The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
"Ahaha, ahahahahaha! Kyahahahahaha!!!"
A shrill, almost hysterical laughter echoed through the air.
"Yes, that’s it, that’s the one! That’s the face I wanted to see! Ahaha, no way, this is too funny! I’m seriously going to die laughing, ahahahaha!"
"You… what did you do to Ruie!?"
"She became my seedbed."
"Seedbed…?"
"Do you know how we demons reproduce?"
That was information I didn’t have.
Given our hostility toward them, there was still little known about the demons.
"There are two methods. One, the same as other creatures — reproduction. Though honestly, that’s pretty difficult for us. We can mate with anything, technically, but for some reason, we demons rarely conceive. So we have to try again and again and again. The easiest way? Kidnapping humans, of course. And then, we make them our hosts."
"You…! That’s why you were kidnapping people from the city!?"
"Half right. Hmm, maybe one-third right is more accurate? Sure, using them as hosts is one thing, but there’s also the part where we extract their souls. That’s something Ree— oops, almost said too much there."
What was that?
What did she almost say?
Could it be… Reez?
If that’s the case, then Reez is the one plotting to extract souls?
Wait — does that mean Reez is here too?
I had wanted to see her face again if possible, but…
In this situation, I could really do without another enemy.
"And the final purpose is to make them seedbeds. To take a human’s body and soul, and from that, a new demon is born… or perhaps, reborn. That’s the kind of experiment we’re running right now."
It was an experiment so grotesque that it made me sick to my stomach.
Even as I glared daggers at her, Altera only smiled wider, clearly enjoying my reaction.
"It’s still in the experimental stage, so, you know, there are a few bugs. That one doesn’t even have consciousness, I think."
“That one” must be referring to Gigabrand.
"But… its power is the same as before — no, even greater, maybe?"
"What!?"
"Show me how hard you can fight, okay?"
"ROOOOOOAAAAARRRR!!!"
Gigabrand roared.
Its eyes glowed red as it charged straight toward me.
"Tch… Aegis!!"
I deployed both of my shields, bracing myself to meet the charge head-on.
Gigabrand was a demon specialized in raw strength.
It possessed no special abilities and couldn’t use magic.
In exchange, its physical abilities surpassed even the feline spirits.
Its body was as hard as steel, its senses razor-sharp — a being that could be described as a golem pushed far beyond its limits.
Taking on such a monster in a contest of strength was sheer madness.
But if I dodged carelessly, everyone else would be caught in the attack.
"Ghh— Uuuurgh!?"
"GRRAAAAAAAA!!"
Damn it… this thing really has powered up!
It’s way faster and stronger than when we fought before!
"Gravity Manipulation!"
After confirming everyone had escaped the blast zone, I shifted Gigabrand’s gravity sideways.
The massive body tilted right and slammed into the wall of the ruins.
That was close…
But this wasn’t over.
No — it was only beginning.
"I could just throw more failures at you if I only wanted data, but that’d be boring, wouldn’t it? I want you guys to fall deeper… deeper into despair."
Altera made a subtle signal with her eyes.
Ten demons immediately assumed battle positions.
It looked like Altera herself was just going to watch this time…
Even without reason, the strengthened Gigabrand was still a major threat.
And now ten more demons on top of that.
We were badly outnumbered — and I had to protect Yunia and Ani, too.
This was…
"Heh, this is what they call a hopeless situation, huh?"
Gray was sweating profusely.
I couldn’t blame him for feeling that way.
But he was wrong. Too quick to despair.
"It’s fine."
"What?"
"I just realized… we’ve got reinforcements."
"“Dragoon Howling!!!”
"What!?"
A dragon’s phantom form appeared, and its furious aura erupted in a devastating blast.
Two of the demons were engulfed and slammed into the wall.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, they couldn’t even defend themselves.
It wasn’t enough to finish them off — but judging by their struggle to stand, they’d taken serious damage.
And then—
"Come forth, flames from another world!"
A hole opened in the air, and from it burst forth roaring fire.
Several fireballs, each as large as a person, flew toward Gigabrand and slammed into it.
A thunderous GOGAAHH! echoed, and crimson flames engulfed Gigabrand.
The massive creature staggered, writhing in agony from the scorching heat.
"Rain, sorry to keep you waiting, nano da!"
"I attacked on reflex… I hope that’s all right?"
"Sora, Luna! Perfect timing!"
"Oh my, nothing for me?"
"Of course, I’m grateful to you too, Iris. You really showed up at just the right moment."
Sora, Luna, and Iris had arrived as reinforcements.
Truly dependable allies.
With them here, we just might be able to turn this around.
"What about the people who were captured?"
"No worries, nano da. We teleported them somewhere safe—into the thicket near where we landed."
"It took a little time since it was far, but…"
"We had a bad feeling, so we hurried back," Iris added with a graceful nod.
"I see."
In that case, things might actually work out.
A glimmer of hope appeared.
"Lord Rain, may I ask… what exactly is happening here? Unless my memory fails me, that creature is one of the Four Heavenly Kings, isn’t it?"
"…I’ll explain everything later. For now, we need to survive this crisis."
"Understood."
Iris glanced briefly toward Yunia and Ani.
"If children are involved, this will be difficult. Let’s prioritize retreat."
"Quick thinking — I appreciate it."
"Fufu, Lord Rain, I am yours, after all."
I wish she wouldn’t say things that could so easily be misunderstood…
"Let’s go!"
"““Yeah!!!”””
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