Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume11 Chapter4 (section)

===Part 6===

In a secret underground passage beneath the elemental lord's sacred domain of Ragna Ys&mdash;

Rubia Elstein was stumbling as she walked.

"...Guh... Ooh..."

She wheezed painfully as she made her way step by step along the walls of the passage.

Her body was fast approaching its limits.

A Cursed Armament Seal was carved on her heart to sustain the contract with Laevateinn.

The price was too great. Even if Laevateinn did not demand her soul, her life was not going to last long.

(...But I can't die yet.)

While coughing blood, she murmured in her heart.

Yes, not yet. She still had things to do.

(...How odd. Earlier, I had clearly prepared myself to die.)

Who could have thought that a contract made using life as a medium could be severed&mdash;

(Kazehaya Kamito, you never fail to surprise me&mdash;)

Rubia could not help but smile faintly.

In her mind, the image of his back surfaced.

The young man wielding dual swords.

&mdash;Rubia, I will protect you even if it means putting my life on the line.

He had promised her that.

Thump&mdash;A commotion in her heart.

This was not pain that tormented her body. Rather, it was a sweet kind of pain that gripped the heart.

A pain that she experienced for the first time, being a girl who had undergone a princess maiden's strict education since early childhood.

(...This unbelievable emotion, what is it?)

The unidentified emotion was causing Rubia anxiety.

(Now is definitely not the time for turbulent emotions&mdash;)

The world's fate was entrusted to Kazehaya Kamito's choice.

No matter what choice he made, the human realm was sure to undergo monumental chaos. Chaos would instantly sweep across the continent, finally erupting in a conflict surpassing the Ranbal War.

That was the only thing that must be avoided absolutely.

Suppressing chaos required overwhelming military strength.

There was the Murders organization that possessed extensive networks across the continent, her connections with the Demon King cultist faction in the top echelons of the Alphas Theocracy's military, as well as the private army whose core comprised Instructional School orphans.

(I will first use those girls to bring the Alphas Theocracy under my control&mdash;)

With burning flames in her ruby eyes, Rubia continued her way forward.

The underground cavern led to the eastern part of Ragna Ys. The small flying craft that Lily Flame had prepared should be there.

Most likely, the Empire had already sent troops to pursue her. Rubia in her current state would not be able to offer any resistance if they sent Numbers-class spirit knights.

(I... must hurry...)

Just as Rubia stumbled as she supported herself with her hand against the wall...

A dagger sliced through wind to pierce Rubia's arm.

"...!"

Suppressing a scream, she stared into the darkness.

What struck her was a dagger used for assassination, dripping with blood.

"...Who are you?"

Rubia asked the darkness. In her current state, having lost the contracted spirit and the Sacred Maiden's power, she did not even have the ability to sense the enemy's presence.

Next.

"To think you'd use 'who are you' as a greeting. Clearly we belong to the same team."

The light of magic glowed.

"Sjora Kahn, you..."

Rubia gritted her teeth.

Appearing out of the darkness was the scantily clad witch of the Theocracy.

Behind her, a crowd of girls in crimson military uniforms stood on guard, surrounding Rubia.

White masks appeared in the darkness. All of them held daggers in their hands.

"The Theocracy's Snake huh&mdash;"

Pulling the dagger out from her wound, Rubia groaned.

This organization of executors was not under the military's authority. Most likely, the Theocracy had issued orders for them to execute Rubia for failing her mission of winning the Blade Dance.

(&mdash;In any case, they came to silence me.)

Rubia knew that country's dark side all too well.

It was only natural for the military to consider silencing her through death.

Rubia extended her right hand in a posture for counterattacking. Although losing her contracted spirit rendered her unable to use flame spirit magic, she was still able to use flames that did not originate from spirits&mdash;Frost Blaze. Inside the narrow tunnel, she should be able to defeat two or three opponents.

(But that would be all I can manage. Given my current state&mdash;)

"The Theocracy's Snake? Sorry, you're wrong."

The witch jeered and snapped her fingers.

The girls in military uniform took off their white masks mechanically.

"Wha..."

All were girls whom Rubia had seen before.

These were the assassins with unusual powers whom Rubia had gathered from the continent&mdash;The Instructional School's orphans.

A total of thirteen girls. They stared coldly at Rubia with dim and hollow gazes.

"The girls you cultivated have been absorbed outright into the military as my private army. Although they originally possessed a redundant sense of self, the Theocracy ''reeducated'' them."

"Witch, how dare you!"

Rubia released flames of absolute zero.

"Poor little princess."

Instantly, a dark figure appeared out of thin air.

The shadow roared, then its giant jaws expanded several fold and swallowed the roaring flames of blue in one gulp.

"...That spirit, could it be&mdash;"

Four sturdy limbs. Eyes glowing red ominously.

A pitch-black demon wolf making an astounding roar that shook the atmosphere.

"Good boy, Fenrir."

Sjora Kahn stroke the demon wolf's neck.

"Even the 'flames of absolute zero' that can freeze everything are useless against this demon ice spirit&mdash;The Laurenfrost's daughter really gave me quite an excellent present."

She walked over to Rubia who had collapsed, exhausted.

Her expression proceeded to change.

"What a pity. You were simply dancing in the middle of my palm."

"...!?"

Seeing the witch suddenly change her tone of voice, Rubia frowned.

"Although I did not obtain the Demon King's body, it was still quite interesting. Breathing the so-called outside air is not bad after so long."

"...Who are you?"

"How unexpectedly slow of you, Sacred Maiden. There is only one who seeks the Demon King's body."

"Could it be...!? You should have perished a thousand years ago..."

"Ha, that is what the contemptible Divine Ritual Institute's history books recorded."

''That'' which bore Sjora Kahn's appearance was stepping on the side on Rubia's face.

"...What... is your goal?"

"I've said it many times already. I want a complete body. This decrepit snake princess' body does not allow me to release my power. Oh well, it would be asking for too much&mdash;"

Her lips in a twisted grin, Sjora revealed the glowing spirit seal on her right hand.

A pattern of crystallized ice.

"I have found something interesting in this demon ice spirit's memory. For some reason, an alter ego of an elemental lord seems to be sealed in the abandoned city."

"...A sealed Elemental Lord? How on earth...?"

"There is no point in telling someone who is about to die here."

Sjora's fingertip produced a dazzling flash of light.

"Kuku, don't worry. Your useless little sister will be joining you on the other side soon."

Just at this moment...

Accompanied by an astounding explosion, the underground cavern's walls crumbled.

"...What?"

Sjora Kahn hastily dodged.

The Instructional School's girls swiftly surrounded her to protect her.

Where the cloud of dust and debris settled&mdash;

A strangely shaped giant was standing.

Formed from amorphous water, the giant looked female.

"Looks like we made it, Lily."

Sitting on the giant's shoulder, a girl spoke.

"&mdash;Cardinal."

The other girl jumped down from the giant's back.

She swiftly hurried over to the collapsed Rubia's side.

"It's... Lily huh..."

"Please don't speak. Save your strength."

Lily took out a healing spirit crystal from her bosom and pressed it against Rubia's arm.

A warm glow enveloped Rubia's arm and began to heal the wound.

Lily glared at Sjora Kahn.

"You've rebelled, witch!"

"Hey hey, in terms of using each other, the same goes for you eh?"

Jeering, the witch turned her gaze to the girl riding on the giant's shoulder.

"&mdash;That thing is the tactical-class militarized spirit Apsara, I suppose."

"Yes. Obtained during the Tempest, one of the three militarized spirits. Colossus and Garuda are already broken from use, but this is still unused so I saved it."

Tossing her ash-gray hair, Muir Alenstarl replied.

"The Snake's elites should have gone to silence you?"

"All taken care of."

Muir answered immediately.

"Don't underestimate Muir. You will be killed too."

"Hierarch, please step back. Let us&mdash;"

The Instructional School's girls warned in an inorganic voice and readied their daggers.

"Heh, these third-rate flunkies, who didn't even qualify as one of the Ranked, you intend to fight Muir huh&mdash;"

Muir smiled in amusement.

"If you want to die that much, Muir will play with you, okay?"

"...!"

The Instructional School's group wavered.

Top combat specialists in the continent were faltering from a single girl's intimidating presence.

However, Sjora shrugged and stepped forward.

"Aren't you confident? But this is your last militarized spirit. If you were to fight all my pawns, you should understand that this thing will break halfway through."

"Then Muir will just destroy this entire cave."

"Are you stupid? You'll die too."

"Muir won't die. Surely, Muir will live for Onii-sama."

Muir's expression remained unchanged as she murmured softly.

"...Damn Monster. Insane."

Sjora clicked her tongue.

"Muir is serious. You don't want to lose the majority of your forces here, right?"

Hearing Lily's words, Sjora instantly displayed a look of contemplation&mdash;

"...Retreat. This is a waste of time."

Next, she walked towards the darkness.

Her subordinates also followed quickly behind her and disappeared.

"..."

A few seconds' silence. Then&mdash;

"Muir, well done. I never knew you were that good at bluffing."

"That was no bluff. Muir really is serious."

Muir tilted her head in a daze.

"What, y-you intended to bury us alive here!?"

"If you're lucky, you won't die."

"...Sigh. Jeez."

Lily sighed deeply and turned to Rubia.

"&mdash;Thank goodness you are safe, Cardinal."

"Sorry, Lily. The Instructional School people have been taken away. This is my oversight."

"No, this is because I didn't gather enough intelligence. Although I knew the Theocracy could not be trusted, I never expected them to act this swiftly."

"They most likely conspired together with Murders. With the Divine Ritual Institute and the Empire's spirit knights in pursuit, there is no place for me to hide now."

The situation had changed dramatically.

Since her military forces had been taken by the Theocracy, Rubia had to reconsider her direction anew&mdash;

Rubia stood up&mdash;

"What about you?"

"...Huh?"

"Like I said, there is currently no place for me to stay. I've lost my power as an elementalist. There is no need to follow me."

"You must be joking."

Lily knelt down before Rubia.

"You were the one who freed us from the Instructional School and treated us like people. I have no intention of serving anyone else. Henceforth, please continue to command me as you please."

"...I see."

Rubia placed her hand on Lily's shoulder.

"&mdash;Well then, follow me. Lily Flame."

"Y-Yes!"

"It can't be helped."

Muir jumped down from the militarized spirit.

"Muir will ally with you as well. Having no place to go is shared by Muir as well. Although Muir hates you, she hates the Theocracy's people even more. Also, Lily can't do anything without Muir by her side."

"Th-That's you, okay! Without me, you can't even cook!"

"Lily, shut up or be killed."

"Your request for an alliance is accepted, Muir Alenstarl."

Crimson hair fluttered as Rubia walked towards the depths of the darkness.

...As though crushing underfoot the destiny waiting for her ahead.

"&mdash;A war is about to begin."

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