CH 130.1

Chapter 130 Pride  Part 1

His intimidation was so tremendous that it looks like my existence will likely be overwhelmed.

The light filled my view and a golden blade was swung down at my head. If this had been my first time, I might have made a wrong decision due to my fear.

But it wasn’t the first time that I had been in a dangerous and desperate situation. That’s why, without showing any resistance, I tightly hugged Tino in my arms and voluntarily activated my second “Barrier Ring (Safe Ring)”.

I am not boasting, but I am confident that I won’t lose to anyone when it comes to using a “Barrier Ring (Safe Ring)”. Or rather, I am sure that even in this era where so many powerful Hunters exist, no one has ever used this emergency protection tool as much as I have.

From my experience, I am completely unable to respond to any attack from a Hunter around Level 3. If the opponent is aiming only at me in a one-on-one manner, whether he comes from the front or comes at me from the side or behind me, no matter how much I struggle, I can’t avoid their attack, let alone dream of counterattacking.

That’s why I will take on the attack as it comes. Rather than hesitating about how to avoid the attack, I will use that time to activate my Barrier Rings.

The blade and electric shock was powerfully repelled by the barrier that was coated just over my body. Apparently, Arnold’s fighting method is to fight using all his power on each blow rather than attacking with a lot of moves, but even so, I had completely no idea how many times he swung that blade at me in that second.

That is fine. That is what being a Hunter is all about. However, no matter how many slash he launched at me, his blade will not hurt me, because I know the performance of the Barrier Ring.

Eventually, the attack Arnold swung down with all his anger stopped and he took a step back. His pair of eyes, which were narrowed like a sharpened blade, wasn’t only showing anger anymore, but also a strong sense of caution.

The ground ―― There was now a huge hole behind me. It was probably caused by the aftermath of Arnold’s attack. When I released Tino, who had been shrinking in my arms, she stepped back cautiously while having a pale expression.

It seems like we can finally start to 『Negotiate』. Thanks to the presence of Liz and Sytry nearby, I can be more forceful than usual.

I don’t know why Arnold is so angry. I am sure it is due to a misunderstanding, like usual.

“Are you satisfied?”

“…… Why…… Can you… Still stand? Impossible.”

I have faith in my Barrier Rings.

It is generally believed that a 『Barrier Ring (Safe Ring)』 is a Relic that automatically creates an invincible barrier against deadly attacks, but it was in fact slightly different.

The Barrier Ring has several functions on it. And just by mastering them, I can extend my survival time a little bit.

One of them is to be able to activate the Barrier Rings, which are supposed to be activated automatically, at will, the 『Voluntary Activation』.

And in my case, if it is an attack swung in front of me, I can usually activate and put up the barrier right on time just at the moment I think, “Ah, it’s gonna be bad” (By the way, if I don’t make it in time, other Barrier Ring will be activated automatically).

I unintentionally became proud of it.

Arnold has a scary face, but I have been attacked by scary-looking people more times than I can count for. It isn’t something to brag about, but isn’t it fine for me to be a little proud of the fact that an ordinary person like me has survived those kinds of hellish situation.

“Arnold-san, calm down. This is…… The difference in our experience. I have been attacked a lot of times in all my life, but ―― No one has ever been able to hurt me.”

“Ah!”

Along a small sound of something disappearing, Arnold’s huge body disappeared. Before I could grasp the situation, I heard a loud sound from the back of my head.

“Master!?”

Tino screamed.

One of my Barrier Rings was automatically activated. Apparently, he realized that he couldn’t break through the front and switched to an attack from my blind spot. His speed was unbelievably fast for a man of his size.

But it is useless. Yup, useless. Arnold doesn’t seem to understand, but what he is fighting against… Trying to break through, isn’t me.

What he is trying to break through is ―― The 『Barrier Ring’s (Safe Ring)』 history!

Considered to be one of the strongest of all defensive measures in the world whether it is in the ancient or modern era, the very story of the 『Barrier Ring (Safe Ring)』 itself!

I am a small being, but I have equipped on me seventeen of those, eye-popping price tag, 『Barrier Ring (Safe Ring)』.

As if he didn’t know when to give up, Arnold doesn’t stop attacking and keeps on slashing my back in rapid succession.

“Impo-ssible!”

“Calm down. It is time for you to stop.”

Someone will die, I will.

The remaining numbers of 『Barrier Rings (Safe Rings)』, which had been replenished by overworking my Clan Members, were being whittled down.

There is a trade-off between the Barrier Ring’s activation time and the time it can keep being maintained. In other words, seventeen attacks will absolutely be prevented, but after that, it cannot prevent even one blow.

A normal fighter would find a way to fight back if he could prevent the blow, but all I could do was to prevent it.

To buy some time, I turned around and gave a big swing with my right arm. My right arm which was swung with all my strength collided with his golden blade and stopped.

The barrier of the Barrier Ring is impervious to impact, light and sound above a certain level. So, with the right numbers, even I can temporarily compete with a hero.

It was clearly unnatural to see my slender arm competing with a huge blade without wearing any armor on it. Arnold’s eyes opened widely in astonishment.

The blade that he had been swinging so wildly was stopped. This is my chance to persuade him. Arnold was trying to kill me, but I don’t have any will to fight with him.

I pretended to be calm and smiled. Even though it was my long-awaited vacation, I’m gonna puke.

“I’m sorry, but have no intention to fight. In the first place, I hate fighting. Because even if I do those kinds of things,  it is all pointless.”

As I will die. You are strong, so you should fight with strong guys. In the first place, if I had been hit by the first attack or any of his other attacks, I would have died.

This is why Hunters who don’t know how to control themselves are so scary. They think I am Level 8, so they usually come at me with full force.

“In the first place, why did you come here? It isn’t a coincidence, right? You know, I am on a vacation though……”

“Huh……!”

" "

In response to what I thought was a perfectly reasonable question, Arnold glared at me with a look that said I’m going to kill you.

Perhaps he was looking for an opening, he kept his sword at ready, lowered his stance and calmed his breath. You don’t need to look for an opening, I am always full of openings.

However, it is good that we are in a stalemate now. As talking is my only weapon.

“If you are here because of Liz teasing you, I apologize for that. Sorry.”

“…………”

Say something will you. Should I do a Dogeza1 or something?

However, even if I was suddenly attacked, I still have something I want to say. It wouldn’t have been strange if I had been killed earlier, you know. In particular, Tino could have been seriously injured as she doesn’t have any Barrier Ring.

I pull Tino, who is standing on guard next to me, and pat her head. The range expansion of the Barrier Ring at that time was properly made on time, so she doesn’t seem to have any injury. Good, good.

I *perapera* rapidly talk while turning on my brain.

“But, to be honest, how to say this…… I am not that interested in you guys ―― Ah, sorry. I said nothing.”

As soon as I said it, I thought that I messed up.

I unintentionally said my honest feeling. Because, you know, even though Liz was teasing him, it was just out of a bit of mischievousness, something which isn’t that unusual for Hunters. That’s why, in my mind, they don’t have any justification to chase and attack us.

However, if explaining this to them was enough to convince them, then they wouldn’t have chased after us this far into the mountain in the first place.

In a hurry I withdrew my words, but it seemed to be too late. Arnold’s eyes widened for a moment and then probably because he understood what I just said, his expression distorted like a demon. I was completely pouring oil on the fire.

“You… Bastard… Saying this at this point ―― Huh!?”

From the side, Liz kicked him with a surprise attack. Almost like on reflex, Arnold raised his blade, but like magic she slipped through it and struck him hard on his chin. His huge body was greatly blown away, but he was able to adjust his stance in the middle of it.

Liz was completely pissed off. Maybe because of the aftermath of the lightning strike, there was black smoke coming out of her clothes, but from her appearance there was no signs of any damage on her. It wasn’t like I had prioritized Tino over Liz when I protected her instead of Liz, but it was just a simple judgement as I thought that Liz would be okay even if she does take some damage.

TL notes:

Thanks for reading!

It was so funny when Cry was praising his Barrier Ring. You ain’t fighting against me! You are fighting against history itself! You think you can win against this, mouahahahah! XD

And seems like Cry’s provocation skill isn’t rusted XD

Cry stopping Arnold great sword with a smirk will make everyone think as expected of a Level 8. But in truth it was just the Barrier Ring XD

And now that Liz joined the fray, how will Arnold get his ass kicked!

Tchao à plus!

FootnotesDogeza: It is a form of apology in Japan, they kneel on the floor and bow their head.