A girl in Toko’s entourage tried to carry out an overly obvious abduction. How shameless! Kidnapping a young girl. Unforgivable! At least bring candy if you’re going to do that.

“What are you doing?! That’s cruel! She was only trying to help your child!” (Toko)

“That part was excessive, I admit. Sorry, but in dangerous situations like this, I’d rather leave things to myself or someone I trust completely. Would you entrust your child to a stranger just because you recognize their face?” (Lanpeach)

Toko shouted, enraged. While his anger was justified on the surface, who wouldn’t be hesitant to let a stranger take their child away?

“…That’s true. If I were in your position, I’d feel the same. She’s a trusted companion to me, but to Shukou-san, she’s just an acquaintance.” (Toko)

Toko, who probably doesn’t know the underlying circumstances, seemed convinced and extended a hand to the fallen girl. The girl, apparently named Kuuko, shook her head to clear her dazed thoughts and stood up, a frustrated expression on her face. It was easy to read her emotions.

Looks like the operation was launched solely to retrieve Mei, but the plan was too forceful. To think they’d go this far to get her back.

━━━ But now something has become clear.

“Awawa, Kuuko, are you okay? Pain, pain, go away!” (Mei)

Mei hurried over to Kuuko, patting her head repeatedly in an effort to comfort her -or perhaps lightly smacking her. It seems they know each other.

“You shouldn’t do that-deshu yo. Kuuko and the others are my—mmph mmph!” (Mei)

“The pain is gone already! You’re amazing, um… What was your name again?”  (Kuuko)

Kuuko, unaware of Mei’s alias Mikoto, froze, her mouth twitching as she hurriedly covered Mei’s mouth.

Such an obvious act. ━━━It’s too ridiculous.

“Arata-san, I’ll vouch for these children. Let’s settle the smaller disputes later and prioritize getting out of here.” (Aegis)

Aegis offered a sound suggestion.

“Hmm, you’re right. The enemy seems formidable. That creature transforming into a monster wields extraordinary power.” (Bacchus)

Amid the intensifying battlefield, thick smoke obscured vision, but glimpses of the Baphomet cutting down participants with overwhelming force was visible. Bacchus was naturally shaken by such power.

“Yeah. Everyone, don’t stray too far from me. Actually, give me some space. It seems they won’t let us off easily.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach shielded Chihiro and the others behind him, and raised his fists as three Lesser Demons leaped toward them.

Their sharp claws gleamed like daggers, their mouths full of jagged teeth opening wide as they charged at breakneck speed.

“But they’re no match for me.” (Lanpeach)

He struck the leading demon with his right fist, kicked another attempting to slip past, and pivoted on his left foot to land a blow on the third. ━━━Or so he planned.

“Huh!?”

His eyes widened in surprise.

The leading Lesser Demon halted before his punch could land. The one on the right spread its bat-like wings and hovered, while the third side stepped his kick entirely.

It was impossible for Level 4 enemies to evade his attacks. Unless their physical skills were exceptional. But these demons…

[Pla-san, their movements seemed odd.] (Mira)

[Yeah. It’s as if they anticipated my attacks.] (Lanpeach)

Mira’s warning made him frown. Something was definitely off.

“Gigiiii!”

[Firestorm!]

The three demons raised their hands, preparing to cast a wide-area fire spell, one difficult to evade. A nasty choice.

“I won’t let you activate that spell.” (Lanpeach) 

He lashed out with a series of quick jabs aimed at their magic circles, intending to interrupt the spell.

“Giiii!”

[Bind Hand]

However, the first Lesser Demon switched spells, intercepting his fist with chains of magic that wrapped around his arm like it had been hardened in cement. The other two prepared to unleash their fire spells while he was restrained.

They must be planning on taking custody of Mei in the chaos of the fire.

Their coordinated movements seemed calculated, but…their actions occurred before they could have reacted to his.

“Don’t think you can stop me with just this much!” (Lanpeach)

[Psychic Body]

He enhanced his body, gritted his teeth, and focused his psychic power into his restrained arm.

“Oryaaaa!”

With a roar, he lifted the Lesser Demon along with his bound arm and swung it like a weapon. The remaining two demons were Taken by surprise and were flung aside, disrupting their spell.

The magical chains shattered, and the improvised weapon (the Lesser Demon) crashed to the ground. The other two regained their footing, snarling and baring their fangs. They seemed largely unharmed.

“This is bad. These guys have suddenly gotten better.” (Bacchus)

Bacchus muttered, confused as his axe swings were deftly dodged.

“I think we should hold them off while the children escape.” (Aegis)

Aegis’s fireballs were missing their mark a lot.

“I’m sorry, but it’s difficult for us to take on that monster. Trust us here. We will protect Shukou-san’s children, no matter what!” (Toko)

Toko said something as heroic as the protagonist in a story. Well, he is a protagonist. This is one of those moments early in a game when a strong superior acts as a shield during an attack, while the protagonist escapes in tears. The minor villain is the first to be wiped out in such an event.

(However, I have no intention of letting that event trigger.) (Lanpeach)

“It’s a bit troublesome, but it is no problem. I’ll take them all down, so just wait a little.” (Lanpeach)

He cracked his neck with a sharp sound, and glared coldly at the Lesser Demons, growling as he surveyed them.

[They’re predicting the future, aren’t they? I thought they couldn’t foresee my future?] (Lanpeach)

[Hmm, why do they know, though? Soldier’s fate is actively being created in real-time, so there shouldn’t be a future to predict.] (Libra)

[Ah, I see. They’re not reading Pla-san’s fate directly. They’re analyzing the surrounding fates and making educated guesses based on the gaps where they can’t read. The futures they see are probably constructed based on reactive predictions, like imagining being punched or kicked. Clever of them.] (Mira)

Mira offered a precise analysis, unlike the skeptical Libra. It was a convincing explanation.

[Ah, so it’s like in games where violent scenes are blacked out, leaving the player guessing what happened afterward.] (Lanpeach)

[Exactly. Even if the screen is censored to the point of being incomprehensible, players can infer what occurred from the aftermath.] (Mira)

[Wait, why is Mira explaining? Can’t Mira just tell me, and then I explain it to Soldier?] (Libra)

Libra chimed in with her usual nonsensical complaints.

[Still, there’s no time to deduce every single thing in the middle of high-speed combat. This is…it’s not their own predictions; they’re receiving instructions via telepathy. Analyzing the traces of the telepathy…] (Mira)

[Leave that to Libra-chan! Starting analysis now~] (Libra)

[No need. I’ve mostly figured it out already.] (Lanpeach)

Sorry to disappoint the eager Libra, but there was no need for further analysis. Lanpeach mostly pieced it together.

After finishing the rapid exchange of thoughts, Lanpeach waved his hand lazily and smirked at the opposing forces.

[Manifest Spirit Gauntlets.]

He manifested the Spirit Gauntlets on his arms, and prepared himself to get serious.

“All I need is an unavoidable attack, right? Don’t underestimate me!” (Lanpeach)

[Light Fist]

—He took a steady breath and threw his fist forward.

—It was an attack at the speed of light.

—Faster than anyone could perceive.

—Not even traces of the attack remained.

The Lesser Demon’s head exploded the moment the Light Fist was unleashed. Its body, unable to grasp what had happened, remained standing as if frozen. He drew forth even greater power without sparing it another glance.

[Psychic Blade]

Transforming his hand into an edge sharper than any famous sword, Lanpeach felt the surge of immense energy coursing through his body. He concentrated it into his arms, and prepared for his next move.

[Light Fist Frenzy]

Countless beams of light streaked across the area in a world that seemed frozen in time, slicing through Lesser Demons and even piercing the Baphomet.

And then, in the next moment, all the Lesser Demons collapsed, their bodies severed and bleeding violet blood. 

The unnatural haze dissipated, clearing the field of vision.

“Wa?! What just happened? How did the enemies fall all at once?!” (Bacchus)

Bacchus was stunned at the sudden collapse of the Lesser Demons. The others present were equally confused, unable to comprehend what had occurred.

However, Lanpeach was dissatisfied with the outcome.

“Tch, as expected, this speed is only good for dealing with small fry.” (Lanpeach)

Although all the Lesser Demons had been defeated, the Baphomets only bore minor wounds. Speed had been prioritized, minimizing the attack’s power.

“Well, at least those sheep-like creatures have tendons similar to humans. That’s a relief.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach smirked as he observed the Baphomets staggering, their tendons visibly cut. Even humans could handle them in this state…

“Awooo!”

[Frozen Armor-Piercing Claw!]

A wolf girl charged in, striking a Baphomet and knocking it over. Other Baphomets were blown away by beam projectiles at the same time as this happened.

“Hmph, Lanpeach Defense Force has secured the area!” (Dry)

The wolf girl, known as the spirit warrior Dry, punched the air triumphantly.

“Usa!”

“Usa!”

“Ooh, there’s food-usa!”

Fully armed rabbits emerged from spatial distortions, waving their guns. Some of them wandered toward the tables, enticed by the food.

“Their earlier than expected arrival was fortunate.” (Lanpeach)

The Baphomets were swiftly neutralized with Dry and the armed rabbits taking the lead. The tide of battle turned rapidly. Lanpeach turned to see Toko looking relieved, while the girls around him knelt before Mei, begging for her to shoo their pain away. Do they even have the intention of hiding their identity?

Lanpeach decided to ignore them and turned back toward Aegis, waving his hand lazily.

“Now, has this become an unexpected conclusion? To the one possessing Aegis?” (Lanpeach)

[Exploding Palm]

Lanpeach closed the gap and struck Aegis with his palm as he spoke. The impact caused Aegis to double over.

“Guh! Y-You’re capable of harming my ethereal form?!” (Aegis)

A ghostly woman emerged from Aegis, stepping back in shock.

“H-How did you know?! My possession should have been flawless!” (Aegis)

“Simple. I’ve seen plenty of ethereal forms. Your body flickered when issuing commands to the Lesser Demons.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach had noticed Aegis’s presence doubling while the Lesser Demons evaded, a sight he had become accustomed to with Libra.

[Wasn’t it my detection of thought transmission that clued you in? I used it because I suspected possession.] (Mira)

[By the way, I’m thinking of making braised pork when we get back. Thick, tender meat with jiggly fat.] (Lanpeach)

[Never mind. You’re as perceptive as ever, Pla-san.] (Mira)

Having settled things with Mira, Lanpeach sneered at the glaring woman and shifted to a serious expression.

“You’ve been scheming to frame the Yoroizuka family, haven’t you? You’re too obvious, idiot.” (Lanpeach)

And Yoroizuka Mei? Who announces their ties to the Yoroizuka family like that? It seems like Mei is her real name after all.

The mother hasn’t shown herself for 1,200 years, so blatantly revealing her connection to the family made no sense. Clearly, it was a deliberate misdirection. Using her daughter as bait? Truly despicable.

“Shall we officially begin the battle now?” (Lanpeach)

Despite his anger, Lanpeach assumed a combat stance as he prepared to face the woman who is unleashing an overwhelming aura of mana.

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