Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume10 Chapter7 (section)

===Part 5===

"...Guh... Oooh, ooh..."

Imprisoned, Claire's body was being devoured by darkness as she struggled stubbornly.

Very soon, the cries of the newborn Darkness Queen shall be heard.

"...Amazing. To think you still have the willpower to resist."

Dressed in a pure white ritual outfit, Rubia Elstein exclaimed in admiration.

A specially trained princess maiden might fare differently, but one would expect a rapid fall when corroded by this large amount of darkness.

"&mdash;As expected of the Elstein's bloodline."

"...Who are you? Why are you doing this, doing something so cruel!?"

Claire cried out persistently as if in a dream. Apparently, her memories were already mixed up or eliminated. Even when she saw Rubia's face, Claire no longer recognized her elder sister.

Unfazed, Rubia continued chanting a spirit language prayer.

This was a blessing for princess maidens who were chosen as Queens.

However, instead of using one of the Five Great Elemental Lords, the name woven into the blessing was of the Darkness Elemental Lord Ren Ashdoll whose existence had been purged.

"I hate this... No... Don't want..."

"Rest assured. You'll feel a lot better once you fall."

Whispering gently, Rubia stroked her younger sister's red hair.

Back when Claire was young, this was how Rubia lulled her to sleep whenever she was crying.

The darkness continued to devour Claire's memories&mdash;whether memories of pain or happiness, all were treated equally.

Rubia did not think this could make up for what she had done to Claire.

Even so, she wished to grant her younger sister some sense of solace.

"&mdash;Will come, that person will come."

"...?"

"&mdash;That person, surely... Will come to rescue me."

Claire's soul-less eyes once again lit up with brightness.

Rubia was taken slightly aback.

(...''Who is she talking about''?)

Her memories related to Kazehaya Kamito should have been erased already.

Claire and Kamito encountered each other at the Academy a mere two months ago.

Let alone his name, even his face should no longer be possible to recall.

"Ren Ashbell-sama will surely..."

"..."

Hearing the words escaping from Claire's lips, Rubia sighed lightly.

Claire probably had not realized that the true identity of the past Strongest Blade Dancer, Ren Ashbell, was Kamito. She was simply making dream talk because her memories were confused, probably.

"Claire, the one to receive you will not be the Strongest Blade Dancer but the Demon King."

As she murmured, Rubia felt faint vibrations beneath her feet.

(Dracunia's princess? No&mdash;)

&mdash;Bathump. Her heart stung with pain.

Rubia's body sensed the presence of the awakening Demon King.

"Apparently, Sjora Kahn's delaying failed."

Or rather, it was the witch's doing. The possibility existed for her to let him through intentionally&mdash;

"&mdash;Very well. I shall personally give you the final push to awaken."

Rubia lifted up her pure white ritual outfit and stood up lightly.

"...I'm sorry, Claire."

Before walking out the door, she shifted her gaze away from her younger sister and whispered.

"When everything is all finished, I shall be incinerated by the flames of conflagration to atone for my sins."

This was the fate of the Sacred Maiden who brings salvation to the world.

With a snap and rustling&mdash;the heavy ritual attire was shed off.

Illuminated by the flickering flames, the graceful curves of a beautiful nude body were revealed.

The pale white skin was covered entirely by black patterns.

Carved on her body were countless Cursed Armament Seals.


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