When we see Neusch again, he has changed.
　The miasma is not only the clothes, but also the content.
　The miasma is leaking from inside.
　The miasma is not only the same as the miasma itself, but it is also the same as that of a demon or demon race.
　This is what Meena, the snake demon tribe, meant when she said she was going to use it as a toy.
　If this is the case, there is no place for Noish to return to.
　What an outrageous thing to do!

"Do you want to quit being human for strength?

The signs were there.
　When he met Noish, he had no doubt that he was special.
　But when he saw the unreasonable power of a brave man, he despaired.
　After that, he was jealous of my success in what he thought was his equal, and he tried to show his worth by creating a knightly order if he couldn't win on his own individual strength.
　But even that was denied by me.
　........and this is the result.
　I might be the one who made him like this.

◇

He comes to Nevan.

"Are you okay?
I was a little chilled. But I'm hurt. Master Rogues, with all that blood in his eyes I'm strong enough to give Master Rogues time to come to my rescue.
'Sorry, I think I underestimated you.

Nevan, by nature, doesn't overestimate himself or make himself look big.
　After all, she's still going to be one of us.
　If I'm wrong about Nevan's reputation, I'm putting the lives of the entire team, including her, at risk.
　She's a smart girl and she doesn't know that, and I don't think she'll look good.
　Let's try a kumite next time. That's where we'll measure our strength.
　Overestimating is dangerous, but underestimating is also dangerous.

'Neusch is getting stronger,'

Me and Nevan stand side by side and watch Neusch fight.
　He was alone and evenly matched with Riogel.
　There's a reason why he's committed to being a spectator.

Even if you're going to provide cover, if you don't know the competence that Neusch has right now, you're both in danger.
　First of all, we know what we're capable of.
　At the same time, all of us are prepared to set up whenever a fatal gap is created.

Tart had a lightning strike wrapped around his spear, Dia was preparing the [Demon Killer] chant, and Nevan was ready to fire light magic in conjunction with the weapon I gave him.

''It's an amazing sword,''
Yes, it's evil and powerful. It's not a piece of equipment, it's a sword-shaped demon, and I'd believe it if someone told me it was a sword-shaped demon.
''Stupid childhood friend, no big stupid childhood friend's sword skills remain above and below the top-notch, and his physical abilities have also increased, but compared to the non-standard, it's an error. The physical ability enhancement with magic power is still as poor as before, which is a shame in many ways. But the output flowing in from that sword is too abnormal to cut with a monster. Above all.........
It can slay demons and not regenerate them. I didn't know they had a weapon like that.

Noish's great black sword is tremendous, and it doesn't leave a single scratch under the claws of Riogel, which can easily cut through even steel.
　It strengthens its owner with the power of the miasma and can even cut through the skin of a Riogel and stop the demon race from regenerating.

In addition, the power to strengthen Noish, whose strength is not much different from before, to the level of a hero.
　Perhaps the modifications that Noish himself received were not for the sake of strength, but to enable him to use that magic sword.

Obviously, that magic sword is overspecified.
　Equipment that was filled with magic power was something that could be put to practical use if it was a simple action by studying [divine weapon]. The result of that was the Tart Spear.
　However, I don't feel like I can make advanced magic like [Demon Slayer] come true at all.
　In the first place, what is that endlessly gushing power?

''........Well, I understand most of it. I'm going to add to the team. And if they don't, we'll lose.
I don't doubt it. That demon tribe has an extraordinary learning ability. If they're evenly matched at this point, it's only a matter of time before they lose.

Nevan assures me.
　I agree with him. Riogel's brains are a threat.
　The drug has already worn off, and the instantaneous magic release has returned to normal.
　However, we can still fight if we join forces with Neusch.
　At the same time as I go to join Noish, I give instructions to the tarts with my eyes and signs.
　If I'm right, I'll need their help.

◇

Guns at the ready.
　I could tell by looking at Neusch.
　No matter how much his physical abilities are enhanced, his skills remain the same. In fact, it is monotonous because it is not able to fully control its power and is being wielded.
　It is possible to read several moves ahead.
　I prepared a rifle that was stored in a "crane leather bag".
　Compared to a pistol, the larger portion of the rifle allows the use of large caliber bullets.
　The amount of foul stone powder in the chamber is remarkable, and with this one, it can penetrate even Riogel's body.

Breathe in.
　Touahade's eyes strengthen.
　What I see is the future in a few tenths of a second. Otherwise, there would be no such thing as cover in this situation.
　It's impossible for an ordinary person to imitate hitting only the enemy in close combat, in the midst of a fierce clash and change of standing position.
　But I'm not an ordinary person.
　Even without the foul Touahade eyes, in a previous life, I even sniped at a target through the window of a passing bullet train while riding in a car that was going 150 kilometers per hour.
　Having been shown Neusch's and Riogel's movements, I can read what's ahead. Then it's just a matter of accuracy and timing.
　I'll handle this degree.

''........''

He silently fired a bullet.
　The bullet hit the face of Riogel, who read Noish's attack and fired a counter, hitting him in the face and blowing his head off.
　Of course, unlike Neusch's magic sword, this one is just a lead ball.
　It regenerates immediately.
　This sniper alone is meaningless.
　However..........

''It's good backup!

Neusch slashes Riogel, who was defenseless, with his kesa.
　Yes, as long as you create an opening, the rest of the damage is done by Noish on his own.
　The blown-up head of Riogel regenerates, but the wound carved deeply from the shoulder to the side does not heal, and blood is flowing endlessly.
　The sight of the demon race bleeding is fresh.
　At any rate, I've regenerated in an instant so far, and when I blocked the regeneration, I immediately tossed it in the face.
　If it were a human, it is bleeding to the point where you can't move properly, but is it having a bad effect on the demon race?
　With that in mind, I held my gun up without a hint of caution.

'Look, look, look, look, think of the power I have!

I see, if the situation was one where he couldn't regenerate, he couldn't ignore the common weaknesses of living things?
　Visibly, Riogel's movements were slowing down.
　Even so, he is used to fighting when he makes precise moves.
　When the situation was reversed and Noish, who was on a roll, was in a big way, Riogel aimed at his throat with a minimal and shortest distance thrust.
　It's a good attack. That one can reach before Neusch's sword.
　If I hadn't been there, I would have won the reverse.
　But I had read that it was coming.

.........My bullets blew his arm off at the root and Riogel lost his balance.

Noish swings his sideways sword along with the spirit of a cleaver.
　Not so much a spirited cry as a cry as if he was trying to blow away the fear and shame that he would have been killed if I hadn't saved him.
　Hence, it was a messy blow, and Riogel was able to avoid a fatal wound even as he lost his stance.

''That guy........''

I thought Neusch's skills wouldn't change, but I stand corrected.
　He was swept up in the force, getting worked up and lacking in caution.
　If I hadn't covered him, he would have been killed twice, and if it was Neusch as usual, he wouldn't have been distraught, but he would have been exactly fatal at the second opening.
　Riogel jumped backwards, and Neusch chased after him desperately.
　Neusch doesn't even know that it was an invitation.

''GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

A wounded Riogel let out a roar accompanied by a shockwave roar at Noish, who jumped at him.
　Neusch blows up and loses his stance, leaving Neusch full of gaps in spite of that, and comes straight towards me, bleeding.

''If only I could take you down!

He's got some sort of prioritization of danger.
　He thinks I'm more dangerous than Neusch.
　If not for me, he would have killed Neusch twice.
　His eyes are focused on the muzzle of the gun.
　So we'll be careful and we'll duck.
　That's a wise decision.

But also stupid.
　I knew this guy was going to make this move. Since he tried to crush Nevan first, it was conceivable that he would come like this.
　As long as I'm reading it, I'm taking precautions.
　I take out a grenade with my left hand, which is not holding a gun, and throw it.
　Riogel's reaction was delayed because he was focused on the muzzle of the gun.
　It explodes in the air.
　It is an acoustic bomb used as a trap.
　His ears and nose are hit, and Riogel is in so much shock that he stands on a stick, his eardrums are hit, and blood is flowing from his ears.
　Even a foul stone could stop him from moving, but using that one would shatter him to pieces, and he would be regenerated and unable to follow up.
　There's a reason why I only damaged it enough not to turn it into a piece of meat and stop it from moving.

I've been waiting for this moment!

The tart, which had been approaching me little by little so as not to be noticed by him, thrusts a spear covered in lightning strikes into my side.
　The action is forcibly stopped by overrunning it with electric current from inside the body and electrocuting it.
　The freedom of the guy who was about to recover from the sound bomb is taken away again.

''[Demon Race Killer]. I've already gotten tired of waiting for this.

Due to Deere's 【Killing of the Demon Race】, his 【Red Heart】 materialized and glowed red.
　Dia perfectly chanted a super high level of difficulty in the art form.

''The [Holy Light Amplification Cannon]

And to top it all off, Nevin's sniper.
　It's a tool I made that builds up and releases light magic, enhanced light magic.
　It's a simple tool that solves the output problem of light magic by pouring a large amount of magical power into it beforehand.
　It's also a great way to get the most out of your time in the world.
　That strike, with the speed of light, pierced the [Red Heart].

From the beginning, I thought of Noish as a decoy. I'm sure he will aim at me due to his character.
　If that happens, an opening will be created.
　It's not a bad idea to have a good time.
　That's why I was able to defeat him like this.
　A gaping hole is left in Riogel's heart and his presence is fading away.

"You, you, you, you, you...
Well, I killed you.

Desperately, he stretched his claws out to me, and before I could reach him, he turned into a particle of light and disappeared.
　Riogel, you were strong.
　One wrong move and you would have lost. I offer my condolences to him.
　The sound of applause rings out there.

''This is the power of the [Holy Knight], the rogue, and the power of his followers. ''For a mere human, you do well.''

The source of the applause is Noish.
　He comes in with a graceful and elegant smile that is typical of him, the kind of smile I know so well, spreading the miasma.
　No, it's not the smile I know, he's not someone who looks down on you from above like this.

I'm going to tell you something. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to go to work.
Yeah, that's great. I need to talk to Rogue too.

Find the words to say to a friend who has changed.

Words to reach his heart.
　.... to laugh at each other again as we once did.

When we see Neusch again, he has changed.
　The miasma is not only the clothes, but also the content.
　The miasma is leaking from inside.
　The miasma is not only the same as the miasma itself, but it is also the same as that of a demon or demon race.
　This is what Meena, the snake demon tribe, meant when she said she was going to use it as a toy.
　If this is the case, there is no place for Noish to return to.
　What an outrageous thing to do!

"Do you want to quit being human for strength?

The signs were there.
　When he met Noish, he had no doubt that he was special.
　But when he saw the unreasonable power of a brave man, he despaired.
　After that, he was jealous of my success in what he thought was his equal, and he tried to show his worth by creating a knightly order if he couldn't win on his own individual strength.
　But even that was denied by me.
　........and this is the result.
　I might be the one who made him like this.

◇

He comes to Nevan.

"Are you okay?
I was a little chilled. But I'm hurt. Master Rogues, with all that blood in his eyes I'm strong enough to give Master Rogues time to come to my rescue.
'Sorry, I think I underestimated you.

Nevan, by nature, doesn't overestimate himself or make himself look big.
　After all, she's still going to be one of us.
　If I'm wrong about Nevan's reputation, I'm putting the lives of the entire team, including her, at risk.
　She's a smart girl and she doesn't know that, and I don't think she'll look good.
　Let's try a kumite next time. That's where we'll measure our strength.
　Overestimating is dangerous, but underestimating is also dangerous.

'Neusch is getting stronger,'

Me and Nevan stand side by side and watch Neusch fight.
　He was alone and evenly matched with Riogel.
　There's a reason why he's committed to being a spectator.

Even if you're going to provide cover, if you don't know the competence that Neusch has right now, you're both in danger.
　First of all, we know what we're capable of.
　At the same time, all of us are prepared to set up whenever a fatal gap is created.

Tart had a lightning strike wrapped around his spear, Dia was preparing the [Demon Killer] chant, and Nevan was ready to fire light magic in conjunction with the weapon I gave him.

''It's an amazing sword,''
Yes, it's evil and powerful. It's not a piece of equipment, it's a sword-shaped demon, and I'd believe it if someone told me it was a sword-shaped demon.
''Stupid childhood friend, no big stupid childhood friend's sword skills remain above and below the top-notch, and his physical abilities have also increased, but compared to the non-standard, it's an error. The physical ability enhancement with magic power is still as poor as before, which is a shame in many ways. But the output flowing in from that sword is too abnormal to cut with a monster. Above all.........
It can slay demons and not regenerate them. I didn't know they had a weapon like that.

Noish's great black sword is tremendous, and it doesn't leave a single scratch under the claws of Riogel, which can easily cut through even steel.
　It strengthens its owner with the power of the miasma and can even cut through the skin of a Riogel and stop the demon race from regenerating.

In addition, the power to strengthen Noish, whose strength is not much different from before, to the level of a hero.
　Perhaps the modifications that Noish himself received were not for the sake of strength, but to enable him to use that magic sword.

Obviously, that magic sword is overspecified.
　Equipment that was filled with magic power was something that could be put to practical use if it was a simple action by studying [divine weapon]. The result of that was the Tart Spear.
　However, I don't feel like I can make advanced magic like [Demon Slayer] come true at all.
　In the first place, what is that endlessly gushing power?

''........Well, I understand most of it. I'm going to add to the team. And if they don't, we'll lose.
I don't doubt it. That demon tribe has an extraordinary learning ability. If they're evenly matched at this point, it's only a matter of time before they lose.

Nevan assures me.
　I agree with him. Riogel's brains are a threat.
　The drug has already worn off, and the instantaneous magic release has returned to normal.
　However, we can still fight if we join forces with Neusch.
　At the same time as I go to join Noish, I give instructions to the tarts with my eyes and signs.
　If I'm right, I'll need their help.

◇

Guns at the ready.
　I could tell by looking at Neusch.
　No matter how much his physical abilities are enhanced, his skills remain the same. In fact, it is monotonous because it is not able to fully control its power and is being wielded.
　It is possible to read several moves ahead.
　I prepared a rifle that was stored in a "crane leather bag".
　Compared to a pistol, the larger portion of the rifle allows the use of large caliber bullets.
　The amount of foul stone powder in the chamber is remarkable, and with this one, it can penetrate even Riogel's body.

Breathe in.
　Touahade's eyes strengthen.
　What I see is the future in a few tenths of a second. Otherwise, there would be no such thing as cover in this situation.
　It's impossible for an ordinary person to imitate hitting only the enemy in close combat, in the midst of a fierce clash and change of standing position.
　But I'm not an ordinary person.
　Even without the foul Touahade eyes, in a previous life, I even sniped at a target through the window of a passing bullet train while riding in a car that was going 150 kilometers per hour.
　Having been shown Neusch's and Riogel's movements, I can read what's ahead. Then it's just a matter of accuracy and timing.
　I'll handle this degree.

''........''

He silently fired a bullet.
　The bullet hit the face of Riogel, who read Noish's attack and fired a counter, hitting him in the face and blowing his head off.
　Of course, unlike Neusch's magic sword, this one is just a lead ball.
　It regenerates immediately.
　This sniper alone is meaningless.
　However..........

''It's good backup!

Neusch slashes Riogel, who was defenseless, with his kesa.
　Yes, as long as you create an opening, the rest of the damage is done by Noish on his own.
　The blown-up head of Riogel regenerates, but the wound carved deeply from the shoulder to the side does not heal, and blood is flowing endlessly.
　The sight of the demon race bleeding is fresh.
　At any rate, I've regenerated in an instant so far, and when I blocked the regeneration, I immediately tossed it in the face.
　If it were a human, it is bleeding to the point where you can't move properly, but is it having a bad effect on the demon race?
　With that in mind, I held my gun up without a hint of caution.

'Look, look, look, look, think of the power I have!

I see, if the situation was one where he couldn't regenerate, he couldn't ignore the common weaknesses of living things?
　Visibly, Riogel's movements were slowing down.
　Even so, he is used to fighting when he makes precise moves.
　When the situation was reversed and Noish, who was on a roll, was in a big way, Riogel aimed at his throat with a minimal and shortest distance thrust.
　It's a good attack. That one can reach before Neusch's sword.
　If I hadn't been there, I would have won the reverse.
　But I had read that it was coming.

.........My bullets blew his arm off at the root and Riogel lost his balance.

Noish swings his sideways sword along with the spirit of a cleaver.
　Not so much a spirited cry as a cry as if he was trying to blow away the fear and shame that he would have been killed if I hadn't saved him.
　Hence, it was a messy blow, and Riogel was able to avoid a fatal wound even as he lost his stance.

''That guy........''

I thought Neusch's skills wouldn't change, but I stand corrected.
　He was swept up in the force, getting worked up and lacking in caution.
　If I hadn't covered him, he would have been killed twice, and if it was Neusch as usual, he wouldn't have been distraught, but he would have been exactly fatal at the second opening.
　Riogel jumped backwards, and Neusch chased after him desperately.
　Neusch doesn't even know that it was an invitation.

''GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

A wounded Riogel let out a roar accompanied by a shockwave roar at Noish, who jumped at him.
　Neusch blows up and loses his stance, leaving Neusch full of gaps in spite of that, and comes straight towards me, bleeding.

''If only I could take you down!

He's got some sort of prioritization of danger.
　He thinks I'm more dangerous than Neusch.
　If not for me, he would have killed Neusch twice.
　His eyes are focused on the muzzle of the gun.
　So we'll be careful and we'll duck.
　That's a wise decision.

But also stupid.
　I knew this guy was going to make this move. Since he tried to crush Nevan first, it was conceivable that he would come like this.
　As long as I'm reading it, I'm taking precautions.
　I take out a grenade with my left hand, which is not holding a gun, and throw it.
　Riogel's reaction was delayed because he was focused on the muzzle of the gun.
　It explodes in the air.
　It is an acoustic bomb used as a trap.
　His ears and nose are hit, and Riogel is in so much shock that he stands on a stick, his eardrums are hit, and blood is flowing from his ears.
　Even a foul stone could stop him from moving, but using that one would shatter him to pieces, and he would be regenerated and unable to follow up.
　There's a reason why I only damaged it enough not to turn it into a piece of meat and stop it from moving.

I've been waiting for this moment!

The tart, which had been approaching me little by little so as not to be noticed by him, thrusts a spear covered in lightning strikes into my side.
　The action is forcibly stopped by overrunning it with electric current from inside the body and electrocuting it.
　The freedom of the guy who was about to recover from the sound bomb is taken away again.

''[Demon Race Killer]. I've already gotten tired of waiting for this.

Due to Deere's 【Killing of the Demon Race】, his 【Red Heart】 materialized and glowed red.
　Dia perfectly chanted a super high level of difficulty in the art form.

''The [Holy Light Amplification Cannon]

And to top it all off, Nevin's sniper.
　It's a tool I made that builds up and releases light magic, enhanced light magic.
　It's a simple tool that solves the output problem of light magic by pouring a large amount of magical power into it beforehand.
　It's also a great way to get the most out of your time in the world.
　That strike, with the speed of light, pierced the [Red Heart].

From the beginning, I thought of Noish as a decoy. I'm sure he will aim at me due to his character.
　If that happens, an opening will be created.
　It's not a bad idea to have a good time.
　That's why I was able to defeat him like this.
　A gaping hole is left in Riogel's heart and his presence is fading away.

"You, you, you, you, you...
Well, I killed you.

Desperately, he stretched his claws out to me, and before I could reach him, he turned into a particle of light and disappeared.
　Riogel, you were strong.
　One wrong move and you would have lost. I offer my condolences to him.
　The sound of applause rings out there.

''This is the power of the [Holy Knight], the rogue, and the power of his followers. ''For a mere human, you do well.''

The source of the applause is Noish.
　He comes in with a graceful and elegant smile that is typical of him, the kind of smile I know so well, spreading the miasma.
　No, it's not the smile I know, he's not someone who looks down on you from above like this.

I'm going to tell you something. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to go to work.
Yeah, that's great. I need to talk to Rogue too.

Find the words to say to a friend who has changed.

Words to reach his heart.
　.... to laugh at each other again as we once did.