【The Old Man of the Expelled Inn Unwittingly Dominates Today Too】Although I Want to Lead a Slow Life, for Some Reason the Strongest Beauties Who Hold Important Positions in the Country, and Were Once My Disciples, Gather Around Me Asking to Be Hired – Even Though I Only Taught Them a Little～ - Chapter 67: Old Man and Liena

“Don’t get cocky, you worthless fool!”

Genus extended countless arms from his massive body, picking up swords scattered across the battlefield one after another.

“Be torn to pieces!”

With brute force, Genus swung the swords, sending numerous black slashes flying towards me.

—Suuuu

Regulating my breathing and circulating 【Fighting Spirit】throughout my body, I poised my sword—

“Sei!”

A single slash collided with the black slashes in mid-air, bursting apart.

“Sei! Sei! Sei!”

The next wave of slashes, and the ones after that, all met the same fate.

“What’s wrong, Genus! Is that all you’ve got!”

“Grr… Damn it!”

Genus attempted to unleash another barrage of black slashes with the countless arms protruding from his body, but—

—Too slow!

I kicked off the ground, closing the distance between Genus and me in an instant, and with that momentum—

—“Sei!”

“Aghhh! That hurts!”

With Genus’ scream, one of his numerous arms was sent flying into the air.

Continuing without letting up, I unleashed a series of slashes. Arms were cut off one after another, and I even landed several hits on his main body. However—

—Something’s off—

No matter how much I cut, the number of arms doesn’t decrease.

“Gahhh! It hurts! But—don’t underestimate my regenerative abilities!”

I see, the arms I cut off were regrowing from the stumps. The wounds I inflicted on his torso were also gradually healing.

“Gyahahaha~ How’s that~? No matter how much you cut, it’s useless!”

Genus shook his massive body, indulging in his pleasure. Hmm, I could split him in two with maximum power, but—

That would put Liena in danger.

“Baldo-sensei… perhaps… we must cut Genus’ core to defeat him…”

Milene, though her face was contorted with pain, managed to convey this to me. She must be under some kind of mental strain due to Genus’ curse or magic. Her face was pale.

I see, the core.

It’s something akin to a human heart.

“I’m fine… Hehe”

Milene…

I’m sorry, but I must prioritize Liena.

I don’t have such weak disciples.

“Oh? You plan to cut my core? That’s impossible!”

Genus, having overheard our conversation, grinned mischievously, stirring his body.

A red gem-like object emerged from Genus’ flesh. That must be the core…

But why would he reveal the location of his core so openly?

The answer came quickly.

“Huh? It’s moving?”

“Gyahahaha~ Exactly! My core is constantly moving, you see!”

Genus boasted as he swung his swords, while I deflected his black slashes and continued to cut down his numerous arms.

However, no matter how much I cut, the number of arms doesn’t seem to decrease.

“Gyahahaha~ You can’t finish me off like this, no matter how much you cut! I’ll just regenerate over and over!”

Indeed, this is troublesome…

What to do?

I can handle the black slashes, but it’s meaningless if I can’t defeat Genus himself.

“Gyahahaha~ What’s wrong, what’s wrong~ Baldo~ I’ll keep attacking until you’re completely drained of strength!”

As I struggled to find a way to attack, Genus’s movements suddenly stopped.

—!?

“Guh… This damn woman…”

Was that Liena!?

What emerged from Genus’s body was Liena, holding onto a red core.

“Damn it! You’re not digested yet, you damn girl! Let go of my core!”

Liena, having been absorbed by Genus, clung to his core and shouted at me.

“Come on, Baldo-sama! I’ve stopped the core’s movements. Please cut me along with it now!”

This girl…

Fuu—

I took a deep breath before speaking.

“Liena, that’s not something I can do.”

“But, Baldo-sama… We don’t have time for discussion! My magical power and physical strength are almost gone. There’s only a little time left to stop Genus… Quickly!”

“That’s why I’m saying it’s not possible.”

“Why not!”

“—I… have never let an employee go…”

“What? What are you talking about at a time like this? It’s all settled if it’s just me. Please reopen your beloved inn! After all… it was me who got involved! Stopping this demon is more important than that now!”

No…

I don’t consider myself to have been dragged into anything.

The old man was simply an innkeeper through and through.

As long as I run an inn, I employ staff.

I had employees back when I was in Fridania as well.

Each left for their own reasons.

But they all left of their own volition.

Once I hire someone, I take full responsibility for them.

Unless they choose to resign on their own, I’m prepared to take care of them till the end.

I understand that this isn’t the only way to think.

But, I am an innkeeper.

I run my inn my way.

And Liena is an important employee to me.

So…

“—I won’t accept such a reason for resignation!”

“Ba-Baldo-sama…”

“Liena, just bear with it a little longer. I’ll save you right away—“

I closed the distance between Genus and me in an instant and dove straight into Genus’s body.

“Gyahahaha! So you’re diving in yourself, huh? You really are a fool!”

My body was absorbed into Genus’s massive form—

Sure, maybe that’s true.

But I don’t feel like losing, not even a bit.

“Who’s the fool now? Now, Genus—

—Take all of my 【Fighting Spirit】!”