In a World of Reversed Chastity, I Strive to Become an Honorable Male Knight, but Lustful Women Keep Targeting My Body - 328

Chapter 328: The Kukkoro Male Knight and the Ultimate Weapon 2

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“Prepare for anti-air combat!”

Seeing the “Mottainaka Mantis” flying straight toward us, I shouted in a panic. Its ability to fly with such a massive body was completely unexpected, but thinking about it, large flying monsters like wyverns and griffins existed. A giant mantis flying was not impossible.

…No, it is still ridiculous! This is why fantasy worlds are absurd!

Still, thanks to the existence of wyverns and griffins, we had some knowledge of anti-air combat. The soldiers in the command bunker and surrounding trenches quickly raised their rifles and bows without hesitation, even at the sudden order.

“Do you think the birdfolk can handle that?”

I asked a nearby sparrow birdfolk quietly. She immediately turned pale and shook her head vigorously.

“No way, no way, no way! Even a hundred sparrows or crows would just get wiped out!”

“…Yeah, figures.”

After all, the enemy was a monster that overwhelmed both elves and ant soldiers in ground combat. The physically weak birdfolk stood no chance. It was like challenging a jet fighter with a small propeller plane. The only aerial unit that might be able to counter it was the wyvern cavalry, but they were currently busy transporting mortar crews. Not a single one was in a position to intercept immediately. Even if we sent a messenger or signal now, it would be too late. That meant we had no choice but to intercept it with ground forces alone. I could only hope it would somehow work.

As I was thinking this, the soldiers on the front line began firing. A series of hollow gunshots rang out.

“…Whoa.”

I could not help but exclaim. The mantis began performing agile evasive maneuvers that did not match its massive size. Moving in such erratic zigzags made it impossible to aim properly.

“Mantis insectoids are even called the natural enemy of elves. They instinctively understand how to avoid being shot down.”

Hearing Dalaiya’s explanation, I nearly sighed. What kind of place was this? Elves and ant soldiers were already extreme enough, and now there was something even beyond them? The baseline combat level of this land was way too high.

“Command bunker guards, hold your fire! Shooting it down in the air will be difficult!”

Drawing my personal rifle, I gave the order. This rifle was a prototype capable of repeated firing using a breech-loading system, but the other soldiers still carried older muzzle-loading rifles. Since those took twenty to thirty seconds to reload, the timing of each shot had to be chosen carefully.

“…”

I loaded a paper cartridge into my rifle and took aim. The mantis was moving wildly, making proper targeting impossible. I clicked my tongue internally and pulled the trigger, but as expected, I missed. I worked the bolt and loaded another cartridge. By then, the mantis had already closed a considerable distance. Charging forward with heavy wingbeats, the giant mantis looked like some kind of kaiju. It was terrifying. A sparrow messenger let out a frightened squeak and collapsed.

“Fire!”

At my shout, the soldiers in the bunker fired their bullets and arrows all at once. The mantis avoided them by diving sharply, deflecting any unavoidable attacks with its scythes. Its massive body struck the ground during the descent with a tremendous impact.

“Gu!”

The mantis immediately flapped its translucent wings and accelerated. Kicking up a massive cloud of dust, the green projectile rushed toward the bunker.

“Waaah!?”

The soldiers screamed. The mantis grabbed onto the bunker and lifted the roof. Sandbags placed on the wooden frame scattered everywhere, crashing down on those below.

“Take this, mantis!”

Shouting, I pulled the trigger of my rifle. At nearly the same moment, Dalaiya chanted a spell in a rhythmic, almost singing voice. A lead bullet and a blade of wind struck the mantis simultaneously.

“―!”

Letting out a voiceless cry, the mantis threw away the roof it had been holding. It deflected the incoming bullet and wind blade with its scythes, then flapped its wings.

“What!?”

A violent cloud of dust engulfed us. The pressure from the wind was immense. We could not see anything clearly. Lighter soldiers like the sparrow birdfolk were blown away with cries. This thing could even use blinding tactics despite its size…!

Grumbling at its cunning, I shielded my eyes and lowered the visor of my helmet. While our movements were hindered, the mantis crawled into the bunker on its four legs and charged straight at us.

“You monster!”

Sonia spat angrily as she drew her greatsword and stepped forward to shield me. Her towering armored figure stood like a fortress before the mantis. But the opponent was a true monster. Even Sonia might be at a disadvantage.

I observed the mantis again. It was the same type as an arachne, with a human upper body and insect lower body. Its upper half was as beautiful as a statue, but its arms were terrifying scythe-like appendages. Its size, however, was abnormal. Even the human portion alone was as large as a northern giant, and including the lower body, it was about the size of a small truck.

“Sonia, be careful! This is no ordinary enemy!”

“Your safety comes first, Al-sama!”

She said something noble, but I did not want her to overdo it. I frowned.

“Compared to this thing, a grizzly looks like a kitten…”

I muttered, recalling a giant bear I had encountered in Alaska. I had managed to kill that with a .44 magnum revolver, but that would not work here. Fighting this mantis with swords or primitive rifles was absurd. We would need at least a portable recoilless rifle.

But wishing for what we did not have was pointless. Careful not to hit Sonia, I fired my rifle. At this distance, I did not miss. The bullet flew toward the mantis’s face, but she flicked it away with her scythe.

“Take this!”

But Sonia did not miss that opening. She raised her greatsword and attacked, aiming for the unprotected abdomen. However, the mantis blocked it with a kick from its foreleg. The blade clashed against its carapace, sparks flying. The difference in weight forced Sonia back.

“Mu!”

The mantis countered with a scythe strike, but Sonia dodged with a backflip. As it prepared a follow-up attack, I fired again to keep it in check.

“Here I go!”

The bullet was deflected, but Sonia followed up with a diagonal slash at its torso. It was a lightning-fast strike worthy of the kingdom’s strongest knight.

“Gwaaah!”

But just as Sonia was the kingdom’s strongest knight, the mantis was the strongest creature in Liseben. It caught her blade between its scythes and threw her off balance. Then it captured her, just like a real mantis catching prey.

“Sonia!”

I shouted instinctively. Soldiers attacked the mantis with bayonets and wooden swords to save her, but they were easily knocked aside. Sonia struggled and shouted, but the mantis ignored her and brought her toward its mouth. I thought she would be eaten and drew my saber, but the mantis did not bite. Its small antennae twitched as it tapped her armor, then seemed to lose interest and tightened its grip. A dreadful crushing sound echoed.

“I will not let you!”

Dalaiya fired an arrow. The mantis deflected it, but the moment its grip loosened, Sonia escaped.

“Waaah!?”

She fell to the ground with a cry, then quickly got up and retreated. The mantis glanced at her indifferently and looked away. It seemed the immediate danger had passed. But the crisis was not over.

“Uwah!?”

The mantis suddenly lunged at me. I instinctively tried to defend with my saber, but it was knocked away instantly by a lightning-fast scythe. I was captured just like Sonia and brought toward its mouth.

“Stop! Stop!”

I struggled with all my strength, using enhancement magic, but the grip did not loosen. My armor creaked ominously as it was compressed. The fear of being crushed crossed my mind. Ignoring my struggle, the mantis brought its face close. Up close, its face was surprisingly youthful and cute. A sturdy muzzle was fitted over its mouth, preventing it from biting. That gave me slight relief, but I was still in danger. Its antennae twitched again, probing me.

“Hm.”

It seemed to approve of me this time. The mantis nodded slightly and spread its wings. Was it planning to fly off with me!?

“Guh… you damn mantis!”

Dalaiya groaned and fired an arrow while chanting. When it struck near the mantis’s feet, a puddle froze over along with its legs. It was a perfect binding spell, but the mantis shattered the ice with brute force. Then it began a heavy run-up and took off, its massive body lifting into the air.

“Al-sama!”

I heard Sonia’s cry, but there was nothing that could be done. I was carried away by the mantis.

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