Episode 6: Shoot

“You’re not taking it back, huh… Saintess? Fine, then! If I beat the crap out of every knight in this cathedral—no, even Segundo, the chosen Hero—will that make you understand, huh?!”

He refused to accept it.

He wouldn’t acknowledge his rejection.

“It’s gotta be wrong! There’s no way I’d get rejected! It’s impossible! I’ll say it as many times as it takes! Saintess or even the Holy King himself!”

“Foolish… To defy the will of God and even speak of the Holy King-sama… You should know shame.”

“You’re the one who needs to look at me better! Not with your gods or tools, but with your own eyes!”

“Nothing changes.”

“You—YOUUUUUU!!!”

Damon roared.

“No, no, NO! There’s no way I’d be rejected! I’ve lived for this! For the country, for the world, for the people, for the woman I love… Liiya-san’s been waiting for me all this time… And all the people who’ve believed in me, I’ve been living to meet their expectations! I’ve built myself up! I’ve endured! I’ve delivered results! And you say I’m not good enough? Then what’s your standard?! Betraying everyone’s expectations… I… I—!!”

His earth-shaking shout silenced the crowd, who had been reveling in the joy of the Hero’s birth.

“What was that?!”

“It came from over there! Oi, what’s going on… Wha—?!”

“You, what are you doing, Damon?! A-And, everyone?!”

“Damon, did you do this?!”

Knights hurriedly rushed into the ritual chamber where Damon stood.

Seeing the knights he’d kicked down sprawled across the room, their faces hardened, and they instantly drew their swords.

Damon glared at them with sharp eyes…

“Shut up, you weaklings. I’m gonna make this damn Saintess understand just how wrong this selection ritual is!”

“Wha—?!”

He was unstoppable now.

“What are you saying?! To the Saintess-sama dispatched from the Eternal Neutral Holy City…”

“No, forget that—this mess! No excuses, you little brat!”

“This kid’s defiling the sacred day of the new Hero’s birth!”

“Finally showing your true colors, huh? I’ve always hated this cocky brat!”

More and more Imperial Knights flooded into the ritual chamber.

In the world above, the empire was hailed as the leader of humanity, a vast and powerful nation.

The knights stationed in the capital were the elite, chosen through fierce competition from across the empire.

“Shut up, you weaklings… Wanna get crushed?”

All were talented class holders, hardened by real combat and rigorous training—

“Get fired up! FIRE SHOOT!”

With a single kick, Damon sent them flying.

“Guahhh, t-the flames, gah, aaah?!”

“A kick cloaked in fire?!”

“This brat, I’ve had enough—kill him!”

“Oi, is that okay? He’s still somewhat important to the empire…”

“But he’s a reject, right? That changes everything!”

“Request reinforcements from the palace! We can’t let trouble ruin the Hero’s birth!”

“What about Segundo, the new Hero…”

“Idiot! If something happens to the Hero right here, what then? We’ll handle this, and send word to the ‘Bushin General’!”

“Saintess-sama, please step back!”

The knights readied their swords, spears, and staves.

“””In the name of justice, we Imperial Knights will punish this villain!!”””

This was no longer about restraining a naughty brat.

Their eyes burned with intent to eliminate a dangerous threat to the nation.

“Huh? So what, you trash?! GATLING FIRE SHOOT!”

Unfazed, Damon conjured balls of fire with magic and kicked them with ferocious force.

The densely packed flames, propelled by his powerful legs, flew with far greater speed and power than ordinary magic.

Damon unleashed the technique in rapid succession.

“It’s fast?!”

“Careful! This brat’s original technique, as proven in tournaments—guh?!”

“And rapid-fire?!”

“Can’t get close—gah?!”

“Just fireballs, but each one’s power?!”

“The speed and destruction from his kicks—guh?!”

Ten, twenty knights rushed in, but none could even approach Damon.

“What are you doing, Magic Knights?! Front line, deploy barriers!”

“Got it! A brat’s sloppy magic like this? A water barrier will—”

The knights fell one by one, engulfed in flames…

“THUNDER SHOOT!”

“Wait, even different elements—?!”

Warriors, magic swordsmen, mages—Damon scattered them all, regardless of class.

“I can win… I don’t lose… I can even crush active class holders… So why am I no good, Saintess?!”