Published: September 10, 2025
Pochi’s adventure ends here for now.
“Rabbit jump uppercut!”
“Rolling sword!”
Usasa’s upward slashing one-handed sword finishing move and Labibi’s spinning slash finishing move cut down the villains.
Apparently, they don’t use punches or kicks.
At the port they came to procure a ship to transport the people they needed to rescue in the corrupt city of Sibe on Red Smoke Island, Pochi and the others were discovered by villains and plunged into battle.
“Bears keep appearing one after another.”
“No matter how many we defeat, there’s no end to them, Gau.”
Kubea, wielding the Great Shield against many enemies, and Gaugarl, swinging a great sword on the front lines, showed weary expressions facing the endless stream of villains.
Ninin, who was a step behind the beastmen in combat, was protecting Hitona, who used support magic, and the powerless captives, while skillfully dispatching the villains with her calm swordsmanship.
“Iaido Bat! Ramble time!”
While making a shushing sound, Pochi repeatedly executed iaido techniques at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, rendering the villains incapacitated.
Battling with the sword drawn would surely be faster, but Pochi stubbornly believed in Arisa’s teaching that “iaido is the fastest.”
“Usasa!”
“Sorry, Labibi.”
Due to continuous battles, the fiercely moving scout Usasa was hit by an enemy attack.
Labibi covered her, barely escaping danger, but both were already out of stamina and staggering.
—Beep-po beep-po.
With a faint sound, some kind of liquid splashed onto the two.
“—Huh?”
“The pain is fading. Did someone throw a magic potion?”
Usasa and Labibi quickly looked around, but there was no one who looked capable of such support. Even Pochi’s face showed fatigue.
Amidst this, a heavy thudding sound and vibrations echoed from the city center direction.
Flames rose beyond the houses, scorching the sky.
“They’re here!”
“The Boss!”
Joy lit up the faces of the villains.
“Hydra.”
“This is bad, bear.”
“It’s okay, Gau. We have big sister with us, woof.”
Conversely, Usasa and the others wore expressions thick with fatigue and panic.
“Th-that’s the calamity…”
“The reincarnation of the Demon King, ‘Calamity’ Baphomet.”
The representative muttered, recalling the words Ninin had heard in the village.
Baphomet, riding on the back of the Hydra, made a grand entrance on the battlefield.
Behind them, on the main street, a vast number of monsters stretched as far as the eye could see through the haze.
“…It’s already over.”
The representative sank to their knees in despair.
Ninin and Hitona clung to a slim hope and looked at Pochi, but even Pochi was trembling so much he almost dropped his sword.
“T-That’s impossible.”
◇
“Hey now, I came because there’s this strong enemy that just can’t be beaten, but all I see are kids.”
Baphomet shouted in dissatisfaction.
“Also, you’re trembling so much at the sight of my Hydra, you look like you could fall over any second.”
He gloated as he looked at the staggering Pochi.
“Even Pochi can’t handle it…”
“N-No, tell me that’s a lie!”
Ninin lamented, and Labibi shouted.
“It’s impossible. I just can’t eat that much, you know?”
“““—Eat?”””
Pandora and the others looked surprised.
“Pochi’s Fairy Bag doesn’t have a refrigeration function, so if I don’t eat quickly, the meat will go bad.”
Pochi said seriously.
“Don’t bluff anymore!”
Baphomet yelled from atop the Hydra.
“You really think you can fight me and Doran with that wobbly body?”
Doran is apparently the name of the Hydra.
“Even if I’m a little wobbly, it’s okay.”
Though he said that, his footing was unsteady.
—Pochi.
From somewhere, a magic potion the size of a milk bottle flew toward him.
Pochi caught it.
“Th-this is! Beef jerky flavored nutritional supplement!”
Looking at the cow-mark label on the side of the bottle, Pochi drank it without hesitation.
In an instant, Pochi’s wobbling stopped, and power surged through his small body.