The beast tamer exiled from the hero’s party and the cat eared girl from the strongest race meet
“Unyan, first—!”
“I’m first!”
“That was my line!?”
The first to leap forward was Tania.
The main dish—Altera—would be left to Rain.
As for the surrounding small fry, leave them to her.
As if saying that, she charged straight at several demons.
Her opponents were demons.
Their exact strength was unclear, but there was no doubt they were formidable foes.
They might not be on Altera’s level, but each one was at least on par with the demons that had appeared in Horizon City… perhaps even stronger.
And there were several of them.
Normally speaking, charging in without thinking would be suicidal.
You were supposed to coordinate with your allies and fight carefully.
You were supposed to—but…
Tania couldn’t hold herself back.
Rain and Yuki were battered and beaten.
Her precious master had been hurt.
Rage welled up inside her.
Her heart burned.
That heat granted her a power she had never felt before.
“Hmph, a dragonkin, is it? But even so, you are no match for me.”
A single demon stood in Tania’s path.
Like Altera’s flames, he was a tall demon with red hair.
“I am the one who commands Lady Altera’s personal guard! My name is—guuh!?”
“You’re so noisy! Don’t bother announcing your name on the battlefield!”
As the demon dutifully tried to introduce himself, Tania’s iron fist sent him flying.
He bounced across the ground again and again.
Chasing after him, Tania grabbed the demon by the chest and slammed him straight into the earth.
She pinned him down, restraining his movements with one hand.
With the other, she unleashed a barrage of fist-bullets, taking the mount and raining down a storm of blows.
“Guuh…!? Me, of all people—the captain of the personal guard—losing like this…!!!”
“You’re annoying… just go to sleep already!!!”
With a roaring punch, she drove her fist into him.
Then came a dragon breath fired at point-blank range.
A shock powerful enough to shake the ground erupted, and light exploded outward.
Tania stood there as if nothing had happened…
At her feet lay the demon, beaten to a pulp and unconscious.
“Hmph.”
She snorted softly, as if she’d just done something trivial.
“Unya… somehow, Tania is kind of scary.”
“Did Kanade do something?”
“Why do you always jump to that conclusion, Rifa!?”
“Just a feeling?”
“Hey, you two over there!”
“Meow!?”
“!?”
When Tania snapped at them sharply, Kanade and Rifa immediately stood at attention and saluted.
“Stop chatting about nonsense and fight the enemy!”
“R-right.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Yes… fight the enemy.”
Tania’s expression was somehow complicated.
After crossing to the western continent and dealing with demons firsthand,
she had begun to question the idea that demons = evil.
Just like humans, perhaps there were many kinds of demons.
She had started thinking that way, but…
Altera was different.
She could say with certainty that there was no way they could ever understand each other.
Tania wasn’t an ally of humanity—she was an ally of Rain.
She didn’t have much attachment to humans, and to be honest, she didn’t really care.
But even so.
Even so, what had been done was too cruel.
Tearing apart the bond between young sisters.
Toying not only with their lives, but even with their souls.
Such acts could never be forgiven.
Just like Rain, Tania was burning with fury.
The fangs of an enraged dragon would shatter everything.
“I don’t really know why you’re so angry… but Tania, I’m here too!”
“Yeah, we’re here. You can go wild.”
“Mm, leave your back to us.”
Tania grinned fearlessly.
Because of her personality, she would never say it out loud…
but just like Rain, Tania trusted her companions.
Kanade was carefree and a bit reckless, but…
her power was outstanding.
She also had great combat instincts—if you entrusted your back to her, she would fulfill her role no matter the situation.
Rifa looked absentminded, and at first glance it was hard to tell what she was thinking, but…
once a fight started, she moved like a completely different person.
Tricky, ever-changing attacks using blood.
On top of that, familiar summoning.
She was the type who could literally do anything—an incredibly reliable ally.
Fighting alongside those two gave her great confidence.
Even if the enemy was a horde of demons.
Even if copies of the Four Heavenly Kings were lined up before them.
She didn’t feel even the slightest hint of defeat.
“Fufun.”
Right now, I’m invincible.
Tania muttered that to herself.
“Meow?”
“What is it, delusional cat?”
“That’s another new title!? And besides, isn’t delusion Sora’s specialty?”
“Well… maybe that’s true.”
“Anyway—hey, Tania, are you in a good mood?”
“…Maybe.”
“You looked really grumpy earlier, but now you seem cheerful… meow?”
Kanade tilted her head in confusion, but of course, Tania had no intention of explaining.
If she didn’t understand, she could keep thinking about it forever.
Besides, there was no way she’d say her true feelings—they were too embarrassing.
“Yep yep, Tania is a tsundere.”
“Rifa?”
“But I think it’s good to be honest once in a while.”
“……”
Does this girl understand everything…?
Tania let a bead of sweat trickle down, but…
for now, she decided she hadn’t seen or heard anything.
This was an important battle, and letting her emotions be shaken wouldn’t do.
That was how she convinced herself.
“Alright then… let’s go!”
“Yeah!”
“Oooh!”
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