Grimoire x Reverse ~Reincarnated Demon Romance Tale~ Chapter 15

It’s a monster in the shape of a man.

This was the impression of the Nine-tails as she looked at the person who had countered her fox fire and seemed to become more powerful over time with his explosive attacks.

She had never seen such a human being that could overwhelm the power of her, a nine-tails, by his own power without some kind of drug or support.

Such a human did not exist in the Empire a hundred years ago.

“Imperial…Academy…!!!” (Nine-tails)

“Oh? Since you were sealed 100 years ago why do you know of the existence of the Imperial Academy?” (Grendel)

“It doesn’t matter…!!” (Nine-tails)

Manipulating her nine tails, she grappled with Grendel’s high speed. Her impatience grew and she became more irritated at the calm expression of the man in front of her.

“It’s a good fighting technique…but you cannot match my movements.” (Grendel)

“Ga…!?”

The base of his palm.

The power of the striking blow was so intense that she wondered if her stomach had flipped over.

She thought rapidly while she flew back in the air from Grendel, momentarily overpowered by the instantaneous Force. (TL: It calls it “G” like for gravitational force)

It was at that time that she was blown away and felled many trees, finally stopping moving after hitting a larger tree.

“Gua…” (Nine-tails)

“This is no vacation.” (Grendel)

“Ga!?” (Nine-tails)

Her ribs were in intense pain. The red spheres rushed in and bombarded her without mercy, exploding. Instantly, Grendel appeared in front of her. As he swung his fist, alarm bells rang in her head, and she desperately twisted her neck away. From that side, Grendel pierced the big trees behind her.

“Oh…!!” (Nine-tails)

“You managed to avoid it?” (Grendel)

There was a hot pain where it had grazed her left ear. But there was no time to worry about it. Taking a great leap to gain distance, she stared at the three spheres that wandered around him.

“Urgh…” (Nine-tails)

She could not suppress the unpleasant nausea from the stomach-churning experience earlier, from being exploded backwards by his palm. *Stagger* While still unsteady on her feet, she tuned in her five senses to determine the enemy’s next movements.

As the three spheres floated fluidly around him, Grendel stretched his hands and began rolling his shoulders to loosen any tension. However, even though Grendel was in a state of preparedness, she had lost any confidence at beating him. With his casual att.i.tude of battle preparation, she sorrowed at the imminent prospect of defeat.

“Hmm. Do you still want to fight? Even counting the number of your tails is tedious and it will be easier for me if you just run away.” (Grendel)

“That is…an extremely cheap provocation…” (Nine-tails)

“Provocation is meaningless against an opponent covered in full-body wounds. This is merely goodwill. I cannot allow a demon into the Empire. That’s why I fight. If you leave then that reason is gone.” (Grendel)

“Don’t joke around…A hundred years ago such a habit would be a foolish mess.” (Nine-tails)

“I don’t about 100 years ago, but I would guess you are the reason for such a mess?” (Grendel)

*Heh* (sfx for basically a knowing smirk) In spite of things, a smile escaped her. It was neither a fun nor joyful expression. It was a smile of self-disdain. It was a smile of self-destruction. It’s a complete mockery of herse
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lf who has been alone for a hundred years.

Grendel frowned dubiously at the Nine-tails who wore such a relaxed facial expression.

Perhaps there is no chance of victory. However, the emotions of this Nine-tails are not so cheap that the Empire can pull them out so easily. (けれど、このまま帝国を目の前にして引きさがれるほど、九尾の感情も安くない)

Breathing out quietly, she closed her eyes.

“Even so, there is a place I must go.” (Nine-tails)

“Is that so?” (Grendel)

Opening up her eyes, her mind soon cleared.

She wasn’t going to back down no matter how ragged she became.

“If…you will not leave, then there will be no mercy.” (Grendel)

“!!?” (Nine-tails)

The atmosphere of Grendel changed.

The momentum of the three spheres circling round and round continued to increase.

Meanwhile the orbits gradually decreased, and at the moment they were on the verge of touching Grendel –

“[Great Three Elements]” (Grendel)

“Ku!!?” (Nine-tails) (sfx for a silent/muttered curse)

White energy enveloped Grendel, and green particles began to scatter around, causing both gloves to glow brightly.

“What is this…!?” (Nine-tails)

“My Divine Phenomenon phase skills. It amplifies my active abilities, invalidates all opponents’ attacks, and creates multiple explosions….Now, how many seconds can you last—?” (Grendel)

“Gulp…Fox fire!” (Nine-tails)

“—Let’s see you try.” (Grendel)

Divine Phenomenon phase skills. The magic of magical librarians.

Unfortunately, Nine-tails was unable to understand this unknown Imperial magic that otherwise would have been known if Shuten was there.

There was no expectation of success.

Perceiving the danger the nine-tails leapt back with some distance and from above cast down fox fire. However, Grendel simply received all the naïve attacks.

“What!?” (Nine-tails)

“It invalidates all attacks—” (Grendel)

At the same time the fireball was erased he was in an amplified state with [Green], and moved at a speed indeterminable to the Nine-tails. She thought it would be a bad idea to prevent Grendel’s attack with her tail, as his fist literally exploded.

“—Didn’t I tell you?” (Grendel)

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!!” (Nine-tails)

The Nine-tails, who had been forced to receive a direct frontal explosion, was blown into the sky. As she heavily hit the rock wall she momentarily lost consciousness, and her mind was dyed pure white.

“Kaha…!?” (Nine-tails)

As the impact finished, a crater was created and cracks ran across the rock wall as stone pieces fell to the ground. Succ.u.mbing to gravity, Nine-tails began to slide to the ground.

This…Impossible. If she took one more hit, she would die.

Even after seeing such a thing as the Divine Phenomenon and defeat seemed inevitable, perhaps if she still had some spirit left then there might have been a way to fight. But there was no use.

It was the scene of defeat, as both her sight and hearing was hazy and unrecognizable. There was too much of a difference in battle prowess.

She was still bleeding, but there was no s.p.a.ce to worry about such a thing. If she fell to the ground like this, then she will be beaten by one blow and it will be The End.

Trembling, her body leaned forward. Falling head first, the ground came into sight—

*Posu~* (from what I can tell, the sfx for being caught)

Eh?

There was something warm, like the feeling of being held. Her nose responded with a sniff to the smell that had been smelt recently.

There was no impact. In her dimming vision, the figure of someone holding her appeared.

Two twisting black horns.

Um, it was that strange man who was embarra.s.sing.

He said nothing at all, and slowly leaning her against the rock wall, he turned his face towards the forest. Beyond his gaze stood the magic librarian, and the three spheres drifting around him. It seemed he had yet to release that ridiculous magic. The demon was motivated. (TL: You could at least remember his name!)

The magic librarian and Oni confronted each other.

Why did he appear in such a place? Even though he supposedly had an errand in the Hana Flower Forest, why was he in here in such an obviously dangerous place?

Given the information she had and her personal logic, this was ridiculous. He shouldn’t bother himself and die in such a place.

“Stop…It’s not an opponent for a demon like you. Run away…!” (Nine-tails)

Unlike her who had lived a long time even being sealed for 100 years alone, he was young. The youth in front of her was too young to die. To her words that had such a thought in mind, for a moment the Oni turned around towards her.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about though?” (Shuten)

The crazy man talked in a joking manner as usual.

“You will die…!?” (Nine-tails)

But she could not stop him even though she tried because of the tremendous damage she had taken.

In the next moment the battle between Grendel and the Oni began.

However, unlike the terrible death the Nine-tails had imagined, even closing her eyes for a moment to escape reality, the demon moved at a G.o.dly speed, and wielded the Demon Slayer well. Beyond that, Grendel was forced to fight back with his skills using the performance of the red and green spheres. The flying murderous lights were skillfully maneuvered. Without any margin for error in the attacks, the Nine-tails noticed a line of sweat hovering on Grendel’s cheeks.

What on earth is that demon?

She didn’t think he was a regular demon, but clearly shown in this situation he seems to be even stronger than her. She was frustrated, and there is no other word capable of understanding her feelings better than that. In what world is there a young demon stronger than a nine-tails?

Perhaps he will be able to beat Grendel.  For a moment a faint hope arises in her, but naturally it will not go so well. Grendel still carries the benefits of the Divine Phenomenon Phase skill, even if the demon is wielding the Demon Slayer.

Retaliating, he swung downwards, sideways, and upwards, and the demon who naturally used such a big weapon somehow managed to cut out excess movements and keep his opponent no closer than necessary.

However, Grendel used the maneuvers of his spheres successfully, and rather than waiting for a chance, created an opportunity. He then slipped in and focused on his strike.

He had become accustomed to the battle.

“…!”

She ground her teeth.

The battle before her eyes was held because she had not been able to defeat the magic librarian. Since she herself was strong, then she had never been forced to admit defeat to anyone else. Filled with emptiness and regret, her teeth ached. Even in this woeful state.

Just looking at this battle without excess emotions, she realized then that demon had just received a blow that had one-shot her.

“!!”

She was trying to get up but she could not move. Her back was completely paralyzed. It would heal after awhile, but right now she could not go to help. And even if she were to at least support with her fire, it would quickly be dissipated by the wind pressure from their battle.

‘What a pathetic creature’ She thought.

Because of her own blunder, others were close to death and would be killed right in front of her while she was in a helpless situation, unable to do anything.

Her right arm fell back down without energy. In silence she looked at the ground, and the right hand which should have no feeling grasped the soil firmly.

Just this much, is regrettable.

“…Do not die…demon…” (Nine-tails)

At least, those were her thoughts. Though when it came out of her mouth the words surprised her. Isn’t it pathetic to rely on someone with greater potential and only give them words of encouragement when she was in such a pitiful state? (Not exactly sure on this one 応援、などという言霊使いでもなければまともに効力を発揮しないものに頼ってしまうほど、今の自分は情けないのか)

But this desire was also empty words, and the palm of Grendel strongly hit the demon’s chest.

“Urgh!!” Her facial expression twisted. For this stranger, because she could not move herself, he would die in front of her.

But at that moment, the situation changed.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!” (Shuten)

It was too cruel of an expression to say it was merely a cry to endure pain. Awakening out of his body was an energy steps higher than before.

To the too intense intimidation that was felt, Grendel took a bewildered step back and looked on.

*ROAR*

In a mighty roar, the earth around him cracked. The aura that spewed from him was so strong that the forest trees fluttered as if in a noisy wind.

“…Hey, were you playing around until now?” (Grendel)

“Fushuu…!” (sfx for something cooling down *TL shrugs*)

Grendel shrugs, but the expression did not hide his frustration. Wrinkling his forehead and mouth, he wiped off some cold sweat.

To an extent, the demon was exuding an unusual feeling.

“!!?”

Just when she thought that he had glared at Grendel, he moved. (Yep. Don’t know. ぎろり、とグリンドルを睨んだかと思ったその矢先。)

After feeling the unfathomable something Grendel’s instinct to jump back was correct. At such a speed to think he had disappeared, the earth where Grendel had just been standing now had an axe in the ground.

Grendel’s vision was suddenly eclipsed by all the particles flying about.

This was dangerous. His quick judgment thought so.

“[Great Three Elements]” (Grendel)

Earlier, this was the time that the nine-tails had succ.u.mbed to defeat.

He scattered green particles and white energy enveloped him. His two fists were covered in red. With fists holding flame like weapons, he attempted to throw the fire towards the Oni as dust storms erupted from each of the sudden blows, and then the demon again appeared before his eyes.

“Wha…?” (Grendel)

The only thing the Nine-tails saw was the demon with the giant axe appear immediately in front of Grendel. Once the dust storm rose it seemed like Grendel’s reaction speed had increased due to the green particles, and his explosions had increased to defend but nothing else could be seen.

“Gyaaaa!!” (Grendel)

It was Grendel who was flung away.

Thrown along the ground with a wave of soil, his attack invalidation was broken. Following the sound of dragging and cras.h.i.+ng, there were red marks dotting the ground.

It was blood that flowed from the man who was supposed to be invincible. If something were to be noticed that was wrong, it was that blood dripped from both of Grendel’s hands as he used them to stand up.

Shouldn’t the invalidation field apply to the fists clad in red? But, why did the demon attack using that violent weapon that causes sparks to fly at the moment of contact? Is such a thing possible through use of a skill? (TL: In other words, she doesn’t really understand Grendel’s ability or Shuten’s power)

Before these questions could be answered, Grendel’s facial expression quickly turned pale.

“!!?”

At the moment when she looked up, the demon appeared in the sky, swinging the giant axe downward in a blur of potential energy.

“Gyaaaaa!!” (Shuten)

Seeing that it would be foolish to continue to block attacks with his fist, Grendel created another white invalidation aura on his leg and released a roundhouse kick. The clash of “force” was intense. The situation that caused sparks and magic to scatter did not last long.

Nine-tails finally understood the gimmick of Grendel’s skill…at least of the “white sphere” was understood. The potential and kinetic energy focused on the falling blade of the axe right now was being absorbed.

All kinds of things including demonic and thermal energy are absorbed and extinguished by that [White] magic, just like the fox fire earlier.

But.

The Nine-tails was convinced that the demon had finally made it through the [White] and inflicted damage on Grendel.

He did not use any transcendental skill.

It was simply a matter of hitting with an energy too tremendous to be absorbed.

“Gu, Aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!”

With a loud noise, a crack appeared in the white energy surrounding Grendel.

The demon merely swung the axe in conjunction with the fall. With only that action, the attack was stronger that the [White] magic that absorbed so much fox-fire.

With both feet embedded into the ground, Grendel screamed as flesh and bone was crushed.

However, in the next moment, the demon manually released his attack and again swung the large axe with both hands.

“Huh!?” (Grendel)

*Crackle* and with a sound the [White] magic was completely crushed, and Grendel was blown sideways. Under the ma.s.s of power three of the large trees bent and broke, then finally the fourth tree cracked and he stayed.

Nine-tails, who had been watching the situation, was stunned.

Grendel, too, before he knew what had happened had his “Divine Phenomenon Phase skills” broken, leaving him shocked for a moment.

Then.

With fatigued feet and both hands bleeding, Grendel glanced at his sc.r.a.ped-up appearance and immediately sighed as he realized his disadvantage.

“This is…Terrible…I will escape for now.” (Grendel)

“Ah…!” (Nine-tails)

“…There is no need to chase after, right?” (Shuten)

It was the Nine-tails who raised her voice to stop him, but it was arrogant of her to want to stop that person. This was a natural thought from the one who was saved.

“…Thank you. I was saved.” (Nine-tails)

More than that.

To the young man who thoroughly overwhelmed Grendel, she had to give her thanks. She never thought he was that strong, but the reason for her relief was the fact that he did not die.

As soon as she felt relieved, her fingers moved more easily.

“…I cannot move once the battle is over…Really, I am…pathetic…!” (Shuten)

But that young man is immersed in frustration.

Then there was the hollow sound of something falling.

“Eh!”

As she watched the young demon, the Demon Slayer fell to the ground, and his swaying figure was likely to collapse at any moment.

She rushed over there to support him, though he was heavy, being a full-grown man. Thinking of the person who helped her, she would rather bear the damage she received rather than let him fall down here.

“Woah there” (Nine-tails)

“…” (Shuten)

“His breathing…is…Did he fall asleep?” (Nine-tails)

Her face involuntarily broadened into a smile, but in the next moment she caught herself.

“But…the exhaustion of magical power is unusual.” (Nine-tails)

His condition is likely to worsen. His breath is shallow, and there is a lot of sweat.

“Hey! …After all it was impossible to do anything earlier you know!? This isn’t a joke (冗談じゃないってば)…somewhere…a place to rest…!” (Nine-tails)

As she looked around while supporting the Oni, she found something that looked like a hole in the rocky formation. With a sigh, the nine-tails muttered under her breath.

“…Just this one time.” (Nine-tails)

She deftly placed him on her nine tails. A fox’s tail that’s like being wrapped in a bed. For the fox-like demons, including the Nine-tails, there is a special meaning to let someone touch her tail.

This was only possible because he was currently unconscious.

Paying attention to her unsteady feet, she walked down the stone wall. In order to keep the demon from falling she held him carefully with her tails. She could not afford to worry about her own blood that dripped onto the ground. His condition was terrible, and his body battered.

With lacerations on his right shoulder and bruised ribs. She brought the demon to a rocky place and laid the Oni on the cool ground.

Beyond that, both her arms were strained from the heavy load, and she had torn up her own clothes to wrap bandages. Well, actually the clothes had been stripped off of the some members of the Imperial Academy, but she thought she had done a good job wrapping even if it was messy.

Afterwards, paying attention to the wounds he had, she considered going to find medicinal herbs. But the medicinal herbs that cure magic power depletion only grow in the south.

It would be nice if they were lucky enough to meet a pa.s.sing merchant, but she cannot imagine anyone who would pa.s.s through this forest after hearing such a loud noise.

Occasionally the youth gave a moan from his pain.

“…If it’s magic, I still have some.” (Nine-tails)

Suddenly the demon gave in.

Although it wasn’t said so at the time, she was protected by him. He’s a strange guy.

“…I will repay the favor.” (Nine-tails)

Her hand touched his chest.

What she was doing was a blood contract. (TL: blood, as in kindred or family)

“If I tell him it was to save his life, then he will be convinced.” (Nine-tails)

By creating a connection between him and the kin of the nine-tails, then she will be able to immediately supply magical power and save his life.

And so.

She brought her face closer to his face slowly.

The Nine-tails thought he looked better when he wasn’t talking, and she wanted to touch his horns a little bit.

“…Ei~”

She pressed her small lips against his mouth.

She would soon regret this action.