Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 35

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 35   Rhythmless

This is bad, this is bad, this is bad, this is bad!!

What… what in the world is that giant in the jet-black armor!?

Where did such a monster come from?!

“Y-You are… who exactly…”

“Hm? Me? I am Aku… no, umm, what should I say…? Yes, that’s it. I am one of the Three Demon Generals of the Demon King’s army, Jyoku of the Advanced Demons in Jet Black, boy!”

“Three Demon Generals of the Demon King’s army… Jyoku…”

Why is such a monster here…?

Probably even if Father and Lord Gaius joined forces, they wouldn’t be able to defeat such a monster. Is this creature really a general of the Demon King’s army…?

Are demons truly such terrifying beings…?

This is hopeless.

I can’t see any vision of how to even confront him, not even a single strike…!

“E-Ein, pull yourself together! At this rate, we’ll all be done for! Do you not care what happens to the lady you’re supposed to protect!? It’s not just you and me here, Princess Isha is also present!”

“B-But…”

But what can we do against such a monster?

Even if we desperately resist here, he can surely kill us with the ease of crushing insects.

It’s too late, this is hopeless.

At the very least, if Ars, with his overwhelming flying ability, can escape from here, it would be a major victory just to ensure the safety of the lady and my friend, considering the gap in strength.

But just when I was about to give up, he, as if he could see through my heart, narrowed his glowing red eyes visible through the gap in his helmet.

“This won’t do. It’s quite pitiful, boy. It’s pathetic to give up on life when your rival… no, I mean, the little one over there is trying so hard. It seems you need a little education.”

Education?

At this point, what is this monster talking about?

No, I see.

Perhaps this jet-black giant is feeling angry at the fact that his opponent, me, is so pathetic.

That’s why he’s using Ars, who still hasn’t given up, to provoke me.

In other words, he probably wants to say, “As a worm, you should dance until the end.”

“Well then, if you give up on living, I’ll just take the saint over there. Don’t worry. Since you’ve already given up on everything, the mission of protecting her doesn’t matter, right?”

“W-What… what are you saying…”

Kidnap the lady?

Is he really saying to sacrifice the foolish saint sister right in front of me…?

Th-That’s… That’s… That’s just…!!

“I won’t let that happen, no matter what!”

“Ars…!”

That’s right, I absolutely won’t allow that to happen.

But what should I do?

As it stands, there’s realistically no way out of this.

I don’t care what happens to me!

Isn’t there anything… anything we can do…!?

“Oh, impressive. This blondie here is quite lively indeed. And to charge in to encourage a friend even in this situation, you do have a sense of battle after all. Your parents must have given you good education. Hahaha!”

“Haaaaaaa! Laughing won’t last long! Devil Mode Alternative!”

Was that the ace up Ars’s sleeve that he showed in the final match…?

Certainly, against this jet-black giant who doesn’t seem to have the ability to fly, disrupting him from the air would be the most effective strategy.

But even so, we’re still far from having enough power to defeat that monster.

What exactly is Ars hoping to achieve with this…?

This can only result in buying time…

Wait?

Time…?

“What’s wrong, what’s wrong, what’s wrong! Is that all you’ve got, blondie? You won’t be able to defeat me with something like that! Show me the results of your training!”

“I know that! I don’t need you to tell me! …But, this will do.”

Grinning.

Seeing that smirk on my friend Ars’s face, I became certain.

Surely, he has some kind of plan.

I was convinced that he was desperately buying time for that plan, waiting for something or someone.

“…I see. Ars, you don’t give up on victory even in a situation like this.”

It seems my friend is the kind of person who can create opportunities and solutions with his own hands, even in such circumstances.

It’s quite different from me, who couldn’t leave the side of the princess but was just standing idly by, not finding any solutions.

Huh, thinking about it like that, it’s ridiculous.

What’s a Sword Prodigy?

What’s my rival?

What’s… protecting the princess…?

It’s nauseating to think that I was on equal footing with Ars when I couldn’t even find a single solution at a crucial moment.

It’s beyond embarrassing.

Unforgivable.

I absolutely can’t forgive it.

At a time when the saint should be protected, I can’t forgive myself for being unable to do anything while she’s in danger…!!

“Aaaargh!!”

“Ein!”

“Hmm, so you finally woke up, silver hair.”

I’ll do it.

I’ll do it!!

Even if I die here, even if I can’t leave any results behind!

Even so, even if that’s the case!

If just risking the life of a piece of crap human like me can contribute to buying time for my friend, then that’s all I could ask for!

“To scum like you…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong, what’s wrong?”

“To scum like you, I won’t let Isha go, you damn bastard!!!!”

“Hahaha! I see, I see. You’ve toughened up, silver hair!”

“Shut up!”

This is your last chance to be cocky, you giant brute!

I’ll make you regret underestimating a human!

My stamina is already depleted from the finals, and while I can handle the small fries who attacked me at first, I can only muster one full-powered strike.

And if I expend that one strike’s worth of energy on a full-powered sword technique, I’ll surely collapse.

There might even be lasting damage.

…But for now, that’s enough.

Actually, I’m surprised that I still had enough energy left to activate even one sword technique, as I’m amazed at it myself.

…Surely, while I was asleep in the infirmary, the princess must have cast recovery magic she learned.

But if it means I can inflict even a slight blow on this monster, then it’s worth it.

I’m staking everything on this one strike!

“Ars, create an opening for just a moment! In that moment, I’ll settle the score!”

“I got it, Ein!”

I believe in the power of my friend and the memory of my own swordsmanship.

For me, who has held a sword since childhood, my father once told me of a single strike used by the legendary hero, the strongest swordsman and comrade of the legendary hero of old, who was later known as the Sword Saint.

While the existence of such a figure is now doubted, there is one record that remains in the sparse literature.

It’s said that he wielded his sword not with strength, but with the eye of the heart.

“Whooooo…”

“…You’re quite focused, silver hair. You seem to have plenty of determination to defeat me now. Your transformation from being limp just a moment ago is quite intriguing. Humans are truly fascinating.”

Though he’s saying something, right now I’m trusting Ars and concentrating all my nerves, sinking my mind into the depths of my spirit.

Emptiness.

Emptiness.

Emptiness.

I drive away all haste, all unnecessary strength, even the fear of death, and close my eyes, entering a state of emptiness.

And then, while meditating amidst the battle, relying solely on my sense of presence to survey the surroundings, a moment finally came when the situation shifted.

“I won’t let you do as you please!”

“Whoa!? Hey, be careful! If you charge in at that angle, my sword will pierce you!?”

“I don’t careeeee!!”

I understand.

This moment, when the monster, faltering under Ars fierce attacks, is on the defensive and exposing a decisive opening, is probably the first and last chance.

Thus, if I’m going to do it, it’s now!

“Now’s the time! Ein, go for it!”

Yes, leave it to me!

I will absolutely make this technique succeed!

Yes, you could call this the first step of the Sword Saint style.

If I were to name it…

“Rhythmless!!”

“What!? What’s that!?”

A strike, akin to divine speed, where the precursor of the initial movement cannot be grasped, was unleashed towards the monster.

And at the same time it grazed his armor, this strike, hastily executed by me who is still inexperienced in the techniques of the Sword Saint, marked the end as my consciousness faded away.