Chapter 444 – Beasts and Hunters

000

“The woods around the camp… There is our camp.

After telling everything, Volforth’s confession to Cleon started with such a sentence.

“A trump card?”

Come to think of it – even when I tried to defeat him, he tried to blow something, like a flute, while saying it was a trump card.

The flute, made of something like blue glass, shattered on impact when Cleon knocked him down.

“The trump card handed over by Laplace… Doesn’t sound very good? Is he a proud chimera he created?”

Artis also scratches his head while holding a new lollipop in his hand as if he is annoyed by Bolforth’s words his.

“Haha… I’m not that clumsy guy…”

However, Volforth let out a rejected laugh as if Artis’ words were ridiculous, then raised his head and spoke.

“That guy entrusted us with ‘Griffon’.”

“──”

At those words, Cleon’s body freezes, and Attis’ eyes wide open, and the candy in his hand he falls to the ground.

The sound of the candy breaking was heard, but neither of them paid much attention.

“Griffon!? It’s a special monster that belongs to the first dangerous species…! Why did you bring something like that near the village where people live!”

When Cleon, enraged, grabbed Volforth by the collar, Volforth had no choice but to avert his gaze at her.

“Uh, it was meant to be used when there’s a guy we have a hard time dealing with… A strong guy like you…!”

“You guys don’t seem to have the skills or skills to deal with the Witchbeast.”

As if Artis had a headache, he ended up taking a cigarette instead of candy.

“That’s why I was going to use ‘that flute’…! Laplace said that with that flute, you can control the griffon as you please…! You have to blow the flute periodically so that it doesn’t go wild and listen to us. I mean give…”

Only then does Cleon fully understand the identity of the flute he was about to play.

“…It’s a monster control flute. It must have been an artifact, that flute too.”

With the sound of the flute, any animal can take away its free will and be able to use it freely.

It’s not very common, but it’s the kind of thing that a few pieces are going around the market at a very high price.

However, the material, shape, and size are all different, and the structure or manufacturing method is still undiscovered.

Like the Ring of Convenience, it is a B-class artifact found in ancient ruins and dungeons, and if you are an aristocrat with a unique hobby, you will probably spend a lot of money to purchase it.

Just- considering that Eustes’ father used his connection with the regressors to collect ancient artifacts-

The regressor, Laplace, might have acquired those artifacts and the Witchbeast through a similar route.

After letting out a small sigh, Artis asked Volfoss one more question.

“Is the cage that puts him in something specially made?”

“Ah, no… It’s just, it’s made of iron. It’s used by circuses to put things like lions…”

“Then, if you come to your senses, you should be able to escape. Griffins are originally self-respecting guys who hate being dominated by humans who don’t acknowledge them.”

After Artis muttered that, she closed her mouth as if thinking for a moment, then—

“Artis. Now is not the time to think, it’s time to act.”

Cleon intervenes as if to cut off Artis’ thoughts.

She, too, suddenly returned to reality at Cleon’s words and lit a cigarette in her mouth.

“…You’re right. Cleon. For now, it’s first to solve the griffon. Hunt or capture. Once it escapes from its cage and begins to take over the forest. Of course, the surrounding villages and passers-by will – Even this camp will be threatened.”

An adult griffon that has abandoned its nest is even more difficult to deal with.

“I’m sorry, Cleon, please respond. In this investigation team, you and your party are the only humans who can properly fight against the griffon.”

Cleon nods at Artis’ words her, and she leaves the tent saying that she will leave immediately.

“Why did you say that? Volforth. You… Could have not said it if you wanted to.”

Attis talks while looking at Volforth, who is lying face down in restraints in the remaining tent.

“… Leave it to the imagination.”

Volforth replied with his gloomy face his, and Artis looked at him blankly for a moment and then raised the corner of his mouth.

“Yeah. I imagined it. As expected, you’re just as stupid as I researched. You.”

“…”

To Artis’ ridicule, Volforth could not answer this time either…

Quietly, thinking of his own faults and of his mother’s, whom he could no longer meet, he only lowered his head and wept.

001

The huge fore claws that glowed golden were swung wide.

It is an attack in which a three-pronged slash and a blow using weight are performed simultaneously.

What he was aiming for was a line blocking his way, a human with black hair.

Griffin clearly understood that what he was holding in his hand was a “Weapon” For attacking himself.

That’s why, aiming for a trajectory where that human would not be able to defend against its own attack, aiming for a blind spot for his defense.

When you think you heard the sound cutting through the air, thump! A shock so strong that it shook the ground hit Cleon.

The magic shield of light created by Caliburn succeeded in blocking Griffon’s forelegs, which aimed at him.

The impact made Cleon’s arms and body shake, even through the shield.

“Kuh…!”

In physical close combat, weight class was a weapon.

In that sense, the griffon is a form of a giant eagle sitting on top of a giant lion’s body.

Moreover, it is an agile and clever beast that is hard to imagine in its large body.

The griffon, released from prison, seemed to be angry with the humans who had imprisoned them and used them as servants.

“Mr. Cleon!”

In order to save such Cleon, Sasha puts an arrow on the string to fire a supporting shot from behind, but-

“No Sasha! Don’t shoot the bow until I tell you!”

Cleon stops her from doing that.

[Yes Sasha. Griffins are clever animals. If you shoot a bow and know that it is a target that can be attacked even while flying, it will immediately ignore Cleon and try to attack you.]

When Ruben said that, Sasha could only bite her lower lip and watch Cleon and Griffon compete in strength.

Kigi Geek!

And an unpleasant, creepy sound of scraping metal echoed from above the magic shield.

[Cow, sound~]

Caliburn raised her voice as if her head her hurt at the sound of her voice her, and she saw the light shield she had created shake, crack, and crack.

‘Are you trying to pierce the magic shield!? With the power of pure claws!?’

No matter how much the demon possessed magic, there was no trace of such magic dwelling in the griffon’s claws.

‘Is it disadvantageous to compete in strength…!’

Cleon, who judged that, blew more magic into the shield of magic he was holding in his left hand, and then-

“Explode!”

The next moment, the magical shield emits an intense light and flashes towards the gryphon’s eyes.

“KIRaaaaa!”

The griffon, who was properly hit by the flash, closed its eyes tightly, lifted its paws wide and flapped its wings, causing a strong gust of wind to rise and retreat back.

For Griffon, whose five senses are much more sensitive than humans, what just happened must have been a blow that could lead to blindness.

“Kuh…!”

Cleon also wanted to give chase to the blind Griffon, but the forelimbs swung randomly and without regularity.

If the flapping of the wings that creates a strong wind continues, even if you want to get closer, you will not be able to get close.

“Cleon-san, are you okay…?!”

In the meantime, Sasha also came to Cleon’s side and looked at his left arm attached to the griffon.

Clearly, even though it was blocked by a magic shield, the end of the piercing claw touched his arm guard his, and he could see that it was deeply torn.

“Yeah, it’s a good thing I had braces, otherwise, I’d break my wrist.”

Cleon grabbed the Caliburn with both hands again while breaking out in a cold sweat.

Sasha turned her gaze away from Cleon and looked at the griffon, who was slowly regaining her sight her, and her hand her holding her bow her tightened.

“Griffon… He’s very excited, and… He seems nervous somewhere.”

“I sense that he has hostility toward humans. Being forcibly manipulated by a witch’s flute must have been quite humiliating for him.”

At Cleon’s words her, Sasha nodded her head as well.

‘…Really, is that all?’

From the witch beast in front of me, I could feel some sense of urgency.

“Sasha. I have a favor to ask of you. Can you do it for me?”

“Yes, yes…! Leave it to me.”

Sasha, who was distracted for a moment by the strange sensation she felt from Griffon, but suddenly came to her senses at Cleon’s call her and nodded her head.

“A griffon’s body, from its hide to its feathers, is stronger than steel. It’s almost difficult to cut it in one blow. But… There’s only one place. It also has a weak spot.”

What Cleon said while pointing was the ‘back’ part of the guy who was rampaging in place.

“The center of the back. Only one place. The part that separates the body of an eagle and a lion is the weak point of a griffon. If you pierce that part correctly, you can incapacitate it.”

“D-Is that…!”

Naturally, he stands on the ground on all fours, protecting his back his with his wings and never showing his back his when fighting enemies.

Therefore, the only thing that can strike that weakness is when it spreads its wings for flight and soars into the sky.

The only way was to attack him from above.

“Th-is that possible…!?”

Sasha, who heard Cleon’s explanation Her, can’t fly in the sky, can she be higher than the flying griffon?

Common sense makes no sense, but Cleon nods.

“It’s okay. With Sasha’s bow skills, it’s possible. As far as I know, she’s the best sharpshooter.”

Sasha was born in a village where she was raised as a hunter since she was born, and she has pierced countless enemies with her bow.

Although her skill her with daggers in close combat has improved a lot, she is also unparalleled in improving her skill her with the bow.

If only she could overcome her affable personality her and her lack of confidence her-

[Cleon-nim, he seems to have come to his senses her.]

“I want to hit the magic myself, but… He’s not as strong as a dragon, but he’s strong against magic. If you use magic recklessly, you might just waste your mana. Anyway, I’ll make a hole for him Sasha, you’re the one I made. You’re aiming for an opening and shooting your bow, okay?”

“…Yes!”

After Sasha, who agrees with Cleon’s operation, nods her head as well, she steps back to hide her presence and body her.

As much as possible, she had to stay out of ‘Griffon’s sight or accident.

And, of course, the Griffon, whose eyesight had been restored, roared louder and more furious than before.

“Kaaaaa!!”

When the roar of a lion roaring through the air erupted from the eagle’s face and beaked mouth, Cleon tensed his body and confronted the griffon.

“…Having to hate humans is inevitable… But, I can’t help it either. Before you harm humans any more.”

Does he understand what Cleon is saying?

The griffon glared at the human who almost blinded him with sharp eyes.

He Soon spread both wings.

“KWAE!”

“…!”

At that moment, Cleon doubted his own eyes.

It angles some of the feathers on its wings towards him, and suddenly sharp ice is added to them.

‘Ice magic…!’

Cleon realizes that it was the magic used by Gryphon and no one else.

And, when he swung his wings, thick awls made of ice rained down towards Cleon.

[Wow~ It’s hail!]

“It’s not the time to admire…!”

Caliburn’s laid-back voice echoes, but Cleon sees that the scattered ice picks freeze as soon as they touch grass or the ground.

A blow full of intent to kill, let alone targeting vital points such as the head, chest, or neck.

The shoulders, elbows, and wrists needed to wield the sword were also actively aimed at.

In addition, the time lag, the ice chunks that flew out of sync with the movements of Cleon’s sword and legs were annoying.

However, Griffin immediately realized that Cleon was not just a prey.

Every time Cleon took a step forward, the awl of ice that came flying, Caliburn was swung at it as if he had predicted it and blocked it.

Cleon’s sword, which blocks Griffon’s magic with clean and minimal movements, moves as if it will not allow Griffon a single effective strike.

Besides, originally, any sword would have been frozen solid the moment it collided with Griffin’s magic.

And, the moment it collided with the next awl, it could not overcome the impact and had to be shattered.

However, Cleon’s sacred sword—Caliburn was not an ordinary sword.

On top of that sword body, there was a thin but certain flow of red magic power.

[It’s warm~]

‘Fire enchantment…’

Among Layla’s fire magic, it is relatively small in scale, but it is a magic that can be counted in one hand in terms of usefulness.

The effect is simply to cover the power of flame on top of the weapon, but if that’s the magic of a magician like Lyla.

Even a featureless iron sword turns into a magic sword of flame.

Gryphon was trying to keep the distance little by little in line with Cleon’s steps, but he must have judged that it was impossible to defeat the human in front of him with this method.

It immediately folded its wings, and it seemed that it was about to change its attack method to the same close combat as before.

“KAAA!!”

And, Cleon is greatly taken aback by the way he took it next.

Chew! And piles of gravel and dirt scattered towards him.

The moment the distance with Cleon narrowed, he swung his claws from bottom to top, dug deep into the ground and blew dust away, blocking Cleon’s vision of his.

As if in revenge for the flash attack from earlier, when Cleon covered his eyes with one hand and a gap was visible, he immediately struck the raised claw at Cleon again.

However-

Caang!

When the sound echoed once again, Cleon’s arms moved on his own with his eyes closed to receive the attack.

“KA!?”

Griffon is embarrassed by Cleon’s behavior his, but when he makes eye contact with Cleon, who slowly opens his eyes, he tries to strike Cleon’s head down with his beak.

The next moment, Cleon immediately clenched his fists, and just-

Fuck! To make a sound, he raised the chin of the guy with his fist to block the attack, and at the same time gave the griffon a shot.

The shock must have been strong enough to send vibrations to the brain, and the griffon staggered.

However, blood flows from Cleon’s fists as well.

Cleon’s hands his were also damaged by the sharp fur of the guy, the thorns that dug through the gloves he was wearing, and the skeleton of a griffon that was dozens of times stronger than a human’s.

Meanwhile, Caliburn speaks as if warning Cleon.

[Caliburn’s automatic defense is only effective where the sword touches it~]

“Ah. I know. But, after all, that guy is tough…”

The griffon grinned and seemed very excited.

However, what Cleon kept in mind while dealing with Griffon was to never take his eyes off him.

Except for the earlier attack, where he was forced to hide his eyes while the battle continued.

Cleon’s eyes continued to stare at the beast’s eyes from the front, while he looked at the griffon as if he were a predator.

Did Griffon admit that he had finally lost the fight against Cleon, or did he think that it would be difficult to win by fighting Cleon directly?

Once again, it spreads its wings wide, but it is different from the previous time when it tried to use magic.

“…!”

Cleon knew well what that meant.

That’s why he quickly tries to cling to him without falling away, but-

“KIEAAA!”

The loud roar made the air around them freeze.

“What…!”

Cleon confirms that at the unbelievable release of his mana his, ice spreads out and grabs Cleon’s legs from the place where the awls that he scattered earlier were stuck under his feet.

‘This guy… Is it really just a griffon!?’

At that time, Cleon thinks of what Artis said.

‘Laplace… Biological scientist… Chimera…’

And, at that time, he came to the idea that the identity of the griffon in front of him might be a species strengthened by Laplace through modification.

But, more important than thinking about that is-

The griffon floated into the sky while its legs were tied-

Just like when he first appeared, it was the fact that he was falling toward Cleon with all his weight.

Gryphon’s eyes looking down at him seemed to be filled with confidence such as ‘Now you’re done’, ‘You can’t do anything’, ‘It’s my victory’.

“Mr. Cleon!”

Sasha’s screaming voice echoes, but Cleon does not hesitate to twist his foot her, forcibly breaking the frozen ground.

An injury to one hand would come as a bigger handicap than expected, but it was too late to avoid it.

With that thought in mind, the moment after Cleon took the Caliburn at the risk of being injured.

Piyung-! When the sound was heard, two arrows flew towards the griffon.

“!”
Of course, it was Sasha who shot it.

[Sasha! Cleon’s words-]

“No…! I’m fine with this!”

The next moment, when Sasha snaps her fingers-

[AWW!]

Something like silver smoke came out of the two arrows and changed its appearance into a silver wolf.

It was to run towards the falling griffon.

“Marang drizzle.”

[You…Sooner or later…]

Originally, it was a skill to send arrows or knives, which were originally Ruben’s authority, with Marang’s power, and summon the illusion to attack the enemy.

While integrating with Ruben, he is gradually learning how to use her powers of her, and Sasha succeeds in summoning her illusions of her without her help her.

Then, Marang bit the griffon’s neck as it was, and she clung to him as if clinging to it.

“KWAWA!!”

Gryphon, perhaps taken aback by the disembodied Marang’s attack her, fluttered up into the sky once again, struggling to stop her fall and drop the guys.

If Cleon had n’t sent him up into the sky and induced a full blow, he would have been alerted and easily shaken off the arrow before it even touched his body her.

He’s already ‘sure he killed Cleon’. That is – I was careless.

Hot, Cleon suddenly regains his senses and looks back at Sasha.

Then, Sasha was running towards Cleon-

Cleon holds out his one hand – as a stepping stone for Sasha.

“… Sasha!”

As Cleon called her name her, Sasha’s body her on her own hand jumped into the sky with all her might her.

As if her body herself had become an arrow, Sasha’s body her rose into the sky while receiving strong air resistance.

And then, her body passed through the altitude where Griffon was …

She looks at his back her from above.

In the middle where the body of the lion and the eagle are connected.

The moment you see that part.

Chick-gi-gi-gik- and hang the arrow-without a point on the bow.

‘… I don’t know if this is right. …However-‘

Sasha thought to herself like that.

Blocking the sun, casting a shadow over the griffon’s body.

In the body of the Lord of Heaven and Earth.

It was to hit the arrow.

When the sound of wheezing and cutting through the air rings out.

No matter how pointless it was, Sasha’s longbow and bow skills delivered an impact as if it had been pierced by a spear.

“K…W…”

And, Griffon’s weak point was attacked, and the strength drained from his body.

It falls as if falling to the ground.

“Fuuuuu!?”

Sasha sighed, saying that she was relieved while watching that scene.

Since she herself was a wingless body that could not fly, she fell freely toward the ground as it was.

As she struggles, she tries to grab at least a branch, but unfortunately, she can’t reach such a place.

However, to catch Sasha like that on the way is-

“…Whew.”

It was Cleon who smiled as she let out a sigh.

“…It was great, Sasha. Thanks to you, I was able to be safe too.”

“…Eh, ehehe…”

As soon as the two of them finished talking

Thud! And the griffon’s body fell completely to the ground, making a loud noise.