37 CH.34 - Arrogance.

Shia was confused some seconds ago he left, blowing wind while he jumped and he was but nothing happened. She was about to ask when Enkai finally did something.

Enkai sheathed Mugenjin again. As he did so, slashes appeared in the sky, either beheading the Hyveria or splitting their body in two.

At that time, Shia finally what kind of monster she met.

***

"Well, Job done right? Go meet your tribesmen Shia" Enkai said, with a normal voices, not bothered by what happened just before. Although in reality, he was happy that it worked.

"Shia, Oi Shia wake up, well don't blame me" Seeing the rabbit girl not responding and looking in daze Enkai decided to "wake" her up.

By hitting her on the top of her head...

"Ouch, it hurts Enkai-san!" Shia said with tears near her eyes almost crying.

"You should respond when people are talking to you" Enkai reprimanded her.

Shia didn't how to feel towards Enkai, in a way he was her only beacon of hope when she was desperate, hopeless, although she knew he only did it because he needed someone to guide them through the forest and nothing else.

She didn't even harbour the thought of deceived them but now she was even more sure, no way she would deceive this...monster.

No, it was wrong to call him a monster, she was also called the same but her tribe was still there for him, she couldn't do the same things towards Enkai.

While she was lost in her world someone interrupted her.

"Shia! Are you okay!?" (???)

"Father!" (Shia)

The one who called out to her was a middle-aged, rabbit-eared man with short, dark blue hair. It was clear who the rabbit-eared man was. This spectacle gave him a surreal feeling, especially after seeing how the Hyverias were taken down. After calming down, Shia immediately began to explain to the Rabbitman tribe what happened while she was gone and the promise Enkai had made to her. Knowing that they had been saved, the entire tribe looked towards Enkai.

"Shall I call you Enkai-dono? I am Kam Haulia, Shia's father and also the chief of the Haulia tribe. I cannot thank you enough for helping Shia and our tribe escape this precarious predicament. To even go as far as helping us flee from the empire, as a father and chief of my tribe, I wish to express my humble gratitude."

Kam, who introduced himself as the chief of the Haulia tribe, immediately bowed down to him. Behind him, the other Haulia tribe members mirrored his gesture.

"Don't bow, I only did it as we had a deal with Shia, nothing else, after you guide us through the [Haltina Sea of Trees] our relations will cease"

"Naturally Enkai-dono, but you will always be our saviour"

"How can you trust a human this easily ? Demi-humans and humans don't have good relations with each other, after all"

"Of course because Shia trusts you, so we trust you, we are a family"

"This is....stupid" Enkai responded, but had a smile, they made him remember his family, whom he trusted, he missed them and made a bitter smile.

"Ne...Enkai are you alright ?"

Yue noticed Enkai bitter smile and asked him worriedly.

"Yes, I just remembered...things don't worry. Thank you" Enkai responded, patting Yue.

Yue was not satisfied with his answer, a little bit sad of Enkai's lack of trust in her but she respected his decision, vowing to make him trust her wholeheartedly.

"Yes! I trust Enkai-san! Even if the only thing close to humans is only his appearance I know I can trust him! And even if it's only a deal I know he will keep his part!" Shia answered, confident.

'Of course dumb rabbit, otherwise Yue and I will be lost in the forest' Thought Enkai, looking dumbly at Shia.

"If that's so, then I will also believe in him." Kim, Shia's father responded with a warm smile.

"Let's go, I don't want to waste my time killing Monsters." Enkai cut any more dialogue and pressed everyone.

Their dialogue had given the demonic beasts enough time to begin gathering around their current camp, and so it would be troublesome if they continued to linger any longer.

Thus, they began their march towards the exit of the [Raisen Great Canyon].

Thus Enkai, Yue, and the Haulia tribe advanced within the [Raisen Great Canyon].

Several demonic beasts tried to attack them but to no avail.

No, it could hardly be called trying, any demonic beats in the range on Enkai's perception were dead, no exception.

The Rabbitman tribe looked around dumbfoundedly, as the demonic beasts' corpses littered the ground like flowers in a flower field.

They finally understood why they weren't attacked during their march. They simply didn't even enough time to approach them as they were already dead.

Awestruck by his power, the Rabbitman turned their gazes upon Enkai.

Especially one child in particular. They were looking at Enkai as though he was a hero from legend.

Enkai didn't mind them, children's were the purest out there, all of them, regardless of species.

So he just tried to smile toward them.

Flustred by Enkai, the children ran toward their families.

Enkai's smile twitched, misunderstanding the children.

"Enkai likes Childs huh ? Do you want to make one with m--" (Shia)

"Shut up failure rabbit" (Yue)

Yue didn't even let Shia finish as she launched Fireballs and Windbullet towards Shia, shutting her up.

Another thing Enkai and Yue discovered was Shia strong durability, the S side of Yue made himself known as she bullied Shia the entire day. She couldn't do it to Enkai, first he was too strong and second she didn't know why but when gazed by him she could only be meek.

Anyway, after hearing Shia's outrageous words, Yue began bullying Shia even more strongly. With Enkai blood, she now had enough mana without having to replenish daily.

While Yue and Shia were bickering (Shia was being bullied but still insulted Yue because of her flat chest) Enkai walked by Kam side.

Enkai was listening to Kam, who was talking about trivial things while Enkai responded by Yes or No, and more focused to what was ahead of them and killing the beasts. No one not even Kam the closest to Enkai realised.

After walking for a long time, their group finally arrived at the entrance of the [Raisen Great Canyon]. The stairs were built by cutting alongside the cliff face, zigzagging every 50 meters. The [Haltina Sea of Trees] was around half a day's walk after exiting the [Raisen Great Canyon].

"Humans..." Enkai muttered, after spotting soothing in his perception.

"Do you see any of the empire's soldiers?" Shia uneasily asked.

"Ahead of us, over the cliff, they are around 30 soldiers. Camping and with tents set up, it seems like they will stay for a long time" Enkai responded.

Uneasiness spread in the Rabbitmen.

"Enkai-san…, what will you do then?" (Shia)

"…? What do you mean by that?"

"Unlike demonic beasts, the enemy this time will be the empire's soldiers, the human race, you know? A human like Enkai-san... are you sure you will be able to fight them?"

"Did you see the future ?"

"I...I can't, I don't know why, but it seem my skill isn't strong enough to see the future where people like you are involved"

"How did you find us then ?"

"I don't know sorry" Shia responded, really confused and sad about not able to use her skill, as shown with her hears going down.

Enkai sighed, "I have no problem with fighting other humans."

"Eh?" "Th-that…! You're from the same race, you know?!" (Shia)

"I don't care, in my world wars between humans are common, true peace doesn't exist, there wasn't a moment in history where no one fought, you can say that war and the art of killing is in our blood."

"...Your world?"

"Ah right, yes I am not from this world, I am one of those supposed "Heroes""

"Eh?!"

"Anyway, like I said, while I live in a country while there is peace, things changes, and I need to adapt, so I don't mind fighting humans, in particular those kinds of humans"

"I- I see…" (Shia)

Shia could only respond in a surprised voice. Yue in the background didn't care, as long as she was with Enkai, everything would be alright.

Their party had gradually reached the stairs. Enkai went ahead of them to scout the situation. When they had escaped from the empire's soldiers before, the Haulia tribe hadn't gotten the chance to eat or drink anything. Unexpectedly though, the Haulia tribe remained on their toes, as though they were still in pristine condition. The rumor that demi-humans, who were unable to use magic, had higher physical strength and endurance seemed true.

This time, instead of just killing them, Enkai would make contact, gathering informations was a crucial thing.

At long last, Enkai's group had escaped from the execution ground, the [Raisen Great Canyon].

When they peered over the cliff-

"Oi, oi, seriously? There are survivors! Even though I was reluctant to stay here on the commander's orders, it turns out I can bring back a good souvenir~." (Random Soldier)

Like Enkai said, there were around 30 imperial soldiers. Behind them, there were many carriages and tents set up. All of the soldiers were dressed in Khaki-like uniforms and equipped with either a sword and shield or with a spear. They turned towards Enkai's group in surprise.

However, that only lasted for an instant. Their eyes immediately shone with delight when they saw the Rabbitman tribe.

"Platoon leader! The pale-haired Rabbitman is also there! Isn't she the one that the commander wanted?" (Random Soldier)

"Oh ho! It looks like we hit the jackpot. Your orders are to kill everyone but the pale-haired Rabbitman!" (Platoon Leader)

"Platoon leader~, there are some women in that group. Can't we have a taste of them? We've waited here for 3 days! Please overlook it~…" (Random Soldier)

"Geez. Just don't keep all of them. If it's only two or three, then it's okay." (Platoon Leader)

"As expected of platoon leader! You really do look out for us!" (Random Soldier)

'Oi, Oi, those dumbasses, they really are trash huh?' Enkai thought, rather than being disgusted, he was glad.

Glad because killing them would be even more easier.

For the empire's soldiers, the Rabbitman tribe wasn't a threat in their eyes, they only focused on which of the women in the group they wanted to toy with later while they advanced. Seeing those soldiers, the Rabbitman tribe could do nothing but tremble in fright.

Among those clamoring soldiers, the man called the platoon leader finally notice Enkai's presence.

"Ah? Who are you? It looks like… you're not a Rabbitman." (Platoon Leader)

"I'am Human" (Enkai)

"Haa~? Why is a human together with Rabbitmen? You even came from the canyon. Oh, are you a slave merchant? How did you hear about these Rabbitmen? What a great business spirit you have to even come out here yourself. However, these Rabbitman belong to the empire, so please move aside." (Platoon Leader)

The platoon leader made the most obvious assumption about Enkai's circumstances, thus believing that he had the authority to order Hajime around.

Of course, there was no need for Enkai to listen to him, as that platoon leader's assumption was way off the mark.

"I refuse."

"… Did you just say something?" (Platoon Leader)

"You see...I have a deal with them, and I need to protect them, so please stay put and wait for death"

"… boy, mind your words now. Is there something wrong with your head to not recognize who we are?" (Platoon Leader)

"...Rather than me, Is YOUR head on, right?"

"What do yo...." The platoon leader words got stuck in his throat, and his eyes widened, as his throat was slash, blood starting to flow.

"Please, close this children's eyes" Enkai said to the Rabbitmen, who nodded in response.

"Now, then, sorry but not sorry, I needed to gather information but your leader is dead...so you know nothing right ?" Enkai said as a matter of fact.

"Now...die"

Enkai didn't even let the soldiers run or shout.

"[True Clouds]" Enkai chanted.

It emits a blue fog from the sword, a blue cloud-like haze covering the area for one minutes. It erases the presence, disturbs the view, interferes the senses and blocks the detection. It's useful for running away or disturbing.

Like that 10 soldiers, in front of him were terrified as Enkai gradually disappeared. But they didn't have the time to think, as they became one with the clouds, erasing the soldiers from the face of Tortus.

To the outsiders, they couldn't understand, one time the Solider had blood flowing out of his throat and another time a fog appeared but it was different from the sea of trees, they couldn't understand what happened.

Even Yue, the most knowledgeable in Magic was astonished.

Not even thirty seconds later the fog disappeared and all soldiers were not able the be seen, and what appeared was Enkai grabbing the throat of a soldier.

Why was he alive? Well the soldier shouted in desperation and revealed his position.

"I-I implore you! Please don't kill me! I know everything, I am a spy for his Majesty so I know more than the Platoon Leader please don't kill me"

And he successfully grabbed Enkai attention.

"Tell me what you know, EVERYTHING" Enkai said, his bloodlust in full power.

"Y-YES!" The soldier quickly said, and didn't even harbour the thought of lying fearing for his life.

After a ten minutes session of interrogation Enkai let go of the soldier who ran at full speed. While Enkai returned to Yue and Shia side.

"… Once they've drawn their weapons, even if the opponent wasn't strong, they'll become an inconvenience sooner or later…why did you let him go Enkai?"

"You're right Yue"

"But who said I let him go?"

In the distance the Tribesmen heard the noise of someone dying.

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(End)