Chapter 115
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He rushed back into the town at full speed, looking for a way to draw the attention of that giant winged ant. Then he spotted an abandoned Valend-made cannon!
If he used this, even a low-angled shot would still have high speed, and the shell would hit quickly. From medium range, he could aim straight at that huge insect and fire.
With that in mind, he started moving at once.
The shells were stored nearby, so finding them was not hard. But the cannon was muzzle-loading, not breech-loading, so it took time. Each shell weighed nearly forty kilos, and packing the powder was exhausting.
”Haah, haah… why would anyone use such a painful loading method… this is way too hard…”
When he finished loading, he adjusted the aim, predicting where the target would be.
(Now!) At the moment he felt it, he covered his ears and pulled the rope. With a flash of fire and a deafening boom, the shell blasted out!
Unlike cannons from his old world, this one had no recoil system. The whole gun lurched back from the force, and he cracked his head on it. Painful!
Still, the shot hit. He saw the queen ant clicking her jaws and flapping her wings as she turned toward him.
”Wha—?! Hiiiii! You don’t have to get that mad, do you?!”
To her, it was probably like stubbing a toe on a dresser. But her furious face as she charged at him with a thunderous clatter was terrifying. He was half-crying already!
Even so, he had to set traps before she reached him, so he ran from the spot.
＊＊＊
“SKREEE! SKREEEE! KRAAAH! KRAAAH!!”
A chilling cry echoed through the town, like words of rage: “Where did he go?! I will kill him!!” The queen’s voice filled Valend’s streets, vowing to rip her prey apart with her mighty jaws.
(I’m going to pee myself…)
Regretting his reckless courage, Ayumu triggered the packed fire-bombs he had planted at the feet of the massive dragon statue in the city square.
The explosion made the enormous eight-story statue tilt under its own weight. With a crash, it fell on top of the queen!
He thought he had won! He punched the air in victory.
”Yes! Take that! Serves you right! Ah… huh?”
But when the dust cleared, she was still alive. She had lost her back leg and part of her body dented, but that was all.
”…I really thought I had her…”
Ayumu’s sense of danger spiked. He turned and ran for his life, while the queen roared in fury and chased after him with shocking speed.
(Hiiiii! So the trembling in the air was from her roar?!)
He leapt over his first trap. The queen triggered it, and a blast struck her belly. She screamed, but did not stop, chasing even harder.
”Waaaahhh! You’ve got to be kidding me! She wants me dead!!”
Her hate and killing intent were so clear, it was like a nightmare made real.
”With respect, I must refuse!!”
He sprinted, leading her into another wire trap. Steel spears shot upward and stabbed her belly.
“SKREEEEEEEE!!!”
Her shriek shook the town, but this time, the trap slowed her down. The distance between them widened.
(Yes… good. I did it. She won’t change her target now. The army and the evacuees should be safe. My goal is achieved.)
But the queen was still alive. He could not relax. His stamina was running out. He needed to end this soon.
(All right… I’ll lure her into the deep valley outside the city.)
＊＊＊
At the valley, Ayumu planted his last fire-bombs along the cliff and drew a simple magic circle.
He finished just as the queen appeared, battered but still full of killing intent.
(My heart wants to break… but this time will be the end, ant!)
He used a disposable scroll to blast her, baiting her toward the cliffside.
(Good… good… the plan is working…)
Grinning despite himself, he set off the bombs.
”See ya, ant!”
The ground collapsed, and the wounded queen dangled over the edge. He cast the fire spell through his circle.
”O-Muen… Pulazul Vapla-Eni!”
A giant fireball formed and slammed into her, exploding with force. Her body disappeared from his sight.
”At last… finally down… what a pain you were.”
He turned to leave—and saw King Torygg and his men arriving.
Ayumu quickly apologized. “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I acted above my place inside Valend.”
But the king only said, “I forgive you. Well done, Sanai.”
”Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Ayumu felt relief. He had done it. He had survived.
――Until.
“GYAAAAAAHHHH!!!”
(The air is trembling again…)
He turned, pale.
“SKREEEEEEEEE!!!”
The queen ant climbed back up the cliff, alive once more.
”No way… with that size, she should’ve smashed herself…”
Maybe she had clawed into the cliff with her remaining legs, holding herself up.
(Then… what joints of steel does she have?!)
It was a nightmare. She was still eager to fight.
(Out of options now…)
Just as Ayumu gave up, someone jumped in.
“HRAAAAHHH!!!”
It was King Torygg!
”Wha—?!”
Ayumu was shocked. Even more shocking, none of the king’s guards moved to stop him or fight with him. They just stood there!
(Eeeeh?! Is King Torygg hated?!)
He had no time to wonder. The queen moved to attack.
”Watch out!” Ayumu shouted.
But the king did not dodge. He swung his huge axe.
BOOM!
The blow created a shockwave that knocked the queen ant sideways.
(Ehhhh?! Your Majesty?! You’re super strong?!!)
Ayumu’s jaw dropped. Physics meant nothing here. The king was a monster.
(If he’s this strong… then all my struggle was pointless?! …No. It still mattered. My desperate fight wasn’t for nothing…)
Still shaken, Ayumu could only watch King Torygg’s overwhelming power.
Notes:
• Torygg – King of the Valend Kingdom, known as the Cave King.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply