Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Finally defeating the Human-Faced, we began walking away from the ruins .

We walk along the side of some fallen trees .

Currently, I’m leading our group while Eve is holding our rear .

Seras is walking behind me .

Liz and Slei were following behind Seras .

Slei has now returned to her first form .

It appears that she feels a bit tired because of her transformation .

Her third form particularly accumulates fatigue from her .

Pigimaru is comfortably snuggling in my robe just as usual .

[Pifuuu~…]

It seems he also was quite tired from our combination technique .

[It’s more peaceful than I thought . ]

Seras said .

Standing at the rear end of our formation, Eve answers .

[It would be alright if the other monsters were the one chasing along the tracks of this Human-Faced but… that could also mean there were many monsters who have seen the Human-Faced when it moved . ]

I interrupted her words .

[It could probably be the opposite . ]

[The opposite?]

[It’s possible that they were moving away, avoiding the Human-Faced . ]

Even back at the Disposal Ruins, there were no other monsters in the area near the Human-Faced .

The Human-Faced were monsters avoided by other monsters…

Perhaps, there may even be a custom where they would give up on the prey that the Human-Faced had set its eyes on .

[Fumu… It seems that the monsters weren’t able to coexist in the Demon Zone like we thought . ]

[I had the impression that this place would be swarming with monsters but there are surprisingly fewer monsters in this place . ]

[In that case, you could even say that the monsters in here were quite conscious about their own territories huh . ]

[……………… . ]

[Mhmm? What’s wrong, Touka?]

[No, it’s nothing . ]

While saying that, I was actually observing Eve .

Just a while earlier, she was influenced with the victory from the battle against the Human-Faced .

“Only a few people were able to bring down the Human-Faced . ”

It seems that Eve became quite shocked from that .

Just as we were leaving the ruins…

“I still can’t feel whether this really is reality or not . Even though this was indeed possible through that power you used before, but I still saw that Human-Faced dying right in front of my eyes… I feel quite of strange . I feel kind of exalted and somewhat bewildered…”

There’s a bit of excitement in the air around her when she said that .

However, Eve has now returned to how she normally acts .

Human-Faced .

It’s an enemy that I couldn’t be careless with, but it also isn’t something that makes me hopeless when fought against .

A perfectly flawless monster—- isn’t something I could describe this one .

I’ve experienced fighting against two Human-Faced so far .

You could fight them enough depending on how you planned it .

……Well, I can’t really deny that most of it is because of the great power of the Abnormal State Skill .

[Human-Faced huh…]

As thoughts were running through my mind, I muttered .

There certainly is the eeriness that I could feel from it, but it this creature is still full of mystery .

Even the extensively knowledgeable Seras doesn’t exactly know anything about it .

The most ferocious of the most brutal enemies .

The most sadistic of the cruelest enemies .

How were they born?

Why were they born?

I take out the triple-layered hemp bag from my backpack .

The contents were still slightly warm .

I opened the bag while we’re still walking .

Seras suddenly peeps in .

[Is this a material used for a Forbidden Technique?]

Inside the bag is a part of the body of the Human-Faced we defeated just now .

A portion of it was still throbbing .

[There weren’t any raw materials written in the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” that could be acquired from the Human-Faced but… I felt like it looks like one of the illustrations I’ve seen added inside it . In that case, I thought whether we could use this as a substitute or not . ]

Seras tilted her head as she looked up to my face .

[You’re talking about that one in page 167?]

As expected, I won’t remember what page that one is on .

However, it seems that Seras remembers it .

[I already forgot what that ingredient was for—]

Looking like she’s a bit glad, Seras raises her white index finger .

[You’re talking about the “Gem of Voice Amplification”, right?]

[Yeah, that’s right . ]

“Damn it…” I scratched my head .

[You’ve perused the book a lot that it seems like Seras knows more about the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” than I do . ]

Whenever we had free time, I’ve always seen her perusing the book .

Seras straightens her back .

She then looks forward and gently brushes away her blond hair .

[I was indeed just really interested with what you’re reading at first, but I thought I could be more helpful to Touka-dono in this regard . ]

[I also intend to thoroughly read after I find some spare time, but it might be more likely that I’d end up having to rely on Seras for the contents regarding the book . I’d be relying on you at that time, okay?]

Placing her hand over her chest, Seras respectfully nodded .

[Please leave it to me . ]

[Sorry . ]

[Suddenly apologizing… I was just reading a lot because I like reading . ]

[Even so, that really helps me . ]

[—–Yes . ]

There’s a bit of liveliness in her reply .

[…………………… . ]

The book lover, Seras Ashrain .

I thought it would only be a matter of time when she would be interested in the “Encyclopedia on the Forbidden Arts” .

My reading time has decreased since I entered the Demon Zone .

It wouldn’t be bad if I leave understanding the contents of the book to Seras for the time being .

[Since I’ve been leading our group, I’m a bit nervous…]

[You’re nervous, is it?]

[A little . ]

[?]

Even after I’ve left the Disposal Ruins, I still can’t get rid of my habit of talking with myself .

Seras then spoke as she leaned forward and peeked at the bag in my hand .

[By the way, Touka-dono, there also other things I’ve learned that may be useful in regards to the materials for the Forbidden Techniques— I- Iyaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh————-!]

Reflexively, I stepped back a bit .

[Wha-?]

Suddenly screaming (?), Seras falls down on her butt .

She looks like blood was drawn from her face .

What happened?

As expected, I would be surprised with that scream of her just now…

How should I say this… That sounds like a real scream, you know?

Did she feel disgusted by that part of the Human-Faced that I’ve harvested?

No…

When she looked into it a while ago, she acted quite normal though .

Did something change over that time?

I looked into the bag in my hand .

[Hmm?]

There was something of a different color mixed in the bag .

I pinch the thing out and lift it up .

[Earthworm…? Ah, this must have slipped in while I’m collecting the material . ]

[To- Touka-dono… I don’t know if I could say that thing sounds quite tough… or quite creepy… Anyway, that’s dangerous…]

I wonder what she meant as tough and creepy .

[I know already, so I think you should close your legs first . ]

[Ah—- Excuse me . ]

I throw away the earthworm towards the nearby bushes .

[Are you not good with them?]

[……to put it plainly, yes . ]

[Even though you look quite fine with Pigimaru’s tentacles or that Human-Faced wiggling tongue?]

[In spite of that, I’m still not good with earthworms . ]

Pat, pat

Seras stands up and brushes away the dirt off her butt .

She had a rather dignified expression on her face .

I feel like she’s trying to smooth over her composure .

“Erhem”, Seras solemnly clears her throat .

[However… That is a really unbecoming weakness for a proud knight . If you were to have lost composure for being disgusted at something like this, you would disgrace your reputation as the Former Holy Knight Leader of Neia—-]

[That’s quite unexpected . To think that you had a weakness like this, Seras . ]

[——-Iyyaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh! Touka-dono already threw that away, why are you holding that now, Eve! Are you sane!?]

[……M- My bad . ]

After being reproached by Liz, Eve trudgingly returned back to the rear .

To think that Seras would be disturbed like that .

This might not be a good thing to say but…

I was able to get a glimpse of an interesting aspect that I never expected .

Well, it was also important to know what your comrades were weak against .

Moreover, the atmosphere unexpectedly calmed down .

We have to be careful for most of our time while in the Demon Zone .

There wasn’t any presence of monsters around the area .

Clamouring like this isn’t so bad once in a while .

I look towards the three people walking behind me .

[…………………]

In fact, the other three people were exhausted already .

They were worn out .

It’s no wonder .

Our enemies wouldn’t just be the monsters we encounter .

I dare say that this place, the Golden Demon Zone isn’t somewhere we could afford to rest .

The only place I can think of as the only place we could rest in this Demon Zone…

We advanced even further .

▽

[The air has become more humid . ]

Holding down her hair that’s fluttering in the breeze, Seras said .

Eve looks up .

[It might rain for a bit . ]

The surrounding scenery has changed .

Somehow—- the color of the trees and their leaves look darker .

Is it proof that we have finally entered the deepest part of the Demon Zone?

[……I’m quite worried about those things I’ve been seeing for some time . ]

The rocky surface stretching out from the opposite side of the group of trees .

I wonder if we could describe those as a small mountain range?

They were spread out like a wall .

However…

I told Eve to check out the map .

I looked towards Eve who was also looking my way .

[Touka . ]

[Yeah . ]

We’ve been thinking it won’t be long now .

So that’s how it is .

We’ve finally come this far huh…

[Based on where we are— If we increase our pace, we may be able to arrive tomorrow or the day after that . ]

The place where the Witch of Taboos live is already near .

Translator Notes:

Hello, this is LazyCat . I would like the readers to know that would have a short hiatus next week . Normal Update Schedule comes back in March 23, 2020 .