This is looking bad.

Let's sum all of it up: Our enemy is fighting us for reasons I don't know of, but he's also a former colleague of Ara-san, so as long as he didn't slack off like her, his level is the accumulation of a hundred years as a hero. If he's like my classmates, he hasn't done that much for his level, but the number of years will still make him a high-level character.

However, between Rine and me, he had some trouble and when Ara-san joined, we had the advantage. He should theoretically outdo us in every aspect, but he may either be holding back or can't use his power for some reason. Maybe it's because of Rine? If he puts too much force into his attacks, she might cut him with a full-powered Friedensbote, so he settles for a level where he can observe Rine who defies all logic and leaves him a bit of leeway?

Whatever it is, he decided to demoralize her by letting her see the person she loves the most. Seeing how it turned out, it's not me she's seeing.

“Kenta... I'm sorry, no, this... this... this has to be a lie, I mean, Kenta, I love you, please, believe me, I'm not like that, I'm not!” Seriously, don't act like that.

“Rine-chan!” Ah, finally! From between the ss'rak our healer and my personal worst enemy emerges, Momokawa Kyou.

I'm about to say that she's too late, but to be honest, it's not like she could have done anything. I'm not sure that even I can do anything at this point. “Take care of her.” So I leave her Rine, as comforting isn't something I'm remotely good at.

“Erm... yes! Everything is according to plan!” That Luuto-guy is indeed an alfr, he's like a teenager who's bragging, despite the fact that this result was only by chance. He doesn't even know what he exactly did... No, he does. He brought Rine's love from deep within her, he just doesn't understand what it means.

Nonetheless, I'm quite pissed. I'm really, really pissed. I know that I'm weak against Rine's tears, but I couldn't imagine before how pissed I can be because of that dick-move.

From behind comes a small assist. “[Protect]!” I turn to Kyou-san who looks at me with an also agonizing face while her arms are wrapped around Rine's head. I don't know if it's something like genuine worry or because she can't stand her crying right now, being in her period and all: “Ken... make him suffer.”

“Yeah.” Easier said than done, but I don't care at this point. Because of this jerk, we had one of the worst possible scenarios and I want to repay him for that.

“We can't win,” says Ara-san who stands next to me.

“I know.” Still, I don't need to win right now. If I can deform that smug face of Luuto, it'll be enough.

“You don't want to talk it out?” Ara-san asks.

That would be the smart way. “Nah.” Not like he wants to talk with Ara-san in the first place, as he did his best to make her stop. It's strange, I'm calm despite the likelihood of me ending up as a beaten pulp. Or dead.

I'm already scorched by the fire bomb, despite covering myself as best as possible. I feel my hurt leg and all the wounds I got from Crunch, all the frustration. Still, I'm in control of myself. Maybe because I'm next to Ara-san, and it feels like we faced so many perils together that I can rely on her. This might be the reason why people are always praising the power of friendship.

I get punched in the face, it takes less than a second. While my eyes are capable of keeping up with Luuto's movements, my body is still way too slow. I taste blood and I rub my tongue against my teeth to check whether they're still alright, as the force I was hit with certainly feels like it could have cost me a tooth or two. Despite having a [Protect]!

I swing my spear-blade, trying to get that bastard, but Luuto just jumps back while laughing at me: “Slow-poke!”

“[Speedthrust]!” I try to ignore the hissing from the sideline, the ss'rak who, for whatever reason, decided to just let us do their fighting. Actually, quite an effective tactic, but the only thing they did so far is to increase the distance between themselves and our fight as Ara-san starts using magic and Luuto evades most of the spells which in return causes collateral damage among the reptilian people.

“You know,” Luuto tells me while sidestepping at the last possible moment, just like how Rine does: “you're not as tough as you thought, right?” He swings his sword, it hits me right at the head. “Don't worry, I blunted it.”

I lose my balance, as it feels like my head just caved open. My sight is fading in and out, but I'm a hero, I can push through it! This is blunted? Why does he do that!? Still, I should consider myself lucky, right?

“Ken! [Heal]! Rine-chan, look, Ken is doing his best!”

“uhhhh... aaaaaaahhhh...” ...I can't see her right now, but I can hear her bawling. She always believed in me. She always thought that I could do impossible stuff. She never grew tired of telling everyone how great I am. She told me how important I'm for her...

I may feel like hurling; it may hurt so much I just want to drop down and sleep, but I won't. This is one of the times that I need to keep doing it. “Hey, Luuto...”

“It's Lvo'tjos!”

“Fuck yourself.”

“What exactly is-” I throw a smoke bomb. “Wow, you got me, you really-” Despite using [Mask of Wildlife] and changing my position, I feel something tearing through my armor. “-need to get a reality check, seriously. I'm an alfr, my senses are superior. I have more experience. You got nothing, duman.”

The cut is on my right side, somewhere between chest and stomach. I can't spontaneously remember what important organs are there, but at least it hasn’t pierced through... maybe two fingers deep inside my body? “Phew... I got something.” I clench his blade with my left arm, there is my armguard.

“Oh no, you've just hindered me for two seconds!” The smoke dissipates and Luuto is looking with the usual aloof alfr-face though his annoyed voice tells me that he's as pissed as I am. Suddenly, his ears move: “What's-” He looks upwards and see Ara-san's [Fountain Gun]. Instead of panicking, he lifts his arm, I can see the minute muscle changes typical for an alfr's [Class Change]: “[Windblade]!”

Now! I change to [Pikeman], my muscles grow. With the higher [Strength] I pull his blade. I feel how it cuts into my hand, but I put some force behind my pull. He, on the other hand, has switched to a class that most likely doesn't have much [Strength]. His value itself might be way higher than mine, as he sure has his crazy high level, but Ara-san and I know that there is more to it than just stats. Starting with the body build.

My stronger [Pikeman]-body whips the weapon out of Luuto's hand! He looks at me from the corner of his eye, then the wooden sword's grip grows back to his hand while his muscles change back. “Nice try.”

Ah, I feel how [Protect] fades. Luuto also shrinks his blade, coming closer while evading Ara-san's [Icicle Knives], here it comes. Incoming punch.

…the fist connects, I feel the power behind that punch which forces my head to move backwards while my body follows.

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… … …I roll around the ground, unable to break my fall.

Three, two, one... ...ouch... There is sometimes that slight delay between being hit and the pain.

“...no... you... you won't... I won't...” While I'm busy lying on the ground and feeling like shit, Rine is about to rejoin the fight. Hey, Rine! Your knees are shaking, your face looks like it's about to burst into tears again, your focus is off, and your grip is weak. Don't fight in that condition!

Instead of saying all of it, what comes out from my mouth is instead a “Buargh...”

“Don't overexert yourself! I'm here.” Hey Kyou-san, it's strange that I'm glad to see you. This is certainly a bad sign, right? “[Heal]! [Heal]! Argh, [Heal]!” I certainly want her to learn more potent healing spells. Still, each [Heal] lets some pain disappear, so I won't complain. Yet.

By the way, you're beautiful. How you're looking at me, this concern, this care, I finally understand why it's a troupe that soldiers on the battlefield fall in love with the nurses at their sickbay.

Still, I need to explain Rine, that she shouldn't fight at all. “Ken? Ken! Say something! NOW!” Stop demanding stuff from me. I'm about to tell Rine, that I'm... ouch! Why did you pinch my nose? “*sigh* still reacting to pain. [Heal]!”

Ah, where is Rine? “Kyou-san!” I've never thought it would be such labor just to speak a few words: “Rine, don't!”

“Stay calm!”

Ah, eye-language: 'Kyou-san, Rine won't be able to fight in her current condition!'

“We don't need to fight, just let them-”

'Do what!? Talk it out? I would love to, but look! Look!'

Kyou-san looks at Rine and the two alfar. Currently, all three of them are fighting... well, Ara-san and Luuto hurl spells at each other as Rine tries to approach Luuto while each second is agonizing her.

“... … Why are we fighting at all!?” Kyou-san suddenly grows pissed and starts yelling. She steps up to Luuto. “Just stop!!! Whatever the reason, you and Arako are friends, right!?”

“A reason? Well... the human udder is right. If all of you surrender, we'll talk. It's actually hard fighting all of you without accidentally killing one.”

“...how did you call me!?”

“Hey, Ara'ainn. Just surrender. I'll beat the humans half to death to please Big M, then you can all go. How does it sound?” He's totally ignoring Kyou-san and it pisses her off even more.

“Lvo'tjos, tell me the reason for your affiliation to Muaotef and what happened to the others.” Here is the bomb, so that jerk-alfr is Muaotef's underling? Maybe he's forced like I was, but why didn't he explain anything of it in the first place!? Isn't he Ara-san colleague!?

“Seriously, it's you and the humans who are intruding! I don't need to answer any questions!” Now he's throwing a tantrum.

“If this is your response...” Ara-san closes her eyes. “Then I'll make you pay for everything you did to my friends.” ...Ara-san, you used to be the reasonable one of us!

Well, I also want to hit him. I can somehow understand her. It may be foolish, it may be a poor decision, but humans are irrational, doing stuff that's stupid, making bad choices, so I guess it's that.

I slowly stand up. I start walking and pass by Kyou-san, giving her a soft pat on the shoulder: “...you're our lifeline.” I pick up my spear and feel how heavy it is for the first time since forever. “Also, I need more [Protect].”

“Geez, [Protect]!” Then she changes classes and become a more toned [Herbalist]. She takes something from her arm-pouch: “I'll try to support you.”

“...yeah.”

Why can't I stop? Why are my feelings making me do stuff that my brain decided as crap? ...no answer. Well, time to start the next round.

―○●○―

I feel... bad? Lvo'tjos and I are both alfar, so I feel like I should have been the one who solved the situation, even though every sign Lvo'tjos gives me is telling me that he can't be argued with. He's also hiding something.

“[Itching Breath]!” Momo starts with a [Herbal Weapon]-skill, but of course, she's too slow. Kenta-kun charges in, but his movements are sluggish and imprecise. Then Katarine-san comes in, but she's in a worse state than the severely injured Kenta-kun.

“You know what?” Lvo'tjos taunts us while easily evading everything: “At this point, I don't even need to fight back.”

I start with my incantation for [Tidal Wave], the rain and the humid terrain in general are good conditions for the spell, however, Lvo'tjos shows me one of his throwing blades and he throws it. I break off the chant to evade it, as having my calf pierced would also cause me to lose the chant.

Lvo'tjos is playing with us. He doesn't take us seriously, and this gives me the desire to disprove this sentiment.

Logically speaking, Katarine-san is the only one capable of hurting him. She's also the one under his spell, but his [Spirit Magic] is too strong. However, it makes it more difficult for him to use Ashenvalm as freely as before.

I may not be able to break his control, but I have another idea. Katarine-san's spirit is weakening under all of Lvo'tjos pressure and the exhaustion of being active the entire day. “Katarine-san. Just run at him while wielding your sword.”

“...yes... I... I'll do it!” She looks at Lvo'tjos with a face that's really hard to read, then she begins to blur. She's using her new skill again.

There she is. She stands right before Lvo'tjos. “You know what? You're so pathetic right now, that I'll knock you out.” He lifts Ashenvalm.

“[Sleep]!” My target isn't him, it's Katarine-san. She immediately closes her eyes, the mental strain weakens her spirit enough to make this spell even possible.

Lvo'tjos is at wonder about her limping body but just continues with his attack. This is a bad decision. Because Katarine-san has a specific trait: Whenever the tiniest amount of danger is approaching her while she sleeps, she adopts measurements to eliminate it.

Therefore, she throws a punch, hitting Lvo'tjos face, then she blocks his swords with hers, glides along his weapon to hurt his hands, then he gets a knee into the stomach, a chop to the side of his neck followed by an elbow alongside his face, then she performs a low-kick, hits him with her crossguard, and the combination of attacks doesn't stop.

Lvo'tjos, first surprised by the sudden speed-increase in Katarine-san's movements, tries to block and evade, but he's already trapped in a flurry of blows and the moment he finally is capable of disengaging her, he looks beaten up, his nose is bleeding, and he has several cuts in his face. Even his magic armor is open at two points, revealing large wounds while his spirit tells me how much it hurts. His body is that of a hero, however, therefore the way he stands and moves is mostly unaffected. “What has just hap-”

“[Armor Piercer]!” Without a chance to even shout out, Kenta-kun comes in. He hits Lvo'tjos in the back, his armor withstands the attack, but this skill certainly did its job of hurting his enemy.

“Hrr... Ouch.” Kenta-kun doesn't give Lvo'tjos any more time and keeps attacking. With all the wounds from the two of them, blood is spreading while they're fighting, though Kenta-kun is still at a considerable disadvantage.

“[Heal]!” Momo first heals Kenta-kun, then she gets a stink bomb out of Kenta-kun's stash in our [Shared Inventory]. She waits until there is an opportunity.

I change to [Acrobat] and jump at both of them: “[Scorpion's Tail]!” Lvo'tjos blocks my skill, but is hit at the side by Kenta-kun. No matter his level, he only has only two arms.

“...enough! [Squall]!” The spell pushes Kenta-kun and me away, it's not unlike the [Gust]-spell, but it's stronger and works in all directions, Momo is also thrown from her feet, the sleeping Katarine-san rolls away, even the ss'rak-audience takes some steps back. “You know,” Lvo'tjos shouts: “I was trying to be reasonable. I mean, my offer was: I don't kill you and you let yourself be beaten to a pulp. That's how it should work! Why are you all putting up that much of a resistance? I mean, what's the reason? Is there any? Where is the logic in your actions! Ara'ainn, where is the fun!? Have the humans actually brainwashed you? This is neither smart nor funny, so why are you as an alfr putting up with it!?”

The answer is clear: “Because I enjoy being around them.” They often puzzle me, they often make me wonder my reasoning, they're young, they're human. Katarine-san makes me question my common sense regularly, Momo always complains when I want to slack off a bit, being around Kenta-kun is challenging my sanity, but when I'm with the three of them, everything is a bit better. Of course, I don't need the curse in my life, but each day was enjoyable so far. Even when I argue or even fight with one of them, I won't give this up!

Lvo'tjos doesn't understand though: “...I can't even describe how wrong it sounds. Are you his sex toy? Is it that? You're in love with your abductors? Don't worry. I'll help you.” He turns towards Kenta-kun who is already fighting a war, a war to stand up while changing his class again. “Kati is special, but as long as she sleeps, it's alright. Time to break you as well. First your mind, then your penis!”

“No!” He's about to do the same to Kenta-kun as he did to Katarine-san! He tries to make him see in him the one he loves the most, but seeing how it worked with Katarine-san... I can't do anything!

Kenta-kun's struggle of balance ceases, he falls on one knee while his eyes are locked on Lvo'tjos, his mouth is agape. Then something strange happens with his face, his cheeks begin to distort in a way I've never seen, he shows his bloody teeth while his mouth begins to spread wider and wider open. The words coming from his mouth are quiet, but his hoarse and unfamiliar voice is frightening: “I will kill you.” Then with a loud and beast-like outcry, he begins to run faster than ever before, wielding his spear like it's some sort of giant claw. “RRRHUUAAAAAAAAGH!”

His spirit is the worst of all: It's hvur. There is only one kind of alfr who houses a hvur spirit: the insane.

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