NOVEL NEXT chapter 12
12. Suddenly in a pinch!?
—
I look around, surrounded by guards,
Behind me, the battered Gora and the unconscious Ayla, in front of me stands a particularly tall female guard among them.
On her chest, multiple medal badges,
Her attire is different from the others.
Her eyes, wide with shock as they meet mine, yet the corners are lifted, giving her a stern impression.
“E-Elg! You…!”
Gora seems confused about what has happened,
But he remains on guard, wary of the guard in front of him.
The surrounding guards are frozen, not understanding the situation.
Among them, the differently attired female guard speaks.
“You! Do you even know what that girl is?”
Her voice resonates like thunder, and the corners of her eyes lift even higher.
I turn my gaze to the demon girl clinging to me at her words.
The demon girl, perhaps not grasping the situation, clings to me and says, “Papa?”
What is this adorable creature?
“Be careful, Elg! That’s the head guard, Gildia!”
Hearing Gora’s voice, my wariness spikes.
G-Gildia!? This is the head guard!?
I instinctively brace myself, enhancing my body more than usual to prepare for the confrontation.
The guards step back from the dark aura enveloping me, and Gildia, glaring, speaks.
“Dark magic, a dark knight.”
Gildia sighs as she continues.
“I heard a man associated with dark knights was imprisoned, but to think it’s a dark knight himself.”
Gildia takes a stance, looking exasperated.
“However, my task remains unchanged; I will dispose of you traitors here.”
In that moment, I feel an overwhelming pressure emanating from Gildia. I brace myself, steeling my resolve against a force I’ve never felt in my life.
“Hey, Elg, buy some time against Gildia. In the meantime, I’ll take down the guards.”
Gora says, carrying Ayla on his back.
I respond to Gora.
“Leave it to me.”
I carry the demon girl on my back and activate my skills.
“[Holy Armor][Saint’s Smile]”
A dark aura envelops me, and I don the dark armor.
Then the dark aura heals my wounds.
With the [Holy Armor] boosting my defense and [Saint’s Smile] providing constant recovery, I’m ready…!
Gildia, watching this, utters a single word.
“Eliminate the Gora.”
At those words, the surrounding guards are enhanced, not by mere physical strength, but by something else.
The guards move as one, charging at the Gora.
Are they targeting the Gora first?
The guards, empowered by Gildia, aim at the Gora from all directions, but even while carrying the injured Ayla, the Gora moves swiftly.
It sends several guards flying with a single blow, yet they rise again, like ghouls drawn to blood…
And Gildia, having set his sights on me, glances at the girl on my back and says,
“The woman you carry is a demon, and of the highest rank… If she were to be taken by the Dark Knight, it would mean the end for us all. Therefore, I shall personally crush you.”
A demon of the highest rank? So what?
That doesn’t justify treating such a young girl like a mere machine part!
Gildia, still glaring at me, speaks again, his eyes fixed on mine.
“I am fast.”
In that instant, Gildia moves at high speed.
Can he use that on himself too!?
Before I can process my surprise, Gildia closes the distance in a single step, standing right in front of me.
“Too fast!”
Gildia’s fierce kick lands in my gut, sending me crashing into the throng of guards, propelling me down the corridor.
As I endure the searing pain in my abdomen, I feel the pain ease thanks to [Saint’s Smile].
I manage to regain my balance in mid-air and land.
“Wow, the power and speed—he’s insane!”
As I tremble, the demon girl calls out to me.
“Daddy?”
Her voice deepens my focus.
Ah, that’s right. I had resolved to protect her. If I’m going to protect her, I can’t just play defense.
As I solidify my resolve, the dark magic power surging from my body intensifies. Just as I wonder why,
I notice that magic is flowing from the demon girl’s hand.
With my physical enhancement output skyrocketing compared to before, along with the effects of the Holy Armor and Saint’s Smile,
a smile escapes my lips.
I can do this!!
While I observe this, Gildia walks swiftly and elegantly from the back.
The sound of her heels echoes sharply.
“It seems your power has increased since earlier.”
Gildia closes the distance to me in a single step, just like before, but she looks significantly more formidable! I clench my fists and dodge a kick, launching a counterattack, but Gildia lowers her body and twists,
switching her kicking leg, evading my punch and delivering a heel kick.
Is that even allowed?!
I take a direct hit to my abdomen from a fierce blow,
reeling back but managing to stay on my feet.
Seeing this, Gildia speaks with a hint of weariness.
“It seems this will take some time to finish you off. Then, I shall show you I have power.”
Unlike before, Gildia approaches me, stepping lightly as she runs. It’s clearly slower than before, but if those words are true…
I instinctively leap back to avoid Gildia’s punch as she reaches me.
Boom!
Dust swirls, and the spot where Gildia struck has formed a crater.
Is she going for destructive power next?! If I take that hit, I won’t stand a chance!!
I dodge her punches, desperately buying time.
“You’re a tenacious one. Then, don’t move.”
Suddenly, my body stiffens for a moment. In that instant, Gildia is right in front of me, winding up her fist.
An uppercut from below.
Time feels long. That fist breaks through my armor
and strikes directly at my gut.
I can’t hold my ground; as I’m thrown back, I think,
the enemy is too strong…?