A tremendous explosion sounded in succession. The number of red lotuses that bloomed wildly from my hand was counted to be ten.

　The magic of the Flame Princess exploded from a literal distance of zero, naturally involving my hand, but my skin, protected by the dense power, did not suffer a single burn.


''Guggy!　Higg.........gasp!　Agui.........hi!　Gah, oh!　Argh!　Shh--!　----!　


　Suspended in midair with one hand, Auken's face catches the scorching heat of the raging waves that could have boiled his brain. The screams that rang out every time an explosion rang out disappeared halfway through, and all I could do was shake my body in a jittery manner.

　After the ten explosions are over, I look at Auken, who is breathing through the tip of his beak in a wheezing manner, and I lift the corner of my lips.


"Don't you dare go down like this, Lord Taizan,


　If you're going to die, take out your backhandedness before you die. I inwardly groaned as my gaze was directed in the direction of the Miken residence.

　From that direction, I can feel the powerful demonic air that is chattering and shaking the atmosphere even at this very moment. The beating of power that could shake this island itself was reminiscent of the illusory species (Hydra) that had fought in the forest of Titis earlier.

　When I infiltrated the Berch Mansion the other day to check out the condition of Cryer, I had also felt a mighty power. But the power I'm feeling now is incomparable to that time. Probably the demons who attacked the Miken Manor have played their trump card.

　Is it something like Goz's empty armor, or is there a battle technique unique to demons? Either way, it is highly likely that Auken, who calls himself Lord Taishan, has a similar trump card.

　The soul of an onijin with power equal to an illusory species should still be equal to an illusory species.

　With that thought in mind, I made sure that Auken did not die. I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.

　I'm not going to be able to get rid of it," he said, exhaling through his nose and removing his hand from Auken's face. Just before the demon's body was pulled by gravity and fell to the ground, I swung my right leg out with all my might.


''--!


　The tip of the steel shoe dug deep into Auken's pigeon tail.

　No longer able to scream, Auken's body flew through the air. Lord Taizan's body bounced off the ground like a ball and then came to a halt when it hit the trunk of a huge tree.

　As I witnessed this, a whispering child's voice rang in my ears.





　The owner of the voice was Miken Ibuki, who slumped to the ground.

　Ibuki, freed from Auken's restraints, is looking up at me with large tears in his eyes. He must have realized that the person in front of him is the same person he trained with the other day.

　But he doesn't seem to understand what exactly happened, and a look of fear and trepidation is hidden in his dull eyes. There was no relief in his voice calling out to me, and it was as if he couldn't help but speak out.

　I'm here to help you, little swordsman-dono - it would have been cool to say it that way. It could have been a line about not wanting him to die before he fulfilled his promise of a rematch with me.

　But I didn't say either of those things, and I grabbed Ibuki's collar, which slumped to the ground. Then I force him to stand, as if lifting a cat cub, and lightly push in the direction of Emma-sama.

　After taking a couple of steps as if stepping on the ground, Ibuki looked confused, turned around and said in a faint voice, "........


''........Mother...........''


　Ibuki's mother, Cecil, was left pushed to the ground by the two demons. Save your mother--their intentions were clear without words.

　In response to the infant's voiceless plea, I turn my attention once again to the Kishis present.

　I don't need to tell you about Morgan Sky Sheep, who served as a flag officer in the past; Sydney and Sai are part of the golden generation of warriors; and Cecil is also a skilled flag officer who once belonged to the first flag.

　These proud battalion members fight with the law of the Plating God and the law of the Hoshin.

　Those who once looked up to them are now bending their knees unceremoniously. They are no doubt fighting against the enemy of the unholy alliance, the demons.


''....................Haha.


　I wanted to belly laugh, but the actual action I took was to let out a bitter sigh.

　It was too clumsy to laugh. The fact that I used to be in awe of these people only increases my discomfort.

　I really wish that the blue-skinned warriors who wear the blue coat of the Seirin Hakki would have a more solid presence.

　To use another word - they'll be easily beaten by someone other than me. I'd feel like an idiot for thinking I'd look back on them one day.

　I'm sorry Ibuki, but I wasn't going to help Cecil and the others.

　It was Kensei's fault for letting the infant wife concubine escape to where the ambush soldiers were waiting for her. It was the fault of the banners and warriors who were ordered by the Sword Sage to protect them, but were unceremoniously defeated.

　Even if the women and children are killed as a result of this, the responsibility lies with the Kensei, not with me. I have no obligation or duty to help them.

　That's why I'm not going to help them.


''--shinsoxu excited.


　So, the reason I'm putting out my mind suit here is not to help these guys.

　Then, what is the purpose of this is to eat the illusory species. I didn't want to use the mind-dressing in this island, but if an illusory species appeared, it's a different story.

　To be exact, it's not an 'illusory species' but a 'demon man with the same power as the illusory species', but it's not so different.

　Anyway, in order to eat the illusory species, you have to bring out your heart suit. And if you're going to produce a heart suit, the more souls you can eat, the better.

　The souls of the demons in front of me are not a large amount, but it's not bad if you think of them as an appetizer (hors d'oeuvres) before eating the illusory seed.

　And fortunately, all seven of them are still alive. In that sense, I should be grateful to my fellow horsemen for not killing even a single demon.

　Thinking about this ironically, I pulled out my heart suit.


"Eat it all up, soul eater.


　At that moment, the air howled. The earth shook.

　It has already been more than a month since I defeated the Hydra. The level of that time was '25', but it had risen to '26'. You can't say it's just one level. I've already mentioned repeatedly that my level is not the same as someone else's.

　My strength has increased, my strength technique is clearer and my power pressure is more refined than when I fought against Goz and the others in Titis Forest. They are not enemies, such as those who would take hostages against an outnumbered enemy.

　With a look of murderous intent, they strike a blow at the demons.

　The only thing that can be said for this is that it's not a bad idea to have a good time. This is the demon who was trying to leap at me from behind just now.

　The demon man let out a voice that sounded like a monster bird and kicked the ground. It was Morgan Sky Sheep, who had fallen to the ground.

　A high-pitched bark from the demon who pressed his blade against the old hippocrat's neck.


''Movement--''


　Maybe he was trying to tell them not to move. After that, he was probably going to say something like, "If you move one step, I will cut off the old man's head.

　--I'm not sure I'll ever know the correct answer now that my head has been cut off.

　The soul eater's black sword blade is red and wet from sucking the demon's blood. I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it's not.

　The demons' mouths were agitated by this quick action in an instant. It might have looked like I had teleported myself to them.

　Immediately afterwards, screams and anguish cascaded through the air one after another.


"Gah!

Motherf*cker!

Hi!


　The ones who raised their voices were all demons. However, it wasn't me who attacked them.

　It wasn't only the demons who started to move as a result of my actions. The Kishi, who had been held down until then, were also moving at the same time.

　Sydney's Murasame reaped the neck of an onijin, and the saint-killer (Longinus) of the festival pierced the chest of another onijin. Cecil also cut off the face of the demon man who was seizing him.

　The remaining demonesses all jumped off the spot at once and tried to head for Auken, who collapsed on the trunk of a tree. They were probably trying to regain their poise while protecting the Lord.

　Of course, I wouldn't let him get away with it. It's a good thing that the starter was halved due to the fact that the Kishi's came out of the woodwork now. There was no reason to give them any more prey.





"Mother!

Ibuki!


　It was only after the seven demons had been turned into wreckage that Ibuki sobbed and hung onto Cecil. Cecil ran up to her and gently held her son, while Lady Emma looked after them tenderly.

　Across the way, Sydney was tending to her grandfather Morgan. The other concubines, perhaps judging that the crisis was over, were clearly relieved.

　After checking them out, I went to see Auken, who was still lying on the floor.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to find the right one. He would not remain silent if he found out that his men were all killed. They should retaliate with all the cards they have, and if they don't have any, they will run away. In any case, I shouldn't have taken my eyes off him.

　And then someone called out to me on my back.


I'd like to thank you, thank you very much. Thank you, Sora. You've become a lot stronger.


　The voice of the owner is the Kuumon Festival.

　If I only listened to the words, he was thanking me, and even praising me. But the needle-like gaze and the sarcastic tone of voice, it is clearer than the fire that they are only on the upside.

　In fact, when I stopped and turned to face him, he continued: "I wish we could leave a little earlier.


I wish you would have come out a little earlier. "I wish you would have come out a little earlier," he said, "so that you wouldn't have to be sneaking around. The fact that you called that bird guy "Lord Taizan" means that you have been here for a long time, right?