Chapter 84 - Emmy: Today it Begins Part 1

I block an Ice Needle heading in front of me. I deflected it using my shield but the shock of the magic still remains in my trembling hand. So to avoid the second and third Ice Needles for reaching Russell behind my back, I use the sword Russell enchanted and cut the gigantic ice that looks more similar to spears into pieces. The Hero versus the Demon King. I always thought that it's a stuff of legends too distant for me to care about. It's just stories afterall and is not related to me personally. Or so I thought until Vince became the hero and I became the Holy Knight. …In fact I really didn't think much about it back then. Being bestowed with a renowned class made me happy, and the everyday activities that came with it just kept me busy… Any time except for that.. Well… I always keep thinking of Russell. That's why I didn't realize it. Or maybe I instinctively tried to avoid it. –The reality that the existence of the Hero testifies the existence of the Demon Kings. When I first saw the demon king, which looked like a scary shadow-like thing, I thought it was another kind of monster. More like, I didn't think it was even able to talk. So if it wants to let our fists do the talking, then, since I am now stronger than Russell, I won't mind it at all. But wow. After I prevented all the ice needles reaching the backlines, I think back again if Russell really defeated an enemy as strong as this. …That's so naive of me, honestly… The most humane thing about this demon king's true appearance is only its silhouette. Aside from that, everything about it is just too monstrous. …It's not even just scary anymore! Nevermind the bald purple head and empty eyebrows, there's not even a speck of dust in its eyes! It's all white! Sure it's body looks the same as us humans but I didn't imagine these changes would really turn someone to a horrifying creep! Just seeing its appearance brings me to the reality that we are against a demon king said to be in those stories. What's more, even by the standards of Sybilla-san, this demon king in particular is far from normal. [] [] [] It's arms, even its head. They're for three people. Nevermind a creep, I think the word isn't enough to describe the monster in front of us. But really, the most horrifying thing about it is not its appearance, but the three heads and hands work like they're magicians. It casted a stronger magic from earlier and I use my shield to defend from it. I am not confident I can deflect the two stronger magics compared to earlier with my sword. Let's use the shield and block the couple of them. ….I was able to deflect them but one of the Ice Javelins went in an awry direction, directly piercing the sea and creating a column of water on impact… Wew, what a relief it didn't go to Russell and Sybilla-san's location. Still… I didn't know. So it's this difficult to make quick judgements into actions. [As expected, the Holy Knight as a class really is wonderful. Only the class, that is.] (Demon King) […You say that as if it isn't cowardly to fight with three pairs of hands casting magic against a normal human….] [Aren't there three of you? I, on the other hand, think it's a rather fair fight.] [Is that so? Then why don't you call those huge dragonflies back?] [Fufufufu. Then would all of you go back as well?] Ah, no. Nevermind. I just spoke without thinking too much. …Still, this is troubling. Even if I attack the demon king, it will just fight back with triple magic. What's more, it isn't just me who he's been aiming at, but Russell and Sybilla-san on the back too. I'm the only class in the party who excels at defense. If I allow Russell to get hurt in here, I'd definitely hate it. To be hurt by someone that hateful… Talking about money, gold and riches, when he can only buy accessories using fake money and counterfeit… Someone who even insults orphans as well as people working in the orphanages… I won't allow it. I won't forgive it. [Tsk, they're starting to move together.] (Russell) [Russell, leave this side to me!] (Sybilla) [Don't push yourself!] (Russell) I felt a shiver down my spine and instinctively looked in Russell's direction. There I can see both Russell and Sybilla-san surrounded by the insects as some were on the beach and some were on the sea, positioning closely to pincer them. T-that! How!? They're keeping those bugs off just a while ago with range magic…! [!] [!] Russell, with his back leaning behind Sybilla-san, raises both of his arms and uses his magic. Dark Splash releases on his right hand, but with just a very slight lag, the same dark splash releases on his left. I-is that the same chantless magic he's been talking about before!? Wooooow…. I didn't know he could use it like that…! Sybilla-san on the other hand uses her magic to keep the floor boss at a distance. However, the monsters that are on the level of floor bosses are two. No matter how brilliant their responses were, its effect still has limits. [..gah..!] And there, that's… Russell's blood… from his neck…! It's bleeding..! Russell then fights back using his magic and in an instant faster than a blink of an eye, he's wounds are now gone. I see. It isn't as dangerous as the third dungeon where a single punch of a giganto could kill us. …I just noticed it now, but at the instant where Russell's wounds were healed, the pain that's been accumulating in my hands from blocking the demon king's magic immediately vanished. …Did he just…? Is Russell facing such a dangerous situation while still looking after me…!? [Fufufu… Seeing that dusk woman being infested along with her slave in itself really is entertaining but it doesn't feel good to be neglected here. .] Gosh! How could I forget about the demon king! I raise my shield in panic to block the magic. I can't let the demon king's magic get past me. I should deflect it to the sea and who knows, it might accidentally go to the floor boss..! [I'll give us a barrier at least! !] Sybilla-san shouts and the sound of the construction of the convenient magic that we rely on all this time reaches my ears… But, the sense of reliability immediately vanished. A destructive noise immediately came after it. [Hey! Sure that wall isn't that thick but how could that floor boss just break it by slamming it with its whole body!? Ah, mouu ! This just makes me want to build more covers!!] (Sybilla) [! These insects… they're really strong…!] (Russell) [Yeah. Gosh, fighting these monsters outside the dungeon is so frustrating…!] (Sybilla) I listen to the two's conversation as I glare at the demon king. It's faces are plastered with disgusting smiles seeing how I can't move from my position and could only watch Russell and Sybilla-san suffer. [–Ugh.! ! I Dammit, I know we have no other options but we're just running here in circles —-!] …! At the same time Russell's voice was cut-off, the demon king's three faces changed their expression with a smirk full of ridicule. There's no mistaking it… Russell's wounded! He groaned in pain just now! Just like earlier… How his neck's been bleeding… !!!!!! ….. I… How could I be so useless… Right now, yeah, I am facing the demon king to protect Russell. But that's all I am doing. Russell on the other hand is giving his everything but he's still getting hurt. He is still fighting even though he is clearly at a disadvantage… …I- I don't care how much I get hurt… But… Still… The memory where Russell's finger got cut by a knife is still making my legs tremble… Despite all of this, here I am now, in front of a Demon King