kscans

Chapter 108 - Assault

The members he knew at this soiree were his clan members, Ney and her Kokuryu clan, and Rosalie. Diite had not come, but she had contacted Hayato saying she wanted to talk to him later.

While he was somewhat acquainted with Mist's vampire friends, they were not that close. They simply knew each other through the connection of the health goods, a relationship like that of a shopkeeper and a customer.

They would tell him things like "that product was great," or "I'd like you to make this next," but their conversations were of a kind where they didn't delve too deep into each other's affairs, and he would end them there.

After a few minutes, he arrived at the location where Ney's group and Rosalie were.

Everyone was in their usual equipment. Hayato's confidence in his image of women was starting to waver.

"Hayato, that song just now was amazing. I'd like to hear it again."

His confidence had vanished, but Ney, completely oblivious, praised Noat's song. Hayato thought, well, whatever, and decided to respond about the song. That being said, Hayato was actually more curious about Rosalie.

"You thought so too, Ney? I thought the same. That aside, it seems you've finally decided to fight alongside Ney's group, Rosalie-san?"

Rosalie let out a small sigh at Hayato's words.

"I thought it would be fine when I am free. But please do not think I will participate at any time. As I have said many times, I serve Lunaria-sama."

"It seems you have a line you won't cross. Oh, right, thank you for gathering the materials. Thanks to you, I was able to make the violins."

"That is fine, but what was with that opponent? I did not think they would be able to escape with me there."

Hayato didn't know either. He had never even seen them. If anyone knew the details, it would be Ney's group.

Hayato shifted his gaze to Ney. She had her arms crossed and was deep in thought.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know either. There shouldn't be any rare monsters in that area. That wasn't a monster, but just an NP... a human. The only thing I can think of is that they didn't want us to defeat Sleipnir."

With Rosalie nearby, Ney corrected herself from saying NPC to human out of consideration for AI protection.

Rosalie could be considered a rare monster NPC that appeared in the Demon Lord's Castle, but she was not a monster. Hayato had heard through Ney that she was simply chasing humans out because she didn't like them being in the Demon Lord's Castle.

It could be inferred that in this case as well, there was some inconvenience for the NPC, so they were chasing Ney's group away from that place. Ney was saying that the reason was that they didn't want Sleipnir to be defeated.

"Is there a reason they wouldn't want Sleipnir to be defeated?"

"Who knows? Maybe they didn't want us to take the Horse Tail. I asked around to get the Horse Tail, but it seems it's not sold anywhere, and I haven't seen it in the auction either. I also heard that there were some shady people interfering in the habitats of unicorns and pegasi too."

"I thought you were joking, but is that really true? But why?"

"I don't know that much. I saw the opponent's name, but it was unknown, so I couldn't figure it out. I have no idea who was interfering or for what purpose."

An NPC's name would not be revealed unless they were introduced by someone or said it themselves. In the case of monsters, their names were basically known from the start, but even if an NPC was an enemy, their name would not be known. Rosalie in her gothic lolita dress also had an unknown name when she appeared as an enemy in the Demon Lord's Castle.

"By the way, what did they look like?"

"He was an old man in his late thirties. Oh, right, it's related to his clothes, but he had an interesting weapon."

"An interesting weapon?"

"Yeah. It was a gun. Not a rifle like the one Esha has, but a handgun, I guess? He had one of those. And the way he shot it was interesting. I think it's called a Quick Draw. His clothes were matched to it too. He was a so-called gunman. His ten-gallon hat was pretty cool."

A Quick Draw was a so-called fast draw. It was a technique where you quickly drew a gun from its holster and fired it.

While guns that used gunpowder didn't exist in this game, magic guns that could attack by consuming MP, like the one Esha had, did exist. Esha had said before that they weren't that rare, so that NPC must have obtained a magic gun for some reason.

"No, it was amazing! Towards the end of the battle, Rosalie closed the distance in an instant, but the opponent accurately counterattacked even at close range with that Quick Draw! I thought she was done for, but Rosalie deflected the gun's attack with her scythe! Deflecting a gun's attack, can you believe it?!"

"Please, Ney, you are standing out, so do not get so excited. Besides, you were dodging the gun's attacks as well, were you not? They were straight-line attacks, but normally one cannot dodge them."

The members of Kokuryu nodded in agreement at Ney and Rosalie's words. In other words, to a normal person, the two of them were probably abnormal.

(It's true that if someone told me to dodge a gun's attack, I wouldn't be able to. Ney and Rosalie must have good reflexes, or they're good at reading their opponent's movements.)

As he was thinking that, the most conspicuous person at tonight's soiree arrived.

It was Lunaria in a bright red dress. It was a gorgeous dress that could be called a masterpiece of a master craftsman, and it was no exaggeration to say that her beauty was polished.

That Lunaria stared at Rosalie.

"I, it is not good to leave me alone. I am scared of all the strangers. I am at my limit. Arondight is about to release its true power."

Contrary to her appearance, the overwhelmed Lunaria came to Rosalie for help. He couldn't tell from a distance, but up close, the movement of her eyeballs was a serious matter.

"The fact that you can participate in a place like this is a slight improvement. But you are still far from ready. Please go back one more time."

"Rosalie has been strict with me lately. Spoil me more."

Hayato decided to confirm if this was also part of the ghost countermeasures.

"Lunaria-san, are you okay with ghosts now?"

"I have thought of a countermeasure. Simply put, I will close my eyes and attack. This is that. The mind's eye, a samurai technique passed down in the Eastern Country."

"Samurai, huh."

(They always say samurai are from the Eastern Country. As a Japanese person, it's a bit strange, but since it doesn't exist on Earth anymore, I don't think it has to be the Eastern Country.)

As he was thinking such trivial thoughts, Rosalie let out a big sigh.

"You are not a member of the Ten Holy Demonic Swords. There is no way you can do such a thing. Lunaria-sama does not need to do that. You just need to overcome the difficulty normally and cut down whatever it is, be it a monster or a dragon. Now, let us go one more time!"

"Wait. Help me. Besides, this dress has low defense, so it's not good. I want to equip my usual Inferno series. I can manage with that."

"I did not bring it today. Besides, it is a soiree, so a dress is fine. Please raise your charm rather than your defense."

"There is no such status, so it will not rise. Ah, that's unfair. Using Madness to raise your STR is cowardly. I can't resist...!"

Rosalie, enveloped in a reddish-black aura from using the skill "Madness," grabbed Lunaria by the scruff of her neck and dragged her away to another place. In that state, her STR was higher than Lunaria's, so she was physically stronger.

Ney, who was watching the two of them, groaned, "Hmm."

"What's wrong?"

"Well, Lunaria is certainly strong as a Demon Lord, but her personality isn't very Demon Lord-like. That's part of her charm, though."

"True. I'm not sure if I'd call it charm, though."

"Just a little while ago, while looking at my Excalibur Replica, she was fiercely pushing that Arondight was cooler. She said she gave Hayato the manufacturing method for the Arondight Replica, so I should have you make one."

"Ah, yeah. It seems she's a bit competitive with the Hero. I plan to make it when I have a little more time."

"However, I have the Excalibur Replica that everyone made for me. If I could dual wield like Cecil, I would equip it. Come to think of it, they say Dual Wielding is being implemented early, so maybe it'll be implemented in the next version update... Alright! I'll gather the materials next time, so please make it for me! It's a replica, but it's cool to have two opposing swords!"

"I don't know if Dual Wielding will be implemented, but I can probably make it after the Stampede is over. I don't have that much time right now—"

Just as Hayato said that, a world announcement was deployed.

"A Stampede has occurred in the Demon Capital Zardogia. The Underworld Dragon Onyx Rod has begun its invasion. Please engage and repel it. I repeat—"

(Another Stampede just after this place was repaired. But if it's just one location, is it still easier? All the players will come to the Demon Capital too.)

Just as Hayato thought that, the doors to the great hall flew open with force.

"Pardon the intrusion. Looks like all the dangerous people are gathered here. We've come at a good time."

There stood a man in a black rider's jacket, and two other men and women. One of them matched the description of the gunman Ney had just mentioned.

Ash rushed over to Hayato, immediately drawing his sword to face them. Ren also took a fighting stance. They were probably trying to protect Hayato.

"Agres...! And you all...!"

(Agres...? Right, he was Ren-chan's opponent in the last Clan War. So he's the Tyrant Dragon Agres Berion. That means the two people with him are also Genesis Dragons. So they're not attacking as dragons in a Stampede, but in human form. Is there really something here?)

Hayato braced himself as he thought this.