You look like a pussy, Elnte.

　Sylvia Virginia's challenge to the Kisenshou.

　The crowd was boiling over, knowing how things had gone last time.

　King Castal had implicitly admitted that Elnte was "evil".

　This is a battle between right and wrong, so to speak. How could it not be exciting?


'Scattered,'
What?
You guys got us into a mess.
...... Right.

　Elnte scratched his shaggy white hair and stared at Sylvia with a throaty laugh.

For the past six months, I've had a terrible experience. I've been stoned by nameless brats, hurled at me like I was the avenger of my parents. Everywhere I went, I was worried about what people would think. The dignity of the leader was beyond my expectations. It's your fault. Hey, what fun is it to bully an old man like him?
What do you mean?
I have a grudge, I have an axe to grind ...... and I will not forgive you guys for the life of this old man.
...... .......

　Unintentionally, Silvia's body shook with a buzz.
　It's an indescribable feeling to be exposed to hostility by an old man who has lived four hundred years.

"You are still afraid of me, aren't you?

　Elnte raised one eyebrow and chuckled.
　Sylvia opened her mouth after a brief silence.

'Indeed, I am still afraid of you.
Ho!　Do you admit it?
But I'm here to conquer it today.
'Ho ho ho, overcome?　You?　You are the one who lost to me because you could do nothing?
You can. You can't, but I can. I'm aware that you can't shake your fear of the Second Lord, and you can't even think of overcoming it.
"......
You're the one who's gotten away with it. You'll spend the rest of your life alone until the bill is paid.
Don't push your luck, little girl.

　Elnte was again threateningly awesome ...... but Sylvia was not intimidated.

'It's no use. It's no use, I'm not afraid anymore. I am the one who will not forgive you. I will not forgive you for defiling the demon piercing general, for taking away the dreams of the contestants, no matter how much you cry and apologize ......!


　Realizing that intimidation was not going to work, Elnte snorted in a boring manner and silently held up the bow he had taken out of his inventory.

　A mithril compound bow - a bow with a pulley that is lightweight and powerful, with continuous shooting, range and power all excellent. The only drawbacks are the body itself and the special arrows are very expensive.

　Elnte staked everything on this. With a strong desire for vengeance due to a twisted hatred, he has spent a great deal of money on a new, powerful bow and arrow, and is ready to attack Sylvia.


　The other side of the coin is still the same longbow ...... as ever, I thought. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get a new one. Although the range and power of the longbow is reduced compared to the longbow, it is excellent for rapid fire. However, it could be said that everything was significantly inferior to the mithril compound bow that Elnte had.

''Heehee, with such a crude bow--''
Do not underestimate it.
...... How?

　Yes, this is no ordinary short bow.

This is not just a short bow, it is a secret weapon that has been modified by Blacksmith Yukari to specialize in six levels of rapid-fire and has the effect of the "sangma flying wheel".

　In exchange for a dramatic drop in range and power, it gains unparalleled rapid-fire capabilities, as well as the ability to reduce the time of rigor after using skills by 0.00125 seconds with the Sanmahachiguruma effect. The orange crystal embedded in the bow is the proof of this three-pointed carriage.

　In other words, it's a ...... stiff weapon (・・・・).

　Sylvia is also serious. Depending on how you look at it, she even brought out a foul-grade bow and was going to capture Elnte's head without any means at all.



''--Start!

　The decisive battle finally begins with a command from the referee.

''Mwah!''

　Immediately afterwards, Elnte turned his body upside down and ducked the arrows that came flying in.

　Silvia's 《Infantry Archery》 - but it was too fast, too fast. It was a blow that Elnte's senses made it seem as if he had been shooting even before the order was given.

　Therefore, Silvia dares to stop her hand and utter a single word.


'Didn't you see (・・・・・・・)?'


　The words I was thinking of saying if my skills would work.
　They were words of provocation, the same as the words Second had uttered in the exhibition, word for word.

''............~!

　Elnte's face flushed red and raged.


　--I've been falsely accused. This, the absolute champion, me, the demon piercing general.

　For decades I was the best of the best. No one has dared to challenge me. I could do as I pleased with the contestants.

　And now look at it. In just six months, I've fallen to the bottom of the earth.

　It's because of them.
　If it wasn't for them, I'd still be great.

　Send me back to .......
　Give it back, give it back, give it back.

　Give me my reason for living, my peace of mind back--!


I want it back!

　The old man screamed with bloodshot eyes, his face bobbing and shaking, drooling and screaming.

　Sylvia frowned, "You've finally gone mad?" and re-positioned her short bow.

!

　Immediately after, the 《Infantry Archery》 flew in from Elnte.

　I see ...... and Sylvia extremely calmly responded by bumping the 《Infantry Archery》 while being convinced of the Mithril Compound Bow's excellent performance.

''Hmm.''

　I responded and noticed. Sylvia's infantry had successfully played Elnte's infantry, but they had been greatly outcompeted the moment they collided. Apparently, the difference in power is quite significant.

''Haha, haha ...... give me back, give me back!

　A series of infantry strikes.
　Ernte didn't even have a chance to catch his breath, and continued to hit the Infantry Bow Technique continuously at the very edge of the bow's performance limit.

　With the Mithril Compound Bow, he can fire two to three rapid fires in 1.0 seconds. The maximum number of rapid fire attacks is ten, and rapid fire is limited to 1.2 seconds. After ten rapid-fire attacks, a 5.0-second skill-unavailable cool time will occur until the eleventh attack, so the most efficient method of continuous attack is to allow 1.2 seconds or more of breath time on the ninth attack.

　However, Ernte didn't even think about that cool time, and instead, he shot ten times and shouted, shot ten times and shouted, repeating incessantly an action that was unthinkable for a demon piercing general.

　All of which Silvia responded to all of them without a hitch. She hit the infantry on each and every arrow and handled them carefully. It was as if she was painting black with white. Even though she sensed that it was useless, she was polite and careful, never skimping.



'Shh, die ...... lose ...... haha, haha ...... lose, die, die...' ...!

　...... Then Elnte's messy attack lasted for nearly two hours.

　By the time Elnte was breathing hard and wobbling, the night had already begun to fall.

　Nevertheless, with hatred and vindictiveness, Elnte continued to shoot his arrows.

　Silvia's intuition was right. The lonely old man had been mad for a long time now.


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

　Over the course of a long time, Sylvia thought about a lot of things.

　And in the end, she thought.


　-- like a child, she thought.

　Elnte's behavior was like a child throwing a tantrum because he didn't get his way.

　This is how he's hitting the infantry in rapid succession, and he's trying to get back at Sylvia for what she did to him in the exhibition by pointing it at the second. He is the very definition of a child with a wilful streak.

　However, his actions are far from childlike in their cuteness.

　Underlying it is not malice, but desire. He has a foolish mind that puts his own desires above all else. A selfish, greedy old man who thinks nothing of others or the title fight, who is selfish and greedy, who is only concerned about himself.

　The word "miserable ......" comes to Sylvia's mind.

　Sylvia's heat, which had been burning with a sense of justice, was slowly cooling down.
　And at the same time, a chilling discomfort, akin to pity, arose.

　After catching the arrow for a long time, Silvia saw the true nature of the man called Ernte.

　This old man is lonely because he is so ...... and.


'Give it back, give it back ...... Lose, lose, lose, lose, oh, ......!


　Oh, you poor thing.


Oh, come on. Come on, Elnte: ...... I can't watch this.
What are you talking about?　You're a girl!　Your, your fault!　It's your fault I'm here!
"Elnte, you have more than a little conscience. Don't despair. Give up and pay for your sins.
'Nonsense, righteousness and righteousness, you f*cking brat!　Nonsense, clutter, clutter, clutter!　That doesn't matter now!
...... So much for the early days.


　Sylvia stopped responding to Elnte's ten consecutive shots at nine points, and only fluttered and ducked the last one.

　That's all it took for them to easily switch places.


I'll tell you what, Ernte. That's what rapid fire is all about.

　Sylvia draws her bow over Elnte's eyes during cool time.


　At the moment ...... various scenes ran through Sylvia's mind.

　In the past six months, Sylvia had seen hell. First of all, without a doubt, it was the most strenuous period of her life so far.

　Why did she work so hard for it?

　Because she didn't want to lose, of course.
　Of course it's because she can't lose.

　Defeat hurts. I don't want to experience that pain ever again.

　That's why I did it.


　--It's pathetic.

　Those who know the pain of defeat, but still did not work hard enough to overcome it, have a lot of pity.
　Those who did not conquer themselves will see more hell.

　Be indefatigable, and have a strong heart that will not yield to any kind of hardship.
　To be self-denying and self-reliant.
　I'll show you righteousness with my own hands, no matter how evil it is.

　Follow my example, you fool--!



!

　Sylvia instantly shot three arrows.

　Both Elnte and the audience were wide-eyed and surprised.

　Because it felt as if all three arrows flew at the same time.

　This is the strength of the quick-fire specialized six-stage modified shortbow. 《Infantry Archery》 The power of the bow that allows five shots per second.

　Each shot is not very powerful. However, the DPS of five shots per second is not ordinary. The incense car, Gui Ma, Silver General, Kakugyo and the flying car all have characteristics that make it difficult to receive the benefits of rapid-fire modifications, so they cannot increase their DPS to this extent.

　In this modification in this bow, the infantry barrage is the second most DPS-producing attack method after the dragon horse fire.

''Wha...... what the ......?!

　Elnte shuddered in fear.

　The rain falling from the sky was truly a rain of arrows.

　The density of Ernte's previous infantry firing was incomparable.
　The number of bullets was as if the 《Long Horse Archery》 was being unleashed endlessly.

　Silvia fired nine rounds of 《Infantry Archery》 in about 1.8 seconds, moved for 1.2 seconds, and then fired another nine rounds in 1.8 seconds, not letting up on her attacks at all.

''Gah, gah, gah, gah!''

　Bullet after bullet.

　Elnte thought as he was getting wounded as he watched.

　There's no way I can win against this thing, he thought.


　...... I've lost again.

　The scarred old man, his face contorted in pain, quietly made up his mind.

　And.


''I've lost!

!


　Defeat is declared.

　At Elnte's cry, Sylvia stops shooting arrows.



''--That's it!　The winner, Sylvia Virginia!

　The new demonologist was born.





"A fine piece of work, Sylvia Virginia. A hail of infantry, indeed. I am impressed. You're the one who deserves to be the next demonologist.

　After the match, Elnte walks up to Sylvia with a somewhat blown-out look on his face.

'...... you, what do you think you're doing?'

　Silvia increased her vigilance by one level without having time to chew on the achievement of her long-cherished dream of acquiring the demon piercing general.
　Elnte's attitude seemed too unnatural.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I've been gone for a long time. It's been a long time.
............
Just as you said. Maybe I've wanted too much. Give up, atone for my sins. I've made up my mind. I don't know if that will ever forgive me for what I've done. ......
Did you mean it?
I swear.

　Firmly looking into Sylvia's eyes, Elnte nodded.

　After a few moments of silence, Sylvia opened her mouth.


''Then you must ...... show it with certainty and action.
Okay.

　He would not have forgiven her. But Sylvia did not take any further steps to direct her hostility towards Elnte. She had sworn to atone for her sins, and there was no need to interfere with that decision.


''Huh. But still, at my age, in addition to this game time, this wound is hard to bear.''

　When they curtsied to each other and Sylvia stepped out to leave. Elnte started to say something like that.

'It's a game, I suppose it can't be helped,'
That's one thing, but ...... mmm, I can't move around.

　Sylvia had heard from the title fight management that unless there was an excessive injury to either side, the contestants would be in the process of exiting at the same time. Hence, she dutifully waited for Elnte's slow progress.

''Excuse me, wait a while, let me recover a little here. I don't think I'm going to be able to last until I leave.

　Suddenly, Ernte pulled a potion from his inventory.



　...... a finely decorated glass bottle containing a blue liquid.



　The moment he held it in his hand - strangely enough, the air froze.




''--!

　Immediately after Elnte took out the vial, there was one woman who began to sprint at a terrific speed.

　She was the second master of the righteous R6, Renko.

　She knew more than anyone else the horror of the drug.


　The madness potion - a buff potion concocted by her beloved saint. A fearsome potion that raises its status twenty-fold for ten minutes in exchange for the user's life.


''Kukk......!''

　But even with her high AGI, it was unlikely that she would be able to stop them in time.

　The place she was watching the fight was a distance away from the center of the arena. As a righteous bandit, she didn't want to be imposing, and it turned out to be a bad thing that she was watching the fight in the corner.

　Renko looked around the hall as he ran to see if anyone else noticed.

　However, no one in the hall had noticed that the blue potion was a dangerous one. Neither the dependable Second nor Raspberry Belle had even noticed the presence of the potion yet. Because Elnte had turned his back on the Second, the only one he himself feared, and hid the potion.


''Silvia!　Don't let the old man take that blue pill!

　Renko shouted.
　However, he was drowned out by the cheers of excitement at the birth of the new demon piercing general.


''d*mn it!''

　It's not too late.

　Renko was about to give up, and the next thing he knew.



"Nooo!

　Suddenly, Elnte was blown away.


　A beat later, bwari!　And then, a cloud of dirt smoke rose in a line.

　It's as if it's the mark of something very quick to move.


''-- Your cue should have ended just a moment ago. From now on, until the end of the last game tomorrow, it's our turn ...... not?


　Kongo Rock 'n' Chair.

　Other than Renko and the three others, he was the only man in the hall who knew about the presence of the madness agent.



''Ha, hahahahaha!　Fool!　The medicine is still in my hand!

　Elnte, who had been flung nearly ten meters away by Rock'n'Chair's rush with the Flying Wheel Shield Technique, however, was undaunted and opened the lid of the bottle with a smile.


''It's no problem. If you make this much noise, he (...) will notice you.''


"--Yeah. Mm-hmm.

!


　A moment later, a dark shadow appeared behind Elnte and ruled the entire area with despair.

　Even Rock'n'Chair and even Silvia couldn't help but feel their skin cringe at the sight of her.


'Aha! What a poor creature! That you can't bear the loneliness. Have a drink, my dear.'


　Thread-like eyes and a gentle smile on her face. The words uttered in their natural state easily entered Elnte's ears. But the implications were very hard to understand.

　She had told him, quite succinctly, to die.
　She said it didn't matter to me whether or not I took the crazed drug. Either way, she said, I can kill you and others with one breath.

............

　A thought ran through Elnte's head.

　If Elnte's status as a former demon piercing general was multiplied by twenty, he would be able to make Sylvia and Second take more than one hit, no matter how much. And that if you're lucky, you'll be able to kill them.

　Still, ...... I didn't feel like I could give the woman in front of me, for whatever reason, even a blow.

　Thinking about it, it's the first time I've seen her in a restaurant.
　A person I was so wary of, that I should never antagonize her. That second first test fellow.

　The only thing we can do here is to show remorse and try to get an opening again.


...... Yay!

　The moment Elnte took the bottle away from his mouth to surrender.
　His consciousness disappeared into a deep darkness.