I will get stronger……
I’ll get strong and……
……
—Am I really okay with seeking revenge after becoming stronger? There was this sudden doubt inside me. Yes, the reason I started training here was because master said “You won’t be able to take revenge or do anything if you aren’t strong” to my face. The reason why I’m going to get stronger was for that reason. But, I wonder. While I lived with master……I started to think of unnecessary things. There was myself who was competing with my master in fishing, and there was also myself who was in joy because my cooking improved. I made an oath that I would live on behalf of my comrades and seek revenge against the Excalibur, yet I……I’m starting to find joy in my current life. I shook my head and once again directed my sword at the beast-man. “Stop messing around. I will never go along with you!”
I said in high spirits but he simply showed an evil smile. [Never mind. To begin with, I’ll just have to make you quiet by torturing you.] The beast-man then released his hostility towards me from his whole body—. He must be planning to attack me. I then sprinted from my position first and swung my swords at my opponent from his blind spot after running around in zigzag. I got his flank! —That was what I thought, but the beast-man disappeared immediately! He was fast! I was only able to think that for a moment, but I felt a heavy blow from my back when I was charging ahead. When I looked towards that direction I witness the beast-man who looked like he just kicked me. He got my back in an instant! I was somehow able to step foot on the ground even though I received an impact on my back where I lost my breath. The beast-man then started to laugh vulgarly. [That was a good move. You’re strong for a kid your age. –But you’re still no match for me. Even though I’m like this, I was a [Knight] under my master. Well, I couldn’t use swords though. From my perspective, are you also a [Knight], kid? Though it seems like you lack power.] ……[Knight]? If I remember now, I heard that a Devil gets a trait depending on the evil-piece given to them. So the one I was given was a……[Knight] huh. I think that girl who called herself Rias also said the same thing. Back then, I left without listening to what she said properly……
[Hmph. Those reincarnated from a human sure are weak.] The beast-man released a kick with a big spin. The graves made from my swords were being destroyed! [It seemed like you were obsessed with these crappy graves! Just like you, these graves are also weak!] Seeing that, I couldn’t help myself but to get mad and jump ahead! “Damn it!”
However, the opponent had a movement that surpassed mine, so I ended up receiving his counter as I attacked. Even though I had my attack dodged and received his counter, I kept on standing up no matter what and headed right at him. For a child like me with no battle experience, he was an opponent who I could never beat. I was battered down and fell to the ground. While I fell, I questioned myself. ……I want to get stronger. For who? For myself? For my comrades? For revenge? I think it was all of them. But, now……
[Looks like you finally became quiet.] It happened when the tiger beast-man tried to pick me up who was on the ground—. “Don’t even get closer to that child than you already are.”
A familiar voice echoed throughout the forest. When I turned my head to that direction, there was a crimson haired girl standing there. It was Rias Gremory. As soon as she grasped the situation, she glared at the beast-man as if she was enraged. “I need to pay you back for hurting that child. You must be a “Stray”? I wonder how you got inside this mountain. Being clueless sure is scary.”
Rias Gremory’s boldness where she didn’t even flinch against an opponent who was several times bigger than her. The beast-man twitched his eyebrows when he saw the crimson-hair. [……Crimson-hair, are you a Gremory? Hou, so that must mean that this kid is a servant Devil of the Gremory. Interesting. It certainly seems like I could sell him for a high price if it’s a kid who is a servant Devil of the Gremory.] His vulgar words were directed at Rias Gremory. Her crimson hair wavered due to her aura of rage. “High price? Are you trying to sell my cute servant? I won’t forgive you. You deserve death for that!”
……Yes, this tiger beast-man deserved death. He mocked……my……and my comrade’s graves……! While I endured the pain that was running through my whole body, I said right at him after I somehow got up with my legs that weren’t listening to me. “……It doesn’t matter……about whether I’m……being sold or not……that isn’t important right now!……!”
I want to get strong. Right now. If I can beat this crappy tiger bastard, then I—. The graves meant for my comrades……was something no one should disrespect……! And more than that—. I have……no intention of ending my life right here! “I can’t lose to the likes of yoooou—! I’m going to get stronger in order to liiiive—!”
I realised that something blew along with my shout. Then intense demonic-power erupted from my body which then spread around the surrounding. The next moment, many swords with different shapes started appearing from the earth in my surroundings! Those swords had different attributes where one would have it enveloped with flames while another one was enveloped with ice. —All of them were demonic-swords. I grabbed hold of the demonic-power sword covered in darkness. It’s a good demonic-sword, fitting for a Devil like myself. The sword that devours light. I’ll name it as Holy Eraser. I made a stance with the demonic-sword and jumped towards the beast-man. While I headed towards him head on, I pulled out one of the demonic-swords and threw it at the beast-man quickly. That was the flame demonic-sword. It made a violent flame and headed right towards the beast-man. [Kuu!] The beast-man deflected that powerfully with his fist, but I was already in a stage where I had my sword striking down at him. He responded to that and tried to catch the demonic-sword—however, I made an ice demonic-sword appear at the tip of my foot. I did that because I remembered master’s words. —The necessary point for swinging a sword is how you can overcome your opponents guard precisely rather than brute strength. At the same time I had my darkness demonic-sword sealed, I made a sharp kick with the ice demonic-sword towards the beast-man’s face. My demonic-sword impaled the left eye of the beast-man who had his guard broken. [Nugaaaaaaaaaaaah!] The beast-man who had his eye gouged out screams loudly and squirmed in pain. I then said it to him while making a sarcastic smile. “……I don’t think having just power is enough. If you’re a [Knight], and if you’re someone who uses swords, then I think technique is the way to go.”
Yes, it was exactly what my master said. It’s okay even if my strength is weaker than my opponent. That’s because I could cover that up with my technique and break through their guard—.