Surviving a Harsh Fantasy with Cheat Items (WN)

「Elizabeth Germania Germanicus, the rightful heir to the Germania Empire, declares to the Castilia Kingdom’s army: Cease immediately your cowardly act of using hostages!」

The Castilia Kingdom’s army, who tried to lure me out by using a girl tied to a cross as a shield, is left dumbfounded. They intended to bait out the hero but unexpectedly caught the Germania Empire’s Imperial Princess instead.

In any case, I rushed after her. Is Elizabeth truly an eight-year-old child? She displays the dignity of royalty far better than I, an adult, ever could. Her platinum blonde hair tinged with blue reaches her waist, and her heterochromatic eyes, one gold and one blue, glare down her enemies with a piercing gaze.

Despite her youth, she exudes an elegance befitting the Germania royal family, draped in a luxurious tyrian purple dress – the hallmark of her lineage. Her strong will to confront two thousand enemy soldiers unarmed speaks volumes of her imperial dignity as a descendant of the world-renowned empire.

Beside her stands her companion Zither, who looks ready to play her stringed instrument at any moment… though her expression suggests she’s not thinking about anything at all.

「Kukuku… Your Highness, the Imperial Princess, you are in fine spirits. I am Revenant Arima, an advance mage and general of the Castilia Kingdom, at your service.」

「I have no words for cowards. Release the hostage girl first, then you may speak.」

Elizabeth is provoking the enemy too much.

Finally catching up to the haughty Imperial Princess, I’m approached by a silver-haired mage with long bangs who wears a triumphant smile.

「Hmm, this spot offers quite the view.」 「Kyaa! What are you looking at? Die!」

The enemy mage general named Revenant is gazing up from beneath at Sarah-chan, who is suspended from a large wooden cross by ropes, shamelessly peering under her skirt.

This man is far too composed for his own good.

「Revenant! As a general commanding an army, do you not feel shame in dishonoring women and children?」

「Ohoho, to be scolded by name by an eight-year-old Imperial Princess, this Revenant is utterly delightedddddddd!」

This man is a pervert! He’s blushing and trembling with joy in front of the entire army after being verbally lashed by Elizabeth.

Why is someone like him representing the Castilia Kingdom’s army…

Looking closer, I notice that the enemy soldiers are all turning away with faces full of disgust. He’s clearly just a deviant.

With everyone united in their disdain for Revenant, perhaps it’s possible to find a path to reconciliation.

「First and foremost, release the hostage girl. If your demands are for my person, as you see, I am not fleeing or hiding.」

「Kukku, if it were so simple to say ‘yes’ and release her, we wouldn’t have resorted to this in the first place.」

Even Elizabeth, usually so brave, forgets her anger at Revenant’s perverse demeanor and turns pale.

Even without knowing the word ‘masochist,’ it’s clear this man is dangerous. Everyone is taken aback.

「Very well, as the Imperial Princess commands, let us release the hostage.」

「Dyson…」

A towering figure three meters tall appears, his training pants and tyrian purple cape billowing. Why is Fist Slave Emperor Dyson here of all places?

The most dangerous man, the new Emperor of Germania, has he come to reclaim the royal family of Germania, even if it means leaving the imperial capital Northmark empty?

「It’s been a while, my wife Elizabeth. I’ve come to fetch you.」

Fist Slave Emperor Dyson stands imposingly with his bare upper body as he speaks to Elizabeth.

Elizabeth hides trembling behind me. No wonder, what kind of man calls an eight-year-old girl his wife?

Revenant, who had been gleefully tormenting the hostage, expressed his displeasure at the lolicon Emperor who unilaterally declared her release.

「Emperor Dyson, what are you doing making decisions on your own? I was about to use the hostage to lure and torment the hero you’ve drawn here.」

「Silence, Revenant. Do you realize whom you’re speaking to?」

Even Revenant was silenced by the sheer force of Dyson’s booming voice.

It makes sense; no matter how masochistic he claims to be, his frail magician’s body wouldn’t survive a single punch from Dyson.

「Hero of Silesie. This is our first… no, not our first encounter. You’re Drift Gunner, the one who once gave me a hard time.」

「Ah, so I’ve been found out.」

Well, it’s obvious if I’m carrying a magic gun rifle. As the wandering black marksman Drift Gunner, we’ve faced each other twice. Those times, I only used shooting attacks. I managed to bring it to a draw by using a trick to stop Dyson in his tracks.

I wonder what would happen if I used all my hero’s power in close combat with Dyson.

「As you say, let’s release the hostage. In exchange, you and I will have a one-on-one duel. Let’s see who is worthy to be Elizabeth’s husband.」

「Wait a minute, Dyson.」

Before I could finish speaking, Dyson leaped up and cut through the ropes binding Sarah to the cross with a hand chop and flung her aside.

Sarah-chan fell to the ground with a cry but was quickly scooped up by Milk, who seemed to have been lurking nearby. He carried her small body and fled like a rabbit.

It was an anticlimactic and somewhat sad way for the captured heroine to be released, but thankfully she was safe.

Revenant looked sullenly disappointed at his hostage plan being ruined.

「Now, as you requested, the hostage has been released. Surely you won’t be cowardly enough to refuse my challenge after coming this far.」

「Really, I wish you’d wait… but it seems I have no choice…」

Dyson may appear to be a muscle-brained man, but in reality, he’s a formidable enemy with a sharp mind.

He had Castilia, his ally, play the dirty roles to their hilt, then chastised them in an exaggerated manner, creating an advantageous field for his preferred close combat—a duel with me.

It was a masterful performance, skillfully using both allies and enemies to his advantage.

As expected of a gladiator who was among the most popular in the imperial capital, showmanship is second nature to him.

Here we are in front of the main gate of the royal capital Silesie, with soldiers from both sides watching. Having declared justice, neither Eliza nor I can back down now.

We have no choice but to fight a fair duel. Though I’m not entirely convinced about staking the custody of an eight-year-old child on it.

「Gunner-sama, no…Sawatari Takeru-sama, I apologize.」

「I don’t approve of reckless actions, but you did well, Eliza. You spoke boldly what everyone wanted to say; there’s no need to apologize. Take this and step back.」

I stroked Eliza’s bluish-gold hair and entrusted her with my magic rifle. Then I faced off against the giant gladiator towering over two and a half meters tall. His body was like a towering rock made of hard muscles.

At that moment, I might have still underestimated Dyson as an inferior opponent. Uncharacteristically, I decided to fight him fair and square.

Though physically far inferior to Dyson, I am Silesie’s hero wielding the ‘Sword of Light’ and ‘Neutral Sword’.

No matter how much the martial artist cheat has trained his body or wears ‘Orichalcum Gauntlets’ he’s still just a human after all.

In this world, there exists an absolute hierarchy of power. Even if the martial artist cheat is fortified with the strongest metal orichalcum, he cannot win against the hero’s power. Don’t underestimate a hero endowed with divine power!

Manifesting twin swords that shone brightly from both hands, I slashed at Dyson.

「As you wish, Dyson, I’ll settle this in one strike.」

「Here I come, Silesieeeeeee’sss!」

Facing Dyson’s punch, which was as large as a boulder, I swung the Sword of Light and Neutral Sword in a large arc, launching a series of slashes.

This was a grand technique similar to the ‘Germanicus Swordsmanship: Reikouken’ once used by Freed.

Against an inferior opponent, there’s no need for tricks.

With a spirit surging from my whole body, I only needed to land a powerful slash. The opponent would die in one hit.

「What! You managed to deflect it?」

「Hmph, what happened to that momentum you had earlier?!」

My pale blue shining Sword of Light certainly sliced through the orichalcum gauntlets, shaving off its surface while sparks flew. That part went well.

Then, aiming to shatter his fist with the dull silver gleaming Neutral Sword, it was deflected by Dyson’s ‘mere punch’.

Unable to injure Dyson with my consecutive slashes, I was struck by his momentum and pushed back by the force of his punches, creating distance between us.

Why? Why can he stand unharmed after being struck by the Sword of Light bestowed by the Goddess of Creation and the Neutral Sword given by the Mother of Chaos?

「Dyson, who are you… exactly?」

「I am. I am the world’s strongest Fist Slave Emperor, Dyson!」

That’s not what I’m asking.

Despite his large frame, Dyson easily leaped into the air and rained down punches from above. I deflected his attacks with my swordplay and rolled on the ground to somehow escape.

Such heavy punches—if not for my ‘Mithril Armor’ I would have been killed instantly. But now there are cracks in my precious mithril armor; what’s going on?!

Dyson’s overwhelming power reminds me of the sensation when I fought against Freed after he was engulfed by darkness and transformed into a Demon King Hero.

「Dyson, have you become a Demon King too?」

「Huh? Don’t know.」

Right. If he had become a Demon King, he would have turned into a demon.

Dyson remains merely a flesh-and-blood human, harboring a mysterious power within his tightly clenched fists.

「Then, if neither the ‘Sword of Light’ nor the ‘Neutral Sword’ work, what is the source of your fist’s strength?」

「My fist follows my own style. The fist energy that dwells within can shatter all creation.」

Dyson doesn’t resort to tricks either.

Seeing me as an inferior opponent due to my much smaller stature compared to his massive frame, he simply brings down his heavy fists straight onto my head.

Despite desperately blocking with the twin swords of light and neutrality, I’m once again blown away by his overwhelming fist power.

Just one hit, one solid blow, and my will to fight begins to wane. My instincts scream that I should not battle this foe.

It’s as if Dyson’s huge body is a giant steel wall standing in my way. I feel the weight of that steel wall pouring down from above with each strike.

With every hit, I experience dizziness, ringing in my ears, and such intense pain that I think my limbs have been torn apart. My whole body trembles.

My arms are numb, and my legs wobble as I try to stand.

The impact damage is severe. With each hit I take, it feels like chunks of my spirit are being carved away more than anything else.

The fists covered in ‘Orichalcum Gauntlets’ supposedly enveloped by this so-called fist energy, seem to boast a hardness surpassing even orichalcum itself.

How can a mere human be immune to a hero’s power? How can a mere human possess such overwhelming fist strength?

「Dyson, by any chance, have you encountered a woman whose legs are like tentacles resembling octopus limbs?」

「Hmph, I don’t understand what you’re saying, but regardless of whether they are human or not, if they are strong, I have crushed them with these fists. I don’t remember every single one, but if it’s those kinds of aberrant monsters you’re talking about, I’ve killed plenty.」

I don’t understand the details, but those words made sense to me.

Even though he’s bare-skinned without any armor, Dyson seems impervious to the ‘Neutral Sword’. His entire body is covered in a hard barrier that prevents the sword from penetrating.

Just as Louise gained dragon energy by continuously killing dragons and consuming their flesh and blood, Dyson has likely killed one of the ‘furuki mono’ with his bare hands and acquired ‘the power of chaos’ in his body.

The power of Asama cannot be obtained without properly becoming a hero through certain steps, but the power of ‘Mother of Chaos’ which is the universe itself in this world, is not so.

If one demonstrates their strength to a ‘furuki mono’ , a manifestation of chaos, they may be granted power. The force Dyson calls ‘fist energy’ is of the same nature as my ‘Neutral Sword’. It originates from the source of the Mother of Chaos. I was certain of it.

Areh… isn’t this bad?

If I’m matched in divine power, what can I do when I’m outclassed in both the speed and power of a martial artist, and even the techniques of a warrior?

This is bad. It’s that situation they call a desperate pinch.

For the first time in a long while, I felt my life was in danger, and my whole body trembled. I’d like to think it’s the excitement of a warrior, but it’s fear.

The fear that I might be killed. Even though I shouldn’t think about it, I could see a future where I was defeated.

Having risen to become the hero of Silesie and grown accustomed to fighting as an unchallenged strongman, I had lost my resolve for a fight to the death.

Even in spirit, I was overwhelmed by Dyson.

Dyson mercilessly aimed his orichalcum fists filled with fist energy straight at me.

Lacking a decisive move, I swung the twin divine swords in defense. If this continued, I would be killed. I had to resolve myself.

With the more effective ‘Sword of Light’, I stopped his heavy fists and prepared to take his counterattack, launching a desperate slash. To cut through flesh and break bone. Just one hit, if only it could strike a vital spot!

But…

「Impossible」

「Is that all you’ve got?」

I tried to slash at Dyson’s neck, thick as a log, with the ‘Neutral Sword’ but he stopped it with his muscles!

The Neutral Sword only managed to shallowly slice through muscle without reaching bone. It’s inconceivable that the blade of a divine sword wouldn’t penetrate the neck, which is supposed to be a vital spot. What kind of cervical spine does he have?

「You’re not human anymore!」

「I am human. You and I simply train differently!」

I took Dyson’s fist straight to my stomach.

My armor crumpled, and my body creaked as if screaming in pain. At this rate, neither my armor nor my body would hold up.

「Guhaa! Ah…」

「How dull, hero of Silesie. How weak you are. You were much stronger when you used your projectile weapons.」

Even as blood flowed from his slashed neck, Dyson showed no signs of damage. Beneath labored breaths, I realized I was at a disadvantage. I had no move to make.

Having fought various formidable enemies, my eyes were trained to be moderately strong. That’s why I’m scared. I understand Dyson’s overwhelming strength, and it’s terrifying.

Even though I’m pushed to this extent, Dyson still hasn’t unleashed one hundred percent of his power.

My swords are ineffective, and just continuing to receive Dyson’s swift punches is desperate for me.

He hasn’t yet used his finishing move, the crushing fist press-out.

Even so, he’s still not at full strength.

What do I do? Do I run?

If I can’t win, should I escape, leaving everything behind? But there’s no opening for that.

「Haah, Haah…」

「What kind of hero are you? Drowning in pathetic power and lacking in muscle training. That’s why you’re in this state!」

Dyson’s fist shattered the ‘Mithril Armor’ on my abdomen into pieces.

With a light sound like glass breaking…

The magical metal mithril that had stubbornly protected me until now crumbled as if exhausted.

I was once again violently thrown and slammed into the ground. Trying to rise while crawling and rolling, Dyson charged in with his fist clenched.

Ah… this is bad.

「Damn it, at this rate…」

「Is this your full strength? If this is the end for you, let me make it easy. Go forth with the strongest power deeply engraved into your body by my crushing fist press-out!」

From above, an unbelievably large fist rained down. Is his strength really this great? Without any means to counter―

Ah, this sensation again. As death approaches, the world slows down.

My heart, sensing the danger to my life, pumped blood to my brain, accelerating my thoughts. I searched desperately for a strategy to turn the tables.

But the ‘Mithril Armor’ that protected me was already shattered. The hero’s sword was ineffective.

It’s too late to realize now, but I should have fled when I found that the hero’s power was ineffective. Avoiding an unbeatable enemy is not shameful, yet it was an oversight.

I could only watch as the massive fist that would crush me swung down. This might be death―

Gakiiii!

The sound of hard metals grinding against each other. My flesh and bones were not crushed by Dyson’s crushing fist press-out.

Before my eyes, with the ‘Orichalcum Great Shield’ in hand, a large back took Dyson’s blow.

「Guardian Knight Herman, at your service!」

「Herman, sorry, you saved me.」

No way, Herman is so cool. If I were a woman, I would have definitely fallen for him.

The ironclad Herman, a reliable guardian knight has arrived.

「This is a one-on-one duel!」

「In the face of my lord’s crisis, who cares!」

Louise charged in on her warhorse, shaking the air with her loud cry. With that momentum, she swung the ‘Orichalcum Great Sword’ and struck down at Dyson’s massive body.

Even Dyson was blown away by Louise’s full-powered strike.

The strongest knights of sword and shield arrived just in time.

I took this opportunity to pull out an elixir from my pouch and drink it.

Phew, I can breathe again. Saved.

「King General! We will take care of Dyson.」

「I’m sorry, Herman, and you too Louise.」

They are knights. Normally, interfering in a duel would be an act their pride wouldn’t allow.

But they prioritized protecting me over their pride. All I can say is sorry.

「The promise of a duel has been broken!」

As if on cue with the revenant’s cry, a chaotic battle that neither side probably wanted began.

The enemy didn’t have much more manpower, and we could have easily won if we had just holed up in the city. In this melee, casualties would be higher.

Trying to protect me, Ria and the Silesie army rushed over. The enemy pressed on just as fiercely.

This would only lead to a battle of attrition for both sides. I can only resign myself to this being my fault for being so inept.

Already, there was an exchange of musket fire and arrows between the soldiers of both sides.

An enemy arrow lodged before me, chilling my liver. It’s dangerous here, not knowing where a stray arrow might come from.

「Zither, what are you dawdling for? Get Princess Elizabeth to safety quickly!」

When I hurriedly turned and shouted, Zither, who had been running around in the middle of the battlefield with his string instrument, picked up little Eliza and fled to the rear.

Don’t prioritize protecting your instrument over Her Highness’s safety, damn it…

I was inept, but watching the foolish musician Zither somehow calmed my heart.

He must be a healing presence. That’s right, I saved Sarah-chan, and the imperial granddaughter is safe too. The outcome of the battle doesn’t matter.

If I can’t kill Dyson alone.

Then Herman, Louise, and I will surround and defeat him together.

Facing a monster, I’ll take any slander of being a coward.

Minimizing casualties and defeating the enemy is the priority. With that thought, I faced forward, but what I saw made me doubt my eyes.

Herman lay face down on the ground.

The ironclad Herman had been taken down in just a moment when I looked away.

「I’m a bit disappointed; for a close aide to Silesie’s hero, you’re weak.」

It wasn’t Dyson who had sent Herman flying with his mighty shield.

A strange girl with large, rough blue scales on her limbs had suddenly interrupted our battle with Dyson.

Her features were beautiful, and she was scandalously half-naked, wrapped only in a white cloth over her large chest. I almost got distracted, but the large dragon horns growing from her blue hair, her massive wings, and long tail prevented that.

I won’t be fooled by the appearance of a beautiful girl. The white, sharp dragon claws extending from her large scaled hands belonged to a fearsome warrior. She might be another martial artist with cheat-like abilities.

Following Herman, Louise swung her ‘Orichalcum Greatsword’ at the blue-haired girl, but it was deflected with a grating sound.

The girl, who easily repelled the strongest metal greatsword with her sharp claws, then pierced Louise’s abdomen in mid-air with a thrust of her sharp claw.

「Louise!」

「Ga-ha!」

Louise’s back spurted red fresh blood as she was helplessly impaled by the sharp claw.

I hurried over to her fallen form. Louise’s abdomen had been pierced by the sharp claw. It didn’t seem to be a fatal wound, but piercing the ‘Orichalcum Armor’ in one blow was something not even the Neutral Sword could do.

「Do you understand, hero… I deliberately missed this woman’s vital points.」

Said the dragon girl with an innocent smile, proudly raising her sharp dragon claw with a clinking sound.

I don’t understand at all!

「Really, one after another with these extraordinary enemies…」

Does this mean that an enemy as strong as or stronger than Dyson has appeared at this juncture?

While administering an elixir to Louise and tending to her wounds, I racked my brain for what to do next.

This is no joke; it’s tough indeed.

But it’s not over yet.

Now that it’s come to this, I’ll have to use my last resort!