kscans

Chapter 24 - # The Reincarnated Hero vs. the Reincarnated Hobgoblin

The Goblin Throne Room. Into the silence, a single footstep echoed.

Ares slowly stepped forward and looked down at Mamoru.

"...Ah, I see now. So you're 'Mamoru.' I can tell just by looking at you. You drew the short straw. Reincarnating as a Hobgoblin? That's hilarious."

Mamoru silently met Ares's gaze.

"I get that you're a 'reincarnator,' but... seeing you like that, I'm not feeling thrilled at all. I'll just kill you quick and put you out of your misery. You're probably suffering, right? Huh?"

At his mocking voice, Lumina shrugged her shoulders as if fed up.

"...You really are sick."

Mamoru took a step forward.

"I was... given a life in this world. With this life, I met my comrades, and we've lived together. And I've found a pride worth protecting."

His voice was low and filled with passion. The surrounding monsters fell silent.

"Life. Comrades. Pride. That's why I fight. Things you probably don't have."

Ares narrowed his eyes and snorted.

"Huh? Life? Comrades? Pride? Those aren't skills or anything. Me, I operate on 'efficiency,' 'clearing the game,' and 'pleasure.' This world is a game. I just delete any annoying NPCs and take their experience points."

Then, Ares raised his hand.

"Lumina, let's get started. These guys are a pain, so just wash them all away at once."

With a cold expression, Lumina began her chant.

"O power of the deep sea sleeping in silence, become fangs of a raging torrent and pierce my enemies. Let frozen hatred become a vortex, and boiling fury be cloaked in heat. Drink it all, the earth, the sky, even their souls. Come forth, Aqua Inferno."

With a deafening roar, a massive torrent of high-pressure water assaulted the monsters! It was a storm-like blast of water that extinguished flames and gouged the floor.

"Guh, kgh...!"

"The traps... are being washed away!?"

The Lizardman, Amy, and the Troll, Koni, reflexively took evasive action.

But Mamoru stood before his allies, taking the full force of the current with his small body.

"Everyone, get back! I'll protect the front!"

Don!

His body was slammed against the wall, and blood seeped from his wounds. Still, Mamoru stood up.

"...My allies will never let their allies die!"

Lumina murmured in surprise.

"...To take a hit like that head-on and stand back up..."

Ares kept his smirk as he readied his sword.

"Haha, not bad, not bad! This is how a boss fight should be! But hey, no matter how much you protect your friends, you're the one who's in pain, right?"

"...That's fine by me. The pain, the fear, I'll take it all and live!"

Gradually, the battlefield descended into chaos.

Ares's mockery and madness. Mamoru's desperate resistance. And in the hearts of his comrades, the budding seeds of 'doubt' and 'respect.'

The Dark Elf Tiris watched the scene from the shadows and whispered.

(The true 'hero' of this battle is...)

Alone in the darkness behind them, Tiris couldn't suppress the trembling in her heart.