Ch.64Honor and Pride (2)

Through the subtle vibrations resonating within the tunnel, I could hear what was happening outside.

The Bow Beast.

As expected, she was still here in City B.

And surprisingly, her current target was the vessel known as Okami Hoshino.

‘These two never even crossed paths in the original story, did they?’

Why were these two now trying to converge?

Many thoughts crossed my mind.

But for now, I decided to put those thoughts aside.

Because that wasn’t the immediate problem I needed to solve.

Grab.

I immediately emerged from the tunnel and positioned myself between the two.

Miss Hoshino, who was about to grasp the devil’s hand in search of power.

I caught her wrist mid-reach.

Of course, the conditions mentioned by the Bow Beast were extremely peaceful by monster standards.

Still, I didn’t want to see a young lady calmly sipping tea while people died.

“What’s this?”

“…! The Horned Mask Beast?”

“?! Horned Mask? Then you’re the infamous Kin-slayer I’ve only heard about?!”

“Kruk?”

Just then.

Some unheard-of nickname came from the Bow Beast’s mouth.

Kin-slayer?

Wondering who that might be, I looked around, even turning to check Zero behind me.

“I mean you! You!”

I carefully placed my hand on my chest and pointed to myself.

Immediately, the Bow Beast’s sharp voice rang out as if wondering why I’d only just realized.

“Yes… there’s no doubt! That strange horned mask, golden hair, and crimson-black appearance—it’s exactly as I was told!”

“Kruruk?”

As she was told.

Am I that famous?

“It’s exactly the appearance that Sword Brother described when he returned home (to the other world)—the one who killed him!”

“Sword…”

“Krururuk?”

‘Brother?’

Ah, now that I think about it, the Weapon Series were all supposed to be family.

Their mother was naturally the Weapon Beast.

Below her, siblings were differentiated by the era they were created in—making them a deeply traditional(?) family in the <Monster Front> universe.

Among them was the Bow, created after close-combat weapons like spears and swords.

I hadn’t paid much attention since it wasn’t mentioned in the original work, but it seemed she and the Sword Beast were siblings.

“Have you come after me this time, Horned Mask?”

“Krururur…”

What do you mean “come after you”? You’re the one who started trouble with our young lady first.

I just managed to nurture her from a depressive personality back to a lively one, and you’re trying to downgrade her back again? As her caretaker, how could I just stand by and watch?

Besides, this one was just as troublesome as the Sword Beast in its own way.

I reached out my hand, wanting to subdue it quickly.

But then.

“Horned Mask Beast.”

“Kruk?”

Miss Hoshino called me from behind.

“You came to protect me again this time, didn’t you?”

“Kruk!”

If it had been any other question, I might have hesitated.

But to this question, I could nod vigorously.

Pat pat.

“…!”

I decided to protect you no matter where you are.

That’s why I ran here with all my might—I couldn’t say that, so instead I stroked her fox ears.

The atmosphere, which had been chilly until just moments ago, now brightened as the young lady returned to her usual smiling expression.

“Thank you.”

“Krururuk.”

“But this time, it’s okay.”

“Kruk?”

However, as if to show she wasn’t a child forever,

She shook her head at me and walked past me to face the Bow Beast directly.

“I want to defeat that one myself.”

“Hmm?”

“Krururur…”

“If I just keep receiving your help, it’ll be exactly like ten years ago. I want to catch up to you, Horned Mask Beast. So just this once, could you just watch?”

I went through the trouble of transforming into a beast, and now she’s asking me to just watch.

Of course, I could do that.

Because no matter what, I was Miss Hoshino’s one and only playmate.

“Weren’t you easily subdued by me just now, Hoshino?”

“I was.”

“Then how do you plan to catch me when you can’t even match my speed, which you claim is your strength?”

“Alone, it would be impossible.”

“…?!”

Just then, a large horizontal slash flew toward the back of the Bow’s neck as she was smiling confidently.

“Kugh!”

The surprise attacker was none other than Zero.

The Bow Beast sensed it through instinct alone and hurriedly bent her waist to barely avoid the attack.

“But with two of us, it’s a different story.”

“I agree.”

Having momentarily lost her balance, she couldn’t help but show an opening.

In the world of ‘professionals,’ that brief instant was a significant opportunity.

“Wolf’s Breath Form 4 – Mutual Love and Assistance.”

Slash.

It was truly the epitome of a thrust.

In an instant, the sharpness concentrated at a single point, as if the tip of the sword had become an arrowhead, turned into light and passed through the Bow Beast’s body.

“Kuhak?!”

The limit of her current ability, created with the utmost concentration and perfect timing.

Although this single strike couldn’t secure a complete victory,

The mere fact that her sword had touched a Grade 1 beast, even for a moment, brought a smile to Hoshino’s face.

“Y-you!”

“I… will never make a contract with you.”

“!!”

“I… will walk my own path of the sword. That is the mindset of the Okami family princess who walks alongside the sword ancestors.”

To think she would suffer such an ambush by letting her guard down.

Seeing Hoshino pointing her blade at her, the Bow Beast clicked her tongue.

She had found such a rare talent.

Was she going to have to give up like this after all?

Blood was still flowing from her completely pierced side.

It was a painful mistake.

She had tried to maintain a good relationship through conversation, but who would have thought Hoshino had such ‘backup’ protecting her at the end?

‘If there’s any silver lining, it’s that the beast isn’t moving because of Hoshino?’

But even so, the two in front might be one thing.

That Horned Mask Beast probably wouldn’t just let me go…

Click.

Clack.

“Kruk?”

“Huh?”

“Ah…!”

The cat that had cornered a mouse had encountered a dog… no, a bear.

In a situation where she was about to be torn apart, the Bow Beast was wondering if she had no choice but to surrender when—

“Two monsters detected ahead!”

“Both monsters confirmed not to be the Bat Beast!”

“Doesn’t matter. Exterminate all monsters remaining in City B!”

“Oh, no…!”

“The military has arrived. But I’d recommend retreating as soon as possible.”

“I know that much!”

Hope began to sprout again on her face, which had been filled with despair.

“Moths…”

“Kruk?!”

“Rushing in without knowing their place.”

The Bow Beast casually threw the arrow she had been holding in one hand over the shoulders of the three people.

Toward the dozens of armored vehicles charging in their direction.

A crude shot that wasn’t even fired through a bowstring.

However, as the arrow flew in an arc, crimson sparks began to fly from its tip.

Boom.

“Aaaagh?!”

“Kugh…!”

“Enemy attack! It’s an enemy attack!”

The armored vehicles, which could only block minor gunfire at best, were instantly penetrated, throwing most of the supporting troops into great confusion.

“Well then, we must part ways for now. Let’s meet again, Hoshino.”

“No! Stop right there, Bow Beast!”

While everyone’s attention was on the fallen armored vehicles, the Bow Beast, with her hood pulled over her head, began leaping toward the rooftops of nearby buildings.

Of course, Hoshino wasn’t one to let her escape quietly.

She too quickly followed with fox-like movements, intending to track the beast to the end.

But.

Swoosh.

Swish swish swish.

“!!”

Amid the commotion of people running around, a rain of arrows began to be fired from impossible angles, precisely targeting only the military units.

Even the arrows thrown by hand easily pierced armored vehicles.

So how much more powerful would her arrows be when drawn with a bowstring, befitting her title as the Bow Beast?

The speed was such that even Hoshino, who ranked in the upper echelons of A-grade, could barely keep up.

Clang.

Chang.

“Kugh…!”

“Could that be… Princess Hoshino?”

“Wow… I’m seeing her in person for the first time.”

“Everyone! This is no time to be amazed! That monster currently prowling the rooftops is the Bow Beast, a ‘Great Beast’ with a danger level of Grade 1!”

“D-danger level Grade 1, you say?!”

“Impossible… We only brought equipment for Grade 2 level threats. Does that mean we need to retreat immediately?”

“Yes! Go back! No, that could be dangerous. Better hide between buildings, out of its sight!”

In a situation where even the armored vehicles they came in provided no shield,

And with the volume of arrows increasing as time passed, Hoshino was starting to struggle to block them all by herself.

But it was okay.

She had a comrade who would fight back-to-back with her alongside the Horned Mask Beast…

Tap.

“Zero?”

The being she thought had become her friend,

Homunculus Zero, unlike Hoshino who was gradually retreating toward where the soldiers were, charged straight toward the Bow Beast.

“Zero, what are you doing! I can’t protect all these people by myself!”

“Then don’t protect them.”

“…What?”

“What I was ordered by Councilor Avanka was to eliminate the monster threatening City B. And after calculating in my head, I’ve determined that pursuing the Bow Beast ahead is more valuable than the military forces behind you.”

The hero’s supporter occupation group that can always be replenished.

Soldiers.

From the beginning, they were a profession created to fight fiercely and die in places like this.

…That’s how the information recorded in Zero’s mind coldly assessed the situation.

In other words, she had no reason to miss a Grade 1 beast because of a few ‘useless humans’.

“My, this fake human is smarter than she looks?”

The Bow Beast smiled as if pleased.

Soon, a single arrow she shot high into the sky instantly transformed into a rain of hundreds of arrows.

“Aaaaaaah!”

“It’s raining down!”

“Kugh…!”

They were about to pour down precisely on the crown of each soldier’s head without a single error.

Grab.

“?!”

“Tch…!”

“Krururur…”

At that moment.

A being entered between the falling rain of arrows and, with impossible hand movements, caught all the arrows falling from the sky.

Until she saw the Kin-slayer with his unbelievable strength.