
"Hey! Is that okay!?"
"That wasn't the real threat."
"You found out?"
"Yeah, somehow. Though it was quite painful."
"You're the other Ray-kun, aren't you?"
The tone was not that of the usual Ray. Kamiira immediately knew it was the other personality of Ray she had spoken with once before.
"Yeah. The main body is the same as last time. I'm fighting the consciousness of the magic beast I absorbed. This time, it was persuasion, I guess? Since it's smart, it seems it's not just simple madness."
"You really are reckless. Is your arm okay?"
"No, it hurts a lot. But well, I managed to endure it."
"Endure it?"
"I concentrated almost all the magic power in my body into one point. I used that to block the fangs, and then released the magic power all at once. If the opponent's movement had stopped a bit later, my arm would have been torn off."
"...That's completely reckless."
It was almost entirely left to luck. Kamiira, who thought he would take a more considered approach, was exasperated.
"I guess so."
"Then, could you tell me the information about the real threat that you worked so hard to obtain?"
"Yeah..."
Ray didn't immediately return an answer to Kamiira's question.
"What's wrong?"
"It might be the worst."
"Just tell me."
"...What I saw were humans."
"I see... so that's how it is."
Kamiira seemed to have guessed from Ray's attitude, and on the surface, she showed no sign of agitation.
"It seems humans, and quite a number of them, are advancing through the forest. From the image I received, it's like a small army."
"That certainly is the worst."
The worst enemy for the Demon Race. An opponent that made one think a dragon would have been better.
"We should flee immediately. Even that magic beast ran away. There's no way we can win."
"I can't do that."
"Why!?"
"If we flee now, the search might spread to the entire forest. If that happens, other families will also be hunted."
If they completely erased the traces of their existence, they might be able to escape. But even if they did that, if the humans' purpose was the Demon Race from the start, the danger would shift to other members of the Demon Race. This wasn't just about Kamiira's group being sacrificed; it was the same for other demons. There was a possibility they would reach the dwellings of other demons instead of here.
"Won't it end up like that either way?"
"Not necessarily. There's a possibility they'll be satisfied with finding us and go home. In fact, that's often the case. Humans think of scattered members of the Demon Race as nothing more than prey for hunting. Once they hunt a few, they're satisfied."
"Then, do we just give up from the start?"
"I have no intention of doing that. We'll fight. But you're the one who said we can't win."
"That's..."
"Well, as for the specifics, I'll think about that from now... Sorry, but could you go to sleep?"
In a casual tone, Kamiira lightly dropped a hand-chop on the nape of Ray's neck.
"W-What's h-happ..."
"I want you to live, Ray-kun."
Kamiira told her feelings to the collapsing Ray. Before he could think about the meaning of those words, Ray lost consciousness.
"............"
"M-Mother."
"I'm sorry. Rui, you might have to die."
"...Yeah, I know. But Kara and Kai are..."
"I want to let them escape somehow. Well, whether it works depends on luck, but shall we try? Now, let's return to the cave for now."
"Ah, yeah... and this guy?"
"I'll carry him to the cave... I'm sorry, there's no opportunity to slowly regret the parting."
"I-It's not like I care."
"At least, do you want to have a kiss? I'll turn my face away, so do it now."
"A-A kiss. Why would I..."
"Because it might be the last."
"...I won't."
There was no way she could do such a thing in front of the mother Ray loved so much. Even as a child, it was Rui's pride as a woman.