15 – Maple Leaf Village (6)
“Orpheus! Be careful!”
At the shout of Saiten, Orpheus quickly released his spear and raised his shield with both hands.
Kiiing!
The claws of the dragonkin scraped against the shield.
“Ha.”
Orpheus clicked his tongue. Just as he had caught one, another one came and disrupted his rhythm.
Fortunately, the excited dragonkin had narrowed their vision, not paying attention to Gina behind them and Saiten, who was guarding her.
“Die!”
Thump!
The blue-skinned dragonkin retracted its claws and struck the shield with its fist.
Orpheus stood his ground and looked at another one.
“Ah, ah, I’m hungry.”
The yellow-skinned dragonkin with Orpheus’ spear stuck in its abdomen murmured and suddenly stood up.
“Meal, meal, it’s mealtime.”
Completely out of its mind, the yellow dragonkin pulled out Orpheus’ spear and then rushed towards him, blood dripping from its four paws.
Like a wild animal.
Growl!
“Ugh!”
Orpheus, sensing that he couldn’t avoid it, took a direct hit from the yellow dragonkin’s body slam.
Because of the magic on her armor, the attacker was repelled, but Orphe still felt the impact.
Orphe forcibly calmed her trembling body, and just as she was about to seize the opportunity, a blue dragonkin struck her shield.
Thunk!
In the end, Orphe missed her shield and fell down.
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“Foolish.”
When she killed the two dragonkin who attacked first, Orphe had already exhausted her stamina and mana.
She thought her skills had improved a lot while training with Nobin, but her abilities were still lacking when it came to facing multiple opponents.
“I’m feeling dizzy, so let’s eat quickly!”
A yellow dragonkin approached Orphe with its mouth wide open.
Pop!
An arrow shot past, piercing the yellow dragonkin’s eye accurately.
“eeek!”
The yellow dragonkin screamed and fell down.
After witnessing the death of their companion, the blue dragonkin looked around nervously and hid behind a nearby tree.
“Haa… Haa…”
Orphe, catching her breath, stood up and surveyed the situation.
Orphe had killed two dragonkin, Nobin had killed one, and Bonita had killed one.
So out of the total of seven, she had killed four.
The two dragonkin were currently fighting with Bonita and Laminar, so if she dealt with the blue dragonkin, the battle would become easier.
“Hook, hook.”
Orpheus lifted the window, recalling what he had learned from Nobin.
***
“There’s a barbecue smell vibrating in the village! What kind of festival is going on!?”
He squeezed his voice forcefully to provoke Delamion.
After all, they were just monsters lusting for human flesh, not mourning for the deceased.
Krrr…
Delamion, who had lost his reason and vocabulary, turned his left eye towards me.
The tongue that licked my blood now recoiled into its mouth.
But then, its appetite returned.
Kiyaaahhh!
The completely defeated old man turned into a three-legged creature and rushed forward.
Without one arm, he couldn’t maintain balance and was incredibly slow.
“Come on.”
To twist my body, I pulled my right leg back.
If I had given up at the last moment, I would never have won.
“- A secret move.”
In the end, the most important thing is determination.
The difference in combat power is inevitable.
“The technique of equestrianism.”
I immediately twisted my body at the right moment.
Splat-!
When Delamion grazed my ninja suit, I grabbed hold of the hood tied around his head and climbed onto his back.
Delamion, a top-class vehicle that has taken countless lives over the years, is nothing more than a disposable killing machine.
Thunk!
Damn it, his shell is tough and bumpy, and it hurts my butt. To stop him, I stabbed my dagger towards his last eyeball.
Kwaaah!
Even though his reason may be dead, his instinct to fight remains. Delamion tilts his body to the right, just before my dagger slices through his eye.
Whirr-
I managed to escape with a somersault before hitting the ground.
I almost became a rat trap.
“Nin-nin.”
At least now I have some physical leeway.
I immediately stop the bleeding in my lower abdomen and use mana to fix the broken bones. It’s effective.
Although mana cannot regenerate the body, it can enhance natural healing abilities.
Meanwhile, Delamion, still in his tilted position, rolls on the ground and shakes his head as if he’s got a concussion.
“Do you like being dizzy?”
Now the odds have completely shifted in my favor.
Without straining my body any further, I jog towards Delamion.
Splat! Splat!
Desperately trying to block me, Delamion swings his left hand with his claws out.
The only ones who can withstand inaccurate attacks are the villains in the works of art targeted by the Parent Association.
Pshoo!
I immediately moved back and stabbed his left eye before retreating.
Kek! Kek!
Delamion, who had become blind, howled and thrashed around.
But I can’t listen to him because I’m not his mother.
“Hey, I’m putting it in.”
Now, as Delamion, who seemed to have lost his strength, couldn’t even swing his arms, I approached him and opened his beak with my hands.
Damn, he has so many cavities.
“I’ll confiscate all your teeth.”
I shattered those gruesome things with a dagger.
Not much durability compared to my nails.
Finally, I stabbed the dagger deeply into his beak.
“Evet… Evabet….”
Delamion collapsed, making strange sounds.
I took off his hood and put it in my pocket.
“Confiscating your hood too, you bastard.”
A third-rate guy who can’t even stick to his concept and tries to imitate a mutant ninja dinosaur by throwing punches.
After confirming that he had completely stopped breathing, I turned around.
“Requiescat In Pace (Rest in peace).”
Nevertheless, since they were meeting formidable enemies for the first time, they made some preparations.
Ultimately, all of these experiences contribute to enhancing their combat abilities, which are as vital as blood and flesh.
They now have a better sense of how to deal with a balanced damage-dealing tank character like Delamion.
“Ha…”
Perhaps because their excitement has subsided, their strength slowly drains from their body.
Maybe it’s because of the smoke, but they’re starting to feel drowsy.
“Nin-nin!”
Wake up, you idiot!
At the very least, they have to go outside the village.
They used the technique of ninja disguise, disguising themselves as a wandering swordsman named Robin, and searched for the village’s entrance.
***
They went outside, pretending to be as relaxed as possible for the sake of “coolness.”
There were seven neatly arranged lizard corpses.
Judging by the trembling bodies of some of them, it seems like they were just dealt with.
It seems like our team members succeeded.
Since everyone was lying or sitting on the ground, taking a rest, they pretended to know first.
“The village… is safe now…”
“Robin!”
Orpheus, covered in monster blood, was the first one to get up and greeted them happily.
“Sorry. I was planning to finish quickly and join you, but the resistance from the dragonkin was quite strong. I guess I was still far away.”
“Nin-nin.”
I looked around to check the remaining yokai.
Lamina was leaning against a tree, blood dripping from her chest, while Diana, who knows when she was freed, was standing next to Lamina, waving her hands and grumbling.
When Lamina saw me, she burst into laughter as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Really… you defeated Delamion.”
“That bastard? He was pathetic.”
Dead yokai can’t speak.
If you’re defeated, you’re defeated.
“Indeed, you’re amazing.”
“Sir Robin! I really believed in you!”
“That doesn’t make sense… I’m exhausted from capturing just this much…”
Each team member said a few words.
After carrying the group project, receiving a “Well done” is the least I deserve.
“Now… it’s all over. Thank you very much.”
Lamina, who forced herself to stand up, bowed her head to me.
“Nin-nin.”
If I kill Lamina now, everything will be over.
“Mr. Robin, please take care of Diana. Please teach her how to live strong. I heard that what I have is a very precious item to my parents.”
Lamina handed me a peculiar-looking necklace.
Well, it looks cool, so I’ll accept it for now.
“Hmm…”
Lamina nonchalantly spoke, and perhaps because she was a yokai with physical abilities different from humans, the other members of the group seemed to think of her injuries as just being severe. But seeing the dark red blood continuously seeping out, it was clear that Lamina was in a state where she would undoubtedly die within a few minutes.
In that case, there is no need for me to kill her.
“I will pray every day to the heavens, asking that Miss Robin always be victorious against any strong opponent she encounters, no matter where I am.”
Lamina smiled and said these profound words.
After expressing her gratitude to the rest of the members, she turned her steps.
“Sister? Where are you going? Let’s go together!”
Diana, running up with quick steps, tried to stop Lamina.
“I’m going separately. There’s something I want to do.”
“Let’s go together!”
“Diana! Stop whining!”
Lamina’s expression as she shouted seemed pained.
“Don’t you understand that I can’t be with you forever?”
“But…”
“Haven’t you understood my words yet? I’m tired of taking care of you! I don’t want to anymore!”
“Sister… sniff…”
“I will live for myself now. Don’t follow me.”
Lamina ran towards the forest as if to make sure she couldn’t be followed.
It wouldn’t be easy for her to go like that with her broken body.
“Ah… Sister…! Ugh!!!”
“Follow quietly!”
It was so noisy that we had to put the kids to sleep for a while.
The sound of a child crying is as dreadful as a monster’s ultrasonic waves.
“We should start moving too. We need to get treatment somewhere.”
I handed Diana over to Orphe and urged the team.
Honestly, my whole body is itching to the point of death.
“It’s sad.”
Orphe, carrying Diana, looked at the forest where Lamina had disappeared.
Quick-witted fellow.
It was time to pack up and get ready to leave.
Thud.
A very distant sound that only I could hear.
Someone fell and never got up again.
“Namu Amida Butsu.” [Buddhist chant]
Are there monsters with human hearts?
If so, the Buddha will surely take care of them.
***
Instead of taking the carriage directly, we stopped by the nearby village (not the monster village).
The Red Whale Matap also operated a hospital in the village, so we could receive treatment there in a reasonably large village.
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Bonita rode her horse back first, as it was an important matter that needed to be reported to the Adventurers Guild quickly.
If we do well, we might be able to receive the Adventurer’s Guild as soon as we arrive.
Our team members, who received treatment at the hospital and stayed at the lodging to relieve their fatigue, are now all in good condition.
My body has also recovered considerably, and I should be back to normal in a few days.
A steel-like mind and body are basic skills for a runaway ninja.
“Wake up already.”
I woke up Diana, who was sleeping in the next room, while hugging Orphe.
Diana obediently follows after Orphe calms her down.
“Let’s start today’s lesson.”
Since her sister asked me to educate her, I have an obligation to thoroughly educate Diana.
“Tell me. What are beliefs and missions?”
“Well…”
Diana yawns while rubbing her eyes.
“Answer!!! What are beliefs and missions!!!”
“I, I don’t know!”
“If you don’t know, study until you do!”
It seems that it will take some time to teach her about human life.