• Chapter 5 : I’ll protect you in a bloodshed.

[You cheeky brat!] (Monster B)

The boar-like monster rushed forward.

Like a shell fired from a huge cannon, he hurled his huge body at Seto while making the ground rumble.

They were not that far from each other.

The monster’s typically strong pounce gave him an extraordinary initial speed.

If nothing was done, he would hit both of his targets and kill them.

However…

[Draw…] (Seto)

Right after he muttered this, the moment the boy and his opponent were 2 m away from each other, his magic sword flew out.

Moreover, it did not emerge from Seto’s hand, but from the ground below the monster’s feet.

[GUGYAAAAHH…!!] (Monster B)

The momentum of the magic sword thrusting into the monster’s belly caused his huge body to fly off the ground.

At the same time, Seto jumped as well, pulled his magic sword out of the belly of the overturned monster, and cleaved his body in two with the force of gravity.

The magic sword, filled with power and wind pressure, sliced the monster’s torso in half.

With blood splattering all over the area, the monster that was reduced to two lumps of flesh fell to the ground.

[Wh… WHAT!?] (Monster A)

Both the other monsters and Satis were astonished at such a sight.

The silent boy soldier landed and swung his blade to flick the blood off it and send it flying

He drew his knife from the sheath on his thigh, and held it in his other hand.

He took a two-sword fighting stance unique to him while fixing his gaze on the monsters.

[Damn you…!] (Monster A)

The ape-like monster and the spider-like monster sprang at him at the same time.

[Boy, run!!] (Satis)

Satis shouted spontaneously.

Those monsters were different from the average mobs.

Even for a magic swordsman, taking two of them at the same time was too risky.

Just as his small body was about to be crushed under both of their huge, hideous bodies, something happened.

[You’re wide open.] (Seto)

Seto’s emotionless voice echoed softly.

That was his true disposition as a boy soldier wielding a magic sword.

————Carnage.

[GUGAAH…!?] (Monster A)

[GUAAAAHH…!?] (Monster C)

Seto dashed to the giant ape’s feet, and skillfully stabbed him in the cartilage of his knee joints with his knife and all his strength.

When he flinched and the size of his body slightly hindered the giant spider’s movements, Seto moved like a spinning top and slashed all the legs on the latter’s right side.

With his knife in one hand and his magic sword in the other, he became a whirlwind that engulfed the two monsters.

Each one of them went down shrieking and roaring, but they were not dead yet.

That was when he unleashed the power of his magic sword.

The blade turned red, then as if acting in concert with it, Seto’s eyes turned red as well.

Seto instantly disappeared, and the next moment, he reappeared in front of Satis as if to protect her.

A short time after he reappeared, the monsters were struck by a delayed attack of countless crimson slashes.

[[GUGYAAAAHH…!!?]] (Monster A and C)

The monsters screamed in agony as they were reduced to piles of flesh.

The battle only lasted a few minutes.

Seto readjusted his breathing and, in the same manner as a swordsman from overseas known as “samurai”, swung the blood off his magic sword and put it back in its dimensional space like he was sheathing it.

[Boy…] (Satis)

Satis readjusted her glasses, and snapped out of her fear.

Seto turned to Satis, but there was no joy or sadness on his face.

There was nothing but “emptiness”.

It was not the face of a man who found pleasure in killing, nor was it the face of a man who felt any special emotions.

It was the face of a “killer” who had destroyed his enemies in a businesslike, workmanlike, warlike manner.

It was a cold and expressionless face, as if it were inanimate.

[…Are you hurt?] (Seto)

[I-I’m fine.] (Satis)

[Good… It’s too dangerous here. I should’ve known strong monsters would appear near the Demon King’s domain.] (Seto)

And just when I had finally found a shelter to rest in. This forest was surprisingly full of food too. But now… (Seto)

[Say…] (Satis)

[Yeah?] (Seto)

[Did you just… save me?] (Satis)

[…Enemies had arrived. If I hadn’t killed them, they would’ve killed me. …And I don’t want to be killed. Neither do you, right?] (Seto)

He said it frankly. There was not a single hint of confusion at her question.

Like the tranquil flow of water, Seto answered without hesitation.

He did not want to die, so he killed them. That was the kind of sentiment that those who had lived on the battlefield harbored.

[Well… Yes. I don’t want to die. But… You saw the state I was in just now, didn’t you? I’m not the same as I used to be. I was so afraid of those monsters who were lower than me that I couldn’t even move an inch… You must find that hilarious, right? The woman who has been looking down on you, trapping you, and holding you in such contempt… is now reduced to such a pathetic mess.] (Satis)

Seto watched her putting herself down with a blank expression.

At a time like this, a man would say something sensible, but having lived his life with only a limited number of interpersonal relationships, he had no idea what to say at all.

However, for some reason, Seto could not bring himself to leave her alone as she currently was.

[Say, what kinda place is the battlefield to you?] (Seto)

[The battlefield? Why do you suddenly-] (Satis)

[Just tell me.] (Seto)

[…I used to think of it as a place where I could test my powers. It was also a place where I could have fun watching my enemies writhe in pain. …I actually enjoyed it. It was fun watching humans suffer under the pressure of our overwhelming power.] (Satis)

Satis smiled weakly.

As of now, those times had vanished into nothingness as glories of the past.

The eyes behind her glasses were filled with despondency and despair.

The smile of that female demon, the former leader of the Demon King’s army whose future was cut short, was distorted in sorrow by her self-mockery.

[Which means that the shock you’ve experienced so far…] (Seto)

[It’s the first time I’ve felt it, yes…] (Satis)

Seeing Satis’ unmotivated look, he remained silent for a bit.

[…Being shocked on the battlefield or during torture is a common thing. Even adults like you can’t do anything under stress. I’ve seen it happen to countless people.] (Seto)

[This may be true for humans, but… I’m a demon, remember? I’m normally far stronger than humans, and…] (Satis)

[…Demon or human, what does it matter in a fight? They’re all the same. They all try to kill each other. It was the same for me too… Whether it was children or adults, they all had their spirits broken on the battlefield or by torture… And I’d never laugh at or make fun of those people.] (Seto)

Seto looked straight at Satis and answered.

His unclouded eyes reflected her as she was.

[…You really are a strange kid.] (Satis)

[I get that a lot. Not sure where that comes from, though.] (Seto)

[But still… I owe you a debt of gratitude for saving me. I always thought you were the kind of fighter that simply rushed at his enemies, but it turns out you can fight cleverly too.] (Satis)

[Those monsters just kept babbling away, so I had plenty of time to observe them.] (Seto)

[I see… Then I guess I wasn’t observant enough. Supposing we had remained enemies, I might have ended up cut down by you.] (Satis)

Satis took a light, deep breath, and unlike before, smiled calmly.

Maybe I had been so focused on my own pride and military achievements that I’ve been unable to perceive everything else until now. (Satis)

Thinking about it that way made her feel a bit better.

Like how she did not have to work so hard anymore.

[What are you going to do from now on, boy?] (Satis)

[I haven’t decided on anything specific yet. But I think… I’ll try going on a journey. I met a mercenary who told me about his travels once, so I’ve been yearning to go on a journey of my own. And one day, I will have my own house! …Say! Why don’t you come with me, Satis!?] (Seto)

[Eh!? But… I…] (Satis)

[You don’t have anywhere to go either, right? So what do you say?] (Seto)

As soon as he spoke about traveling, a glimmer of innocence befitting of his age appeared in his eyes.

Satis’ heart was moved by this face that was unlike any other she had seen him make in battle.

[Are you sure? I’ve said a lot of terrible things to you, and I looked down on you, you know?] (Satis)

[We were fighting back then. So we had to despise each other. We couldn’t have fought to the death if we had been on good terms. Besides, I think trash-talking and upsetting your enemies to create an opening is a legitimate battle tactic, you know? …Not that I’m very good at it, though.] (Seto)

[*Giggle* You really are an interesting child. …Alright. I’m coming with you. Ah, right. What’s your name, boy?] (Satis)

[Me? …My name is Seto. That’s what everybody calls me.] (Seto)

[Seto… It means “Destruction and Storm”, right? Then once again, my name is Satis. Please treat me well, “Seto”.] (Satis)

Thus, the two walked under Satis’ guidance to escape from this forest.