Just as I’d turned serious, Orthoaguina’s distracting comment made Sita reflexively lose focus. Magiluka firmly grabbed Sita’s shoulders without saying a peep, and it sort of looked like she was scolding herself too, trying her best to maintain focus.
“R-Right,” Sita said. “Lord Orthoaguina, now isn’t the time to say stuff like that.”
“F-Forgive me,” Orthoaguina replied. “When I spotted it, I just couldn’t help myself.”
To be fair, he wasn’t physically with us and was sort of more like a spectator. It was only natural that he didn’t feel as nervous as we did. But if Sita were ever in danger, I wondered if Orthoaguina could truly remain standing idly on the sidelines. That doting father won’t try to fly over from Kairomea, will he? Nah... Actually, I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Oh? I thought I heard a familiar voice,” a man said from the back of the room, one who clearly had no sense for comedic timing.
“Nike...” Orthoaguina growled.
“I see. With you on their side, it’s no wonder that this little gang was able to reach me.”
I think this is the first time I’m hearing the two converse with each other. Say, did I not detect a hint of panic when he heard Orthoaguina talk, though?
Whether the revelation that Orthoaguina was with us had truly rattled Nike or not, he immediately faced us with his usual composure, and even looked a bit laid-back.
“Hmph. I’d wondered how I was being graced with the presence of a man your size, but the reality is so much more pitiful than all my hypotheses,” Nike said. “Perhaps they ought to retire your sobriquet, considering you make such a mockery of it, Philomath Dragon.”
“Indeed, I cannot deny that I’m just a bystander,” Orthoaguina replied. “I cannot help these kids one bit.”
“Oh? Then are you saying that there’s someone other than yourself who can pinpoint the precise locations of my devices through the several interferences I laid out and disable them?”
Yessir, that’s me, sir, ha ha... Just kinda doin’ my usual, ha ha... This conversation really isn’t doing me any favors, is it? I alone was sweating buckets as the two men glared at each other (in a manner of speaking).
“E-Enough banter!” I shouted. “Where’s Noa? Also, I’d like for you to send away those pesky guards you’ve got.” That’s right, it didn’t matter who exactly had destroyed the devices. It was critical I got to saving Noa, so I tried to steer the conversation away— I mean, get down to brass tacks.
“Guards?” Nike asked. “Oh, them. Fear not, I imagine that they’ll retreat once you’ve all perished.”
He flashed us a mocking smile. I wasn’t sure if he had no plans on stopping them or simply couldn’t do so. It probably isn’t the latter—that’d make him a shabby magus smith. Basically, he doesn’t want us to leave here alive.
“And you were worried about...Noa, yes?” Nike asked. “That failure of an experiment? I suspect the armor is using her as a punching bag for stress relief.”
“She’s no failure,” I snapped back, unable to stay silent against his nasty remarks. “She’s doing her best to live, as anyone else would.”
“On the contrary, she’s the walking embodiment of failure! Her frail body can’t even accept a soul—to call her refuse would be a gross overstatement.”
I knew that Nike was provoking me. I didn’t need anyone to point it out. Had he just been mocking me, I could’ve just laughed right back at him, but I wasn’t kind and saintly enough to let his insults about Noa slide. In fact, if given the choice to act cool and composed in the face of his condescending slander or to blow my top off at him, I’d always choose the latter. My friends must’ve felt the same, as I could practically feel their rage behind me pushing me to let loose.
“Once the Argent Armor finishes turning her into a pile of hamburger, I’m sure she’ll be happy to return her to you!” Nike droned on. “I’ll always welcome a hand with corpse disposal—”
I leaped forward to shut Nike’s stupid trap. He then laughed condescendingly and wagged his finger as though he’d fooled me—he’d formed a translucent wall directly in front of me. Of course, I shattered it with my fist as easily as I breathed.
“Hmm?!” he squeaked. Even he didn’t seem to expect this, and his mocking smile from earlier vanished for a split second. Stakes appeared at my flanks, and I jumped to dodge them, only for another to appear right where I’d jumped with perfect timing. This combination must’ve been Nike’s ace in the hole—that loathsome smile once again appeared on his face. But I showed no hesitation as I reached for the oncoming pike and crushed it with my hands with a deafening crack.
“I-Impossible!” he cried. “What in the world?!” Nike couldn’t help but finally lose his cool and raise his voice, unable to maintain his usual stuffy, erudite posturing. I heard as much up close and personal, considering I’d landed right next to him—or, as you might call it when it comes to me, checkmate. As the two of us locked eyes, I could see the terror rapidly contorting his features.
“You’d better clench your teeth, poindexter!” I growled. “This pain’ll never compare to what you brought upon that poor girl, but it’ll sure as hell make for a good running start!” I glared at him, took a step in, and swung my fist upward into his stomach. It looked like he’d set up several defensive barriers, but it’d accomplished little as my power tore through them all and made clean contact with his gut.