Assault after Assault Across the Board
Tigaro smiles at the enraged Psyphro and bows his head slightly.
"Brother, this is the girl I'm after. Please, please refrain from doing this for me."
"Get out of the way! Tigaro!! If that's what he wants, then, me too―― muguh!"
Tigaro makes Aifie bite the [Spirit Tail] that was sticking out from his waist, and covers Aifie's mouth.
The cute Aifie, whose movements are blocked by magic tentacles that he treats as if they were a part of his own body, makes him feel a little s*xually aroused.
Pushing it to the back of his mind, Tigaro whispered to her.
"Don't, Aifietouka-jou."
Tigaro understands a little bit of the kind-hearted Aifie's inability to overlook what Psyphro does.
He hurts and torments people just for his own pleasure.
Because he lives in the Noros family, seeing this scene has become a daily occurrence for Tigaro, and his senses are partially numbed, but in general, Psyphro's actions are the same as a devil.
However, Psyphro―― is the next head of the Noros family, one of the three great nobles of the kingdom
His tyranny is forgiven because of the Noros family's prestige of military power.
Moreover, Psyphro himself has the appropriate power as the next head of the Noros family.
No matter how good Aifie is at magic, it would be dangerous to oppose him using her own strength.
Since Aifie has already been enslaved by Tigaro, he can also silence her by giving her orders.
However, if that happens, Psyphro and the people around them who are watching will find out that Aifie is Tigaro's slave.
It would be fine if the people around them found out and Tigaro was blamed for enslaving Aifie, but it would be extremely unpleasant if Psyphro found out that fact.
Since Psyphro is filled with anger, there is a possibility that he will force Tigaro to surrender Aifie, or even try to make fun of Aifie, even breaking the Noros family's rule of not touching other people's slaves.
It seems that Tigaro's hunch was correct, and Psyphro turned to Tigaro, who was pushing Aifie back, with eyes whose pupils were dilated with anger.
"Tigaro. If you plan on making her your slave, enslave her right here and now. Make her miserable. ――After that, I will do it myself."
When Tigaro heard that, he clenched his mouth tightly.
Tigaro's inner response to Psyphro's request is to refuse without hesitation.
There's no way he'd hand over Aifie to someone from the Noros family.
Besides, it would be outrageous to have Aifie's foolishness exposed in such a public place.
However, telling this to Psyphro will only provoke his resentment even further.
Tigaro was sweating profusely and was trying to think of an excuse.
"――I see. I guess this monster's commotion was also a diversion to get closer to my sister?"
The sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the bridge.
Walking up from the bridge overflowing with corpses of ant monsters was a man with indigo hair wearing a robe that could only be worn by the captain of the Water Holy Knights.
Ahead of his narrowed gaze, he saw Tigaro making Aifie bite his magic tentacle and covering her mouth.
Anger oozed out from the words of Rogienor, Aifie's older brother.
"Even though I warned you once, you're still trying to get closer to her. You made a foolish and rash choice. Tigarokent Noros."
As Rogienor said that, there was a slight drop of sweat on his forehead.
Perhaps because Rogienor and Aifie are brother and sister, Tigaro saw in him a resemblance to Aifie, who was out of breath earlier.
It seems like Rogienor was also fighting the ant monsters near here, just like Tigaro and the others.
A member of the Asur family, which specializes in defensive magic, his robes had no monster blood on them, but the monster blood rubbed off on his shoes as he stepped on the ground.
Aifie, who was able to shake off his weakened [Spirit Tail], took a deep breath.
Then, her eyes widened when she saw Rogienor showing his anger.
"Brother...!"
Rogienor, who received Aifie's gaze, smiled at her to reassure her, and then immediately returned his stern gaze to Tigaro.
It seems that Rogienor mistakenly thinks that Tigaro is attacking Aifie right now.
The Asur family had been wary of Tigaro interfering with Aifie for some time now―― and it was due to Rogienor, who was said to be the next head of the family.
He immediately connected that thought.
Tigaro understood this and his heart beat even faster.
Even though he was nervous inside, he carefully opened his mouth in an attempt to calm Rogienor down.
"It's a misunderstanding, Rogienor-dono. Besides, there are some remnants of the monsters left, so let's take those first..."
"There is no other option that is more important or a priority than my family. Get away from my sister right now."
His usually calm tone became stronger as he picked up the stick-shaped magic tool Rogienor had taken out from inside his robe, and slowly showed it to Tigaro.
It was a notice that if he did not comply, he would not show any mercy, even to Tigaro, the son of the kingdom's three great aristocrats.
However, Tigaro has to protect Aifie from Psyphro, who is still glaring at her.
Psyphro demands that Aifie be handed over, and Rogienor threatens him to leave Aifie.
Which one should he deal with first?
Sweat drips down his cheeks as he feels the intimidation of these two men.
Due to his impatience, Tigaro hesitated for just a moment.
However, in the moment that Tigaro was thinking, things changed.
Psyphro shifted his gaze to Rogienor, who was threatening Tigaro, and frowned in disgust.
"...Tsk. Another troublesome piece of trash here."
"That's my line, Psyphro Noros. If you're after my sister too, I won't show any mercy."
In return, Rogienor put his strength into the magic tool in his hand.
Seeing this, Psyphro also held the blood-stained [Spirit Sword] in one hand and lowered his hips a little.
"You pretentious piece of trash. Don't get in my way."
"I don't want to be treated like that by a domineering monkey who can only make arrogant choices."
Psyphro and Rogienor exchanged sharp glances.
Originally, in the history of the Shirsodi Kingdom, it could not be said that the three great nobles of the kingdom were on good terms with each other.
In particular, the relationship between the Noros family, which is hated by many nobles, and the other two families is particularly bad.
If the heirs of the Noros family and the Asur family met face to face, the atmosphere would become so tense.
Right now, they should be on guard against the remnants of the ant monster and investigate the cause of the monster's appearance right away.
The members of the Holy Wind Knights and the Holy Water Knights who had gathered after hearing the commotion were just staring from afar with worried eyes, perhaps because they were reluctant to interfere in the discussion between the next heads of the kingdom's three great aristocrats.
The knights won't be reliable here.
In other words, Tigaro is the only one here who can appease Rogienor and Psyphro.
"Both of you, please wait a moment――"
Tigaro had no choice but to intervene in the tense atmosphere between the two.
It was then.
"[Instant Foot Sudden Space]"
Along with that voice, a gust of wind blew.
"――Tigaro!!"
Hearing Aifie's voice screaming, Tigaro notices the murderous intent behind him.
When he turned around, there was a fist coming towards him.
Tigaro can't do anything as the fist approaches him.
That moment when the fist will hit his face.
A black shadow slips between him and the fist.
The shadow blocked the fist with both hands, leaving a strong sound.
"Hoh, you can stop my fist. Little girl."
"..."
Gugoros Fonedao was impressed by Kenna, who accepted the fist with no expression on her face.
The current head of the Fonedao family instantly walked behind Tigaro and thrust out his fist.
Tigaro saw Gugoros try to punch Kenna again, who was in the way.
Before that, Tigaro moved reflexively.
He wrapped the [Spirit Tail] he had released around Kenna's stomach and jumped backward.
Gugoros' fist slipped into the space where Kenna was, but it did not hit Kenna's body and instead cut through the air.
"Fuu."
Gugoros snorted in disdain as Tigaro flew backward and evaded him.
Aifie, who was standing behind Gugoros, breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that Tigaro she was staring at was not injured.
However, Gugoros, who was just looking at Tigaro, didn't seem to see Aifie's expression.
Gugoros gave Tigaro a stern look and lightly thrust his fist in front of him, taking a stance.
"The price for touching my grandchild with your filthy magic. I'll make you pay it now."
That quiet hostility was clearly directed towards Tigaro.
――This person too!!
Tigaro cursed inwardly.
Apparently, like Rogienor, Gugoros also misunderstands that Tigaro is trying to attack Aifie, who is Gugoros's grandchild.
Before Tigaro could utter a word of excuse, Gugoros began to move.
Gugoros swung his fist toward the empty space in front of him.
"[Instant Foot Sudden Space]"
By the time he thought Gugoros had disappeared in an instant, an old but well-trained physique appeared right in front of Tigaro.
As soon as he saw that, his fist swung down.
"!!"
Without having time to wrap the Spirit Tail around his hand, Tigaro caught it with his bare hands.
Enduring the shock that seemed to lift his body, and wincing in pain, he wrapped his [Spirit Tail] around Gugoros's arm and fixed it in place.
Gugoros, whose arm was captured, prepared to stick out his other arm. However, from the position where his one arm was fixed, it was a little slower than before.
Tigaro blocked it with his second [Spirit Tail] and grabbed both of Gugoros's arms.
Taking advantage of this, Tigaro tried to open his mouth to calm down Gugoros, but Gugoros had already swung his knee to kick Tigaro.
Kenna slips in between the two who are in a state of gripping each other.
Then, the beastman girl lowered her back to catch Gugoros's kick.
"[Instant Foot Sudden Space]"
The feeling of Gugoros' arms on his [Spirit Tail] suddenly disappeared.
By the time Tigaro noticed this, a strong shock ran through his back.
"Gah!?"
Kenna, who was in front of Tigaro, was also involved, and the two were thrown forward.
Kenna took advantage of the beastman's high physical ability and quickly stood up with vivid movements, while Tigaro rolled over and took a passive stance before turning back.
Gugoros kicked Tigaro in the back.
His back and palms hurt from Gugoros's attack, but he doesn't have time to worry about that right now.
Gugoros has already closed the distance to Tigaro.
Tigaro tries to make time to calm down Gugoros while dodging his fists and kicks, but he doesn't have time to do so as the kingdom's fastest person, Gugoros, chases him in a breathtaking pursuit.
"Kuh…!?"
Even Tigaro, who has mastered the martial arts of Noros, the kingdom's foremost master of martial arts, was in such a ferocious pursuit that he couldn't handle it.
Kenna also moved around quickly to protect Tigaro, but Gugoros' attacks were becoming too ferocious to the point where it was difficult to see.
Tigaro, unable to absorb the impact of the fist, was thrown backward.
"Tigaro!!"
He can hear Aifie's worried voice.
At that moment, Gugoros stepped forward to close the distance to Tigaro again.
Suddenly, a number of stick-shaped magic tools rained down from the sky and stuck between Gugoros and Tigaro.
"Okay, that's enough."
At that voice, everyone stopped moving.
The sounds of the noisy commotion stopped in an instant.
Gugoros glares at Tigaro.
Nearby, Psyphro and Rogienor, who had already started fighting, looked at the man standing above them.
"Further fights will be prohibited by the Holy Wind Knight Commander―― Colares Fonedao."
The man floating in the sky said this casually.
Flapping in the wind is the robe of the Knight Commander, proof that he stands at the top of the Holy Wind Knights.
Around the man, twelve rod-shaped magic tools with sharp tips like short spears were floating.
The man's name is Colares Fonedao.
This man is the son of Gugoros Fonedao, the current head of the Fonedao family, and the current leader of the Holy Wind Knights.
"…………"
Gugoros glanced at him for a moment, then immediately returned his gaze to Tigaro.
Then, he took a step forward.
However, a short spear-shaped magic tool pierces in front of Gugoros.
Gugoros stopped at the short spear-shaped magic tool blocking his path.
It was one of the things floating around Colares.
"Hey, hey. I know that Aifie-chan is important to you, but don't get mad Father."
"...What are you so carefree about? Even if these guys are brats, they're Noros people."
In contrast to Gugoros, who looked at Tigaro and frowned, Colares' mouth turned up in a smile.
"It's not about Noros, it's just that you don't like Lemalgoas. Because you're so angry, your own son has taken the title of the strongest in the kingdom, and you're miserably downgraded to the title of the fastest in the kingdom."
"...You idiot son doesn't understand anything."
"Yes, yes. I want my idiot father, who is only fast, to retire as soon as possible."
Even though Gugoros spat with a bitter face, seeing Colares' attitude of not backing down, he released his stance on Tigaro.
Then, after giving Tigaro a stern look, he turned his back and left somewhere.
Seeing Gugoros' behavior, Tigaro finally calmed down and released his stance.
Kenna, who was watching Gugoros' actions next to him, also retreated half a step behind Tigaro.
After confirming that Gugoros had taken his gaze away from Tigaro, Colares then gave a refreshing smile to Aifie, who was standing a short distance away.
"Aifie-chan probably won’t like what these guys are doing, but please back off for now."
When Aifie was told that, she turned to look at Psyphro's slave, who was covered in blood.
Fresh blood is still seeping out from the painful wound.
It was a wound that was inflicted by the slave master, Psyphro, earlier.
Aifie stared at it for a while, a little worried, and answered with an unconvinced expression on her face.
"……I understand."
Colares nodded with satisfaction at Aifie's reluctant words.
Then, he casts a glance at Togienor.
"Now, Asur's heir, keep your head cool. You're too impatient when it comes to Aifie-chan. In that sense, you're just like the father you hate, you know? That guy used to get beaten to a pulp by his own wife because he jumped to conclusions too fast. Oh, not my sister's―― Aifie-chan's mother, but your real mother, right?"
Colares said with a joking laugh.
Rogienor, who was breathing a little heavily, perhaps exhausted from the fight with Psyphro, frowned in disapproval.
"...Whether we're related by blood or not, they're both my real mothers."
Even as he said that, Rogienor lowered his hand that was about to cast magic on Psyphro.
"Fuu, you're just like your father, even in the troublesome part."
Colares said that with a wry smile, and gave instructions to the Holy Wind Knights who were watching the situation around them, such as patroling the surrounding area and guiding the residents.
Rogienor followed suit and issued an order to the Holy Water Knights.
The members of the Holy Water Knights began examining the corpse of the ant monster, descending to the river, and cautiously approaching the hole where no water was coming out.
Colares finished giving instructions to his subordinates, the members of the Holy Wind Knights, in a matter of seconds, and finally looked at Tigaro and Psyphro.
"Well, you've calmed down for now, but are you still motivated to fight? Ah, you can leave the disposal of these strange monsters to us."
Beneath Colares' eyes, there were still many corpses of ant monsters scattered about.
To be honest, Tigaro wants to find out more about the ant monsters right away.
The relationship between these monsters and the monster Eul was transforming into is not clear, but there is no doubt that Eul is involved in this vortex.
However, he doesn't want to make a bad move in this situation and cause Tigaro to be accused of strange things again.
Besides, the first thing to do right now is to restrain Psyphro, who is looking at Rogienor in a belligerent manner.
Seeing this as an opportunity, Tigaro whispered to Psyphro, who normally wouldn't listen to what Tigaro said.
"...Brother Psyphro. Let's stay away from here."
The words of Colares Fonedao, the leader of the Holy Wind Knights and the strongest in the kingdom, and the words from his relative Tigaro.
When prompted by the two, Psyphro made a dissatisfied expression.
"...Tsk. Trash."
He spat it out and erased the [Spirit Sword] in his hand.
Tigaro let out a sigh of relief at that.
It seems that the anger directed at Aifie and Rogienor has calmed down.
Psyphro had the slave open the door of the carriage he had summoned and stepped inside.
Before putting his body completely into the box carriage, Psyphro glanced at Tigaro.
There was some sort of threatening pressure.
"Tigaro. Don't get in my way next time."
With that said, Psyphro got into the carriage and left.
With a cheerful smile plastered on his face, Tigaro saw off Psyphro so as not to spoil his mood.
While he was doing that, Colares and Rogienor gathered and talked about something.
"Now then, Asur's heir and me will investigate this place. If all the Noros guys leave here, it won't have any problems, right?"
"...Yeah, we, the Holy Water Knights, are also concerned about the source of this ant monster.... Would you like to help us out a little, too?"
"Y-yes, Brother."
Aifie glanced at Tigaro for a moment, then swayed her glossy blue hair and ran towards Rogienor and Colares.
Tigaro did not respond to Aifie's gaze in order to hide his relationship with Aifie.
Tigaro, who turned his back to Aifie, opened his mouth to Kenna, who was staring at him with no expression on her face.
"Kenna. Let's go home too."
"Yes"
In the end, he still doesn't know how long the ant monsters were in the underground waterways of the capital, or what their purpose was.
However, he doesn't have a choice but to leave it to the knights of the kingdom.
Tigaro looked at the corpses of the ant monsters lying everywhere and walked with Kenna in the direction of the carriage carrying Psyphro.
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