Chapter 117 – Interception
Ruko crouched on a tree branch, eyes locked on the road below. After then he saw some civilian walking to the direction of Alcanretia. "…People walking?" he muttered under his breath. Then look carefully and saw his his target. "...Oh-ohh! Found you and no carriage? That's just inefficient." Below, Serena moved forward with a group of guards—eyes dull, movements stiff. Also brainwashed. Beside her walked a figure in a short cloak, hood low over her face. Ruko narrowed his eyes. "…That must be the one." He exhaled slowly, then dropped from the tree. Leaves scattered as he landed lightly on the dirt road. No hiding. No stealth. Just presence. "…Alright," he said, stepping forward into the middle of the road. "Let's try getting your attention." Serena stopped. "…Hm?" Her gaze lifted. "…A bandit?" The cloaked figure beside her tilted her head slightly. "Do you know him?" she asked. Serena shook her head lazily. "Probably just another fool. I'll deal with him quickly." She stepped forward—but before she could move further—Ruko vanished. Then reappeared right in front of her. Serena flinched. "…!"
The guards reacted instantly, drawing weapons—but the cloaked woman moved first. "Get back, Serena." Her wings snapped open—She launched forward. Fast. Too fast for normal adventurers. She grab Ruko with her. "Serena go... I'll soon catch up." Ruko's eyes sharpened. "…Not bad." He grab her breast, started pulling in different direction. "Ah!.. That hurt you fool." "Saying who has this balloons in they way." "...Tch." She lost her momentum of flight—She slammed into him—Both of them crashing off the road and into the trees. Branches snapped. The ground cracked.They rolled—After 30 seconds her eyes open seeing what happened. "...Ugh. Gasp." They were in a lip to lip situation. Ruko open his eyes then surprised by giving a tongue twirl. She jump kick Ruko. Then separated. Ruko slid back, steadying himself. "…You're quick on your feet since were getting into it." The cloaked figure stood upright, brushing dust off her shoulder, while whipping her lip. "…And you're reckless." Her hood shifted slightly, revealing her face. Goat-like horns. Bat-like wings. A thin, arrow-tipped tail swaying behind her.
Ruko blinked once. "…What kind of mix are you supposed to be?" She frowned. "…That's the first thing you say?" Ruko shrugged. "I mean… it does stands out." She stared at him for a second—Then sighed. "…Human." Her tone shifted, more serious now. "I don't know why you're targeting Serena, but leave now." Ruko raised a brow. "…Oh I see? You're trying to negotiate?" "Yes." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I don't want to fight if I don't have to." Ruko tilted his head. "…And you think that'll work?" "…It should," she replied calmly. "If you're smart." There was a pause. Then—Ruko smiled. Flipping a middle finger. "…Nah." Her expression hardened. "…Figures." He cracked his neck slightly. "Come on. I was hoping you'd say something like that." They moved at the same time. Her fist shot forward—Ruko leaned back just enough to avoid it. "…Wow! How quite strong are you." He stepped in—Three quick strikes to her side—Short range. Very precise.
Her breath hitched. "…!" Before she could recover—Ruko planted his hand on the ground and spun—A sweeping kick slammed into her midsection—She flew back, crashing through a tree. She landed hard—But stood again. "…You're… not a normal human... or an normal adventurer." Ruko smirked slightly. "I got that a lot lately, sweet cheeks." She raised her hand. "Fireball." A sphere of flame formed instantly—Launched. Ruko clicked his tongue. "…Nah-nah, too slow." He moved through the smoke—But more followed. Multiple fireballs—Detonations chained together. He skidded back out of the blast zone. "…Alright! Not expected, I gotta deal with that or I'm going barbeque fry." He reached into his bag—Pulled out a small small. "…Let's test this." He tossed it. Smoke burst outward—Thick. Blinding. The demon narrowed her eyes. "…Smoke?" She listened. Focused. "…Found you." "Black Lightning." A dark bolt crashed downward—Striking—Nothing. "…What?"
The smoke shifted. Ruko appeared right in front of her. "…Surprise! Wrong guess motherfucker." Before she could react—A sharp strike to her jaw—Followed by an elbow—Clean. Direct. She dropped. After a minute. she woke—She couldn't move. Her arms restrained. Legs pinned. Magic sealed. Ruko sat in front of her casually. "…Oh! You're awake." She glared. "…Just... who are you?" Ruko blinked. "…Oh yeah, I forgot about it." He reached up—Pulled off his mask. Her eyes widened. "…Ruko… Satou…?!" He raised a brow. "…I'm known like that now?" She let out a dry laugh. "You have no idea." Her voice lowered slightly. "...Everyone in the Demon race know who you are." "Even The Devil King himself considers you a great threat." Ruko let out a low whistle. "…That's quite a news to my ears." "...Especially the devil king himself. I'm quite stun of myself." She look at him like it was not a big of a deal to him. "So what? You think your some big shot that can threatened the devil king." That make Ruko look at her. "...Cause your in the worse since the devilness don't care for a small fry like you." Ruko ears just move in curious. "Hmm?... I'm curious of who is this 'Devilness' your speaking off."
She shut her mouth of not saying since she forgot that she should not bring up that's person name. Ruko look at her stating it was a secret to the demons and won't pry further. "...Well I'll just kill you and be on my way." "On second thought I change my mind!" She stared at him. "…So what now?" Ruko leaned back slightly. "…First, names." She stayed silent. He sighed. "…Arnes I do say." Her eyes snapped open. "…How—" Ruko shrugged. Tapping his head. "I pay attention to my memory a little." He tilted his head slightly. "...So I'll continue." " Arnes is a high-ranking demon and a loyal servant to Wolbach the Goddess of Laziness and Violence, right?" That name made her tense. "…Don't say that so lightly." Ruko's gaze sharpened. "…So it's true." "...You forgot that I was in Kazuma party and someone name Megumin tell me some story about her and you therefore." That put her in pause. "That... is true." Ruko continue. "Arnes was subsequently hit by the Explosion that Megumin had been saving up for the occasion, In which sent her back to Hell."
Ruko look at her with a confusion. "Why are you not at hell and back to the life of the living." Arnes start speaking. "Heh! Yeah like I would tell. That it was thanks to the devil–" She bit her tongue, cut off her speaking that person name. Ruko found that word again but won't pry further. Ruko clear his throat. "Arnes—" "Stop by calling my name already." Ruko feel hurt but continue. "Very well—you recognizes Chomusuke as Wolbach, showing frustration when the creature does not remember her." "...But was in searching for Wolbach; So you spend much of your time looking for the Dark, Laziness Goddess Wolbach." Ruko look hold up something. Arnes eyes wide open. "GIVE IT BACK!" "Wow-wow there, I was going to explain about this." "...This here, often using a magical tracker bracelet to attract the person the user seeking, but in reality it attracts scum of society which I don't want it.
Arnes is in shock that he know more about her. "...This guy is too dangerous of walking in this world." She clenched her jaw. "…Just kill me and get it over with." Ruko looked at her for a moment. Then shook his head. "…No. Not yet." She frowned. "…What?" He stood up. "…I've got something more important." He glanced down the road. "…Serena's still ahead." Arnes stiffened. "…You're going after her?" "…Obviously." He started walking away—Then paused. "Y'know?... I forgot to claim my reward!" She's confused. "Reward?..." . Ruko pointed down and she look down. Look at him and down again. "Are you serious...!" Ruko smiled. "Yes I'm serious." She look at him. "I'm genderless." Ruko is shocked. "Why telling me this and how do you pee." That bring a silence that the wind blow. Ruko change the question. "Why are you genderless." She doesn't answer. Ruko raising his hand and use his main skill. "I don't wanna do this but—" "Rewrite...!" She feel something. "...What did you do?!"
Ruko pointed down again. She look down. She is terrified. "I just change your lower part genderless to female." "...H-how can you change someone's gender." "I just rewrite your body structure of a genderless to a female I say again." "...Since it take some creativity to pull that off. But I know the structure of a women organs, system, and ways of shape which is kinda easy and not easy at the same time." Arnes in shock—can't progress of what she is witnessing. "Now I can claim my reward...!" Arnes try to plead him not to do this but it was inevitable. Ruko just strip off his clothes. She's crying of not doing this—but it end up in Ruko's way by taking her virginity. 30 minutes later. Ruko put on his pants. "...Sighed! She can't last that long. But her virginity was sweet." Finish set his pants. "Now time to find Serena... she hasn't gone that far." Arnes mumbled. Ruko look back. "...You wanna say something." she speak in a weakened state "...What... is this feeling... that I never... have before."
Ruko sighed. "...That's pleasure." While smiling. Her eyes wide open. "...Pleasure? is that it." Ruko look forward "And don't worry? Ever since you're after Wolbach. She is long gone and other half off her is still in Chomusuke." "…You fought well." She blinked. "…What?" "…So rest easy." He didn't turn back. "...And rest in peace." "…Since the beginning. You're not my target." Arnes smile. "...T-thank you... Ruko." Ruko disappeared leaving arnes in a state of some white liquid. Her head has fall off of her shoulders. Burn by holy magic. And with that—He vanished. Road Ahead. Serena walked steadily. "…Arnes should've handled him by now." She smiled faintly. "…No matter." "…I'm close." "…Arcanretia…" Her steps slowed. Something felt off. "…Strange…" Then—A voice. "…Looking for someone?" She froze. Turned. Ruko stood in the road. Calm. Waiting. Her eyes widened. "…You—" Ruko smiled slightly. "…Yeah." "…I dealt with your strongesr guard." Her expression darkened. "…Arnes…?" "…She's gone." Silence fell. Then— Ruko stepped forward. Slow. Deliberate. "…Now you're next."