Chapter 4: Trying Out Ending the War – Part 4

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Part 4

　There was a soldier that ran to the tent that had fallen into an explosive situation.
「A report! I have a rep……!?」
　He froze wondering what was going on.
　While still glaring at Diablo’s group, Martis prompted him.
「Make your report.」
「Yessir! The leading reconnaissance team has discovered the Kobold settlement! Being in the middle of battle, we request reinforcements, is what the messenger said!」
　The situation changed in one go.
　Martis gave his orders.
「Have the commando units go in immediately. All forces are to hurry!」
「Understood!!」
　The soldier ran out of the tent.

　Geibalt expressed a devilish smile.
「Kaha! In the end, it turned out like this! The strong are the ones that win! Numbers are power! And the one who is superior in power, will always be the winner! You all……should understand that, okay?」
　Rem shouted.
「Not yet! It hasn’t ended yet! Diablo, please slow Geibalt down! If the messenger has just come, I should be able to make it there in time if it’s with my pace!」
「What do you plan on doing, Rem?」
「……I will go help them. There aren’t that many in the reconnaissance team. If it’s now, I can still make it!」
　They had failed in the peace negotiations to make them acknowledge the Kobolds.
　The settlement was discovered.
　However, it might still be possible to let the Kobolds escape.
　The soldiers of the Caliture stationed troops were by no means powerful.
　If it was the current Rem who had leveled up for the sake of fighting against the Great Demon King Modinalaam, she surely wouldn’t fall behind them.
　──Something, is bothering me though.
　But there was no time to be hesitant.
　The situation was one where they had to fight for each moment. After all, she needed to crush the unit that was in the middle of battle and have the Kobolds run away from their settlement before the reinforcements that the Feudal Lord sent arrive there.
　Shera held her bow in her hands.
「I’ll go too!」
「……I’ll leave you behind if you can’t keep up, you know!?」
「Of course!」
　The both of them started running.

　Diablo turned the 《Tonnerre Empereur》 towards Geibalt, and kept him in check.
　He could tell after confronting him.
　He conducted himself like a Summoner, but he was of a considerable level even as a Warrior.
　Diablo wouldn’t lose if it was a one-on-one, but depending on Martis’s judgement, it could turn into a fight against a force of ten thousand as well.
　──If possible, it would be preferable if things stayed as a stalemate.
　Even if he was a fiend, he was a person.
　Diablo wanted to save the Kobolds, but it wasn’t like he wanted to kill anyone no matter who they were.
　Right now, it would be enough if he could buy some time.
　Geibalt returned his expression back.
　Into a serious face.
「As I thought, you all……you could get through to the Kobolds.」
　Martis nodded.
「This is why Demi-Humans are so problematic.」
「But, as expected of you? The Kobold nest that couldn’t be found by anyone up until now──you all will be guiding us there, after all.」
　*Zokuri* A chill went down Diablo’s spine.
　Diablo realized.
「It still, hasn’t been found!?」
「Ufufufu……My 《Secret Guraho》 is in the middle of tracking them. Ara, they’re surprisingly fast. I need to chase after them before they leave my operating range.」
　It was a Summoned Beast that Diablo didn’t know of, but it seemed to be something that could grasp the location of a far away opponent.
　In the game, being a Summoner was a joke occupation, but it was no wonder that it was mainstream in this otherworld. The extent of their practical application range was quite considerable.
　That being said, in terms of simple firepower, Diablo was higher.
　Diablo poured magical power into the Magic Staff.
「Do you think I would let you go?」
　If he could confine at least this man, there shouldn’t be any soldiers that could win against Rem and Shera.
　However, Martis expressed a fearless smile.
「As I thought, it is good to be prepared.」
　Someone came into the tent.

　It was a woman.
　There was no way he could mistake her for someone else.
　Possessing black hair on her panther ears and tail, she was a black Pantherian──It was Sorami.
「Hello. Or, should it be……good evening?」
「You, why are you in a place like this!?」
「It’s work, you know? The Gado Clan also receives commissions from royalty and titled nobility.」
　So in other words, she was here because she received a commission from Martis.
　Come to think of it, he said “some other fighting power was prepared as well” before. To think that he had called the Gado Clan’s assistant instructor.
　An unpleasant sweat spilled out from Diablo’s forehead.
「You, do you understand? These guys, they are already Rem’s enemy. If you support them, you will be endangering your life.」
「It really is unfortunate. But, I thought “wouldn’t things turn out like this……”. Rem-chan is too kind after all.」
　Sorami covered her whole body in Gaikikou (Outer Radiance Achievement).
　She loosely dangled both of her arms, and just stood there. Despite this, he received a sense of intimidation as if a bladed tool was thrust at his chest.
　His body trembled.
「Tsk……」
　Diablo’s tension was raised.
　*Kusu* Sorami made a wry smile.
「If you’re all rigid like that, your start will be late, you know?」
「Mu……」
　After being told that, whenever he welcomed challengers in the game, he was always relaxed. Since he was always playing whenever he was awake, maintaining that tension would have been impossible.
　Tension was different from concentration. He merely had to consolidate the things that should be done, and then calmly observe the opponent.
　──I’ll change my consciousness to an invalid-to-society Gamer.
　Sorami nodded.
「That is a wonderfully “quiet” Naikikou (Inner Radiance Achievement)」
　Geibalt shrugged his shoulders.
「It looks like you two are acquainted, doesn’t it? But, you wouldn’t possibly betray us, would you?」
「That is impossible.」
　She flat out declared that.
　She added words after that.
「For the Gado Clan, once we accept a commission, we would even kill our parents. Well, if I had known that it would bring harm to Rem-chan’s group from the start, I would have refused it though……You wouldn’t think that they would oppose the kingdom for the sake of wild animals, right?」
　Geibalt made a wry smile.
「I agreeー. They’re a bit strange, aren’t they? Well then, I’ll leave this place to you.」
「Yes.」
「You……Are you really fine with this? That Ochibi-chan called Rem……I’ll probably end up killing her, you know? She’s the type that wouldn’t surrender even if she dies, isn’t she?」
「It can’t be help. It’s the path that child has chosen after all.」
「Is that s」
「But, if you do kill her, please don’t appear in front of me as much as possible. Since I don’t have much confidence that I’ll maintain my senses if you do.」
「That’s my plan. Rather, you’re the same as that Ochibi-chan, aren’t you. You should live more freely, and become a good woman like me, you know?」
「It is my nature after all.」
　Geibalt waved one hand and left the tent.
「Wait!」
　When Diablo turned his attention towards him──
　As if she had teleported, Sorami was in front of him.
「Are you looking away?」
「《Instant Thrust》 !?」
　It was the Martial Art that the Master Swordsman used. It was unknown at what level it was learned. It was most likely above 150.
　He thought that it was a charge-type attack, but at this speed, it was like teleportation.
　It was faster than even a bullet from a Magi-Gun.
　Sorami made a declaration with a cold voice.
「The commission was to confine you here but……if you get too careless, I might end up killing you, you know?」
　Martis shrugged his shoulders.
「I don’t mind. He is a traitor after all.」
「Feudal Lord-sama, what will you be doing? Could it be, will watch the whole time?」
「I plan on going to the Kobold nest though. Right now, it’s the soldiers’ meal time. I believe that those who interrupt meals are enemies. I cannot do something so inhuman.」
　So that was greater than setting a forest on fire.
　Sorami made a thin smile.
「Am I, that untrustworthy?」
「Perish the thought! Of course I trust in the Gado Clan. Enough that I would even wager this jerky.」
「……Thank you.」
　Going “now then”, she took some distance, poised herself again.
　Diablo made his nth tongue click.
「Stubborn fool. Does this mean you have no intention of withdrawing, no matter what happens?」
「I treasure Rem-chan very much……But, I treasure my grandfather, father, and elder brothers just as much……So for the sake of the honor that they protected, as well as the apprentices that I was put in charge of, I will give my all in this fight.」
「How foolish!」
「Mu!?」
「That grandfather, father, and elder brothers of yours, are they a bunch that would let Rem die without helping her for the sake of honor and apprentices?」
「If it’s for a commission, of course they would.」
「Damned idiot! Even if you undertake a quest, if you feel that it goes against your own justice in the middle of it, to alter your sword point no matter what kind of dishonor you are accused of is what courage is!」
「And the result of that, is to become a traitor, huh. Is there a meaning in protecting something like wild animals?」
「The Feudal Lord is only doing this because he wants something like silver though?」
「That doesn’t matter……」
「To know of the injustice and support it, is there any value in your protected honor!?」
「……I, will not yield.」
　Sorami’s eyes were charged with a strong determination.
　Diablo transformed the 《Tonnerre Empereur》. The MP consumption would double, but the attacks would increase seven-fold.
　Her resolve was firm.
　For him who was facing her, he thought that he couldn’t be that callous.
　That is why, Diablo completely became a Demon King.
「I understand your resolution. But, that sort of thing, this Demon King will pulverize it!」

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