kscans

Chapter 39 - A Fierce Battle and the Robed Woman

The Hekatonkheires possessed a chiseled physique, radiating an aura that surpassed even the goblin king's. Through the slits of its iron mask, it stared at us with bloodshot eyes. It took a step forward, like a sumo wrestler stomping the ring. A heavy thud echoed as the ground shook.

"Watch out! There's one behind us, too!"

We were sandwiched between them.

"Even one was tough enough. Beers died. There's no way we can beat two!"

Cecily was starting to panic.

"It's alright, Cecily. I'm the man who beat you guys. Even if I'm still F-rank."

"Eh? You're still F-rank?"

Myra asked.

"That's right. You're a member of an F-rank party now, Myra. Pretty embarrassing, right?"

I just hadn't bothered to rank up because I didn't understand the system, but I said it as if I were bragging. I figured since I beat a B-ranker, I must be B-rank myself.

"You're getting off-topic. We're in the middle of a battle!"

Cecily's words brought a sense of calm back to her voice.

"Alright, I'll summon Laciel."

"No, don't!"

Mizuki stopped me.

"Why not?"

"In Greek mythology, the Hekatonkheires are the sons of Uranus and Gaia. They're three brothers."

So a creature like that was treated as a monster in this world. And there was a possibility a third one could appear.

"For now, can't we just focus on beating these two?"

"There's no guarantee the third one will be the same strength. And we can't fight while trying to protect anyone who gets knocked down."

She was right. It would limit our options.

"...Got it. Mizuki, you take the one in front. Famu and I will take the one in back. Cecily, I need you to attack with magic. Myra, support us, but prioritize Mizuki. Aira, protect Cecily and Myra!"

"""""Got it!"""""

Mizuki, I'm sorry to make you face one alone. But you're the only one I can count on for this. Famu and I charged forward. For a moment, we were enveloped in a soft light—Myra's defensive blessing. Then another light surrounded us—Cecily's attack enhancement magic. The Hekatonkheires swung its greatsword. I back-stepped to dodge while Famu leaped over it. The wind pressure from the slash made me stumble. Famu followed up, striking with her sword, but the Hekatonkheires punched away each blow. Famu was sent flying.

"Famu!"

As I turned to look, the greatsword came crashing down. I barely avoided it, only to be met with a horizontal swing. I parried it with my blade, but the impact sent a shock through my hands, nearly making me drop my katana. Then came a diagonal slash. My legs tangled, and I fell. A spear was thrown. I couldn't dodge it. Just then, Famu's skill, [Kikuichimonji], shot down the spear. At the same time, an enormous fireball engulfed the Hekatonkheires—Cecily's magic.

"Famu, are you okay?"

"Yes, Myra's defensive blessing is working. Master, please get up."

"Right..."

I stood up, realized I wasn't holding my katana, and quickly picked it up. My concentration was already starting to waver. Its countless hands were the main problem. The Hekatonkheires hadn't moved a single step, yet it was unleashing a barrage of attacks with its numerous arms and weapons. A single one of its swings could be fatal to us. The flames of the fireball were dying down, and I couldn't tell if it had done any damage. We had to press the attack. Famu and I split up and charged in from either side.

"Guoooooh!"

The Hekatonkheires roared and leaped into the air. It jumped clean over us, landing right where Cecily and the others were, and swung down a massive hatchet. Aira deployed a defensive barrier. The monster's strike resounded with a deafening boom. A blast wave erupted. When Famu and I rushed over, Cecily and Aira were on the ground. Myra was facing the Hekatonkheires, blood streaming from her head. She had also been caught in that last attack.

"Myra, are you alright?! What about Cecily and Aira?"

"I'm fine. As for Aira and the others... they can't fight anymore."

"Dammit! I'll cover you!"

I fired a stone sphere to create a diversion. It was easily knocked aside, but that was apparently enough for Myra. She swung her mace. The Hekatonkheires tried to intercept it with a sword, but Myra's swing was sharper. It shattered the monster's arm. As the creature lost its balance, she followed up with another swing, then another. She was skillfully manipulating the heavy mace, using centrifugal force. Her movements were efficient and stable. She was strong. I fired another stone sphere to support her. The Hekatonkheires didn't dodge. The sphere hit, but it didn't seem to do any damage. A spear flew towards me. I barely managed to avoid it. Myra's assault was halted. In her place, Famu slashed at it. It seemed like a light cut, but it left a mark. The Hekatonkheires began to counterattack. It started swinging its greatsword vertically and horizontally again. Famu retreated to create distance, but Myra, who was left behind, had to take the full brunt of the attack. She didn't flee because she was protecting the fallen Cecily and Aira. She deflected one blow, then two, but her defense started to lag, and she began taking damage. Famu was also hit by a thrown spear and couldn't support Myra. I fired another stone sphere. Again, it didn't dodge. I fired another, this time giving it a curved trajectory to make it harder to predict. The stone sphere lodged itself in the eye-slit of the iron mask with a thunk. The Hekatonkheires's attacks stopped. It was trying to remove the stone from its mask.

"Now's our chance!"

Myra and Famu resumed their attack. The Hekatonkheires fought back, swinging its remaining arms wildly. But its attacks lacked accuracy and failed to connect. I readied my katana to join the fight. I would bet everything on a single strike. I'd take its head. It was over three meters tall. To reach it, I'd have to step in deeper than usual. Its countless arms were in the way. But I believed my blade would take its head without fail. Our eyes met for a fleeting moment. She seemed to understand. Good. I would strike between Myra's attacks. I shuffled forward. The Hekatonkheires gave up trying to remove the stone and tore off its iron mask. I seized that moment and dove into its range, swinging my katana. Fast, and strong. It wasn't a clean line to its neck, but I cut off one of its arms to reach it. However, the blade bit about a fifth of the way in and stopped. My katana was stuck. I was immobilized. All I had to do was let go, but I was panicking. And then I took a punch from the Hekatonkheires. I felt a violent impact as my body was slammed into the ground. My whole body ached. I couldn't move. Was the defensive magic even protecting me from the shock? My consciousness started to fade. No. I have to stay awake. I have to be ready in case the third one appears. The Hekatonkheires was bleeding profusely from its neck, but it wasn't going down. Famu pulled out my katana, which was still embedded in the monster. She took the same center-line stance as me. It was a beautiful, effortless posture. Her left foot wasn't too open—a flaw I had when my eagerness to leap in made me tense up. She had corrected it. The Hekatonkheires was swinging all its arms wildly, trying to keep its enemies at bay. But the speed of its swings was dropping. She saw an opening and dove in without hesitation. There was no unnecessary force in her movement. The tip of her blade drew a beautiful arc and split the Hekatonkheires's forehead. Famu used the recoil from hitting the enemy's body to retreat and create distance. It was the exact strike I had always aspired to.

The monster's body swayed. But it didn't fall.

"Get out of the way! You've pissed me off, so I'm gonna roast you to a crisp!"

Cecily was back on her feet. She launched another massive fireball at the Hekatonkheires. Engulfed in flames, it collapsed. Myra smashed its head with her mace several times. The monster vanished. Cecily lost consciousness again and fell to the ground.

"Mizuki is..."

She was fighting the Hekatonkheires in front. Her shield was destroyed and useless. The arm that held it hung limply at her side. The marks of countless attacks were etched on her body. But she was still standing. A soft light enveloped her. Some of her wounds began to heal. It was Myra's healing blessing. For a moment, she glanced back at us, seeming to confirm our safety. Cecily had collapsed after launching her fireball, so there were three ill-mannered people lying on the floor, but we were okay. Famu was protecting them. If the monster tried that leap again, the ones on the ground would be dead. Myra started to head over to help.

"It's fine. Go heal everyone else."

Mizuki stopped her with her words. A blue light shone in her eyes—proof that her passive super skill had activated. Mizuki took a step forward. The Hekatonkheires took a step back. The pressure she was exuding had surpassed the monster's. It seemed to have sensed her Super Kill ability. Several of its arms had been severed. The Hekatonkheires retreated as it attacked, but Mizuki easily parried every blow with just her sword. The monster's attacks had been too strong. Every single one should have been a fatal blow. Her skill to evade fatal attacks had blocked them all, and now the skill had expanded and strengthened to the point where it could block normal attacks. Her Super Kill ability had also expanded, and the probability of it dealing a fatal blow must have increased. Mizuki advanced. The Hekatonkheires couldn't retreat any further. Its back was to the door. Mizuki swung her sword. The blade sank into the monster's body. The Hekatonkheires vanished. The door didn't open. Instead, the space distorted, and we were back in the original corridor.

"Hey, why are you all lying on the floor?"

Mizuki looked down at us and smiled mischievously. My whole body ached too much to get up. Myra was treating Aira and Cecily. Aira had taken the worst of the damage. I was in line. Mizuki also had numerous fresh wounds. It was a miracle she'd won.

"I was waiting for that third one you were so worried about, Mizuki, but the enemy was so weak I got bored and took a nap. From this angle, I can see your panties pretty well."

In the end, the third Hekatonkheires never appeared.

"...Want me to step on you?"

She prodded my head with the tip of her shoe.

"Stop it, the occasional glimpse has a certain charm. You exhibitionist."

That was a lie, of course. I wanted to stare at Mizuki's panties forever.

"Hmph! I want to kick this pervert."

Mizuki was angry.

"Mizuki..."

"What?"

"We'll be okay. The two of us can make it in this world. Right?"

"...Yeah."

Mizuki nodded and knelt down, stroking my forehead. I looked for Famu. She was standing there stiffly, watching us.

"Famu, I'd like to get up now."

"..."

Famu was staring at me. I couldn't read any emotion in her expression. It made me a little uneasy.

"Famu?"

"Ah, Master, my apologies. I was just spacing out now that the battle is over."

Famu helped me sit up.

"Master, I have two things to report."

"I hope it's good news."

Famu's expression seemed tense. I wanted her to smile.

"In the catalog of special skills I received, there are several items that have been blacked out."

"Is that so?"

"Among them, there are a few where the ink is thin enough to read. [Goddess Summon] is one of them."

That was critical information. It meant that once someone acquired a skill, no one else could choose it. Mizuki listened in silence.

"There was also a skill called [Monster Collection]. Its nickname—"

"Ah, you don't have to say the nickname."

I quickly stopped her. It had a name like a fashion show in the capital of France. I wasn't deliberately avoiding it. This one was probably the original.

"It seems it allows you to summon defeated enemies to fight for you."

If they used this skill to summon the Hekatonkheires, it meant they had delved to at least the 40th floor of a dungeon. I understood what Famu was implying. But it wasn't definitive proof.

"One more thing. I can smell roasted corn."

"...Are they nearby?"

"No. There was a strong lingering scent, but no one was there."

Mizuki and I looked at each other. We could pretty much call it confirmed. But why would they sick a monster on us? Did they intend to kill us? If so, they might have been watching the battle from somewhere, and left because I didn't use Goddess Summon.

"Why do transmigrators have to fight each other?"

Aidan had warned me, but at least Mizuki and I had no reason to fight. I had been taking it too lightly.

"Maybe we're being made to fight a proxy war between the five goddesses and the other gods,"

Mizuki replied.

"All I was told was to defeat the Demon Lord, but this situation is awful. If the Demon Lord is a god of the apocalypse, then we're at a serious disadvantage."

Most of the gods were on the enemy side.

"I dragged Cecily and Aira into this. I regret it. I'm going to tell them everything. If they want, I'll release them from slavery immediately and ask Myra to have the church take them in."

"At this point, it would be a shame to lose them, both as companions and as part of our fighting strength,"

Mizuki said with a nod.

"Is that okay with you, Famu?"

Famu nodded as well.

"I don't know what they were thinking, siccing a Hekatonkheires on us. If I see that black panther and black robe again, I'll unleash a Goddess Summon myself. Even if I fail, they'll be enemies of the gods. I'll make it so they can't stay in this world."

"I will defeat the black panther woman. Please give me the order,"

Famu said.

"I don't want to give you an order. But I'm asking you. And about her life..."

I trailed off. The argument in Myra's room was still fresh in my mind. I didn't want to have that conversation right now. But when would be a good time?

"Master, please finish what you were saying."

"If possible, I'd rather you didn't take her life. This is... a request."

"...Yes."

Famu nodded.

"Mizuki."

Suddenly, Famu called out Mizuki's name.

"Hm? What is it?"

Mizuki answered, surprised.

"I'm about to do something unfair."

Her arms, which were holding me, tightened.

"Master, I love you,"

Famu said.

"I love you too."

I placed my hands on her arms. Famu's gaze was fixed on Mizuki.

"Wh-what is this? I-I... I love Mash, too..."

Mizuki blushed and averted her eyes.

"I love you too, Mizuki,"

I replied to her.

"Hmph, you're leaving me out again! I want some attention, too!"

Myra, having finished treating Cecily and Aira, was pouting. Behind her, Cecily and Aira were watching us with cool expressions.

After the treatment, I told Cecily and Aira about the transmigrators and about the black panther woman and the robed woman. Then, I asked them what they wanted to do from now on.

"...I had a feeling, but now I know why you're so clueless about things, Mash. I'm going to Miglutt. If I go under the church's protection, I won't be free anymore. Can't be helped that I boarded a sinking ship."

Cecily answered.

"I will go to Miglutt as well,"

Aira added. And so we returned to the 12th floor entrance, and then back to the dungeon entrance. We asked around, but the party of four had already left the dungeon. Famu and I searched for witnesses and chased after them, but they had already departed the city from the south gate. We went back and regrouped with Mizuki and the others. They had gotten information from the dungeon guards.

"The party's name is 'Black Sky.' The black panther woman is Riley, a 20-year-old warrior. The robed woman is Emma, an 18-year-old tamer. The priest is Noah, 31. The warrior is Freddy, 35. They didn't record their levels, but they said only Emma's was low. There was also an adventurer who was paid to take them to the 12th floor."

"We can assume Emma is the transmigrator. But we don't know what she looks like."

All she has to do is take off her robe and she'll be anonymous.

"We have no choice but to track Riley."

It was true, the only one who had left a strong impression was the black panther woman. I couldn't even remember the faces of the priest or the warrior. In any case, just knowing their names didn't help us. Since they left from the south gate, we might run into them on the road or at our destination.

"We might end up involving the caravan."

"They were the ones who said they wanted to bask in the goddess's favor. They'll have to accept the risk,"

Cecily replied. Next time, it wouldn't end with just a bit of probing. We had to be prepared.