From this ch onward, it’ll be all edited (09/25/2022)
Translator : Kinokura
Editor : Alany
44-1. In the meantime, No one knows who’s gonna win (Part 1)
————— MC POV —————
I can’t remember when my feelings for the world faded. But it’s not that I can’t remember, it’s because it happened such a long time ago. I’m sure there was no such thing.
The value of the world was broken, as it was scraped little by little. No, the value hasn’t changed. What has changed was the way I value the world.
There are times when I wanted to see the beautiful scenery again.
There are times when I wanted to eat a delicious meal again.
There are times when I wanted to meet nice people again.
I know the value of the world.
No, to be exact, I understand it.
So, why does it look like the value has faded?
Is it because I knew the ugliness of the world?
Is it because I have tasted the horror of the world?
Is it because I have entrusted myself to the darkness of the world?
No.
If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be able to recognize the good things anymore.
I’m sure it’s much simpler than that.
It’s just that changing sides between the Light and the dark, Justice and Evil, I’ve had enough of it.
Some are blessed more than others… some are unhappy, some are better… some are inferior, and so on. Combine it with various circumstances… the changes that may happen by time or situation… grasp it, understand it, and utilize it. Do it again and again, then, eventually you’ll grow tired.
Raising your spirit, keeping that tension, and becoming stubborn about it…
Suddenly I lost the energy to do it all.
That’s why I want to live like this, an easy-going life, if it’s easy, I can understand it pleasantly.
That’s why, please don’t to trample on a such trivial wish of mine.
…I just want to live safely.
I just want to choose a moderate life… act moderately, be impressed moderately, and be satisfied moderately.
If you say that you want to get in the way, even on such a simple wish――
————— Illias POV —————
There are several squares in Tiez. The largest square is the central square, but other squares also have a history of being relaxing places, and loved by the people. This square is a place that should have been crowded with the harvest festival offerings. But now it’s quiet.
Immediately after this location was designated, an announcement of no activities was made, and carried out. False reasons were given as an explanation to the people, and the people in the surrounding houses were also evacuated. No one was present in the square.
Knights were waiting at some distance.
Perhaps, they’re stationed there, just in case the worst could happened. But they’ll move only if we died.
There are three people here: Wolfe, Lacra, and me. Pope Euparo could not rush to this place. First of all, we must rescue him.
“It’s the promised time! If you’re here, why don’t you show up now!”
“Aーra, ara ara. Aren’t the people on your side not here as what we instructed?”
Girista and Parshuro appeared.
I can’t see him, and or Ecdoic.
“What, so you ignored my instructions huh? You damn trash. Is it okay to say that you changed it?”
“Pope Euparo has been touring the villages outside since this morning. It’s not a situation where he could physically come. If you give such instructions, you need to know that much.”
“Ara, is that so? Parshuroー, it seems our unpreparedness has been noticed.”
“Maybe it’s because you made the plan without thinking in the first place! Idiot! So, to put it the other way around, Pope Euparo is now outside without any security.”
“Well, maybe I can go, and kill the Pope when this is all over?”
“Don’t steal others prey, stupid! But well, my other prey seems to have come, so let’s enjoy it.”
“Where is Shishoー?!”
Wolfe answered Parshuro in the form of anger, but he wasn’t frightened by it.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t hold myself back, since he kept staring at me with such good eyes. See, can’t you smell his blood?”
Girista pointed at her big sword.
I can’t be swallowed by anger. Certainly, there is traces of fresh blood on it, but there only a minuscule amount. I don’t think it’s a fatal injury, and also, it may not be even his blood in the first place.
But Wolfe probably knew from the smell that the blood belonged to him. Thankfully, Lacra suppressed her who was trying to jump in.
“Aaa, stop it, Wolfe-chan! Don’t fall for such a cheap provocation!”
“That’s right, Wolfe, calm down.”
“――!? Shishoー!!”
He appeared.
So, he’s safe? I’m glad. There is a bandage on his shoulder, but other than that, there seems to be no particular abnormality. He doesn’t seem to be restrained either.
I breathed out in relief.
However, I couldn’t turn my eyes away from the fact that, Ecdoic, who has been giving off a strong murderous intent since earlier, was behind him.
“Ecdoic! Why did you release the restraint!? Are you stupid!? There is no merit in freeing him, you know?”
“Hear this. What you want here is a battle with them right, you don’t want to get an excused that they didn’t get serious, because of the hostages wasn’t present, right? Anyway, if he tries to escape from this place, we can just kill him at that time.”
“That’s right, I really want to enjoy this battle to death with Illias, so I don’t want such an excuse coming from her.”
“If you run away, Parshuro, you can burn him with your flames. I’m sure you can kill him in one shot, and even if someone block it for him, that person can die as well.”
“I don’t care if your prey gets burned you know? Stupid! That’s why I’d like you to look quietly.”
“Yeah, I was going to do that from the beginning.”
He’s still in a dangerous position. If he tries to escape, or even moves from that position, he’ll become a target, and the risk of him dying will increase. But, seeing the situation, it would seem that he’s able to get around.
“I’ve set up a barrier around here so no one can enter from the outside. With that, no one will get in our way.”
Ecdoic lifted his arms up, and swung them down. Then, a large number of chains slipped off his arm, and spread throughout ground.
“Then, Lacra Salf, killer of my father! Let me have you die in honor of my father!”
“… Wait, Ecdoic-san, I’ve never murdered human before, you know?”
It seems Lacra can’t read the atmosphere of the situation at all, no, perhaps, she doesn’t want to accept what he’s saying without knowing the truth.
“Lacra, it seems that he was raised by one of the demons you had killed in the past.”
“Oh my! Really?! Ah, that’s why I feel this unpleasant feeling that’s peculiar to a non-human being, coming from Ecdoic-san.”
Raised by a demon… Is that possible? But if so, it explained his grudge against Lacra, as she was active in hunting demons. So, he got the information about the enemies to that extent, huh?
“That’s right, the Great Demon, Begragyudo, who you defeated on that fateful day, was my father! My father was defeated by someone like you, a priest who’s completely incompetent in all aspects, other than in battle, such a humiliating defeat, a disgrace to his honor. I will regain his honor by defeating you!”
“Aren’t you being mean!?”
Certainly, if I think that my father’s enemy was Lacra… I think, I can understand his feelings. I can’t help but feel a little sympathetic, when I think that his situation is similar to mine in that prospect.
“Ehmmー, I’d like to ask you another question, is that okay?”
“What?”
“What kind of demon was that Great Demon, Begragyudo? I’m embarrassed to say this but, all of the Demons that I’ve killed, ‘they’re all the same’ “
“… I decided, I’ll kill you as miserably as I can!”
“Why!?”
What was good provocation. If she did that on purpose, she’s good at it. But it seems she’s just natural at saying such things.
Ecdoic’s expression was getting grimmer.
“Ecdoic, burn, and roast that nonchalant idiot!”
“Shosho-sama!?”
He seems to be in the same usual condition. Even though we’re in a situation like this… I’m a little nervous, but I’ve to regain my spirit.
At that moment, Ecdoic attacked Lacra. The chains on the ground jumped at Lacra, as if it has a will of its own. However, the barrier stretched by Lacra prevented the chain from attacking her.
At the same time, Girista and Parshuro also started to move.
She’s the type that’s good at wide range attacks, I need to avoid fighting in a place that’s nearby to others. This means, I need to jump in first before Girista moves!
“Aren’t you violent, today? I’m so happy!”
“I’m sorry to say this when you’re happy, but I’m not playing around!”
The spark of fire of the battle was finally been lit.
————— MC POV —————
Illias, and Girista, Wolfe, and Parshuro, and Lacra, and Ecdoic.
I knew that Pope Euparo couldn’t come, so this development was within my expectations.
I can only believe in Illias. I don’t know to what are the extents to Lacra’s ability are, and I’ve never seen Ecdoic’s fighting style either, so I can only hope to pray.
The problem is, Wolfe. The strength of Parshuro is real, and he’s superior than the assassins from Mejis that came to Tiez before. She definitely can’t win in a straightforward manner. She needs to wait for Illias to join in, or use some tricks to her advantage.
Even though Wolfe is on the attack, Parshuro is easily handling the attacks, while occasionally checking on her status. However, Wolfe is trained to fight against opponents that are superior to her, due to that influence, she tends not to aim for big moves, but to gradually increase the speed of her small attacks, and only to aim for a one-shot reversal, when she’s cornered, and only really in need to do that.
Parshuro, on the other hand, at first, he’ll wait. Then he’ll turn to attack after a certain point. It is a style where you match your opponent, the difference in power is obvious.
This battle will end on how far Wolfe can show her potential. She ‘has been training’ for this. I’ll just wait, and only to give her some form of advice, when an unforeseen situation comes.
————— Illias POV —————
“Then! I’ll let my sword cut, and eat you!”
Girista released the power of her magic sword immediately after having a few clashes with my sword.
A large sword that opens, and closes like the mouth of a beast. Even if you avoid the attack, it’s still eating the Mana of the surroundings.
The amount of Mana that can be scrapped at one time is less than 10%, but still, it’s a bad idea to fight for long. That’s what I normally will think, but I can’t just rush the fight.
During the clashes we had before, Girista occasionally showed an opening. But, I mustn’t attack that opening, after all, it was a trap. She has the strength to wield a big sword, but behind her crazy behavior, I can feel meticulousness. She created a gap as if showing it off on purpose, and if I attacked there, for sure, she would return it.
She’s not the hasty type, but an endurance type that consumes the opponent, if you don’t attack. But of course, if you don’t attack, you can’t win, and there’s also Wolfe to worry about.
Then, what should I do is to make a new opening without piercing the one she prepared, and attack from there. Let’s move around Girista, and keep her in check for a while.
“That sword is quite large, but more than that, what separates it from a normal sword is the weight. It must be much heavier than iron.”
“Yeah, it’s veryー heavy.”
“Of course, right. You won’t even be able to lift it unless you raise your arms strength with Mana. And also, to balance yourself, you need to take a step every time you want to swing it.”
“What’s wrong with thー?!”
Girista’s body was shrinking.
The ground around her was sand instead of soil.
“It’s a kind of Earth Magic. Can you take a step on the sand with that sort of weight?”
“You’re cunning, huh?”
“It’s called making an opening with a trick, that’s all!”
Girista tried to swing her sword. She wielded her sword and took a step, but as she was already stuck in the sand beforehand, she lost her balance. Then, she forcibly thrust the big sword into the ground to rebuild her balance.
With this, the sword is sealed. I’ll not giving her the chance to pull it out.
I jumped in, and swung down my sword.
“Got you!”
“That’s my line!”
Suddenly the sword wriggled violently. And the big sword twisted at a right angle, and opened. The magic sword changed its appearance from the state where it was thrust against the ground, to the shape where both jaws were spread as if it was waiting for me.
While giving the strong impression like scissors, in fact, it also had the flexibility to twist freely, and could freely attack the opponent. That was the true identity of the magic sword.
I couldn’t stop my momentum.
The magic sword had already regained its sturdiness, and was moving to close its jaw.
“I’m sorry but…”
“Too bad”
” ――!?”
The movement of the magic sword stop abruptly.
I was safe. It was unexpected that the sword would suddenly become soft. I was prepared to receive some damage. But nonetheless it was her failure to re-harden it.
I took of my sword from the scabbard, and used the scabbard like a stick to stop the movement of Girista’s sword.
The steel scabbard gradually distorted.
Well… It seems, I’ll get scolded by Toruido again.
I looked at Girista.
It’s the first time she made an impatient expression.
I already knew the movements the magic sword would make, when it changes its form to soft, to the time it needed it take to fully regain its sturdiness.
“This ――”
“Too late!”
SLASH!!
In a flash, Girista’s arms flew in the air.
Thanks for the chapter. It’s really a good fight scene.
Wow nice one Illias, and TL-sama.