Breakthrough with the Forbidden Master
chapter-327

Chapter 327 – Why Are You So Stubborn?

“Why… would, that human… go so far… what the hell is going on, Aka…”

The dark elf, Larou’iph, seemed quite confused about something, but I couldn’t be bothered.

How many times was it now? About two or three times maybe?

“…… look, Yitea… Look. as we did ready ourselves for battle, in secret did I summon forth the beasts of the forest… they stand guard around the village, poised for the command to come…”

“What? Ah, truly… when did this come to pass? In the moments unbeknownst…”

“True. Yet, regardless of my instructions, the beasts and dragons, too, stand agape at this clash… I understand… even the creatures do. Their incapacity, not just a matter of restraint… but one borne of instinct.”

Ah…… now I can’t even tell if it hurts or not.

“Big brother, are you stupid?! Are you an idiot!?”

“Are you stupid, brother!? Is he an idiot!?”

My little sister and brother were both calling me “stupid” over and over again.

Well, I’m an idiot though…

“Ngh, ga, ah…”

I felt like my head was cut off, my forehead cracked, blood was gushing out, and I lost consciousness momentarily.

“I can’t stand it anymore!”

“I’ll give you my hand, Brother!”

But I can’t back down.

I may accept the word “idiot”, but this was the only thing I won’t accept.

“Back… oooooooooooff!!!”

“”Huh!?””

Good, I could still speak… my mouth was mushy, and even if I didn’t do anything, blood kept dripping out, so I couldn’t speak properly.

“Big, brother…”

“W, why, Brother…”

This was my stubbornness.

“Geho, koho… it’s okay… Espie …… Slayer…… I’m fine with being stupid. Just for now, I can’t act reasonably… there are times… like that. This right now, is one of those times.”

That’s why I won’t let my siblings interfere.

I felt bad for the two of them with their worries and tears, but I won’t let them get in the way, and I managed to smile with a mouth that only tasted of blood.

I don’t know if I’m smiling or not.

“Oh… ugh… ugh…”

In front of me, Aonii was kneeling down on one knee and holding his other knee with a bitter expression on his face.

“Heh, hehe… what’s wrong? Aonii…… not done yet…… we only bumped into each other a little…”

“Nuh!?”

“I’ve heard that kicks are stronger than punches, but… I couldn’t compete with Mr. Aka when he really went all out.”

“Huh!?”

“This is nothing at all, I can still handle it!”

Honestly, by this point I’m already used to it… the sensation in my face was also numb, and as long as I don’t lose consciousness …

“You… why would you go that far… are you…… stupid?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, 【Great Demon–“

“Gah, nuh… 【Blue kneeeeeeeeeee】!”

“Head-buuh… gahyu!?”

Ah, not good… I’m already in dangerous territory. I don’t know if it hurts, it’s hot, or it’s painful anymore, I don’t know anything, I feel… did he ask me something just now?

Why am I doing this? Wasn’t it because you told me not to run away?

“I didn’t want to be a bother… I thought I could handle as much trouble as I wanted… didn’t think it was a bother at all… but I wasn’t strong enough to say that…”

“Hmm?”

Huh? It’s like I can’t quite figure it out, but the words just seem to come out naturally.

“I knew too little about the world… about war… about races… so…after learning everything…I’ll say it again… I don’t think it was a bother…”

“…… you…”

“This is the one thing I must never bend on! Because Mr. Aka … was the first person to see me as myself… a friend!”

“…… I don’t really understand… but… I see…”

“Ruaaaaahh, 【Great Demon Head-Butt】!!

“So far… it doesn’t seem to be a lie… 【Blue Knee】!”

Mr. Aka…… I’m not the same person I was back then. Even with my current self, is it not enough?

Maybe I’m not there yet. But I’ve become stronger. I’ve seen a lot of things. I’ve been through a lot.

I will continue to get stronger.

“That, brute… Ca, Captain Aonii’s knee kick… no…”

“H, hey… their most dangerous guy went stupid and got that battered… then the rest will…”

“Ah… Captain Aonii! We’ll be able ta kill that guy if we surround him and beat him up!”

“Okay, now――――pugya!?”

“Ah… Captain Aonii!? Why don we just… we’re Captain Aonii’s…”

If someone complains about something… I’ll make the whole world my enemy…

“Don’t get in the way! You think I can’t kill this scum by myself?! Ha, ha, ha…”

“W, why are ya being stubborn!? W, we’re not going ta say anything publicly ta embarrass you!?”

…… Hmm?

“…… Ah? Ah? Don’t… ah?”

Somehow, I noticed that the ogres were arguing with each other.

I was about to head-butt him again, but there was no sign of him coming from the other side, so I stopped involuntarily, sensing that things were different from usual.

“Dealing with that crazy guy and sticking ta his stubbornness, there’s no need for the Captain ta be stubborn too!”

Ah…were the other ogres trying to help Aonii out? Well, at that moment, my sister and brother wouldn’t stay quiet either, but Aonii refused.

Apparently, Aonii was also stubborn… such……stubbornness……

“…… what the hell do you have to be stubborn for?”

“Oh?”

“Is it some boring pride about being insulted by a human brat, or is it about the pride of being an ogre, even if you insult Mr. Aka?”

It was a simple question. I thought that he would try to provoke me and lure me into a more favorable arena, because he couldn’t beat me in a proper fight, but if that’s the case, it’s certainly better to surround me with his minions and defeat me.

But Aonii refused.

And in the first place, Aonii was only using his right knee in the clash with me.

It was so discolored and swollen that it was already falling apart.

He could have used his other leg, tricked me by using both hands, or used any number of sneaky moves.

“I’m here trying to prove that my feelings for Mr. Aka aren’t just talk. But what about you, bastard? Is there a reason why you’re so stubborn to break your knee and talk down to someone you don’t like?”

Why was Aonii ignoring the words of his subordinates, and going along with this foolish honesty?

Suddenly, I started to wonder about such things… but……

“What’s wrong, Besa? Has it suddenly become so difficult… that you finally decided to try something with words, Besa?”

Aonii did not answer.

“Well… I just hate him and it makes me mad, besa… humans, too…er… you, darn idiot…”

“…… I see. In other words, you won’t say anything unless we settle this.”

“Fu~… that’s right, besa.”

That’s fine. Of course, it would be a waste to end this in a lousy state, so might as well…

“Then, just break down and fall, Great Demon Head-Butt!”

“You’re the one who’s going to be squashed!”

I’m going to end this once and for all.

“Big brother!”

“Brother!”

Well, in any case, I probably won’t be able to do anything about other remaining ogres… Espie …… Slayer…… Chieftain and the others, the rest is up to you…

The rest……

“Damn, what is the Captain thinking… not good…… if the Captain falls… guh… no choice… no one’s watching now… okay, use the magic crystal ta call the main army!… Main Army! This is the Aonii Squad. Big Trouble――――”

[Oh, Aonii Squad, just in time, I was just about to contact you.]

“No, we’ll talk later. We’re in a bad way right now… there’s a terribly strong guy… almost wiped out the squad… Captain Aonii is also currently fighting… but if things continue like this…”

[What? Captain Aonii? I see…… is it such a formidable enemy? In fact, according to the Bockmati, it turns out that there may be an elf with considerable power in the elven settlement that you went to hunt… after all, was it true?]

“What? No….. that is…… besides, the one making trouble now isn the elves, it’s ――――― “

[But, don’t worry. In fact a little while ago, he just wanted to check on things―――――]

For now, I’ll defeat this guy, then let Espie and the others handle the rest, and when I wake up, I’ll listen to Aonii’s story.

[General Hakuki is headed there in person.]