Chapter 285

Chapter 285: The Black Swan and the Lad

“That black robe…… 《Matar・Deus》?”

Looking at the person in a black robe riding on the back of the black swan, Hiiro brooded over the fact that the black robed guy looked very similar to that Matar・Deus he had seen before.

Even if it was the subordinate of that predecessor demon lord or not, there was one thing for sure: he or she had gotten something he needs to pursue right now.

“Oi, give it back.”

Yes, it was the Happiness Shark sandwiched between the beaks of the black swan. It was the prey that Hiiro had supposedly caught. However, in an instant, when he was about to get it, it was snatched like a hyena.

However, the next moment, the black bird gulped the Happiness Shark in one go, as if it had completely ignored the words of Hiiro.

“Wha-!? How dare you!”

Hiiro drew his sword and flew towards the black swan in reflex. He tried to slash that long neck with his sword, but it only cut through air.

He thought that he got it, but he realized it was only an afterimage. The other party’s speed was more than he expected. Hiiro looked back, and upon seeing the image of the black bird who had turned its back against him as fast as lightning, he then casted 『Acceleration』to enhance his speed dramatically.

Thus, with that intense speed, he finally caught up to the black swan. The black swan tried to move away, but Hiiro followed suit as well.

“……!!!?”

Hiiro glanced at the black swan that was surprised by his ability to catch up.

“Getting away, huh.”

Hiiro cut down the distance with his opponent, and then swung his sword. At that moment, only black feathers were cut as they danced the sky.

It has slipped before his eyes again.

(Tch, so fast!)

That movement, it seems that it wasn’t completely serious until now. Making Hyun Hyun Hyun Hyun sounds as if cutting the wind, it was leaving a lot of afterimages by moving around.

“…making fun of me, eh?”

Hiiro drew a deep breath, then,

『Hyper acceleration』

he wrote and then activated. At that moment, Hiiro disappeared from that spot. Hiiro’s eyes were now quick enough to anticipate through the real one among the afterimages. Then towards that real body, with a tremendous speed,

“Haaaaaaaaaa!”

he swung down the 《Absolute Sword・Zangeki》with all his strength. He though he had caught it this time, but

KIIIN!

日色の刀は同じ材質の何かに阻まれたような音を響かせた。日色の攻撃を受け止めたのは黒鳥ではなく、その背にいた黒衣の人物だった。

Hiiro’s sword let out a sound as if it had been blocked with something of the same material. It was not the black swan who took the attack, but the black robed person who was riding behind it.

(…that katana!?)

It was the sword the other party had. However, unlike Zangeki with a clear blade, the opponent’s blade was reddish-black in color.

“……Fuaaa～”

Though Hiiro was surprised at the sword, he was even more so at that person’s attitude. He seemed to have prevented Hiiro’s attack with one hand, but more than that, it seems he was in a drowsy state, seeing by that yawn.

(MY attack…to be blocked like this!?)

Furthermore, he wasn’t even perturbed at all. He felt tremendous power from within.

“……Huh? You……who are you?”

…Huh? What is this fellow saying? Why are you looking at the other party you have clashed face-to-face, and ask questions like you have totally seen someone for the first time?

Judging from the voice, it seems to be a man, then the said man yawned again.

“…Well, never mind. By the way, have you finished eating?”

Apparently, he was asking the black swan, which then replied with a Kiii.

“Is that so? Then let’s go home. Whoopsie daisy.”

Just by waving his arms lightly, Hiiro was out-pushed and was blown off behind.

(t-that guy……what power!?)

Hiiro was amazed by the opponent who threw with ease like a fly being swatted. Moved by curiosity, he tried to examine the opponent’s 《Status》 with 『Pry』(『覗』).

(……it’s similar to that time, huh)

Yes, it was similar to the first time when he encountered Avoros. He also tried to『Pry』at that time, but the effect of 『Pry』did not work at all.

However, unlike the man whom he could not examine his strength, the 《Status》 of the black swan was reflected in Hiiro’s eyes instead.

And after looking at its race, he was stunned wide eyed to see……

(Isn’t this guy……?)

But as he compared the 《Status》of the black swan to what’s in his mind, the said creature started to move.

“Wait, Wait!”

“……Eh?”

The man, hearing his voice turned around.

“What?”

“What’s wrong with you? Taking my spoils just like that, You want to get punished?!”

“……Eh? Is that so? Did you really took it?”

The man spoke, as if talking to the black bird. He didn’t seem to grasp the whole story. Was he really sleeping at that time? Hiiro thought.

(That means, he blocked my attack while he was still asleep?)

It was truly an incredible feat. Although Hiiro was not in full power, it is surprising to prevent an attack enhanced with the momentum of 『Hyper acceleration』 (『超加速』), moreover while being asleep, too.

“But, you see, it’s your fault too, being weak enough to be snatched like that.”

“……What did you just say?”

Hiiro felt angry at the words of the man.

“This world follows the law of survival of the fittest, you see, with the weak being the prey for the strong. Which means, if you were deprived of your meal by this child, it is either you are careless, or you are weak.”

“…………”

“It is the nature of the world to become fatal with every life. So give up. What I can only say is, try your very best next time?”

“You… are you making fun of me?”

“Making fun of you? Uhmm… did I say something wrong?”

Hiiro felt more irritated with the man’s way of talking.

“…You, are you a companion of that Template Demon Lord?”

“Tempure?”

“《Matar・Deus》, I mean.”

“Un, that’s right. What about it?”

The black swan turned its head, facing the man. Perhaps it understood the conversation as well.

“Hmmm? What’s your name?”

“Not telling you.”

“Ah, is that so? Well, I don’t mind.”

Is he really passing it just like that? Hiiro doubted in his mind.

“But this is unusual. It seems this child is interested in you, aren’t you quite popular?”

“Quite… you say? Then why don’t you try it for yourself!”

With the 『Hyper acceleration』still in effect, Hiiro tried his extreme-speed slash with Zangeki for the second time. The other party, however, parried every hit with his dark red blade without any difficulty.

This chapter is scrapped from readlightnovel.org

“…Heee, Quite a good sword you have here. Kinda feels the same as mine?”

Hiiro quickly disappeared from his spot, then appeared behind the man. But as he tried his chance to pierce his sword in that gap,

“That shield, repel all creation of the Five Blues.”

Hiiro surely heard the man saying something at that time. The next moment, Hiiro, who was in the rear, blew away as if something repelled him.

“Tch!”

Still analyzing what happened to him, Hiiro fixed his gaze upon the man. Around him, a blue barrier similar to Hiiro’s when he used the character 『Defense』, which created a magical wall, covered his surroundings.

“Un, as this child has said, huh. Let me try for a moment.”

After confirming something, that man gave a glare.

“Uhm, I was thinking, how are you flying? Humans can fly now?”

The man gave off an unique atmosphere, but Hiiro of course didn’t answer the question.

“Though humans can use magic to fly too…… hn? Perhaps, is it that type of magic?”

The man observed Hiiro further. However, he drooped down his shoulders, as if he was disappointed.

“Well, whatever. Well then……”

He then put his hand at his bosom, as if searching for something in his clothes. Hiiro, unknown what he would do, remained cautious. The next thing, the man took out a red ball about the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

(What is……?)

Hiiro took a stance, suspicious at the object.

“It’s time to go home.”

After that, the man threw the ball high in the sky. Then, as if it had activated, the ball dispersed, and red particles poured down like rain.

Suddenly, Hiiro noticed that the magical power released by his body had disappeared. At the same time, the sensation of floating from him disappeared, and Hiiro fell on to the sea.

“What the-!?”

And when he saw the man, he was waving his hands, making a bye-bye gesture.

(T-this is the same as the Magic Nullifying Existence!)

As he thought so, he fell into the sea, making a large splash.

“Puha!”

As soon as he came to the surface, flustered, he scowled at the black swan still in the sky above. He tried to fly again using magic, but then again, he was unable to use it at all.

Looking closely at the surroundings, red particles were still all over the place. Despite feeling bitter about it, Hiiro who lost his means to chance could only glare at the direction where the figure of the black swan flew.

Suddenly, the black bird stopped its movements, then turned back, heading towards the place where Hiiro was.

(……What the?)

Holding his sword tightly, Hiiro thought he came to administer the coup de grace onto him. However, the black bird stopped at a certain distance away from Hiiro.

“You. You’re quite an interesting one.”

The man then took off his hood. Then, there stood a face of a boy with droopy eyes, matching with his unkempt gray hair. He was about the same age as Hiiro.

“I am Noah, Noah Black. This child is Sue. Well, remembering it or not is up to you.”

Then why did you bother for a self-introduction in the first place?

“Though I wish I could get along well with people having the same kind of sword, well, that was unreasonable of me……”

“What did you just say?”

“Nn? Uhmm, What are we talking about again?”

“Don’t return my question!”

“Ah! Right, right. I was just a little bit interested in you so I said my name. You don’t have to worry about it.”

iro felt that his words were just passing through his ears. However, one thing is for sure – he robbed Hiiro of his pleasure. Giving off a sharp look, he replied,

“Hiiro. Hiiro Okamura.”

“Well, even if you tell me, I have no confidence to remember it.”

“You’d better. For this guy will be the one who will deprive you of your pleasure by all means.”

However, Noah, on the other hand, could only stare blankly and yawn as if it was not his business.

“Then amuse me more on our next meeting. It’s too boring if you cannot use magic from the get-go.”

As he floated in the sea, Hiiro grinded his teeth tightly. It is true that now there is no way he could defeat opponents floating in the sky in the state where magic became unusable.

“Now then, I am already shleepy……*Fuaaaah～, let’s go.”

The black swan soared upwards, carrying the sleeping Noah on its back. And just like that, they left Hiiro at the speed of a breeze.

(……《Matar・Deus》……what a clown.)

The voltage of Hiiro’s anger obviously increased that day.