However, Koutarou began to laugh.
Koutarou was laughing because he had met a person very similar to Elexis. And finding himself in a similar situation as back then, he began laughing even harder. It was obvious that it was a completely different person, but their features were just so similar that Koutarou couldn't keep it in.
“...What are you doing in a place like this, Dextro? You haven't taken a single step forward for 2,000 years...”
As Koutarou laughed, he mumbled to himself in a low voice.
“Dextro...?”
So only Ruth who was next to him could hear it.
Satomi-sama just said Dextro...
Ruth had a vague memory of having heard the name Dextro before. He was a character that appeared in the legend of the Blue Knight. However, he hadn't appeared in Theia's play in the interest of time. So it wasn't a name Koutarou could have known.
Maybe her highness showed him a movie when practicing for the play...?
However, in the end Ruth assumed he had been shown a movie regarding him, and so she turned her focus back on Elexis. She didn't have the time to think of something else.
“What are you mumbling about, neanderthal?”
“Neanderthal? It's been a while since I last heard that”
Clan, that synchronicity of yours might really exist...
Koutarou remembered what Clan had said and casually approached Elexis. Elexis pulled out a pistol and pointed it towards Koutarou. It was a new model that DKI had developed, and not only did it have little recoil, but it was also a multipurpose gun with the option to load all kinds of bullets. This was one of the products that DKI wanted to sell to the army.
“What does an unarmed neanderthal want?”
An amazed smile appeared on Elexis's lips. It was only obvious that he would smile as white, transparent hexagonal tiles appeared around him. It was a barrier. A bare-handed human wouldn't be able to do anything against him now.
“It's true that I am unarmed, but you shouldn't get too ahead of yourself”
“That's true. There's a saying in my family to not play around during important events”
Elexis didn't hesitate to fire towards Koutarou's head.
Looks like you learned a little, Dextro!
However, Koutarou shook his head and dodged the bullet.
“What!?”
Elexis doubted his eyes. He couldn't believe that this gun could miss at close range.
In order to improve the accuracy of Elexis's gun, it didn't fire by pulling a trigger. Instead it sensed the pressure put on the trigger. It reduced the lowered accuracy from having to move your finger and trigger.
In other words, Koutarou couldn't have observes Elexis's movements to dodge. It should be impossible for a human to dodge.
“Your shooting is too honest!”
Koutarou began sprinting to close the distance as quickly as possible.
“Who the hell are you!?”
”I'm the victim!”
Meanwhile, Elexis continued firing. However none of the bullets hit; instead they would graze his cheek, pass under the arm he had casually raised or between his arm and body.
It was a bizarre sight that made it look like Elexis was missing on purpose.
Why, why can't I hit him!?
Elexis started to panic as he continued firing. It was a situation in which the person shooting was the most confused.
Koutarou was able to dodge the bullets thanks to power he had gotten from Sanae. Elexis's aim was very accurate, and the so was the gun’s performance. He didn't have any hesitation like Ruth, and his aim was logical and accurate. That's why his attacks were easier to dodge than anyone else’s.
“A victim you say!?”
”That's right! I'm just a regular civilian that your princess invaded!!”
Koutarou was now right in front of Elexis. Elexis fired one last shot at Koutarou.
However, that bullet flew in a completely different direction. Koutarou's fist struck Elexis in the face and knocked him back onto the ground. The shot had been fired after Koutarou had hit him and he was falling.
“W-What happened!?”
After falling down, Elexis was unable to move. Part of the reason for that was because he was dizzy from the punch, but most of the reason was because he was taken aback in surprise.
Despite being protected by a barrier, Koutarou had punched him. Elexis had no clue what had happened.
“Satomi-sama... you...”
Ruth who had been watching Koutarou from behind on the other saw what happened. Despite having seen it, she was still surprised.
Immediately before El-sama fires, the barrier near the barrel vanishes for a moment! Satomi-sama punched him during that small window! I understand the theory, but just because you understand the theory, it's not that easy to put it into practice!! Just how much training would you have to do to be able to pull off something like that!?
That was a move made possible by the power given to him by Sanae and from his combat experience. Elexis had a habit when he fired his gun. Just before shooting he, would hold his breath, and that showed in his aura. Koutarou's experience told him that was a common trait amongst marksmen. So by swinging his fist at that time, he would be able to strike Elexis before he could fire his gun.
“Ouch, the barrier recovers quickly”
While Ruth seemed surprised, Koutarou was shaking his right hand in an attempt to ease the pain. That was because he had been repelled by the reformed barrier, but his actions were so carefree that it was hard to believe he had just easily done something so amazing.
“I see, Neanderthal-kun, you aimed for the opening when the barrier was down!”
That was when Elexis realized what had happened. The tactical support computer on him reported on what Koutarou had done.
“But now that I know, there's no need to fear!”
Elexis ejected the magazine loaded into the gun and quickly exchanged it with another.
“All I have to do is attack you with lasers without lowering the barrier!”
The new magazine contained miniature irradiation devices that fired lasers. And by loading those into the pistol, it would be able to shoot lasers. Since it was a prototype, there was a limit to the amount of shots it could fire, but this generality was the selling point of the gun.
“You've surprised me quite a bit, but it looks like I win, Neanderthal-kun!”
After changing his magazine, Elexis ordered the computer to change the barrier settings. Normally, Forthorthe's protective barriers guarded against lasers as well. But Elexis changed that setting to allow lasers to pass through. That meant that he could fire at Koutarou without having to lower his barrier.
“Let me tell you something good”
”Is this your will? I'm no knight, but I'll at least hear your final words”
Pointing his gun at Koutarou, Elexis waited for his words. He was absolutely certain of his victory now.
“Unarmed, I have no way of breaking your barrier, and you can attack me all you want. All I can do is run around, but I won't be able to save Theia like that”
”That's right. You can at least understand that”
”However―”
Koutarou began running towards Elexis once more.
“Did you get so desperate as to resort to a suicide attack? I guess that is only fitting for a neanderthal”
Elexis confidently kept his aim at Koutarou. He had no need to defeat Koutarou with this attack. He only needed to buy time, he only had to not lose. There was no chance that an unarmed opponent could break through the barrier. Elexis had been a little surprised over getting punched, but he was still dominant.
“Satomi-sa― Ah...”
At first, Ruth had thought that Koutarou was throwing his life away too. But then she noticed that Koutarou was smiling. It was the exact same kind of smile he would show when he was teasing Yurika.
“―my partner is the slyest of them all”
Before Elexis could fire, several lights came pouring down from above.
The lights passed through his barrier and struck the gun in his right hand, and the barrier generator on his waist and destroyed them.
“W-What!?”
Elexis was once again taken aback by surprise as the unexpected happened. However, he didn't have much time to be surprised as Koutarou swung his fist down at full force. Without his gun and barrier, Elexis had no way to defend himself and standing still, he was just an easy target.
“Guhah”
Koutarou's fist buried into Elexis's stomach, and he easily fainted.