273 - Demon Drug
When I woke up, light was streaming through the gaps in the tent.
From outside, I could hear the voices of my allies still fighting and the forces of Banseim, who had become dead soldiers. When I thought about how they had been fighting all night—I could only doubt their sanity.
No, they probably weren't sane to begin with. If this was what it meant to be charmed by Celes, then there was no other way to describe it than as true madness.
I pushed myself up and covered my face with both hands.
"...Monica."
"Yes, sir!"
Monica, who had entered my tent, was preparing my grooming supplies with a bucket of hot water. I wanted to believe it was just my imagination that her cheeks were red and she looked excited.
"I'll get ready. Then, gather everyone. ...I'm heading to the front lines too."
Monica immediately began the preparations. She placed the bucket on top of the wooden box she had brought, and the armor and weapons she had polished yesterday were also ready.
As I got out of bed, I asked Monica for a status report.
"What's the current situation?"
Monica reported to me while continuing her preparations. Since there was no time, she was likely explaining things while she worked.
"Currently, there is no change in the fact that we have the advantage. However, if things continue like this for a few days, the tide is expected to turn. The casualties have also exceeded the projected numbers. If this continues, it may interfere with the plan."
It seemed we weren't in a situation where we would win without doing anything. In that case, I had to move, and I had received the power from the Fifth Head for that purpose.
Was I mentally weak for wanting advice more than power?
I shook my head and let out a sigh.
"Is something wrong? Are you dissatisfied with this Monica? What a luxurious chicken coward. Tell me. I'll fix it with all my might, so tell me right now!"
Seeing Monica's desperate expression, I smiled slightly.
"It's nothing. You're the same as always. You're the best."
Then, Monica stared at me in silence.
"...One, one more time, please! It was such a surprise attack that I couldn't get the recording or filming in time, so if possible, please do that smile again. No, I have a save, but I want to save it in the best possible state!"
Since she was saying incomprehensible things again, I put my hand on my chin and thought. In the end, I decided not to grant Monica's request.
"Sorry. It seems more interesting if I don't say it, so I won't."
Monica bit her white apron, looking frustrated.
"So you're playing with me! How disappointing! But don't underestimate Monica, who can enjoy herself even in a situation like this! Play with me more!"
As always, Monica remained high-performance yet disappointing.
Early in the morning, I finished my preparations and faced the battlefield. Today, since Mei said she would carry me in her Kirin form, I had the harness attached and was riding her.
Around me were Maxim-san, Aria, Miranda, Glacia, Eliza, and Marina-san—with Novem, Eva, Clara, and Baldor positioned as rear support. After the charge, Novem and the others were to handle magic-related matters and provide cover.
In front of the hastily constructed gate, we made our preparations for the charge and waited for the moment. Maxim-san came to my side on horseback.
"Lord Lyell, I've come to you with a personal request today."
"Wouldn't it have been better to say so during the meeting?"
Maxim-san had a serious expression. Then, he spoke matter-of-factly.
"I once had a friend with whom I competed in skill. I fought him many times and lost more than I won. Clad in black armor, his spear work on horseback was magnificent. He was the embodiment of man and horse as one. There is someone who killed that friend and is now wearing that armor."
I looked forward.
"I've heard. Bread Bumper... I'm acquainted with him too. I have the impression that he was a bit—no, quite strongly driven by a desire for promotion."
Maxim-san adjusted the position of his headband.
"Would you be willing to hand it over? Of course, only when you judge that it's possible. If the situation makes it impossible, I can accept that."
In front of the gate, the knights simultaneously released magic, blowing away the enemy soldiers. As the shock reached us, I saw dust rising beyond the gate.
Gunshots rang out, arrows were fired one after another, and a flag was waved vigorously.
"It depends on the situation."
"That is perfectly fine!"
As the gate opened, we readied our weapons and prepared to charge. I gripped the jewel and envisioned the Chain Sword. The silver craftsmanship turned liquid and swelled, and a silver sword appeared in my right hand. It was a sinister-looking Chain Sword, but the sinister nature had faded slightly. There were thin lines on the blade, and it was covered in many scratching thorns.
"Lord Lyell, that sword is...?"
"...A weapon suited for this occasion. Well then, shall we go? Charge!!"
As I raised the silver Chain Sword, Mei dashed forward. Passing through the gate faster than anyone, soldiers who refused to stop advancing despite being wounded leaped out from the dust. They thrust their spears and lunged toward me.
"You're in the way."
I swung the Chain Sword, careful not to hit Mei's neck, and the blade separated, connected by thin blue lines, slashing through the surrounding enemies.
The way it slashed as if it had a will of its own made the Chain Sword look as if it were alive. Holding the hilt, I felt as if I could hear a voice.
Next. The next one! Let me slash more! Kill more!
This time, I swung it as if thrusting, and the tip of the sword impaled three mounted knights in a straight line. Then, swinging it sideways, the Chain Sword moved horizontally along with the knights, taking the heads of the soldiers.
The Chain Sword, which cut down multiple foes in a single swing, was indeed a weapon suited for this situation.
"Mei... I'll have you charge to a position where you won't catch our allies in the crossfire."
"Leave it to me!"
As Mei dashed, purple lightning generated around her. When the Chain Sword clad itself in that purple lightning and swung around, some were caught and blown away, while others were cut down by the lightning-clad Chain Sword, becoming unable to move even from a graze.
Then, as Mei leaped into the air, I jumped down from her and extended the Chain Sword to its maximum, swinging it.
With every extension, the number of sword segments increased, raging as if to say that no one would escape. It slashed through armor, flesh, and bone without hesitation.
The sight of blood dancing around was a scene that shouldn't even happen on a battlefield. How many people died in that one swing? Just how many did I kill?
Such thoughts crossed my mind, but still, my body swung the Chain Sword. I felt as if I were possessed by something.
Someone who had luckily escaped but only lost an arm stood up, using a spear as a cane while laughing. Behind him, the soldiers for the next charge stood ready with their spears.
"They keep coming one after another."
Then, lightning rained down from above. The lightning that fell around us seemed to have been generated by Mei in the sky. Even so, the soldiers aimed their bows and arrows at Mei and came at me with spears and swords. Soldiers who stepped over the corpses of their allies, feeling no fear.
"...Sorry, but I have no intention of apologizing. Hate me if you want."
As I swung the Chain Sword, many more humans were slashed apart. I swung the sword horizontally as if rotating on the spot, and as the extended sword followed the blue threads back to its original form, soldiers who no longer moved lay scattered around once again.
Then, knights on horseback arrived, stepping over those soldiers.
"Out of the way, move!!"
Full plate armor. And the large hammer in his hand might be his prized weapon. He held it high, intending to swing it down on me.
From the jewel, I heard the voice of the Seventh Generation.
To handle a weapon that large while controlling a horse with only the lower body. As a knight, he must have trained considerably.
He must have been an excellent knight. But—.
"You're in the way."
Despite the distance, I swung the sword down from an overhead position, and the Chain Sword extended, cleaving both the opponent and the horse in two. Then, knights who had circled around charged at me from my left and right with spears.
I held the fully extended Chain Sword horizontally and waited for the sword to retract—.
The heads of the two knights on the left and right flew off. On its way back, it had slashed through their necks.
"...It really is reliable on the battlefield. However, like the First Generation's weapon, it consumes a lot of magical power."
It does consume. But this Chain Sword was stealing the replenishment from the opponents it cut down. This ability—.
"It's Mireia-san. As ruthless as ever."
—It was reliable, but for some reason, Mireia-san's proud expression came to mind. Then, a man in black armor appeared, leading knights.
"Lyell! You, how dare you show your face before me so brazenly!"
Just as the surrounding soldiers stopped swarming, Bread appeared. I understood he was indignant, but he lacked any composure.
The Third Head inside the jewel was also laughing.
He's the kid from the Griffon hunt, right? He grew up in the wrong direction again.
The Seventh Generation asked the Third Head.
Given his state, it was obvious he'd go in the wrong direction, wasn't it?
The Third Head let out a sigh.
No, the possibility wasn't zero. I mean, he had a chance to climb back up from there and become more decent. But once he stands before Lyell, it's over. Now there's nothing left but to take him down.
The Third Head's "take him down" meant to kill him.
"...You're wearing quite a nice set of armor. How does it feel to be important?"
When I provoked him a little, the effect was immediate. He raised his left arm and swung it down. The surrounding knights charged toward me. However, those knights had activated skills.
"Fool! To charge alone before such numbers is the act of an idiot! I'll crush you immediately and show your head to the enemy—"
I smiled at Bread, who seemed certain of victory. Doing so would likely irritate Bread more.
"I'm here because I thought I could win. And that feeling hasn't wavered even now."
As I swung the Chain Sword, it sucked up magical power from the surrounding corpses. Mireia-san had said the power of the jewel was increasing, and it seemed it was affecting the weapons of the successive heads as well.
The tip of the sinister Chain Sword became like the head of a snake. A sinister silver snake extended from the hilt and revealed its form—.
"Devour everything."
With one word, it attacked the surroundings. A giant silver blade mimicking the form of a snake swept through, killing the knights and soldiers who approached. It absorbed the blood that stained its silver body, reducing the magical power it consumed.
Bread became visibly flustered as his allies around him vanished. I had directed the Chain Sword to target everyone except Bread, and it moved according to my instructions.
"W-what. What did you do!! This is cowardly! That's how you people do it, with your powerful weapons! Those of us born poor are used as your stepping stones! To come this far... to come this far!!"
As allied soldiers arrived from the rear, Bread tried to retreat. I wondered if he wasn't charmed by Celes, but it seemed to be something different. The Seventh Generation was exasperated.
Honestly. To use birth as an excuse and end up like this. He's not even worth being Lyell's nourishment.
I returned the Chain Sword to its original form. Seeing that, Bread perhaps thought I was tired and stopped retreating.
"T-that's right! There's no way you can perform such an attack many times! I win. Despite showing such composure, you're the one who loses!"
Knights and soldiers pressed in from all sides. But I didn't swing the Chain Sword.
"You're wrong. It was just no longer necessary. Did you think I was rampaging in the center because I intended to take on everyone alone? If chaos broke out here, it would affect the front lines where the clash is happening. Also, I'm not the one who's going to deal with you."
Lightning struck around me. Mei was continuing her subtle attacks from the sky, and furthermore, fire and ice from my rear swept forward, swallowing the knights and soldiers.
Then, a single knight on horseback passed by me. Advancing while kicking up the surrounding sand, he blew away knights and soldiers while cladding himself and his horse in armor made of sand.
I knew allies were coming from behind thanks to the skills of the Fifth Head and Sixth Generation. A charge with weakened momentum meant nothing to us now.
Maxim-san, who charged at Bread, leaped up in his sand-clad form and swung his spear down, knocking Bread off his horse.
"...Stand up. I'll be the one to deal with you."
Bread fell from the horse and stood up using his sword as a cane, his black hair disheveled. His helmet had fallen off, and he shouted to those around him while looking at Maxim-san.
"W-what are you doing! Kill this man!"
He sought help from those around him, but Maxim-san didn't flinch at all even when receiving enemy attacks. It was because the sand armor didn't let swords or spears through.
Arms of sand emerged from his back, cutting down the surrounding soldiers with weapons of sand.
"I tend to be thought of as someone solely devoted to martial arts based on my appearance. But I'm also good at magic."
I felt like he was clearly using magic the wrong way, but if he was fine with it, I thought it was okay to say he was good at magic.
—Bread looked at the knight before him.
"Now, take your stance."
Maxim was a man who had been a famous knight even in Banseim. After receiving one strike from Maxim, Bread understood that he could not win on his own. He possessed enough skill to understand that.
Looking around, his allies were fighting other enemies, and few were available to help him. And those allies were being cut down before Maxim.
"N-not yet. Against this many dead soldiers, no matter how hard you people try..."
Immediately after, there was movement ahead. A giant Golem had appeared. It had the head of a lion, wore armor, and had multiple arms growing from its back. It held a weapon in each hand, sweeping away everything around it.
"T-that is..."
Seeing Bread with his mouth agape, Maxim thrust his spear. Bread dodged by rolling, and knights and soldiers swarmed Maxim, only to be cut down.
Maxim looked at Bread's face.
"Normally, I would have wanted to avoid a battle like this. I'm dissatisfied with having to show my trump card, but above all, we are at war. It was our policy not to engage in battles where a small force defeats a great army."
Bread sat on the ground, backing away.
"D-don't... are you saying you were holding back!"
"No, that's not it. It's just that you weren't an opponent worth giving my all to. Be proud. You made Lord Lyell and the others get serious."
Hearing those words, Bread struck the ground. Over and over.
"You people... you always look down on those below you like that! Family lineage, talent... is someone who has those things really so great! If so, then the only one who can defeat people like you is someone like me, who has nothing!"
Bread took out the medicine he had received from Celes from his bosom and put the bottle to his lips. After drinking it all, he looked at Maxim with a laugh. Maxim did not take advantage of Bread's opening.
"T-that composure will be your undoing. This [Demon Drug] is a completed product researched from things that flowed in from Zain! You've made me—made me—angry—!"
Bread's skin turned purple, and blood spurted as veins bulged. The red blood changed to purple, and eventually to green, and his body gradually grew larger, causing his clothes and armor to burst apart.
Maxim said one thing while looking at Bread.
"Is this your trump card? But what a pitiful sight."
Seeing Maxim's expression visible through the sand armor, Bread didn't know what he looked like. Looking at his own hands, they were horribly swollen. They had turned purple, and the veins had become thick and pulsing.
Looking at his body, he was getting bigger and bigger. However, that form was—.
"What is this... what is this, Lady Celes!!"
A form with the head of a purple caterpillar and something like a human upper body attached to it. A form of a demon that could not possibly be considered a success was there—.