The Retreat and the Lonely Hero
"Kuh, we're being chased again..."
Fornelis and the others, who were forced to retreat after Grabalt's royal castle was destroyed, were now definitely being cornered.
The only place they could escape to was the neighboring country, a distance that even an able-bodied beastman could walk for about seven days.
Now that they're tired, it will probably take ten days.
The slime did not overlook these defeated soldiers, who had a strength of just over 200, and the battle shifted to a retreat...
"With the injured in front of us! We'll stop them somehow!!"
Surrounded by forests on both sides, attacks from the sides are weak.
The slimes were only able to pursue based on the momentum left to them in numbers, and the damage could be minimized if the rear defenses were strong.
Therefore, Fornelis, one of the strongest forces, will protect the rear, while Akane, who has excellent intuition, and Kara, who is quick-witted, will lead sixty people, the last safe force, to protect the goddess Fasalina and prepare for a surprise attack.
More than 100 people were injured.
Even so, the 50 people fighting through their injuries were standing at the rear, preventing the slime from pursuing them.
(If things stay like this, there's nothing we can do...)
...Fornelis couldn't afford to lose Fasalina and Akane.
The last hope is the hero and the goddess, and Kara who can create the [poison] that kills the slime.
That is the possibility of getting revenge on the slime who destroyed her country and killed her father.
"Yes!"
"Fornelis-sama, take command in the center! We'll be in the rear!"
Fornelis was trying to move to the rear where they were being attacked with her beloved oversized sword, but her arm was grabbed.
It was Julia, the fox-eared beastman.
She has already experienced many battles with slimes.
That's why she needed someone in a position to command them―― she wanted Fornelis to survive no matter what.
For the sake of future battles as well.
"We need someone who can lead the survivors. Even if we join up with the people of Lishlua, someone who can lead the beastman army has to survive!"
Everyone here thought so.
They have three hopes.
Apart from that, they will definitely need someone to command from now on.
So Julia heads to the rear with her partner Anri and the injured warriors whose movements are slowing down.
"Kuh... Are you asking me to live..."
Two days have passed since the world tree that towered in the center of the continent was destroyed.
The slimes chased during the day and rested at night.
The pursuit stops at night, so even if they gain some distance during that time, the slimes disguised as tireless monsters will chase them in no time.
――Including the surviving injured, the strength was about 300, but it quickly became 200, and will probably drop below 100 today.
"At this rate, tomorrow will be the last day..."
Lose. There's no chance of winning.
To begin with, he was the kind of opponent who could cut down the world tree so huge that it could be inhabited by people with a single blow.
Even if they survive this, it is clear that they will definitely lose at some point.
"I'd rather lose here..."
Fornelis' heart was about to break.
Immediately after the World Tree is destroyed, she is able to stand up due to her innate competitive spirit and sense of duty to keep what was safe, but when she is cornered like this, despair takes over her heart.
The sound of the footsteps once felt slowed down the thinking of the person whose sword skills rivaled that of a hero, and made her feet feel heavy.
"Not yet, don’t give up!!"
But that voice always pushes her back.
When she raised her head and looked towards the direction of the voice, she saw a black-haired woman running backward while holding an iron sword.
"Fornelis-san, give us instructions! I’ll join in to protect us from behind!!"
"Me too! I was able to rest yesterday, so my mana has recovered a little!!"
It passed right next to her like a wind.
Hero.
And her best friend's daughter.
"Akane, it's no good! You have to survive...!"
"There's no point in surviving alone! I can't fight alone!"
"That's――"
The one who saved them more than 20 years ago.
――Stronger, kinder, and more reliable than anyone else... someone who never gives up until the end.
She can't fight alone.
That's right.
(He wasn't alone either. We've been fighting together for a long time, and Leticia was next to him...)
"Kuh."
When Fornelis heard that voice, she wiped her eyes.
She pretended that the tears that had been about to flow before she knew it had disappeared, and she gripped the oversized sword again.
"I'm sorry, Akane, Meltia! We'll have to push you both a little harder!!"
"Let me take care of that!"
"Roger that!"
"What is that!?"
With a broken face at Akane's shout, Fornelis also headed towards the tail end of the group, which had only a little over a hundred people left.
"Fornelis-sama!?"
Julia, who had prepared for death and went to the rear, looked at Fornelis with a surprised face.
However, there was a clear look of sadness on her face.
――No one wants to die. She doesn't want to be humiliated.
Fornelis smiles at her fox-eared subordinate who endured that fear.
"What we need now is for as many people as possible to survive. We need to leave some fighting power behind―― to make the hero fight that monster no matter what."
Fornelis knew that she would never be able to kill the slime, which resembled a human perfectly.
She knew it the moment she met him.
She knew that his strength was absolutely different from that of the slime.
――What is strength?
Is he strong? Is he strong in magic? Is he smart? Is he able to use his subordinates efficiently?
...It's even simpler.
To defeat the enemy by any means necessary.
The strength of its heart.
That thing doesn't have that heart.
He has no hesitation when it comes to killing, and hunts down his enemies without using his own hands―― he only seeks the result without worrying about the process.
"We are brave soldiers. We will fight to keep as many of us alive as possible."
"Yes! Anri, let's try harder!"
"Yeah!"
In order to defeat such a monster, a suitable sacrifice is required.
You need a life to sacrifice.
Fornelis thought that making the most of even one of them was what was needed now.
To create a situation where the hero and the Demon King can fight one on one.
Fornelis gave instructions to Julia and Anri, and the two gathered up the surviving warriors and deployed to the left and right.
In the center are only Akane and Fornelis. The left and right sides were protected by about 30 warriors led by Julia and Anri.
Behind them was the mage Meltia―― It was for the sake of pursuit and support when they saw an opening and when they retreated.
"No. Fornelis-san, let's all survive."
As Akane said that, she slashed at the giant slime imitating a praying mantis that was at the rear and was causing the most damage.
It is as tall as three adult men.
Its arms were shaped into large sickles, about the size of a human being, and its six legs supported its lower body.
Even when it violently swings its big sickle, its core doesn't get disturbed, and the way it swings the left and right sickles lightly makes it look like it's dancing.
However, every time the sickle moves, fresh blood dances around, and the beastman warrior sinks into a pool of blood.
It is impossible to receive it with a weapon.
The sharp and heavy blade can easily cut a person's body in half, including steel swords and armor.
"Leave the big thing to me!!"
Akane jumped into the storm of blades without hesitation.
She crouched to avoid the blow from the right, and dodged the mowing blow from the left by holding the sword parallel and flying over the blade.
If she closes the distance, the size of the object will get in the way and it won't be able to swing the sickle through it.
If that's the case, it opens its mouth and tries to bite her to death, but Akane deftly shakes her head to avoid it.
With Julia and Anri keeping the surrounding slimes in check, they don't have time to attack Akane, so she concentrates on avoiding it.
"Fuu......"
She exhaled slowly and concentrated.
When she gripped the oversized sword with both hands, the blade became red hot.
"Haaaa!!"
When the slime that resembled a giant praying mantis concentrated on Akane, Fornelis slashed at it from the side.
It's not just a sword.
It's a magic sword imbued with the magic of fire.
The heat burns the slime's mucus, cuts even the scythe with no resistance, and cuts the slim body in two.
This monster's only weakness is its slender body.
If it were real, it would be covered with a hard outer skin, but the slime is just a replica of the shape and is just mucus―― its thinness means it can easily be cut in two.
However, even if a slime is cut, it will immediately regenerate and try to heal itself, but what cut it was a flaming magic sword.
The cut surface is burnt and cannot heal.
"First one!!"
Akane destroyed the [core] in the mouth and immediately slashed at another slime that was about to attack Julia and the others.
Their purpose is to buy time for the goddess and the injured, who are being escorted by Kara, to retreat.
――Still, Akane stepped forward.
Going forward and try to kill as many slimes as possible.
That's what she needs now. This is what all the survivors need.
"Akane! Don't be so reckless!!"
"If I stand out and attract attention, everyone else will be safe!!"
Fornelis is also one of those who is helped by Akane's actions.
She is overwhelming. It poses a clear threat to slimes.
"Not yet―― not yet!!"
(Amazing... even better than yesterday or before that)
Growth is a staircase.
It is normal to become stronger step by step, like climbing stairs.
It may be the physical strength that allows you to lift things you couldn't hold before, or the ability to predict the enemy's actions based on your experience in battle, or the ability to lead people in battle by fighting with your companions.
It is normal for people to grow step by step, little by little.
However, Akane was different.
So is Mariabelle.
Although they were amateurs in combat, they quickly mastered combat techniques that even veteran warriors could master, and surpassed them.
The rate of growth is different.
She guesses it will remain the same, one step at a time.
However, Akane, who has been growing as if she were running up the stairs, continues to grow even at this moment.
"Amazing"
Such a voice unconsciously leaked from Fornelis's mouth.
She hasn't stopped attacking. However, her gaze follows Akane's movements.
Mariabelle's figure overlaps with that movement.
After all, just like Mariabelle, knowing the location of the slime's only vital point, the [core], could be a killing blow.
She is able to accurately kill the slimes even without Alfred's holy sword.
That's why the slimes have started targeting Akane, ignoring Julia, Anri, and even Fornelis, the user of the flaming magic sword that slimes are weak against.
"Now―― Julia, Anri! Find the slime's [core] and aim for it!!"
"Yes!!"
"I understand!"
Then, if they focus only on Akane, Fornelis and the others who can move freely will carefully search for the [core] from their blind spot and attack it.
――Fornelis and the others survived this day as well.
The next day too. The next one too.
After a while, the slime's pursuit weakened, and at the same time, the slime's behavior changed.
"Hii, nooo!?"
They started attacking women.
It's not an attack―― it's an act of humiliation. It's a behavior that humiliates women, something that has troubled Fornelis and the others up until now.
And.
"Why are you aiming at the back!?"
Many of the slimes started to ignore Akane, and in fact, they started to move towards the front where the injured people were gathering.
"Protect the injured! Akane, take care of Fasalina-sama and Kara!!"
"I know!!"
(Why!? Fasalina is a goddess, but...... why are you going after Kara!?)
Kara stays behind to protect Fasalina, and Akane thinks it would be a little easier to protect her thanks to that.
From the defender's point of view, it's easier to have one target than to have two targets.
All you have to do is kill the slimes that gather in one place.
"Haa!!"
With a burst of energy, she cut a huge bear-like slime in two.
At the same time, the [core] is also destroyed in the bisecting process.
Similarly, Akane destroys the [core] of the remaining slime with precision in one flash.
There are far more slimes than before, but the good thing is that they are focused on one place.
"Fasalina, can you protect yourself?"
"I can, but it won't last long."
"Even though you're a goddess, there's not much you can do."
"I just don't want to waste my power. Right now."
"Waste, huh."
Taking that as a joke, Akane started slashing at them anyway.
Over 100 in one day.
She can't even count. It's almost too much to count.
Even after slashing like that, the slimes still kept coming, so Akane kept moving her arm and slashing at them all the way through the morning...
"What does that mean?"
Night.
Akane, who worked the hardest but was the most energetic, had natural doubts.
The slime attack has changed.
They started violating women, the number of them increased, and their attacks intensified.
...But they didn't attack the injured person.
The target was clearly the goddess... and Kara.
"Why are they targeting me?"
The slimes also become less active at night.
It's a strange habit, but they're grateful for it now.
Sitting around the bonfire, Kara, who is still active even after resting her body, asks a question.
"To the slimes, you may be a clear threat because you created the poison."
Goddess Fasalina gave a simple answer.
Poison.
The slime-killing holy water that Kara made is called the [Valhari Water].
That is the ultimate threat to the slimes, to the monster that can cut off even the World Tree with a single swing.
...In a sense, more than a goddess or a hero.
Kara understands the value of her existence.
"So I can be used as a decoy."
"That’s what it is."
Inside Kara, a strategy was being put together.
What she learned over the last five days is the behavioral pattern of a slime that mimics a human perfectly.
The purpose is different from the humanoid slime.
...All of these are acts of eliminating threats to [self].
The seventh day had passed since they began their retreat, and the holy city of Lishlua came into view.
When they met up with the rescue team from Lishlua, there were still about 150 of them alive.
・
・
・
"That one……?"
There was a figure watching Fornelis and the others who had survived the slimes from atop a cliff in the distance.
It's Frederica.
She wasted no time enjoying the encounter with her beloved humanoid slime, and watched over Grabalt's final moments.
However, when she tried to take a breather after having s*x, the World Tree was suddenly cut down.
It's normal for Frederica to be concerned, so in order to find out the cause, she checked the situation at the ruins of Grabalt, and when she found Fornelis and the others being chased by a group of slimes, she tried to follow them...
"That appearance... it's a lie."
Frederica recognized the man leading the group of slimes.
Alfred.
He is Satia's former master.
Frederica knew the face of the man who was killed and absorbed while being violated by the Black Ooze in the Mithril Abandoned Mine [as a corpse].
"Why does it have that face?"
Her magically enhanced eyesight looked at the man's face.
Beautiful blonde hair. He has a neat appearance.
She remembers that even when he was alive, he was known as an excellent mage among adventurers.
Frederica, who is in the same industry and in the same profession, had the opportunity to hear rumors about him several times.
A person of good character.
He has a serious and calm personality, just like the one she is seeing.
After chasing after a certain amount of time, the slime in the form of Alfred turned its back on the group retreating from Grabalt, as if it had lost interest.
Leaving the rest to the slimes that imitate monsters.
(If that's the case, they can escape.)
Frederica doesn't really care what happens to other people, but she probably feels a little good that her own people will survive.
She let out a sigh of relief and followed Alfred with her eyes once again.
He is heading to the other side.
Moreover, he is human-like and walks on paved paths even in the forest.
The movement was slow, and it felt as if he was taking a walk.
"Where are you headed?"
There is nothing in front of him as he walks.
It wasn't in the direction of the Grabalt ruins.
Frederica thought for a while...
"In the direction where Fonteau’s royal castle is located…"
Judging from the direction, it's probably in that direction.
Speaking of the large building there, it is the royal capital where Frederica lived as an adventurer.
(Are you planning on attacking Fonteau again?)
The Black Ooze probably had the reason that Fonteau was the closest to the abandoned mine where it lived, but she didn't understand why Alfred would attack the country of mages.
………….
"...Satia?"
Frederica remembered.
About a former slave mage who was captured by the Black Ooze after her.
A girl who was broken when her beloved master was killed right in front of her eyes.
That is Satia.
"……It could not be"
Would a slime attack a country for just one woman?
Would it try to help people?
The answer is... she doesn't know.
This is because the humanoid slime was obsessed with just the female hero, and it cut off everything else just to get her.
Now, all that remains is Frederica, who wants to be by its side, and a castle made of slime.
(It seems like the slime it prepared in large quantities has been taken away... what are they planning to do now?)
She suddenly thought about that... but it was too late.
She will just follow the humanoid slime.
She wants to feel good and forget everything―― everything from betraying humanity to being around the slimes.
That's it.
First of all, what is the purpose of that Alfred-shaped slime?
It is fundamentally different from the previous humanoid slime.
A being that tries to kill regardless of whether it's male or female.
...Once separated from such a presence, the slimes seem to regain their previous instincts and attack women.
She took her gaze away from Alfred and turned her gaze back to the group of beastmen who had now moved far away.
There, a fox-eared female warrior is cornered by a slime, violated by the slime, and her companions rescue her.
(Killing or violating... which is more important to the slime?)
Well, Frederica doesn't care what happens in the outside world.
Her strong desire was to just do what felt good and live until her final moments.
That's why she doesn't care if Alfred is walking leisurely and his destination is Fontille.
But.
"What kind of face will that Hero-sama make if I tell her about this?"
Frederica chuckled as she remembered the female hero who had been violated by the humanoid slime for so long.
While Mariabelle is unconscious, she is only violated by the torture like hand comfort.
She feels like the humanoid slime is only looking at Mariabelle now.
...Frederica was a little concerned about that.
(If that woman despairs just like me, it'll get bored.)
But the ending is the same.
If you can't escape and are violated 24/7 to the point where you can't think about anything, you'll become stupid.
That's the same for any woman.
Even if she was a hero, Mariabelle was still a woman after all―― there was no way she could resist something like that.
Besides, her friends are no longer there.
People aren't strong enough to endure time alone.
...Frederica understood that well.
Of course―― that's how she broke.
"I want it to violate me again soon..."
She wants to forget everything. Forget about it and don't feel anything other than what feels good.
For that purpose, Frederica would do anything.
She will tell the hero who is above the clouds that the country has collapsed, she will also tell her about the death of her friends, and she will also tell her that help is not coming.
(What kind of face would she make if I told her this?)
While thinking this, the blonde mage returned to her home...
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