At the same time Arnoux was throwing himself into a desperate battle— Members of other squads had also fallen into situations where they were forced to abandon barrier construction to fight different opponents.
For example, looking at one particular squad— The female Holy Knight captain with reddish-brown hair, Glenda.
Her small unit had been making steady progress preparing to construct a barrier.
Then, suddenly, a young man walked toward them.
The blue-haired youth strolled forward with an air of nonchalance. Two antenna-like horns protruded from his forehead.
Those horns spoke volumes about the fact that he was no human.
Glenda clicked her tongue and, leaving behind her deputy who was in charge of the barrier, scattered her squad members.
"So you're a resident of that town too, huh?"
It went without saying, but she was buying time for her subordinates to prepare for combat.
She hadn't expected any reply, but— "That's right. I'm warning you. Be good children and sit here and wait.
That way, you won't have to suffer. It's the best outcome for everyone."
He made such a condescending proposal.
Glenda snorted and rejected it out of hand.
Dealing with monsters was out of the question to begin with, but more importantly, there was only a single monster in front of them. He appeared to be a high-ranking member of the Ogre tribe, but he was no match for them.
The Ogre tribe was known for favoring straightforward brute-force combat. They relied on their superior physical abilities, wielding heavy weapons to cut down their enemies. Their tough bodies possessed abnormally high defense, and some even had regenerative abilities. For ordinary adventurers, the Ogre tribe was practically a natural enemy.
But they were Holy Knights. Not a single one of them would lose to something like an Ogre tribe member.
After all, they had never seen an Ogre tribe member that had reached A-rank.
The one before them appeared, by all accounts, to be on the weaker side for an Ogre tribe member. Yet his presence carried the weight of a superior being.
He was most likely a "Named One" — a Unique Monster.
His confidence must have stemmed from possessing unmatched power within this forest.
Then she would simply have to teach him. The strength of those called Holy Knights. She would educate this "frog in a well" about how vast the world truly was, so that he would never again dare to look down on them.
(Well, since we'll kill him here, there won't be a second time anyway.)
As she thought this, Glenda narrowed her eyes.
"Stay alert! One enemy. Threat level is 'A-'! Three of you, engage!"
She had considered scattering her subordinates to construct a Holy Purification Barrier, but the opponent was a single individual. His leaking Demon Aura wasn't that impressive, and the threat level seemed low.
That judgment determined the fate of Glenda's squad.
"You're being too careless. Aren't you looking down on him a bit too much?"
The moment three Holy Knights moved toward the man before them, they felt a fleeting illusion of a shimmering haze.
Then, without breaking stride, the man passed straight through the three charging knights and continued walking toward them.
As for the three he had passed through... they kept running forward for a brief moment, then collapsed.
In that single instant of crossing paths, their consciousness had been stripped away and their bodies paralyzed.
Three first-rate Holy Knight warriors had been rendered combat-incapable simultaneously. And in the blink of an eye.
"Wh-What did you do?!"
"You're no ordinary fighter—who are you?!"
Glenda could hear her deputies shouting in alarm, but she felt a rising panic along with a nagging sense of déjà vu.
It was something their captain, Hinata, often said— And the aura emanating from the man before her was that of an absolute powerhouse.
Only now did she finally understand the meaning of Hinata's warning. But it was already too late...
By the time the shadows crept up from behind, all of her fellow Holy Knights had already been knocked unconscious.
As if nothing had happened, identical-looking figures faded away like a mirage.
It seemed he had planted clones behind them from the very start.
Like Hinata, when this man gave you a warning, the outcome of the battle had already been decided.
She had never intended to look down on him, but results were everything. Glenda had lost.
"I suppose I could introduce myself, but it'd be a hassle.
I left you alive for a reason.
Tell me everything you know about the Holy Church.
I'm still researching torture techniques, so if you refuse to talk, you'll serve as my practice subject.
Of course, resist if you like.
So, what'll it be? I'm fine either way."
The man spoke flatly, his expression unchanged.
His cold, beautiful features combined with something indescribable to flood Glenda with terror.
Resistance was futile. So she would either talk honestly or choose death.
She had noticed that all her fellow Holy Knights were still alive. If she chose death, each of them would simply face the same choice one by one.
Then, to buy at least a little more time, she would deliberately choose to be tortured...
"Do whatever you like—torture or otherwise. We will never submit to monsters."
Glenda said this with an air of resignation.
Then she drew her sword and released her spiritual power, activating her Spirit Armament as she faced her opponent.
Even if she couldn't match him in strength, she would at least protect her pride.
That blue-black-haired man of striking beauty,
Then he sighed, as if to say "Oh well."
"Is that so? You've chosen to resist. I have no interest in hierarchy, so it would be best if you just cooperated."
Before he even finished speaking, Glenda moved.
Her sword traced a swift, unpredictable trajectory aimed to slice through her opponent.
But the body she struck was a clone, dissolving into mist and vanishing.
Glenda realized that as long as she couldn't identify his true body, she had no chance of winning.
"Now then, let's begin the interrogation. Just say the word when you feel like talking."
The sweet voice whispered in her ear, and Glenda's reaction came too late.
Only Glenda thought they were fighting. For Souei, someone like Glenda wasn't even worth considering.
Then waves of pleasure pierced through Glenda's body.
Thin threads entwined around her, stimulating her erogenous zones. There was no pain—only pleasure assaulted Glenda.
"Now, I've sealed both unconsciousness and climax. Start talking before you lose your mind."
In the midst of what felt like a living hell of pleasure, Glenda desperately tried to resist.
But... unfortunately, that resistance didn't seem like it would hold for long.
--- Forced to race across the battlefield under
Without anyone noticing, Hakuro had appeared at their side, and five "Shadows" under Souei's command followed behind them.
"Don't hold me back, brother!"
"Mind your own business! Don't get in my way!"
This was the kind of exchange Gabiru and
They always seemed to bicker, but everyone knew they actually got along well. The only ones who didn't realize that were the two of them themselves.
While carrying on like that, they finally arrived at their destination.
The Holy Knights had also noticed the approaching group of monsters and had finished their preparations.
Everyone had released their spiritual power and completed their full armaments.
"Watch out! Those monsters don't look like pushovers."
"But Captain, there are six Dragonewts! And the one not wearing armor—is he from the Ogre tribe?"
"No way. Believe it or not, he's not from the Ogre tribe. He's a Majin. Unlike the Ogre tribe, who tend to rely on raw physical ability, Majin are special individuals who make extensive use of unique abilities!"
"Oh, that's troublesome. But the Dragonewt at the front is emanating some abnormal intimidation too."
The Holy Knights consulted among themselves.
These approaching monsters must be the main force of that monster nation.
They clicked their tongues at the thought of such troublesome opponents. But even if they abandoned barrier construction in this sector, they could rely on other areas.
It would prove that Hinata's assessment was correct.
If the enemy's main force had come here, that might even work in their favor.
"Alright! I'll take down that large Dragonewt.
You two handle the Majin!
The rest of you five—deal with the other five Dragonewts!"
"Roger! But what about that one humanoid demon mixed in with them?"
Captain Gregory glanced over at Gobta— "Tch. A single weakling snuck in, did he? I'll crush him in an instant!"
The Holy Knights nodded in agreement.
They knew their captain's strength well.
Taking down a mere humanoid demon with a single blow would be trivial.
Only... why was there a humanoid demon mixed in? They briefly wondered, but nothing more.
There was no need to announce yourself against monsters.
As if to express exactly that intent— "Out of my way, die! Tyrant Demon Slasher!!"
He swung his halberd, channeling anti-magic power, and released a shockwave forward.
The thrust from Captain Gregory's massive frame was an anti-magic attack capable of felling even powerful monsters in a single blow.
On top of that, he had spiraled Spirit Particle Cannons—normally fired from the palms—around his halberd and launched them at the enemy.
The spirit particles poured from both hands into the halberd, spiraling as they concentrated at the tip before being released in a unified burst.
The Tyrant Demon Slasher was Captain Gregory's ultimate technique for absolute destruction against demons.
The shockwave it released shot forward in a straight line as a beam of light.
Gabiru and Souka immediately took flight, escaping the line of fire.
Left behind were Gobta and Hakuro—but Hakuro kicked off the ground, vaulted through the trees, and went straight for the Holy Knight.
The only one remaining was Gobta.
"Hey! Are you serious?!"
It had always been a narrow forest path, and without Hakuro's agility, there was nowhere to escape.
For Gregory, managing to take down two or three would have been a bonus, so he was satisfied that he'd likely killed that one weakling he was aiming for.
Then, casting the thought of the humanoid demon from his mind, he tracked the presences of the Dragonewt bearing down from above and the Majin who was his assigned target.
And so, battle erupted in this corner of the battlefield.
The most unfortunate one was Gobta.
Not a single person had stayed behind to help him before pressing forward.
"You've gotta be kidding me! Leaving a defenseless guy like me behind—how heartless can you be?"
Gritting his teeth through his complaints, he braced himself against the incoming shockwave.
Compared to those absurdly powerful executives, his own abilities were so limited. It wasn't fair to receive the same treatment, Gobta thought.
Then— (Sorry, Great Sage! Emergency situation here. What should I do?)
«Analysis: If you take this head-on, the individual named Gobta will be annihilated.
Immediate Synchronization with the Star Wolf tribe is recommended. Retreat into the shadows and launch a surprise attack from behind the enemy.»
(Roger that! You always save me, Great Sage!)
Incredibly, as long as a Thought Link had been established, Gobta was capable of communicating with the Great Sage.
And then, acting immediately on the Great Sage's calculations, Gobta sprang into action.
The moment he Synchronized with the Star Wolf tribe, he melted into the shadows, avoiding the shockwave. Then he began moving.
He could feel his abilities dramatically increase—his strength had more than doubled.
Without a moment's doubt in the Great Sage's calculations, Gobta circled around to the back of the Holy Knight who had attacked him.
He didn't realize his opponent was the enemy captain and the most powerful fighter among them. He didn't think about anything—he simply followed the Great Sage's guidance.
Captain Gregory had never let his guard down. That was precisely why he could respond instantly to the presence behind him.
Sensing a monster's aura suddenly appear at his back, he rolled forward and vacated the spot.
That allowed him to dodge the wolf's fangs that had lunged from behind. He then deflected the follow-up thrust of the long spear with his halberd.
Gregory was shocked that the humanoid demon he thought he had taken down was attacking, completely unharmed, from behind.
However, as a veteran warrior, he immediately focused on his opponent.
He no longer had any intention of looking down on this enemy—he acknowledged that this was a worthy adversary.
Gobta and Gregory.
Neither gave an inch, and a fierce battle began.
Using Shadow Movement, Gobta was the first to break into the Holy Knights' formation—faster than anyone.
This surprised not only the Holy Knights but Gabiru and the others as well.
"Shadow Movement, I see. We slipped up. He uses it better than we Shadows do."
"No, Gobta is actually amazing."
"That's right! He's actually stronger than us, you know!"
In response to Souka's murmur,
It was the first they'd heard that Gobta was strong, but they already knew he wasn't weak.
That monster nation truly had an abundance of powerful monsters.
Even their own master, Souei, possessed unfathomable strength. They couldn't afford to be surprised by every little thing.
"Alright then, we'd better show off our skills too!"
Shouting this, they launched aerial attacks against the Holy Knights who had been focused on Gobta.
By coordinating their assault, they disrupted the enemy's formation.
This forced the Holy Knights to deal with Souka and her group individually.
Gabiru began to overwhelm the two deputies.
They were Holy Knights serving under Captain Gregory and were by no means weak.
But this time, the choice of weapons was the problem.
Their weapons, designed to cut through Magicules, could barely even scratch Gabiru's body, which was protected by sturdy dragon scales.
The deputies were skilled swordsmen, but Gabiru was a first-rate warrior as well.
Their swords were repelled by the Water
Moreover, as a hallmark of Holy Knights, they could cast Spirit Magic without incantations—but it was completely ineffective.
They couldn't even gain an advantage by unleashing magic to destabilize the enemy.
After all, they could barely deal any damage, and his Magic Sense meant that even blinding attacks were meaningless.
They were completely out of options.
"Guwahahahaha! What's wrong? Is this all you've got?
At this rate, you wouldn't last even an hour training under Master Hakuro!"
Saying such things, Gabiru toyed with the two deputies at will.
Holy-attribute attacks were useless from the start, and attacks of every other attribute seemed equally ineffective against him—he paid no mind whatsoever to the Holy Knights' Spirit Magic.
Nor were they losing in swordsmanship or martial arts.
A monster so powerful that even deputy-class fighters like them, working in tandem, couldn't even come close.
Desperately trying to buy time against this existence they didn't want to acknowledge, the deputies fought on.
If they could just hold out until Captain Gregory finished off the humanoid demon and returned, it would be their victory.
In their minds, they had already lost sight of the Majin.
The other squad members were also struggling against Dragonewts that matched them blow for blow—these were warriors called one-against-a-thousand.
Thus, the battle continued, with each fighter engaged against an opponent of equal caliber.
Watching this from atop a tree was someone.
It was Hakuro.
Observing the battle situation, he murmured: "Hmm. That Gabiru fellow is taking it too easy.
Souka and the others seem to have found just the right opponents. There's no training better than real combat.
Good for them—finding worthy opponents. Training alone doesn't provide enough sense of danger."
He continued to watch the fight unfold.
Of course, he had planned to provide backup if anyone was in real danger, but that didn't seem necessary.
"That Gobta—when he puts his mind to it, he can actually pull it off, but he's always running away...
But today it worked out well.
The Great Sage must have guided him nicely."
Saying this, he nodded with satisfaction.
Everything was going according to plan.
When Shion had, as usual, started spouting nonsense about a hierarchy contest, he had seized the opportunity to turn it into a real combat training exercise.
After all, staging a hierarchy contest while bypassing
Really, Shion needed to learn her lesson the hard way once.
"Well, even learning the hard way probably wouldn't help with her, so it might be pointless..."
Thinking this, he sighed.
Now then, about the plan...
When they had established Thought Links, several people had become capable of communicating with the Great Sage.
They had likely been chosen by the Great Sage—who governed the abilities granted to them.
In order to protect their master, Rimuru, the judgment was made that more hands and feet were needed.
So far, the Great Sage had been responding to their questions, doubts, and consultations.
If it determined the response wasn't needed, there would be no reply—but fortunately, this time he had received one.
And so, as planned, the battle against the Holy Knights continued. This way, Gobta, Souka, and the others should be able to enhance their skills as well.
But— "That Gabiru is the only one who's no good. He's having it way too easy. When this is over, I'll have to straighten him out."
He grumbled discontentedly.
Poor Gabiru had no idea what awaited him and was having the time of his life against the Holy Knights.
His blissful moment would continue for just a little while longer.