Chapter 20.1 (1/2)

「Quite a ruckus out there.」

When the Mazlack knights were just about wiped out, Douga whispered. He sensed that something was off in the courtyard.

「Isn’t from combat?」

「Not quite. No blades clashing. I can hear some sort of discourse.」

Since they were in the middle of a battle, this was bizarre. Slightly confused by this situation, Douga continued to corner Odenell. As leader, Odenell was marginally more skilled than the rest of the lot, but that margin was negligible to Douga. Unable to put up any sort of a fight, his weapon was shattered, and his armor was destroyed. Knees quaking, Odenell crumpled to the ground.

「We won’t find out until we take a look. Let’s head over and…」

Douga couldn’t finish. The same disturbance that was affecting the courtyard had taken affect in the front entrance.

「…Huh?」

The bodies of the Mazlack knights began to suddenly morph. For some, their arms blew up, making them more buff than an ogre, and for others, their hair changed to tentacles. Only some of them were lucky enough to maintain a humanoid appearance, while there were a few who had morphed to some sort of slime. What all of them had in common was oozing affliction, and the fact that they had each doubled in size.

「…Stomach-turning.」

Carefully watching this ominous (undoubtedly R-rated) turn of events, Douga spat out in disgust.

「Do you think this has anything to do with the commotion earlier?」

Rayna asked.

「Not sure. In any case, I figure we can’t leave these bastards be.」

「…If the same thing is happening outside, things aren’t looking well for us.」

Nodding in response, Douga poised his lance. There were one hundred Mazlack knights in all. While Douga didn’t know how much of a change these morphing would cause, it wasn’t as hard as taking on Cerberuses. That being said, if they retained their human intelligence, they could use their new-gained powers in unexpected ways. The best course of action, Douga thought, was to wipe them out at once.

「On the double, Rayna!」

「Lord Douga, head to the courtyard for back-up, please.」

「Hm?」

「No restraint is required here, anymore. They don’t seem like the type to leave any useful materials behind, and Hiroshi isn’t messed up that way to use materials harvested from ex-humans. No one would be inconvenienced if I cut loose here.」

Rayna proposed, as she sliced the first mutant in pieces, with a rabid, rabid grin glowing across her face.

「Alone? Are you sure?」

「I won’t stand to give these fools the respect to ask for back-up, mutants or not. Besides, this is the perfect opportunity to exact my revenge for everything they’ve done. Legally, nonetheless. I don’t mind, really. I’ll make sure that every single one is obliterated.」

Even as she responded to Douga, she cut down two mutants. As she was using Elemental Enchantments against those more durable to normal sword attacks, Douga could see that Rayna wasn’t losing herself.

「…Fine. I won’t accept any complaints for running a few of them over on my way out, though.」

「I understand.」

The mutant (who used to be Odenell) must have heard this, and cackled:

「How stupid can you be, She-Man!? You’re outnumbered and now outclassed!」

Ignoring Odenell, Rayna sliced them down left and right to cover Douga as he prepared. After a full second or so, Douga unleashed his attack through the most crowded route to the courtyard.

「It’s good for you scum, but I don’t have much time. Sky-Sunder Lance!」