Episode 109 Gregory's true nature - Level Eater

The elite of the elite, who had evaded the lightning strikes from the mammoth-like monster, Paralakeus, continued to attack it with both magic and physical force, all while evacuating their fallen comrades. However, they were merely peeling back a thin layer of Paralakeus's tough skin, leaving them at a stalemate. Ennio, watching the scene unfold below, ensured he didn't intervene as he observed Paralakeus. "It looks tough, but if those people can make a scratch, Ai's attacks might just work." "Maybe. But if I take a hit from that lightning, it'll be bad for me, right?" "Yeah, it'll be bad. I can handle it if it comes to that, but there's got to be something else going on." "Oh, I thought that too!" From above, it appeared to Tatsuro and Ai that Paralakeus was holding back against the knights. Observing from the sky, they noticed its movements seemed somewhat constrained. It was something they wanted to confirm, but Ennio was getting restless, and the magic power on the necklace crafted by Tatsuro was running low. If left unchecked, Ennio might start moving on his own. Tatsuro decided to have the knights focus on the mass outbreak of bee-like monsters, Depris, outside. Assuming that the loyal beastfolk would refuse to retreat, he subtly altered the wind barrier that kept out Depris, now redirecting it to gently usher the knights outside. "What are you doing?! We are allies!" "Sorry! I'm too distracted to focus here, so I'm asking you to handle it outside!" "What did you say?!" With that said from above, the knights voiced their discontent but were pushed outside. However, the beastfolk deputy commander resisted to the end, attempting to remain by planting his spear into the ground and bracing himself. Increasing the wind power further could be considered an attack, and from Paralakeus's perspective, it would leave them completely defenseless. "Oh, geez, what persistence." "That’s some serious determination." Tatsuro halted the wind, restoring the original wind barrier. The beastfolk deputy commander, breathing heavily, looked up at them triumphantly. And now, remaining there were only Tatsuro, Ai, Ennio, the beastfolk deputy commander Joaquin, Gregory, the fool—actually, the lord’s son Bertram, and Paralakeus. "That smug face is really annoying." "Well, he must have really wanted to stay. Anyway, now that we have this space, let's get to work." "I've been waiting for this." With those words, Tatsuro and the others landed beside Ennio. Tatsuro then put away the board into the "Item Box" and turned to Gregory. "Is that Gregory standing atop that huge thing?" "That's right. I don't know about the one behind him!" "Got it. Then for now, we need to get him down from there. ──Janne! Come out as an 'adult form'!" A massive black rhino, about six meters tall, appeared. Its sheer size led its pure white horns to equally enlarge, sharpening to the point of being able to skewer multiple people with a single thrust. Remarkably swift despite its large build, it charged at Paralakeus. By the time Paralakeus reacted, its right front leg had already been pierced by the horn and torn off. Struggling to regain its balance from losing a leg, it staggered, only to have its right hind leg taken out by another swift charge from Janne. "Puoooooooh!" "What is that monster?!" "Yaaah!" With only two legs left on one side, there was no way for Paralakeus to maintain balance, and it collapsed, its right cheek pressed against the ground. As Janne triumphantly returned, two legs impaled on its horn, Gregory and a pale Bertram, who was hugged to Gregory's side, came up from behind, witnessing the subjugated monster. Gregory, after steadying Bertram, repeatedly kicked the weakening Paralakeus while yelling at it. "Useless! How long do you plan on lying around, you piece of trash!" "Puooo..." "That's horrible... To do that to one of their own..." "The real trash isn't the mammoth, but the one doing the talking... Ennio, do you really think someone like him did anything good?" "I... don't think..." Ennio was bewildered, having never seen this side of Gregory before. Gregory had always interacted gently, controlling his temper not to provoke him. But it was also true that the monster had been pathetic, easily defeated by the strange, scentless creature that Tatsuro suddenly brought out. Ennio wondered if he too might get angry to see something like that, still uncertain about Gregory’s true intentions. "Gr–Gregory! It's wounded! It's pitiful if you keep going!" "What? Wounded? Pitiful? Hah, what nonsense. You did the same to humans countless times, didn’t you, Ennio? Don't start playing the saint now." "It was because they bullied us!" "Still preaching that, huh? Naive. Thank you, Ennio, you're an idiot, but that's what made you useful." With the contract broken and harder to guide his thoughts, Gregory no longer needed Ennio and reverted to his true, cruel nature. "Wha... Everything you've ever said was a lie!" "Lies? What's the point of the truth with you? I only fed you because you were useful. You do know, don't you? The food you gleefully ate was leftover scraps from our subordinates?" "It wasn't scraps! It was meals! Don't compare me to an animal!" "Hahaha, meals? That was just leftovers, the refuse our underlings didn't finish. For someone like you, that rubbish was the best feast you could have." Ennio’s heart sank. Bombarded with rapid accusations and unable to grasp the meaning of “leftovers,” it took Ennio a moment to process. Gradually, he began to comprehend: what everyone had claimed was generously shared with him was in reality merely scraps, gathered up and sent his way, much like feed given to livestock. Understanding this truth ignited a profound yet quiet rage within him, surpassing the threshold of the magical charm Tatsuro had enchanted into the necklace. "You... you scum..." "Calm down, Ennio." "Gr─" His claws began to extend from his fingertips, readying for battle. However, just before violence erupted, Tatsuro intervened. He boosted living magic with light magic to an extreme and hit Ennio with a calming spell, powerful enough to nearly knock him unconscious. With a vacant stare, Ennio stood there, his anger dissipated. "You've been goading Ennio blatantly, what are you trying to do?" "Indeed. Do you understand your situation? You don’t have anyone to defend you anymore." "Tsk, you can use living magic too? How many types of magic can you actually wield? You can't possibly be human. What species are you, tell me." "Here you are, disregarding what we say, only to ramble about your curiosities." Though not to Ennio's extent, Tatsuro and Ai also found themselves filled with anger toward Gregory. Paralakeus was injured, and while the Depris outside were likely Gregory's doing, they had not come this far. Bertram behind them, pale and trembling, had no combat ability. In such a scenario, Tatsuro found Gregory’s confidence unsettling. "Well, I look forward to examining you thoroughly once everything's over. Seeing what's inside you will be fascinating." "Why are you so confident? I'm warning you, push comes to shove, I'll take you down." "Kuhaha, such a fierce woman. Why am I confident, you ask? It's because we're destined to win." "Guh!?" While Tatsuro and Gregory conversed, Joaquin, who had been slowly edging close from behind, was abruptly halted by numerous spikes emerging from the ground. These spikes, protruding from the earth, revealed themselves as dog-like creatures with earth-colored fur, complete with a back full of quills. Each stood nearly two meters tall, and their quills bristled as they lunged at Joaquin. Skillfully fending off one creature while advancing towards Gregory was commendable, yet each step added another spike-dog to the mix. Before long, Joaquin found himself contending with twelve simultaneously, effectively pinned in place. "Is that why he was so confident? No... something feels off." "Really? With their numbers, they seem like they could be troublesome." "But Ennio alone could probably handle those, don’t you think?" "You have a point." As they debated whether to act against the unpredictable Gregory, he moved first. "Paralakeus! Adjust to that body already, you useless thing!" "Puooooooohhhhhh!" At Gregory's command, issued with another kick, Paralakeus's form began quivering, its multitude of eyes wide open. Tatsuro anticipated a lightning strike, immediately conjuring a wall of earth, but felt no shockwave. Puzzled, Tatsuro used dispelling magic to investigate, discovering Paralakeus's body morphing like clay, altering its shape. "That's it! Good." The previously dying monster no longer existed. Instead, beside a satisfied Gregory stood a peculiar being, humanoid yet ten meters tall, retaining the mammoth-like face it initially had. Seeing that no lightning was forthcoming, Tatsuro dismantled the earthen wall to regain full visibility. "It transformed, huh?" "Yes, and its wounds are healed. The question is whether it has regenerative abilities or if this transformation grants a one-time recovery." "Just hope it's not like a certain demon dragon with constant regeneration." "Agreed." Facing the mammoth giant, now snorting loudly with hostility, Tatsuro and his companions glared back, ready for the next move.