Part 1
Here, is a place is filled with tranquillity.
Built on the hill behind Wildart City – this wide area that was directly cut
from the hill, is the Demon Lord Wilbert's Temple.
--Currently, Nonaka Yuki is visiting the resting place of this great Demon
Lord's soul.
Of course, she wasn't alone – Yuki was accompanying for this journey.
The one beside her was also accompanying to this place, Kurumi.
And before Yuki's eyes was yet another person. Before the large tombstone
of Wilbert, was a young girl firmly raising her head – Mio.
「——————」
From when they arrived here, it already has been thirty minutes, yet Mio
remained standing there silently all this time. However—
—No matter how long she wants to stay, let her.
This was Mio's first time coming to her biological father's grave to pay her
tributes. Since Yuki completely understood Mio's history and current
situation, she knew clearly that Mio now must have many different complex
emotions within her.
That's why – even though she couldn't get a reply, there must be a lot she
wants to say to Wilbert. Kurumi by her side also understood that, and also
waited with no complaints with Yuki. Not long after—
"...Thank you, I'm fine now."
After Mio said that, she returned back to Yuki and Kurumi's sides with her
back facing Wilbert's tombstone.
"…Are you feeling better?"
Yuki's question made Mio give a slight bitter smile.
"I don't know~. I have never ever seen him, and this is only his grave. Even
if you tell me that the one in there is my biological father, I won't feel
anything… I'm fickle, right?"
"No, I feel that that's normal."
With her two hands behind her head, Kurumi said while looking at Wilbert's
tombstone:
"I guess it won't be normal for a person to be crying a lot when seeing the
tombstone of a father that person has never seen before, it'll be as if it was
purely acting."
"...Umn, you're right."
Thank you – saying that, Mio's bitter smile became deeper. She might be
wanting to seem as if nothing happened – but her expression showed her
loneliness.
"...…" " ? What's wrong, Yuki?"
Yuki's gaze caused Mio to ask, and her expression returned to one that Yuki
and Kurumi were familiar with. Hence, Yuki replied: [Nothing].
…I guess it's fine even if she's trying to be brave.
To that aspect of Mio, Yuki frankly felt admiration. Ever since they were
born, Yuki and the others had received a Hero's education as if it was natural
and they were clear about their mission; but where Mio had started from was
completely different – she had lived a normal person's life, and treated
herself as a normal young girl.
But one day, both her parents were killed – and thus learned that she was not
a human but the Demon Lord's daughter. But yet this young girl called
Naruse Mio, basically didn't point fingers of blame or held any hate towards
anyone; no matter how frustrated, pained, or lost she became – she continued
going forward; even if she had come to the Demon Realm to face her origins,
that point still didn't change.
"Right… Since we have already come here, are you clearer on what you plan
to do?"
"…No. I thought a lot about it, but nothing came out of it yet."
Mio shook her head while saying that.
--The moment Mio resolved herself on her decision, a chain of irreversible
events would definitely occur.
Hence – even after coming to the Demon Realm for three days, she still
hadn't decided. As it would affect not only just Mio, implicating Basara and
the others, it also involved the future of the Demon Realm as a whole, so
being hesitant about it was naturally unavoidable. Also—
…The reason Mio is hesitant, is because of that man…
In Nonaka Yuki's mind, the current leader of the Moderates Faction Ramsas
surfaced. Nobody knows just what he was planning; Klaus appeared every
day to speak with Mio, and Ramsas persistently rejected meeting with Mio
these three days.
Without being able to meet with both sides, a suitable decision of course
can't be made. In truth – before Mio had come to the Demon Realm, she had
already made it clear to Yuki and the others that she had no intention at all of
becoming the new Demon Lord. So going by the current situation, the only
options would be complying with Ramsas's request, to have the power
handed over to the Moderates Faction, or to return to the Human Realm as
they are now. And since Ramsas rejected meeting with Mio, the choice they
should make was obvious.
…But still,
The reason Mio was so hesitant, was that she was worried that she might fall
into some dangerous circumstances if she were to reject the Moderates
Faction's request. The reason she was still able to live despite the threat of
the Current Demon Lord faction is all Maria's credit – in other words a gift
from the Moderates Faction. Despite having defeated Zolgear after so much
trouble, the Current Demon Lord Faction is still very well and healthy, so
receiving an attacking anytime would be normal.
Under these conditions, she would be helpless if she were to reject the
Moderates Faction's request. As the Heroes see Mio as a Demon, they would
see the Current Demon Lord attacking her as an internal strife, thus only
remaining on the sidelines.
…Then again,
If they were to become the enemies of the Moderates Faction, Maria would
be faced with a dilemma. Even if Maria had said that she was prepared to
leave the Moderates Faction if necessary and move together with Mio; still,
after seeing Maria's tears after learning of Sheera's safety and being free
from Zolgear's coercion, she won't be able to agree to Maria leaving behind
her family's feelings. Having once lost her family – Mio who was unable to
escape her pain prior to meeting Basara, definitely does not hope for Maria to
go through the same pain.Besides—
…Ever since before we came to the Demon Realm, Basara has always been
very worried about Zest.
And now, there is no need to be so worried for her already. Because on the
night they had come to the Demon Realm, Zest had made the Master-Servant
Contract with Basara under Sheera's proposal, so right now her position is
similar to Mio and Yuki. If they were to speak of complaints to Basara
making the Master-Servant Contract with the former enemy Zest, of course
there would be some—
…However,
Before everyone came to the Demon Realm, Basara had said that if there was
a need, they might return together with Zest; so after finding out about their
Master-Servant Contract, the waves of complaints Yuki and the others had
were small – except for the unsatisfied Kurumi.
…But,
Basara had accepted Mio who had lied to him, and had forgiven Maria who
had once assisted Zolgear. Someone like that choosing to accept Zest, could
be said was something to be expected. Mio and Maria's positions were quite
similar to Zest, so they were in no position to say anything.
As for Yuki – it was because Basara was someone who was so kind and
wished to protect her who was important to him, that she became attracted to
him. Right now, Zest were probably also enchanted by Basara, and thinking
about the needs for the future, being able to have someone like Zest who
could fight so well put her mind at ease.
Since – she had learned of it afterwards, the reason Basara had made the
Master-Servant Contract with Zest was that Basara and Ramsas had almost
entered into an explosive situation with each other, which also caused his
absence back then. With opposition from the leader of the Moderates Faction
which limited Basara's actions with forbidding entry to this Wilbert's temple,
he had to stay behind in the city together with Zest and Maria.
Speaking of which, no matter what their reason for going against each other
was, Yuki and Kurumi who were Heroes had managed to get permission to
enter this temple while Basara who was once a Hero was denied permission,
so they really can't understand on what basis they were making their
decisions from. No matter what – even they themselves don't have complete
freedom with their actions, with Lucia and Klaus each sending a maidservant
who were waiting outside monitoring them. But even then—
"That person called Ramsas… just what is he even thinking?"
Returning on the dark outdoor passage, Kurumi said while walking in front of
Yuki and Mio.
"If that old man called Klaus still wants to buy time now, it wouldn't be
difficult to understand…"
"...Unn." "....."
Mio nodded at Kurumi's words, while Yuki expressed her agreement while
remaining silent. It was because of Klaus's side who was pushing for Mio to
become the new Demon Lord, who was causing Mo to want to stay longer in
the Demon Realm, deepening her feelings towards the Moderates Faction –
as well as to Wilbert and Wildart's civilians, and obtain victory from that;
Ramsas who wanted to extract Wilbert's power from Mio, probably wants to
make a quick decisive end to the war.
…Just what is that man…?
From the viewpoint of the surrounding people, this disadvantageous situation
to Ramsas, was all completely his own fault. So, could it be that he has got
some ulterior motives that had not been seen by anyone else yet?
「————————」
As Yuki began to harbour some unexplainable uneasiness, while they were
still within a passageway,
The surface of the temple, began shaking together with the atmosphere.
"—Earthquake?"
"Run! –To the outside!"
The three of them began running.
--This temple was completely carved out, just like its passageways.
While the inside of the temple had a barrier to prevent the use of magic to
prevent damage by vandals and the surrounding areas had something similar
set up to prevent damage due to disasters, the tunnels and passageways might
have a different story to tell. If they were to be blocked from the exit by the
rubble if the ceiling collapses, they won't be able to escape in this place
where they were unable to use magic – hence, the three of them ran through
the passages without even taking time to draw a breath,
Even if the trembles were to stop, they had no way to know if it would get
stronger or weaker if it started again. So in order to try to preserve their lives
in this kind of situation where anything could happen anytime, they had to
leave this temple as soon as possible.
"—I see the exit!"
With Kurumi's shout, rays of light from the outside came into their view –
and immediately after, the three of them left the passageways. Firstly, they
had to confirm the current situation.
"—you two, are you fine!?"
Mio asked aloud. The question was not directed to Yuki and Kurumi, but the
maidservants who had followed them. While the two of them who were
waiting for them to return were fine—
『............』
They gave no reactions at all to Mio's concern.
They only stood there, not moving at all while looking towards the inside of
Wildart City from the top of the Hill. And in the next moment, they then saw
what the maidservants were seeing after following their line of sight.
"That is-- ..."
The city wall was broken through, and enemies were storming into the city.
However, those maids wouldn't be stupidly standing there if it was just
simply an attack from the enemy. They would've at least entered the temple
to inform them of the emergency situation and helped Mio to get to safety.
Then – just what could have caused them to forget even that? The answer,
was in the scene Yuki and the other were currently seeing. Even though the
distance between the hill and the urban areas of the city was as big as Wildart
City itself, they could clearly see the figures of the [Enemy] invaders.
"…Just what is that—"
Beside Kurumi, Yuki muttered, at a loss. Something which was incredibly
unbelievable, was currently happening before her eyes.
The figures of three giant colossus, invaded into Wildart.
Part 2
There was a person, who was currently watching the chaotic situation in
Wildart.
Standing on one of the shoulders of the giant spirit
[78]
, looking down at the
people screaming and running away in a panic, was Gardo who had
voluntarily headed the attack on Wildart City.
…I'm impressed.
Gardo silently praised Luca who had managed to complete the tuning on the
spirits in such a short time. That young child had taken care of it all from
restoring them to even setting Gardo as their master, to the point where they
were ready for battle. Although there were even stronger spirits excavated in
those remains, it was easier to lose control the more power they had, and
since there was not enough time to forge new Master-Servant Contracts for
this battle, this was currently enough.
"—Damned Monster!"
In order to buy time for the civilians to escape, a group of people who looked
like the guards for the city attempted a barrage of attacks. Many magic circles
opened up on the ground – and countless lights flew towards Gardo and the
spirits, but—
"...--Smash them." [[[——————]]]
Reacting towards the order Gardo sent out, the spirits immediately reacted.
They raised their right fists, and sent it flying towards the soldiers on the
ground while the attacks bounced off them – in the next moment, a deafening
shock resounded out. The ground was sputtered like a giant blast had
happened, and a small sandstorm appeared. Immediately after – the spirits
pulled back their fists and after the dust settled, what was revealed were the
craters from the impact as well as the unidentifiable remains of soldiers from
before. The civilians who had witnessed that—
" ! ! ! –Uuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!!!!"
They severely panicked, and began desperately to try to escape.
When Gardo saw this—
"Wow… They really are amazing~"
A completely relaxed voice came from a nearby building where its roof has
collapsed. When Gardo turned to look, a young high-class demon was there.
That demon, was sent to supervise them, by the Council who had ordered
Leohart to utilize the spirits to invade Wildart.
"That spirits' degree of perfection seems really high. And so it would seem,
that there won't be a need for me to make a move at all, then."
"Of course… Right from the start, I had never considered about borrowing
your strength."
"That's really impolite of you. Speaking of which, Gardo-dono – I had sent
through a Ultimatum[79] not long ago telling them to hand over Wilbert's
daughter, and the nearby forces should probably be receiving news soon and
would only be dispatching troops with caution – but however, why did you
just simply let those civilians go just now?"
"…What do you mean, Nebula?"
The supervisor whose name was called out, then faced Gardo who asked him
with a shallow smile and said:
"The ultimatum was sent using broadcast magic, so the civilians of the city
would now know about her being here. The number of people who disliked
Ramsas's methods isn't small, and if everyone were to find out that he
concealed the big news of the sole daughter of the great previous Demon
Lord – right now, the city is being attacked because of that girl. Thus, the
people's' discontent towards him, would definitely begin to turn into anger."
That's why – Nebula continued:
"Right now we should be working harder – and murder these civilians. If that
happens, the Moderates Faction would automatically crumble apart from
within. This is such a great opportunity, so how can you just let it pass so
simply?"
"......Listen closely, Nebula."
"Yes, what are your orders, Gardo-dono?"
Nebula replied impertinently with a smile towards Gardo who shouted at him
with a low voice.
"The orders the Council had given you, should be to supervise the status of
the battle with the spirits, so stop spouting nonsense. If you dare to do
unneeded things – beware of yourself turning into meat scraps."
"...…......I understand. You are the most outstanding one amongst the
candidates chosen to take after Wilbert, so I am not stupid enough to take you
on as my enemy. Unless the situation becomes grave, I will basically stick to
my orders to supervise and remain watching by the side-lines and learn from
watching you."
"...…"
Gardo showed no reaction to Nebula giggling while shrugging his shoulders,
and only said:
"Before they hand over Wilbert's daughter to us, we will be splitting to take
three routes. Ignore those civilians, Leohart doesn't like needless killing.
However – if anyone dares to get in our way, annihilate them."
[[[——————]]]
Receiving Gardo's orders, light appeared in the spirits' eyes.
Facing forward while standing on a spirits' shoulder, Gardo said:
"Destroy your target, Wildart City – begin attack!"
Part 3
On the hill, Naruse Mio saw those giants begin moving together.
Despite splitting to take three routes, it was clearly obvious their target was
Wildart City.
"Shit – this is bad!"
As Mio and the others realised the enemy's plan and wanted to return to the
city as soon as possible—
"—Mio-sama! You're alright!"
Someone ran up the mountain out of breath – the maidservant Noel.
Stopping before Mio and after taking a deep breath in relief:
"…This is great. Does anyone of you have any injuries?"
"We're fine. Noel, what is going on right now?"
Noel answered seriously towards Mio who was still somewhat unclear:
"The Current Demon Lord Faction came. While we don't know where they
got the information from… they said something like that you had inherited
his majesty Wilbert's power and as it might trigger a new wave of fighting,
they want to use this attack to prevent any possible future conflicts from
happening."
In other words—
"If we want them to stop – we will have to hand you over to them."
"What, that's completely outrageous… so that means that the Moderates
Faction having power is dangerous, yet them having power is not?"
Kurumi said indignantly.
"Since from a long time ago, they have been searching for Mio-sama,
wishing to gain his majesty's power. In order to increase their control over
the Demon Realm, they might do things that seem completely outrageous –
that was what Lucia-sama had said."
Hearing Noel's explanation—
"—we understand the situation, but just what are those giants?"
Yuki asked with a heavy expression. Although they can speculate on their
enemy's intentions, but speculations will remain as speculations, the answer
will only be known by the enemy; so what they should be doing right now,
was to deal with the danger before them.
"Although we have been unable to confirm that – Klaus-sama had said that
they probably are the spirits from the ancient times."
"In other words, also enemies… Alright, watch me kill them a hundred times
and grill them black."
Mio then asked again with a [ah]:
"What about Basara and the rest, are they in the city?"
"Because of the emergency situation, we had asked them to go into the city to
help – Basara-dono and Zest together as a group, and with Maria and Sheerasama together as another group, they went to confront the enemy."
Since this was a period of time where the Current Demon Lord Faction and
the Moderates Faction were at war, they could attack each other at any time.
Hence, Mio and the others had already decided what action to take when
something happened – if the civilians were to be involved in the battle, all of
them are to help. Thus—
"Basara-dono had asked me to pass this message – Yuki-dono and Kurumidono, please obstruct the giants coming from the West side."
"I got it – Kurumi"
"---No problems here."
With that, the two of them moved without hesitation. When Yuki had started
to ask Kurumi, Kurumi had already finished summoning flying magic – the
two of them instantly flew through the air.
"W-Wait a moment – bring me along with you!"
However, Mio who had shouted towards the vanishing figures was blocked
by Noel's arms.
"You can't. Mio-sama, you have to remain here, until the battle ends!"
"Let me go! …Why are you stopping me, is that Klaus-san's order?!"
Being glared at by Mio, Noel met het glare while looking directing into her
eyes and said:
"That's right – however, Lucia-sama and Basara-dono also agreed with
Klaus-sama."
"No way… Why?"
Mio asked, dumbfounded.
"If Mio-sama were to appear now, you would be doing exactly what the
enemy want you to do. The most effective way to make the Current Demon
Lord Faction to take responsibility for this assault, is to let their reason for
attacking become untenable
[80]
!"
"But… for that, isn't the Current Demon Lord Faction originally in the wrong
for attacking?"
"I understand what you are trying to say, feelings cannot be applied to things
like this – that is the nature of politics, Mio-sama. Not letting the enemy
bring out their trump card while dealing another blow to them, this is
politics."
"But… if I were to just remain hiding here, I—"
"I understand how you feel! However, as Mio-sama was in Wilbert's temple,
she did not hear the enemy's broadcast using magic telling of their reason for
attacking and their demand for to hand you over to them, causing people to
panic and grab the soldiers helping to guide them into the castle to seek
refuge to ask just what was going on."
Thus—
"If you were to show yourself now, the civilians' anger might very well
gather onto you alone; even if we manage to successfully repel this attack,
Ramsas-sama and Klaus-sama might lose the people's trust it might even lead
to a rebellion. If you are unable to restrain yourself here, we will stop you at
full force!"
"I—"
Hearing Noel's pained indictment, Mio couldn't help but stand there at a loss
– and at this moment, the ground-shaking effects of an attack reached them.
"---!"
An attack then landed on the ground in the city at that moment, causing Noel
to suddenly collapse and huddle up on the ground, and after that—
"Oh my god…"
Mio could only whisper that out having just seen that. The spirit walking
through the Central Avenue made large craters with every step it made,
trampling over the soldiers attempting to obstruct it. And as for the soldiers
flying in the sky, only less than half the original number still remained.
Soldiers with their bodies burst open, as well as soldiers flying like
fireworks
[81] were flying through the air everywhere in Wildart city – and
after a spirit attacked with a kicked, everything in path were flattened.
Part 4
In the path of the kick, a group were huddled up together.
They were the soldiers for the City. They had tried attacking from its sides, as
well as trying to draw near it by approaching on a path parallel to it, but they
were in the end caught up in the crossfire by another attack team. And right
now—
"…Guu….aaA, uuh…. Damn-- ...!"
Amongst the remains of the houses hit by the attack, someone was still
breathing. That someone was Glen who was taught a lesson by Basara in that
narrow alley behind the café.
Despite blood flowing out from various parts of his body like his head and
his abdomen, Glen stood up and surveyed his surroundings.
In this neighbourhood, every single building have already become
uninhabitable.
The other soldiers in the same team as him – other than Glen himself, no one
managed to retain their lives.
"…One after another, just what the hell…"
The time where Glen had come to Wildart City, was after Wilbert's death –
when the Moderates Faction was doing a large-scale recruitment. He had
originally chosen to take refuge in the Current Demon Lord Faction whose
power had begun to grow back then, but what had caused him to change his
mind was that even if he managed to gain no prominent achievements in the
Great War, he would definitely be able to gain a job in the government sector
as part of the package to appease the public when they lose their troops after
Wilbert's death.
And sure enough, Glen was enlisted to be one of the city's guards. However,
as Glen had only chosen the Moderates Faction in order to get a free job, he
held no feelings and relegations to his current job and to this city – at the very
least, he used to think that way. However, with how dull life became with the
days crawling by, he would begin to habitually visit certain shops to eat and
drink, and enjoy his days with the like-minded. In the last resort Glen had
taken by choosing the Moderates Faction, he had knowingly managed to gain
some things of his.
And right now – as of now, everything before Glen's eyes had disappeared.
And the culprit, is the Current Demon Lord's giant spirit.
" ! -----"
Tightly gritting his teeth, Glen deployed the flying magic built into the back
of his armour, locked both his eyes and began heading straight for the spirit
who did the damage. On its shoulder, there appears to be the high-class
demon manipulator. After destroying so many buildings and killing so many
soldiers, they still continued onwards as if not bothered by it at all. Hence—
" ! …JUST WHAT THE HELL DO YOU EVEN THINK YOU ARE
DOING!!!"
Glen screamed with his all, discharged attack magics towards the spirit. He
shot electrical balls from his right hand, and while it travelled in a straight
line while discharging some of its energy to its surroundings, it burst
explosively on the forehead of the spirit.
"Haa….aahhh… Now you know just how powerful I am right…..---?"
That attack just now was one that he had put his all in. Originally it was just
to vent some of his hate and anger, but yet as if to mock him, the spirit
continued onwards as if that attack just now was nothing more than a gust of
wind. When Glen froze up from losing his train of thought from that, the
spirit sent its right fist flying backwards without even looking back, blowing
away the roofs of the nearby still-standing buildings.
"------Ah."
By the time he had noticed the move, a large piece of debris was already right
before his eyes.
Without even a moment to blink, just as the debris was about to smash in
Glen awaiting his death – a magic circle suddenly opened up before him as if
to protect him, and the debris broke up into dust upon hitting the magic circle
and fell onto the ground. With the sudden change in situation, Glen couldn't
process what had just happened—
"That isn't someone you can fight against – hurry up and fall back, leave this
place to us."
A calm voice came from in front of him. When Glen looked up to take a look
—
"…! Aren't you…?"
It was a woman that he was familiar with. There's no mistaking it, even if she
isn't wearing a maid's uniform now, she is undoubtedly the one Glen
remembered – Zest. However, her sight wasn't on him right now, but instead
on something else. That something else, was a youth running towards the
spirit with a large demonic sword in his hand.
"That person—"
Glen had seen that youth before, and he would definitely never forget the
look of that person who had bitterly humiliated him before.
But – within his anger, what Glen felt was surprise.
He had jumped away at the moment the attack landed. Jumping around
amidst the flying debris of the buildings – the youth who landed on the arm
of the spirit quickly ran up to its shoulder towards the high-class demon, and
swung his sword at him.
"......"
In response, the high-class demon raised his right hand and a wall appeared
to defend against the attack, yet—
"OOOooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!"
With an energetic roar, the youth brought down his sword with great speed
and cut the wall into two, and continued approaching the high-class demon.
「——————」
With his defense cut down, the high-class demon was forced to retreat, and
jumped backwards off the spirits' shoulder. The youth also jumped off the
shoulder going after him in mid-air.
"Isn't that…"
The youth wasn't using flying magic at all. The flying debris from the
destroyed buildings, had become a solid trail used by him to move.
[82]
The cause of that was a magic from Zest who was in front of Glen.
"I will say it once more – hurry up and fall back."
Zest left behind these words without even turning back to look at him, and
flew towards the spirit – high-class demon vs the youth, and Zest vs spirit,
with that, the battles began.
In a place Glen can never reach.
Gardo saw that youth, walk on a footpath created from the debris.
…Is that Zest's handiwork?
Underneath him, a female demon began fighting with the spirit whose
shoulder he was riding on until just now. Gardo had known that under the
Council's Zolgear, there was a trusted aide known as Zest. Although he had
known she specializes at earth magic, he had never witnessed her battle.
Being able to avoid its attacks while fighting the spirit while supporting each
other, indeed only these two were left. Reportedly, Gardo had heard that she
had sought refuge in the Moderates Faction after her master Zolgear died –
but seeing her battle now, it appears that the death of her master doesn't
seems to be affecting her. After Gardo ordered the spirit to eliminate Zest—
[——————]
The spirits recognised Zest as its enemy, and thus began the real battle
against her.
…And next,
Gardo returned his attention back to the human youth sprinting towards him.
Before he reduced the distanced between them too much, Gardo expanded
numerous magic circles around him – and in the next moment, countless
fireballs were shot towards the youth.
「!————」
The youth immediately reacted, gripping his sword in reverse, he swept out
the footpath Zest had created. The fireballs then hit the debris
indiscriminately, turning it into dust, and since the debris became an
interference against the attack—
ZzzBoomboomboomboomboomboomboomboom!
Gardo's fireballs exploded upon hitting the debris – and thus causing a chain
explosion. Immediately after that—
"…---Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!"
The youth broke through the screen of explosions and continued towards
him. Facing his cleave while he was twisting his body, Gardo engaged it
while sending demonic power into his right shoulder.
In the next moment, just as the youth's demonic sword made contact with
Gardo's shoulder—
*Kake*————————————————!
With that sharp shock resounding from mid-air in Wildart City, the two of
them confronted each other in mid-air.
"…Toujou Basara, right?"
Gardo's words caused Basara's expression to slightly tighten up.
"The report had said, Wilbert's daughter was being protected by Jin·Toujou's
son."
"...…"
The youth gave no reply, but it was obviously acquiescence.
[83]
From just now, he knew Basara is a speed type. Able to quickly ascertain the
situation and then use the most streamlined method to evade or defend, and
then retaliate with no lag at all—
…I see, his skill isn't bad at all.
In Lars's report, he had managed to fight with Zolgear for quite some time –
but seeing his reaction speed, he would be able to put up a good fight against
Zolgear even if they weren't evenly matched. Since not much time had
passed since his fight with Zolgear, it just shows just how much he had
grown in this short period. However—
"…You're too careless."
Gardo said while looking at Basara in his eyes:
"Even if you are planning to hide Wilbert's daughter, by standing out here so
stupidly, you're directly telling me that she's right here in this city."
"Is that so? Does me appearing here, really mean that Mio is definitely here
in this place? Your words have no concrete proof, and they're nothing more
than speculation. I had heard that your reason for attacking was because that
Mio was hiding here—"
The youth finally opened his mouth, and said with a shallow smile:
"—But could it be that just because Jin·Toujou's son is here, you guys had
taken it as that Wilbert's daughter is also here, and thus attacked? If such a
ridiculous reason was let known, you'll be the laughing stock of the big guns
of the other forces." Hearing Basara's words, Gardo frankly replied:
"After I deal with you and your companions, and after I find her, you can
have as much legitimacy of the reason of this attack as you want."
"Similarly – if you and those spirits are defeated, forget Mio, when even your
presence is questionable, your reason for attacking will also crumble."
"--Do you really think you are able to do that?"
"That'll be difficult to say…"
Basara's expression suddenly became serious.
"If I have no other choice other than to defeat you here, I will do it – that is
the reason I am here right now."
Basara said while gazing firmly at Gardo, his voice completely void of
complacency in being able to defeat Gardo and filled with the determination
to win no matter what. Hence—
"—alright, I will fight against you for a while, Toujou Basara."
Gardo said:
"However – if you really want to defeat me, shouldn't you call your other
companions over? Although Zest is present to fight the spirit, there are still
two more of them, you know? If you were slow, Wildart City might be
flattened just like that you know?"
Basara replied with a short laugh:
"Thank you for your advice – but something like that is obvious."
At that time, Gardo heard a sound from somewhere far away.
Turning to look, the spirit entering the city from the east had received an
attack to the side of its head and thus lost balance.
He saw someone else in battle with an spirit apart from Basara and Zest.
The shadows of two persons moved around the spirit quickly – and after
seeing the owners of the shadows, Gardo's eyes narrowed.
"That – that pair of succubus sisters?"
Part 5
In the path of the spirit at the east side, are Lucia and Maria.
"Although girls do like tall men, taking it a tad too far would instead have the
opposite results, you know – you marionette♪"
To the grinning little sister who delivered a strong punch to the spirit's cheek
and caused it to sway—
"Refrain from idle chatting in battle, Maria—"
Lucia who had also donned her battle wear said. She was standing on top of a
streetlight, and the giant spirit was right in front of her.
"Also, you shouldn't be hitting its cheek, but instead here."
What Lucia then sent out, was the whip in her right hand. In that moment
with the light and boom, the attack originating from below the spirit swept
across its lower jaw. Receiving another attack on the opposite side of its face
compared to Maria's attack, the spirit struggled to maintain its balance.
"It is easy to rock the opponent's head in this place. But to someone like you
who is a melee fighter, how could you not know such basic knowledge…"
Lucia said while sighing:
"Furthermore, this is a defensive battle. Even if our primary objective is to
defeat the enemy, you have to think through your actions to try to reduce the
damage to the surroundings. Even if other people can't do it, how can we not
even try to protect our own home?"
After realizing Lucia's intentions are to stop the spirits from destroying the
city—
"Ah! I'm sorry, Lucia-oneesama. Then I'll just—"
Maria hurriedly apologised, and ran towards the spirit on the wall. However
—
[.........]
The spirit saw through her plan, swung out its left arm to hit Maria.
「Hoom!」The air resounded as the giant arm picked up speed aiming at Maria.
…Damn!
Lucia subconsciously wanted to lash out her whip to assist Maria, as there
was no footing at all in mid-air for her – and thus her familiar little sister
can't avoid that attack. But—
"—Oh!"
Maria leisurely twisted her body around, using inertia to hit her tail on the
arm – and using it as a pivot, she pushed herself under the arm, and only air
passing by hit her, leaving her safe and sound.
「——————」
As Lucia was shocked at Maria quick reaction, having been forced under the
arm away from her original target of its lower jaw, Maria still haven't given
up on her target and then grabbed onto the spirit's left collarbone and
forcefully did a vertical flip upwards, jumping up and—
"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
Following up with a roar, she used her all to kick at its lower jaw from
directly below, and then fell downwards—
"How was that, Onee-sama, was it good!?"
Turning backwards to look, Lucia saw an expression she was very familiar
with on Maria's face. No matter what, seeing her little sister all grown up
after separating from her for a little while—
…She had gotten, a lot stronger.
It was probably the many battles she had been through together with Basara
and Mio. Even though she had realised that fact from the reports she
received, actually witnessing Maria's growth made her feel proud – as well as
some melancholy. However—
"All that did was to change the direction it will fall, so it will still just destroy
the buildings in the city!"
Lucia sighed at Maria searching for a reaction from her: [What a silly child].
After that she jumped from the lamp post and landed on the roof of a
building, and then lashed out her whip once again. With another boom, the
spirit who received another attack at the back of its head once again stood
upright.
"Listen closely, Maria – against a gigantic enemy like this one, you have to
knock it down while trying not to knock him over."
"Uhh, wouldn't that mean that we have to try to defeat it without defeating it,
one-sama… [84]
Is that really possible?"
"No, it isn't. In the past when I was studying the books the humans read,
there were many suitable methods for taking down an enemy like this
described."
If I remember it right—
"It something like after attacking its face on the right, attack its face on the
left at the same time. In other words – if we attack it on both sides at the same
time, there most likely shouldn't be any problems. If there's a right, there has
to be a left; if there's an up, there has to be a down; similarly, after attacking
it from both sides, we just have to attack it on both side again."
"I-I see. But I don't think that it means what you think it means… [85]
Speaking of which, coming up with a battle strategy like that just from that…
as expected of onee-sama."
"That's of course. When I first read that line, I had first thought it meant that
to get rid of a problem, you have to deal with it at its root. I had never
expected for the Human's literature to describe such an effective method for
dealing with gigantic enemies."
Lucia's recollected, and then returned her sights towards the spirit—
"Although splitting up to attack would be fine, but since it is us two – match
up with me well, Maria."
"—Yes!"
Nodding, Maria gathered up her spirit and then began the attack on the spirit
for real. Lucia's whips, with Maria's fists and kicks; the succubus sisters'
matched attacks explosively enveloped the spirit's body. Within the heavy
sounds of impact from Maria and sharp crackling sounds from Lucia's whip,
the contrasting sounds seemed to be part of a play, interacting with each other
lively – progressively turning into a symphony – Lucia's whip crackling
being the riffs and Maria's punches and kicks being the melody.
[————————]
Maria and Lucia's combo gave no time at all for the spirit to defend itself,
much less avoiding or returning attacks. But, seemingly as if having just too
much fun, Maria who lept from the spirit's shoulder to deliver a kick—
"Ahahahaha! – Another one!"
With the point of impact on its right cheek, an especially deep reverb
resounded out. After eating such a great attack, the giant body of the spirit
began falling over towards the left at a speed Lucia was unable to cancel it
out with her whip. Hence—
"Mnn… This is bad."
Lucia immediately moved without turning an eye at Maria's performance,
and shifted the target of her whip from the spirit to Maria. It's not to attack,
but after wrapping the whip tightly around Maria's ankle after she had just
sent out the spinning kick, in the next moment—
"Eh….HYYyyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa------!!"
Maria released a shrill scream. Lucia had then forcefully swung her right arm,
swinging the whip which had wrapped around Maria's ankle, making the one
who had momentarily forgot about her responsibilities take responsibility by
slamming her into the spirit's left cheek.
With a sound effect where [Pam!] would be exaggerating, the spirit which
had begun to fall regained its balance. Maria's body, was currently stuck on
the spirit's cheek in a 「大」 shape.
"Uuuu…Lucia-oneesama, how could you do this to me…"
"You're the one who went wild while co-operating with me, and I only
returned the favour to you."
It was just as Lucia was coldly staring while answering the complaining
Maria, a new development occurred across the city.
[——————]
The spirit invading Wildart City from the west, went down on its knees after
receiving an attack. And after that – a shadow descended at high speed
towards the spirit.
"…They've made it."
Lucia said while continuing to lash out her whip at the spirit right before her
eyes.
There's no mistaking it – they are, that pair of sisters who have just rushed to
the battlefield.
Nonaka Yuki, and Nonaka Kurumi, the pair of Hero sisters.
Part 6
The shockwave Nonaka Yuki had sent out from [Sakuya], had successfully
stopped the giant spirit from continuing its advance.
But that was all that had done. The spirit would quickly stand up again and
look towards them who were approaching from the air. This fact—
…Fuji's protection really does not extend to here.
Caused Yuki to have a bitter expression. The spirit sword [Sakuya] was born
from the rich energy at the mountain peak in the sacred forest, thus in the
Human world, the closer it was to Mt. Fuji, it would be able to release more
power closer to its original power – However, the attack Yuki had just sent
out was far from standards.
Coming to this place that was in a different dimension from the Human
Realm, had a really large effect on it. It was similar to the effect she had
received within Zolgear's specially constructed space and barrier to hide
himself – but comparing with that time, she was able to put out sufficient
battle power back then.
…However,
Complaining wouldn't change anything, and Yuki had no intention to do that.
Back in the Human Realm, the Demons Maria and Mio who inherited
Wilbert's bloodline was also carrying the same burden.
--Since they were able to continue fighting to this day, it was now her turn to
bring out her battle power. After all, the one who had decided to come to the
Demon Realm was Yuki herself. It doesn't matter if it was for Basara, for
Mio – or for herself, she can't become a burden to the rest. Thus—
"Kurumi – move as according to our original plan."
"But onee… the [Sakuya] right now—"
Despite Kurumi saying so worriedly while using flying magic while holding
onto her, Yuki still gently shook her head.
"No need to worry, I still have things that I need to do – you too probably
should focus on what you should do."
"..."
"—Kurumi."
After Yuki said that tiredly in a reprimanding tone, Kurumi took an action –
expanding a magic circle.
"I'm starting, onee…" "Nn – please do."
Yuki nodded, and Kurumi activated the wind magic and sent out a mass of
air, and its target – was the air around Yuki. Thus in the next moment—
「——————」
Nonaka Yuki, together with the air around her, was catapulted at high speed
downwards towards the spirit. In the moment she passed by the giant spirit in
the gust of wind, she swept [Sakuya] in a straight line downwards at its head,
and a strong feedback was returned to her arm. Hence—
「——————!」
Yuki's expression immediately turned grave. The feedback [Sakuya] returned
was too strong, which meant that the blade was completely deflected and did
not cut into its target. It had the power of Kurumi's magic supporting it, and
her current high speed had increased the force of the slash by a lot – but yet
she was unable to slash into the spirit's body.
Thus Yuki immediately jumped sideways away upon landing, and the ground
she had landed on was covered by a large black shadow – [Booom!] and an
explosive impact rang out. The spirit had stamped the ground with its left
foot. Yuki who had forcefully managed to avoid the stamp—
"Kuu…!!"
Her posture suddenly collapsed. The spirit's stamp which had broken the
ground also let out a strong air shockwave – and had impacted onto Yuki
who was in mid-air.
[——————]
The spirit's attack with its left foot didn't just end there. With a small
movement, it also swept out its right foot using the left foot as a pivot. The
instep flew towards her at a speed surpassing her expectations, almost
immediately. Yuki immediately used [Sakuya] to draw out a pentacle
[86]
, and
with it becoming a wall right before the attack hit her, she managed to
preserve her life, but—
"Aaaaaaaa -----!!"
She was blown away like an artillery shell along with a shrill scream,
together with the wall.
…This bad, with this speed...!!
While amidst turbulence, Nonaka Yuki's anxiety instantly rose. Despite
being able to avoid being instantly pulverized by the spirit's feet attack, if she
were to hit a stone wall at this speed, not even half of Nonaka Yuki's body
would remain in a piece – an instant death.
…Please let it be on time!
Yuki desperately swung out [Sakuya], and expanded a magic circle behind
her. Even if it wasn't enough, it's enough if this could be ended with just
fractures or damage to her internal organs. However—
「!————?」
The impact from behind her had hit her much earlier than expected, causing
Yuki's subconsciousness to think that she was dead, but it then changed
quickly. What Yuki had hit wasn't a solid wall of a building--
"...Water?"
Despite being in water, Yuki spoke, confused. A mass of water containing
oxygen which allowed a person to breathe within it had caught the flying
Yuki as a cushion. The one who had used this magic to save her, was of
course—
"Kurumi--…"
Yuki found Kurumi's figure on the top of a building not too far away. At her
little sister looking at her with worried eyes—
"————Sorry, I became a burden."
Yuki apologised while biting her lip. The original plan – was to let Yuki who
was unable to use [Sakuya]'s full power be the bait, and then for Kurumi who
had received the black elementals from Lucia and had become able to use the
Demon Realm's spirits to use magic to eliminate the spirit.
Additionally, this was Yuki's own suggestion, and she had begged Kurumi to
agree to this battle plan; yet Yuki couldn't even become the bait properly,
forcing Kurumi to cut off her attack magic just to save her.
Kurumi was different from Mio who utilized the demonic power within her
body, she is an elemental master who activated magic by borrowing a spirit's
power. It wasn't easy to ask for the spirits in the Demon realm for help, and
now she had to start over again.
「.........!」
Ignominious. Yuki felt indescribable frustration towards her helplessness, and
left the water cushion Kurumi had put up. She once again looked towards the
spirit that was a little distance away with water droplets dripping from her
bangs, and putting strength into her grip onto [Sakuya] in her right hand – in
the next moment, Nonaka Yuki dashed towards her target savagely.
"--Onee!"
Yuki took a glance at Kurumi who had cried out as if wailing.
Trust me – she told her with her eyes silently, I will become the bait properly
this time. This wasn't just her trying to act brave, Yuki knew that she had the
power to do that.
--As [Sakuya] was unable to receive the blessings of Fuji here in the Demon
Realm, it's power had dropped considerably.
However – Yuki's body wouldn't become weak just because of that.
After reuniting with Basara, the power she had received from the MasterServant Contract done with him; the power that she had accumulated all these
while – will never betray Yuki.
Nothing will ever drop from the sky, and one will never reap without even
sowing.
That's why, Yuki had resolutely come here, believing in herself and this
power. To which—
[——————]
The spirit violently swung out its right fist, but there was still a big distance
from Yuki. Despite the spirit's large size, its arm was still unable to reach
her, but that movement still became a threat to Yuki. The fist had swept away
all of the buildings in the path between it and Yuki – causing a wave of
tsunami of large rocks. However—
「——————」
Facing the wave of mud and rocks, her reaction was fairly simple. However,
it was an action Nonaka Yuki had done tens of thousands of times before.
She raised [Sakuya] up vertically, and swung it down along the same path – it
was that simple.
From the neat handling of the blade, a gust of a blade of wind appeared and
rushed ahead. When the blade of wind made contact with the wave of rocks
and mud – and the wave split to the left and right with a [Fssh!], going past
Yuki by her sides.
--It was a move that had not borrowed [Sakuya]'s power, but one that was
from Yuki's polished skill as a technique-focused swordsman mainly relying
on tactics and skills, a return to a display of the powers of her body only.
Right now – a straight path had opened up before Nonaka Yuki's eyes.
Thus, she moved her body to attack. Pedalling the ground while keeping her
body low, Yuki dashed forward with an explosive force, and shortened the
distance between the two in the blink of an eye.
[.........]
Seeing this, the spirit twisted the arm it had swung and slammed the fist into
the ground; Yuki skipped to the left, and before the spirit's fist impacted the
ground, she leapt upwards and twisted her body in mid-air. As the arm barely
swept past Yuki, she slashed with [Sakuya] and cut through the wrist's
tendon. Although the fist which had lost its gripping strength impacted the
ground and swept up debris, the destructive power had dropped a lot – going
along with the upwards airflow, Yuki once again soared upwards and
sideswiped with the blade, doing damage to the spirit's elbow.
[——————]
The spirit released a scream from pain, but Yuki ignored that—
"—it's not over yet."
Leaving behind her comment in the empty air, she went past the side of the
spirit to its back – and left behind two connecting slashes in the shape of 'X'
while sprinting towards the other side of the body. That severed its Achilles
tendon, and caused the giant spirit that lost the support of its legs to topple
over backwards and land on its butt with a giant rumble.
With its right hand damaged and its Achilles tendon severed, the spirit then
followed its instincts and began to stand itself upright with its only
undamaged left hand. Nonaka Yuki had anticipated this, and thus at the
spirit's left hand – she swung [Sakuya] horizontally at the left wrist tendon,
severing it in a single slash.
By the time Yuki had done that, she had bought more time than what was in
the plan. And at the moment she successfully sealed its movements,
"—Onee, leave the rest to me."
With a calm voice, Kurumi said while appearing before the sitting paralyzed
spirit. With the black elementals she received from Lucia set in the main slot
of her gauntlet as the elemental master – green of the Heroes and blue of the
Moderate Faction was emitted from before her palm -- a three-dimensional
overlapping type magic circle.
[.........]
As if the spirit's instincts felt danger, it opened its mouth widely aiming to
bite Kurumi to death as a last-ditch attack. At that moment—
"--Don't even think about it."
Yuki immediately swung out [Sakuya], smashing it into the jaw of the spirit
from the side. By intentionally not slashing with the blade, it is to
intentionally create bludgeoned damage. The attack with calculated timing,
placing and force, managed to perfectly just dislocate its jaw joints.
[——————]
Eyes widened from shock, the spirit now unable to guard could only just
watch with its mouth open—
"Dance -- "
At the same time Kurumi announced that, large amounts of pitch black
flames poured into the spirit's open mouth – and burned the spirit's head to
nothingness from within.