Volume 1 Chapter 29 The First Step Of A Hero
I swung Gram── the black spear── without thinking, but...
"Hngh...!?"
As soon as I readied the spear again, a strong 'pain' surged through both of my arms.
The wounds that had been torn apart by the Kobold King had somehow completely healed. But apart from that, a deep-seated pain echoed through my arms.
I struggled desperately to keep from dropping the spear, but it felt like an 'enormous weight' was pressing down on both of my arms.
"Looks like I pushed myself a little too hard all of a sudden."
"Hey, this damn spear, is this pain your fault──"
"Whoa there. Don't get it twisted. The pain my partner is feeling right now is certainly caused by me, but it ultimately comes down to your lack of skill, partner."
"Is that so?"
As I furrowed my brow, I heard the sound of someone stepping forward from the front before I could say anything more.
The Kobold King, who was blown away, had an angry expression and stared at us while growling.
His right arm was dyed bright red from around the elbow to the fingertips and hung limply towards the ground. It looked just like my left arm a few seconds ago.
"Let me explain quickly because the situation is what it is. My current ability is 'manipulation of mass'."
"Huh?"
"I've become about the weight of two humans right now. If you swing that with all your strength, your arm would get messed up. Well, you're lucky that it only hurts a bit. Probably because the contract has broken through your physical 'limit' and your natural arm strength was greater than I expected, partner."
I can't keep up with this understanding!!
"We'll get to questions later. According to my estimation, you can handle my weight that can be effective against that huge guy... up to three times, partner"
"... What happens if it goes beyond three times?"
"If it goes beyond that, your body won't be able to withstand my weight, partner."
There were various doubts, but I swallowed them all up.
I once again faced the Kobold King, and a smirk appeared at the corner of my mouth.
What I had to do now was clear.
So there was no need to hesitate.
"Let's go, Gram! We'll knock that giant down!"
"Yeah!"
As Gram and I roared, the Kobold King roared at the same time.
We clashed our determination head-on and simultaneously kicked the ground.
With each step, an immense burden pressed down on my legs. If I eased off even a bit, it felt like I would crumble.
"You've got to show some real guts here!"
"Don't just say it's easy! Haaaah!"
I let out a battle cry and raised the black spear.
The Kobold King's left arm and my black spear──both weapons were swung down.
──Rrrroooarrrrr!!
My black spear deeply sliced through the Kobold King's left arm from the tip to the elbow, breaking it in two down to the bone, and the tip pierced into the ground. The monster's screams echoed through the area.
──Creak, creak, crack
"──!?"
Even I wasn't unscathed. I could hear the cries of my bones and muscles, not just from my arm, but from my entire body. The pain was so intense that tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.
But it was too early to start complaining.
The Kobold King, whose fur was now stained red with its own blood, swung its crushed right arm at me. The arm that I thought I had disabled.
"──Ughhhhh!!"
I forcefully pulled the spearhead embedded in the ground, using the recoil to swing the black spear upwards, as if scooping it from below.
I felt the sensation of flesh and bone being severed in the palm of my hand, and as it disappeared, I saw the severed arm of the Kobold King flying at the edge of my field of vision.
──Creak, creak, crack
The pain was unbearable, as if my whole body was being torn apart. Without a doubt, some of my bones were broken or cracked. The intense pain made me feel like I was losing consciousness.
"This ain't over yet, partner!!"
While supporting my swaying body with the black spear, I planted my feet on the ground.
As Gram said, nothing has ended yet.
In my flickering vision filled with pain, the Kobold King was still standing.
The left arm is vertically torn, and the right arm doesn't even have a forearm. Yet, those eyes that look at me are bloodshot, and their spirit has not weakened in the slightest.
Even without both arms, it still has one final weapon.
"Partner, you understand, right?"
I understand, Gram.
I no longer have the strength to move properly.
I can only make one swing at most.
──Still, I will.
I glance sideways at my back.
Silver Flash is looking at me with a blank expression. I couldn't tell what she is thinking from that expression.
I look at her like that, with the corner of my mouth raised.
The Kobold King, with its last remaining weapon── its fangs bared, charges fiercely towards me.
I'm barely able to summon the strength to take another step. It's a relief that it's getting closer to me.
I crouched down with my spear ready.
My whole body is screaming, but I have to endure a little bit.
──The girl is watching.
I can't give up here! I have to be strong!!
"Listen carefully, partner."
As the giant approaches, Gram's voice reaches my ears.
"The important things are timing,──"
I bend and dodge the jaw coming to crush my head.
"Accuracy and──"
The tip of the black spear takes aim at the Kobold King's left chest.
──And then!
""Spiritttttttt!!""
My shout and Gram's shout merge as we unleash the final blow.
Thuddd!!
I put all my strength into the last powerful thrust, blowing away the Kobold King's left chest and heart along with the surrounding flesh.
Having lost the most vital organ as a living being, the Kobold King, after a slight twitch, slowly collapsed to the ground.
I tried to avoid getting crushed by the giant body, but I could only hold on for so long. My strength left me, and I felt like I was about to collapse.
"Hey, partner, are you okay?"
"Not... yet."
"Hey, don't be reckless!"
I whipped my body to make it stand up and resist the urge to scream.
The one I just took down was just the 'leader' of the pack.
I'm still right in the middle of the Kobold's siege. They're not moving right now because the shock of their leader being defeated is causing them to hesitate.
If I take too long, they'll remember their hunger and come at me like mad again.
"Partner, you may look okay on the outside, but inside, you're falling apart!"
"Even so, if we end up as 'dog food' here, it'll just be a joke in the end."
"Just go to sleep! You've already 'made it in time'!"
Before I could finish my sentence──
From beyond the Kobold's siege, the cries of monsters and the shouts of humans echoed.
"The 'good guys' always show up late in the day! Well, the big moment got messed up because it got taken by you, partner, but whatever! Hahaha!
Could it be that the "reinforcements" have arrived?
Soon, one part of the encirclement was broken through as if it was being pushed away.
Someone appeared wearing unfamiliar armor and a familiar face.
"Whoa, it's you!"
"Wha-why are you here!?"
──Brave Relix.
It was the most fitting person to be present in this situation.
Behind him, numerous royal soldiers had begun to sweep through the kobolds.
When they looked at Silver Flash, one of the royal soldiers had already rushed to her and was touching her leg. The soldier's hand was glowing, so it was probably casting healing magic.
It seems like everything's okay now.
It felt like the tension had suddenly snapped, and my consciousness drifted away rapidly.
Finally, I noticed that Silver Flash's face looked like she was about to burst into tears, but that's when I lost consciousness.
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