Chapter 267 – Path of Light

Up until now, whenever an opponent attacked me, I would respond by observing everything from their gaze, the direction of their arms and elbows, the direction of their legs and knees, and the movement of their muscles in order to avoid attacks.

But this time, I’m not looking.

I feel. As if this whole area were my senses, I grasp everything in this space.

Once I do that, no one will be able to catch me.

“Kuh, what… keep throwing! Keep firing! There’s only one of them! Get rid of him quickly!”

The Demon King’s Army, which had been calmly attacking me from a distance without revealing their position until now, was also in a state of panic. Their raised voices were proof of this.

And now, I could even feel the agitation in their heartbeats.

“Crossover… Carioca… Split step!”

“”Eehh!!??””

I don’t even open my eyes anymore.

On top of that, I make full use of all the stepwork in my repertoire to avoid being hit by any attack from the Demon King’s Army.

Many arrows and stones pass right by my body and Espie’s.

They don’t hit us.

No, I dodge them.

“What? This guy is… not getting hit at all…”

And this move of mine now, even though I am just a child, was enough to surprise even the Seven Heroes, who have carved their names in history.

But on the other hand, I also understood the meaning of Tre’ainar’s warning, “Don’t get carried away”.

After receiving information from all around me, right, left, in front, and behind, I have to decide in an instant what action to take.

In other words, the information comes into my mind one after the other, all at once…

“Hehe… gu…”

『Child… did you feel it?』

Just a few seconds of Magical Steps with the Magical Radar activated made me break out in a cold sweat.

In other words, my head felt like it was going to explode.

Also, this radar is quite sensitive, so it’s quite nerve-wracking to maintain.

That’s why I still can’t keep the radar on for long periods of time.

In short, I can’t just sit around.

『How do you fare? The enemies are soldiers. Even though they are a bit shaken, their coordination is top-notch. Even if you make a rash move, you will only be backed into a corner. Use the radar to predict where they are, how they will move, and how they will react to your actions. Use your foresight like a game of Go!』

Needless to say, my mind grasped it all.

Then, an image appears in my mind.

The enemy placement. They were moving around while repeatedly throwing stones and shooting arrows, trying to keep me from realizing their position.

But, according to the enemy’s movements that were transmitted, they were moving in the same pattern.

They were just repeating similar patterns.

『Tis so. The soldiers use coordination. But that is to say, they are merely performing predetermined movements.』

Coordination is not something that moves in pieces on its own.

There are fixed movements, laws, and conventions.

Then, I should be able to figure it out.

The four in the front to the right were scattered to the left and right, and the eight on the left were on standby…

『Although the soldiers are top-notch, the original specialty of heavy soldiers like them is frontline assaults. In this forest night battle, their coordination would not be so complicated, would it?』

I see……

“Okay, I got the gist of it! Espie, don’t bite your tongue, okay?”

“Ah, eh…?”

And at that time, I saw something.

“Nu… hey, he went to the left!”

“Hey, go that way! Go around to the front and cut them off!”

In my mind, I envisioned the path from here to slip through the encirclement.

The moment I opened my eyes, I could see the route shining in this dark night.

『Yes. Just like that…』

At that moment, Tre’ainar, who was standing beside me, nodded his head in a good mood.

At the same time, I remembered what Tre’ainar told me a few months ago.

It was right after I ran away from home. Just before I met Mr. Aka, Tre’ainar taught me Magical Parkour.

―――The shortest route to the destination or goal. Tis an application of dynamic vision and peripheral vision, which until now has only been active in sparring and speed reading. The ability to detect the shortest route to the goal while avoiding obstacles, by measuring ‘your own physical ability, passiveness, foothold situation and risk assessment, using experience, prediction and the ability to observe and understand surrounding conditions. The skilled person sees the situation in an instant while running, and the shortest route in which to advance to the target appears as a Path of Light…. A Shining Road…… such is the phenomenon.

Until now, I hadn’t been able to reach that point.

That’s why I understand it now that I’ve reached it.

A Path of Light shining through the forest.

“Here!”

『That is … the Magical Shining Road!』

I run along this Path of Light.

To the right, to the left, using parkour to kick off rocks and trees, I jump…

“Oh, t, turn around!? That way is… “

“S… say what? Hey, why are you over there…”

“Huh? Because, you said to get in front and cut em off…”

“Shit, but then that place is unguarded!?”

Taking advantage of the soldiers of the Demon King’s Army, I effortlessly broke through the opening in the encirclement.

“No, no! After them!”

“Not good! Don’t let Espie of the Seven Heroes escape!”

“Shoot, shoooooooot!”

“Oh, he’s turning around again…”

“What the hell was that move! You don’t think… a ninja warrior from the Japone Kingdom?!”

And no matter what kind of attack they throw from behind me, they can’t catch me anymore.

“You totally… got away… “

“Hmm?”

“…… Hey, who are you? You’re so amazing… but I don’t know you. Are you famous?”

“Someday… I’ll be a man whose fame echoes around the world. My name is…… I can’t tell you that.”

“…… the world? But you can’t tell me your name? Why not?”

Espie looked up in my arms with a puzzled expression.

As I patted her head…

“It’s complicated, you know. For now… I’m glad you’re safe. I know it makes no sense to say this, but you… don’t be too hard on yourself, okay?”

“Ah…”

“…… Hmm?”

Then, Espie was startled for a moment, but immediately grabbed my chest and buried her face in it.

“…… why are you being so nice to me?”

“Ah?”

“…… I, I’m a useless child… so why are you so nice to me? Will you help me?”

What was that? Was she trembling a little bit as she held on tight?

I don’t think she’s scared, but… am I being nice?

With just this much……

“You’re one of the Seven Heroes, right? The other Seven Heroes… aren’t they like your older brothers and sisters? Aren’t they being nice to you?”

Tre’ainar said.

Espie of the Seven Heroes, was like a younger sister to my father and mother.

But……

“Uh… the Seven Heroes, but… I was told that the other Seven Heroes might become enemies one day, so I shouldn’t get friendly…”

“Huh?”

“That’s why, I… I’ve met Hiro and the others… but I didn’t get close to them at all…”

Eh, eeehh? What’s that? Even though they have the same title, they don’t get along?

Wait, are they even friends?

「Tre’ainar…」

『No, it should not be so. At least to my knowledge… no, perhaps that was a little later…』

「Hmm?」

『That is to say, Hiro and Mamu have not yet deepened their relationship with Espie… I suppose that will deepen from here on out.』

「Ah~……」

『Moreover, the gerontocracy of the Kingdom of Bethreal… would issue ‘such instructions’… while presenting a stance of cooperation with the Union… in an attempt to obtain information about the military strengths and weaknesses of other countries, and to take credit for achievements. In the name of strengthening their influence…』

I asked Tre’ainar if her story was a little different, but is that what you mean?

So my father and mother… in other words, Espie will soon become the younger sister of my father and mother.

I don’t understand the flow of the times or the relationship between these guys…

“…… hey… who told you that you shouldn’t get along?”

“Huh? …… The King…… and grownups… in my country…”

“Geez, there are always countries that ignore children’s feelings and force them to do whatever they want… no matter what the era…”

I sympathized with Espie, who responded to my question with, “Why are you asking me that?”, even though it might be a bit cheap.

To be honest, I’m not snobbish enough to say anything preachy, but for some reason, I felt that I had to say something to Espie right now.

But before that…

“Uh… ugh…”

“Huh!? Pull yourself together!”

In my arms, Espie gave a look of agony.

That’s right. She’s been badly injured and is very weak.

『Child. Find a body of water. Once there, you should treat Espie. Fortunately, you bought a lot of items from the equipment store… I will instruct you on her treatment.』

「Okay.」

『Also… Espie seems rather exhausted… set up camp some distance away.』

「……………」

『………… What?』

「No, nothing.」

For some reason, Tre’ainar had been cooperating normally in helping Espie, but this was one of the people who had beaten Tre’ainar along with my parents… and yet……

『Hmph. That was so long ago that you were not even born… it does not matter now… the more pressing matter is camping! And when I say camping, I mean Curry! Tis highly nutritious, so after you finish her treatment, feed Espie with a shot!』

As if he was trying to hide his embarrassment, he seemed enthusiastic about calling it a camp or curry, but I can’t comment on that anymore either…

“Oh!”

I smiled and nodded.

Special Shoutout to my Patrons for the Overwhelming Support! Tier Rewards up on the Patreon Page soon!!

Devanor

Justin Burt

Samuel Rodriguez

Zachary spencer

ZaneofBane

Stewart

Alon Hatzir

Aaron Saddler

Andy Lam

David Frederickson

Jared

Juan Melchor

lilwebsite

Peter Banos

UPPISH RACER

Omniplaystation

Meoya

拟态leftist