Episode 4 First Battle

 Enri was desperately running while holding the hand of her younger sister Nemu.

　A noisy metal sound, an angry roar, and a scream can be heard from behind.

　When I glanced back while gasping for breath, there was a knight chasing Enri and the others.

　What wells up in my heart is great fear and confusion, impatience and sadness, and a little anger.

　I didn't know what was going on, and I just felt a strong sense of danger and my father's words prompted me to immediately take my sister's hand and run away.

　How did this happen, and what did they do?

　Since the village is near the forest, in a sense the appearance of monsters and raids by bandits is understandable.

　However, it is the knight-like men who are attacking them now.

　He's probably a knight of the empire because he's wearing the armor of the empire, but even so, there's no reason for him to be killed quietly.

　Why should they be brutally killed? The more I think about it, the more my anger outweighs my fear.

　I feel ashamed of myself for not being able to do anything. I regret not being able to help her sister, her parents, and the villagers.

　The legs that keep running all the time, the lungs that busily take in oxygen, the hand that pulls my little sister, everything is weak, and she complains of pain just by running.

　

　

"Ah!"

　

　I suddenly heard my sister's voice behind me, and my hand was pulled strongly. Her little sister's legs are tangled and she is about to fall, but she manages to hold her leg up. her legs tremble as she tries to run again.

　Enri picked up her sister and tried to run away again, but the knight who was chasing her had caught up with her.

　

"Don't resist uselessly."

　

　A muffled man's voice can be heard from inside the helmet. The knight held a bloody sword in his hand, and the anger that had been there just now suddenly withered, and he was once again dominated by great fear.

　However, I have a sister by my side that I must protect.

　Desperately suppressing her fear, Enri glared at the knight with Nemu behind her.

　I can't afford to die to protect my sister. In front of Enri, who was watching the man for a chance to escape, the knight slowly lifted his sword. The sword hoisted high above his head swung down at Enri with force.

　However…--

　

"...Don't underestimate me!!"

"Guga!?"

　

　Before the sword was swung down, Enri jumped into the knight's bosom and slammed his fist into the helmet. The iron and bones hit each other violently, and intense pain ran through my whole body through my fists.

　The knight staggered back a few steps with a dull groan, perhaps not expecting a counterattack.

　Enri didn't miss the opportunity and reached out to her sister, and stepped forward to escape again.

　

"Kisamaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Huh!?"

　

　The moment I thought I heard the knight's roar from behind, a shock ran through my back. The impact quickly turned into heat and excruciating pain. He tries to stand up, but just by putting a little force into his body, a sharp pain runs through his whole body.

　By my side, my little sister was desperately screaming something, but I didn't even have time to respond. However, she is determined to save her sister, and by moving her aching body, she somehow pulls her little body closer and hugs her deeply.

　With this body as a shield, so that my little sister can live for a little while...

　With the fear of death and strong determination in his heart, Enri closed his eyes strongly at the sign of the sword that would be swung down again.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

"………………Huh……?"

　

　But no matter how much time passes, the shock of death never comes.

　Enri, who opened her eyelids fearfully in suspicion, opened her eyes wide at the golden wings standing in front of her.

　

　

　

◇◆◇◆◇◆

　

　

　

"Through Arrow!!"

　

　〈transfer gateGate> before leaving the darkness, shoot an arrow at the knight who was about to swing his sword at the girl . backwards. Before he can scream, one blow cuts his life and rolls him over on his back.

　As for the girl, she didn't know what had happened and had a stunned expression on her face as she held an even younger girl who seemed to be her younger sister to her chest.

　Peroroncinotransfer gateGate>completely out of the darkness, he approached the knight who had fallen past the girls and looked down carefully.

　The knight is lying down with a large hole in his left chest, and he doesn't even move.

Peroroncino 　breathed a sigh of relief and looked back at the girls.transfer gateGate], I immediately shut my mouth when the two shadows appeared.

　

"Are you okay, Peroroncino-san?"

"Hey, are you okay?"

　

　It was Momonga and Ulbert who appeared with a relaxed voice and a careless voice.

　Momonga pointed the light of his eye sockets at the two girls, and Ulbert walked up to the knight and looked down at him with cold eyes.

　

“…One shot? What kind of arrow did you use? Bomb type?”

"If you use that kind of thing, you'll hurt them too. It's a penetrating system."

"It's a penetrating system... For that matter, there's a big hole, but... Ah, it seems there's still one."

　

　The goat's ears twitched slightly, and golden eyes were directed toward the nearby house. If Peroroncino also looks over there, he's been hiding all this time, the samefull body armorfull plateOne of the knights wearing a kimono was retreating with a look of confusion.

　I immediately tried to set up my bow, but it was stopped by Ulbert who was standing next to me.

　With a grinning smile, Ulbert slowly walked towards the knight and pointed his fingertips at him.

　

“Now then, let's start with the 3rd tier in the kote survey. … <electric shockLightning〉”

　

　Pale thunder is released from the fingertips of the devil and attacks the knight in a straight line.

　Peroroncino thought that third rank magic was too weak, but the magic of Ulberto, the strongest magic job, World Disasterer, had tremendous firepower compared to ordinary magic.

　The lightning not only opened a large hole in the knight's body, but also charred the whole body in an instant. The corpse of the knight, who had tragically turned into a black object, fell powerlessly to the ground.

　Next to Peroroncino, who was stunned, Ulberto let out a small snort.

　

“Too weak.

"Huh?"

　

　Suddenly asked, Peroroncino tilts his head.

　Ulbert let out a small smile.

　

"I'm listening to your impressions of killing a human for the first time."

"………………that………?"

　

　At the question asked with a grinning smile, Peroroncino noticed it for the first time and blinked his eyes.

　Come to think of it, I just killed someone so easily. But Peroroncino couldn't help but look puzzled when he remembered that he didn't feel anything when he shot the arrow or when he confirmed the death of the fallen knight.

　Unintentionally, I look at Ulbert who stands next to me.

　Apparently, he seemed to be at a loss, and Ulberto starred at Peroroncino's helmet-covered face and smiled lightly.

　

"Relax... It's strange to say, but don't take it so seriously. It seems that not only your body has changed, but your mind as well."

"If you say...?"

"In your case,birdmanbirdmanLike, Momonga-san's case is more like an undead, and mine is more like a demon. Even though I've killed one person, I don't feel anything. … No, I can even think of it as pleasant.”

　

　With a grin and an eerie smile, Ulbert looks exactly like the devil himself.

　If that's the case, then I wondered if my body and mind had really become deformed... I looked at the hands holding the bow in a daze, and looked back at Momonga and the girls . feared, and Momonga was about to hand over the potion to the girl.

　Peroroncino let out a sigh of relief, and Ulberto turned his toes toward Momonga and laughed even more.

　

“That's why I told you not to worry.

　

　Changing his eerie smile from earlier into a soft one, Ulbert fluttered his cloak as he headed towards Momonga. Peroroncino unintentionally gave a small wry smile and stepped forward to follow Ulberto. He walks up to Momonga and the others and looks down at the girls who are still sitting on the ground and have not received their potions.

　The girls were visibly frightened, and Momonga seemed to be deeply troubled .

　Peroroncino smiled and squatted down in front of the girls to make them feel at ease.

　

"Don't worry, you don't have to be afraid. This is medicine that heals wounds. If you drink it, the wounds on your back will also heal."

　

　I received the potion from Momonga and slowly handed it over to the girl.

　Come to think of it, I'd be scared if someone who killed someone in front of me just now told me to take medicine.

　Peroroncino slowly opened the lid of the bottle and drank a little of its contents.

　

"Look, it's not poison. If you leave it as it is, your back will hurt, right?"

　

　When I held out the bottle while speaking with a gentle voice, the girl timidly stretched out my hand. She takes her bottle in her trembling hands, and as if she's determined, she pours it down her throat. Then, the wound on her back was closed in a blink of an eye, and the girl showed her surprised expression.

　Peroroncino's smile deepens at the girl who whispered "lie...".

　Over his head, Momonga and Ulbert were having a rather disturbing conversation.

　

"So how was it...?"

“Seriously, it's extremely weak.

"Is it possible that only the two of them are weak?"

"Is such a coincidence possible? That's how it is on the third floor."

“…Certainly, no matter how much Ulbert-san's firepower is considered, it's still too weak.

"Yes"

　

“…Hey, at least lower your voice a little.

　

　Finally unable to endure it, Peroroncino glared at Giro, Momonga, and Ulberto.

　They looked down at Peroroncino, then at the girls, Momonga clearing her throat and Ulberto shrugging, apparently frightened.

　

"Gohon, I'm sorry, let's be careful..."

"I'm sorry. Neither of you are scary guys at all..."

"No, no! Thank you for helping me!"

"Thank you!"

　

　A young girl who seemed to be her younger sister bowed her head as she bowed her head in a hurry.

　Peroroncino's smile suddenly changed to something slovenly at the brave and cute appearance.

　Luckily, Peroroncino's expression was hidden by the helmet, and the girls didn't find out.

　

"... No, don't worry about it."

"Ah, and I think you're brazen! But, you're the only one I can rely on! Please, please! Please help Mom and Dad!"

「「「……………………」」」

　

　Momonga and the others involuntarily fell silent at the girl who desperately bowed her head and begged.

　remote viewing mirrormirror of remote viewingBy the time I discovered this village, the majority of the villagers had already fallen into the hands of knights. It sounds harsh, but it's highly likely that their parents have already been killed. Especially if I was trying to buy time to let them escape .

　Momonga was the only one who nodded with a small sigh while he was worried about whether it would be okay to take it on so easily.

　

"...I understand. If you're alive, I'll help you."

　

　From Momonga's point of view, those words were probably the most concessions he could make.

　But even so, it seemed that the words were hope itself for them, and they bowed their heads again when their eyes widened.

　

Thank you!

　

　The girl tried to repeat her words over and over again, perhaps because she was too impetuous and the rhetoric stopped going around.

　The girl took a deep breath to try to calm herself down, and looked straight up at Momonga and the others with her large calm eyes.

　

"What is your name?"

　

　From the girl's point of view, it might be that she just wanted to know the name of the person who saved her life.

　However, Momonga hesitated to give his name.

　In this world where we still don't know right or left, we wonder if it's okay to give even a little information about ourselves to others. A name is also a fine piece of information, and information, no matter how small or trivial, has value.

　Ulberto and Peroroncino know that too, so they don't say anything.

　However, the more silent we became, the more awkward the atmosphere became, and Peroroncino reluctantly tried to change the atmosphere in exchange for "one piece of information."

　

“…Well, my name is Peroroncino. What are your names?”

"Ah, my name is Enri. And this is my little sister, Nemu."

"I see, nice to meet you.... Then, I guess I'll stay here as Enri-chan and Nemu-chan's escort! I'll leave the village to you two."

"Understood. But don't let your guard down,peroroncinorearguardI'm just a little worried. Wouldn't it be better to leave the "shield" behind? ”

"is that so…"

　

　After nodding at Ulberto's words, Momongaspecial technologyskillwas activated.

　〈Medium undead creation　death knightDeath Knight>

　A black mist appeared out of nowhere, enveloping the corpse of a knight lying nearby and melting into it. What's the matter? Without even thinking about it, the corpse, absorbing the black fog, stood up on its own.

　I heard the sisters' small screams behind me, but Momonga, Ulberto, and Peroroncino couldn't afford to care about that. For the three of them, it was an unexpected and bizarre sight.

　Black mucus flows like a waterfall from the gaps in the knight's helmet along with a gurgling sound. The mucus that flowed out covered my whole body, expanding its volume and gradually trying to create a new shape. Its body length exceeds two meters, and its body is also thick, revealing its vicious appearance. He holds a giant tower shield in his left hand and a giant flammberge in his right. The face peeking out from the helmet with its open face was that of a rotting man, and there stood a death knight who could be said to be the personification of violence.

　

"...wow..."

“…For the first time, you discovered a different phenomenon from Yggdrasil.”

　

　Next to Momonga, who twitches in a low voice, Peroroncino makes a half-smile as if to escape from reality.

　Creating undead in Yggdrasilspecial technologyskillsAt the same time as activation, the undead created instantly appears as if they are springing up from the air, but what happened? I want to tsukkomi.

　However, only the devil, who considers cruelty as an art, raised his voice with glee.

　

"Cool! Hey, can I try creating a demon too!?"

“…Eh, please stop.

"What are you talking about, you're cool!"

"... No, it's 'disgusting' rather than 'cool'."

　

　Hearing Peroroncino's small tsukkomi voice, Ulberto looked back at Peroroncino with tremendous force.

　

"Excuse me! Demons aren't disgusting! They're cool and disgustingly cute!"

"No, no, you're the only one who can say that a devil is disgustingly cute."

"What!? Are you going to say that 'my child' is disgusting too?!"

"... No, the normal appearance is a rabbit's horns, and the true appearance is scary."

"That's not scary, it's cool!"

　

　Urberto and Peroroncino start arguing with the stunned Enri and Nemu. Momonga shook her head and cut in between the two.

　

"Look, I've given instructions to the Death Knight, so if you're going to create a demon, please hurry up."

"I got it!"

　

　Saying this with a sigh, Momonga immediately began to speak to the Death Knight, and Ulberto smiled broadly and gleefully.special technologyskillstriggered.

　〈Medium Demon Creation〉　shadow demonshadow demon>

　special technologyskillsAlmost at the same time as the is activated, the space in front of me flickers, and five shadows appear.

　A slender body dyed in jet black like a shadow. Five emaciated demons with sharp claws and skin wings, one in front and the rest lined up in a horizontal line, all knelt and bowed their heads to Ulbert all at once.

　

"Oh, that's amazing! … Now, the village is currently being attacked by those who are believed to be knights. Kill the knights who are attacking the village immediately."

"As you wish"

　

　In response to Ulbert, who gave his life with a rather ruthless voice, the leading Shadow Demon, who was thought to be the representative, bowed even more deeply . to the village. I was surprised by their exaggerated tone for a moment, but I let out a small sigh with the feeling that things would go well anyway.

　Looking back at Momonga and the others, Death Knight and Peroroncino were standing firmly protecting the girls, and Ulberto looked at Momonga and nodded to each other.

　

"Then I'll go."

"Let me know if anything happens."

"Have a nice day! Please be careful."

　

　Seeing off the two of them heading towards the village, Peroroncino lets out a small breath just once to brace himself. But he was also concerned about the girls, and while carefully looking around, he called out to them.

　

"...Speaking of which, why were you attacked? Do you have any idea..."

"That's not true! The kingdom and the empire are certainly at war, but we...we're not attacked...!"

　

(Kingdom and Empire...?)

　

　I tilt my head at the unfamiliar words.

　While still tilting my head wondering which one was which, I felt like I understood why the knight was rampaging.

　In other words, this conflict is an extension of the war, and the aim is to lower the morale of the other country and reduce its national power. Strategically, it makes sense, but from the point of view of the people involved, it's not a bad thing.

　Naturally, I breathed a sigh of relief that I was really glad that we were on time.

　

"Is that so... I'm really glad we made it in time."

"Thank you very much for your help. I'm sorry I'm scared you."

"Ah, it can't be helped. A person who killed a person in front of you must be scary..."

"Ah, no, umm... that's right..."

　

　This time, Peroroncino tilted his head at Enri, who hesitated and hesitated.

　A question mark floats, wondering what should be awkward.

　Enri seemed to hesitate for a while, but made up his mind and looked up at Peroroncino.

　

"Well, you weren't human, so I thought it was a little scary..."

"that is…"

“Of course, now I think of them as kind people! I will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!”

　

　Enri clenched his fists and said, but Peroroncino didn't care.

　At this point, we finally realize our fundamental failure.

　Peroroncino, Momonga, and Urberto all had too much recognition of Yggdrasil, and had completely forgotten how much their appearances incited fear to humans.

　As soon as I understood that the girls were scared, I started to worry about the two who went to the village earlier.

　I wonder if I can talk properly just because I helped the villagers... After a while, I may need to go to the village with them and ask for mediation.

　When Peroroncino looked at his own body and the Death Knight by his side, he let out a soft sigh.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　Meanwhile, Momonga and Ulbert were walking leisurely toward the center of the village.

　The shadow demons had already cleaned it up, and I could not see any shadows of people, and the corpses and blood stains of knights and villagers were coloring everywhere on the road . lying miserably must have already been killed. While praying that the girls' parents weren't there, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that there were only enemies that even a shadow demon could defeat.

　However, if there are only corpses so far, I'm a little worried.

　Will there be any survivors of the villagers?

　Momonga suddenly called out to Ulbert, who was thinking while looking around the village.

　

"...Ulbert-san..."

"What's wrong, Momonga-san?"

"Um... it's about the name..."

"name?"

　

　Ulbert tilted his head and looked at Momonga walking next to him. He suddenly remembers the conversation he had with the girls earlier, and gives a small nod.

　

"Ah, just now... I think I made the right decision earlier. The name is also one of the fine pieces of information, and if it can be hidden, it should be hidden."

"No, it's not like that..."

　

　I tilted my head even more at Momonga who was hesitating.

　Momonga let out a big sigh as if he had given up on seeing Ulberto's state of mind, which he didn't understand at all.

　

“What do you think of Ulberto-san and Peroroncino-san's names, ``Momonga''?

"... If you say that, isn't peroroncino also spaghetti in a sense?"

"That's true, but... I don't know if Momonga actually exists in this world, but if it does, it's not a good idea."

"Well...it looks like a scary undead~..."

　

　Indeed, it may actually sound ridiculous.

　Most of all, the names given to avatars, such as Momonga and Peroroncino, are by no means uncommon, as most people give them a little pun or playfulness .

　

"...Well, it would be better if I didn't give my name this time. I can think about the name later."

"is that so..."

　

　I nod once that I should concentrate on the problem in front of me now.

　As the two of them carefully walked through the village side by side, Ulbert suddenly felt a sense of connection and suddenly stopped. Feeling that Momonga had also stopped her next to her, he unconsciously put her finger on her temple and let her gaze wander into the air.

　

"Ulbert-sama, we have completed the mopping up of the knights."

"Yes. Are there any survivors of the villagers?"

"Ha. It seems they were gathered in the center of the village."

"I see... I'm heading that way right now, so keep an eye on the villagers."

"Understood"

　

　< from Shadow Demonmessagemessage> cuts off and tells Momonga the contents of the previous report. The two of them accelerated their walking speed and headed towards the center of the village while saying that the matter had been settled quite quickly.Since it was originally a small village, it didn't 't take long to reach the destination.

　Roll on the ground in an open area like a plazafull body armorfull plateMany corpses of People who seemed to be villagers were gathered in one place and huddled together.

　When the shadow demons noticed Momonga and Ulbert, they all knelt down and lowered their heads.

　

"I'm sorry. Stay back until I call you."

"Ha"

　

　Following Ulbert's words, the Shadow Demons sink into their own shadows. The shadow demons probably just hid themselves because they still felt like a part of their consciousness was connected somewhere.

　Ulbert silently nodded, and Momonga nodded slightly and turned to face the villagers.

　

"Well, you guys are safe now. Rest assured."

　

　Try to speak with a gentle voice in mind to make them feel at ease. However, for some reason, the villagers' expressions couldn't be relaxed at all, and they were staring at Momonga and Ulbert with their faces twitching in great fear.

　Both Momonga and Ulbert inwardly tilted their heads at the reaction that was too different from their expectations.

　Normally, when help comes, wouldn't you say thank you with a big smile? However, there was no such sign at all, and I couldn't hide my puzzled expression, wondering why I was so stubborn.

　At times like that...

　

　

“…Ah, so this is what happened?”

"Village chief! Everyone!"

　

　A familiar voice and a familiar voice were heard from behind, and Momonga and Ulbert almost simultaneously turned around. As expected, Peroroncino, accompanied by the two girls and the Death Knight, walks towards us.

　Before I could ask why they were here, the girls left Peroroncino and rushed over to the villagers. The villagers also loosened their hardened expressions at the sight of the girls being safe, and finally began to move.

　

"Enri, Nemu! Are you safe!"

"These people helped us. Village chief, everyone, these people are not scary monsters at all!"

　

　Enri's powerful appeal and Nemu's big nod immediately made the villagers look puzzled. Momonga and Ulbert finally realized their blunder when they looked at them timidly.

　Recalling their appearance, they finally understand their reaction.

　Well, if you think about it normally, you can't feel relieved even if you're saved by an undead or a demon and told to ``calm down'' .

　What should I do... while I was racking my brain, one of the villagers who had been looking at me with only fear until now timidly approached me.

　He was a white-haired man with a solid build, and he was the man Enri called the village chief.

　

“…I apologize for earlier.

"No, I'm not a person to call myself. I just saw that this village was being attacked. I'm here to help."

"Yes, I heard from Enri and Nemu earlier. Thank you for your help."

　

　Even though he still hadn't completely wiped away the color of his terror, he bowed his head deeply.

　Momonga calmly shook his head as if to reassure him, while secretly admiring that being the village chief wasn't just for good.

　

"No, thank you is unnecessary. We didn't help anything out of goodwill."

“What is that…?”

　

　The faces of the village chief and the villagers who were listening to the story once again showed fear. A bewildered expression appeared on Enri's and Nemu's faces, and the gaze from Peroroncino, who naturally stood next to them, stabbed them a little painfully . , Momonga ignored his gaze and spoke of his primary objective with a nonchalant attitude.

　

"Actually, we arrived here from a faraway place recently. Not only the common sense of this land, but also the common sense of the human world is unfamiliar."

“So, by all means, I would like you to teach me about this land and the knowledge of the human world.”

　

　Taking over Momonga's words, Ulbert continued with a smile.

　Against his will, his expression turned into something demonic and evil, and the faces of the village chiefs were greatly convulsed.

　

　

---

* Peroroncino's forgery point this time
・<Through Arrow>; special
penetrating technique. The degree of penetration changes depending on the occupation level. technology <Mid-level undead creation>. Limited to 12 per day.