Here is the translated text, with paragraphs corrected for flow and clarity:
Chapter 497 “Souvenirs for My Parents” has been partially revised.
Details are noted in the afterword.
Side: Rex
Through traveling, we, the Philias Allied Forces, made our transfer and set foot in Cobaldia, the imperial capital of the Retysentia Empire.
Seeing us, the citizens of the empire rushed to flee, and even the imperial soldiers began to run. It left me with a strange feeling.
“I understand the common folk fleeing, but even the soldiers running away… Honestly, I never imagined it would be this rotten.”
“I feel the same way. However, if it means no one will stand in our way to the Imperial King’s Castle, it will save us some trouble.”
Just as Emperor Reinhardt said, I didn’t expect the Imperial Army to be so lax.
The soldiers who are supposed to protect the people are fleeing before their own citizens; it’s a serious misstep that would warrant severe punishment.
Still, as we approach the Imperial King’s Castle, we can expect resistance, so we must not let our guard down.
However, a new threat from outside Cobaldia has now appeared.
“Report! The monsters that were surrounding the outer perimeter of Cobaldia are heading this way! The number is unknown! However, we have confirmed the presence of Anomalous Species and Catastrophe Species!”
So, it finally happened.
Cobaldia is bordered by Orca Bay to the east and south, so there are no monsters on those sides. However, the landward sides are surrounded by numerous monsters.
Naturally, we who transferred here were also attacked by a multitude of monsters immediately after our arrival.
Fortunately, the monsters that attacked us were, at best, G-rank, and we annihilated them quickly. However, they represent only a fraction of the numbers surrounding Cobaldia.
Furthermore, many monsters are moving along the city walls, but a significant number are also heading straight through the city.
What’s more, as reported, we can see many Anomalous and Catastrophe Species, and three of them seem to surpass even that level.
“No way! ‘Questing’! Those three are Demise Species after all!”
Emperor Reinhardt, sensing magic power exceeding that of Catastrophe Species, used Questing, confirming the presence of three Demise Species.
The Demise Species Phoenix, a Fire Bird; the Demise Species Ouroboros, a Hyde Viper; and the Demise Species Sleipnir, a Battle Horse. These three species were surrounding Cobaldia.
Since there were no previous reports, did they evolve at this very moment?
If only we had been a day earlier.
“Three Demise Species here…”
“This is troublesome. However, we don’t have time to waste here, do we?”
“I know. Our schedule is packed after this, so let’s hurry and finish this.”
“Yes. But you can’t afford to be careless, as you can’t use that.”
“Of course not.”
With that, Yamato and Mako clasped hands and activated a martial art called the Dual Heart Fusion Technique.
As a brief flash of light subsided, Yamato held a sword-like weapon with six blades, and Mako had wings on her back that resembled arms.
I’ve seen them a few times, and those are Yamato’s Sacred Sword Blau Solaris and Mako’s Sacred Wing Agatholam.
“I’d like to blow them away in one hit, but I’m not used to handling it yet, so for now, we’ll fight as we always have.”
“That means Yamato and I will each take one, but what about the remaining monster?”
That’s the problem.
No, it’s more than enough that two people are willing to take on two of the three Demise Species, but with one left over, it’s incredibly difficult to decide who should deal with it.
No… there’s no need to think about who should do it.
I am the Grand Order’s Master, and my level is second only to Yamato, Mako, Prim, and Mana.
As such, this is something I should do.
“Then, I will hold back the remaining monster. I don’t know if I can defeat it, but I won’t be easily defeated.”
“In that case, we will go with you.”
“As his wife, that is a given.”
“Besides, I think it’s odd to rely only on Yamato and his group, so it might be good for us to try and subdue a Demise Species now.”
As I volunteered, my wives also insisted they would fight.
While it’s true that my wives are Ancient Class and their help is welcome, I was only planning to keep the Demise Species occupied until Yamato and Mako defeated theirs. With the sheer number of monsters, dealing with them is also necessary, isn’t it?
“No, I agree with Saya’s opinion. Aside from Wing Crest, the only one with experience fighting Demise Species is El of Falcon’s, but even she only provided support, and more importantly, she doesn’t acknowledge that achievement herself. Furthermore, Yamato and his group can’t always be active, so if it’s possible to defeat Demise Species outside of Wing Crest, we should do so.”
“Indeed. Not only might they become incapacitated, but there’s also the possibility of them appearing in multiple locations simultaneously, like during the last Labyrinth flood. If that’s the case, it would be best if you could handle it, and if anyone can, it’s the Grand Order’s Master.”
Emperor Reinhardt and Yamato also agree with my wives’ opinions.
However, I cannot deny the possibility Yamato mentioned, so I’ll give it a try, even if I don’t know if I can succeed.
“In that case, I will take on the Phoenix, and Yamato, you will take the Ouroboros.”
“Ah, that’s unfair! I was going to take the Phoenix!”
“Come now, you haven’t forgotten what kind of monster a Hyde Viper is, have you? I wouldn’t just struggle; I might even be defeated.”
“That’s true, but…”
Indeed, the Hyde Viper is a snake monster that stealthily approaches with incredible speed. Its nature means it has few long-range attack options.
However, it compensates for this with its speed, and once it disappears from sight, it becomes difficult to track even with its massive body.
Whether it’s still a Demise Species or not, its basic traits should remain unchanged, making it a poor match for Mako, who isn’t skilled in close-quarters combat.
In that case, I will be facing the Sleipnir.
“Then, we will be the ones to face Sleipnir.”
“The fact that its origin is a Battle Horse is a concern, but if we dwell on such things against a Demise Species, it will put us in danger.”
“We must accept that. Then, the four of us – Rex, Marie, and Muse – will do our best against Sleipnir.”
“Ah. My arms are itching for a fight.”
My wives are incredibly motivated. But why are they so eager to fight?
Well, fighting a Demise Species is not something people typically seek out, and defeating one would be a significant accomplishment for us as well.
Furthermore, my wives will eventually get pregnant. If we miss this opportunity, who knows when the next one will come, or if it will come at all.
I steel myself and direct my gaze towards Sleipnir.
Three twisted horns merged into one, two pairs of pure white wings, and a majestic colossal body nearly ten meters tall. Looking at it again, it’s hard to believe its origin was a Battle Horse.
However, that doesn’t mean we have any way to retreat.
Two years ago, when we saw the Demise Species Orc Emperor and Orc Empress, I almost froze from the sheer despair. But we are not the same people we were then.
I draw my Delight Sword while holding up my Delight Shield and charge towards Sleipnir.
Side: Saya
As Rex charged towards Sleipnir with his Delight Sword drawn, Yamato also rushed towards Ouroboros, and Mako activated her signature martial art, Starlight Circle, towards Phoenix.
Phoenix was immobilized by Mako’s Starlight Circle, and Ouroboros, being engaged by Yamato, had no余裕 to attack us.
The other monsters are being held back by Hunters and Ritters, so we can focus on Sleipnir without any worries.
“Rex, let’s go!”
“I know! Haaaaaah!”
Alongside Rex, with Muse holding her shield, I unleash a Blading as a preemptive strike.
The attack was dodged, but it stopped its charge, so that’s good enough.
I won’t just stand by; I unleash my Unique Magic, Flame Rock Discharge, imbued with beast magic and earth and fire attribute magic into my Buster Trident.
Countless rabbits formed from flame and earth swarm Sleipnir, burning its wings.
However, as expected of a Demise Species, Flame Rock Discharge is easily brushed aside, and the burned wings don’t seem to have become unusable.
Moreover, because its wings were burned, it’s now charging at me with an enraged expression!
“Saya! ‘Shielding’! Damn it!”
Rex deflects Sleipnir’s charge with Shielding, but his left arm is broken.
“I-I’m sorry! ‘High Healing’!”
“My apologies.”
“No, I’m sorry. I completely forgot that wings are important to Demise Species as well.”
“So did I.”
Using the healing magic I gained upon evolving to Ancient Class, I immediately heal Rex’s arm.
The magic power consumption was immense, but if Rex were to withdraw here, it would be a significant drop in our combat power. And more importantly, it happened because he shielded me, so there was no choice but to heal him.
Forgetting that wings are important to Demise Species was my mistake, but I am once again forced to acknowledge how incredible Demise Species are.
This is the first time Rex has been injured since evolving.
“Alright! Marie, Muse! Try to deflect attacks as much as possible! With a body that large, just doing that will wear you down!”
“I saw it, so I understand perfectly!”
“That was unavoidable in that situation, but Rex, you be careful too!”
“Of course!”
Marie, like Muse, is also an Order and is equipped with a shield.
That’s why there’s a risk of her instinctively trying to block attacks, and Rex raised his voice to warn her. But seeing Rex’s left arm broken, anyone would be cautious.
“Saya, you don’t have a shield. Please refrain from reckless attacks.”
“I know. I won’t make the same mistake twice, showing such ugliness.”
The reason Rex was injured was because I recklessly burned Sleipnir’s wings.
Forgetting a monster’s characteristics is a grave mistake for a Hunter, and I can’t afford to make the same error twice.
Furthermore, I wasn’t the only one trained by Yamato’s father and mother!
“Alright! Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
At Rex’s signal, I charge forward. I wrap my Buster Trident in earth and fire Blading, this time aiming for Sleipnir’s horns.
Since the three horns are twisted into one, they are not only thick but also seem to possess penetrating power. If I were to be pierced by them, it would be fatal.
So, first, I’ll disable its visible means of attack.
Ideally, I should take out its mobility first, but since Sleipnir is a Demise Species with wings and is actually flying, that would mean aiming for its wings.
Of course, I’ll do that too, but the horns are in the way, so I’ll deal with those first!
“Haaaaaaa! Tch! As expected, you’re fast!”
My full-powered strike was dodged, but I anticipated that.
Muse, who understands my intentions, uses earth attribute magic to lift Sleipnir and immobilize it. Marie’s wind-imbued Blading severs the horns at their base.
This reduces its attack power and weakens its wing defenses!
I immediately use Scaffolding in mid-air and cut off its left wing.
Sleipnir, flying a few meters above the ground, loses its balance with the loss of one wing and crashes to the ground.
However, it landed on its feet, so it doesn’t seem to have taken any damage.
But having lost a wing, it’s now enraged.
We quickly retreat to Rex’s side and re-imbue our weapons with magic.
“‘Grand Incline’!”
As we retreated, Sleipnir charged, but was thrown off balance by Rex’s Unique Magic, Grand Incline, and this time, it collapsed to the ground.
Grand Incline, which raises the ground and creates an incline to prevent charges, is a new Unique Magic created by Rex based on advice from Yamato’s father.
Instead of tilting abruptly, it gradually increases the angle, and by using Scaffolding, it creates a more drastic angle than it actually is, causing significant, albeit subtle, damage to the footing.
He usually uses earth spears and other techniques, but he probably used this to aim for incapacitation against Sleipnir, as he wasn’t sure if they would be effective.
“Now!”
Seizing the opportunity, Rex, Marie, and Muse unleash Blading using their respective most proficient attribute magic.
That single blow severs Sleipnir’s right foreleg, hind leg, and wing, leaving it barely able to move.
“This is the end!”
Towards the struggling Sleipnir, I release my newly created Unique Magic, Grand Storm Detonator.
It’s a lava tornado created with earth, fire, and wind attribute magic, through which Flame Rock Discharge freely moves. It’s my trump card.
Grand Storm Detonator gradually shrinks, converging on my Buster Trident held at the apex.
I ready the Buster Trident and throw it with all my might towards Sleipnir.
The Buster Trident pierces its forehead with pinpoint accuracy, and Sleipnir slowly lowers its head to the ground, never to move again.
The number of Demise Species that evolved due to the Divine Emperor’s magic, as described in “Souvenirs for My Parents,” has been changed, and monsters with the potential to evolve have been added.
Some inconsistencies may have arisen, but this is due to the impact on future story developments.
