Episode 23 I won't let you escape

　Seeing Uta in front of him, the "Red Flame" fled, running straight into the forest.

　If we hide in the trees and escape, we should be able to avoid Uta's teleportation.

　He felt no guilt about leaving his subordinate, the "White Fire," behind.

　He was the leader of this operation, and it was only natural that his subordinates would sacrifice themselves for the survival of their leader.

"That kid... who the hell is he?!"

　"Red Fire" gritted its molars and growled as it raced through the forest at breakneck speed.

　They... the "Hands of Flare" are the greatest fighting force the "Temple of Fire" can boast of.

　It is an invincible force that has wiped from the earth everything that has been deemed an enemy of God.

　In fact, from the time he joined the army until today, Red Flame has never failed a mission.

　It seems that in the past, he was given a hard time by the previous Demon King and Hero... but that was hundreds of years ago.

　They believed that with their current state, there was no way they could be defeated even by an awakened hero.

(And yet... two people were killed by one brat, forcing them to retreat...!)

　Although it wasn't confirmed, within the "Red Fire" the "White Fire" was already considered dead.

　To begin with, "White Fire" only possesses the rare ability of nullifying magic, and its combat ability is low.

　If an opponent appeared against whom magic nullification ability did not work, there would be nothing he could do but be killed.

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　That man... Uta is a monster. Too strong.

The durability and healing power that allowed him to remain calm even while bathed in the destructive flames of the ``Red Fire''.

Continuous use of teleportation magic at a level exceeding that of the spatial magic of 『Green Fire』.

An abnormal situation in which magic was not nullified despite being surrounded by the pure white flames of the ``White Fire''.

　Any one of these would be a threat, but they are not powers that should be possessed by one person.

"I have to tell... the leader about this. I have to tell his Holiness...!"

　Unlike any other divine enemy up until now.

　Hanakiru Uta may even surpass the Demon King, and is undoubtedly an enemy of mankind.

"Who did you say you were going to tell? Can you say it again?"

"Wha...?"

　"Red Fire" ran through the forest, but... ahead of him, he saw a boy sitting on a tree stump.

Sweat suddenly broke out down 『Red Fire』’s back.

　Before I knew it, Hanakiru Uta had circled around.

(No way… No, it’s not impossible with teleportation magic…!)

　However...the "Red Fire" didn't come straight through the forest.

　He fled in a zigzag pattern, threading his way through the trees.

　Even if I used teleportation magic, there was no way I could get there first.

"You killed too many people in that village."

　Uta greets the "Red Fire" with a smile as it stops.

"The smell of death has clung to your body. That means we can detect your location from ten kilometers away."

"The smell of...death?"

"Red Fire" muttered in shock.

　Certainly, the smell of ash and smoke would cling to his body.

　However, it was impossible for him to teleport relying on something like that.

"Are you going to kill me, brat?"

"That's right. Because you're my enemy and my beef stew."

"...Beef stew?"

　Come to think of it, Uta had said something like that.

　Surely, he was serious and not joking?

　Was that the reason he was fighting against them, the temple's greatest fighting force?

"I'll buy you some beef stew. Any amount you like."

"yeah?"

"In the neighboring holy city of Freaburg, there is a restaurant that is said to be the best on the continent. I'll treat you to as much beef stew as you like. How about making it yourself?"

"What? Seriously?"

　Uta's eyes lit up.

　The best restaurant on the continent.

　I wonder just how delicious the food will be.

　Seeing Uta's eye color change, the "Red Fire" chuckled inwardly.

"If you use your teleportation magic, you should be able to reach Flareburg in three days. Then we'll have our fill of beef stew..."

"Three days? Well, no thanks."

"Oh."

"I wanted to eat beef stew today. I don't want to have to wait three days."

　Uta instantly teleports to a place right in front of the ``Red Flame'' and touches its chest.

The ``Red Flame'' opened its eyes wide from within its hood... and then turned to dust.

"Ahhh... I wanted to eat beef stew."

　Uta said with a dissatisfied look on his face and stroked his stomach, which was making a growling noise indicating hunger.