30 – When despair settles in, a loli appears

“Takeru, Kouga Takeru! Wait, weren’t you listening?! What the hell are you doing?” (Kaguya)

“I heard and understood everything! But I don't give a crap! This is war. Casualties will always happen. It's our duty as heroes to push and open a path!” (Takeru)

The griffin that Takeru was riding takes the lead and Kaguya’s group chases.

“The retreat has not finished yet and if we do something like begin the battle again it will only expand the damage of the units! The enemy has already been deployed and waiting, there is no way you can expect that much negligence from their side! Don’t mess around! What are you trying to achieve by deepening the chaos in your own team! We should find the escape routes that are possible and see how many units we can use…” (Kaguya)

“A geez! You are noisy! Don’t you understand?! A hero is a figurehead and that will serve as a salvation! This way more people will be saved! It is obvious which one is more beneficial! We are special! Chosen ones! If you say you want to die, do as you wish. I don’t care about that self-satisfaction. I will do your part as well so don’t worry!” (Takeru)

This shit head.

“It doesn’t change the fact that we got the short end of the straw, but someone has to do it. There is the chance the demon general will surround the remaining troops. We got no choice but to press forward for now.” (Kaguya)

Takeru, while burning the demon troops with overwhelming fire power, slows down his pace and Kaguya confirms his location.

Is he waiting for her, or is he just having difficulties? No matter which one it is, she won’t accept the ways of that hero.

“What an inelegant hero we have here. Looks like a kid raging at a party.”

Releasing his crossed arms, a light purple skinned giant makes a fist. To be about 2 meters in height meant he wasn't as big as other monsters, but the muscles that were packed in that body and the overpowering aura that spread out showed that he is a demon who is befitting of his title as a general. The words that he directed to the hero also carried weight. It was calm yet heavy. This was Malak the Brutal.

“I don’t know about the inelegant part! Aren’t you the one with the broken head, going barehanded in combat?” (Takeru)

Takeru throws a light spear as a substitute for a greeting.

“Mun!!”

The demon general, with one hand, intercepts the cleaving light and brushes it off as if it was nothing.

“… As expected, one hit won’t be enough huh.” (Takeru)

The general clenched his fist. With that move alone the air pressure generated felt like a high impact bullet, totally making Takeru's griffin lose balance for a few seconds.

"I would play more with you, but your opponent shall be another."

The demon general tried to chase Takeru, but feeling something, he looks at the path where Takeru had appeared from.

“Hoh~, this one looks like a warrior."

“Did I make you wait? If the one that came here before me did something impolite I apologize but…” (Kaguya)

Why did that fucking hero leave? We should have worked together to take him down.

“Nah, he was a really human-like hero. I don't mind arrogance, since all die before me anyway."

Severe sarcasm.

Against the giant that puts his fists on the front, Kaguya looks at his face and prepares her sacred sword.

"You already lost this!"

The strength in Kaguya's body feels like it is seeping away. The strengthening that she obtained with her party's buffs, she felt like it was coming out from her body. Not only that, the eagle that was by her side protecting her, became dim and disappeared.

“What… did you do?”

“I am syphoning all your powers, of course. You will only grow weaker the more you stay around me. Now… I'm afraid this is where we say goodbye."

------

“Kaguya… what is that girl doing?!” (Takeru)

His body had suddenly become heavy. It felt like his body had become even heavier than before, like a limiter had been put on himself. But what is important is not that. The problem is that the spear and boots as well as the armor were not showing any reaction.

"Guess I have no choice. I'll retreat for now. I am not sure if my 9 Tiger Lives will activate and I don't want to die."

This is no joke. If that is really the case, the point of choosing the night for the attack would turn meaningless. It is because even if things turn to the worse, he still had this immortality to rely on. That’s why he accepted to participate in this wide-scale operation.

The fear of death begins to take control of him. Being unknown to death, he had obtained equipment of the highest class and had behaved strongly in the battlefield. Even if his level is high, he hadn’t experienced the death and life situations that fit that experience.

"That girl can have all the glory and do as she pleases. I'll level up some more and get stronger. Although next time, it looks like I will have to do it alone. Her party is getting whipped out. Oh well, let's just get out of here."

While Kaguya and the general's fierce battle continues, Takeru, the hero, overtakes the enemy lines and heads to the Empire’s camp, to the tent where Princess Serena is waiting.

It completely became a losing fight huh. In that case, no matter what kind of damages the empire receives, what’s important is to withdraw. I somehow managed to return without breaking and we have understood a bit of the demon race’s moves and tactics. As a harvest, this is enough. It was originally fine if we didn’t win anyways, so let’s leave it at this, kek. Like a game, I'll just reset the boss and come back later.

------

When the sun finally rose only corpses remained of the humans that failed to retreat…

"Is it morning already? You guys lasted more than I thought. Well, you at least, miss hero."

The demon general had his foot on top of Kaguya's back. She was covered in blood and tears were flowing from her eyes. Her entire party, including her beloved Mina-chan… all were killed.

"I'm sorry… everyone… I failed… I couldn't avenge your deaths… I was… such a fool. Mina-chan… forgive me… I am coming to you… soon…."

Kaguya's eyes were completely lifeless. All hopes she had vanished in an instant. Even her Sword Ophelia, who could change it's element wasn't enough to shift the balance. It would be more accurate to say that Kaguya didn't even manage to figure out the demons' elemental weakness.

"I honestly was expecting more from a hero. Time to put an end to…"

*BOOOOM*

A huge explosion was generated and for a brief moment brought Kaguya back to her senses, as both she and the demon general glanced towards it. Within the smoke, a figure could be seen.

"Am I… hallucinating… or is that… a loli?" (Kaguya)