The Spearmaster and the Black Cat Chapter 94.1

“Will you let me have some booze?”

“Ayes, one drink, 3 copper coins.”

The master places the alcohol on top of the counter.
Receiving the change after giving him one large copper coin, I drank the alcohol.
The booze is cheap. It was disgusting beer.
It makes me want to frown since it’s bitter and has no carbonic acid either, but I ask the master about the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】 without letting it show on my face too much.

“Master, is there anything you know about the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】?” (Shuuya)

“The 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】, eh? I dun’ know nothing but it bein’ filled with swarms of demons.”

Even if you tell me something that obvious…

“Only that?” (Shuuya)

“Yeah, however, even though ya ain’t a knight of the kingdom, asking such stuff, you a newcomer adventurer, ain’t ya?”

“Right.” (Shuuya)

“In that case ya gotta go to the fortress 【Sole】 located at the eastern front. Dare-devilish adventurers gather over there. Ya will be able to get plenty of information and there’s probably an abundance of demon extermination jobs available.”

The master explained while wiping a wooden goblet with a cloth.

“Hee, I see. Thanks.” (Shuuya)

Accordingly I wrap it up here.
Sole Fortress, eh?
Leaving a bit of the nasty booze, I left the bar.
Coming out of the alley with its many drunkards, I enter the main street.
As expected, unlike during the day, it’s quiet now.
The shops located on both sides of the street are closed.
It’s inevitable for this time of the day, I suppose?
If there was a magic tool-like shop, I wanted to search for books about water magic.
Though I guess it’s not necessary at the moment since Helme is with me?
However, sooner or later I will go to a professional store, I think.
As I walk along the street, the bright sunlight of the morning glow dyed the scenery.
While feeling a refreshing wind on my cheeks, I pass the tidy street that continues with a carefully laid-out stone pavement.
And then I arrive at the east gate.
Since the east gate was closed, I kindly asked the guard at the station and had him open the gate.

“You a travelling adventurer? Do your best and defeat lots of demons at the front-line fortress.”

For some reason the soldier encouraged me.
It seems there are many adventurers who head to the fortress.
After returning a suitable smile to the soldier, I pass through the pulled-up east gate and go outside the city.
The earthen road supposedly leading to the eastern front-line vanished into a forest.
It’s not that different to the road to the holy city I travelled together with the princess.
Basically the geographical topography around here is a forest adjoining to the 【Great Forest of Demonic Haunts】?
I walk along the road while harbouring such an impression.

『Your Excellency, there’s an abundance of vegetation, isn’t there? I’d like to come outside.』 (Helme)

『Okay, that’s fine with me.』 (Shuuya)

The Crystal Spirit of Everlasting Darkness Helme is released in a spiral from my left eye.
She materializes on the ground turning into a beautiful woman’s body and runs up to the flowers blooming along roadside. She stretches out her arms, which have blue, leafy waves on their

skin, towards the pretty flowers.
Water sprinkled from her fingertip in trickles like a water pistol.
Adopting a peculiar posegradually standing up, the appearance of Helme admiring the flowers is truly lovely.
I think it’s nice to advance in a laid-back manner while marvelling at her like this?
The way of advancing through the sky or along the trees is faster, but this time I will pass.
Currently I want to savour the travelling feeling as it’s not the usual back alley walk.
It will be fine if I get rid of demons once they appear.
While enjoying a stroll with the Helme in such an idle mood, we walk the road towards the east.
At the time when I pondered whether I should have a look ahead from above once after calling back Helme since she lost interest in watching the flowers.
I felt magic source responses closing in from behind.

“Your Excellency, something’s approaching from behind.” (Helme)

I know. Helme seems to have realized it as well.
Their speed of coming this way is fast, isn’t it?
Looking back, I wonder whether it’s a carriage heading toward the fortress?
Pondering that, I carefreely take a look…
The ones who appeared behind me were mounted temple knights wearing yellow crosses on their chests.
Them, huh?
Did they maybe expressly chase after me?
A knight, who’s wearing a priest’s robe and galloping at the lead, stopped in front of me.
He is carrying a silver plate with a crystal attached in his hand.
That crystal was flashing redly.

“You were here after all! The recently detected reaction matches the reaction we pursued! Even the magic tool of black curse Grasselya shows a strong reaction.”

“In the end it was correct to chase after it.”

There’s Claude who had ordered my arrest in the royal palace.

“It’s the people who insulted His Excellency. Here I will—” (Helme)

“Helme observe. I have a little idea.” (Shuuya)

“Ha!” (Helme)

Helme kneeled down on one knee, bowed her head, stood up swiftly and took some distance.

“Captain Claude, this guy is indeed…”

“Yeah, Seni Almayer, be careful. I suspect him to be a demon of the highest rank. It’s also possible that he manipulated the soldiers of the 【Holy Kingdom】.

What’s this about, to manipulate them… involuntarily I smile bitterly.
It’s also possible to escape by quickly firing a chain towards the trees located in the vicinity here.
But I decide to talk directly to them with my fists for a bit.
At any rate…
What’s that red-flashing silver plate held by one of the knights?
Though I guess it’s a magic tool, going by its name.

“Helme, do you know that?” (Shuuya)

I asked Helme who’s at the edge of the road.

“I feel mana from it. It’s a mysterious tool.” (Helme)

*falls over*

“That’s obvious.” (Shuuya)

“I’m sorry.” (Helme)

“Don’t mind it.” (Shuuya)

That blinking seems to be a reaction towards Helme and me.
Is the new race Light Demon Lucival treated as demon* as well? (T/N: demon here as in 魔族 (mazoku) aka demon race)
Is it reacting to the powerful darkness attribute I possess?
While I’m staring at the magic tool and thinking about such questions, the yellow-crossed knights dismount their horses.
They started to encircle my vicinity centring around their leader Claude.
There are eight knights in total wearing yellow-crossed clothes.
As it was merely three when they were

were at the audience hall, they apparently gathered their comrades.
I confirm with Magic Observation Sight.
All of them manipulated mana in their bodies.
The knights’ equipment are yellow-crossed priest robes worn over chain mail, longswords, round bucklers and maces.
By conjecture the combat jobs are around the types of magic heavy knight, monk and armed priest?
That might be the case since they introduced themselves as temple knights?
I guess they use light magic after all?

“Don’t let him escape! Finish that man before he can, he’s a demon!” (Claude)

“Keep surrounding him!”

They seem to be brimming with the will to kill me.

“Your Excellency—” (Helme)

Helme created a water ball in her right hand.

“Helme, be patient.” (Shuuya)

“Yes…” (Helme)

Helme bows, transforms her lower body into liquid and floats in mid air.

“Rollo, hide yourself. I will deal with them. You don’t have to help me.” (Shuuya)

“Nya.” (Rollo)

Rollo jumps off my shoulder and leaves towards the back.
It looks like the knights don’t mind Rollo leaving either.
They shortened the distance, the fighting* distance, by shuffling. (T/N: 間合い (maai) … basically the distance/range between martial artists)
Let’s try talking with them once as I have nothing to lose anyway?

“I’ve told you several times, but I’m no demon. Please don’t misunderstand.” (Shuuya)

“There’s no use in arguing—”

Uhe, he slashed at me.
All of a sudden when I started a conversation?
I swiftly take my left and right hand out of the overcoat and switch over to a stance of interception.
I summon the Magic Halberd in my right hand. While dodging the sword I slashed diagonally from the shoulder by turning my body to the left side with a half rotation and made him eat the spear butt on the left side of his stomach as counter.

“Gueeh.”

The slashing knight groans and falls to the ground with an expression full of anguish.
I immediately took some distance by stepping back.
While keeping up my fighting distance, I set up the Magic Halberd in a seigan stance.
It was a counter, but I kindly took it easy on him so that he doesn’t die.
As I’m thinking about that, knights holding maces and longswords come attacking from the left and right direction next.
I make free use of Gyration by lightly using the tip of my toes as pivot centre to turn once.
I avoid them. I take the side of the knight using a mace while moving in order to avoid being surrounded. I slowly swing the Magic Halberd diagonally downwards.
I lightly cut the knight’s shin.

“— Uaaah!”

The knight topples over while blood sprays from his foot.
Do I pursue the fallen knight a bit more—!? There, the other knights extended the blades of their weapons from my front and back trying to pincer attack me.
In reverse, I will use that against them.
Dodging a sword thrust from the front by tilting my head slightly, I performed a light half rotation using the balls of my feet as if I had eyes at the back of my head and shifted into dodging motions.
The longsword, which was thrust out from behind me, painfully grazes the side of my ear.
While evading with the bare minimum distance, I got to the back of the knight using that longsword.
I consciously decide to twist the joint of his arm which he stretched out straight

out straight ahead.

“Hiiyaaaa.”

Because of having his deformed arm entangled by the magic spear, he raised a scream not befitting a knight and dropped his longsword to the ground.
I seize the back of the knight who had his joint immobilized.

“It’s a shame, isn’t it? My rotational evasion has penetrated your position.” (Shuuya)

While addressing the knight who’s screaming from behind I put strength into my arms with Magic Combat Steps, forcibly pushed him by pressing my hands against him, and made him collide with the knight who came assaulting from the front.

“— Guahh.”

“Ouch.”

The knights, who had their heads crash into each other, stagger as if seeing stars and collapse.
At that moment half of the knights have fallen into a state of being incapable of fighting.
Their high-spirited vigour from the beginning has vanished.
Each of them revealed expressions filled with panic and they didn’t close the distance anymore.
Well, I guess it’s my turn then?
I slowly close the fighting distance with the way of walking initiated by the Achilles style.

“Wh-What’s that? This guy’s movements are far too strange and fast. You guys, Seni, stop this spear user’s movements. I will stop him with high-ranking light magic.” (Claude)

“— Yes!”

“Got it!”

“Let’s go.”

Three of the instructed knights raise battle cries at the same time.

“Oh, Light God Lulodis, in response to my mana—” (Claude)

Having taken some distance, Claude began to cast.
The straight-ahead-like movements of the knights raising battle cries are easy to understand.
They attack me while freely launching series of blows with their longswords and maces.
As I dodge the vertically-lowered mace and evade the longswords’ sweeping strokes, I counter the assaulting knights while going easy on them so that they won’t die.
I gave them counter-kicks to their solar plexus and against their feet as presents.
At the time when all the knights went down to the floor,

“Representing the beam of light which serves as light of lurid judgement, materialize what will become the punishing spear of light—” (Claude)

Claude finished casting in the rear.
It’s a text that’s easy to remember.

“《Light Spear of PunishmentShining Lance》!” (Claude)

Claude creates a thick light spear while revealing a triumphant and broadly grinning face.
He released the spell.
The thick light spear heads towards me as ray in a straight line as if it’s a flash of lightning.

“Your Excellency! As a high-ranking spell rank—” (Helme)

In accordance with Helme’s warning— phheew, it’s fast.
I will move to dodge it— geh, it pursues!?
Moreover, when I tried to hit the approaching light spear with the red axe blade of the Magic Halberd, it smoothly evaded collision with the magic spear and the light spear followed my right arm which has no armour.
A shield with , no, it won’t be in time!
The light spear clashes against my swinging arm.
— O-Oouchh, ouch! The head of the light spear dug into my arm and scattered blood.
However, it only hurts at the beginning.
While causing a sound similar to the *chyupon* when pudding stands up after being pressed down, the light spear was absorbed below the right hand’s wrist.

“— Eh?”

“Huh?”

There’s no impact on my right hand anymore. It hasn’t pierced my arm?
The spirit Helme reacts with surprise as well.
※Extra Skill: Confirmation of Multi-Chain※
※Extra Skill: Conditions for derivation skill of Granted Seal of Light cleared※
※Extra Light cleared※
※Extra Skill: Conditions for derivation skill of Chain Factor cleared※
※Piing※ skill acquired※
Oh, lucky~, got a skill.
Aah, which reminds me, my race had invalidation and absorption of light and darkness, didn’t it?

“Amazing. It got absorbed!” (Helme)

Helme was delighted and caused sheets of spray to be created from her waving and trembling dark bluish, leafy skin.

“An Extreme class spell of light v-vanished!? F-For r-reeeall? Aaaaahh, n-no way, Holy King…. -shama…” (Claude)

Claude was apparently quite shaken. His mouth trembled with an “awawawa” and white mucus is sticking to its edges.
Is this facial cyanosis and consternation?

“Well, that’s how it is. I’m no demon. I’d like you to understand with this.” (Shuuya)

While erasing the magic spear, I approach the blue-eyed Claude-kun.

“Hiiyaaaaaa, I, I, I am, aah, pleash, my goodness, doon’t coome o-o-o-oover h-here. Pleash f-f-fooorgive mee.” (Claude)

It seems Claude’s mind went completely haywire.
Though it’s an exaggeration to say that his hair has grown grey and long out of worry, he retreats timidly while showing a pale expression as if his blonde hair has changed into white hair.
I clench my right hand into a fist similar to a stone.

“That’s no good. I won’t be able to settle down unless I give you one good punch. With that said— I will break that illusion of yours*— or rather, I will crush it!!” (Shuuya) (T/N: Probably a reference to Touma from Toaru Majutsu no Index)

Tightening my flank and twisting my waist, I launch my right arm in front— divine punishment!
His ikemen face received my right straight Galactic Magnum.

“Bubuh—” (Claude)

His nose is broken by my normal fist and his body makes one revolution.
Claude fainted with his body twitching and spasming while kissing the ground.
I think he will be alright since I didn’t clad myself with magic combat style.
Given that I went easy on him… he shouldn’t have died.
With this all knights became incapable of fighting.

“*gasp* C-Captain… everyone was defeated…?”

The knight with the injured foot looks at the current situation while being out of breath as he endures the pain of his injury.
This person might die if left alone like this. In a hurry I directly sprinkled a potion over his wound.
The wound heals.

“Your Excellency, you are kind… even though it’s fine to thrust the jar into his ass…” (Helme)

I pay no attention to Helme’s scary remark in a manner of Hoichi the Earless*, no, with utter indifference. (T/N: Hoichi the Earless is the name of a tale and title character in an adaptation of Japanese mythology. I think the meaning here is clear though)

“… Thank you very much.”

The saved yellow-crossed knight showed an uneasy expression, but still thanked me.
I don’t really care if I’m labelled as demon by these guys, but did the misunderstanding get resolved, I wonder?
However, since I more or less have the blood of demons in me as Light Demon Lucival, I understand the reason for these guys chasing me.

“… No, I just did what is to be expected. However, please don’t spout such screwed-up stuff such as me being a demon anymore, okay? Please tell that captain-san as well. After all I saved your life.” (Shuuya)

I speak with a “friendly” smile.

“Y-Yes! Your kind words are wasted on me… Saint-sama…”

—————————————- End of Part 1 ———————————————–

Chapter end