64 Episode 6: Attack 2 (1/2)

It was so overwhelming. In less than a second, three of them were blown away by his powerful arm.

Whether they were alive or dead was unknown, but they were lying on the ground, unable to move a muscle. And with that blow, half of the mercenaries surrounding them lost their minds.

It wasn't that they had superior skills. It was the beast's physical strength.

Every move it made was too fast for a human to handle. What would happen if a beast in human form wielded his arms with human wisdom?

A man holds his sword at his hip and leaps at the giant werewolf with a screeching roar. The blade plunged into the dark brown hair-covered trunk, but was easily flicked away. A casual flick of the arm sends the man flying several meters into the air like a ball.

The weapon. It's a bad weapon. Simple weapons are ineffective against werewolves.

One of the mercenaries shouts out, holding his sword as if to protect the children. He's a big man, but compared to the werewolf in front of him, he's like a child.

”Hey, does anyone have a silver weapon?

”...... Yes!　A knife.

A lightly dressed female hunter pulled a small silver knife from her waist. She was probably carrying it as a good luck charm.

Silver is a metal that is much softer than iron. The equipment, which is soft and expensive and not suitable for use as a weapon, is intended for use against the Dark Family and is not something that a professional like Kainushi would keep on hand. If it were made of holy silver, like Senri's sword, it would be more practical, but holy silver is not something that exists very often.

Oliver narrowed his eyes and laughed at the knife.

I'm not sure what you're trying to do with that little ...... knife.

The arrows shot from the mercenaries are bounced off the fur. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

There was a mage and a silver knife-wielder, but it was the mercenary in front of him who was the target. A huge claw sliced through his body, sword and all. The man collapses before he can even scream. The children scream.

”How dare you resist the third-ranked Oliver Arbol with this level of equipment on a night as close to a full moon as possible!

There's no need to prioritize. He swept away the fire magic with his arm, and with his silver knife at the ready, he turned and crushed the hunter who had attacked him from his blind spot with deadly determination. The violence of the beast was too overwhelming to ignore.

The size of the transformed Arbatos was greater. He probably had the advantage in pure combat ability. But that blow had a strength only a human could deliver.

Oliver does not roar. Probably because if he did, Senri and the others would be more likely to notice. A child's scream might not reach far, but Oliver's roar would surely be heard by Senri.

One of the merchants - the man who had been Oliver's employer - slumped back and asked in a loud voice.

”Oliver, what is your purpose?　Is it cargo?　If it's cargo...

”Everything, sir. People. Kill them all. And I'll take the cargo, too. ......

We're losing allies every second. Not even half of the nearly thirty guards were left.

One of the mercenaries turned his back and ran off as if he had just eaten a bubble. Oliver didn't seem particularly moved, but dexterously picked up the fallen sword with his clawed hand and threw it at the man's back.

The man falls, pierced through the skull. There is no escape. No man can outrun the speed of the beast.

”Take the cargo, the horses, the wagon, the men, everything. All you're allowed to do is kneel there and beg for mercy.

What arrogance. And what power. It is said that werewolves were created by vampires, but Oliver may be stronger than me. ......

I instantly calculated the disadvantages and advantages, and made up my mind.

I had to fight. Maybe I can escape if I'm a dog, but I'm pretty sure this company will be wiped out.

I'm a good soldier, I have feelings for him.

If he abandoned them here, he would lose Senri even if he survived.

Senri will never forgive me for abandoning him. Even if she could reason with me, she wouldn't be able to emotionally accept it.

Then we have to fight. To get something, you have to take a risk.

This is nothing. This is nothing. The odds are not zero. I got away from Epe and managed to defeat Arbatross.

I wagged my tail at Katerina and ran up to Oliver, barking furiously at him.

I owed them a meal for a night. Let's help them out while we're at it.

If he reverted back to his original form, his true identity would be revealed, but ...... that was unavoidable. Arbatos knows what I look like anyway.

The power that pervades me turns into a roar.

”Kya-kya-kya!

”Baron!

Katerina lets out a scream. Oliver rolls his eyes as he sees me howling at his feet.

”What?　What a brave pup. ...... Well, well, well. ...... It's a lot braver than the mercenaries who turned their backs and ran away. ...... Come to think of it, it was this dog that spotted Monica. ............ That's right. I'm sorry. It's a good thing I'm not the only one. It'll be a good souvenir for Lynell-sama.

What?　I'm not saying that.　I wouldn't say that.

This curse I have is the one that Arbatos had. It's the source of that ridiculous power.

I kick the ground lightly and bite Oliver's thick arm. The small fangs that were definitely there dug into the flesh and the claws scratched at the thick skin.

Oliver was unconcerned. He just looked down at me, who was much smaller than he was, and narrowed his eyes quizzically. It's a somewhat human expression.

”There's ...... pain ......?　That's impossible. It's not just a dog,......?　I'm not sure what to make of it.　It's ...... depressing.

Oliver swung his arms wide and knocked me to the ground. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're doing. I let out a small gasp as if I were a mere puppy.

The famously cruel werewolf showed no mercy. Stomping on my tiny body. The weight of it makes me scream.

Apparently, Arbatos was cursed by the vampire bite. But Albatross still had his wits about him. He had reason enough to decide to side with the humans and continue hunting vampires.

Oliver doesn't have that. The man in front of him seems to be keeping his cool in werewolf form, but in reality his mind is completely dependent on the darkness.

I failed. I thought the dog form would catch him off guard.

I can change back in three seconds. If I could attach to the body and return to normal, there was a chance I could rip out her heart before she knew I was there. There was also a chance that I could get rid of it without Katerina and the others seeing me as a human.

But I can't move like this.

He wondered if the reason his body wasn't flattened was because Oliver was taking it easy on him. You can see the bones are breaking, but the regenerative ability seems to be working.

He's using the wrong amount of force. If I were just a dog, it would have been fatal.

While stomping on me, Oliver looks around at the stiffened mercenaries. His piercing gaze intimidated them all.

He said, ”I will not defy those who are more powerful than me. After all, humans are ............ vulnerable. There was no need to go inside, but ............ the demise knight was too much for him. It was unavoidable.

Now that we're here, there's only one chance to win. I'll take away his curse. I hate it to death, but if I return to my original form and suck his blood, I'll be able to suck the curse out of him like Arbatos did. ......

The problem is timing. Even if I return now, there's a good chance I'll be killed before I can suck his blood. There must be a gap.

I desperately turned my head and looked for an opening.

At that moment, Katerina, who was trembling in her mother's embrace, broke free of her arms and stepped forward.

Her face was mottled with tears and fear. But she still threw the dishes at him and screamed in a shuddering voice.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the bowl of soup spun around and smashed into Oliver's head.

”Ba, let go of the Baron!　Monster!

”Hey, hey, Katerina!

I was the most surprised by the supposedly intelligent Katerina's behavior.

It's a stupid thing to do to attract a monster right here and now. It's just plain crazy to do such a thing for a dog, no matter how adorable it is.

Even if he hadn't been distracted, there was a good chance that he would be lying dead in a few minutes, but he should have stayed quiet. He should have avoided bravery in a no-win situation.

Oliver looked at Katerina with the eyes of a prey. His tongue, as red as a large flame, flickered.

”Well, well, looks like there's still a brave young lady ...... ........ Well, if you don't want to see Baron die, I'll just eat him first.