Volume 2 - CH 349

Chapter 8-21. The Sound of the Metal Club and the Clanging of the Rake

The moment he confirmed that the devil had fainted, a metal club flew at him from right beside his body.

Immediately, he repelled it with his rake and checked its direction.

There stood an Oni.

But something was a little strange.

His head was drooping, and he did not break the form in which he had thrown the club.

Looking around, we found that the other Oni looked similar to him.

But some oni did not.

They do not seem to be responding to any of our calls, but they are …….

“What the ……?”

Then a strange-looking oni put more force into its fist that was gripping the metal club.

At the next moment, the Oni charged at Uchikage.

“!?”

He jumped up and looked at the situation from above.

It seemed that the Oni were targeting Uchikage and were not showing any interest in the other Oni.

The normal Oni are trying to stop them, but they don’t seem to be …… much  better.

Then one of the attacking Oni grabbed one of the Oni and threw it at him.

The thrown Oni swung his club at just the right moment and swung it at the Uchikage in mid-air.

Kicking the air to avoid it, Uchikage quickly descended to the ground to check the situation.

“U-Uchikage! What’s going on!?”

“This is …….”

Alena, who was riding on Uchikage’s shoulder, was unable to comprehend the situation.

When she knocked the devil out with a heavy weight, the Oni suddenly attacked them.

Could that have been the condition that triggered this strange skill?

But something was definitely manipulating them.

Although it would be nice to find the source of the manipulation,……, even Uchikage’s sense of presence cannot detect where it is.

“Alena, are there any unusual enemies around?”

“I- I don’t know. …… I can’t see very well in the forest. ……”

Neither by signs nor by sight.

Nevertheless, this is how precisely they are manipulating the Oni.

It wouldn’t be strange if there were guys controlling oni in this area.

But one thing is unclear: there are some Oni that are being manipulated and some that are not.

Is there any difference between the two ……

“…… There’s….. the blood……?”

“Eh?”

The manipulated Oni has a lot of blood on its body.

It was the blood of these orcs, and there was a lot of it on their faces and clothes, not to mention their protective gear.

However, the unmanipulated Oni seems to have relatively little blood on their body.

Was there something mixed in with those orcs’ blood?

If the army was prepared on the assumption that they were going to be killed, then that is a reasonable possibility.

If that is the case, but this …….

“!! Ouren-sama may be in danger!”

“Eh!? What do you mean!?”

If all the enemies this time are given the brainwashing effect by blood, it is conceivable that the soldiers who are fighting now may turn into enemy soldiers.

If the enemies in the sky above are shot down, they will fall to the ground, splattering blood.

Those who are not exposed to that blood are not few …….

In addition, that number of weak monsters.

These enemies are soldiers who are prepared to be killed!

“──”

“Kuh!”

The metal club and the rake collide with each other.

Even Uchiakage, who was in a quandary, was on the defensive, knowing that he could not let his comrades get killed.

The enemy was not a very good one this time.

He wanted to convey this information to the other side, but if Uchikage went, these Oni would come with him.

It would be possible to send the unharmed Oni to the other side, but it would be difficult because several of his men …… were holding back the Oni that were being manipulated.

Unfortunately it would increase the burden on Uchikage.

“Alena! Go!”

“Me!”

“Ask Oren-sama to wash away the blood on the soldiers! Hurry!”

“O- okay!”

Grab!

As soon as she gave her consent, Uchikage grabbed Alena’s clothes.

“He?

“HHAAAh!!!”

“NYAAAAaaaaaaahhh…!”

He throws Alena as hard as he can to Ouren’s direction.

He might be scolded later, but right now it is an emergency.

Alena’s levitation is not very fast, so it is better to throw her like that.

The only thing left to do now is to keep the manipulated Oni here from going past him.

The good thing is, they are still aiming at Uchikage, so there is nothing to worry about.

This kind of performance is not that bad.

“Uchikage-sama! If we stun them, they’ll be fine!”

“I see! You guys knock them out! I can’t handle them right now!”

“”Yes, sir!””

Powerful strength is difficult to handle.

He even feels like he is being told that this power isn’t suitable for him yet.

“I guess I have to train again.”

Uchikage muttered quietly as he caught the flying metal club.