Takami no Kago 73

Translator: Raizu
TLC/Editor: Darknari

Chapter 73

“Are ya ready? Here I come.” (Yuuki)

Yuuki said that he will teach me magic which I haven’t learned yet as thanks for last night.
Well, most likely the real intention is to bribe me to keep quiet.
He will teach me 【Dark Magic】. This kind of magic seems to be only used by a few people even among demons.

“Hoi.” (Yuuki) (Darknari: I think this is part of a longer phrase “ほいさっと” which basically means heave-ho and the like)

When his shout goes flat, a black smoke that is somewhat murky appears before Yuuki.
I immediately held out my hand and enveloped it in magic power. Then I feel I am able to manipulate the mist a bit.
When I checked my status, 【Dark Magic】 was obtained.

“Dark magic is a magic which gives de dark attribute to various tings.” (Yuuki)

Roughly speaking, it was explained that it will be able to do things that a boss character in a fantasy story can generally do.
Dark magic was able to brainwash people, give them a new power, and even imprison them inside a mist.

“Howevuh, it is extremely weak against 【Light Magic】 so be careful.” (Yuuki)

The effect of 【Dark Magic】 can be negated by 【Light Magic】.
However, it’s not a seemingly one-sided annihilation because the blessing of 【Light Magic】 can also be negated with 【Dark Magic】.

Heroes and Saints, and some priests, can use 【Light Magic】. This magic is often being combined with other magic to raise its power and effect.

【Light Magic】 + 【Fire Magic】 = 【Sacred Fire Magic】

【Light Magic】 + 【Water Magic】 = 【Holy Water Magic】

And so on.

Obviously, 【Dark Magic】 can be combined as well.

【Dark Magic】 + 【Fire Magic】 = 【Wicked Flame Magic】

【Dark Magic】 + 【Wind Magic】 = 【Cold Magic】 (Darknari: as in the common cold)

Like that.

“Hm, cold?” (Hibiki)

“Yes, if you’re buffeted by de wind, it seems you’ll get sick.” (Yuuki)

“Is it able to cause a dangerous epidemic?” (Hibiki)

“I haven’t done it, but it seems possible. In de first place, demons can’t get sick, so I didn’t tink of it.” (Yuuki)

It seems humanity still survived because the demons looked down on them.

Since I was in the plaza, I decided to try out a new 【Skill】.
Yuuki said he had headache so he returned to the rented room to get some sleep.

“Ruby, take ‘that’ out.” (Hibiki)

I gave an instruction to Ruby who was at my feet.
Then, with a prickling sound the surface of Ruby’s body turned hard. After the sound ceased, Ruby’s surface had been covered by deep red scales.

“The 【Scales of the Scorching Dragon】 can really be reproduced.” (Hibiki)

This may be due to Ruby eating Selva’s scales back then when we were fighting her.
Ruby obtained 【Scales of the Scorching Dragon】 as a skill.
Even though Ruby has been eating various things during combat, why he seems to only remember Selva’s skill is not known. There might be some conditions.
I should be able to use it too, I was conscious of the skill, but scales did not suddenly appear.
I think the difference between me and Ruby is probably whether we possess the real scale in our bodies.

In other words, the scorching dragon’s scale is needed first to use the skill 【Scales of the Scorching Dragon】.
It is Selva’s scales that are covering Ruby’s body. It seems they are manipulated by using that skill.

“Ruby, I’ll attack you a little bit.” (Hibiki)

Ruby nodded while I held up an iron sword. If it’s this degree of attack, even without the scales, it’s possible for Ruby to endure it.
When I swing downward with the sword, there is a *gong* sound and I can feel my hand which holds the sword becoming numb.
By the way, Ruby did not move at all from his place, I also confirmed that there is no damage on him.

“The next one is magic.” (Hibiki)

First of all, I softly throw a fireball as big as a ping-pong ball at Ruby. The fireball disappears as soon as it touches the scales, and there is no damage at all to the scales.
Next, let’s make it a little bit bigger. I vigorously throw a fireball as big as a soccer ball.
When the fireball makes contact with the scales, in an instant a big pillar of fire goes up then the flames immediately disappear.
Apparently, the scales are absorbing the flames. As expected from the scorching dragon’s scales.

“Alright, how about we fight a bit?” (Hibiki)

Ruby and I begin combat training.
Ruby withdraws the scales and begins the battle in his normal form. Apparently, it seems he is going to attack with his speed first.
This attitude is kind of similar to Ayla. Do monsters also resemble their owner?

Ruby attacks with two tentacles, that are the thickness of arms, extended from his body. When I dodge the approaching tentacles with 【Insight】, the main body is also moving to avoid being close to me.

The battle fell into a stalemate after being hindered for awhile by the barrier tentacles. With my beloved sword, Zetsumu, I was inclined to attacking with my magic sword that had fire magic poured into it.
The regeneration of some of Ruby’s tentacles weakened after being hit with the magic sword.
I promptly closed the distance, and with this I was somehow able to approach until the main body was reachable with my sword. However, Ruby also would not allow me to approach any further and compresses a part of his main body and shoots it at me, the bullet fired is like that one from the time we played baseball.
This time it appears that he made his body into the bullet.

“Guuwaa” (Hibiki)

I received a direct hit to my left shoulder, and the distance between us opened up a little bit. Although my left shoulder is instantly being healed with 【Self-regeneration】, the pain still remains.
While bearing the pain, when I face ahead to start approaching again, the number of Ruby’s tentacles has increased to four.

“This is bad!?” (Hibiki)

Though I immediately escaped to the rear, I was easily caught.
Ruby is swelling his main body like saying it’s his win.

“Don’t get so cocky.” (Hibiki)

I went easy on him and discharge a small amount of electricity. Ruby’s body, which consists of mucus, is weak against large flames and electric shocks.
The tentacles which captured me pulsed with a *twitch* *twitch* and released me.

“Hahahaa, you better remember this!!” (Hibiki)

When I approach Ruby who is still being afraid without precaution, he extended his tentacle to twine around both of my feet.

“Y-you can still move!?” (Hibiki)

I release another electric shock. But…

“Wha!? Using 【Scales of the Scorching Dragon】 is unfair!?” (Hibiki)

There is nothing I can do when Ruby’s whole body is being guarded with the scales.

“Y-you got me!! I give up!!” (Hibiki)

I surrendered to Ruby while I’m being held upside down in the air.
Ruby seems satisfied and slowly brings me down.
My first defeat is against a slime, I want to cry a bit. No, the one who defeated me is my family, should I be more relieved instead?

When I was worried about weird things, I was suddenly being surrounded by a bright red flame.

“Eh?” (Hibiki)

[Hihihi, hahaha!! To think someone who is being favored by Demon King-sama, was defeated by a mere slime. I wonder if the eyes of Demon King-sama are being clouded?] (?)

It’s a slender man with an elegant figure who abruptly appeared from an empty space. However, this guy is not a human. It’s a demon. It seems that the detector inside of Ruby’s body is properly reacting.

[However, what’s to be done with that? Even though I was coming to give a greeting, by no means will it end with just a greeting.] (Demon)

The elegant demon sneers. Ruby and I are still inside the flame that he casted.

“That is impolite. Now, I will entertain you.” (Hibiki)

[What!? Guhaa!!] (Demon)

The electric shock which contains all of my magic was thrown at the demon that had abruptly appeared. The blow which even made the Scorching Dragon Selva shocked. It’s somewhat effective.

[Y-you bastard!!] (Demon)

When I saw the result, the demon got heavy burn damage on his back side. Particularly, the left side of his body was almost carbonized.

“It inflicts more damage that I thought. I wonder is Selva strong? Or rather you’re weak?” (Hibiki)

At last, the flame has also vanished, so I approach the demon.

[W-what, what’s with that appearance!?] (Demon)

Right now, Zetsumu is in my right hand, the Star Sword is in my left hand, and my whole body is being protected by the scales of a dragon.

“Ruby, I’m saved.” (Hibiki)

When I conveyed my thanks, Ruby trembled in response. It made my whole body ticklish.
Yeah, I am wearing Ruby right now.

[Shit, my flame was surpassed!? What’s with that armor!?] (Demon)

The appearance of my whole body which is covered with scales certainly seems to look like I am wearing armor.
But, my movement is not being restricted at all, in fact, Ruby’s body who is covering me is kind of cool and feels good. (TN: Imagine this: Slime Armor!)
While he is still squawking in a fluster, I prepare to fight without out being concerned.

Raikoneru Tajinaru Faigereshu (Will be abbreviated hereafter)
魔族　Lv.50 500歳
Demon Lv. 50 500 years old

Skill

【Fire Magic】
【Earth Magic】
【Demon】

The abilities of the demon is displayed.

The level is improved a little with 50, so he should be stronger than the recent demon. Or I should say that his name is too long.
My depleted magic from my previous attack is already recovered thanks to the Star Sword.
I ran towards the demon. The demon is already starting to recover from the burn and the carbonized arm. Before my eyes, his wound is healing at a speed that is like a video being fast-forwarded.
Most likely it’s a unique trait of a 【Demon】, because there was no skill from the recovery system in his status.

Once again, I converted all of my magic into 【Shock Magic】and pour it into Zetsumu. The magic power that pours in from the Star Sword at any time is also being converted into electric shock.
I decided to do that because I think using flames won’t be effective against this fellow who has the 【Fire Magic】 skill.
One of the reasons why I’m also using 【Shock Magic】 is because there is no one around me. So I’ll take this long-awaited chance to use and practice 【Shock Magic】.

“First, take this.” (Hibiki)

I start to cut the demon.

[Don’t make light of me!!] (Raikoneru)

The demon catches my attack with both of his hands. Zetsumu and the Star Sword are each grasped tightly by his hands.
A large current of electricity sparks from both swords.

[Ugyagyagyagya] (Raikoneru)

Is there any muscles in the demon? His hand is not separated easily even after being shocked by the electricity.
It seems he finally succeeded in separating his hands after smoke started rising from his whole body.

[How-dare-you~] (Raikoneru)

Even though he is prepared to take flight anytime, but he is unable to move properly due to the damage from the electric shock.
This is the best chance.

While rolling a small lump of magic ore in the palm of my hand, I ask Ruby to take out that gun-like object I had Amy make.

With a total length of 2.5m, I managed to carry it because of my strengthened status.
This is a secret weapon made to overcome the lack of firepower from the battle with Selva.

The demon steel is all set. The bullet must be demon steel because it has the best compatibility with electricity made with magic.
Even though there is a trigger, it is just a decoration. This launch pad is also just a guide to fire the bullets in a straight path.
Everything is triggered with my magic.

I generate 【Shock Magic】 in the gun barrel and clad it in a force field. Because this launch pad is also made with demon steel, it rapidly consumes magic.
The bullet seems ready to fire and is being held down using 【Mental Force Magic】. I aim it towards the demon.

“Well then, let’s see if it’ll really turn out well? It seems there will be no worries about magic shortage because of the Star Sword.” (Hibiki)

I poured several times greater the amount of my previous magic in the gun barrel, since I didn’t know how much I should pour.
Slowly suppressing the bullet to the limit, I’ll shoot it with this much this time.
The gun, which is firmly being supported with both of my hands to hold it fixed as much as possible, shoots the bullet.

While making a shrill *hyaaan* sound, the bullet that generated heat and turned crimson was sucked towards the demon’s body at a terrible speed.

[Wh-a-t?] (Raikoneru)

The left-half of the demon’s body was blown away completely like tofu.
Apparently, the demon has not noticed yet the abnormality of his body.
He timidly tried to touch his body with his remaining right hand, but that hand only grasped at air.
It’s natural that there is nothing there as all that is there is a large hole in the demon’s body.

[I-gy-gyaaaa—-]

The demon gave his greatest scream today.