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Lanpeach let out a sigh of relief. Judging from the situation, it seemed they arrived in time.

“Who are you?!”

A soldier crushed beneath the mass of flesh crawled to his feet, glaring at Lanpeach.

“Well, now, hold on a second.” (Lanpeach)

[Divine Spirit Fusion]

[Psychic Body]

[Light Fist Barrage]

With a smile, Lanpeach fused with Libra and swiftly launched a series of light-speed punches. The air cracked, creating a rift in space and…

All the blood vessels connected to what seemed to be Vapula’s heart were cleanly severed.

“W-What are you doing!?”

“Well, now, well, now.” (Lanpeach)

[Spirit Fist Flash]

Lanpeach threw a full-force punch while smiling kindly at the startled soldier. The ground caved in, and the flesh mass was crushed. He concentrated psychic energy into his fist, and struck at the center of the heart, leaving a massive hole in it.

The red-black pulsating heart slowly ceased its rhythm, hardening into a mere stone. The surrounding flesh masses turned gray and reverted to a lifeless corpse.

[You have stopped the resurrection of the deceased Vapula. Estimated level 10 clear. 50,000 EXP acquired.]

Lanpeach felt reassured with the log displayed. Vapula has been defeated… Level 10? Why level 10? Was it because the resurrection was almost complete? Well, as long as it was cleared, there was no issue.

“Ah, sorry for interrupting. You were asking who I am, right?” (Lanpeach)

Turning around, Lanpeach spoke with a friendly smile to the demon soldiers, who stood stunned at the sudden defeat of Vapula.

“My name is Lanpeach Kouza. I’m a hunter from the Space Library. That clears things up?” (Lanpeach)

“A hunter?! That’s impossible! All hunters were wiped out. They shouldn’t exist anymore. W-Wait, is that why an emergency was triggered? Because a hunter was born?!”

The soldiers’ faces twisted in fear as they stared at Lanpeach. These seemed to have weaker resolve unlike the demon soldiers encountered earlier.

[They must not be professionals. I suspect they’re just security guards, or so my instincts whisper.] (Libra)

[It’s not instincts, but Mira whispering, right? Anyway, security guards?] (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach mentally replied to Libra’s thought transmission, receiving a momentary pause.

[Harkein is a conglomerate, you see. They manage military forces, security companies, and regular corporations. The guards of a security company likely aren’t highly trained -or so my instincts tell me in exchange for today’s snack.] (Libra)

[I see. As expected of Libra, always helpful. Thanks for the useful info.] (Lanpeach)

[Oh, it’s nothing. I’m a support character. It’s only natural.] (Libra)

Feeling a twinge of pity, Lanpeach decided to praise Libra-san, who shyly basked in the compliment. Best not to ask more questions to avoid all of her snacks being gone.

“A hunter, and a human at that… But we’re demon soldiers now! There’s no way we can lose to you. Everyone, take him down!”

“Understood!”

Realizing bullets wouldn’t work, the demon soldiers conjured jet-black swords and advanced. A trace of fear lingered, likely due to the mere mention of the word “hunter”.

[Demon Security Guard: Level 6]

How pitiful, they are not that strong. Though in this world, that’s probably considered quite strong.

The demon soldiers closed in on Lanpeach, slashing swiftly and accurately. Three soldiers took the lead, aiming for his head, arms, and legs with swords moving faster than the blink of an eye.

However, Lanpeach was unaffected even at such speeds. He intercepted their strikes with a raised index finger, deflecting their blades effortlessly.

“!?”

Even though he took the attack on with his bare flesh, sparks flew, and his finger remained unharmed. The three attackers froze in shock as they passed by him.

“Ah, so their coordination is quite high.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach responded to their actions with a cold smirk, then shifted his gaze to the approaching demon soldiers. The three who had gone ahead halted their attacks after a single strike, preparing for the next wave of soldiers to unleash their assault.

[Blurring Blade]

The soldiers at the front served as a diversion while the following troops gathered their mana to activate their deadly enchanted swords. It seemed they intended to use hit-and-run tactics, relying on their numbers to repeatedly attack and ultimately overwhelm Lanpeach. Indeed, more soldiers were visible in the rear, poised to strike.

“You’re used to fighting one versus many, huh? This is a formation designed to take down the strong, isn’t it?” (Lanpeach)

The swords they wielded transformed into mist, materializing just before striking to bypass defenses and ensure their attacks landed. It was a subtle but effective technique. The demon soldiers, aware of their own weakness, had recognized they were mere fodder against a true powerhouse. That realization drove them to practice these coordinated attacks relentlessly, confident that such a method could bring down even the mightiest foe.

As the mist solidified and seemed to strike Lanpeach…it passed harmlessly through him.

“What!?”

“Hey, hey, no need to get so worked up.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach, who had been in front of them moments ago, vanished. The soldiers quickly turned to the sound of his voice behind them and were shocked to find their three comrades, who had been preparing for the next attack, now collapsed. The only one standing was the sneering minor villain.

The sound of bodies hitting the ground came from behind. Turning back, the soldiers saw that their comrades, who had rushed forward and passed Lanpeach earlier, were also down.

“When… When did this happen? I-I didn’t see a thing!”

Even the team leader at the rear, who was observing the entire battlefield, had failed to notice Lanpeach’s movements.

“T-Teleportation magic? No, there’s no trace of it.”

Teleportation magic would have left mana residues, and even if it had been used, it wouldn’t explain how their allies were defeated. It is because the process of attacking after the teleport was not present. A conclusion that spelled despair for the guards.

“That’s right. It’s not teleportation. You’ve figured it out, haven’t you? It’s just speed. And now, you’ve realized there’s no way you can match me in this regard.” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach waved his hand dismissively, his mocking grin transforming him from a minor villain into a monstrous figure. It dawned on the soldiers that they stood no chance of stopping him if they couldn’t even see his movements.

“A…A human hunter. I’ve heard tales of human hunters wielding extraordinary power, unlike Artificial Spirits, but…to this extent…?”

One soldier began trembling uncontrollably, instinctively retreating from the monstrous presence before him.

As they tried to distance themselves…

“Ow! What’s this hole?”

One soldier tripped over something and fell. 

The others turned to glance at the clumsy soldier, who had tripped over a small hole in the ground at what was supposed to be the fortress’s core. 

Lanpeach also noticed the clumsy enemy. And then, grimaced at the hole.

“Hey, I’ve got a bad feeling about this. Why is there a hole at the core of the heart chamber? Did you guys make it?” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach’s face tightened as a dreadful possibility crept into his mind. Still, he clung to a sliver of hope, silently praying.

“No way. We wouldn’t make a hole in such a place.”

The soldier’s answer dashed any hopes. Lanpeach cursed his luck, lamenting the absence of a benevolent deity for minor villains. Damn it.

[Soldier! High-energy readings are coming from that hole. Something might emerge!] (Libra)

The voice of the support shrine maiden-san affirmed Lanpeach’s fears, though her excited tone seemed all too fitting for someone like Libra.

“Damn it! You over there, step away from that hole immediately!” (Lanpeach)

Lanpeach shouted at the soldier who was peeking into the hole without a care.

“Ha? Why should I take orders from the enemy?”

The soldier glared suspiciously at Lanpeach but continued peering into the hole…until a crimson beam of light shot out, making a faint sizzling sound as it obliterated his head.

“Ahh! W-What was that?”

“B-Bumora’s down!”

“Something’s coming!”

The soldiers panicked at the sight of their fallen comrade. They really don’t seem to have strong minds. 

The ground began to quake like an earthquake, and the small hole expanded, glowing red with heat like an erupting volcano.

The soldiers scattered in fear just as the hole burst open. Molten remains of corpses flowed like lava, and from within emerged a humanoid figure.

“What… What is that?!”

“……”

The figure was made entirely of molten lava. Its head resembled that of a lion, and it had eagle-like wings, leaving no doubt about its identity.

“Vapula? Is that Vapula? So it wasn’t destroyed! Alright… Alright! the tide of battle has turned! Vapula, I order you: Destroy this minor villain!”

The team leader recognized the figure instantly, his face breaking into a grin as he pointed at Lanpeach.

“Uhahaha! This Vapula is a fortress-type demon, but its heart which serves as its core houses immense power -is what I was told when assigned here. It should easily crush any intruder!”

Vapula, a true demon, was considered unbeatable against humans, especially when it is fortress level. The team leader was confident of victory, but…

“You are not authorized. Please bring someone with proper authorization.”

“What? Huh? Authorization is required?!”

The demon’s merciless words sent the team leader into a panic. He glanced around but, naturally, none of his comrades had the necessary clearance. He was a low-level grunt who had only been told of the demon’s capabilities in the first place.

“W-Wait, does that mean… If Vapula revives in an emergency, and the authorized personnel aren’t here, we’re supposed to…”

“If authorization cannot be verified, please contact the Lunatic Library. Repeating, if authorization cannot be verified, please contact the Lunatic Library. Alternatively, contact the administrative department.”

Vapula continued its bureaucratic speech, but the team leader had no means to initiate such communication.

“W-Wait, hold on! This is a mistake! We were set up as sacrificial pawns by those—” 

“Detected as intruders. Commencing elimination.”

Vapula raised its hand, unleashing a tsunami of scorching flames that consumed the soldiers, reducing them to ash without resistance. The remaining soldiers fled, panic-stricken , turning the scene into a chaotic hellscape.

“So, using an underhanded trick on Lanpeach difficulty ends up like this, huh… I shouldn’t have taken it down.” (Lanpeach)

Watching the carnage unfold, Lanpeach slumped his shoulders, realizing that the resurrected Vapula was likely stronger now than it was before.

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