Chapter 98

This story is a work of fiction.

The characters, organizations, and names are all fictitious and have no connection to any real entities.

■■■■■■■■■■

093＿Just Punch It!

■■■■■■■■■■

After three days of repeatedly clearing the 8th floor boss, my reincarnated hero level is 53, the Heroic Sword King is level 53, and the assassin is level 50. Gandarban and the others have also leveled up, and I was thinking about starting the 9th floor strategy soon.

"Master. Look at that."

While taking a break and having lunch at the mansion, I was prompted by Bartz to look out the window. Several plumes of smoke were rising. Is it a fire?

"That's in the direction of the dungeon."

"The dungeon... Could it be Grissom...?"

"I'll have it checked."

Gandarban, who was standing next to me, said he would send his subordinates, but I stopped him.

"I'll go."

My weapons and armor are stored in the item box, and I can quickly equip them with a quick equip.

"I'll prepare immediately."

I was about to say I would go alone, but stopped. Gandarban wouldn't let me go alone. The correct response in this situation is...

"Hurry with the preparations."

It's a safe but model answer.

"Hai!"

Gandarban left the dining room with everyone.

Fifteen minutes later, the usual team, fully equipped, gathered.

Annelise, Rosalina, Gandarban, Jojok, Bartz, Rin, and Solidia. Everyone had a serious look on their face.

The Colone and Karone sisters were left behind to guard the mansion with the soldiers.

"Mr. Itsukima. Please take care of the mansion."

"Sure. Leave it to me. Be careful, Toi."

"Thanks. I'll be back."

"Wait a minute! Why don't I get a word!?"

"Annoying."

"Kyaa!?"

I answered with one word and got into the carriage. Yamato is making a fuss, but I ignored him because I'm in a hurry.

At first, everything went smoothly after leaving the mansion, but soon the carriage stopped moving. People were fleeing from the direction of the dungeon, blocking the road. We were even told that we were the ones causing the obstruction.

"Let's get out of the carriage."

We left the carriage and horses to the soldiers and moved against the flow of people.

Intense explosions could be heard continuously. As we approached the dungeon, the number of people decreased. However, people were lying everywhere, creating a gruesome and tragic scene.

The buildings were severely damaged, and the stone structures surrounding the dungeon were completely destroyed. The sight was so devastating that Gandarban and the others were speechless.

Thud.

"!?"

The second floor of a building was blown away, and a black shadow appeared behind it.

When the shadow, about the size of a three-story building, was revealed, I grimaced.

"The town is a mess."

"That is... Could it be!?"

"...A demon!?"

Gandarban's mutterings were not directly answered by Annelise, but it was a demon.

The human-like body had jet-black skin, 11 arms, and 6 faces.

One of the faces, where a face would normally be, had ram horns and red, insane eyes with sharp fangs visible from a split mouth.

There were two faces on each shoulder, which were human faces. I recognized one of the faces, and the last face made me realize.

"Grissom!?"

In the center of the thick chest of the giant body, there was Grissom's face.

The four faces on the shoulders were those of Grissom's companions.

To be precise, Grissom had five companions, so one face was missing. Could that be the head of the demon?

"Guooooo!"

The demon's face let out a roar, sending a shockwave through the air, destroying buildings. Buildings that were about to collapse were completely destroyed, turning into piles of rubble, and cracks appeared in the walls of buildings that were still standing.

"Don't think you can win just by shouting!"

I placed my hand on the hilt of my magic sword, Salaman, which was sheathed at my waist.

"Mr. Toi, please calm down."

Annelise gently placed her hand on my arm.

"Anger gives you strength, but you must not fight in anger. A fight fueled by anger will never benefit you, Mr. Toi."

Hearing Annelise's angelic voice, my anger gradually subsided, and calmness returned to my face.

Annelise, who had been directly harmed by Grissom, was calm and advised me. She should have been the one to be angry, but she helped me calm down. I really can't help but admire her.

"Thank you, Annelise. I'm calm now, so it's okay."

Calmly, I detailed the identification of the demon.

His name is Intermediate Demon Motrokt.

It seems that Grissom and his companions obtained a part of Intermediate Demon Motrokt's arm in the dungeon. Using it turned them into demons.

I heard that cursed items can be obtained in the dungeon, but this is more troublesome than a curse.

Don't put something that can harm others in a treasure chest.

But... Could it be that the demon's arm was sealed in a treasure chest in a highly toxic swamp to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands? If so, it should have been sealed in a deeper level.

Regardless of the reason, it's Grissom's fault for using something that hasn't been identified as safe. To mistake a demon's arm for a staff is so ridiculous that I can't even find the words.

"Baron Futsickle!"

The one who called my name was one of the princess's attendants, the Kingdom Knight Commander Barbados. He is a strong warrior on par with Balkan and is said to be the strongest in the country.

Barbados was fighting the Intermediate Demon Motrokt, and his armor was in tatters. He seemed to have quite severe injuries, and blood was pooling on the ground.

"Annelise!"

"Yes."

Annelise's healing magic healed Barbados's wounds. While it couldn't replenish the blood that had already flowed, he wouldn't die.

"This is..."

"Commander Barbados, please explain the situation!"

Annelise's probing wasn't necessary.

"Fine. We received a report that Grissom had emerged from the dungeon and immediately took action. Grissom reported to the Explorer's Guild that he had lost a companion in the dungeon and was exchanging items obtained in the dungeon for money. We surrounded the guild and tried to apprehend Grissom as he left with the money. That's when Grissom, who had been resisting, pulled out something that looked like a staff, and he transformed into that form."

So the staff Grissom pulled out was the Intermediate Demon Motrokt's arm.

It doesn't matter if it's a demon or a god. If Grissom's face is there, I'll just punch it.

"Commander Barbados, please withdraw your soldiers. We'll take care of the rest."

"I cannot do that. We are the knights who protect this country. We cannot retreat in the face of a demon."

I understand the pride, but...

"If your forces are weakened by that pride, you won't be able to protect this country, will you?"

"Ugh..."

"There are places where you must stand your ground, but this isn't one of them. Leave it to us and help the victims."

The place where Barbados and his men should risk their lives is not here but somewhere else. It's better if it doesn't happen.

"Understood. I'll withdraw my troops. I appreciate your help, Baron Futsickle."

"Thank you. I accept your gratitude."

Barbados moved away from me. His face was pale from blood loss, but he was moving by sheer willpower.

"Gandarban!"

"Hai!"

"That's an Intermediate Demon. It's level 54, higher than the Lower Demon we defeated in the past. Can you handle it?"

Gandarban's lips curled into a cocky smile.

"I won't fall behind to such a low-level enemy."

He's full of confidence. That's good. If he's intimidated by such a creature, he won't be able to handle the 9th floor of the Capital Dungeon.

"Rosalina!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Bartz!"

"Hai!"

"Jojok!"

"Hai!"

"Rin!"

"Hai!"

"Solidia!"

"Hai!"

"Fortunately or unfortunately, the surroundings are full of rubble. You can hit it with all your might without worrying about anyone."

The five of them nodded with determination.

"Annelise"

"Hai."

"We'll settle our grudge with Grissom today."

"Hai."

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Being able to say that makes me happy."

Annelise's smile inspired me.

"Let's finish this, Grissom."

Whether the demon has taken over his consciousness or not doesn't matter. If it contains Grissom, I'll punch that face.

The soldiers withdrew at Barbados's command.

Annelise's magic power swelled.

"Let's unleash a big one!"

"Hai! Thunderburst!"

A loud boom and a flash of light.

A bolt of lightning fell from the sky, burning the Intermediate Demon Motrokt at ultra-high temperatures and causing his body to convulse from the ultra-high voltage current.

"Guooooo! You humans...!"

"What, you can speak properly? The Lower Demon I fought before could only speak in broken sentences. Heroic Slash!"

The moment the effect of Thunderburst disappeared, I rushed out and swung my magic sword, Salaman, at the Intermediate Demon Motrokt's head.

Heroic Slash is a skill of the Heroic Sword King that reduces the enemy's maximum HP by 20%.

Just having this Heroic Slash makes boss battles and fights like this much easier.

The Intermediate Demon Motrokt's head was split in two down to the neck, but his 11 arms were reaching out to grab me.

Even with his face split in two, he's trying to counterattack. I'll give him that. But...

"You're too soft."

The Intermediate Demon Motrokt was blown away by Gandarban's charge to his abdomen.

"If you only focus on me, you'll be tripped up."

You have six faces. Pay attention to all of them.

"Angerock!"

Gandarban focused all his hostility on the enemy.

"You humans...!"

"Is that all you can say!"

Jojok's secret sword technique exploded. A skill with 5 times the ATK value that can't be used for 30 minutes after activation, but it's extremely effective after my Heroic Slash.

The Intermediate Demon Motrokt's HP dropped sharply.

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

The voices of Grissom's four companions.

I'm not the only one who thinks they are already dead. Even if they are alive, they won't be able to return to their human form.

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

Ugh... What is this...? My body feels heavy...

It feels like the gravity has multiplied. My body feels heavy and sluggish.

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

"See... nee... ta... ku... nee..."

We knelt on the ground after hearing the four voices.

It seems to be a mental attack. They're giving us a troublesome attack.

"Not allowed!"

Rin's magic spear pierced the face on the left shoulder.

It seems to have no effect on the Holy Spear Saint, Rin, or if it does, it's a mild effect.

My main job is Heroic Sword King, and my sub-job is Assassin, so I couldn't resist it.

If my sub-job was Reincarnated Hero, I might have been able to resist, but I need to pretend to be an Assassin because I don't know where I'll be identified.

In broad daylight, with no idea who is watching, being a Reincarnated Hero is a dead job.

The mental attack was cut off after Rin's attack.

"Nice work!"

Bartz's magic poison arrow, charged with magic power, was fired and deeply pierced the face on the right shoulder.

"Kyaah!"

The female face that was pierced by the arrow let out a scream.

A bluish-purple bruise spread from where the arrow was pierced, and the poison slowly began to erode the Intermediate Demon Motrokt.

While this was happening, the demon's face that I had cut began to regenerate. The face, now completely healed, wore a smug smile.

Thank you for reading.

I hope you continue to enjoy this work.

Please bookmark and like it if you enjoyed it.

If you liked it and want to read more, please rate it.

You can rate it from ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★, with a minimum of ★1 and a maximum of ★5.

★★★★★ will motivate me!

We are approaching the climax of Chapter 3.

Thank you for your support!