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36. Wolf’s Hidden Village (9)

–Shizuku’s perspective

As I was caught up in battle with an endless monster horde, a shadow covered up the sun.

It was huge and bigger than a house. Is that a praying mantis? This is the first time I have ever seen such a big monster. I have to defeat it… I have to defeat it! I have to defeat it!!

「Gather more power, [Garou]…!」

[Mana activity: 11%&5-4\1]

The golden claws of light flickered, and their shape momentarily distorted before returning. I was able to extend the time with the [Duration Enhancement] I received from Marge, but the way the glow of the precious gem pendant became cloudy was clearly indicating that I had hit the limit of mana that this exhausted land can lend. This land had been weakened to such an extent.

I have to take it back. The homeland which provided for our ancestors and was in return protected by them. A land of abundant greenery and fauna.

「I will take it back!」

I must defeat it for that purpose. Defeat everything that tries to take it away and clear the path.

I shook off the danger signals sent by the [Scout’s Intuition] and moved forward.

「Don’t say it’s okay to run away! It’s not!」

I wasn’t saying that to Marge. I spat at the halfhearted words I hear from people when I go out into town. They say it is okay to run away. It is wise to avoid conflict. Sometimes just being alive is a good thing.

Don’t screw with me!

「Don’t think it is okay to run away just because you can!!」

I recalled the face of the man who understood that but still gave me a skill that helps to escape.

Marge is strong. As far as I know, he’s stronger than anyone else.

He will definitely be able to conquer “The Farthest Ends of Blue”. My role is to keep fighting until then. I’m already running out of energy though.

「Even so!!」

I used all of my strength to run up a wall. I ducked and dodged the enemy’s scythe, and cut off its head with my fading claws. Its body, which has lost its command center, still moved around aimlessly. After the body collapsed motionlessly, confirmed that it was dead and took a moment to catch my breath.

I’m sure this one is like a monster captain. Since I defeated it, it should take some time before…

「…」

[Scout’s Intuition] fired off multiple warnings.

I saw about 15 monsters, the same as those I had just defeated, forming a line and heading towards me. My father, who was running around gathering up the villagers, shouted from behind me.

「Shizuku, that’s enough! Get away!」

「No, this is…」

At the same time, I realized that the warnings indicated not such a small force but a rather much bigger one.

Because it came straight from below.

「[Space Jump] to the ground. [Vajra Barrier] [Asura’s Six Arms], activate.」

The big force was suddenly compressed into a smaller one.

「–[Great Ram].」

A single shot pierced straight through all the enemy. It was heavy and hard, and as it turned around, it dragged along the ground, raising a cloud of dust, and stopped right in front of me.

「Leave the rest to me.」

The back of the person in front of me seemed so big and safe.