Chapter 301 – For Whom, These Insects are———-

<Exiled Emperor POV>

It all happened———–

[Fo fo fo! Nothing stands between us now! Let us discuss your thoughts on Mira’s future with swords! Mad Emperor!]

——-just as this one was about to take the Imperial Throne.

For this one, it was certainly a surprise.

An insignificant being.

An existence that could never be a threat to this one.

An extremely weak being.

Who would care about a roadside stone over which one held no fear of tripping?

It was right in front of our destination that she had been eagerly waiting.

Her existence does not fit where she stands.

A carefree attitude unbefitting this stage before the decisive battle.

It was as if she was but taking a normal stroll.

No nervousness.

No fear.

Disproportionate———- She was out of place.

A girl who seemed to have appeared behind a pillar.

The girl then shortly strolled before me.

Thereupon, in a manner as if she was casually greeting someone her equal, the girl touched this one.

[———– < Queen Bee > ———–]

(T/N: The Queen’s Weakening Touch / Queen Bee)

[ ? What is it, young lady……, ……!?]

A feeling of discomfort.

The sensation of power draining out of me descended on this one’s entire body.

To express it in another way, it was as if I had “regressed” to a long time ago……

This feeling reminds me of a distant memory……

It was just like that time I had not become the Emperor yet————

[And < Queen Bee >———— Ohh, it was effective huh. Seems like it was a success. Umu, just like the experiment we did before, the effects do stack. Onya? Somehow…… Doesn’t it seem like you’re becoming less intimidating, Exiled Emperor-sanya? Guess that means my “stinger” is working properly, right?]

(T/N: Focused Weakening / Queen Bee)

[What did…… you do to me, young lady?]

[Now then, the question here is what will Asagi-chan do to you now!? I have one minute! ……Kobato-chaaaaaan.]

[Ah, unnn……]

As the girl called out, another girl appeared behind a pillar.

Unlike the girl who had touched this one earlier, she seemed to be a cowardly girl.

[Ahh…… Please leave Asagi-san and everyone’s status management to me……! It’s alright!]

Suddenly, an emotion overtook this one’s entire body.

This was…… anxiety.

I wonder when was it that I last felt such an emotion?

I think it was when I was unreliable……

Extremely unreliable.

[This is……? Mhmm?]

Behind the pillars, girls of about the same age also began appearing.

All of them are beings that I would not have taken a notice of in the past.

They were just beings this one would never have felt more than “they’re there”.

I didn’t care who was behind the pillars.

None of them had the presence of a potential threat.

There shouldn’t have been anyone who was a threat.

[Welcome to our world———— the world of the weak!]

The expression on the face of the girl who touched this one……

For a moment, this one feels as if what was reflected before my eyes is something other than a human.

For this one could tell……

The expression she had just now……

Those eyes she had…… They were the eyes of one who does not recognize a human as one.

Thereupon, the girl gives an order that is too listless to be an order.

[Well then, it’s time for a beating!]

Anyhow.

The cause of this feeling of powerlessness is no doubt this young girl who just gave the order.

[Young lady…… This is your doing, isn’t it?]

[Hyiiih, someone help meeeehhh~~]

This one quickly brandished my sword to the side to finish off the girl.

Kiiin!

However, it was blocked by one of the armed girls, intervening from the side.

For such a little girl to block my attack……

It was too obvious how much I had weakened.

My speed.

My strength.

Everything had unusually weakened.

[Ohh, thank you for saving me, Atsukooo~~! I love ya!]

[No, even though you could actually see what he’s doing yourself, you’re still acting scared like that…… But well———-]

The girl named Atsuko fought back.

She’s fast.

[Nghh!?]

Before I knew it, I had been slashed.

[What…… is this?]

I’m not even able to defend myself in time huh.

Astonished by this weakness, I involuntarily looked at my hands……

[Nyufufun, you see, the you right now…… have the same status as I do. Including the status correction value, that is. And since I added a debuff on top of that…… In terms of status, the current Zera-chanya is weaker than me.]

[ ! I see, young lady…… That face, that flippant and fickle personality…… You’re Asagi Ikusaba!]

[Oryo? You know about me? Did you hear about me from Vysis-chin?]

[So you have sided with Mira huh……]

[Ahh, Zine-chin.]

Without turning around, Asagi spoke.

[Asagi-chan thinks it would be better to kill this guy. If the effect of my inherent skill wears off, he’d be unstoppable. As expected, without the debuffs, this grandpa is just too strong.]

Keeping a cool-headed expression on his face, Zine responded.

[Very well.]

The expression on Zine’s face……

It was as if he didn’t care about me at all.

[ ! Zine……]

[When you, my trump card, said you’d wait behind the pillars in case of emergency, I wondered what was going on…… but in the end, such a decision may have saved me, Asagi Ikusaba.]

[Well~~ Even though we may be the trump card, if Zine-chin died, we would have no one to turn to, you know? Well, if Zine-chin hadn’t “charmed” this grandpa so much, I wouldn’t have been able to carefreely come out, you know? Geez, this grandpa sure is completely charmed by his descendant?]

[This normality even in this situation…… I don’t know if I should say you’re great or you’re broken……]

[Look at me, Zine!]

Slightly tilting his head, Zine turns towards me…… as if he was looking at an insect.

[……Hmph. You and I, talk about Mira’s future? Stop talking nonsense…… I have no time to talk with you. As a pitiful weak man lost in the world, you may die this time with regret in your heart. I will at least see to it that you do.]

[Zine……!]

[I don’t know what you were expecting from me. And I don’t want to know what you wanted to discuss with me. Zera…… Your time has “come to an end”. You have been defeated. Accept your end with open arms.]

At that moment, with her gaze kept on me the whole time, Asagi declared.

[Alrighty, we got the permission! Well then…… Beat him to death! Here, an extra < Queen Bee > ! This status difference can’t be overturned! Nyahaha, everyone, charge!]

(T/N: Group Enhancement / Queen Bee)

The armed girls surrounded me.

Offensive Techniques began flying in.

[Nghh!? For me to be unable to block techniques this meager……]

[I wonder if we’ll get some EXP from him? He had golden eyes, so we’d probably get some…… If possible, Atsuko, can you deal the last hit? If I get stronger here, we won’t be able to continue with this strat.]

I kept on brandishing my sword around me, as if this one was brushing away annoying bugs.

However, these girls swarmed in one after another, blocking my sword……

Just like the annoying bugs they are.

[Wahaha, it’s a group battle, just as the Drunken Sword Party had taught us! Have your fill with everyone’s attacks! Enjoy!]

These girls have no technieu, but their basic physical abilities are overwhelming me.

Fear.

Being outnumbered by beings stronger than you———- is something this one didn’t know could be so terrifying.

[Nghh…… Grahhhh!?]

Zakk! Zubaa! Zakk, zakk! Zashu! Supaaa!

[Ohh, nasty, nasty. This is just too nasty for a picture…… Hyiii, this just looks terrible. Too terrible. I’m sorry, okay? Exiled Emperor-san? We don’t really have a grudge against you, but we’ll have you die here…… Amen to that, yeah?]

White bodily fluids mixed with the redness of my blood danced in the air without pause.

Even at that moment, Zine looked down on me with a completely disinterested look in his face.

[Zine…… W- We….. aren’t done…… yet…… We still haven’t…… discussed Mira’s matters…… discussed about me…… C- Could you at least…… Nghh!? I’m disappearing……? My soul power…… Not like this…… My final moments…… unsuitably interrupted…… Young lady…… Gruoooohhhh!]

Zashu! Zakk, zakk,zakk,zakk! Zakk, zakk,zakk,zakk, zakk,zakk,zakk, zakk! Zashu, zashu———- Zshaaaaak!

<Author’s Notes>

After this, around 12 mn, the final chapter of Volume 9 will be updated.

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