I really hate Rubius~

First of all, his appearance.

He looks exactly like a noble.

He stares down at you with those infuriating eyes that look down on everything.

And then his personality—exactly what you’d expect.

Arrogant and cruel.

And lastly… the fact that he’s fairly strong.

Because he’s strong, a forced event would trigger in almost every chapter where the protagonist had to fight Rubius.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you have the strength you had just a moment ago?”

So annoying!!!!

“But that works better for me right now. Take this! Frozen Flash Freeze Ray!!!”

I’d seen that move countless times.

A malicious spell specialized in freezing the target in place for a set amount of time, stripping them of their ability to resist.

If I remember right, around the third fight, Kaede-chan prepared a huge mirror and reflected it back at him.

But right now, I don’t have anything like that.

As I was trying to get up, the light rushing toward me was intercepted by Aruka, who wrapped herself around me protectively and took it with her own body.

“A-Aruka?”

Aruka froze completely, unable to move at all.

That was… honestly totally unexpected.

What should I do?

“Oh? Missed my mark, did I? No matter. Even if I get two more, it just makes things easier. I’ll take you as well! Be honored!”

Okay, now I’m pissed.

The only one allowed to hurt Aruka-chan is me.

Seriously, damaging that beautiful body is unforgivable.

There’s no choice anymore—I have to take him down.

I summon the weapon I created back then from subspace.

Apparently weapons aren’t affected by the contract, because it appeared normally.

I brace the handle, gripping it as I try to lift it.

“…Oh?”

Letting gravity take over, everything but the handle rotated and stabbed into the ground.

Isn’t this way too heavy?

Without borrowing power, does basic physical ability really change this much?

“Oh? Is that your weapon? I like it. It only makes me want it more!”

Rubius laughs with an utterly unpleasant sound.

Seriously, could you just shut up for a second?

“I feel like testing my arm as well. Until I take you away, humor me with a bit of swordplay, little girl.”

He said that while pulling out some strange, writhing sword wrapped in an eerie aura.

Wait, seriously, this thing is way too heavy—I’m dragging it, I can’t lift it!

I pant as I backstep to avoid Rubius’s slashes.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m carrying this heavy thing or because this body is weak, but I’m already completely out of stamina.

This is bad.

“You do nothing but run. Entertain me more!!”

He doesn’t let up his attacks.

Stop it!

I want to put some real distance between us… but then he casually knocked the handle aside and my weapon went flying.

It rolled across the ground a few meters away.

There’s no way I can go retrieve it.

…It can’t be helped, I guess.

I only wanted to use this in front of cute girls, but Aruka can’t move right now and there’s no one to watch anyway.

“…Manifest.”

Let’s use the power.

“…”

“?”

Rubius looks at me.

Huh? Normally it activates on its own.

“Manifest… Manifest!”

No matter how many times I say it, there’s no response at all.

Why? Why!?

For the first time in this world, panic grips me and sweat runs down my forehead.

This is bad.

“…Was that power just a lie? Or an illusion? …Haa, either way, you’re a disappointment.”

He says it in a voice utterly devoid of interest.

Bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad

“Let’s finish this. Domination Flash Dominate Ray.”

Ah, it’s over—

“—Wait a second!!!!!”

Just before that filthy-colored light pierced my body, someone shoved me and I rolled across the ground.

I was blown about ten meters away and the person who shoved me spoke to me.

“Are you okay!? You’re not hurt, right!?”

When I lifted my face, I saw Shinozaki Moe—a junior from the protagonist’s group, with light-purple hair reaching her shoulders.

* * *

“Are you okay!?”

I ran over to the girl I had just kicked away and called out to her like that.

The timid-looking girl looked surprised for a moment when she saw my face, then quickly composed herself and said,

“Th-thank you very much.”

“It’s okay now. Big sis here will take down the bad guy.”

I said, psyching myself up as well and stepped in front of the girl, taking a battle stance.

“Oh my, just when I thought I’d been interrupted, it’s a companion of that green-haired girl. You’ve heard rumors about me, haven’t you?”

“…Yeah, I’ve heard them so much I’ve got calluses. Something about a pervert who’s been kidnapping kids lately!!”

I swing my mace and smash it toward the villain in front of me.

He must have dodged immediately, because his voice came from a bit farther back.

“Please don’t lump me in with petty criminals like that. I am Rubius—a man destined to become the king who will rule this world.”

Rubius.

I’ve heard that name before.

When Kaede-senpai talked about slave traders the other day, his name came up.

And the color of the magic he was about to unleash before I intervened.

“…So basically, still evil. That doesn’t change. Fumail!!”

I summon my monster.

‘Got it!!!’

Fumail—my contract monster, a humanoid shaped like peacock feathers.

When Fumail shines light onto the mace I’m holding, it bursts into flames and changes shape.

“Oh… this might actually be a little fun.”

The villain says something, but I can’t hear the voice of a criminal anyway.

* * *

“Now then, it’s time for punishment. Prepare yourself.”

Saying that, I raise my weapon once more and face off against Rubius.

“What happened to that bravado earlier? With flames this weak, you won’t burn anything.”

“Hah!!”

I’ve been swinging nonstop, but even when I hit him, he shows no sign of taking damage.

At this rate, I’m the one being toyed with.

“You’re no good either. I thought you’d be a bit entertaining… it’s about time.”

Rubius points that segmented sword at me.

I steel myself.

I’ll have to use that…

Just before I commit, I hear a familiar sound of wings flapping and a familiar voice from the sky.

“Karua! Are you there!?”

I look around frantically and she spots me.

“Senpai, can you help me over here first? I think I’m about to lose~”

I reply lightly on purpose.

I really can’t win on my own, so I want help.

“Now’s not the ti—… well, fine. The opponent is… Rubius?”

Looks like senpai knows him after all.

“That brat from before, huh. You’re no longer of interest. My target now was that silver-haired girl, but… two against one would be unfair. I’ll be taking my leave.”

And with that, he vanished.

“…Silver—!? Moe! Do you know where Karua-chan is!?”

She charged in with an intensity I’d never seen before.

“I don’t know anyone named Karua-chan, but… the girl I saved from that villain earlier had silver hair…”

As I say that, her face comes closer.

“Where!?”

We hurry back to where it all started and confirm that the rumored girl—Karua-chan—is there.

She seems to be asleep from exhaustion.

Such a beautiful face.

“Thank goodness… Karua-chan…”

Kaede-senpai says as she grips the sleeping girl’s hand in relief.

So these two knew each other, huh, I think as I step closer.

That’s when—maybe it was just my imagination—but

I definitely heard the sound of something falling—clink clonk—several times from the girl.