With Erika’s beloved sword in hand, I headed towards Kelly’s group.
Leaving Hierre and Mantis in the care of Mob, who had come with him, I headed towards them, a worried gaze piercing my back.
My gait was as steady as ever, feeling no threat whatsoever from their outpouring mana wings, even though they were far away and appeared like they had an advantage.
–At first glance.
“…dwarf… so small…..”
Discouragement, disappointment, emptiness….
Despite the immense amount of mana that welled up inside and filled Kelly, a sense of loss spread through his heart.
It was the price to pay for the strength he had acquired.
The servant who was so skilled that he was able to shut him down… the man who set his heart on fire, felt so small.
“What’s the matter? He does look puny and weak, but he’s the servant you wanted to defeat, isn’t he?”
“…would you please shut up for a moment? I’m having a hard time with these unexpected feelings.”
“Well, suit yourself. But we have to get the orcs and get out of here. We don’t have much time.“
Bishop Yang looked bored while he twirled his favorite ice sword in his hand.
The mere mortal in front of him did not seem to interest him.
Just like how higher beings didn’t care about lower beings.
“…three beastmen, do it.”
As soon as he finished uttering those words, the three beastmen rushed out.
“Are you sure? A man that thin as a twig, they’ll eat him up in a heartbeat, wouldn’t they?”
“I’m going to use this as a gauge. Defeating those three is the minimum requirement to fight us.“
“Why should I care about a man of that caliber—–?“
The two beastmen were thrown by the third beastmen, the bear’s huge body.
Yang, in a panic, used his magic sword and covered the ground with ice, making a wall onto which the beastmen crashed into.
“What?! What happened?“
“He’s still wonderful…. That’s why. That’s why it’s a shame….“
Unlike Yang, Kelly watched the servant’s actions.
The three beastmen jumped at once for their prey, but the servant easily dodged the onrushing attack and used his momentum to throw the bear while parrying it’s attack.
The masterful skill that the servant displayed was still impressive as ever.
“…You said earlier that ‘You’re finally here’. I think you wanted to see me, but for now, let’s talk.”
“Small.”
“If it’s going to be a long story, please be brief. I’ve left my stall alone.“
Glass, sword in hand, crossed his arms gently and waited for Kelly to speak.
“You’re small. You appear unconcerned, but fold your arms to put a wall between us. It’s a classic guarding gesture.”
He looked down at Glass, who was standing comfortably, with cold eyes.
It was obvious to Yang as well as the discerning Kelly that the bored-looking servant was trying to dispel any sense of danger.
“It’s sad to witness. Your skills are… powerless in the face of our immense magical power….”
Kelly muttered sadly, referring to Glass’s own techniques and body which he must have trained with great effort.
“Hmph. What nonsense! It is the natural order that nothing will be able to resist His Grace’s boons!“
“No, between you and me, I’ll always win because I’m the better fighter. It’s not meaningless.“
“……”
Wrapped in a storm of magic, Kelly and Yang were in a state of urgency that made it difficult to breathe.
“It would be a deadly battle, so intense that I wouldn’t even have time to catch my breath. With you, I would experience the greatest excitement. That’s what I was hoping for…. Is this the downside of strength..?“
“…you have gone to such lengths all just to fight me to the bitter end. Is that what you’re saying?”
“Yes. However, we’re too far apart in strength… I’m just lost on what to do now.“
The servant’s eyebrow rose slightly.
“Well… there’s only one way to go….. you come too.”
“……Why?”
His sudden request naturally raised questions.
“You can have this too. I can’t deal with a chick that can’t even fly. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure the battle remains equal.“
“You don’t need too. I can fight you with my own strength.”
For a servant, his answer was much too obvious.
Kelly couldn’t hide his disappointment at his quick answer.
“…stubborn. I thought you were more grounded and aware of the reality.”
“It’s not stubbornness, it’s pride. My strength is all I need. I don’t need any external impurities. I’m going to beat anything and everything with my own strength.“
Kelly, who looked at me as if I was a young rookie, said in a very bored manner, “I see. But even if I kill you now, it’d still be a tie overall, since you’ve already won once. If I let you go, I lose. I can’t overlook this.”
“….you really think you can beat me?”
“Hm….”
Yang snickered.
He found it quite amusing that a mortal, who would surely die if Yang delivered a light blow, asked such an arrogant question.
“I’m sure I will win. It’s hard for me to answer when you ask me such an obvious question. Don’t embarrass yourself any more than you already have.”
“…Really?”
“Oh dear….. Is it because I don’t have a whip that you’re being so stubborn…? It is very transparent that you’re clinging onto the faintest hope. I’ve never seen anyone struggle against reality so pathetically. This is something I need to wake you up from.”
Kelly stepped forward, and the three beastmen made way.
“…sooo!“
He began performing some form of martial arts.
Kelly was building up his energy through the technique he was performing, and when it was sufficiently high, he would release it with his mana.
“Kaa—–!“
He stomped vigorously onto the thick ice.
The ice that covered the ground, made and filled with Yang’s overflowing mana, was shattered into pieces.