TMBIPYMEN Chapter 30

'What in the—!'

Yustar's brow furrowed. The demon's speed was staggering. He'd known, but knowing and experiencing the collision firsthand occupied different dimensions entirely.

This bulk, this velocity. Yustar's thoughts raced. Still, he had room to spare.

He yanked with full strength on the sword buried in the creature's hard palate. Its metallic-gleaming tooth broke with a crack! Thick, blackish blood sprayed.

"Lord Yustar! Be careful!"

The demon shrieked and shook its head. Thud, thud, thud. The ground trembled as the massive body retreated rapidly. While it screamed in pain, Yustar also shook blood from his blade and created distance.

A low growling sound emerged. Unlike any beast's cry—an ominous sound only a creature not of this world could produce.

Yustar watched the spines running in a straight line down the demon's back bristle even more rigidly. Simultaneously, the creature lowered its body and pressed its belly flat against the ground.

"Be careful! It charges suddenly. The spines carry poison!"

The members held position with swords and bows raised, tension coiled tight. Yustar likewise widened his field of vision and tensed every muscle. He felt each nerve sharpen to sensitivity, goosebumps rising at his nape.

—Kaaaaaak—!

With an ear-piercing shriek, the demon charged. Screech. No arrow from the finest archer, no bullet from the fastest repeating gun could match such speed.

Yustar leaped upward in an instant. Simultaneously, the boulder behind him shattered into powder. Crash.

—Kik, kaaak!

"You must stay away from the river!"

Yustar listened to the member's voice while confirming his position. When he carefully stepped back, a clear splash sounded. His heightened senses magnified it... Cold sweat trickled down his spine. It felt freezing.

"Lord Yustar! Don't go near the river!"

Then came a scream—ah! He saw a member's body fly through the air, unable to dodge the demon's sweeping tail.

It's excited. Yustar maintained his standoff with the creature, his manner composed.

The moment he drew closer to the river, it began thrashing wildly in sudden frenzy, preparing to move like lightning once more. However, it seemed to recognize precisely that Yustar's single sword swing had dealt damage.

'The sink must be nearby...'

Yustar glanced toward the river. He could feel the sink's ominous energy—that sensation of life being drained away.

But the sink must lie in deep water. Yet he stood where the current didn't even reach his ankles... and still he felt the sink. Its power was formidable indeed.

「Yustar, watch out!」

Laila's voice came suddenly through the communication device. He nearly lost his balance in surprise. Only then did he notice the ring on his hand.

'Damn, I forgot about the communicator. It's still connected only to Laila. No wonder...'

Olga was probably squawking furiously into Yustar's unresponsive device. Though the communicator could theoretically connect unlimited people, he'd set it to link only with Laila when he gave her the ring.

Well, no matter. Yustar moistened his dry lips with his tongue and moved his head slightly. The demon still hadn't approached—only growling.

"Laila. Can you hear me?"

「Yes, I hear you. Be careful. Right now...」

"How's your seat? Can you see well?"

Laila didn't answer for a moment. Yustar could picture her bewildered expression vividly. Even in this tense situation demanding full alertness, imagining those round red eyes nearly made him smile.

「...Yes, I can see very well. Now isn't the time for...」

"Good. Now listen carefully. I'm going to drive it away from the river. Where would be best? Viewing from high ground should be much better."

Laila quickly surveyed her surroundings. Wind blew, and her body swayed. Whoosh. She smelled something briny...

Away from the river meant only forest. But would entering the forest slow that demon's speed? More likely, the obstacles would endanger Yustar and the members—as obvious as daylight.

Laila said, "Yustar, what about drawing it toward the river instead?"

Static crackled briefly through the communicator before Yustar's voice returned.

「That's absurd. It's far faster in the river. If you get caught up, it's over.」

Laila nodded as if Yustar stood before her eyes.

"I know! I know that. But... its movements look strange. Every time it turns toward the river, its balance shifts slightly. Even now... I don't know how it looks from down there, but from above I can see clearly. Its body balance tilts toward the river."

「An injury, perhaps?」

"I don't think so. It's more like... preparing to dive into the river at any moment."

Yustar glared at the demon approaching with another shriek, adjusting his grip on the sword hilt. Toward the river... No, too dangerous. But if Laila spoke truth?

He moved first to ground away from the water. Crunch, crunch. Gravel rattled. Instantly, the demon's body swayed slightly in the opposite direction. The change was minute, but perfectly clear to Yustar's eyes.

Like leaning into a sharp turn. Yustar understood. A body moving straight at high speed would naturally tilt when suddenly meeting a curved path.

Even curves too subtle for the eye detected the shift... That meant the demon kept its attention constantly focused on the river.

'Is it truly obsessed with the sink? They said it seemed to be guarding it. But why...'

Then a member holding the barricade shouted.

"Lord Yustar! Communication from the Director! She says drive it in immediately!"

That couldn't be all she said. Yustar smiled slightly. Olga had probably cursed quite colorfully.

Yustar said, "Laila, you need to watch for the moment the demon's balance tilts most severely. The difference is hard to detect from here. Can you do it?"

Strong wind gusted. Whoosh. Laila crouched low and spoke into the ring on her right hand.

"I'll try."

「You must watch with eyes wide open. My life depends on you.」

Did those words burden Laila? Probably. But he felt no inclination to apologize. Laila would continue feeling that burden—certainty of it. She had to endure it. Continuously.

Yustar shouted, "All survivors! Pull the barricade right and fall back! I'll draw it in—don't move until I give the order!"

Simultaneously, the demon twisted its body and released a long shriek. Yustar raised his sword to catch the creature's attention. Then suddenly he began moving away from the members at inhuman speed.

"Lord Yustar!"

Watching, Laila understood he'd activated a magical artifact. The same one he'd used while carrying her in Ridgecarse... the device that let him run as if his feet floated above the ground.

From her vantage point, Yustar looked like a smooth pebble skimming across ice. He receded instantly, without even a tremor.

—Kaaaaaak—!!

The shriek pursued right at his heels. Thud, thud, thud. Ground-shaking tremors. The sickening sounds whenever the massive head whipped side to side.

Yustar focused only on the blade-like wind slicing past his ears as he ran forward. Then suddenly he twisted his body sharply toward the river.

"Lord Yustar!"

"God help us, no!"

The watching members screamed. But Yustar had already gone too far to hear. As he launched himself over the river, water fountained up from his footsteps in rippling waves. Splash, splash.

Racing along the shallow river, Yustar turned his head upward. Through the communicator came Laila's voice like a scream.

「Yustar, now! Now!」

Yustar jerked his body as if thrown, sliding toward the river's center. Water spread like a fan and wrapped around him. Splash. Cold liquid struck his face like a blow. In that instant, the demon charged with its massive head swinging.

Sharp fangs glinted. The stench of decay descended upon him.

Then Yustar kicked off the water's surface with his heel and changed direction. Splash. As the demon moved to pursue, its off-balance body couldn't overcome its own weight and tilted.

The creature's enormous frame swayed. Yustar clenched his molars and spun like a top. Then he swung his great sword like a club and struck the demon full force.

—Kruaaaaaaak—!

An enormous sound erupted. BOOM. Loud enough to shake water, boulders, the entire gorge. Yustar saw trees tilt all at once through the flash of impact. He glimpsed the demon flying impossibly high.

Simultaneously, dark purple smoke burst from the Second Branch's position. Poof.

"It's falling—catch it!"

Olga, standing on a precarious narrow ledge, shouted.

She vaporized a massive quantity of Laila's paralysis tincture and dumped it onto the demon in an instant. The struggling body stiffened rigid. CRASH. Dust billowed up beneath the branch building.

Laila watched this entire scene from atop her rock perch. When Yustar struck the demon skyward with a single sword, pure astonishment left her jaw hanging open.

Then watching Olga vaporize and detonate all that tincture at once while she herself stood completely unharmed—that shocked her even more.

She saw members rushing toward the demon that had crashed below. As Laila's eyes went round and her breath came quick, Yustar's voice emerged from the communicator.

「Are you all right, Laila?」

Laila looked down at the device. In that moment, she saw Yustar's sword fall from his hand with a thunk as he stood with slumped shoulders.

"Yustar! What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Laila cried out urgently.

Wheezing breaths continued briefly, then Yustar's gaze shifted. Though the distance was great, Laila knew with certainty he was looking at her. She even felt their eyes meet.

Yustar smiled wryly.

「I'm fine. Seems I dislocated my shoulder. Striking something that enormous...」