Volume 3 Chapter 25 I Don't Feel Like Winning, But...
"Don't be too persistent, human!"
"Ugh!"
I blocked the sword with my heavy spear, quickly flipping the blade. I immediately deflected, but the edge grazed me.
"You left your torso wide open!"
"Ggh!?"
A spinning kick sent me flying, and I hit the ground hard. Pain shot through my belly, and I felt like throwing up.
"Cough...cough..."
Before I could stand, I threw up. There was blood mixed with the stomach acid.
I wiped my dirty mouth messily and stood up. The pain was intense, but constant healing spells kept me ready to fight.
"Are you still standing? You're stubborn."
"──!"
I wasn't caught off guard. It's just that the demon's movements were too fast. I barely managed to block the demon's sword with the long handle of my spear.
Even though I used the "Enchantment - Weight Increase", I couldn't push back. That's how much energy I've used up. Just standing firm without dropping my spear or bending my knees is all I can do.
"You've held up well, I'll praise you for that. I'm a bit surprised myself."
"Well... thanks."
Instead of glaring back at the praise, the demon looked kind of disappointed.
"But, for a fragile human like you, this is probably your limit."
"........."
My body is already covered in wounds from the demon's sword and magic, soaked in blood. I'm only healing the parts that are critical for movement with my Healing ability; there's no time to tend to the rest.
In addition, due to the recoil from the "Enchantment - Weight Increase", I'm wrecked inside and out. The magic spell that made the spear heavier also hurt me deep inside.
"You know it, don't you? You can't beat me."
The pain was everywhere. In the middle of the fight, I almost blacked out. My vision blurred, I swung my spear wildly, guessing where to strike.
"Knowing that, why do you still fight?"
Since the fight with the demon started, only my first few hits landed. After that, I was just trying to keep my distance. But the demon was relentless, hitting me harder each time.
The difference in our strength was clear to anyone.
Both the demon and I knew it.
"Why resist so much?"
Spear and sword clashed again and again.
Swing, block, thrust, slash.
Swinging my spear relentlessly, my mind blank.
Suddenly, I realize my body soaring through the air once again.
My legs are trembling now, barely able to support me without the aid of my spear.
"Why go to such lengths──"
The demon mutters, sounding as if waking me up from a dream.
"Why go to such lengths...? Why can't I kill you?"
As the words escape their lips, the demon's expression changes, as if they just became aware of what they uttered. Then, with a hint of panic in their eyes, they lung at me, brandishing their sword.
I'm grateful. Honestly, I'm starting to feel the strain even just to keep standing. It's a relief that they're coming closer to me.
I meet their swinging sword with my spear.
"Why won't you fall? Despite being so injured, despite the evident gap in strength, why won't you die?"
As swords clashed, the demon's once calmness faded, replaced by a tense expression.
"I'm not holding back. Look at you, barely standing. Just a little push and it'll be over. So why──"
Continuously parrying the demon's attacks, I gritted my teeth.
Parrying, parrying, parrying, I continue to deflect the demon's sword.
'Why, human! Why won't you yield!'
Fed up, the demon swung down with all their might. I countered head-on with a swift spear maneuver.
In sheer strength, I had the upper hand. The demon's sword was deflected upwards as they retreated to evade further attacks.
──But as the demon backed away, my dark spear grazed their side.
"What...?"
Upon landing, the demon touched their face, opposite to where I had struck. A faint line carved their once pristine cheek, a trickle of blue blood staining it.
"Hahaha... I finally made it... you bastard."
I pointed at the demon's wounds, grinning proudly.
My body was battered. My mind, foggy. And I knew deep down I couldn't win with strength alone. The demon was right about that.
But my heart was always ablaze with determination.
"Could it be... you've grown in this battle?"
"Well, who knows."
It's not some grand tale like Brave-san, where his hidden powers awaken in the heat of battle.
It's just about grasping the 'tricks' how to use Gram a little.
I don't need to have "Enchantment - Weight Increase" on full throttle from start to finish. Just crank it up to the max right before the spear clashes with a sword. That way, the strain on my body lessens.
And so, as the spear became lighter, its tip moved faster. That's why it reached the demon before it could even jump back. But of course, there's no need to tell the enemy that.
'Still, it's only gone from a three-to-seven chance to an even fifty-fifty. You can't be too optimistic.'
Those were Gram's words at the crucial moment. Indeed, things had improved, but it wasn't a complete turnaround. The situation was still tough.
But strangely,
I still don't feel like I can win, not one bit.
Yet,
"Somehow, I don't feel like losing either."
I should have been out of energy, but somehow, my spirit was fuller than ever.
And the reason was clear.
"──How can you fight so hard! What is driving you to do this? Don't tell me, you're trying to be a Brave!?"
"I don't have a fancy reason like that."
Even though I thought I had exceeded my limit, my body continued to move. My joints and muscles screamed with every movement, intense pain coursing through me. Yet, my arms and legs kept going, alive with a vitality I hadn't felt before.
"So why do you fight, then?"
"It's obvious."
There's only one reason I'm here.
Kyunei.
Mikage.
And──Aina.
The woman I love watches my back.
"Then you better not show any embarrassing moves!"
"──!!"
As I roared, the demon's expression tightened.
"Take this!!!"
With a swift strike, I slammed my spear head-on into the slightly slowed blade. Unable to fully deflect the force, the demon stumbled back.
Drawing from the experiences of back-alley brawls, I knew without a doubt that at that moment, the demon hesitated. That's why their blade dulled.
"Tch──"
The demon clicked his tongue strongly, as if denying being pressured. With a sharp exhale, they leaps back, palm outstretched towards me. I guess they're decided close combat's not their thing, opting to cut me away with magic instead.
"Take this!"
But I sprint towards the demon, throwing theblack spear, Gram. Just as they're about to unleash their wind blades, the demon hastily dodges, thrown off balance. No damage this time, but it's definitely rattled.
Seizing the opportunity, I draw my big hatchet from its sheath and swing at the demon.
"Gah── Not yet, human!"
Desperate, the demon regains their footing with a fierce glare, meeting my approaching big hatchet with their sword.
──Clang! Crack!
And then, something completely unexpected happens.
As the sword clashed with the big hatchet, a high-pitched sound echoed through the air, and the hatchet crumbled into pieces. The collision between the demon and me was so intense that the thick blade of the hatchet couldn't withstand it.
"Hah, seems like you've rushed in too quickly."
The demon said with a smirk, but before they could finish their sentence, the mocking expression on their face froze. Their wide eyes fixated on my hand.
Instead of the shattered big hatchet, what reflected in their gaze was the dagger I had just acquired.
I hadn't anticipated the big hatchet breaking. How could I? But as the hatchet shattered, almost reflexively, I released the handle and drew out the dagger I had tucked away in my belt.
It was the dagger the old blacksmith had given me.
"Whoosh!"
It was nowhere near as beautiful as Mikage's trajectory. Yet, it was quicker than the demon's blade swung anew. My dagger slashed across the demon's face at a sharp angle.
"Aaargh!!"
It was a shallow cut. But the fact it was cut and the pain, far from gentle, made the demon clutch their face and scream, stumbling backward.
"Gram, now!"
'I've got it!'
I put the dagger back and pulled Gram closer to me.
In my mind, I saw that one powerful strike.
The flash that took down the Kobold King.
The moment I put everything I had into it.
I released the biggest hit, filled with timing, accuracy, and more than anything, all my fighting spirit.
"Ggh──"
At the last second, the demon used their sword as a shield, sliding it between the spear and theirselves. Their skill was truly impressive.
But that was the limit.
"""Break it throughhh!!""
The roar of both me and Gram overlapped, everything converging at the tip of the black spear.
"──Gggghhhhaaa!?"
The demon's sword, meeting the point where the black spear was caught, shattered into pieces, their body blown away as if struck by a giant's fist.
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