Chapter 17: Prince Kurobuta Faces a Giant

"Why are you here?"

Mina stood up, taking the hand of the beautiful nobleman, Brad, and tilted her head.

　She didn't understand why he was here.

　Although the cat-human race, cait sith, and the kingdom of Pistel were in an alliance, it is by no means a close relationship. In the first place, because they’re far apart, there is almost no interaction, and therefore no merit to taking the trouble to help.

　That's why Mina didn't ask for help when she met him in the dungeon a month ago. She thought there was no way he would.

　　But Brad, with a noble smile on his well-organized face, said,

"That’s a silly question. When a pretty woman like you is in such a predicament, you don't need a special reason to rush to her aid do you?"

　He said this as if it was obvious.

　Mina turned bright red when he looked at her face.

"What, what are you saying nya!? It's not the time to be joking around nya."

　Meena managed to reply in a muffled voice, but she couldn't hide the fact that she was flustered and her voice was shaky.

　She was upset by the same thing a month ago, so she must be embarrassed, but she can't help it. After all, Mina has never had a serious relationship with a man and therefore has no immunity. She can't get used to it so easily.

　In the first place, if such a beautiful man were to look you straight in the eye and tell you how cute you are, most women would lose their cool. That's how beautiful this aristocrat named Brad is, and I think I should be praised a lot for reacting with just blushing.

　Mina tries to regain her composure by telling herself that--

"I'm not kidding ... I'm not good at flattery. It seems that your self-esteem is low, but you're much prettier than you think."

　Brad smiled mischievously and followed up with his own words leaving no room for doubt.

　Brad went on to mutter, "You were even in a lot of doujinshi," but Mina didn't hear him because she was already groaning and blushing. 

(I ......, I can't, I really can't.)

　Only words that seem to have such low IQ came to her mind.

　Brad looked at Mina, who stiffened with a bright red face like an apple, with a gentle expression like a parent watching over his child, and smiled.

　Then takes a breath,

"However, this is certainly not the time to be talking about such things."

　While saying this, he glanced around and had a serious face as if he changed gears.

　Looking at such a Brad, Mina also looked around in surprise.

　The hundreds of monsters under the cyclops.

They were still besieging Brad and Mina's subjugation squad. It was also creepy that the monsters were still following the instructions of the cyclops, and haven't tried to attack us.

　Anyway, Brad was calm, so I was distracted, but it’s definitely not a situation to be playing around.

(Come to think of it, The cyclops......)

　When I thought about it and looked, the cyclops was still in agony from the severe pain of having his arms cut off.

　However, innumerable goblin mages were gathering near it and chanting recovery magic, and his arms were already slowly regenerating from the root.

"No way......!”

　Mina despairs even more.

　　The Cyclops took no damage even after being attacked by Mina and the rest of the subjugation squad. With such extraordinary durability, there was no shred of hope left if he can just get healed by the goblin mages when injured.

   However, Brad didn't seem to be in a hurry as he watched the Cyclops regenerate his arm, but rather had a joyful expression on his face.

"Well...In the battle with the cyclops, the goblin mages group together. The first try was a lot of work because they kept healing the boss and casting debuff magic giving me a lot of trouble. How nostalgic .”

"..? Have you ever fought him?"

　When Mina asks and curiously tilts her head, Brad’s smile stiffened..

"Oh, no. I’m talking about this time."

　He says that and laughs heartily as if trying to cover it up.

　But while she has a lot to ask Brad, now the top priority is how to deal with this situation.

"The opponent ... in addition to the cyclops that recovers infinitely, a flock of hundreds of monsters nya. On the other hand, the subjugation team has been destroyed, and there is no one who can fight satisfactorily nya.  We can only run away... "

"Yes, you should take your injured companions with you."

　When Mina calmly concludes, Brad nods and says.

"What are you going to do?"

　Mina was curious about the way he said it.

　Brad then turned his back to Mina, popping his neck as if to be flexible, and turned toward the cyclops.

"I'm going to take him down.

　He answered so lightly.

Mina grabbed Brad's arm and hurriedly stopped him as he began to walk towards the cyclops without hesitation.

"What are you talking about? Of course you can't! It’s true that you seem to be skilled, and when I saw that you cut off his arms, I wondered if it was possible but the result was that. Even if he’s hurt, he’ll just get healed again by the goblin mages. We have no chance of winning. You said that when I last saw you right!? "

　It’s true that this aristocrat named Brad is a strong man who cut off both arms of the cyclops in an instant, but it may be because he was able to catch him by surprise.. After all, it’s impossible to face those powerful arms head-on.

　I don’t think he can take him by surprise again if the Cyclops is going to be more vigilant, and even if he gets lucky, the Goblin Mages will probably heal.

　The strength of the cyclops had already sunk into her bones.

　This is not an enemy humans can face. The cyclops isn't just strong. He’s a cunning and semi-immortal monster. There’s no chance of winning.

　A month ago, Brad himself advised her to give up on the subjugation, and he should know the horror.

"Even so......If you run away like this, the situation in your village won't improve right? I'm sure he'll use what happened here as a reason demand more sacrifices. You can't bear such a situation. " 

"That's right ... but"

　　Shaking his head at Mina's attempt to argue with him, Brad gave her a gentle smile, as if trying to reassure her.

"I'm not asking you to fight. I'm fighting alone. If I lose, you won't be hurt. Even if you run, you’ll need time to gather your companions. I'll earn that time, so you just have to pull out in the meantime. "

"That ... I can't do that even more nya! I don't have the right to ask a noble of Pistel to go that far for a stranger, and ...!"

"This is not the time for being righteousness. Just go. While you're doing this, the Cyclops--"

It was as Brad said this.

"--You won’t get away."

　An intimidating voice echoed as if to crush from above.

　When I turned my eyes to the source, I saw the cyclops wearing a terrifying magical power.

Before I noticed, his slashed arms were completely regenerated by the magic of the goblin mages, and he was staring at us with a club in his hand.

　Innumerable blood vessels emerged on his forehead, and it seemed he was clearly angry.

(What is this magic power ...!)

　As a young chief, Mina had trained herself not to be swayed by the slightest thing, but she couldn't help but be terrified by this overwhelming magic power.

　Even though he already had an extraordinary amount of magic power compared to herself, he has become even more powerful. It seems that he wasn't really serious until now.

　Don't fight that! You should run away with all your might right now. The survival instincts of Mina’s species warned her with all its might.

"I was playing with them as a sideshow, but you’ve completely ruined the fun. I'm not going to let any of you escape. I'll kill all the people here and all the people in the village of fucking cats. "

　The angry, distorted look of the cyclops convinced me that his words weren't just a threat, but a future to be implemented.

　Everyone who was there forgot to breathe facing the overwhelming power of the giant.

　Everyone but one person.

　Only Brad did not change his expression and stood firm in front of the giant, who was many times larger than himself.

"I won't let you do that."

He said quietly.

　Glaring at Brad as if assessing him, Cyclops narrowed his eyes.

"You... don't get too cocky? You just got me once ... and only got my arms by surprise, do you think you’re stronger than me?"

"I won’t get happy just by cutting the arms of a wooden figure like you.”

　I was scared when Brad made such a ridiculous provocation with a taunting smile, but the cyclops did not take the provocation.

"How stupid. Well, I'm sure you’re not a normal human since you were able to cut my arms. You’re special. I’ll allow you to make your name known to me, an executive of the four demon generals. "

　Contrary to his calm voice, the magic power of the cyclops was becoming even more terrifying.

　There was an inconceivable amount of rage directed at this man named Brad, who cut his arms off. If this rage was directed at herself, Mina may have lost it. It was such a terrible killing intent.

　However, Brad wasn’t moved and just said, "That's a shame."

"--My name is Brad von Pistel. The Kingdom of Pistel’s first prince.

　With a graceful nobleman’s bow, he announced his surprising identity.

　Mina went stiff when she heard it, but when she fully understood the meaning of his words, her eyes widened in astonishment.

"Huh ... Prince!? Weren’t you a Viscount!?"

"I'm sorry to have deceived you, I couldn't reveal my identity for various reasons, but I don't think I should hide it at this point."

　Mina just shook her head, unable to determine the truth.

　 Normally she would have denied it as impossible, but it was an undeniable fact that he had the dignity that was expected of a prince.

　　This beautiful man, staring straight at me with eyes like clear crimson jade rubies, didn’t seem to be lying.

　However, she calmly thought about the name Brad von Pistel,

"No, but isn't this too different from the rumors!? I heard that the first prince of Pistel is a fat villain, and is too incompetent so the next king being the second prince was confirmed! Your image is far from that and.... "

　”You're cool”, Mina quietly murmured the last part so he couldn't hear her.

　And when she muttered such a thing, she became embarrassed and her cheeks turned red. It was a complete self destruction.

"Hahaha, I'm pretty sure I’m the same evil fat prince. I’ve changed recently, though."

　Brad explains with a bitter smile, but Mina still can't believe it.

　And it was the same with for the giant.

"You’re a prince? I don't think that kind of thing will appear in such a place. If there was such a prince, He would be an idiot even among idiots."

　That's true.

　The prince of a country cannot come alone to such a dangerous place. It would be unthinkable without attaching most of the kingdom’s knights as an escort.

"I'm that idiot among idiots. The people, the nobles, and even my father have given up on me, so I've been left to my own devices. At most, the government will be notified when I’m in danger, but that will only be so they’ll know if I die. I'm probably the only person in a prince's position who’s acting in such a reckless manner, so it's no wonder you don’t believe me. Even if I were told, I would never believe it.”

　You don't have to believe it, Brad shrugs aloof.

　He himself understands how unreliable it sounds.

"Well, it doesn't matter who you are."

　The Cyclops roared as he stopped thinking about it, and came to that conclusion.

　And the next moment--

"-You’re dying here anyway!"

　While saying that, he disappeared from sight.

　When Mina hurriedly looked for it, she noticed the cyclops suddenly appear in front of Brad as if he had moved through space.

　Then, aiming at Brad, lowered his club at a speed that couldn’t be followed by the human eye.

"Br- ... Brad!"

　The moment Mina shouted so.

　The super-heavy club swooped down on Brad.

"..."

　A sudden blow that was unbelievably super-fast came from that giant.

　The attack, which even Mina barely noticed, seemed clearly impossible to receive or avoid.

　Perhaps everyone watching the situation expected it to end as Brad being crushed by that club, with a roar of blood splatter and dust rising up to the air. Mina also had a vision of such a scene and almost closed her eyes in apprehension.

　However--

"...!?"

　That ending never came.

　　Instead, the ending blindsided all those who witnessed it,  Mina, the members of the subjugation team, the cyclops and his hundreds of monsters, and even the heroes watching from afar.

"Ah ... it's impossible"

　Mina couldn't believe the sight in front of her.

　I couldn't believe it.

　The sight was so incredible it was like snow falling in the desert, I rub my eyes over and over wondering if it’s a dream.

　However, the scene didn’t change.

　The super-heavy club launched by the powerful arm of the cyclops. Brad had caught it with one arm, slightly sinking into the ground, but not moving an inch.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter