ch1-ch20 · 019-ch19

Chapter 19: What Did You Say You Can Do?

"Gubooohhh..."

Holding his crotch and fighting against the excruciating pain, several question marks floated in Melkid's head.

'Guh... Why... Even if it was a critical hit, I'm wearing eiyō-armor! There's no way I should take this much damage from a normal human's kick... Normal human!?'

Besides, was the Black Knight's attack really just a trained kick?

If he thought about it calmly, it would be impossible for an ordinary human to knock out the bandits—who were eiyōso users, even if they were small fry—with a single blow.

—'If you can't defeat a third-rate punk without eiyōso, how can you call yourself one of the Seven Knights'

'That line itself was a bluff!? To make me think he couldn't use eiyōso—!'

　　―　◆　―

"Guooohhhhhhhhhhh!!"

Melkid screamed but kept his face turned to the sky, managing to endure without falling. It was painful to see him standing with his legs spread apart, both hands covering his crotch. He tried to walk while looking up.

"Damn, he endured it."

Papa looked a bit disappointed. After pretending he couldn't move, that was his full-force attack, after all. I really thought he was done for this time.

"You bastard—! In this world with thin eiyōso! You were secretly accumulating it! Little by little, little by little over many years!"

The speed of Melkid's furious speech was incredible.

...Huh? He was accumulating it?

So that means Papa had a little of that otherworldly mysterious power, which is why he was able to defeat those men, and why he could get back up even after taking Melkid's punches?

"But nevertheless! With that kick, you should have used up all your eiyōso! Too bad for you, you have no moves left against me now!" "Is that so? Maybe there's still some left?"

Papa showed a confident smile.

But Melkid didn't seem to be intimidated.

"Hmph, I won't fall for your bluff anymore! Even if it's not a bluff, it doesn't change the fact that I have overwhelmingly more eiyōso than you. If I gradually wear you down without rushing, I can definitely kill you!"

Instead of dashing like before, Melkid walked toward Papa.

Seeing that movement, Papa, on the contrary, looked like he was the one getting impatient.

"Now!"

Once he got close enough, Melkid threw a normal punch.

"Guhh!!" "Papa!"

This time he didn't get sent flying, but Papa fell on his back after being punched in the cheek.

"Fuhaha, how pathetic. Falling from such a weak punch."

While mocking him, Melkid kicked him again.

"Ugh..."

Kicked in the stomach, Papa couldn't move.

To actually attack with weak, gradual hits... what a nasty personality.

No, this isn't the time for that!

"Now! Now! Now! Now!" "G, ah... auu!"

Papa was kicked repeatedly and sent rolling. Even though he called them weak kicks, even I could tell they were super heavy kicks from an ordinary person's perspective.

Before I knew it, blood was coming from his forehead too! And even that dull "crack" sound...

This time it's not an act, he's really getting hurt!

"Papa!" "Ai, noo!"

Ignoring Kiriko trying to stop me, I ran.

Even though my feet almost tangled, I didn't care. Shaking was irrelevant anymore.

I ran and ran, tripped, and threw myself over Papa, who was lying face down.

"What are you trying to do, little girl?" "Please, stop it already! Papa's going to die!"

Even as I desperately begged, Melkid just snorted through his nose.

"Hmph, I have no intention of killing women and children proactively... But that's if they don't protect a great criminal. If you don't move, I'll kick you and your father to death, okay?"

"Ai... stay away..."

Papa said it as if admonishing a small child, his breathing ragged with pain.

But I had no intention of moving away.

"No, absolutely not! I can't stand Papa dying! I'd rather die than let Papa die!"

Before I even realized it, tears were streaming from both my eyes.

"Ai..." "He's my only Papa! We're just a family of two! If Papa dies, then I'll die too—"

I couldn't say anything more.

Because Papa covered my mouth gently with his large hand.

"Don't ever say something like that. A father can do anything for his daughter's sake. But if his daughter talks about dying, he'd be so depressed he'd never recover." "Papa..."

Then Papa, his body covered in bruises and scrapes, dragged himself to his feet.

Once again, one step ahead of me, as if to protect me.

"Wh-what the hell!? You shouldn't be able to move anymore..." "Didn't I tell you? A father can do anything for his beloved daughter!"

Melkid retreated with a surprised look at Papa's fighting spirit.

As if to press his advantage, Papa shouted even louder.

"Hey, Black Bird!! Wake up already and lend me your power!! Are you really going to let the guy who made Ai cry get away with this!!"

In that instant.

A dazzling light overflowed from Melkid's chest. ...No, not from his chest.

It was the black stone pendant he had stolen from Papa and was wearing around his neck!

"Th-the 'egg' can't be...""

The black stone gradually grew larger in the light, truly becoming egg-shaped.

Then it cracked open in an instant, and a black bird was born from within, flapping into the sky.

"Huh, a crow?"

But it wasn't just a crow. It was many times larger than a normal crow, and it had three wings on each side, six in total.

The six-winged crow flapped its wings and slowly landed on Papa's head.

"It's been a while, I'm counting on you, Black Bird... 'Merge'!!"

As if understanding his words, the crow spread its six wings, covering Papa as if to protect him.

Then the crow's form changed like black fire, enveloping Papa's entire body.

"It's transformation time!... So cooool!!"

Kiriko's cheer, the complete opposite of when Melkid transformed. But for some reason, it felt distant.

I just couldn't take my eyes off Papa.

Eventually, the black fire disappeared.

—There stood a knight in black armor.

"After fifteen long years... The Black Knight Rokuro=Rokku, appears!!"